Radhika laid her head on her pillow and willed her galloping heart to a slow trot. She felt obnoxiously proud of herself. Did she really manage to run away from the torturous pleasure with her head held high? God, why was it that she felt so lost in his arms, with his tantalizing lips on her body making her ache in regions uncontrollable to her voluntary action.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Was there even a solution to this ensuing madness?
What could she do except rebuke her shameless body? What would it take to forget his hands, no those brutally beautiful lips on her..... breasts?
A hot water bath, that's what. A soak in the tub with a sensual, erotic romance to give her company with her legs pulled up to her chest and a drink by her side. Ah! Bliss.
She loved the feeling of a paperback in her fingers, the refreshing smell of paper, the way the dark, brooding, emotionally scarred men always seemed to capture her and take her to their paradise. A land away from reality, a land filled with unconditional love and happy endings. Radhika sighed, she loved this world. It felt peaceful to lose oneself in a land where every emotion nearly resonated within her with an equal, senseless force.
The thought in itself loosened some of those tightened muscles in her body. She jumped from her bed, searched her bag for the said novel and literally ran to the bathroom scared of his thoughts consuming her then and there.
Enjoying the warm water that lapped around her, she was feeling completely serene. Two minutes later, she heard a knock on her bathroom door with an entrance of a pure male, who stood near her tub with ferocity gleaming in his eyes, making her shriek and drop her book on the floor.
Radhika sputtered and splashed water around her,"A-Arjun....get out....now," she was thankful for the bubbles that was hiding her modesty from him. She pressed her legs against her chest as she continued to scream at him.
Arjun blinked, was she naked?
"You should lock your door, you know," he said, he was thunderstruck, she just looked so magnificent. Almost regal, with not an inch of makeup, her hair tied high up on her head in a bun, stray tendrils fanning her attractive face.
Was she reading a book? He looked at the book now perched on the bathroom floor. Ummm. Could he join her?
A deep longing enthralled him.
He could see those torturously long legs pressed deliciously against her soft, plush breasts that were half visible but looked splendid nevertheless.
That creamy skin, feathery sensation.
He was sure at that instant that people had it all wrong, heaven wasn't somewhere above. It was right here, buried in between those breasts.
Wow! She looks stunning, he thought.
Those exposed shoulders would be the death of him - so alluring, tempting and he just wanted to devour her completely and thoroughly.
He strode towards her with purpose and in one deft moment, his mouth covered hers, completely devouring her. He couldn't think of anything as their tongues meshed together and explored every inch of each other's mouth. All he could think was branding her his. He found her deep intake of breath and the flutter of her eyes seductive especially when his fingers skimmed lightly over the tips of her breasts.
The sensual vibrations that seeped into her very soul screamed his name. Her shoulder seemed to be on fire as his fingers moved erotically on them almost tracing a pattern.
He kissed the middle of her throat. He felt a hitch in her breathing as his larger, rougher fingers stroked her arms. One of her hands tangled in his hair, the other made a small fist against his back, and he felt himself being pulled closer to her soft, delicious body.
He continued the trail; licking her shoulders tracing varied patterns. He stopped to look at her with eyes glazed with lust and almost let himself get carried away looking at the way her eyes twinkled and her breath came in shorts.
His lips sought the little space between her neck and the shoulder and he glazed his tongue lightly on her skin, enjoying her sweet taste, he knew he was going to get addicted to it. He bit her skin as she gasped and before her protests could start, started sucking her neck leaving behind his mark in the form of a love bite.
With a humongous effort, he pulled himself off her; he squeezed her closer to him as he enclosed her in both his arms, with his chin resting delicately on her shoulder , his shirt wet not that he cared about that," How is that for performance?" he asked her.
Radhika took deep breaths and looked at him with eyes filled with anger, "How dare you give me a hickey, get out, now."
What? She looked confused. Wasn't she supposed to be screaming at him for kissing her?
Well, the way her heart was thudding, she would say his performance deserved an encore. What a performance. She definitely wanted a repeat, hundreds of repeats.
He pointed to the love-bite and said," That there is a proof that we're equal now," he smirked at her as he took two steps back," And Radhika?"
She glared at him and aimed her shampoo bottle at him with every intention of throwing it, "Leave."
He laughed," That romance novel is nothing compared to the real thing," winked and left the room.
*********************
During dinner, she was a bit lost, he behaved as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't left him on the court all alone in want and need, as if he hadn't barged in her bathroom and kissed her while she was naked. On the other hand, he was a thorough gentleman, opening the doors for her and not even kissing her when they retired for the night. Why? Was it a ploy to baffle her? Or had he lost interest in her?
He seemed entirely unaffected as if what transpired between them that evening had been just a dream, a fantasy conjured by her.
As she picked up her comb, she mused, was it that he was enjoying his night with some stupidly beautiful girl? Did she meet someone on his way back from her room to his?
That even sounded silly to her but then what were the odds really.
Radhika threw the harmless comb on the bed as the vicious green monster with its sharp fangs overtook her mind and heart. She rubbed the heel of her palm on her chest, why was she feeling this sinking pain, as if someone had just stabbed her. After all, she had no right to be jealous, he was a free man and could do anything, anyone in his free time. Why would...should she care?
A debilitating urge to call him engulfed her, if he picked up the phone and his voice was labored, she was so going to kill him. But, what if a lady with an equally sexy voice picked it up?
Only one way to find it, wasn't there a rule of etiquette against such calls? But, they weren't in a relationship so nothing applied to them, right.
Now, she repented not dating much. How pathetic, she did not even know the boundaries.
Radhika stood from her dressing chair and before her courage deserted her, and picked up the intercom.
"Hi, can you please connect me to room number 522?"
She tapped her foot as she waited for him to pick up his phone. Was he doing her now? Was her call going to disturb them? Oh god, why was she acting like a teen again, what was she going to say.
"Hello," a deep masculine voice that send those stupid tingles in her belly spoke in the phone.
"Hi, Arjun."
"Radhika?"
"Ummm. Yeah?!" Radhika was perplexed, what was she supposed to say now.
Take it coolly!
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, you sure?" His voice sounded worried.
Awww,he is worried for me, so cute! Stop it, Radhika. What the hell, had he mixed something in her fruit drink at dinner.
"I just wanted to ummm....confirm the time for the meeting tomorrow...yeah....nine am, right?" She said trying to sound confident and praying to the lord above for him to not pick up her nervous tone.
"Yeah."
"Okay, don't be late? I put punctuality at a high pedestal," and before he could reply, she hung up blatantly pleased with herself for having the last word. Great! He was all alone and now she could sleep.
But....why was it that he always remained so cool headed and indifferent while her emotions created havoc within her?
Radhika huffed and paced her room, what was wrong with her. She was so not infatuated by that mean man. It must be his hero like qualities that came in the fore front that evening when they discussed his charity, which must be confusing her emotions for him.
She had to do something fruitful before she did something silly like barge in his room and ask him to take her then and there. Right on his bed or on his floor?
God! What?
She pulled back the bed covers, jumped on her bed and quickly closed her eyes forcing sleep to overcome her before her thoughts tried to mush her brain further.
Arjun smiled as he replaced the receiver of the phone. She was so sweet and wow. He didn't dare take any liberties with her not when, he was so close to come undone. No God, he still couldn't get over the fact that it was her that evening who had responded so enthusiastically to his bidding. There she was naked and all he could think was joining her in that little tub. It had required inhuman strength to remove himself from the room, one more second, and he wouldn't have been responsible for his actions.
Radhika was an amazing girl. Normally, he was bowled over seeing her kindness and warm heart but today, her feistiness just seemed to make him need more.
Desire, yes.
He could feel that for her, had always felt it for her but today, it was different. The way she had trembled in his arms, her carefree run, her smile too wonderful and true and the warmth that he could feel from her; all elicited in him feelings that he had long buried deep somewhere.
She was breaking all the rules, rules that he had made long ago and served as guidelines for him till now. Radhika was setting him free and he loved this new sensation that coursed through him. He simply wanted to be the one to hold her, make her smile, and get lost in her equally sweet fragrance.
He sat down and poured himself a drink, had she become an obsession for him after all these years? Was it for her that he had strived relentlessly till now?
He couldn't help but smile when he thought of the way she helped a little girl en-route to dinner, who had a crayon and a paper in her hand, her clothes smudged with chocolate and was trying to climb her stool but failing relentlessly; Radhika went up to her and without caring about the stunning cocktail dress that curved on to her making her dazzle and shine, she helped her on to the stool. Arjun felt his lips curve when he thought of how Radhika had laughed while cleaning bits of chocolate that had been encrusted on her dress and even joked about how delicious she tasted. That seemingly wonderful gesture had not failed to tug his heart.
She was beautiful with a big, warm heart.
Was this simple plain attraction, or something more deep? Could this be........
Was this the........stirrings of love? Had he always loved her?
Hell, Arjun went and stood near the window, watching the entire ocean drenched in moonlight, it looked so naturally elegant just like his Radhika. He couldn't believe it, it didn't matter to him what happened all those years back.
Today was what mattered. Radhika was an independent, successful woman who gave him as good as she took. She stood up for her beliefs and never fretted to tell him when he was wrong. Never had he met a woman who arose such intense feelings in him, she made him feel alive, soothed away his tensions. Just being with her seemed enough to him.
If this wasn't love then what was love? He wanted to explore more, he wanted to find out the true meaning behind their relationship.
What more could he want from a woman, his woman. Needless, to say, the chemistry between them was sensational. He wanted to talk to her endlessly, make love to her.....again and again.
He loved teasing her, pleasing her; he could do anything for her laugh. Finally, it was time to let go of the past but embrace the glorious future with its uncertainties.
Arjun heaved a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He would win over her and make her realize that he needed her as much as she needed him. Let the past go to hell. She would be his.
Yes, he would make her all his.
*****************
In the coffee shop, Radhika was waiting for him. She wore a sleeveless collared grey knee length dress, looking qualified, prim and proper, ready to take on the world. She gave him a big smile and the sight of her made him feel like the sun had come up to brighten his day.
He sat down across from her and ordered coffee-he'd had breakfast delivered to his room earlier-and watched her put away a big plate of French toast with fresh fruits.
Arjun had to drag his eyes away from the temptation of her cleavage. His deep abdominals clenched as he thought about her gorgeous nipples behind the dress. She was leaning forward slightly, her body so close he could have reached out and touched her...
"Nice dress, I see you have been able to hide my love bite," he said smugly.
Radhika narrowed eyes at him," Thanks to the amazing thing called concealer."
He pulled her towards him and leaned forward, "Look as tempting as that again and all the concealers in the world will finish but you won't be able to get rid of my bites."
The huskiness of his voice coupled with his seductive glint in his eyes was already making Radhika's heart hammer.
Swallowing a mouthful of French toast, she resisted the temptation and said, "So, today we're all set. You know I love these butterflies I get right before the d-day moment."
"I can't wait." He tried to sound balanced. But her enthusiasm was contagious.
She smiled at him.
"You know what they say about good luck kisses?" He winked at her sounding hopeful.
"I know that look, Arjun." She shook her last piece of fruit at him. "Forget it. Not happening." And then she gazed at him from under lashes. "Not right now, anyways."
He saw his opening and went for it. "After the meeting, then?"
She ate the fruit, wiped her appealing lips with her napkin. "Won't it be fruitless then?"
"A kiss from you can never be fruitless...."
Radhika rolled her eyes and stood up," Be focused for now."
"I am, on your lips," Arjun retorted enjoying their banter as took her brief case from her hands.
As they entered the elevator, he yanked her into his arms and captured her lips in a deep and soul-searing kiss.
Radhika felt her whole body jolt in reaction as he deepened the kiss, her skin shivering with anticipation as his free hand moved from the rail in the elevator to her back. His touch leaving her breathless.
She loved the kiss as it seared through her heart; it was electrifying and passionate, hard and soft, warm and tender and totally captivating.
She arched into him, moaning, wanting more. She loved the way her lips molded with hers, how the world seemed to shut down when they came together leaving in its wake a hot trail of emotions.
She wanted more, more and more.
He pulled back from her after a breathless moment or two, his eyes still dark with desire as they held hers. "I wasn't entering that room without my good luck kiss and don't bother rebuking me for a deed that will merely happen again soon," he said with his arms still around her.
"A mere possibility that I will surely love to nip..."Radhika somehow blurted the words and extricated herself from his strong arms before he looked her way and grinned.
"Nah! A certainty that you will enjoy," he chided, mischievous eyes glinting at her as he tapped her nose with his finger and stood next to her with a polite smile on his face.
YOU ARE READING
Sweet Surrender (Complete)
Romance(Mature Content) In eight years since their heart-wrenching breakup, a lot has changed for Radhika Verma. She transformed from the lovey dovey girl to a hardworking UN Special Forces agent. Unfortunately that means spending time with her past, Arjun...
