the voyage next part link pg 16 1/04 - Page 4

How easily she was bought, Geetr eflected as she followed the steward down one gilt-bedecked corridor after another. But although the decoration was vibrant and luxurious, it was all a bit over the top. She could see why Maan had fed her the bait. His yatcht was huge and equipped with all the latest high-tech equipment, but the interior design was more suitable for his parent's generation. If he was serious about combining stewardship of a country with his business interests, then Maan needed to showcase not just his country's traditional wares, but the latest innovations too. Given half the chance she would encourage new young delhi designers to submit their products for his consideration.

Oh, how she wanted this brief, Geet mused, soaking in every bit of information she could as she looked around. She had never seen so many priceless artefacts, and it came home to her then that, although everyone thought they knew Maan, few had seen him as she had—relaxed, approachable, humorous, sexy. They just saw what he was worth and drew their own conclusions about what he would want around him.

Maan hadn't just come back into her world; he'd turned that world on its axis, Geet realized. And as for The Kiss… kisses, kissing… she touched her eyepatch. However brave she appeared there was always part of her that thought people--- especially men—found he injuries off-putting, but not only had Maan proved that wasn't the case as far as he was concerned, but he didn't make allowances for them either, which she liked. She didn't want to be treated like and invalid, or, an object of pity. So for all the black strikes against him, he had earned quite a few brownie points too.

'am I alone on this corridor?' she asked as the stewards topped by one particular door. It was too much to hope Maan would be next door—and, ofcourse, she didn't want that anyway. She was just, well—getting her bearings.

'the master has a suite of rooms on another level, madamemoiselle.'

'up or down?'

'directly behind the bridge. Madamemoiselle.'

Okay, so not that close. She breathed a sigh of relief.

As the stewars held the door open she completely forgot how mad Maan could make her. The accommodation she had been allocated took her breath away. This was luxury on an unprecedented scale.

'there's more, madamemoiselle,' the steward prompted her as she stood gaping at the door.

'more?' she sounded like a child at Christmas, hardly knowing which gift to open first. Forget the granny curtains – there were floor-to-ceiling windows and enough space to fit three apartments the same size as the one shared with the girls. And at least the bed, sorted twinkles, boasted crisp white linen sheets, and a most inviting bank of pillows…

She touched her lips—still swollen… still tingling with the memory of Maan's kisses…

'would you like me to show you around, madamemoiselle?'

'I'll find my way around thank you' she said with a smile. She was dying to be alone to do some serious thinking, but first there was more investigating to do..

There was a pink marble bathroom where a bleached blonde Barbie doll would be right at home—and a fully fitted dressing room that would fulfill the dreams of the most impossibly spoiled celebrity. The square bath was big enough for four. And as for the walk-in drench shower…

Well, that was definitely big enough for…

Activities, Geet decided, poking her head round the corner to size it up, acitivities she could only dream about indulging in with Maan…

Activities she definitely wouldn't be indulging in, Geet informed herself firmly.

Unfortunately, that self-imposed ban wasn't enough to stop her imagination conjuring up a few heart-stopping scenes. To stop them dead she turned full circle slowly, concentrating her mind solely on her thoughts as an interior designer—Maan had switched a light on in her brain and now it was impossible to look at a single object or paint shade without giving it a professional view.

She had Maan to thank for throwing her back into that world of breaking boundaries and thinking outside the box. Nothing about this visit was accidental, Geet concluded. Maan knew her life before the accident had drawn its oxygen from design, but hse musnt mistake his concern for anything else.

There were some things she would like to keep—this crimson tangerine and fuchisia decoration in the dining room, for instance, where the colors had been allowed to clash in such a strange and fabulous way. Opening the slide glass door, she moved outside onto the balcony with its wooden decking. Looking back to the dining room, she knew it would be flooded with light in the morning but she would prefer to eat breakfast out here and dream about Maan—

'Maan!' he was standing in the doorway, dangling a set of keys. Maan- fresh from the shower with his hair still damp. Dressed in snug-fitting jeans with sexy bare feet and a crisp clean shirt with the sleeves pushed back to reveal his powerful forearms.

'this is your last chance,' he threatened giving the keys a little shake.

'havent we gone too far for you to take me back?

'I could drop you off in Italy?

'I suppose you think that's funny?' she firmed her jaw. 'as much as it tempts me to have you at my beck and call, Maan singh Khurana, I am going to resist the temptation to put your flying abilities to test—so you can put those keys away for now'

'geet, geet, geet. You know you don't want to give me that sort of test.'

'I have no idea what you mean.' She assured him, wondering If it was possible for a body to melt like candle wax—which was what hers seemed to be doing.

Maan moved so fast she was in his arms before she had the chance to think. 'youre just soo—'

'arrogant and impossible? He suggested with a husky laugh.

'that's nothing to be proud of,' she said thinking red-hot, rich and royal didn't even begin to describe him. And Maan was most definitely used to getting his way. It was about time she threw out a few flying challenges of her own. 'do you always go flying with bare feet?'

'that depends on how high I'm planning to take you.'

By the time she had processed that piece of information Maan was kissing her.