Page 57 of The Unwanted Husband
She dared not to move, worried what her colluded mind and body would do to complicate the situation that was already balancing in thin ice.
A brief moment later, he slowly let her feet back on the floor but held her to him. Her breathing was ragged as shegasped for air, her heart drumming in her chest. She slowly lowered her palms along the length of his back taking in the heat and intensity from the touch.
Unable to step away from the comfort of being in his arms, she stayed where she was, her arms loosely wrapped around him as they stood in the middle of the large office room. She knew it was a matter of time before he would take a step away from her and she held on, unable to pull away.
It was as if she needed to be close to him to even breathe!
The silence extended and when she finally dared to look up, he was staring down at her, his jaw tight and his eyes darker than a stormy night sky.
“Ashok,” she said finally. “I…I want—”
Her words were lost when his lips crashed on hers. Every time they kissed, it felt like it was the first time they were kissing, hungry, impatient, like they were discovering something entirely new about each other.
His hands fisted in her hair, angling her head as he deepened the kiss. She responded with her hand sliding up his neck, her fingers digging on the side. He explored every sweet corner of her mouth like he needed to memorize the feel of her.
When he pressed her back against the heavy bookcase on one side of the office, she gasped against his mouth. He took advantage, his tongue sliding against hers in a way that made her knees weak. The cold glass on the door bit into her back, but all she could focus on was the heat of his body caging her in, the way he kissed her like he was drowning and she was air.
“God,” he breathed against her lips, his forehead pressed to hers. “This is crazy.”
“Then we need to stop,” she whispered, her voice shaky with want. “We need to stop fighting this.”
His eyes were dark and deep with desire. “This is crazy,” he repeated and before he could say more, she silenced him with another kiss, this one softer but no less intense.
She poured everything into it. It was everything she wanted him to know, her apology for pushing him, her desperation for his touch, her longing for him to stop avoiding her.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, she could see the caution creep back into his eyes. He wanted her and she had no idea why he was fighting so hard.
At that moment she decided not to push him anymore. But it only frustrated her further.
She stepped away from him, creating a distance as she walked toward the desk. “I guess we have to prepare to travel. The twins will have so much fun.”
He nodded and she could see his guard go up again. He was fighting it and she knew it had to be so the situation was not further complicated and she could not agree more that he was right.
He was right but it annoyed her. How dare he be so rational?
Maybe he has a secret girlfriend or a woman he was interested in marrying. Is that why he was so excited to go to his island?
Shit!
*****
Isha looked out of the small airplane window as the aircraft began its descent, her breath catching at the sight below. The ocean stretched endlessly in every direction, its deep blue surface broken by a cluster of islands. The greenery rose from the water in gentle curves, their coastlines traced with ribbons of white sand that glistened in the late afternoon sun.
From the plane, she could see how the vegetation painted each island in layers of green. The darker, denser forests at the centers gave way to lighter palms that swayed near the shores. Small fishing boats dotted the turquoise shallows, appearing no larger than toys from Isha’s vantage point.
As they flew lower, she began to notice how the water shifted from deep sapphire to brilliant aquamarine as it approached the shore. Narrow channels wound between the islands, and she wondered if they were used as a travel mode to get from one side of the island to the other.
The air itself seemed different around the island. Even from inside the sealed aircraft she could tell it was heavier with moisture. She could already imagine the sounds of waves lapping against the shore just like in San Francisco, the rustle of palm leaves and the calls of seabirds. Her stomach fluttered with anticipation, knowing that in minutes she would step into this tropical paradise where Ashok’s family had made their home. She remembered the childhood stories she had heard from Sami. It made sense for the twins to grow up there.
She had to make sure she made it all work out with Ashok’s family.No matter what it took.
The small plane touched down with a gentle bump, and she was glad the twins were fast asleep to not have to deal with the altitude changes.
Shortly after, she descended the steps onto the tarmac, the humid air embraced her like a warm blanket. The scent of wild flowers and salt filled her lungs, and she could hear the distant sound of waves breaking against the shore.
A small group waited at the edge of the airstrip, and she spotted Ashok’s older sister among them. She watched Ashok put both children in a double stroller. She stayed close to Ashok as he pushed the stroller with the sleeping kids.
As they walked closer, her eyes shifted to the man standing beside her who commanded everyone’s attention. Tall and dignified, with silver threading through his dark hair and eyes that held the wisdom of someone who had spent decades watching over the islands and their people. It had to be Ashok’s father, the chieftain. He wore a simple white tunic, but there was an unmistakable authority in his bearing, a quiet strength that spoke of leadership earned through respect rather than demanded through power.
