by KASI, MV
CHAPTER 2
When their flight landed in San Francisco it was delayed by an hour. Not having enough time to check-in to their vacation house or to even freshen up, they decided to simply go directly to Mahi's brother's house for dinner.
By the time they got there, it was seven thirty in the night. After some uncomfortable and forced pleasantries, they sat down for dinner.
Mahi kissed her nephew Nikhil goodnight and helped her sister-in-law place the dishes and other silverware on the table before joining everyone at the dining table.
Her father was enquiring about the progress of Samrat's senior community and also about some common neighbors they knew.
Mahi's mother interrupted the conversation between Samrat and Mahi's father. "Mahi, you already had two rotis, are you sure you want to eat rice as well? You have put on a lot of weight in the past three months. Even your skin looks darker than before. Are you not taking care of yourself while you are there?" she asked loudly in a very concerned tone.
"I'm fine," Mahi replied in a surly tone, hating how she always regressed back to that young and unwanted girl in her parents' presence.
Mahi's mother made tsking noises and looked at Samrat. "At her age, I was still very slim and had milk white flawless skin. People were always complimenting me wherever I went. And by then my Dhanush was fourteen years old and Mahi was ten. Unfortunately, Mahi got my mother's medium complexion and average features along with some of her personality traits," she said in a slightly sneering tone.
Then looking towards her son, "My Dhanush looks more like me. No one can believe that he is almost forty years old. But then people are shocked when I tell them my age," she said, laughing softly.
"I'm very proud to inherit my grandmother's looks and character," Mahi commented, grabbing another serving of rice.
Samrat felt uncomfortable and even more so when Mahi's mother peered at his face. "You and your sister have very good golden complexion and really sharp features. I think you take after your father's side of the looks," she said.
When Samrat didn't reply or even seem remotely interested in the topic, Mahi's mother looked at Mahi and then back at Samrat.
"Oh, speaking of complimenting my looks, Dinesh who was Mahi's husband used to tell me, Aunty I wish you were younger by fifteen years, then I would not have married your daughter, I would have stolen you away instead." She laughed softly and then wistfully added. "Dinesh is such a good boy."
Mahi's father brightened up as well. "He is also from a very good family. His ancestors were very rich zamindaars who owned a lot of lands around a few villages, and they have passed on those riches to the current generations. They are of very old money. Even now most of his family members are sitting MPs and MLAs around that area," he told Samrat, and proceeded to list the names and roles of Dinesh's relatives in politics.
Mahi's mother once again looked at Samrat, who was waiting to get done with the dinner soon. This time she had a sneering smile. "There is so much new money in Hyderabad these days. People get rich all of a sudden for some reason or the other. But one thing they cannot buy is class. That can only belong to those who are of old money."
Mahi clenched her fists and tried to control herself from lashing out at the obvious dig at Samrat. But she couldn't remain quiet.
"That's an utter bullshit. Money that is self-earned or obtained by sheer hard work is much more respectable than some useless person inheriting it due to their birth circumstances," Mahi said rudely.
Ignoring her, Mahi's mother continued, "I wish Mahi was the adjusting kind, but then fate has already decided who can and cannot have happiness in their lives. She left her husband for silly reasons, even when he was generous enough and wanted her back after she—" And then shaking her head, "Dinesh has married again, Mahi. We met his new wife a few times and they also came over here for dinner once. She comes from a very average family and doesn't even have one tenth of the wealth that we have. But since it was Dinesh's second marriage, he had to adjust I think."
Scoffing loudly and having heard enough, Mahi got up and took her plate into the kitchen where her sister-in-law Padma joined her.
"I'm sorry Mahi. I shouldn't have made you to come. I thought—"
Mahi stopped her. "It's okay Paddu. I'm used to them. I'm just getting annoyed at their thinly veiled insults at Samrat who is our guest. My god, I don't know how you tolerate my parents at your home."
Padma smiled. "Thank god, I'm a doctor and I'm away most of the time. And your brother, for all his other faults, he luckily is a good husband and father. He makes up his other shortcomings by supporting me and not his mother. Anyway, forget about them for now. I wanted to see how you are doing. You've sent me some messages that you are okay, but I wanted to see you in person."
Mahi smiled and hugged her. "I'm fine Paddu. After joining Samrat's company, I have fallen into a routine and don't have much time to think about anything. How is Rahul by the way? I didn't want to stay in touch with him because it would be weird. Even though his wife is a sweetheart, I didn't want to interfere."
"They have moved to Boston a few months ago," Padma replied and then gently added, "They are both doing well and they are expecting their first child together in December."
Mahi nodded and smiled slightly. "I'm happy for them Paddu, especially for Rahul. He loved Aryan too and was heartbroken like me when he died."
Padma patted her arm. "Okay, let's go rescue Samrat. I think you guys should run away before the talks get worse." Padma smiled wryly.
As soon as they finished dessert, Mahi made excuses saying that they had to leave to prepare for the training and conferences at work.
Samrat was more than happy and willing to escape from that house.
*****
Setting the address of the vacation home on their GPS, they headed out from Mahi's brother's house.
"I'm sorry Samrat, for making you come with me. My mother was being rude to you. I apologize on her behalf," said Mahi, sounding weary.
"Don't worry about it. I have met different kinds of people in my life. And many people are still hung up about class, money or caste. It doesn't bother me. In fact some of my relatives have an equally inflated opinion of our higher caste and insult people from other castes."
She sighed."I know."
"But are you okay? Your parents talked about your ex-husband and they still seemed to be on good terms with him," he asked her gently.
She scoffed. "God, I wish I'll be okay with it someday. Is it too much to freaking expect an unconditional support from our parents once in a while? Accidentally bumping into my ex-husband is one thing. But bloody inviting him over for a cozy dinner? That's just sick!"
Samrat was quiet.
"I'm sorry. Let's not talk about my family. I'm really looking forward to tonight," she said with a slightly wobbly smile.
Samrat just nodded.
They remained quiet until they reached their vacation house. It was located on a beach front and was supposed to be a honeymooner's special with lots of perks. The property was also large enough to offer them privacy for their three week stay.
After Samrat placed their bags in their rooms, they parted to freshen up.
She showered and prepared for the night. The shower removed her weariness and also drove the thoughts of her family from her head. She was bursting with nervous anticipation, especially since she wanted their first time together to be rather special and memorable.
She came out of the bathroom in her mid-thigh length satin lingerie and went towards the other bedroom. She wished she had the time to shop or borrow something sexier, but considering her time limitation, she had to make do with what she owned.
Samrat had also finished showering and was in T-shirt and shorts, looking at some messages on his phone.
Her heart began to thump frantically. Watching him, she slowly went towards him.
Samrat looked up from his phone and when he saw her, his eyes flared and ran over her body hungri
ly. He placed his phone on a nightstand and stood still, watching her.
When she got close enough, she slowly put her arms around his neck. When he didn't react or move, she smiled and began to pull his head closer. He finally held her waist in his hands, and instead of pulling her closer like she had expected him to, he pushed her away slightly.
"I can't do this. This doesn't feel right," he said.
Mahi blinked and then stared at him in shock and felt her body get icy cold.
"You can't?" she asked him numbly, slowly removing her arms from around him.
Samrat looked at her blank expression. "No. You don't understand. What I meant was that I can't do this tonight, Mahi. You are not in the right state of mind."
She wasn't looking at him or even listening to him. After dinner with her family and now with Samrat's rejection, the feelings she tried very hard to overcome through the years surged back, feelings of being unwanted, unloved, and unloveable.
"You don't want me."
He looked at her in frustration and shook his head. "No. That's not what I said. I said your feelings were hurt tonight—"
Mahi glared at him. "Well, aren't you the noble one. Turning down an easy lay, just because of my hurt feelings," she taunted him, laughing sarcastically.
"Stop it. You know damn well that I want you. You can see and also feel the evidence of my need right in front of your eyes. For our first time, you should want me. As desperately as I want you, and not because you are trying to forget something or are upset about something," he said firmly.
She shook her head in disbelief. "What? I'm not upset. And I do want you desperately—"
"No you don't. At least not tonight. Let's wait until the morning," he said, even while his eyes kept roving over her body hungrily.
She was getting frustrated. "Oh my god. I do want you. Listen to me Samrat. I've been waiting for tonight from a very long time, I—"
"I'm looking forward to us being together too, Mahi. But like I said, I don't think you are in a right emotional state tonight, and I just don't think it's fair for me to take advantage of you."
She was getting more frustrated with his inaccurate deductions, but short of jumping on him and overpowering him, there was nothing she could do.
"Fine," she said, not sounding fine at all, and went into her room to shut the door loudly.
She tried to sleep, but she kept tossing and turning, her body still screaming in frustration.
"God, how can he be such a fool and think that I don't want him," she muttered.
Then after a couple of hours, she got up and started to pace in the room, trying to cool down.
"Third freaking time, when he got me so overheated and turned me down. Bahh, I should probably tie him to the bed and have my way, until he is begging for mercy to release him from his frustration like I am," she muttered, and then froze, recalling the old fashioned headboard in the other bedroom.
She also recalled the description and reviews of the vacation house that people had posted online. It cost an arm and a leg to get a decent place to stay in the last minute during the peak summer time in San Francisco. But now, she would make this place worth every cent.
Smiling a little wickedly, she went out to the living room and ransacked the toy chest that several past occupants had raved about.
CHAPTER 3
Samrat was dreaming again. He felt someone tugging his arms and whispering sultrily.
"Samrat, wake up," he heard the whisper again.
Somehow managing to pry his eyes open, he saw Mahi's face in the dim lighting of the room. He thought he was having another dream about her and was slowly getting aroused at the feel of her hands caressing his naked torso.
She was sitting on top of him and he could feel her body heat through their clothes. She was touching his cheek gently and he groaned into her hand.
"Oh god," he whispered. "Why won't you leave me alone in my dreams?"
She laughed softly and said, "It's only fair that I don't, because you won't leave my dreams either. But that'll be resolved soon. No turning back, remember?"
"What?" he asked in confusion.
"You want me and I want you too, desperately. I'm sick of you leaving me wanting more each time. There is no right time for us to be together," she whispered in his ear.
Samrat was slowly realizing that he wasn't dreaming. He recalled going to Mahi' brother's house that evening before returning to their vacation house. He also remembered her anguish when she talked about her unsupportive parents, and then him turning her down later when she wanted to begin their deal.
This is not a dream.
That thought woke him up completely and he stared at her in slight shock.
She was still wearing the red and black lingerie that looked provocative in spite of covering most of her body. But more than her attire or her body, it was the expression she had on her face that was the most provocative. She had a wicked smile that held endless promises.
"Mahi, I've already told you that you are not ready tonight and I don't want to take advantage of you," he said sternly.
He was about to sit up and reach for her, but his hands got pulled back. Turning his head sharply, he saw that his hands were handcuffed to the bed posts on both the sides. He snapped his head back to her.
"Why am I handcuffed to the bed?" he demanded and then grimaced.
They were hot fluffy pink in color.
She smiled seductively and leaned towards him. "Excuse me for the color. The black ones didn't have enough cushioning. Anyway, I've decided that tonight I'm finally having you like we planned. I've been craving you for way too long and you've been finding excuses to turn me down. There are no more excuses. You'll be under my control tonight. To do what I want with you. How does that sound, Mr. Control Freak?" she whispered tauntingly.
His eyes and nose flared at her remark. "You are playing a dangerous game Mahi. You are in way over your head and have no idea what I want to do to you right now. If you did, you would—" he broke off with a groan as she leaned forward and bit him on his chin.
"Promises. Promises. You keep saying that, but you never did follow through the threat. I'm looking forward to it. But not right now...because tonight, I'm in charge," she whispered in his ear and stroked him through his boxers.
His hips bucked and he groaned.
"Sounds like you like it," she said sultrily.
"Mahi," he rasped. "Free my hands."
"Why? You don't like it?" She pouted slightly. "How about this?" She pulled down his sleeping shorts and stroked him over the boxers.
He didn't say anything and his breathing turned harsh as he kept staring at her.
She leaned towards him again.
"You had your chance earlier this night and you blew it. Now it's my turn," she whispered and bit his earlobe with enough pressure to cause a slight sting.
Her bite caused a tremor that shot straight to his already painful arousal.
"Release me," he repeated roughly, finally finding his voice as he tried to steady his breathing.
"Shh..." she said and held his face to kiss him lightly on his lips. And then she bit lightly into his bottom lip and held it between her teeth. Tugging it out slightly, she raised her eyes to look at him with a small smile.
Samrat didn't return her smile. He was still watching her intensely. With a ton of heat and a little bit of anger.
Mahi slowly released his lip, shivering a little at his look.
Samrat was in handcuffs and she held the upper hand. But still, he looked like a wild predator who was allowing his prey to have some fun...until it was meal time.
Shaking her head slightly at the fanciful thoughts, she moved lower. She swirled her tongue on his nipples, and then bit them, and then licked them, before continuing her way down similarly, biting and licking down his torso, until she reached her destination.
His arms and shoulders were tensed against the restraints, and he groaned while clenching his fists in both antici
pation and annoyance.
“I want to touch you too. Release me right now!” he ordered roughly as she dragged down his boxers.
But she didn't reply or couldn't reply. She simply stared at what she just revealed.
Samrat felt raw and exposed as Mahi stared at his arousal with a hungry concentration.
"Mahi, release me. Now," he repeated roughly, breaking her trance. His eyes flared as they glared at her, having a tough time torn between pride, common sense and intense lust.
She looked at his face as she tried to catch her breath and maintain her calm. She was both excited and nervous about finally touching him the way she wanted to for a long time. But she needed him to want her too.
"I can leave...or I can stay. It's up to you," she said finally.
He didn't reply.
"You can touch me some other time Samrat. I really need this," she insisted softly, looking at him with a silent question.
When he didn't reply again, she felt the disappointment hit her and she slowly got down the bed and stood next to him.
She had tried, and she lost. And she didn't want to beg a man to be with her.
She was about to leave his room when she heard him.
"No. Don't leave," he said gruffly.
She turned and looked at him.
"Are you sure?" she asked him with a slight challenge in her voice even as she felt uncertain herself.
"Yes. Touch me. Put your hands...and mouth on me," he counterchallenged. He was still a little put out that his lust won.
She smiled at him and climbed back on top of the bed. And this time, instead of sitting on top of him, she put a knee on bed and knelt beside him.
She paused for a few seconds as felt all her previous boldness slowly disappearing. She had never touched a guy that way before. She didn't know if she would even be good at it.
She turned towards the night lamp, thinking that maybe if she turned off the lights, she could get bolder.
