Boxset: Destiny Decides.. & Destiny Embraces..
Page 48
“Can I please ask for Ann’s help for the search?” I asked meekly.
“Sure. I will talk to Srini and Ann and have them plan this out for you,” Nick said smiling and added, “I will have our friend in India dig into this as well.”
“Thank you, Nick,” I said hugging him.
*****
“Sameera,” Nick said in a soft voice.
I jumped slightly and opened my eyes to find Nick sitting next to me on the couch in the living room of the private wing. I had dozed off catching up on some work later that night after a fun family dinner.
“You need to go sleep baby. You had a long day,” Nick said with concern in his voice.
“Are you ready to sleep?” I asked in a sleepy voice as I put my laptop away on the center table.
“Yes, let’s go,” Nick said giving me the much-needed boost to get off the comfortable couch.
“Dinner time was fun today, Sameera,” Nick said smiling at me, as we walked towards the bedroom.
I turned to look at him and said in a teasing tone, “It looks like you are totally enjoying the joint family setup Nick,” and added smiling, “I am glad to hear you had fun.”
“Ann cancelled all of her meetings after five so she could be home on time for dinner,” Nick said laughing.
“She is so sweet and how do you know that?” I asked curiously.
“That’s because her assistant called me to reschedule her meeting with me,” Nick said laughing.
“What? Why are you guys so formal?” I asked in surprise and added, “Why couldn’t Ann just text you?”
“Well, it’s best if things work a certain way especially if you are in business with your family members,” he said in a cool voice.
“Okay. I am going to stay out of it then,” I said teasing him and got into bed next to him feeling the warmth encompass me as he put his arms around me.
“Thank you for giving me back to my family,” Nick said kissing me on my forehead and tightened his hold on me.
I laughed and said, “That sounds so odd, but you are welcome,” and added in a soft tone, “I still don’t feel like I have bonded with Reetu.”
“Why is that?” Nick asked curiously about his brother’s fiancée.
“I don’t know,” I said scrunching my nose.
Nick laughed and said, “That’s because she is pretty reserved with everyone.”
“I know she doesn’t talk much and when she does, she is very sweet and caring,” I said in a flat tone and added, “but I don’t feel the bond.”
“You are sounding very much like a shrink now,” Nick mocked smiling at me.
“Nick, you don’t have to be a shrink to be able to read people’s feelings towards you,” I said shaking my head.
“Really give me an example,” Nick challenged me.
“Well, remember the time when we met at the tequila bar for the first time?” I paused as Nick smiled and nodded.
“You were very composed and your manner was very casual but your eyes,” I said and brushed my lips against his and added, “Your eyes were asking me to do what I just did.”
Nick laughed and said, “You are right in my case, but you may be reading too much into Reetu’s behavior. She was probably tired after a long day of work.”
“Where does Reetu work?” I asked curiously.
“Do you remember Mishra?” Nick asked and added, “The doc who checked on your foot after the swimming pool episode.”
“Yes, and her name is Anu. I don’t know why you can’t call her by her first name when she is such a good friend,” I mocked.
Nick laughed and continued, “So, Mishra and Reetu work together.”
“Oh, how did Sam and Reetu meet?” I continued with my questioning.
Nick smiled and said, “That’s another interesting story. Mishra set me up with Reetu on a blind date, but I sent Sam because I just wasn’t interested in anyone other than you.”
I rolled my eyes in mockery as he continued, “So Sam came to my rescue, and he went on that blind date and fell for her.”
“That is so cute,” I said smiling at Nick and added, “We should make them pick a date for their wedding so I can have my Rajput wedding.”
“You can try talking to Reetu if you like because Sam and I are not doing too great as of late,” Nick said looking at the ceiling.
“Are you upset with Sam?” I asked curiously and added, “I thought you were only joking with him when you said you wanted to talk to him when we arrived.”
“Something like that, but we will be fine in a few days,” Nick said stretching out on the bed next to me.
“Work related?” I asked unable to let it go.
Nick did not say anything for a few seconds and then said in a casual tone, “Not work related.”
I smiled at him and said in a sarcastic tone, “Fine, don’t tell me,” and put my arm around him and placed my cheek against his chest.
“It’s not important Sameera, and Sam and I have these kind of differences all the time,” Nick said nuzzling my temple.
“I don’t know if that is normal for brothers. Nate and I managed not to have too many differences,” I said smiling.
“How is Nethra enjoying her car?” Nick mocked.
“Nick, we talked about it. My stepdad bought that car for my graduation, but it was technically for both of us and now that I have many different ways to get to work, I didn’t really need to hang on to that car,” I said in a flat voice looking up at him.
“I am kidding, sweetheart,” Nick said laughing and added, “It was very sweet of you to give the car to Nethra.”
“It’s the least I could do especially when she went all the way to Vegas for a reunion and brought you to me,” I said tightening my hold around him.
Nick laughed and said, “Yes, that’s true.”
“Okay, back to how do we get Reetu and Sam to pick a date for a wedding?” I said shaking my head when I realized we had digressed.
“I am going to leave that to you, babe. You have more leverage with the family now,” Nick said reaching to his side to turn off the light.
“Oh and before I forget, we have a ceremony to perform in two days,” I blurted out.
“You mean a ceremony for your birthday?” Nick asked his voice puzzled.
I laughed out loud and said, “It happens to be on my birthday but that is the day when you have to switch out the yellow thread necklace with a gold necklace.”
“Sweetheart, do you need me for that?” he asked sounding annoyed and added, “I am sure mom can help you with that.”
“Let me see. I don’t know if I need you, but I definitely need my husband for the ceremony,” I mocked him back.
“Okay, I get it. It is yet another ceremony,” Nick said into the darkness and added, “I will plan my day accordingly, but you are mine that evening. No families getting together stuff that night.”
“What are we doing?” I asked with excitement.
“We will do whatever you want to do, but I want you for myself,” Nick said pulling me to him.
I giggled and took my lips to his warm neck and said in a sultry tone, “We can just hang out here all evening.”
I felt Nick jerk at the seduction in my voice grabbing me by my hair and brought my lips to his with extreme pressure. I moaned against his lips as he ran his hand to find my soft peak from under my nightshirt and teased the hardened bud. Nick started to stroke my desire with his expert tongue exploration.
As I started to feel the initial waves of pleasure build inside me, Nick pulled back suddenly cutting through the warmth with an ice-cold chuckle and said, “Oh, I am sorry. You are on a penance. I can’t let you break that,” and he rolled off to his side of the bed.
I lay in shock for a few seconds wondering what had gotten into him and rasped his name under my breath. He continued to laugh in spite of my outward burst of anger.
“Payback time, love,” Nick said laughing and came back to take me into his arms.
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“Nick, that was mean,” I fumed.
“I am sorry, love, but it was so much fun. I had to give you a taste of your own medicine.”
“Stop it, Nick,” I grumbled.
Nick stopped laughing and said in a soft tone, “You have no idea how hard it was to peel myself away from you, but I don’t want to start something that we can’t contain tonight,” he planted a soft kiss on my cheek. “We have held off for two weeks, I want our night to be special and not after you have had a long first day at work.”
“Date night on Wednesday?” I asked cheerfully.
“I can’t wait,” Nick said wrapping his arms possessively around me and held me to him and added softly, “What changed sweetheart?”
I pulled back to look into his eyes and he said, “I am not complaining, but I am glad to hear that you actually want to hang out with me.”
I smiled and said, “Well, I do like to hang out with good guys, and I am convinced that mom and dad weren’t hurt because we got married without them.”
“Trust me, they are extremely happy,” Nick assured.
I smiled and fell asleep with Nick’s warm breath fanning my forehead and his heart comforting me.
Chapter Fourteen
I woke up alone in bed the next morning. Nick was in the bathroom, and I heard the steady whirring of his toothbrush as I approached the bathroom.
“Why are you up so early?” I asked putting my arms around him from behind. He finished brushing his teeth, and turned to plant a kiss on my cheek and said, “I couldn’t sleep. Sorry if I woke you up.”
“Nick, is something bothering you?” I asked worried.
He smiled and shook his head but did not say anything.
“Nick, you are freaking me out now. What is it?” I asked blocking him from leaving the bathroom.
“Sameera, you are overreacting baby. I am stressed about work related things, and it’s nothing new,” he said putting his arms around me.
“How can I help?” I asked looking up at him.
He smiled and said, “It will be very helpful if you stop looking so worried,” and added, “and some coffee please.”
I smiled back and said, “Good idea. Why don’t you go ahead and make coffee for both of us, and I will join you in a few minutes.”
“Right,” Nick said laughing and headed out to the kitchenette.
I stepped into the dining area a few minutes later, and Nick was standing looking out at the roof garden with his back to me.
“Coffee didn’t help?” I asked looking up at him.
He laughed and shook his head. At that point, I knew there was more than just the work stress he claimed was bothering him. I wish I had figured out how to read him a bit more easily. I wondered if it was worth talking to Srini because I knew how tightlipped Srini was with keeping Nick’s stuff.
I finished my coffee and walked back into the bathroom. Nick was in the shower standing under the water without moving. On impulse, I opened the shower door making Nick jump slightly.
“Hey,” he said pushing his wet hair back and away from his face and teased, “Are you going to join me?”
I smiled at him, and said, “Maybe,” and stepped under the warm stream and put my arms around him.
Nick laughed and said, “It is recommended that people take off their clothes before getting into the shower.”
I ignored his comment and stood under the steady flow of water with my arms wound tightly around him. He put his arms around me and planted a kiss on my forehead. I placed my cheek on his chest and felt the chain around his neck dig into my cheek. I turned to take a close look at the chain that had been mine for years and very slowly took my lips to the chain.
I held my lips in one position for a few seconds before releasing my lips to trace the skin along the length of the chain on his chest. I felt his breath hiss and felt his pounding heart deep inside. I traced along with my tongue slowly, and I picked up the speed when I felt his desire harden against me. I reached up to take my lips to his hungry lips and felt my stomach flutter with excitement. I let his lips slide down my neck clasping my hands in his hair and pulled him closer to me.
“Sameera, are we staying home today?” Nick asked breathing heavily against my neck.
I smiled as he came up to bring his lips to mine. I moaned at the intense hunger in his lips and became struck by guilt for keeping him at bay the past few weeks. I peeled my lips off his and heard him groan. I took my lips to the chain again, and this time I steadily worked my way south stopping at his nipples to worship them with my tongue.
I reached for his hardness with one hand and started stroking him gently. I felt him shudder against my lips as I followed the water stream to bring my lips to the delicate tip of his masculinity. I looked up placing my hand on his chest and pushed him against the shower wall as I continued my tongue action on his sensitivity. I heard him groan as I alternated between my hand and my tongue against his velvety skin.
Nick moaned and grasped my hair as I took him in deeper and deeper. As I pulsated around him with my lips and my tongue, his grip on my hair tightened and every time I looked up to look into his eyes, I saw the clouds of desire deepen.
I continued to pleasure him while enjoying the feeling in my mouth and as he was about to peak, Nick grasped my hair harder and yelled out my name. At that point, he pushed me back, and I let him out of my mouth to look into those penetrating eyes and continued to stroke his hardness with my fingers. He groaned in pure pleasure when he peaked and pulled me up into his arms and held me close to him as his heart banged away against my cheek.
I pulled him off the shower wall to be under the steady stream of warm water and looked up at him with a wicked smile on my face.
“My tigress is back,” he said laughing and brought his lips to mine.
“Nick, you still need to shower,” I said against his lips and felt him chuckle.
I pulled back reaching for his shower gel and ran my palms along his body to finish the shower job.
“Okay, you are done now,” I said looking at Nick who was looking at me with wonder in his eyes and added giggling, “You need to step out of the shower because I don’t like to share the shower with anybody.”
Nick laughed out loud and planted a kiss on my lips and said, “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too, and I will love you more if you bring me a towel,” I said smiling at him.
Nick stepped out of the shower laughing, and I was relieved to hear him laugh. I smiled feeling proud of myself for being able to de-stress him that morning.
I stepped out of the shower and found Nick dressed in dark wash jeans and a light blue dress shirt with all his buttons undone. He was leaning against the vanity sipping his second cup of coffee and looked extremely irresistible. He was looking at me with a smirk on his face.
“Nick, don’t even think about it. I need to be at work by nine for a meeting,” I said winking at him.
He laughed and stood rooted to his spot and watched me like a hawk as I wrapped a towel around my hair and started to dry myself.
“Nick, I would appreciate some privacy,” I said knowing that the statement would provoke him.
“Really?” he said laughing and placed the coffee mug on the counter. He walked towards me putting his arms around me and asked smiling, “Whatever happened to my privacy in the shower?”
“Don’t you think you needed that invasion of privacy this morning?” I asked looking up at him, and he smiled and nodded in agreement. He planted a kiss on my lips and said, “I will be ready to go in ten.”
“Give me twenty minutes, and I will be ready to go,” I called out to him as he left the bathroom.
I was ready to leave soon after and walked into the living room to find Nick catching up on email on his phone.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Nick,” I said as I grabbed my computer bag and my purse.
“Easy, babe. I am not in a hurry,” Nick said coolly as he grabbed his stuff.
“This way, love,” Nick said indicating that we were heading out through the main entrance.
“Why aren’t we taking the elevator?” I asked as I followed Nick out of the main door of our portion of the house.
“The car is parked in dad’s garage,” Nick said as I followed him to the other side of the family residence.
“No you don’t. Mitch pulled into your…” my voice trailed off as Nick turned to look at me with his eyebrow raised.
I laughed and corrected myself, “Our garage, Nick. I get it.”
“That was an impressive recovery Sameera,” Nick said smiling at me as we stepped into the massive garage on the other side of the house.
“Are you driving me to work today?” I asked Nick as he got into the driver’s seat of the midnight blue Porsche.
“Yes, I am. Mitch is taking dad to the construction site for a meeting,” Nick said as I got into the passenger seat.
“When did you bring this car from the apartment?” I asked feeling guilty about making him move from the San Francisco apartment.
“Raj picked it up for me last night,” Nick said as he backed the powerful machine out of the dimly-lit garage.
“Do you miss living in the apartment?” I asked cautiously.
Nick laughed and said, “Actually, I don’t. It is a lot of fun here with you around.”
I smiled feeling the warmth from his compliment sweep over me and said with excitement in my voice, “I am so glad to hear that, Nick.”
*****
My second day at work was way more chaotic than my first day. I had my team members tell me over and over again how glad they were to have me back. I somehow managed to stay calm when issues occurred and was able to think with a clear head. It had always made me wonder if I actually thrived amidst chaos.
It was past six o’clock when Nick called me. I was still typing up the instructions for the support team in case the issues were to occur again.
“Sameera, are you ready to go?” Nick asked in a flat voice.