Page 79 of Forbidden

Aarav

I read every sign she wants me to read on her face. Jhanvi was jealous of seeing me not giving her any attention. She didn’t like me ignoring her and spending time with her friends instead. I was upset with our yesterday’s argument and all I wanted was for Jhanvi to choose me but just like every other time she took my rival's side so I had every right to ignore her tonight. But I never expected her to put up a dance for me with those men, only to make me taste the same jealousy. God knows how I controlled myself from not hitting those men who danced with her as if she belonged to them. Now we are here in this private booth, with our faces inches apart, our will hanging on a loose thread and our bodies on fire. One more gesture from her end showing her willingness to give in, and I promise to devour her even better this time. As if she reads my cue, Jhanvi raises her fingers and strokes my rough jaw. Control is what I am lacking at the moment. I shut my eyes, waiting to see how far she can go to lead this. There’s too much music around, but our hearts have silenced. I can literally hear them beat in sync when she uses her other free hand to feel my chest. She rubs her palm over my heart and air rushes out of my lungs. I push myself to her and in a fraction of a second, our lips fuse with each other. I won’t make the same mistake I did the other night when we kissed. That kiss was too raw, passionate, and unstoppable. This one today will be the opposite. So, I kiss her as delicately as possible, then withdraw and watch her reeling at this moment and I kiss her again. It’s slow, torturous for my body but I’m still enjoying it like her. Jhanvi keeps feeling my chest and abs, showing no hurry to break this contact between us. I always have seen that hunger in her eyes ever since we met again, to explore me and this is that moment she’s got tonight. While I explore her mouth with my tongue, Jhanvi slides her fingers into my hair, pulling me closer. I push her to the wall, and then flick my lips on the outer shell of her ear, eliciting an agonizing moan from her lips which forces me to continue the same ministrations to her neck. I kiss her neck, rub my nose everywhere I kiss her, sniff her perfume, which reminds me of how delicious she smells all the time, then lick every spot of her neck I have kissed. This repeats for no idea how long, because when I pull back and see her, she’s completely in a different world altogether. Her dress straps have fallen from her shoulders with wet marks of my kisses and soft nibbles all over her neck. I’m sure she would mind but I love to see her like this.. all flushed for me.. by me.

Grabbing a fistful of her hair carefully, making sure I don’t hurt her, I pull Jhanvi closer to my body again. I don’t think I can stay for long without her touch.

“Choose me, Jaan. That’s all you have to do.”

My remark brings her out of the stupor. Her eyes soften for me, but I know whatever she’s going to say next is going to break my heart again. I can feel that already.

“Choosemeover your revenge, Aarav. That’s allyouhave to do.”

She’s imposing a condition. HELL NO!! Several thoughts run through my mind, mostly outrageous. I can’t accept what Jhanvi wants from me. It’ll change the very basics of my motive, my mere reason to exist and the unstoppable fire I have inside me to engulf every bit of Durga Raichand’s ego will burn me forever if I give in to Jhanvi’s demands. So, I do what she doesn’t want me to do. I drop my hand from her hair and step back.

“You will regret this.”

That’s the last I can think of warning her. I stride back to the main hall where the music drums in my ears and where Kate stops me.

“Hey, where were you? We missed you.”

I don’t care who missed me and why? It’s evident Kate expects me to cross a line with her. She has given me enough hints, but this poor woman doesn’t know I will cross those lines with only one woman who just rejected me again to save someone else.

“I am leaving,” I inform.

That’s right. I don’t want to be here and face Jhanvi again, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care if she’s back from the private booths or not. I turn to my side and watch her coming out, neatening her dress and hiding the marks of my nibbles on her neck by leaving her hair loose over her shoulders. She looks agitated as I am speaking to Kate but heck!! I don’t care anymore.

“Oh, is it? Then can you drop me to my hotel? I am kind of high and… you know I can’t drive myself.”

No effing way I am driving her back, but when I realize Jhanvi’s gaze throwing daggers at me, I don’t think it’s a very bad idea.

“Sure. Let’s go.”

And we take an exit!!

*****************

Dropping Kate to her hotel, I drove back to mine, and it’s been hardly an hour since I am here that my doorbell rings again. I didn’t order any room service and I am really not expecting anyone right now. But I open the door quickly to check and my jaw drops as I find Jhanvi standing at my door, giving me angry glare. She’s in the same dress she wore at the party but her hair is tied into a ponytail, not professionally though. Her lip gloss is absent, which reminds me I am the one who licked it all a while ago. The marks on her neck are still visible, but it looks like she doesn’t care anymore. And wait, is she drunk? Yup. My wife cannot even stand on her own feet.

“Where is she?” Jhanvi shouts.

She shouldn’t be shouting like this. There are people staying around us. But my concern for her takes over.

“You drove here alone or took a cab? You shouldn’t be driving in this state.”

She nods in disapproval. Damn, she looks cute.

“Don’t change the topic. Where is Kate?”

Oh!! So, jealousy brought her here? Hmm.

“She is at her hotel. I am in mine. Does that make you happy? Now wait. I will drop you back home.”

I am about to leave inside to grab my jacket as it’s cold outside, when Jhanvi shouts back.

“Don’t you show your fake concern to me. I am fine.. I can go back home. I don’t need you.. did you hear-?”

She tries to recollect something.

“What’s your name again?”

---