by P. G. Van
“Ann, Sam and Nick are lucky to have a sister like you. What would they do without you?” I teased hugging her.
“Oh, yes. That’s true. What would they do without me?” Ann laughed.
Almost two hours later, Ann, Reetu, and I were still at the dining table chatting away while the rest of the group had moved into the family room. Ann and I had decided to talk to Reetu to get to know her more. Ann seemed to feel disconnected with her but nothing negative like Nate. I wondered why Nate had the negative vibes about Reetu.
“When is the wedding, Reetu?” Ann asked in a teasing tone.
Reetu smiled and said in a flat tone, “You should ask Sam. It’s his call.”
“You know you can’t rely on guys to take that initiative, you should pick a date and just tell him,” Ann teased.
Reetu laughed and teased, “I should get some advice from you, Meera. How did you get Nick to propose, and get married right after? I never thought he was the marrying kind.”
I saw Ann’s expression freeze at Reetu’s comment, but I laughed and said, “It was all Nick. He wanted to get married right after we got engaged. I think he wanted to get the ceremony out of his way because you guys know how much he loves ceremonies.”
Reetu burst out laughing at my comment, but Ann seemed upset by the comment Reetu made about Nick.
Ann smiled at me and teased, “Nick was worried that you would end up with one of those Rajput princes in India.”
“Right,” I said rolling my eyes looking towards the family room to look at Nick who was in a deep conversation with Paul.
“I am confused. Which Rajput prince?” Reetu asked with a puzzled look on her face.
“It’s nothing Reetu. There was a ceremony that the extended Bhatia family in India wanted to perform, and it needed to be performed by a girl from the Vaasi family. The ceremony was almost like a wedding, as an unmarried Rajput prince would perform that with me. I had no idea about the details of the ceremony until Nick told me,” I said and added shaking my head, “I am still not sure as to why he so badly wanted to get married while we were in India when we could have gotten married when everyone could attend.”
“He may have pushed you initially, but you were the one that announced the wedding on the mehendi night,” Ann teased.
I blushed and said giggling, “Well, that’s true but your Rajput prince theory sounds much cooler,” and added, “I still suspect that he teamed up with one of my cousins to get me fired up that night.”
“How come you guys decided to move to the family residence when you have your own apartment in San Francisco?” Reetu asked curiously and added, “I don’t know how you got Nick to move out of his cool apartment.”
“I am a sucker for the joint family dynamics, and I know how much mom likes having Nick around. Trust me, it was a tough sell,” I said smiling.
“Well, I thought you guys got married in a hurry because you were pregnant and you moved in to smooth out the blow when you made the announcement,” Reetu said smiling at me with her dark eyes boring into me.
My mouth went dry as I processed what I heard.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Reetu,” Ann said in a stern voice.
“I was just kidding, Ann,” Reetu said laughing and I smiled back, but Ann did not soften her expression and made it very clear to Reetu that she did not like the comment.
“Ann, easy. Reetu was just kidding,” I said smiling at Ann and added, “Ann and I are planning a spa day, and were wondering if you would like to join us,” I asked in an attempt to divert from the weirdness.
“I would love to. Let me know when you guys want to go, and I will be sure to join you,” Reetu said with excitement.
“Absolutely, we haven’t made any plans yet, but we will be sure to tell you,” Ann cut in before I could ask Reetu if she was free on Sunday and added, “I owe Sameera big time for her help last night so I am going to have to take her out first before we plan our group spa day.”
Reetu looked at Ann with a puzzled expression as Ann added, “She was the star of the deployment that we worked on for almost a year, and she had no clue what the project was about.”
Ann continued to provide the details of the conversation between Ann and Suzi, the program manager, about the NDA. Ann narrated the whole conversation with a twinkle in her eye.
“I didn’t know Sameera worked for the company,” Reetu said after Ann finished spilling every detail of the deployment call from the previous night.
“She doesn’t and that’s why the program manager wanted an NDA,” Ann giggled.
“You just said that Nick and Sameera own a share of the company. Were you referring to Nick’s share that Sameera owns after the wedding?” Reetu asked in genuine curiosity.
“Sameera has had a share in the company from the time Nick merged his company with the family-owned company,” Ann said in a clear voice.
Reetu was clearly surprised and said, “I didn’t realize you guys had met that many years ago. I thought you met a few months ago.”
Ann jumped in to respond with excitement before I could speak, “They met at the beginning of this year but Nick has had something going on for Sameera for the longest time. You know they went to the same school in India?” Ann asked looking at Reetu’s blank expression and continued when Reetu nodded. “He talked about Sameera from time to time but when he formed the company right out of college, he listed Sameera as a silent partner in that company. When we merged that company with the family business, she became a shareholder and the best part is that she is our family member now.”
Ann reached out to give me a hug while Reetu sat frozen in her chair visibly shocked and finally said with a faint smile, “Wow, I had no idea.”
“Oh yes, it is a very interesting love journey,” Ann said winking at me and added, “Nick doesn’t realize how lucky he is to have you in his life.”
“Thank you Ann. You are too sweet,” I blushed.
“I can’t wait for that spa day now. I need to hear all the details,” Reetu said with excitement and whined, “Sam never tells me anything.”
“Boys, Reetu,” I giggled and both of them nodded in agreement.
“How is Nate doing?” Reetu asked taking me by surprise and added, “She and I bonded at your birthday party over parking tickets.”
I laughed remembering Nate’s comments about Reetu and was surprised that Reetu felt like they bonded.
“She is doing great. I miss having her as my roommate,” I said smiling and added, “Husbands don’t make good roommates.”
Ann, Reetu, and I were deep in conversation when I noticed Nick walking towards us with mischief in his eyes. I smiled at him as he approached us and announced, “Babe, I am heading out to pick up some ice cream from the store.”
“Really?” I asked in surprise, as I had not ever seen Nick drive to a store to buy groceries.
I got up from the table and said giggling, “Sorry ladies, I need to go witness the event of my husband going to a store and buy something.”
“You’re just trying to make me look bad,” Nick complained as sprang out of my chair laughing.
“Nick, when was the last time you stepped out of the house by yourself to buy ice cream?” Ann teased Nick as I followed him to the garage.
Chapter Twenty-One
"Nick, I am sure we have tons of ice cream at home, and I don't know why you feel the need to go out to get more ice cream,” I said teasing him as I followed him into the elevator that led to the garage.
The elevator doors barely closed before I felt Nick pulling me to him and held me close to him as we rode down to the elevator.
"Nick, why are you out of control today?” I giggled at his restlessness and added, "What got into you?”
"I missed you all day my love and tonight we barely spent time together,” Nick whined.
"Wow, you can be clingy too,” I teased putting my arms around him as he planted a kiss on my forehead and said, "This is love, baby.”
; We stepped out of the elevator with Nick leading me by my hand towards the Range Rover. I took a few quick steps to walk in front of him and said, “I am driving. You had way too many drinks tonight,” he laughed and stepped towards the alarm panel and turned on the alarm system that locked down the entire garage disabling all of the remote openers.
"Nick, you turned the alarm on and instead of turning it off,” I said giggling as I slid into the driver’s seat.
"Yes, on purpose,” Nick said as he got into the passenger seat and winked at me.
"You are being totally weird, by the way,” I said looking at him with suspicion building up in me.
Nick looked at me from the passenger seat and said, "I just needed you to be with me, and I had no other way to peel you away from Ann and Reetu especially when you were busy talking about how to solve world hunger.”
"Ok, let's go get ice cream then, I will at least get to see you use your credit card to buy something,” I said laughing as I turned on the engine.
Nick reclined the passenger seat all the way back and pressed the ignition button and turned off the engine.
"We are not going anywhere. I just want to be with you,” Nick said as he ran the tip of his index finger along my jawline. I took his hand in mine and said, "Nikhil Bhatia, what are you not telling me. I am all the more suspicious especially after the carjackers episode just days ago.”
"It's nothing baby. I am just so overjoyed by the fact that you went out of your way to help Ann last night. She made sure to tell everybody in the office that 'Nick's wife', Sameera, saved the project,” Nick said with sparkling eyes and added taking my hand to his lips, "You made me so proud today, baby.”
I smiled at him bubbling with joy and said, "Thank you Nick. I am very happy to hear that, and I didn’t really save anything. I just offered moral support and the team figured everything out,” I said with excitement, as I was thrilled at what Nick had told me.
"One of the execs stopped by and congratulated me for having you in my life. His team told him that you were the 'voice of reason and encouragement'. He asked if I was going to hire you to come work for the company,” Nick said in a calm voice.
I laughed reaching to my right to put my arm around him and asked in a teasing tone, "Are you offering me a job?”
Nick grabbed me by my hands pulling me off my seat and onto his lap with my legs stretched out on the center console, and said nuzzling my ear, "Maybe, are you interested?”
"I have to check with my husband,” I teased as Nick buried his face into my hair.
"Why do you need to ask him?” Nick teased looking into my eyes.
"Because he needs to know that there is no escape from me even when he is at work,” I said planting a kiss on his cheek.
"I am sure he will be fine,” he said in a firm tone.
"You can't be serious, Nick,” I said calmly looking into his eyes and added, "I can't work in the same company as the rest of my family. I am not good at separating work and family especially when I am working on building a cool family environment at home.”
Nick smiled with pride in his eyes and said, "My tigress is also a hot warrior princess.”
"That's it, it is very clear that you have had too much to drink tonight. Let’s go back in,” I said trying to get off his lap.
"I am in a celebratory mood today,” Nick declared and pulled me back into his arms.
"Really, Mr. Bhatia. What are you celebrating?” I asked annoyed that I was trapped in his lap.
"I am celebrating the women in my life, especially you and Ann,” he said smiling at me.
"What? How…” I trailed off, as I wasn't sure if he knew Ann was pregnant and didn't want to spill the beans if he didn't already know.
"How I know that I am going to be an uncle soon?” Nick asked bringing his lips to mine.
I pulled back to look into his eyes and asked in surprise, "You know?” and added smiling at him, “Please don't tell me you heard Ann and me talking earlier in the evening.”
He smiled and shook his head and said, “Ann and Paul made a deal not to tell anyone until they do the dramatic reveal in a few weeks, but they both agreed that they would each share with one other person only.”
Nick took my palm to his lips and said, “Paul told me on Sunday and Ann probably told you sometime in the last day or two. I found out you knew when I heard you guys talking,” I listened to him in utter silence and finally said, “Nick, it is a day to celebrate. Your sister shared the most precious news with me before she shared with anyone else. I am so honored.”
“You are the best thing that has happened to this family,” Nick said confidently.
“Does Ann know that you know?” I asked and added with anger in my voice, “You knew and you still yelled at her this morning?”
“Sweetheart, you have no idea how hard it was for me, but I have to do what I have to do. She needed to hear that,” Nick said in a firm voice and added, “I don’t think Ann realized that Paul told me about the baby.”
“We are totally a cool couple, Nick,” I said laughing and added, “I feel elated that Ann and Paul trusted us with the news. We should make their reveal extra special.”
“You know the best gift we can give their baby?” Nick asked running his lips along my jawline as, I froze enjoying the warm breath against the thin layer of skin and he added in a husky tone, “A cousin to play and grow together.”
“Nick,” I said feeling the pain pierce through my heart. I pulled him to me and whispered, “I want kids too, but you know what my OB/GYN told me. It’s going to be challenging to conceive with my irregular cycles. I have to be on these hormones so I don’t have other issues from the irregular cycle.”
“Anything is possible if we put our heart to it,” Nick said his voice intense and added, “finish up the course of the current cycle and get off those pills, and we will figure it out.”
“Nick, my doctor literally yelled at me when I skipped a round of medication in India and she made me start a cycle immediately,” I said with concern in my voice.
“I will have Ann’s OB/GYN monitor your health once you get off the pill,” Nick declared, and I nodded in agreement and buried my face in his chest.
“Sameera, am I rushing you into having kids?” Nick asked in a soft voice and I immediately responded, “No. I am worried that I will disappoint you.”
“No you won’t. All I am saying is get off the hormones and let nature take its course,” Nick said in a gentle voice stroking my back.
“Nick, I don’t know what I would have done without you in my life,” I said looking at him and took my lips to his neck. I dug my chin into his neck exploring his neck with my tongue. I spiraled down Nick’s neck using the same tongue technique that he used to make me melt in his arms. I felt his body tremble under my touch as I ran my palm along his chest awakening him with my strokes and felt the pulsation in his neck against my lips pick up the pace.
“You like that too? It drives me nuts when you run your stubble against my neck,” I said my voice muffled against his burning skin.
“Baby, I want you now,” he said with a deep hunger in his voice and added pulling my lips to his, “now, here. Let’s finish what we started this morning.”
I moaned against his lips at the vigor in his voice. He ran his palm along the chest pocket of my dress and made his way to the buttons in the front. I felt my chest being freed from the delicate material as he unbuttoned with finesse. I squeaked against his lips when I felt his fingertips grab my hardened peak. I pulled back to look at him as he took his lips to my exposed nipple. I threw my head back as he took my soft peak into his mouth and brought on the pressure with his skilled lips. I arched my body towards him and felt the deep need for him to be inside me.
“Do it, Nick,” I commanded holding on to the holder over the door and lifting myself to put my legs on either sides, as he partially slid down his shorts. In a brisk movement, he reached under my dress and pulled my lacey underwear down
with so much force that I thought it was going to shred into pieces. He held me by my hips and guided me towards him, and I moaned as I felt him enter my moist emptiness.
I leaned forward to take my lips to his and stopped short to take his lower lip between my teeth. I felt his palms on my back pushing me towards him but I flattened my palms on his chest to hold my position as I flickered my way into his mouth with my tongue. I ran my tongue along the inside of his mouth at a slow but steady pace. I pulled my lips back to look into his desire-driven eyes that were dancing at me. I moved from side to side to run my hair on his face and with every sweep of my dark hair on his face, I saw his eyes cloud with desire and felt him getting harder and bigger inside me.
Nick’s breathing was strained, and I felt his chest rising up and down rapidly. I started to gently ride him as I stroked his chest over the thin material of his t-shirt.
Nick and I looked into each other’s eyes as we moved rhythmically to satisfy our primitive need. I was transported to pleasure land as I experienced deeper penetration that amplified the sensations deep inside me. I felt him deep inside my soul as I continued to pound away from above him. I moved changing my position from time to time without changing the pace.
Nick’s expert hands guided me as I led us to a new dimension of thrill and satisfaction. I moaned loudly gritting my teeth with every pulsation that hit me. The deep thrust with every move that I felt when combined with the power of dominating the sexual engagement drove me over the edge. I threw my head back as I peaked and heard Nick call out my name at the same time digging his fingertips into my waist.
I was out of breath when I collapsed onto his chest. I felt his heart beat crazier than mine against my cheek. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath as he wrapped his hands around me and held me close to him. I lay on his chest unable to move basking in the glory of my own pride as I felt him pulsating inside me.