Karthik knew this might be the last chance he’d ever have to kiss her. And he was determined to make the most of it. He cupped Meghna’s cheek in his hand, tilted her face, and parted her lips with his own. He almost groaned at the taste of her tongue. He thought he heard a moan in response, but he couldn’t fully hear past the blood rushing in his ears.
She tasted like the intense heat of summer and the sparkling sweetness of champagne. How was he supposed to let go of this feeling? Let go of her? He pulled back, but her arms tightened around his neck, preventing his retreat.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered.
“I’m not.” He scanned their surroundings and gently moved her backward, pressing her up against a tree.
She relaxed as she realized what he was doing and leaned her head back, stretching to one side, exposing her neck.
He took the invitation, pressing a kiss to her jaw, then lower, continuing down the curve of her neck. He stopped only when he reached the stiff collar of her shirt.
“I really wish you were wearing a dress right now,” he whispered against her skin.
She arched against him. “I thought you liked the tux.”
“I do.” His hands moved down her back, sliding lower and lower. “But imagine all the things we could do if you weren’t wearing pants.”He squeezed. “I’d lift your dress up. Slowly.” He kept one hand where it was and let the other one slide up the side of her thigh, mimicking the way he’d lift the edge of her dress.
“I could touch you. Touch your bare skin,” he said into her ear.
She shivered in response. “And then?”
He pressed a kiss behind her ear, and she let out a rush of breath.
“What would you want to happen then?” he asked.
“I’d want you to touch me.”
“I am touching you.” He moved his hand lazily up and down her thigh.
“Not there.”
He laughed against her neck. “Hmm. Where, then?”
She moved his hand from her thigh to the exact place she wanted it, over the fabric of her pants. “Here.”
He cupped her, and she let out a sound that he knew he’d be hearing later in his dreams. “Right here?” he asked, pressing against her with the heel of his palm.
“Yes,” she breathed. He moved in small circles, faster and faster, and she moved in response, showing him what she needed. He knew the exact moment pleasure found her. She tensed against him, and her breath came quickly, and though he could barely see her face in the darkness, he memorized as much of it as he could. He never wanted to forget this expression. Never wanted to forget this look on her face.
Her entire body went slack, and he pulled her firmly against him. She released a shaky breath, leaning her forehead against his shoulder. He moved his hand gently up and down her back.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” she said.
He smiled into the darkness. “Me either.”
She lifted her head and pressed a quick kiss on his chin.
His chest filled with warmth.
That warmth faded when a slightly nervous expression crossed her face. She opened her mouth to say something, and Karthik grew tense.
He didn’t want to hear what she had to say. He didn’t want to hear that they’d gone too far. That she couldn’t be doing this at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding. That she was still dealing with her feelings for Seth. He didn’t want to be reminded that after tonight, this would all be over. He knew that. But he wasn’t ready to hear it. Not yet.
“We should go back,” he said.
Her forehead wrinkled. “Is that what you want?”
“No, but that was the deal, right? Being your date tonight?”
