Page 76 of The Unwanted Husband
Before she could stop herself, she walked toward the twins’ room where he was putting them to bed. Her heart hammered but she kept walking.
What the heck are you doing? You could wake up the kids. Don’t.
Before she could stop herself, she was opening the door to the kids’ room, only to find both the cribs to be empty. The nannies were nowhere to be seen but she could hear Ashok’s voice as he read them a book.
A moment later she saw the movement of the curtains by the patio doors. Were they on the balcony?
She still had the option not to demand an explanation from him, for what she had no clue and yet, she stepped into the balcony. She let out a low gasp when she saw the set up on the balcony. Mosquito nets draped loosely from the ceiling of the balcony, coils burned next to the lamps that cast a beautiful light as the darkness settled in. And in the middle of the large, curved balcony was a mattress on which he lay, the kids half asleep as he read to them.
Her heart melted at the sight before her. The beauty of the setting washed away her annoyance and frustration toward him.
Their eyes met and her breath hitched. A silence stretched between them, filled with only the sounds of the ocean.
He stretched one arm on which one of the twins was almost asleep, a slight smile on his face.
The invitation was so warm and in spite of the confusion and frustration she had been feeling, she walked toward him and sat down softly on the mattresses that were laid out on the balcony floor.
The baby boy who was sleeping on the side where she sat saw that Isha had joined and extended his hand. A smile stretched on her face, every last thought melting away as she lay next to the little guy. She felt so loved when the toddler moved closer to her.
She lay on the soft mattress with the cool sea breeze flowing, the lamps flickering a bit, the sounds of the sea with the warmth that made her feel loved. Like she felt when her mother caressed her or when her father hugged her with pride.
She fought back tears as she pulled the sleeping boy close to her, wondering how in the world she was ever going to leave this beautiful island and the people.
She would miss it, miss everyone, especially him. She hated the idea that she had missed him.
She didn’t know when she started to care about him being around. She wanted him!
*****
Isha woke up to a distant call of a sea gull and realized she must have dozed off on the balcony chaise. She blinked a few times and her eyes fell on the tall figure standing by the large entry way. Ashok was standing in the doorway backlit by the golden hour light, looking stunning in his dress shirt and well fitted pants.
The relief that flooded through her was so intense it was almost painful. She was overwhelmed by his presence and she was at a loss of words.
“I missed you,” his voice was rough and his words urgent.
She rose from the chaise and was in his arms in a flash, his mouth finding hers with desperate and deep hunger. Longing from being away for over a week poured into that kiss, into the way his hands tangled in her hair, the way she pressed against him as if she could merge their bodies with her sheer will.
He pushed her against the open balcony doors, the warm island breeze washing over them as his lips traced the column of her throat. “I missed you,” he murmured against her skin. “God, I missed you so much.”
Her breath got trapped as his hands found the hem of her dress, his fingers skimming bare skin. The frustration, the longing, the sudden ache for him, it all crystallized into pure need. She pulled him closer, losing herself in the weight of his body against hers, the familiar scent of him, the way he whispered her name against her heated skin.
“Take me,” it was a plea.
With those words playing on her lips, Isha jolted awake, heart racing, and her skin flushed. She felt sensitive all over as she took in her surroundings. It was dawn as she lay on the balcony and became aware of the warmth that lined her body. The mattress beneath her was damp with her perspiration. Her body was still humming with the phantom sensations from the hot dream, still shuddering with the intensity of the moment.
For a brief moment, the disappointment was crushing before she felt movement beside her. Her body was still trembling from her passionate dream added to the awareness of waking to find him beside her.
She turned slowly as she was still in denial it was him for real and that he was so close to her. His arm was wrapped around her, their bodies mashed. She moved her eyes up to look at him and face looked tired like the night he had returned, stubbled from the travel, but his eyes were soft as he rested.
The twins were nowhere in sight. She couldn’t hear them either, which only meant they were still asleep, maybe in their cribs. The sun had still not come up and all she could think of was snuggling up to him. And that’s what she did.
Inching in closer to him slowly, not to wake him she pasted her face to the side of his chest, her body sliding along his. She fell back asleep, turning off all rational reasoning as to why she was snuggling closer when she should be walking away.
CHAPTER 26
It had been two days since Ashok was back but she barely saw him. Her work kept her busy and she was more focused on how to proceed with a potential court hearing for the lawsuit she filed against the man who stole her father’s dream from him.
It was well into the evening and she was engrossed in reviewing a document when she heard light taps on the door. She looked up to find a toddler banging on the glass portion of the door. Her heart melted at the sight of the little one who was trying to grab her attention.
