Marriage by Arrangement

by Sophia Singh Sasson

  Rani tilted her head. “After what you’ve spent on this?” Arjun’s budget for the owners condo was double the typical amount per square foot at similar luxury hotels. Rani assumed it was an investment he’d make up by using it to attract high rollers to the casino. How else was he going to make money on this extravagant unit?

  “This is for me. For my sanity when I need to be here.”

  “So you won’t live in India?”

  “India is my home. It’s where my family is and where my life will continue to be. I will never leave there. I can’t imagine anyplace else being home. This is my...” he clicked his fingers as if searching for the right word “...my...”

  “Escape?”

  A wistful smile crossed his lips, and he looked so lost that Rani stepped towards him and touched his arm to bring him back. He smiled down at her. “Yes, my escape.” He met her gaze. “Rani, you’ve made this as close to home as I could possibly feel. It’s beyond my expectations.”

  His voice was thick and her heart filled with joy. Arjun’s praise was hard to come by and she was exhilarated by the fact that she’d met his exacting standards for a space that was so personal to him. She released a long held breath. For years she’d been beaten down, first by Navin convincing her that she was screwed up inside, and then Delia making her doubt her abilities to lead this project. It was nice to hear someone build her up rather than cut her down.

  “Shall we see the bedroom?”

  Her words hung in the space between them. She focused on his lips as her nerves tingled and sparked. He’s only here for four and a half more months. This wouldn’t be anything permanent. Something just for me. It was a chance to explore a side of herself that had never surfaced before. What was wrong with that?

  “I don’t need to see any more. I think you’ve earned your firm the contract for the rest of the hotel.”

  Rani pulled out of her salacious thoughts and grinned at him, silently whooping with joy. The commission from this contract would put her on the path to opening her own firm.

  “Before you hand me the keys to the hotel, are you sure you don’t want to see the master bedroom?”

  His smile flickered. “I’ll see it later.”

  “Without me?” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice. This entire project was her baby. Yes, the great room was an example of her best work, but the bedroom was her masterpiece. She’d personally picked out the sheets for the bed. Egyptian cotton.

  He shook his head. “I should get going.”

  Rani couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Where did he have to go? It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. “Arjun, it’ll only take a minute. I’ve been killing myself trying to get it ready for tonight. The least you can do is come see it.”

  He stepped back from her and shook his head. “I told you that it would just be business between us. Rani, I cannot walk into a bedroom with you and keep that promise.”

  Eight

  So he still feels it. A frisson of excitement sparked through Rani. One way or another, she was getting him into that bedroom.

  “Mr. Singh, you assured me that your personal feelings would not affect our working relationship.” Rani put the right amount of force in her voice.

  He sighed, then swore under his breath. “Right. But what do you want me to do? You are doing a fantastic job with my hotel. In fact, you’re the only one that can achieve the vision I have for this hotel and more. You just proved it with what you’ve done here. I want you to finish my hotel, but...” He took a heavy breath. “I have not stopped thinking about you, and that’s why I’ve been avoiding you.”

  Her heart was doing cartwheels. I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with that kiss. It made sense for her to swoon over him, but the fact that he—a man who could have any woman he wanted—was thinking about her was just too heady.

  “Follow me, we’re going to the master bedroom.”

  She didn’t wait for him as she walked to the corner staircase that led to the upper level. He soon caught up to her but didn’t say a word as she opened the hand-carved double doors. She had planned to point out how the carvings depicted the homecoming of Lord Rama, the event from Hindu mythology that formed the basis for Diwali. As the story went, the festival of lights came to be when Rama returned victorious after a battle against evil and all of the households in his kingdom lit diyas or candles to illuminate the way for him. She remembered from an interview she’d read that Diwali was Arjun’s favorite holiday. The doors had cost more than her annual income but she knew Arjun would appreciate the craftsmanship. Now she breezed past them into the master bedroom.

  It consisted of a main room, a luxurious bathroom suite and a sitting area. A four-poster bed with rich velvet drapes was the centerpiece of the space. Large windows along one wall glittered with the lights of the Vegas Strip. The windows had been finished with built-in privacy shades that could be opened and closed with the push of a button.

  She turned to him, expecting him to explore the room like he had downstairs. She’d handpicked every piece of furniture, including the antique silver side tables, a richly upholstered chaise longue, a couple of well-placed chairs, and a TV cleverly hidden behind a painting that slid aside by remote control.

  But Arjun wasn’t looking at the room. His eyes were on her. Dark and penetrating.

  “A month ago I was sure that I didn’t want to get personally involved with you,” she said tentatively. She bit her lip, trying to formulate her next words.

  “But now?” His voice was thick, the anticipation heavy.

  Rani had done a lot of thinking in the wake of Bob’s confession. She was done blaming herself; she had done nothing wrong. She hated working at RKS. Her stock in the company had risen and she realized that the respect she was getting now should have been hers all along. Word was already spreading that she’d won Arjun’s business for RKS, and firms were making subtle overtures towards her. With Arjun giving her the contract for the full hotel, she had even more power in the company. If they wanted to throw the morals clause at her, let them.

  She met his searing gaze, her chin up, her shoulders square. “Now I want to feel the way I did when you kissed me the first time.”

  He made a guttural sound. “You need to say the words, Rani. Do not play with me. Tell me what you want me to do to you.” His voice slid over her like hot fudge on a sundae. It melted any last doubts she had.

  “I want you. I need you to make love to me.” Who is this talking? Rani didn’t know where the words had come from. She’d never spoken to a man like that. Not even in her wildest Arjun fantasies.

  He didn’t waste a second. He closed the distance between them, cupped her face in his hand and brought his mouth down on hers. This time the kiss was exactly as she expected it to be, hard and bruising. She stood on her toes to get even closer to him and he bent down further. Every nerve inside her was alive, begging for his touch. She ran her hands along the muscles of his back, scratching lightly with her fingers, letting him know that she was ready for more. He groaned into her mouth and she pressed her body into his.

  Oh, he’s definitely feeling it too.

  * * *

  Arjun had meant to kiss her lightly and sweetly, something to tempt her into what he really wanted from her. But his lips had a mind of their own. They pressed against hers with naked need. His tongue darted out and plunged into her mouth, hungry for a taste of her. She fit perfectly into him and moaned when she felt his arousal. He shifted to mold himself to her body, all the while hungrily plundering her mouth. He dropped his hand from her cheek and ran it down her shoulder and over her waist. Her hands were in his hair, tugging and pulling. He reached underneath her blouse and cupped her breast through the lace of her bra. It was soft and round and heavy, her nipple taut.

  He wanted her. Bad. Unlike his brother, who partied and had one-night stands, Arjun enjoyed s
hort, discreet affairs. He always selected intelligent, career-minded women who understood from the start that their relationship would be short-lived and most importantly, needed to be kept private. His girlfriends were secure enough in their lives not to fall in love with him. Did Rani meet the last criterion? Could she be with him without losing her heart?

  A plaintive moan escaped her throat and the sound was desperately sexy. “Are you sure you want to do this here? Like this?” He half hoped she’d ask him to stop. When he’d imagined their first time—something he didn’t care to admit doing—he’d envisioned champagne and fine chocolates. And room service breakfast. Though now that he was in this room, there was poetry in christening it with the woman who was making his dream hotel come true.

  She reached into her jacket pocket and took out a condom. “I want this, Arjun.” Her voice was barely over a whisper. He took the foil packet from her hands and strode over to the nightstand, barely noticing the Calacatta marble top. He turned to her with a smile on his face. “I don’t think we’ll be needing that for a while. I plan to make sure you are good and ready before we get to that part.”

  Her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. The prim shirt did little to conceal the peaks of her nipples as they thrust forward.

  He shrugged off his jacket and draped it on the bench at the foot of the bed. Rani stood frozen, so he stepped behind her and kissed the back of her neck, enjoying the little shiver she gave up. He kissed her earlobe as he pushed her jacket down over her shoulders. He flung it onto the bench next to his. Then he lifted her shirt over her head and took it off. She gasped as he cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples through the thin lace of her bra. He unzipped her skirt and let it fall to the ground.

  “Um, there is one thing I need to tell you.”

  He took a breath. She’d been married before so he knew she wasn’t a virgin. That was a line he refused to cross. There were plenty of women in India who still believed in saving themselves for their husbands and he would never be the man to take that away from them.

  “I’ve only been with one man.”

  Arjun’s hands stilled. Somehow that didn’t surprise him. But it did complicate things. Would sex mean more to her than it did to him?

  Will she expect something from me?

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No!”

  She turned around so she was facing him and stepped close enough that her breasts were touching his chest. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not very experienced in how to treat a man in bed.”

  He touched her cheek. “I don’t think you need to worry about my pleasure.” He looked pointedly down to where his arousal was plainly visible. “But you do understand that there is no long-term future for the two of us. This is temporary.”

  She nodded vehemently. “I’m not looking for a relationship. I’ve done the Indian marriage and in-laws thing and it’s not for me. My career is my focus right now.”

  He should have been relieved, yet for some reason her words twisted in his heart. What did it matter anyway? She was on the same page as him, and that’s what was important.

  “Good, let’s show you what you’ve been missing.” He moved his hands to her bottom, then lifted her into his arms, causing her to squeal in surprise. He walked over to the bed and set her down. He went to unclasp her bra but her hands flew to her breasts.

  “You are beautiful, Rani.”

  She reached over and flipped the light switch on the wall, throwing the room into darkness. There was enough light from the windows that he could see Rani perched on the edge of the bed, her arms protectively around her chest. She truly was beautiful with just the right amount of womanly curves that stoked the fire already raging through his body.

  He didn’t need to ask her to know that her sexual experience hadn’t been great. It was obvious from the way she fought with herself, responding to him with open desire, then shutting down just as quickly. What’s the right move here? She was like a newborn kitten, eager to explore but afraid to approach. He was used to women who were sexually liberated, who told him how to deliver them pleasure. Women who knew what they wanted and weren’t shy about it. But with Rani, he’d have to figure out what drove her wild without scaring her away.

  He was up for the challenge.

  * * *

  What was I thinking? Rani had waxed, bought lacy underwear and packed a condom. Actually, a whole box of condoms. She’d spent a month of sleepless nights fantasizing about Arjun running his hands over her, imagined his naked body pressed against hers, his mouth ravaging her. In the cold light of day she’d had agonizing arguments with her heart about whether the risk was worth it. Finally she came to the conclusion that Arjun wasn’t from Las Vegas, or even an American. He wasn’t going to be around long-term so she didn’t have to think about what life with him would be like. This project would be over soon enough. Surely she could indulge herself, especially now that she knew Delia’s hypocritical secret.

  So tonight she’d been prepared, physically and mentally, for the kind of toe-curling sex Em talked about. And here she was, her entire body tingling in anticipation of his next touch, and yet she was letting Navin’s words worm into her thoughts.

  Some women don’t like sex. I think you’re one of them.

  Arjun came towards her and placed his arms on either side of hers. The lights from the Strip glimmered in his eyes. “Are you okay? We can stop now if you want.”

  Why does he keep asking me that? Was her nervousness that obvious? Or was he having doubts himself? In response, she began unbuttoning his shirt. It was time to see how well her mind had conjured his naked body in her dreams. When she was done with the buttons he shrugged off the shirt and leaned forward again, placing his palms on the bed. His face was a mere inch away from hers. She looked straight into his blazing eyes and unbuckled his belt. Very carefully, she unzipped his pants, touching his length with her hands as she went. He closed his eyes and took a sharp breath. She pushed his boxer briefs down with his pants and he kicked them off. She got her first look at him in the shadows and wished she hadn’t turned the lights off. Magnificent.

  Her imagination had not done him justice. Dark hair covered his chest. His legs were pure muscle, his arousal long and thick. She licked her lips, her mind completely emptying of all coherent thought. He stepped towards her, bent his head and kissed her. This time she kissed him back with abandon, sucking on his tongue the way she wanted to suck on him, letting him know just how much she ached for him.

  He ran his hand down her body, stopping to caress her breasts, then continued down to her stomach and—oh, thank you—right between her legs. Her bud was throbbing and his finger found it with ease, applying just the right amount of pressure to make her moan and feel a welcome rush of heat. For once in her life, she knew exactly what she wanted. She pushed her black lace panties down, then took hold of Arjun and guided him towards her. Just when his tip touched her swollen bud, he put his hands on top of hers and retreated.

  A moan of protest escaped her lips.

  “Not so fast.”

  She didn’t have the words to tell him she couldn’t wait, that the heat coursing through her was so intense that she would internally combust. He gently pushed her shoulders back until she was flat on the bed. When he nestled his head between her legs, she gasped. His tongue found her throbbing need and circled and sucked it. Then his fingers pushed into her gently, slowly, too damn slowly. She rocked against his finger, letting him know that she wanted it faster, harder.

  “Rani...” His voice was thick and husky and so wonderfully sexy but all she could think about was getting his mouth back on her. She lifted her head and weaved her fingers through his hair, grabbing a fistful. He got the message and pushed three fingers inside her. Suddenly an overwhelming crescendo seized her body, giving her that sweet release she’d been thirsting for. Her mind and body exploded
and she didn’t know how much time passed before she came down from the stratosphere and back into the real world.

  Wow. She thought she’d had orgasms before but it was like comparing the intensity of a candle flame to that of a roaring fire. I’ve really been missing out. Once again, Navin’s voice pierced her head, telling her that she was too reserved in bed, too unwilling to experiment. Too cold. She pushed Navin firmly out of her mind. She wasn’t going to let him spoil this glorious moment for her.

  She propped herself on her elbow to find Arjun laying a trail of kisses up her belly toward her breasts. He took one nipple in his mouth and teased it with his tongue. Whoa, whoa, whoa. The inferno inside her was ramping back up. His tongue was doing things that restoked that very delicious but raging fire deep within her. By the time he made it to her neck, she was writhing underneath him. A smile played on his lips as he lifted his head and looked at her. That damn sexy mouth. She reached up and kissed him, smelling herself on his lips. The scent drove her wild, as did the feel of his hardness against her. She reached between them and grabbed him. He put his hand on hers and stilled her. Am I doing it wrong?

  “Rani, if you’d like me to last a little while longer, you need to stop touching me.”

  What? I’m affecting him?

  “I want you inside me. Now.” She colored at the nakedness of her words.

  He groaned and lifted himself off her, grabbing the condom off the nightstand. He slipped it on as she watched. She expected him to plunge right into her but he returned his lips to her breast, suckling and teasing. She raised her pelvis, an open invitation, but he kept torturing her with his mouth and then his fingers. Finally, unable to take it any longer, she grabbed him and thrust upward, so he was inside her. She clenched against him. He rocked faster and faster, matching her rhythm. Then suddenly it came, the explosion that lit her world. Even more intense than the last, it took a while for her to come down from the high.