Ex Factor

by Varsha Dixit

  Gina was staring straight in his eyes. Her eyes were dilated, the top of her cheeks looked flushed with color, and her lips were parted. Her chest rose and fell lightly for her breathing wasn’t steady.

  Ojas blinked and his grip loosened around her arm. His thumb unconsciously stroked the soft skin above her elbow. Gina shivered. Ojas noticed the pink tip of Gina’s tongue dart out and flick the side of her lips.

  Ojas could not believe what he was seeing. Gina was aroused. Bewilderment slammed into him and he swallowed. An embarrassed noise that almost sounded like a chuckle slipped from his lips.

  Gina’s lips clamped up and she pulled her arm, but Ojas didn’t let go. “Stop laughing at me. Yeah, so I want you! It’s not my fault. Probably just my hormones,” she hissed. Anger seeped her expressions.

  Something came and went in his face. “Is it your hormones?” Ojas said, his voice soft, eyes hooded.

  His look made Gina nervous. She licked her lips again. Ojas’s eyes followed the movement. He stood there like he was carved in rock. Immovable, impenetrable!

  Gina couldn’t stop the rush of words. “I haven’t been with someone since we. . . so when I saw you,” she ran her eyes over Ojas’s bare shoulders and chest, “I umm,” she cleared her throat. Her eye kept skittering away from his face. “Not I…” she took in a deep breath, “My body reacted.” She again pulled at her arm. Ojas kept holding it even as his mouth softened.

  To kill her nervousness at being alone and so close to a barely-covered Ojas, Gina kept talking, fighting the lethargy slowly crawling over her body. Her control was slipping away from her. Her mind and body were shouting at her to shut up and savor his closeness and gaze in his eyes. “It’s temporary! Means nothing so you don’t have to worry. . .” Gina’s laugh was awfully forced. “I’m totally okay with you being cold aloof or indifferent to me. I don’t care!” Gina finished, her last words coming out with a fractured rush of breath. Gina fell silent, fidgety, and skittish.

  After a few seconds of complete silence between them where all they heard were the crickets in the garden, Ojas spoke, “You think I’m aloof?” His voice was deep. Blood was hammering in his head. He couldn’t think straight. Every thought was banished from his mind except the fact that Gina desired him. How is this possible? How can she want someone like me?

  He truly would have to start believing in miracles. Ojas couldn’t take his eyes off Gina’s delectable mouth or her beautiful face. His mind and reason had taken a flight. All he could do was repeat what she had said. “You think I’m indifferent to you?

  “Yes, and you should be. After all, we are divorced.” Gina’s voice wobbled. She still avoided looking at Ojas. “This is how people who are no longer together behave. Cold and unattached.”

  “You think I’m cold and unattached to you?” Ojas took a step toward Gina. There were only inches separating them. He was close enough to feel her scent wash over him.

  Gina, slowly, blinked and raised her face to him. “Why are you repeating what I’m saying?” How dare he sound incredulous? Her unhinged feelings snapped her already frayed control. “You have ignored me from the moment I got here. I totally understand, because having me around must be putting a strain on any dating plans you might have. I get it. I’m a thorn in your side! A pain in your ass. But don’t worry!” Gina whipped her hair to a side. “You will not have to suffer me for long. In fact, tomorrow you can forget all about me. And actually, I think you already have—”

  Ojas cut her off and simply fused his lips with Gina before she could finish her sentence. This wasn’t a kiss of love. It was a kiss of longing, of years of craving for the other. Ojas poured his heart in that kiss.

  Ruled by passion for the man who was kissing her so thoroughly, Gina sank into Ojas, melting against his body. The feel of his moist, salty skin warmed her up. She opened her lips to him, and he groaned as his tongue darted in and tangled with hers, and then he sucked it deeply. Gina felt toe-curling pleasure and kissed him back with ardor. His tongue kept thrusting in her mouth, plundering its sweet, honeyed depths.

  For several minutes, Gina and Ojas tasted each other like they were starving. Ojas broke the kiss only to catch his breath, but his lips stayed close to Gina, dropping small kisses across the seam of her soft lips. “Can’t you see? I’m anything but cold or indifferent to you, sweet Gina.” His lips moved from her lips to her jaw as he pressed urgent kisses on her perfumed skin. He only paused in between to lick her skin and then kiss it again.

  Gina half opened her eyes that were laden and dark with desire. She came alive at his touch. There is no feeling like the feeling of being in Ojas’s arm, nothing as hot as his mouth. Every cell in her body was singing in rapture, dancing in ecstasy. “Ojas!” His name was a sigh on her lips.

  Ojas raised his head slightly, his lips brushing over hers, his hot breath grazing her face. “Tell me you believe me? Tell me, Gina?” He said staring deeply in her eyes. Ojas looked at her like he would devour her. Gina shivered. She wanted to be devoured.

  “I believe you!” Gina whispered, her voice throaty. The look she gave him was of a siren luring Ojas to lose himself in her. He was lost to Gina’s eyes, the feel of her curvy body in his arms, her softly scented skin touching him. A sound that seemed like a growl emanated from Ojas’s throat and in a sudden movement, his hand reached out and pulled Gina into him. Not expecting the movement, Gina lost her balance and fell into him. Ojas put a hand on the wall behind them to balance them both. His other arm snaked around Gina’s waist and clamped her to him.

  “Ojas?” Gina whispered longingly, looking up at Ojas as he looked down at her. His eyes were positively glittering.

  “You are not a thorn,” Ojas said, lowering his head again. His intention was clear. “You are heaven, my heaven.” His lips hovered over Gina’s. “I don’t know how to be indifferent to someone who rules every second of my thoughts. How can I be cold to you, sweetheart? What I don’t understand is how can you want someone like me?”

  Gina saw the pain in Ojas’s eyes and it slashed her deep. She had to do something, anything to make him feel better. Gina ran her hands, palms down, slowly and deliberately up his arms. She saw his expression change and felt Ojas’s body react to her touch. She did not hide her passion. She arched into him, letting his taut strength touch every inch of her. Gina’s belly tightened in ravenous desire.

  Keeping one hand clamped around her, Ojas reached up and caressed Gina’s cheek with his other hand. Gina turned her face into his hand as she looked at him from under her lashes. Ojas thought he would die of desire. The feel of Gina’s sweet curves against his hard body left him yearning for more. His hand moved down to her soft breast, kneading it urgently.

  “Don’t stop!” Gina cried out. Her lashes fluttered to her cheeks as she arched to his touch, the warmth of his palm searing through her thin cotton top. Her nipples hardened to his hand’s ministrations.

  “I can’t even if I tried…I just can’t!” Ojas’s voice was tortured like a man who was done denying himself. He rolled her nipple between his forefinger and thumb, and it tightened painfully. Gina blindly reached for his mouth and Ojas met her halfway. Instinctively, Gina pushed her tongue in his mouth.

  In response, Ojas tightened his arm around her waist, pulling her up into his muscled strength, crushing his lips against her. Gina felt engulfed by the heat from his kisses. His tongue explored her mouth like it were a succulent and juicy fruit.

  Gina put her hand on his chest and without even realizing, her fingers moved up his muscled torso, learning and relearning Ojas’s shape. His mouth travelled from her lips to her collarbone. Ojas traced the shape of her collarbone, dropping lingering wet kisses. His mouth finally settled into the hollow of her neck, sucking and kissing deeply.

  Gina felt like she was on fire. Her body restlessly moved against Ojas. She rubbed herself over his arousal and Ojas rewarded her by thrusting his hard arousal deeper into her soft belly. They both moaned at the pleasure th
e friction gave them.

  Ojas sucked and licked harder at the silky skin on her neck as Gina, her eyes closed in pleasure, as she savored the possessiveness of his touch. “I adore you, Gina!” He murmured against her skin.

  Gina clasped Ojas’s head close to her and rubbed the side of her face in his thick dark hair that tickled her cheeks, as his mouth continued to lavish her neck with attention.

  Ojas gently walked her back into the wall. Hot forks of sensation ran through Gina as she leaned back. Ojas raised his head and looked at her. The hot look in his eyes made Gina quiver. She knew there was more coming. Ojas wasn’t done, he was simply freeing his other hand.

  Ojas took in Gina’s desire laden eyes. He cupped her face; her skin was soft and flushed, her lips reddened and swollen from their kissing.

  An arrested look in his eyes, Ojas kissed her deeply and Gina clung to his lips as her hands clung to his wide, muscled shoulders. Ojas’s hands moved to her breasts, kneading and shaping the soft mounds, her nipples clearly outlined against the thin cotton top. Gina shuddered under his touch.

  Pulling apart slightly, sounding most pleased, Ojas murmured against her lips. “You are not wearing a bra!”

  Gina remembered that her bra was under her pillow; she always took it off once she got in the bed.

  “I’m not complaining!” Ojas said, a wolfish grin lifting his lips on one side. “Never complaining for these!” He sobered as his hands cupped her breasts, letting the weight of them rest in his hands. His eyes met hers. Gina caught her breath. She knew that look.

  In the past, Ojas loved to watch Gina as he touched her, catching the tiniest of her expression, gesture, and moans as his hands roved freely over her naked body. He had given her the most pleasure when he had that look in his eyes. Pleasure that drove every other thought from her mind except that she had to be his. Gina felt her stomach muscles quiver. Her knees felt weak. “Ojas!” Her voice was thick.

  Ojas’s thumbs drew slow wide circles around her nipples. Intense pleasure sparked in her. Gina bit her lip. “Please!” she whispered, looking deep in his eyes. He could see what she wanted.

  Ojas nodded. The circles grew shorter and faster. “You are in my every breath, my queen!” His voice was guttural as Ojas lowered his head. Gina felt like her blood was raging with the cold sweet fire. His fingers weren’t steady as he unbuttoned her top. Gina’s ragged breathing matched his.

  Ojas pulled the flaps of her top gently aside and bared Gina’s breasts to his hungry gaze. He sucked in his breath. They were even more perfect and beautiful than he remembered. “I... I…” Ojas could not bring himself to finish his words as he lowered his head to her perky mounds.

  Gina shivered as the cool air touched her breasts. But she knew they wouldn’t be cold for long. As Ojas’s head lowered past her chin, Gina turned her face sideways, her eyes closed, her body tightening in anticipation.

  Pushing her breasts together, Ojas’s leaned forward, pressing his face in them, nuzzling her glorious spheres. He inhaled her floral scent deeply and then turning his head, Ojas’s tongue darted out and unhurriedly and generously licked her one nipple.

  Gina could not stop her moan as she arched her back, pushing her breast further toward his mouth.

  Ojas did not disappoint. He shifted his face and his hot wet mouth settled on her breast, licking and sucking. The repetitive flick of his rough velvet tongue on her nipple pushed Gina over the edge. She thought she would explode if she did not have more of him. Her hands ran repeatedly up and down Ojas’s muscled shoulder and back, arching into his mouth, grinding her pelvis into his arousal all the while holding him close to her.

  Gina slid her fingers deep in his thick hair, guided his head to her other breast. Ojas was more than happy to oblige. His mouth closed around Gina’s other milky breast, his tongue urgently flicking her aureole.

  Gina mewed. The pleasure was intense. She thought she would pass out. Ojas was merciless as he sucked her mounds. Gina glanced down and she saw his dark head against her pale skin. Her breasts glistened wet.

  “Please don’t stop!” Gina begged. All that mattered was her release which she knew she could only find with Ojas.

  “Never!” Ojas’s word was muffled by her breasts. His hand grazed her bare thigh under her shorts even as his mouth continued to kiss and lave at her breasts.

  Gina slackened her legs, giving his probing fingers easy access to her damp and swollen center. He felt her through her shorts. She was already damp and ripe for his taking. Ojas thought he would come in his swimwear.

  Moaning, Gina urgently rode up and down his fingers, pressing her wet center onto his fingers. “You complete me!” The words were dragged out of her throat.

  Ojas’s hand, that was now pulling her shorts down, stilled. Frustrated and still caught in the throes of passion, Gina grabbed his hand and tried to guide it to the moisture dripping place between her legs. The one that was throbbing hard for him.

  Ojas shook her hand away and Gina felt him remove his other arm, slowly, from around her waist. Gina blew the air out of her cheeks. She could feel Ojas withdrawing from her, physically and emotionally. But she could not understand why.

  Gina moved her mouth, but no words came. Dazed, she sagged against the wall, watching Ojas as he straightened her clothes and buttoned her top, taking extra care not to touch her breasts even accidentally. Gina felt bereft without his touch. She wanted to cry, for even in his sudden distance she could feel one thing: Ojas’s love for her. She could feel it. He had not said the words, but Gina knew that Ojas still loved her. Actions truly speak louder than words! The indifference she had earlier perceived in him was a sham. He was hiding his feelings for her. Gina felt unexpected hope and happiness bubbling in her.

  Having buttoned her top, Ojas looked up at her. His knuckles lightly grazed her chin. Gina saw his Adam’s apple bob as his fingers gently stroked her cheek. His eyes were distant and dull. Gina knew that expression; she realized that she still knew her husband well. It wasn’t only how he liked his after-dinner coffee. She remembered it all. Ojas was sad, very sad. Dropping his hand, he took a step back and began to turn away from her.

  Gina swallowed the sudden tears choking her throat. “Ojas, what happened? Why did…why did you stop?”

  Ojas paused, his face in profile. “I don’t complete you, Gina. I harm you. Go away! Go away before I screw your life,” he paused briefly, his voice thick and then continued, “again! Please, just leave and never come back.” Pivoting away, Ojas walked away from Gina. He went inside the house without glancing once at her.

  Chapter 29

  Next day, Satinder supervised as the helper packed the medicines etc. in the bag Satinder would be carrying with him.

  A knock sounded at the door. “Come in.” Satinder assumed it was Ojas’s PA to inquire of Satinder’s wellbeing.

  The door opened. It was Kamla Purohit.

  Satinder and Kamla stared at each other awkwardly, and then Kamla entered the room, somewhat hesitant.

  Satinder nodded his head, unsure of what to say. He realized the feeling of obligation to Ojas had numbed his anger. If it had been before the accident, he would have been downright chilly to Kamla or anyone even remotely connected to Ojas. However, now Satinder felt no annoyance toward any of them. There was lingering sadness though, for what the children of both the families had suffered.

  “How is your leg? Hope you managed to get some sleep?” Kamla asked, her expression concerned.

  “It’s getting better, thank you.” Satinder cleared his throat. He was about to eat humble pie and it was hard for someone as proud as him. “Thank you for letting us stay in your house and for the care you provided.”

  “You don’t have to thank us for anything. It was no trouble at all. This is the least we could do. After all, we are rela—” Kamla caught the slip of her tongue. “We are just glad that we were here to help. Is Gina still asleep?”

  “No, she has gone for a bath,” Satinder said.


  Gina had come in around 6:30 am to check on him. Satinder had noticed the dark circles under her eyes. It was obvious she had barely slept. She has trouble sleeping in a new place, is what Gina passed off her dark circles as.

  While pottering around him, Gina had been very quiet, and Satinder had more than once caught a look of utter misery in her eyes. Gina was hurting and he had a feeling he knew why.

  “I have made tiffin for the plane with sandwiches, biscuits, and fruits. Can I pack something else, something more filling if you wish?” Kamla asked.

  Satinder shook his head vehemently. “No, no, please don’t bother. It’s a short flight. You have done more than enough, truly.” He shifted on his bed, feeling completely restricted by his cast.

  They both lapsed into silence, unsure of what to say. The attendant picked up the tray with the remnants of Satinder’s breakfast and left the room.

  Kamla scratched her hand and then cleared her throat. She sat down hurriedly on the upholstered chair facing his bed. “Please don’t get upset, Mr. Bansal but I have to say something. Based on what I have been observing since last evening.” She leaned forward. “I don’t think Ojas and Gina have really moved on after their divorce.” Kamla paused, wincing as she expected Gina’s father to shout or come back at her with a loud denial. She was in for a surprise. A big one!

  “I agree! I, too, have been observing them.” Satinder nodded, rubbing his chin. “I’m not completely sure if Ojas is worthy of Gina because of how he treated her five years ago.” He sighed. “But I see a change in him. Or maybe, he has become what he was before the terrorist attack.”