Boxset: Destiny Decides.. & Destiny Embraces..

by P. G. Van

  Nick’s face relaxed after I clarified that no information was shared. I stood up and took his face in my palms as he looked up at me and said in a teasing tone, “Why so serious?”

  Nick laughed and said, “Now I am being patronized for being concerned,” I laughed and put my arms around him.

  Nick put his coffee mug on the table and put his arms around me, and said, “Please take note that I am a bit of an overly protective boyfriend.”

  “Ohh no, that is a deal breaker, where is the exit,” I said laughing, and we both ended up laughing.

  When the laughing at silly statements subsided, Nick asked, “What would you like to do today?”

  “I don’t know, maybe whatever my boyfriend wants to do,” I said teasing him.

  “Ohh boy, there is only one thing that I want to do at this point, but we should hold off until later today,” he said pulling off the knot I had put on the shorts to keep them in place.

  “Nick, stop,” I said grabbing on to the shorts before they fell off my waist and tied the knot back on.

  “You see what I am talking about?” Nick laughed as I adjusted the shorts.

  “Let’s go shopping, you can’t keep wearing my clothes forever,” Nick said looking up at me.

  I looked at him puzzled and asked, “Nick, were you not planning to take me back home anytime soon?”

  “No, please don’t talk about going back home yet,” Nick whined.

  I laughed and said, “Okay, we can leave after breakfast.”

  “Sameera, no. Please spend the weekend with me,” Nick begged.

  “Seriously?” I asked shaking my head.

  “Yes, please,” Nick said and added, “I will take you to work on Monday morning, and you can go home after work.”

  I gave him a suspicious look to which he said, “I promise. I will be on my best behavior.”

  I laughed and sat down at the dining table.

  “Sounds like fun but...” I paused thinking about how to say what I was about to say.

  “But what?” Nick interjected.

  “Your apartment is lovely, but I can’t survive without the basic stuff,” I said and clarified, “You have no groceries, and I cannot survive on take-outs every meal.”

  Nick laughed shaking his head and said, “If that is your concern, I will cook your meals for you.”

  “Nick, you know how to cook?” I asked surprised.

  “Why would I not know how to cook?” Nick questioned back looking surprised.

  I laughed and said, “You have people bringing food to you in the middle of the night so I really can’t picture you cooking.”

  “This is so bad for my reputation. I need to do something to remind people about how well I cook,” Nick said sounding offended.

  “What can you cook?” I teased.

  He looked at me for a second and said, “I can make you your favorite Hyderabadi Dum Biryani.” My mouth went dry with the look in his face as I wondered how he knew.

  “Nate told you I like biryani?” I declared.

  “Maybe,” he said smiling and added, “I am going to have someone bring us the stuff we need for the biryani. What else do you need to survive at my place?”

  I blushed, and smiled but didn’t say anything.

  “I have a better idea,” Nick said his face lighting up.

  ‘What?” I asked smiling.

  “Let’s invite Srini and Nethra for biryani dinner,” he said with excitement.

  “Double date again, and Nate can bring me my clothes,” I beamed.

  Nick leaned forward from his chair and said in a husky voice, “You are all mine for breakfast and lunch.”

  *****

  Nick’s place was not entirely a bachelor pad as the fridge was stocked up with the basic stuff like milk, eggs, yogurt, fruits, and the pantry was pretty well stocked up with small portions of rice, lentils, pasta, and Indian spices. The kitchen had top-class appliances and all the necessary gadgets. The freezer had small glass containers of what looked like different kind of sauces. I ignored the sauces as I looked through the fridge and freezer for stuff I could use to make breakfast while Nick showered. I decided to stick to basic eggs and toast with orange juice. I set aside some of the Indian spices to use with the eggs to give it some kick. I prepped with what I found in the pantry and the fridge and called out to Nick, “Nick, are you done with your shower?” No response.

  I went upstairs to fix my hair as it was in a bun from my shower, and I stepped into the bedroom and realized that Nick had actually made the bed and tidied up the room. I also noticed that my top that I lost on the sectional last night was now neatly folded and on my gym bag. He probably brought it upstairs when he came upstairs to take a shower. I walked into the bathroom and saw Nick step out of the shower with a towel draped on his shoulders and nothing else. I stole one good look at him and his manly beauty before I turned away and said, “Sorry, I thought you were done.”

  “What are you apologizing for, love?” Nick asked as he reached for another towel and wrapped it around his waist.

  I turned around to look at him as he approached me, running his fingers through his wet hair.

  As he got closer, I grabbed the towel around his neck and said, “Let me dry your hair.”

  “Best offer I have had in days but don’t you think we have technical issues here with the difference in height?” Nick said mocking me.

  “Too funny Nick,” I mocked back and looked at the circular leather ottoman that was just outside the bathroom entrance and said, “I wonder why people have furniture in their closets.”

  Nick laughed and sat on the low leather ottoman. I draped the towel on his head and started rubbing his hair gently. I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a piercing pain on my waist and then realized it was Nick pulling the delicate skin on my waist between his thumb and index finger.

  “Nick, you promised best behavior,” I said pulling the towel off his head and laughed looking at the way his hair was standing up straight from my attempt to towel dry his hair.

  Nick smiled back, ran his fingers through his hair, and took my hand pulling me to sit on his lap.

  “You have no idea how wonderful it feels to be around you,” Nick said looking into my eyes and then asked, “Will you please move in with me?”

  I was surprised with Nick’s question and before I could say anything, he put his fingers on my lips and said, “Just thinking about driving you back to your apartment causes pain right here,” he said pointing to his chest.

  I smiled weakly as a million things were running through my mind and not knowing what to say to Nick. My mind was just not prepared for this kind of a situation or question.

  “Nick, let me think about it,” I said almost whispering as my throat was dry and added, “Let’s go eat breakfast first. We can talk when we go for a walk along The Embarcadero.”

  Nick planted a kiss on my forehead and got up to get dressed. As I got up to go downstairs he said, “Please stay with me,” and added, “Sorry, I am being clingy.”

  My heart was racing at a million miles per hour with the intensity and emotion in his voice. I wondered how he could be so invested in me, and I felt guilty about not being as invested as he was in our relationship. For a girl who liked to plan ahead, I had no idea what, where, and how things were going to turn out between Nick and me. I took a deep breath and decided to live in this very moment and accept that the future at this point may be completely unknown and out of control. I walked up to him as he was pulling up his jeans over his boxers and said smiling, “If you want me to stay here, then you should let me dress you.”

  “I am all yours, baby,” Nick said holding up his hands in the air and letting go of the waistband of the jeans.

  I smiled at him and looked at his bare chest as it heaved up and down from his heavy breathing.

  “Relax, Nick,” I said touching his warm smooth skin on his chest.

  “I no longer seem to have control over my heart rate,” he
said smiling.

  I laughed with pride in my eyes and ran my palms over the dips and peaks on his chest. His chest was well built and had the perfect structure for his height. I very slowly placed my ear to his chest and heard his heart beat loud and strong. He lowered his arms around my waist, and I felt his chest rise up and down more rapidly. I was amazed at the effect I had on him. I gently turned my face to place my lips on his chest and closed my mouth on his nipple. I had no idea how men reacted to activity around their nipple so I gently took his nipple between my teeth before planting a kiss at that spot. I heard him moan loudly and tighten his hold around my waist as his fingers dug into my skin. Encouraged by his reaction, I slowly, with my tongue, started to trace a line as I moved towards his other nipple. One of his hands reached up and grabbed my hair that was still in my shower bun and as I felt his fingers pull on my hair, I gently took his skin between my teeth and put some pressure.

  “Meera…” Nick said through gritted teeth pulling me closer to him. I stayed in his grip without moving for a few minutes listening to the chaos in his chest and felt his strong arousal against my belly.

  Gathering up a lot of confidence, I put my palm on his arousal and gently stroked him at his most sensitive spot. I heard him groan and dig his chin into my shoulder. I shuddered at the level to which Nick was reacting to my simple actions. I didn’t know how much further I could go as he was starting to lose control and bear his weight on me.

  “Nick,” I said gathering my voice, “Let’s go into the bedroom.”

  “Yes, let’s go.” Nick groaned and he bent down to get my feet off the ground and swooped me into his arms. He carried me to the majestic bed without uttering a word but looking deeper and deeper into my eyes.

  He set me down on the bed over the cover sheets and came down on me putting his entire weight on me holding me tightly.

  I put my arms around him and asked, “Nick, are you okay?”

  I heard him take a deep breath and pull his weight off me to lay sideways with his head propped on the super soft pillow looking into my eyes.

  When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse, “I thought I was going to explode and collapse on the closet floor when you touched me.”

  “Was I not supposed to?” I asked confused.

  Nick laughed and nuzzled my hair and in a muffled noise and said, “I definitely want you to do that, it’s just that I don’t know how to control myself.”

  “Nick, why do you need to control yourself?” I asked curiously.

  Nick looked up and planted a kiss on my open lips, and said, “You are so delicate and if I don’t control my emotions, I could hurt you.”

  I rolled on the bed to take my lips to his ear and whispered “Nick, if you were able to do what you did last night without hurting me, I don’t think you are capable of hurting me.”

  I heard his breathing get heavier, and I reached for his earlobe, placed it between my teeth, and gave it a gentle tug. I felt his body shudder and he immediately came on top of me flattening my back and pounced on me unleashing his hunger for me. I drowned in my own waves of pleasure as I became part of Nick’s emotional explosion and sexual surge.

  *****

  I woke up to a dull police siren on the street and felt the soft cotton sheets around me. My body ached when I moved, and I smiled to myself remembering the hot passion with which Nick made love to me back to back until he and I were both satisfied. The last I remembered was just collapsing into his arms. The blinds that I did not know existed in the room were pulled down making the room very gloomy. My throat was dry, and I opened my mouth and said, “Nick,” almost inaudibly.

  I immediately heard Nick and he said, “I am downstairs, Sameera. I am coming.”

  I was shocked that he actually heard me from the bedroom. I managed to sit up and turned on the bed lamp when Nick showed up at the door with a bottle of water and a glass.

  “Babe, are you okay?” he asked sounding worried.

  “Nick, I am fine. My throat is a bit dry,” I said taking the glass of water from him.

  I gulped down the water and looked at him in wonder asking, “How in the world did you hear me call you when I could barely hear myself?” I asked in surprise and added, “And please don’t tell me you felt me move because you have super powers.”

  Nick laughed and lay next to me on the bed unable to control his laughter.

  “Nick, you are freaking me out now,” I said in a shaky voice.

  Nick explained between his laughter, “I…I borrowed my neighbors baby monitor to make sure I could hear you when you woke up.”

  “What?” I asked annoyed at Nick, as he continued to laugh.

  “You did what?” I said unable to comprehend that he actually thought about using a baby monitor to keep an eye on me.

  “And why?” I asked still confused about the whole set up.

  Nick stopped laughing placing his palm over the sheet on my navel and said with tenderness in his voice, “You took on so much today, and you have no clue you did,” he paused and added, “Your body was so spent that you have been sleeping for the past five hours.” My eyes widened when I heard what Nick said.

  “I also know how painful it is to wake up alone in bed so I tried to stay by you as much as possible,” Nick said quietly looking into my eyes and added planting a kiss on my forehead, “but I knew you would be hungry when you wake up so I went downstairs to fix you a meal.”

  “Nick,” I reached forward to hold him tightly and took a deep breath feeling overwhelmed by his care.

  “What did I do to deserve you and your love Nick?” I asked softly.

  “Meera, stop it baby,” Nick teased.

  “I talked to Nethra and Srini, and they will be here around five,” Nick announced and added, “I just started working on the biryani and it should be all set by five.”

  Nick started to get off the bed and said, “I am going to go get the bath ready for you so you can take a warm bath and relax your muscles.”

  “Nick, do you still want me to move in with you?” I asked looking up at him.

  “Yes, yes, yes, baby,” Nick said jumping back on the bed and hugging me.

  I laughed and said, “I will ask Nate to pack my clothes for a week for now,” and added, “so she doesn’t freak out. I have to go back Friday evenings for my Bollywood workout class.”

  I reached for my phone as Nick walked to the bathroom to start a bath, and I pulled up my calendar to check what I had for that week so I could ask Nate to pack my stuff accordingly. I checked my calendar and that was when I saw the reminder for my monthly cycle.

  “Nick,” I almost yelled to make sure he could hear me from the bathroom with the water running for the bath.

  “Coming,” he said turning off the water and asked as he came back into the bedroom, “What’s up?”

  “Nick…Can I come to your place next weekend?” I asked quietly.

  Nick looked at me with confusion and said smiling, “change of mind eh?”

  “No.” I hesitated before speaking again and finally said, “My cycle is supposed to start on Tuesday, and I am usually a mess the first few days.”

  Nick looked at me without any expression and almost guessing where I was going with the conversation he interjected, “My love for you is beyond the bodily needs Sameera.”

  I smiled and said, “I am pretty difficult to deal with the first couple of days. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you,” and added when he continued to look at me in silence, “Nick, I really want this to work for us.”

  “I got this,” Nick assured winking and went back into the bathroom as I dialed Nate’s phone number.

  Nate agreed to bring my stuff after a million questions, and after a series of instructions, managed to find the stuff I needed and packed it for me. I hung up and smiled to myself looking forward to spending time with Nick at his place.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Meera,” Nate said with excitement as she stepped out of the elevator and w
alked towards the kitchen. I smiled in response to her excitement and hugged her.

  “Where is Srini?” I asked Nate as Srini came into the kitchen holding a bag with my stuff.

  “Sorry she made you carry my stuff, Srini,” I said smiling and hugging him as he walked towards the kitchen. I took the bag from him and set it on the floor next to the stairs so I could take it upstairs.

  “Where is Nick?” Srini asked looking around.

  “Nick is in the shower,” I told Srini, and Nate immediately whispered in my ear, “Why are you not in the shower with him?”

  I laughed and said, “Behave Nate.”

  “Wow, check out this view,” Nate said walking towards the living area a few minutes later. She had started by admiring the beautiful modern kitchen and was checking on the biryani that Nick had made and had completely missed the view initially. She was now standing and enjoying the view with Srini hugging her from behind. A view like that was sure to bring couples together. I quietly looked at the sweet couple as they enjoyed the beautiful view and reminded myself of Nick’s and my passionate encounter last night. Smiling to myself, I quietly went upstairs with my bag leaving Nate and Srini in each other’s embrace to check on Nick.

  Nick was getting dressed in the closet and as I walked in, he looked up at me through the mirror and asked, “Are they here already?”

  “Yes, and they are downstairs enjoying the view,” I said putting my hands around him from behind and making eye contact with him in the mirror. Nick had put on a classic white dress shirt with a rounded back tail and dark jeans. He looked super sexy in the stretchy thick cotton shirt that showed off his well-built body.

  “You look really good in this shirt Nick,” I said half blushing.

  Nick looked up surprised and said smiling, “Thank you sweetheart. I will add a reminder to have six of these shirts purchased so I can wear the same shirt every day.”

  “Silly Nick,” I said and reached up on my toes to plant a kiss on his cheek and instead Nick did his usual thing of making my lips go to his lips.