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“We’ve got to go,” Sheena told Rajiv. “The kids are wide awake and asking for us.”
“You have kids?” Tiya asked them.
Sheena’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Yeah, a boy and girl. Shiven is four and Nia is two. They were fast asleep when we left. But now, they’re both awake and creating mischief.”
“They’re a handful,” Rajiv added. “But we adore them to bits.”
“They sound lovely,” Tiya gushed.
“They are,” Sheena said. “I hope you get to meet them some day.” To Vihaan she said, “Don’t be a stranger. Come home soon.”
“I will,” he said, kissing her cheek.
Sheena and Rajiv soon left, leaving him alone with Tiya and the whirlpool of emotion rolling in his chest.
Tiya stared at him for a long moment before she opened her mouth, and then she shut it, looking away, as if unsure of what she was going to say. He didn’t blame her. He felt out of sorts too. The whole episode on the dance floor had left him reeling. He rubbed his chest where a strange sort of ache had announced itself ever since their heated dance.
Dancing with her had been like a forbidden pleasure. One he never ought to have indulged in, but once he’d started moving with her, he hadn’t wanted to stop. Yet he’d kept his distance from her, refusing to touch her. But then, it was as if fate had conspired and Tiya had fallen against him. And every bit of his control had disintegrated. Vanished in thin air. Desire, unlike any other, had detonated like a bomb inside him. They’d been in public with people around them and yet he hadn’t been able to keep his hands and mouth off her skin. Thank God, she’d moved away from him because he definitely hadn’t had the willpower to do so.
He let out a slow breath.
Casual. This was just casual. It wasn’t real, even though it felt so real when they were together. He had to remember that, no matter that his heart was rebelling at that notion with every moment that he spent in her company.
The lights in the club dimmed and the music changed to a slow song. Richard Marx’s famous song,I’ll be right here waiting for you, began to play. Couples moved closer as they slow danced to it. Tiya’s head tipped to the side and a smile played on her lips as she hummed the lyrics.
Sensing his attention on her, Tiya looked at him again before her gaze quickly darted away. She tugged on a strand of her hair and then fidgeted with the many bracelets on her wrist—all black, he noted, except a green beaded one. This behavior was so unlike the bold, spunky woman she was.
“What’s up, hellcat? What’s got you in a twist?” Vihaan teased, wanting to lighten the moment.
Her eyes flew to his. “I’m fine.”
He grinned, knowing her too well by now. “Then why are you squirming so much?”
She cursed under her breath. “Oh, fuck it! I’m just going to say it out loud. I need to talk to you about something.”
Resolve was written on her face.
“I’m listening,” he said, curious now.
“Do you think that this, us…can we make it real? At least, let’s try and see where it goes?”
His body stilled. This was not what he’d expected her to say. He swallowed thickly as dozens of thoughts raced through his mind.
“I mean…you and I…when we’re together, it feels different. It feels…precious,” she pressed.
Oh God! What was he to reply to that? Because she was right. When they were together, it was unique. It felt special. It felt like it could become more. But could he allow it to become more? Could he trust her? His heart began to race.
Her phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.
“Bloody hell,” Tiya cursed. Reading the caller ID, she answered it.
Vihaan heard her speak for a few moments before she hung up. She looked into the crowd and waved. “One of my old clients is here with her friends. Let me go say hi to her. I’ll be back in a minute.”
“I’ll be right here…waiting for you.”
Her mouth curved into a big smile. She scraped a finger down his jaw, warming his blood like always. “Oh. I love that song. I’m so glad we have the same taste in music.”
“What song? I don’t understand,” he deadpanned. “Is it a romantic number? Which sane man likes such mushy stuff?”
