The Pairing

by Katie Ashley

  He grinned up at her before smacking the other cheek. “Mmm, I like this side of you,” she murmured, before bringing her lips to his.

  As their tongues battled against each other, Pesh flipped Megan over onto her back. After spreading her legs, he buried himself deep inside her with one thrust. “Oh God, that feels amazing,” she cried.

  “See how much better it is when you wait?” he questioned, as he leisurely moved in and out of her.

  “Yes, mmm, it’s so good. You’re right.”

  Although her body trembled, she wasn’t close yet. He continued his pace of slow strokes within her. Then he took her legs and put them on his shoulders to where he could pump deeper inside her. She moaned at the feeling, her hands sliding up above her head to grip the sheets.

  Pesh ducked his head to bring his mouth to her breasts, alternating between each one. As he felt her begin to tense up, he increased the pressure of his tongue on her nipples, lightly grazing them with his teeth. And then she came apart beneath him, crying out and clasping her hands onto his shoulders. The sight of her was so alluring he couldn’t hold back, and he came in a rush inside her.

  When he’d finished shuddering, he raised his head to gaze down at her. Her eyelids fluttered open, and then she smiled sheepishly up at him. “Sorry for being a Tantric sex failure.”

  He laughed. “Baby, I don’t care about that one bit. I like the fact you’re aggressive when it comes to fucking.”

  Her hands feathered over his back and down to his ass. As she squeezed his cheeks, he sucked in a breath. “You’re very good at that.”

  “You think so?”

  “Mmm, hmm.”

  “How good are you at laundry?” he asked, motioning to the leftover dinner that was now staining the sheets.

  She swatted his ass playfully. “I was planning on taking care of that.”

  “Why don’t we get dressed and then sit down and really eat?”

  “I think that sounds like a good idea.”

  “Good. I want to make sure you’re feeling your best for what I have to ask you.”

  As he pulled himself off Megan, her brows furrowed. “What is it?”

  “Can’t it wait until we finish eating?”

  Rolling her eyes, Megan said, “You know I can’t wait for things.”

  Pesh sighed as he bent down to pick up his robe. As he slid his arm through the hole, he met Megan’s questioning gaze. “I wanted to invite you to dinner at my sister’s house this weekend.”

  “Okay, I think I can do that.” Tilting her head, she eyed him suspiciously. “Why did you think I would need to be feeling my best for that?”

  “It won’t just be my sister and her husband. All of my family will be there, including my parents.”

  Megan’s eyes widened. “You want to introduce me to your parents?”

  “Yes, I would.”

  She nibbled on her bottom lip as she was prone to do when she was nervous. “But that would mean we’re pretty serious, right?”

  “Yes,” he replied, with utter certainty.

  Scooting to the edge of the bed, she gripped her gaping robe as best she could. She stared up at him. “You’re not the least bit worried what they’re going to say about you dating me?”

  “No, I’m not.”

  The corners of her lips tugged up in a smile. “Then I’ll go,” she said softly.

  “Really?”

  When she bobbed her head, he rushed forward to wrap her in his arms. “Thank you, my love. You’ve made me very happy.”

  “You make me happy every day. It’s the least I can do.” With her head buried in Pesh’s chest, she was finally able to let the smile she had plastered on fade into a frown. While she should have been elated that Pesh wanted to introduce her to his family, she couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed. What if they hated her? What if their dislike caused Pesh to not want to see her anymore? She didn’t want to think about what it would be like not having him in her life.

  At the same time, it was hard processing all the emotions that Pesh’s devotion made her feel. Davis had never wanted to introduce her to his parents. She met them by accident after one of his games. Now she had a man who wanted nothing more than to share all aspects of his life with her. It was hard to process.

  In the end, she could only hope that everything went well.

  The following day at work when Pesh found a lull in patients, he stepped into the nurses’ station. While he said hello to some of the other men and women of the nursing staff, he had a singular focus of getting to Megan. When he joined her at the counter where she was doing paperwork, she jumped like he had tasered her.

  “Go away,” Megan hissed.

  He chuckled. “You know, I think I can be seen back here in the nurses’ station without arising any suspicion. After all, I could be discussing a patient with you.”

  “Then you better start talking in patient codes very soon.”

  “I wanted to know if it would be all right to pick you up at seven on Friday evening?”

  When Megan jerked her gaze off the chart she was working on, her blue eyes bulged in horror at him. In a low voice, she said, “I cannot believe you are talking about a date here at work. Do you care anything about my reputation?”

  He held his hands up defensively. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking besides the fact that I missed you and wanted to talk to you.”

  Megan’s expression softened. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be that way here.”

  Pesh opened his mouth to protest when a voice behind them cut him off. “Don’t you two look cozy,” Kara mused. Pesh whirled around to find Kara staring at them with venom burning in her eyes.

  “Excuse me, but I need to get another chart off the carousel,” Megan said, with her head tucked to her chest.

  She turned to go, but Kara reached out and grabbed her arm. “If you don’t mind, exam room Three needs a clean-up.”

  “Kristi is the only one authorized to give me orders around here,” Megan replied.

  Kara pursed her ruby red lips. “Insubordination and sleeping with a doctor—you really have a career death wish, don’t you?”

  Megan started to protest, but Pesh stopped her. Glaring at Kara, he said, “I want to talk to you. Alone.”

  After shooting Megan a triumphant look, Kara let Pesh lead her out of the nurses’ station and down the hall. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.

  “Saving you from making a huge mistake. You don’t need a girl like that—you need a woman to take care of you.” When her hands started to snake up around his neck, Pesh grabbed them.

  “Don’t touch me!” he snarled.

  A sultry smile spread across her face. “You liked when I touched you before.”

  “That was one time—a drunken mistake that I regret daily, and I never intend on making again.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “So you’re throwing me aside for a young bimbo?”

  “Do not speak that way about Megan ever again. Do you hear me?”

  “And do you really feel that she thinks you’re worth throwing her career away for?”

  Pesh closed the gap between them. Looming over Kara, his entire body shuddered in anger. “Listen to me when I say that if you threaten to expose Megan one more time, I will make life a living hell for you. As the supervising physician over the ER, I can have you shipped off to some hellhole far from here.” He glared down at her. “Do you understand me?”

  She slowly nodded her head as the realization that there was nothing between them finally dawned on her. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go clean my exam room.”

  As she hurried past him, Pesh exhaled a breath of relief. He never used that tone of voice with women, or men for that matter, unless he was absolutely pushed to do so. But Kara’s previous behavior and the way she’d acted today had forced him to become what he wasn’t. At the feel of a hand on his back, he whirled around.

  Megan gave him a beaming smile.
“My hero!”

  He laughed at her expression and words. “You don’t have to worry about her harassing you or me for that matter. I took care of things.”

  “I heard you.”

  He grimaced. “You did?”

  She nodded. “It was amazing.”

  “I’m glad you thought so.”

  “I’ve never had a man take up for me like that before.”

  Pesh shook his head. “That’s a shame.”

  “If we weren’t in the middle of the ER’s hallway, I’d kiss you to show my gratitude.”

  He smiled. “I’ll gladly take a rain check.”

  “Oh you will? That’s good to know.”

  Lowering his voice, he said, “I’ll expect that kiss later tonight when we’re alone. And I don’t just want it on the lips.” His brows rose. “I want it on several places on my body.”

  Megan grinned. “I think that can be arranged.”

  “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

  “Dr. Nadeen?” a nurse called from the top of the hall.

  “Yes?”

  “You’re needed in rxam room Four.”

  “As soon as I finish this patient consultation, I’ll be there,” he replied.

  At his blatant lie, Megan covered her mouth to hide her giggling. “I have to go. But can I come over tonight?”

  “Yep. Let me get Mason fed and bathed, and then I’m yours.”

  “See you later.” He winked at her before he turned and started down the hall.

  A few nights later Pesh found himself speeding along the quiet streets of Megan’s neighborhood. His phone dinged once again. Slowing down, he took a peek to make sure it wasn’t the hospital. He wasn’t too surprised to find it was another text from Megan. He could tell from the way she had been frantically texting him that afternoon and evening that she was nervous, which was totally surprising to him. She was so strong and fearless that it was hard for him to imagine her ever feeling nervous. But he supposed that in Megan’s mind she had good cause to be nervous as tonight he was introducing her to his family.

  After he picked her up, they were going to his sister, Shveta’s, house for dinner. His parents, along with at least one of his brothers, would be there. Although he had spent a lot of time with her family, it hadn’t quite meant the same thing as her spending time with his. He didn’t know if her nerves stemmed from simply meeting his family or if they were from the fear of how far their relationship had progressed in the last few months.

  He turned into the driveway at ten after seven. He didn’t even get up the front porch steps before the door flew open, and Megan rushed out. Her diminutive figure wobbled a little on the black high heels she was sporting. She wore black pants, and a dressy red top that had a lot of beading. It reminded him of the kurta, a style that women from his culture wore. He wondered if she had chosen it for that reason.

  “You look beautiful,” Pesh murmured, leaning in to kiss her tenderly. When she didn’t warm to his touch, he gazed down at her. “What’s wrong?”

  Rolling her eyes, she snapped. “Duh, I’m really nervous.”

  “You’re really that worried about my family’s opinion of you?”

  She threw up her hands. “Of course, I am. Your family is very important to you. I don’t want…” She tore her gaze from his.

  “You don’t want what?” he pressed.

  “I don’t want to bring shame to you.”

  He bit down on his lip to keep from laughing at her. He couldn’t believe Megan was so concerned with his family’s opinion. His heartbeat accelerated at the thought. It had to mean she really was falling in love with him. He brushed a silky strand of blonde hair out of her face. “Sweetheart, you’re not the first American girl I’ve brought home with me.”

  “Yes, I’m well aware of that. I’m also aware of the fact of how well your family loved and accepted Jade. It might not be the same way with me.” She stared up at him. “I’m not like her, Pesh. I’m not meek and good-hearted.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not true. You are good-hearted. I see that part of you each and every day.” Cupping her chin with his fingers, he brought her gaze to his. “You saw my brother, Dev. Through all of his missteps and antics, my parents still love him very much. So I promise you there is nothing you can do to where they won’t like you or where you’ll bring shame on me. Okay?”

  She gave a reluctant nod. “Okay.”

  Taking her by the hand, he led her off the porch. Once he’d gotten her in the car, he went around and slid into the driver’s seat. When Pesh cranked up the car, Megan gasped in horror. “What?” he asked.

  She motioned to the clock on the dash. “Oh my God, we’re going to be late. Can I make a worse first impression?”

  Pesh laughed. “Maybe I should tell you a few things, etiquette wise, so tonight will go a little easier.”

  “What does that have to do with us being late?”

  “Because it’s considered good form to arrive thirty minutes late.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes.”

  “Huh, I didn’t know that.”

  “Well, how could you?”

  “I tried doing a little research. I even watched Monsoon Wedding,” she said.

  Pesh laughed. “Did you now?”

  “Yeah, it was pretty good. I kinda hated there weren’t more dance numbers and songs.”

  “Megan, I’m pretty sure none of my family is going to break out into song like in a Bollywood movie tonight,” he said, with amusement ringing in his voice.

  She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t expect them to, smart-ass.”

  He tsked at her. “So testy tonight.”

  After exhaling a long breath, she gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I’m so bitchy.”

  “You’re not bitchy.”

  “And you’re lying.”

  “Regardless of your out-of-control emotions, I know that my family is going to love you just as much as I do.”

  The moment the words left his lips he grimaced. There was the Big L word. They hadn’t actually exchanged it yet, and now he’d managed to screw up and say it before he could find the right time.

  “Oh God, did you have to say that now? Like I’m not nervous enough!”

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured.

  Burying her head in her hands, she groaned. “This is...you are…I…”

  “Look, you don’t—”

  “I love you, too!” she shouted from behind her hands.

  His hands jerked on the wheel, and he sent the car careening onto the emergency lane. When he recovered and got the car back into the right lane, he dared himself to look over at her. She peeked at him through her fingers. “I love you, Pesh. I really fucking do.”

  “Oh Megan,” he whispered.

  Pulling her hands away from her face, she gave him a genuine smile. “I love you more than any man I’ve ever known.”

  “I love you more—” Suddenly he found himself unable to continue. Did he love her more than he had Jade? He had spent years with Jade and had only months with Megan. If he did love Megan more, what did that say about his relationship with Jade?

  She reached over and took one of his hands in hers. “Hey, you don’t have to say what I said. Our situations are completely different.”

  He clenched and unclenched his jaw. “No woman wants half a man’s heart,” he argued.

  “But I know it isn’t half your heart. And I wouldn’t want you to stop loving me just because I died, so why would I expect you to do the same with Jade?”

  “It’s not fair to you,” he croaked.

  “Life’s not fair, baby. You have to get used to that one.” She squeezed his hand. “Besides, I know what I feel when I feel your love. There’s no half about it. You love me with all your heart and soul.”

  “I do. I honestly do.”

  Unfastening her seat belt, she lunged over to kiss him. When she started to deepen the kiss, he had to pull away. “Hey now, you gotta s
top that or we’re not going to make it to my parents.”

  She giggled and then eased back down into her seat. She managed to behave herself the remaining five minutes. When he pulled into his parents drive, he saw it was already crowded with cars. The sight of so many people set Megan off, and she began tapping her fingers nervously on her leg.

  “Ready?” he asked, as he turned to her.

  “As I’ll ever be,” she muttered.

  He shook his head as he got out of the car. Like always, he opened her car door and helped her out. As they started up the sidewalk, Megan was a flurry of movement. She smoothed down her hair and then she adjusted her top. Then she fiddled with her purse on her shoulder.

  “Quit fidgeting,” Pesh whispered, as he rang the doorbell.

  “I can’t help it. I’m nervous.”

  He grinned down at her. “Megan, they’re going to love you. I promise.”

  She shook her head. “They’re going to hate me because I’m not a submissive Indian woman. Wait until they hear I had a child out of wedlock. They’ll be ready to disown you then.”

  The door flew open, cutting off the rest of their conversation. “Brother, it’s so good to see you!” his brother-in-law, Sanjay, cried. After he hugged Pesh, his gaze went to Megan. His eyes widened, and he gasped in surprise. “Uh, hello.”

  “Hi,” Megan said.

  Sanjay gave Pesh a curious look. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing company.”

  “This is Megan.” With a self-assured tone, he added, “She’s my girlfriend.”

  “Really? Well, what about that?” Sanjay gave Megan a welcoming smile. “We’re so glad to have you.”

  “Thank you,” Megan replied.

  As Sanjay turned to go into the living room, Megan smacked Pesh’s arm. “You didn’t tell them you were bringing me?”

  He shook his head. “No, I like the element of surprise when it comes to my love life.”

  “S-Seriously?” she sputtered.

  “It’s better this way. Trust me.”

  Before she could say anything else, Pesh started taking off his shoes. Wide-eyed, Megan watched him. Quickly, she stepped out of her heels and put them in the pile next to his. “More etiquette you forgot to tell me?” she hissed.