by P. G. Van
He knew not to push at that point. “Got it. Let me take care of the compensation you are losing because of me.”
“You will do no such thing. My compensation would be for you to complete your wellness program successfully.” Her tone was firm.
He nodded. “And you are okay with me staying here for that long?”
“Yes.”
“What will your family say when they find out about me being here.”
“I already told you I have no family.”
This time he didn’t want to let go of the opportunity to ask her. “You keep saying that, what really happened to your family?”
She shook her head. “I’d rather not discuss my family.”
He chuckled. “And you made me tell you everything.”
“That’s part of the coaching session.”
He shook his head as he sat down on the patio chair right across from her. “No. I want to know about you, so I can really share everything with you.”
“That is not required, Samraat.”
“Yes, it is. If only you had shared things about you with Monica, she would have told you everything, what she felt, instead of running away.”
Her eyes narrowed, and he knew she did not like what she heard, but her eyes relaxed a moment later, and she smiled. “It doesn’t matter what you think. I will do what is proven to help.”
“Then why couldn’t you help Monica?”
Naina had enough. She stood up from her chair holding her drink in her hand and looked down at him. “I am not discussing Monica anymore. We start meditation in fifteen minutes.”
“No.” He growled.
She stopped at the patio doors but did not turn around. “See you in fifteen minutes.”
Samraat watched as she walked away without another glance toward him, and he could only imagine the anger in her eyes. He never saw her angry, the emotion didn’t last more than a few seconds, and he wondered how she kept so calm. It was as if she trained herself not to be upset about anything, ever.
A deep longing to push the limits with her started inside him, a curiosity to see how far he can push the boundaries with her. Will she lash out? Will she ask him to leave? One side of him wanted her to let down her guard she always had up, so he could get to know the real person.
Ten minutes later, Naina walked out of her bedroom, her hair still damp. Samraat was sitting in the same spot on the balcony when she came to stand by the French doors to look at him in silence.
“Are you trying to burn me with your laser focus?” He grinned, looking out into the park and not making eye contact with her.
“Samraat.”
“Naina.” He turned to look at her, and their eyes locked.
She looked at him in silence, and he returned her gaze like they were having a staring contest. He didn’t budge even after a moment of intense glaring, and she finally looked away, walking to the railing on the balcony.
“Why did you tell me your name is Naina when it is Kiara?” he asked, his voice soft.
He saw a shiver passed through her, but she did not turn or move. “Why does it matter what my name is?”
Samraat stood up to walk to where she stood by the railing, and she still stayed turned away from him. “Look at me.”
He saw the hesitation for a moment to his request, but she slowly turned toward him, her eyes rising to look at him. Their eyes locked, and she felt the same tension she had felt several other times when he stood so close to her.
The man standing in front of her was making her think of many things, revenge being one of them. Making herself want to do what her mind and body wanted, and, for once, she was unable to control either of them. The undying need to be close to him was growing, and she could not explain any of her emotions or sensations.
Her breath hitched when he stepped closer to her and said, “I have told you everything about myself, and I don’t even know your real name. What’s my motivation to trust you?”
She looked into his deep eyes and nodded. “Knowing more about me is not going to help with your sessions, plus there is nothing much to know about me. I am an orphan, and I spent most of my adult life in the wellness facility.”
“What about your childhood?”
She looked away, shaking her head. “There isn’t much to discuss. Normal.”
Samraat’s hand trembled as he reached to touch her chin to make her look at him. As if that was the very touch she needed and waited for, she held his hand in hers, sliding his palm over her cheek as she ran her hand over his, her eyes rolling shut.
As if he lost all control, his other hand went up to cup her other cheek as she moved closer to him, her body only inches away from him. “Samraat.”
The way she said his name made him want to do anything for her—to please her, to see the spark of joy in her eyes, and to wipe out the darkness in her heart. He let one hand slip off her cheek to run his fingers through her thick, damp hair, and in response to his movement, she moved closer to place her cheek on his chest. A sizzle passed through them, but neither acknowledged it and held each other as if savoring the moment, the unidentified emotions driving their heart rate up, their breathing ragged.
A loud clamor made them step back from each other, and Samraat looked at her face for just a moment as she turned away from him. He reached for his phone on the patio table which continued to ring. Naina’s mind was swarming with unidentified and new emotions, and she looked at him as he reached for his phone.
“Guess who is calling?” Samraat asked before answering the call.
Naina turned to look in his direction when she heard a familiar voice on the phone. “Monica?”
She smiled at the young girl when she saw her glowing face on Samraat’s phone screen. “Samraat, where are you guys?”
Samraat smiled at his phone screen. “I am at Naina’s place. Where are you?”
Monica laughed. “I am here in my room with Nibbles.”
Naina smiled at the image of the puppy Monica held in front of the camera. “He is adorable.”
Monica nodded. “I love him. Samraat, thank you so much for Nibbles.”
Samraat laughed, moving closer to her as he held the phone, so Monica could see both of them and asked, “When are you going back to school?”
Monica rolled her eyes at him. “I just got home. I am not going back to school for another month… summer vacation. What about you? I thought you left for India.”
Samraat smiled. “I was supposed to but hanging out with Naina for a bit before I go back.”
Monica squealed. “Hanging out? Are you guys a thing now? OMG, I knew you guys were together… going out at night and now living together?”
Samraat chuckled when he saw Naina roll her eyes. “Monica, calm down. I got kicked out of the facility for bringing you a puppy, and Naina was nice enough to let me stay until I figured out my travel plans.”
The teenager looked guilty. “Oh, I thought…”
Naina interjected as if to save the young girl from further embarrassment. “I am continuing his session while he is here, and he is behaving badly.”
Monica tsked. “Someone is in trouble.”
Naina laughed in response, sending a wave of relief through Samraat. The intense moments right before his phone started to ring were still looming over them. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or upset his phone started to ring.
He told himself he would have only comforted her and held her close, but his body wanted something else. He was there under the pretext to take his mentor’s daughter home, and knew he had to curb any primitive thoughts that ran through his mind.
Chapter 14
The three of them chatted for a few more minutes before ending the video call. When he ended the call, Naina let out a sigh and said, “I am so happy she is home.”
“Yeah.” Samraat turned away from her smiling but stopped when she held his hand with hers.
“I am surprised she called you and not me,” she blurted.
&
nbsp; “More like jealous,” he said, chuckling, and added, “You need a phone with video chat capability and not that piece of junk.”
“There is nothing wrong with my phone.” She held up the ten-year-old model cell phone that only had calling and texting capabilities.
“Sure, nothing’s wrong, but it’s not a phone. It belongs in the dump.” He laughed. He knew she did not like it, but as expected, she only smiled.
Something deep inside him wanted to see her react, respond with a bit more emotion. He got caught up in that need and stepped closer to her snatching the phone out of her hand. “You need a new phone. Let me get you a new one.”
“No, I don’t. Give me back my phone.” She walked toward him as he moved away, holding out her hand.
“You’ll have to take it from me.” He laughed.
“Samraat, I am not playing this game. Give my phone back, please.” She was still not reacting or showing annoyance.
“It’s not like beating a teenager in basketball. See if you can get your phone from me,” he teased.
“Not funny, Samraat.” She still maintained her composure.
“You know what’s funny? I can’t take a picture with this phone. But look,” he said, holding up his phone, and she hid her face like every other time to avoid being in the picture.
“Samraat, stop. I don’t like taking pictures.”
He started laughing and moving away, so the couch was between them, and he knew she was mad but still no visible reaction from her. “Oh yeah, stop me, then.”
She let her hair fall in her face as he aimed his phone camera toward her, and just when he thought he could get a somewhat good picture of her, she moved, climbing on the couch reaching for his phone.
He let out a groan when she held him by his wrist, her grip was strong which only made him laugh. He wiggled out of her hold and moved away from her as she followed him into the bedroom. He moved away to the other side of the bed, and she climbed on the bed, her eyes fierce.
The look in her eyes was mesmerizing like she was the tigress, and he was her kill. She looked like she was out there on the prowl, and when that very primitive thought distracted him for a moment, she seized the opportunity. She jumped off the bed, her arms going around his neck as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Got you,” she said, her breath hot in his ear sending shudders through him and knocking him off balance. She let out a squeal close to his ear as they collapsed on the bed, their bodies tangled.
He was lost in the moment as she grabbed both phones from his hands, and just as she was rolling away from him, he reached out to hold her wrist. He felt her entire body jerk next to him as she looked at him, the hunting instinct burning in her eyes.
“Samraat…” Her mouth went dry with the look on his face. His eyes held a darkness that caused a shiver to pass through her. Before she could read into the shift in his eyes, he looked away as he sat up in bed.
“I’m sorry. I should not have taken your phone.”
“I… I am sorry. I…” She reached out and touched his forearm that had streaks of red. “I scratched you. That was insane.”
“I didn’t expect you to jump on me like that.” He laughed, glad that he was able to pull himself away from an intense moment, yet again.
“I didn’t either.” She rolled her eyes.
“Now I know I can actually make you do weird things.” He winked.
“True, only you. I usually don’t…”
He laughed. “I know, you are the cool cucumber.”
She smiled. “I don’t know if I really am that cool on the inside.”
“You are cool, Naina.”
“Thank you!”
He laughed. “Thank you for the exercise, my heart is beating like I ran ten miles.”
She smiled and added, “Thank you, Samraat.”
He looked at her quizzically. “For?”
“Monica. I would have never figured that girl out. I never dealt with anyone younger than me. I should not have taken her case.”
“You did good. Monica needed a bossy brother, not a mother.”
“Funny, but you did well.”
He nodded. “So as a reward, can I skip meditation?”
She looked surprised for a moment but smiled, making him smile at her, pure joy sweeping over him. “Nice try. No.”
“Let’s start in ten minutes. It’s very important for you to meditate every day even after our sessions are finished.”
“How about we shift the meditation to the evening time? We should go out instead of staying in the apartment.”
“Where do you want to go?” she asked, sounding playful.
“Anywhere other than a strip club.” He laughed, and she laughed with him.
Later that evening…
“Keep your eyes closed, Samraat,” she said, surprising him when he kept staring at her as she meditated.
“I have my eyes shut,” he defended.
“No, you don’t. I can tell from the way you breathe if you have your eyes open.”
Samraat rolled his eyes but ended up closing them and tried to keep his thoughts under control. After spending half a day with her as she showed him the side of Las Vegas that is never noted by an average tourist, he started replaying their time together. They had lunch at a small diner run by a fisherman who caught fish at the nearby reservoir, and they talked about everything but personal matters.
He took a deep breath trying to focus on the meditation. Although he hated it, he wanted to do it for her. He liked to see her smile, to see the joy in her eyes even when she keeps it behind her calm and composed persona.
He smiled and felt a sudden urge to see her and flashed his eyes open to find her looking at him, staring at him.
“Why do you have your eyes open?” he asked when she closed hers immediately.
She kept her eyes shut. “I opened them to make sure you had yours shut.”
“Naina, please look at me.”
She opened her eyes and looked at him in silence.
“I don’t want to do this.” He stood up to walk toward the open French doors.
“What do you want to do?” she asked, sounding annoyed.
“I want to know more about you. I want to spend time like we did earlier today. I am in your space, and I feel like I know nothing.”
She hushed him by raising her hand, and said, “The things about me that you want to know took me years to forget. Telling you means they will be refreshed in my mind, and I cannot lead the life I am now. It’s not because I don’t want to share.”
He moved closer to her, the pain in her eyes causing a tightness in his chest. “I promise never to ask you again, but I am here if you want to talk.”
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Also, I want you to stop treating me like someone you are coaching. I’ve never really had friends growing up because of what I was focused on doing.”
“I am in awe of what you did, I am… I have no words to describe my feelings when I heard what you did, and…” Her voice trailed off when she realized she had to come clean with him about how she kissed him that night.
“And?” he prompted.
She shook her head realizing it would not make any difference if she confessed to him. “I am happy you did what you wanted to, and you don’t need to feel guilty about anything, ever. You are successful because of your hard work and focus, without any regrets from your past, so be proud of your achievements and don’t let people who are passing clouds effect…”
Samraat wasn’t listening anymore. Her words sent a zap of energy through him and a longing to worship her, the woman who made him feel like he won the war. His arm wound around her waist, pulling her to him, and his hand reached up to cup her cheek with his hand as his lips descended over hers.
Her soft lips stiffened initially as if in surprise, but she moaned against his lips, pulling him closer like she had been waiting for the contact. She let her hand slide up over his chest, her na
ils digging into his shoulder as they satisfied each other’s hunger.
“Samraat,” her voice was a whisper as she kissed him back with equal fervor while she wrapped her arms around his neck.
His arms wrapped around her waist, sweeping her feet off the ground as he walked them back indoors from the balcony to the living area. Their lips stayed locked as they savored the moment as the emotions turned into something deeper, replacing the initial urgency and hunger.
The moment of bliss was interrupted by a knock, followed by the sound of a key turning in the main door, and they pulled back looking at the door. Samraat wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as he stepped toward the door. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No. I…” Her voice was lost in a squeal of joy when the door opened, and a young couple stood there.
Samraat stood in his spot as he took in the features of the woman Naina ran past him to hug, and he knew he had made a mistake. The woman who walked into the apartment was the spitting image of Mr. Sharma.
Naina was not Mr. Sharma’s daughter. The woman who laughed with Naina was, and the resemblance the woman had with his mentor was uncanny.
He had been trying to get close to the wrong woman all along.
Chapter 15
“I didn’t know you guys were coming.” Naina laughed, sounding thrilled as she hugged the woman and man who walked in behind her. The woman saw Samraat standing in the middle of the living room and smiled.
“Hi, you must be Samraat.” She stepped closer, extending her hand and added, “I am Kiara.”
Samraat was completely confused, but he smiled, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you, Kiara.”
Another Kiara? Wasn’t Naina’s official name Kiara?
“Mini, he knows me as Naina, don’t confuse him.” Naina laughed.
“What? Really?” The woman who introduced herself as Kiara turned to look at Naina before looking at Samraat and adding, “My real name is Mini, Minerva actually, but I go by Mini.”
Samraat was still in shock, but he recovered and smiled. “What is it with you people having the same legal names and not using them?”
