If You Let Me Go: A Sweet Romance (First Love Billionaire Romance novel)

by Sonia Rao

  All day long, meetings and presentations and workshops kept her and her team occupied. On and off, she thought she glimpsed VK but she could not be sure if it was her imagination or it was for real.

  Just after lunch, when Shivalika was hurrying over to a presentation on design, she bumped into Maurice. At the same time, through the corner of her eye, she sensed VK hovering around nearby from where he could both see and hear her clearly.

  “Maurice! How are you?” she shouted and hugging him, kissed him fully on the lips.

  “Mon Dieu! That’s some welcome, mon amour!” Maurice seemed mildly surprised but looked like he was loving it.

  “I’m grown up now. See, I’m not afraid to kiss you.”

  “True that.” And then he went close to her ear and whispered, “Still besotted by that gentleman, VK?”

  Shivalika sprung back in shock, her eyes betraying the truth.

  “I love you, Shivalika. But go after him. He loves you as much if not more. I saw it in his eyes the first time we met.”

  Shivalika stood there, twisting a lock of her hair around her fingers. What Maurice said made her think, but she would not give in to VK. She could not bear cheating in any way.

  “But I will always be there for you, mon amour, if you ever want to join me, in my life or even just my work.”

  Shivalika planted another big kiss on Maurice’s lips and left for the presentation.

  When she reached her room after dinner, VK was waiting outside. How did he know where she was staying?

  She ignored him. If he hated her, so be it. She had already shamed herself and did not see any sense in letting him see her true feelings for him again.

  “Shivalika, will you have dinner with me?” His voice was hesitant, a first if ever where VK was concerned. She had never heard him speak this way.

  “No, I am not sure that is such a good idea.” Opening the door of her room she said, “It is better we never meet each other again.” She shut the door behind her and then burst into tears. Would she ever be able to forget him? How did she plan to spend her lonely life without him? Maybe she could help her aunt in social work who was always telling her she was short of volunteers. Perhaps she would actually take up the job offer from Maurice.

  CHAPTER 23

  By the time 4pm rolled out, Shivalika was exhausted. The next day was their last day at the Symposium and everyone wanted to cram in everything they could in that much time. Catch-up meetings with other designers, a visit to the famed Picasso museum and even a visit to the beach. The last was something she now planned to do. Maurice had given her directions to a private stretch of beach where she could swim in peace. Fortunately, she had carried along her swimsuit.

  Her team members planned to meet her for drinks just before dinner.

  VK was not to be seen anywhere. Not that she was looking for him. Good he had got the message that she was not to be messed with.

  Inside her room, Shivalika changed into her swimsuit and wore the sarong over it. Pushing up her aviators on her head, she grabbed a tote and stuffed her towel, sunscreen, phone, keys and wallet into it. She was set for a couple of hours of swimming and soaking herself in water. What bliss.

  The concierge at the hotel’s lobby gave her very precise directions to the secluded beach. It was walking distance away and she set out for some much-needed self-care. Swimming would also help her get her frazzled mind in order. Seeing VK again had set her heart thumping and pumping overtime. It was obvious she was not over him yet. Time is a great healer, people often said that, but she wondered if those people had ever suffered a loss so deep it felt like the soul was hurt.

  “Wow!” The words escaped from her when she saw the private nook of the beach. High craggy rocks on either side sheltered the sea from prying eyes. This was a remote place not known to many so Shivalika was alone as she dropped off her sarong, her footwear, tote bag and aviators on the beach and went running towards the water.

  She dipped her toe into the water and jerked back. It was cold. But if she hesitated she would not be able to swim. She dived in bravely. Once her body got over the shock of the sudden cold, it adjusted rapidly. Shivalika stayed stock still as her body’s temperature as well as the water’s equalized. Then she began swimming. She did a few laps up and down the stretch of water, getting the blood flowing. The endorphins released gave her a nice high and she continued swimming for some time. After some time, she lay on her back on the water and just floated along, watching the evening sky and the birds that flew across, so carefree and bold.

  It was soon time to go back to the hotel. But Shivalika was not yet ready to leave. She dived below and decided to swim underwater for some time. She had good breath retention ability and that made swimming even more fun. Anyone watching from the shore would not be able to see her.

  “Shivalika! Shivalika!” Broken out of her reverie with the sound of her name, Shivalika recognized it as VK’s voice. Was she hallucinating? Were all her suppressed emotions for him being manifested in her imagination where she was hearing him call out her name? That was too spooky and she shook her head. And then she heard her name being shouted out accompanied by sounds of splashing water. For a moment she was confused. VK was actually here. And when understanding dawned she screamed, “You idiot, VK.” She was right because the very next moment, she heard him shouting, “Help! Help!” Just like she had expected.

  Shivalika dove inside the water again, swimming swiftly to where she thought VK’s voice was coming from. The waters of this beach had the reputation for turning dangerous at any time and they took this very moment to show their nature. Before she could reach him, huge waves came crashing towards them, making it difficult to swim even for her with her swimming skill. And VK could not even swim!

  “VK! VK! Where are you?” Shivalika screamed. These were not waters for novices. They stood no chance against this force. At that moment, she got the glimpse of a hand before it disappeared from view. Shivalika swam towards that place swiftly, praying hard. Her pleas got answered as she found VK, who had been rendered almost senseless. With a superhuman power which she would later wonder how she got, she held onto him and swam towards the shore. As soon as she reached land, she got into the act.

  Pressing both her hands down, she pushed hard on his chest. There seemed to be no effect. She continued doing it, frantically shouting,“VK, open your eyes. VK...my love...please open your eyes.”

  Pinching his nose, she blew air into VK’s mouth. No response. She was getting even more desperate. She would not let anything happen to him. She blew hard again into his mouth. Tears formed in her eyes at the failure of her efforts. “Please...O God, please...wake up, VK...open your eyes.” She blew hard once more and VK sat up with a jerk, throwing out all the sea water he had swallowed.

  Shivalika sat back in relief, her palms covering her face. Once he had gained his breath, he looked at Shivalika. “You saved my life.”

  “You idiot, why did you jump into the water when you don’t know how to swim.” She began pounding his chest with her fists. She had been so close to losing him.

  “I couldn’t see you when I reached here and saw all your stuff lying here. I was sure you’d drowned.”

  “But you knew I am a very good swimmer. Or had you forgotten,” Shivalika said, her face twisted into a scowl as she again remembered that he was a cheating, lying cad.

  “These waters are known to be treacherous. And if I couldn’t save you, I didn’t want to live in a world in which you did not exist.” Before he could say anything further, his mouth was covered with the searching pressure of her lips. Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as the delayed effects of the trauma she had suffered took effect. Seeing VK lying unconscious on the sand had brought to her the truth that she would never be able to get over VK.

  “Shivalika, I love you.” He pulled her closer and held her tight. Shivalika, could not fight it...did not want to fight it. She was safe and exactly where she needed to be. There would be ti
me to question him about Misha but now she was being offered a slice of heaven and she was not a fool to say no to it.

  “I missed you so much, my darling,” VK said, his voice husky with love. His words were like a fire to the tinder of her emotions. Her tears had drained off all her despair and knowing that VK was safe, her mind moved to more pressing matters.

  The full weight of her body was pressing VK into the sand, she was sure, but her lips would not stay still. They were calling out to his lips, wanting to capture them, to taste them, to own them. She could hear VK say something but this was not the time for words. She moaned as the salty tang of his lips met her mouth. Her heart had begun its hijinks, pounding hard inside her chest. She held the beloved face in both her hands and planted kisses all over. On the eyes, the cheeks, the forehead and back to the cheeks. How adorable and lovable he was. How had she imagined she could ever live without him?

  Her gentle kisses had ignited his own fire. In a swift move, he was now on top of her, his lips pressing down on hers, demanding satisfaction. His lips moved on to her earlobes, catching them between his teeth. As he bit them gently, Shivalika moaned, flaming the fires of his desire higher. He held her in a tight embrace, his hard chest the perfect foil for her softness. His lips went on a rampage, raining kisses along her jaw till they found the tender, sensitive hollow in her throat. And then they were back on her lips, gently nudging them to receive his tangy, salty essence. Every nerve in Shivalika’s body vibrated like a tuning fork to every action he took.

  She craved a deeper touch. Her fingers curled into the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him down to her, closer, much closer till they clung to each other like they would merge into one.

  VK groaned as her sweet scent enveloped him. Like a drooping plant that gets a load of sunshine, he sucked on the sweet nectar of her lips which he had dreamed of for so many months and had feared he would never be able to partake of again.

  “I don't know how I managed to live without seeing you, without hearing you, all these months,” VK whispered huskily against her cheek.

  Shivalika held him tighter in her embrace, trying to soothe his pain. She had been hurt too by their separation but hearing about his pain made her hurt even more.

  “I was afraid I’d taken advantage of you in Paris by kissing you, in your vulnerable condition. I wanted to do the right thing—keep away from you and let you heal. But I couldn’t. You were my first thought when I woke up and the last when I went to sleep. No, that’s not true. You were always in my thoughts.”

  Shivalika planted a big kiss on his lips and there was silence as they explored each other some more, like explorers on a virgin island.

  After some time, satiated for the time being, they cuddled together on the sand.

  “That day, you ran away from me, after Misha’s call. You did not wait to hear what I had to say.”

  Shivalika put her finger on his lips, to stop him from speaking. “I was wrong. I should have stayed and fought for you. So, if you are still engaged to her, I don’t care. You will have to break up with her. You are mine. You’ve always been mine and will always remain mine,” she said, her eyes blazing.

  “I’m feeling like there’s a role reversal happening here. Isn’t the guy supposed to be saying all these things?”

  “Whoever loves more says it.”

  “Then I should be the one saying it.”

  “No, it’s me.”

  “No, no. It’s me and I can prove it.” He caught hold of Shivalika and let his mouth do all the proving.

  “I never got engaged to Misha, despite her getting the rings ready,” VK said, with a short laugh. They were now lying side by side in the sand, entwined together. VK wanted to clear the air so they could begin life on a fresh note.

  “She must have been hurt when you told her no,” Shivalika said, imagining the hell she had gone through when she thought her love was not reciprocated.

  VK twirled a lock of hair around his finger. One of his legs was straddled over Shivalika’s, like he wanted to be sure she didn’t go away anywhere without him.

  “Not really. Our marriage was being fixed more to seal a business partnership rather than because we loved each other. In fact, I think the person most unhappy with the breakup is my dad. His dream of becoming the joint owner of the largest collaboration of Plasticware in India will remain just that, a dream.” VK’s laugh was more pained than painful.

  “I’m sorry, VK.” Shivalika cupped her palm around his cheek. Anything that hurt VK hurt her more.

  “I’m not. Misha planned to invest in La Piazza’s expansion. Obviously, that was off too. So besides missing you terribly, I’ve been looking out for the right investors.”

  “And?”

  “And, my darling love, my first love, my true love, we are going ahead with the Sustainable Interiors project which we had spoken about when you had come home. Do you remember?”

  Shivalika burst out laughing. “Yes, and I also remember those see-through bathroom walls.”

  “I want to see you bathing, through those see-through bathroom walls,” VK said, quietly, his eyes firepoints of molten steel. Shivalika’s laugh stopped in her throat. He was staring into her eyes, his hands now caressing her everywhere, finding each and every erogenous zone she never knew she possessed, drawing out moans of pleasure from her. Her hands embraced him, her nails digging into his back, her body demanding more and more intimacy.

  She could not get enough of him, his body, that beloved face. She traced her fingertips along his back, going lower and lower till the waistband of his jeans stopped her descent.

  VK, his voice husky with desire, said, “I wanted to forget the world and only be with you. I’ve never met anyone like you before. There has never been anyone at all who made me feel like you do.”

  “Feel like what, VK?” Shivalika’s hands were now all over his body, seeking, searching and setting ablaze desire that was ready to burst into flame.

  “What you are doing now is making me not just feel but even do crazy things.”

  “What crazy things, VK?” Her voice was innocent but her eyes teased him and showed him a universe of pure pleasure entwined with love.

  He was going to reply and then stopped, as if he remembered something. He patted his pocket and smiled and then took out a royal blue velvet box with a flourish. He opened it and nestled within, on a bed of the whitest satin, sat the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen. The large solitaire that stood on the bejeweled shank shone like fire from the light of the lamps that reflected from it. The waves lashed in the background and the salty spray splashed on them but they did not mind.

  And under the twinkling stars and the waning moon that seemed to smile on them, VK bent on his knee and holding out his ring said, “Sweet Shivalika, will you make my life, which till now has been desolate, sweet by entering it and becoming my partner in both the good and the bad and with love? Will you be with me forever because I love you so much and I can't imagine a happiness in life without you to share it with. So, darling, will you marry me?”

  Such a long speech but so beautiful she almost screamed out her answer, “Yes, yes, yes, yes, I want to and I will, my darling, my sweet love.” VK slipped the ring on her finger and it fit her perfectly. VK took her in his arms, his lips on hers in a promise of a lifetime of love.

  The sharp ring of Shivalika’s mobile phone shattered the magic of the moment. Shivalika jumped away from VK at the sound of the ring, her eyes terrified.

  VK looked at her and understood her fear at once. “Relax, darling. It need not be what you are thinking.”

  It was Aksheeya wanting to know where Shivalika was, as they had been waiting for her for quite some time.

  Shivalika gave a deep sigh of relief. She snuggled up into VK’s chest. “I’ll always be there for you, sweetheart,” he said, setting her fears at rest. Life couldn’t get any better, Shivalika thought.

  They stood entwined for some time. The water had been lapping a
t their feet and the sound of the waves was getting louder. “The surf’s getting closer. I think it might be time for high tide,” VK said. Shivalika nodded, hating for this magical time to end.

  Without a word, VK wrapped his jacket around Shivalika and picking her up in his arms, he started walking back to their hotel.

  “What are you doing, VK,” Shivalika shouted, half-angry and half-joking.

  “Now that I have got you again, I am never letting you go,” he said, his lips seeking hers again and again. Shivalika’s heart thumped hard and the electric currents ran down her body. She was thrilling to his touch on her body and her lips. She held tighter to him. She was not gonna let go too. Ever.

  As they entered the resort and walked through the lobby, people threw them amused looks. Shivalika held out her hand with the ring. Some people clapped while others shouted “Congratulations.” When VK, who could no longer resist, kissed her on the lips, someone shouted, “Get a room.” At this, everyone laughed because they knew that was just what they were going to do.