But this time his skill on the dance floor wasn’t a surprise to Meghna. She wound her arms around his neck and relaxed. Even though something was off between them, being held by Karthik felt natural. Familiar. Safe.
The tempo of the music picked up, and Karthik’s hand moved to capture hers from the back of his neck. He held it for half a second, then turned her so fast that Meghna couldn’t help but give a surprised laugh. The room spun, then Karthik caught her, holding her for a moment before sending her into another twirl.
When Meghna was firmly in his arms again, she breathed a sigh of relief. Not because she hadn’t enjoyed the sudden twists and turns, but because Karthik was finally wearing a genuine smile on his face. The shuttered expression he’d been sporting all night had fallen away.
Meghna’s heart squeezed. This washerKarthik. She didn’t know where he had been earlier or what had been bothering him, but right now, he was fully present. Fully here.
The song ended, and Karthik dipped her, holding her in that pose for a moment longer than normal. His face hovered over hers, his eyes intense and focused. She glanced at his lips, but he didn’t move a millimeter closer. It seemed there was something she needed to clear up first. It was only the very beginning of the conversation they needed to have, but she wanted to get this part out of the way now.
“I changed my mind,” she whispered.
He tightened his hold, pulling her back upright. The next song started, slow and steady. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they started to sway.
“About what?” he asked, his hands returning to her lower back.
“I’m saying I want you to kiss me.”
His hands flexed, digging into the jacket of her tux. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. He leaned toward her, and she tilted her face up.
But at the last second, he pulled away, his eyes averted, looking at a spot behind her shoulder.
“Is this because Seth’s looking over?”
Meghna shook her head. She didn’t need to turn around. This wasn’t a performance anymore. Not to her. And, hopefully, not to him.
Relief flooded Karthik’s eyes, and Meghna smiled, rising on her toes to meet him.
“Kiss me?” she asked softly.
He muttered something, and it sounded a lot like “Finally,” but Meghna wasn’t sure. Still, as his lips came to hers, it felt like the right sentiment.Finally. She’d replayed their kisses dozens of times, thinking she’d never get to experience them again, but now here they were. She tightened her arms around his neck and parted her mouth, but it wasn’t enough.More,she thought as she tilted her head to the side, deepening their kiss.More. But even though she was partially lost in the feel of him, she was still aware that they were in public. There were too many people around.
She pulled back. His eyes were bright with emotion, and his gaze didn’t waver from her face. The calm, debonair, black-and-white-film actor was gone. He’d been replaced by this fully alive, fully in color, passionate man. And he was all hers.
“Let’s go,” she told him, slightly out of breath.
“Where?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
She turned and walked out of the tent. His presence, large and full of promise, followed right on her heels.
“Are we leaving?” he asked, a hopeful note in his voice.
“No. I can’t. I have to stay until the end, but we can…” She led them away from the glowing light of the tent and into the dark, cool night. Once they’d crossed a safe distance, she turned to face Karthik.
“I just wanted us to have some privacy,” she told him.
He took a step toward her, then stopped. “So…so we could talk?”
“No.”
He closed the remaining space between them, putting his arms around her and pulling her flush against him. “Thank God.”
His mouth was back on hers, and this time, there was no need to hold back.
—
