Page 26 of Driven By Desire
“Funny.” Rolling his eyes, Chirag continued, “You obviously like her. Why aren’t you doing anything about it?”
“I can’t.”
The almost inaudible murmur had Chirag blinking. “You need tips?” Come to think of it he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen his elder brother with someone.
The overwhelming urge to confide in his brother was buried in the helpless laughter the incredulous question brought on. Always reticent, he’d guarded his privacy ferociously even as a child. His mother had been the only person capable of coaxing him to give up his deepest secrets. After her passing, his earlier desire to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself turned into simple necessity. Unwilling to burden his younger siblings and unable to speak to friends who no longer related to theunexpected changes in his life, he’d just learned to think for and depend only on himself.
Shaking off the sudden mood, he gave Chirag’s pack of cigarettes a last longing look before stubbing out the one in his hand. “Forget it. Let’s go back inside. God knows what Adi is getting up to in there.”
“When I left, he was busy flirting with a very pretty girl. By now, he’s probably been beaten up by a jealous boyfriend. I hope that hideous shirt gets ripped in the fracas.” Chuckling, they strolled towards the door of the pub.
Music, disco lights and the babble of the crowd hit them full in the face when they walked back in. Shouldering their way through the crush, they reached their booth to find Adi cozied up to his new friend. Sliding in across from them, Krish signaled the waiter over to bring them another round of drinks. Smiling absently in response to Adi’s introductions, his gaze swept the room for a flash of red satin. He found it on the dance floor engaged in a lively version of the jive. He watched as the vibrant flame of her spun, dipped and twirled. They ended the dance in a dramatic flourish that had Max tossing her hair back and laughing. The throaty undertone of sex that was her voice carried clearly to them in the brief cessation of music.
Desire slammed through him even as a slower, romantic number started. He saw Max shake her head in denial to a whispered request from her date. His hand vising around his glass at the sight of both their heads so close together, Krish tried desperately to fight the tangle of need and yearning that had him by his throat. When he saw the guy straighten and start to move away from Max, leaving her alone on the dance floor, he gave up and conceded defeat. Downing the contents of his glass, he ignored his brothers’ amused glances and walked over. Reachingher just as her date walked off in the direction of the men’s room, he took her arm in a not-so-gentle grip.
“Dance with me.” The rough demand had Max’s eyes flaming. Temper flaring, she spun on her heel to leave the crowded floor only to find herself hauled back against him. Spitting fire, she turned in his arms but the angry words died on her lips. The vicious fury of emotion darkening his eyes had her breath hitching. The buzz of the crowd faded away until her world narrowed to comprise of dark, intense eyes and a rock-hard embrace.
She reached up to lace trembling fingers around his neck and move slowly, hesitantly to the music. Strong arms enfolded her more securely bringing her flush against the warmth and promise of him. Gentling around her, one hand moved to stroke her back even as he nuzzled his cheek against the soft silk of her hair. On a soft sigh, she turned her face into the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.
She’d fit like a dream in his arms the other day but today, the sexy, lethal straps of gold on her feet positioned her mouth in perfect reach of his. His breath feathered over the crimson temptation of her lips and had her eyes opening slowly. The warmth and trust he saw in them staggered him. Taking a shaky breath, he dipped his head slowly to hers just as the music came to a gentle stop. All around them, couples broke apart, clapping to signal their approval of the music being played. Freezing a hairsbreadth away from the lush, moist temptation that was the unrivalled star of his most fervent fantasies, he whispered, “Later.”
Cradling her flushed face against his chest, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Max?”
“Hmm?”
The dazed question had him grinning. “What colour?”
“What?” Max’s brains needed some time to regroup from the pulse scrambling reaction this man set off in her.
Running a finger along the line of red that caressed the silk of her thigh, he bent close to her ear and murmured, “What colour is under this?”
“Black thongs.” Biting back a chuckle at his arrested expression, she paused strategically before whispering, “And nothing on top.”
Pressing her fingertips to his lips in a gentle farewell, she said, “See you, Krish.” A wicked smile lit her lips as she added, “Later.”
CHAPTER 11
By Monday morning, Max was ready to scream. She’d woken on Sunday bubbling with anticipation for what the day would hold. She’d spent all day sneaking glances at her phone or rushing to answer the front door, only to find herself disappointed over and over again. No call, no visit, no message. Nothing.
He’d retreated from them again. Or rather the promise of them. What was wrong with the man? Either he wanted her or he didn’t. He couldn’t have it both ways. He couldn’t make her want like this, yearn like this and then pull back. Every time. Damn him.
Steaming, Max dropped her empty mug in the sink with a loud clang. Wincing at the noise, her father looked up and over at the stiff, muttering figure at the sink.
“Problem?” He had a fairly decent idea what the problem was but some things needed to be voiced before they could be dealt with.
“No.”
Shrugging at the surly response, he buried his face behind the newspaper and waited. It didn’t take long.
“Dad?”
“Hmm?”
“Hypothetically speaking, what does it mean when a guy acts like he is really into you one moment and then ignores you the next?”
“Hypothetically, I would say he either doesn’t know what he wants or he’s stringing you along.”
Face falling, Max scrubbed her mug with renewed vigor.
