MG: The Chocolatiers Choice (X-mas treat!! OS)

The Chocolatier's Choice

25^th December, 2013

Sinfully dark, deliciously melting...her small apartment smelt of raw molten chocolate as Geet put the cake to bake. On the other side, her ganache burned liquid dark brown in the glass pot. Quickly folding it to a smooth mass she set it aside in the refrigerator to concentrate on the next task at hand.

"Phew"

She blew at a wisp of hair come undone out of the lazy bun at her nape. Her pajamas hung low on her hip, sweeping languidly over the creamy white floor she walked on. The baby blue top charmed its way on her curves, skimming loosely over her waist. She looked the epitome of womanhood spun in the cuteness cocoon.

Surveying her prim kitchen in spite of the elaborate baking program and readying eight batches of various flavoured assorted chocolates for the New Year's Geet huffed a sigh of relief.

"Cookies"

She slapped her head with a grin and busied herself with the dough.

Her ultimate relaxation,

Baking...

It just liberated her in every sense. She still hadn't come to understand the usual aversion females had for baking. Not that she had always been an expert!

She had made messes, burnt many a new recipes' and turned stone out of cakes; but in the end she prided on her second best choice of leisure and earning. After chocolate making that is!

...Oh she was a fanatic of chocolate. A sheer devote chocoholic', if that even was a word. And that very attribute made her one of the best in chocolate makers. Foodies make for amazing chefs! How right the adage would be for the chocoholic that was Geet.

Still kneading the cookie dough, she added a cup full of Choc chips and pistachios before busing both hands in again; humming lightly to the music weaving in the backdrop. The door bell shrilled her out of the sweet dough kneading session and she muttered incoherently walking down to the door. Carefully unlatching with the pads of her messy fingers she creaked open the oak door and the little bells tingled on its frame.

Geet's breath hitched in her throat at the sight that confronted her. She gulped in sheer surprise at the formidable man who stood intimidating her little door. Tall beyond six feet, he was broad shouldered, lean but sinewy. Dressed impeccably in smart business casuals with an overcoat that hung over his arm stubbornly he stared down at her with unabashed interest.

"Why the hell did I need to come running for a misshaped contract Ms. Handa?'

His crisp words rung and she recoiled.

But the fiery chilly she was, Geet shrugged nonchalantly and met his gaze head on with one of her own frosty-nosed stares.

"I did not mess up any orders. Your team picked up the hampers two days late. Mr. Khurana"

She declared with an air of defiance.

His lips automatically quirked in what looked like a half smile but he maintained his stance.

"Am I even to be invited inside after running down directly from the airport on Christmas Eve? Mind you after three weeks of rigorous touring"

He added crossing his arms over his chest.

She twitched her nose at his insidiousness and stomped her foot. No you can stuff that mind blowing ego of yours and march your ass back home!

Geet turned around and stalked into the kitchen sulking, to bully and hit the innocent cookie dough like a punch bag. The scum bag of a man! His audacity to question her hampers when he had been driving her to her tether's end!

Maan followed her into the kitchen quietly, closing and bolting the main door shut. He walked into her home with as much ease as a tiger would through his cave. Maan padded down to her state-of-the art homely kitchen enfolded in heavenly aromas of delicious baking and sinful chocolate; all the while trailing his coat and shoes along the way.

By the time he came up behind her, his coat lay discarded on the couch in the den and shoes and socks trailed closely behind. He had loosened the primly knotted tie at his collar and opened the cuffs of his sleeves to roll up to the elbow. Barefoot, with rolled up cuffs and about-to-f**k smoky lidded eyes that glinted with mischief...

Geet jumped in frustration and anger feeling him close behind, her first murderous thoughts to call 100 and have the man arrested for trespassing. While his smug ass was being destined to rot in jail in her mind, his thoughts took a completely different direction. Seeing the Chocolatier's elbow-deep hands kneading and hitting the dough, his calm had evaporated.

Dressed down in pajamas and barefoot, she made him the sight of a domestic temptress, a goddess of culinary descended only to tame the beast in him.

"Stay away Mr. Khurana. I am in a real dangerous mood"

She barked over her shoulder and he smirked. The full effect of which took her breath away. Even if she had only seen that smirk from the corner of her eye. Even if it had only basked in her sight for but a fraction of a second; his lethal curve of that sensual mouth left her hyperventilating inside. But dared if she showed!

Before she could act or defy or push him out of the protective circle, he had covered her wholly in his arms. His hands snaked and tightened around her belly and hips flushed with her delectable derriere. He lowered his dark head into the crook of her neck and inhaled the heaven of the Chocolatier. His chocolatier.

"Maan"

Geet shuddered in the warmth of his arms as heat spilled through her pours. You are not supposed to melt like chocolate on double boiler you idiot Geet!

"Just how dangerous is your mood Geet?"

Maan kissed and bit her ear lobe in what could be touted as the most pious action of seduction. She shuddered again as her body erupted in goose bumps, her hands lay limply buried in dough.

"Tell me yaa, is it this dangerous?"

Maan placed his open mouth over the silken curve of her neck and sucked. Her hands tightened into fists, crumbling the miserable dough inside.

"Or are they this fatal?"

He trailed his lips to her cheeks and ahead before her face lay turned into his. Maan's mouth was over hers but didn't capture to elongate the temptation. Anticipation is the key to temptation...he had used that rule time and again to reap insatiable benefits!

Little did he realize that the very temptation would turn tables on him and give her the time to bail out.

Taking advantage of his frozen trance Geet pulled out her dough laden hands and smeared him up in the chocolaty gooey mesh from cheeks to shirt. Before she knew it he was fuming all over her, running to catch hold of her hand. She ducked out and into the hall laughing before he overpowered her in one huge swoop and rolled with her down on the couch.

Geet lay over him, her messy hands caged on his chest as he stared up at her with mirthful eyes. How long could she not smile at the sweet smug man? Finally Geet smiled at him.

"Welcome back"

She bent down to peck his nose sweetly but he pulled her down for more. His more.

Maan's lips found hers to accomplish the task that remained. He worked over her mouth with smooth sucking from his own, his tongue flicking over her seam in slow arousing circles. He seemed to take all the time in the world to seduce that kiss out of her, to bring her to surrender. Geet moaned into his mouth in ecstasy and his tongue slipped into her mouth to fight a duel of sexes. Hot versus cold, sweet versus spicy. Hard masculine versus soft feminine.

"This doesn't mean I am not mad at you"

Geet said pulling out of the kiss as they both resurfaced from the undercurrents.

Maan grinned, his full take-no-prisoners grin that could undo her in the vilest of circumstances. But not today!

Geet chided herself stubbornly.

"Tell me what has a mere mortal done to deserve such irk from Her Excellentia?'

"Don't you use that charm on me Maan. You very well know what you've done! Just because you're company picked up the chocolates late and orders messed up you send me that stupid hamper of San Churro?"

Geet reprimanded his audacity.

Three days, precisely three days ago she had been handed over a beautifully wrapped hamper with all sorts of goodies and a card from Maan Singh Khurana. Any other girl would have danced down her sofas to be loved and cherished by her man. And if the man was Maan Singh Khurana! Only Geet's ire had increased.

Why?

Because Maan had been smug and sent her the archrival's chocolate hamper; since apparently his company's last order by her had not met the standards. Which for the records was not one cent her fault!

"Now you tell me why you don't deserve every minute of my murderous anger Maan Singh Khurana?'

Geet poked into his chest, flattening him under her.

Maan's grin didn't diminish an inch. Instead it grew with every sentence she spoke until Geet was sure the man would split his face smiling. The smug scum bag!

"Can I get cleaned up first?"

He licked a spot of sweet chocolate dough from the seam of his lower lip, eyeing his own chocolate smeared cheek with smoldering eyes.

Geet stared dumbfounded at the character called MSK! Ever so coolly he got up with her still in his arms and padded with casual ease right into her bedroom leaving her seated there. True, they had been lovers; spent every waking minute of leisure eating her goodies and then working towards burning those calories in bed. They had come close; from being business associates in the vendor-supplier relationship to full time lovers with an almost committed relationship...Geet shook her head.

This was the first time she had gotten him under the hill; the mighty Maan Singh Khurana had made a blunder and irked her! She would definitely enjoy making him pay. Start with her special chocolates, Geet eyed her refrigerator door with a smug grin. He had come back from an Oh-so-tiring-three-week trip! She would give him a good welcome back.

---------------------------

Maan strode out of her bedroom in the same white shirt and trousers, his cookie-dough-soiled waist coat and tie discarded. He had cleaned his face and now wiped it with a towel. The sight was a bit flustering for her as Geet stared hard at his fluid moves and the tight muscles that rippled under the white linen of his shirt.

"Staring Ms. Handa? It's all yours after you've fed your man"

Maan pecked her lips playfully before turning to the refrigerator. Before Geet could form a saucy spicy retort she saw him pick out the exact same box that she had reserved for him. And her lips quirked in a sly, almost bordering on devilish smile. She licked her lips in sadistic anticipation while he bent down the fridge.

"For me?'

Maan turned to her acting all smug and victorious as he picked up a heart shaped dark chocolate and popped it in his mouth. The next thing she knew, Maan was emptying her rigorously filled bottles of water from the fridge. Two down, three to go!

He had popped an ice cube panting and all the while shot her daggers, running from sink to fridge.

"What was that for?"

He said between bouts of oohing and aahing while Geet laughed her guts out.

"My new experiment. Chilly chocolates for smug-arrogant-pig headed-boyfriends"

Maan stared at her dumbfounded still blowing between his clenched teeth mortified.

"Well! Don't look at me like that Khurana, you started it...that blasted San Churro hamper for me? You knew I was working towards overtaking their business"

His expressions suddenly changed from morbid rage to playful amusement. A sly smile crossed his eyes. Eyes still watering, Maan took another sip of water and then popped a cube of ice in his mouth. With the ice cube still swirling he took long strides towards her. For a moment, only a split second Geet felt trapped by the look in his eyes. Craziness! What more can he do?

Well, presumably he could. He could drive her crazy.

Maan walked her back and into the cream wall until she was flush between his body and the wall. It shouldn't have scared her, but the pout of his mouth and the vague outline of the melting ice cube inside melted and churned her insides in ways unimaginable. Her gaze dropped to his mouth with unabashed sensuality as he rolled the cube. Geet gulped.

"Maan no..."

She shivered and words vanished in thin air as he clenched the ice between his teeth and trailed the cold piece over her forehead. He leaned over and trailed the ice in his mouth down her eyebrow to her cheek. Slow, sensuous ice trails that melted all over her face while she leaned further into the crook of his throat.

Maan slipped the ice into her lips and over her tongue with a mischievous glint.

"Just cooling your censure baby. Cold ice for smart-hot-saucy-mouthed-gals"

He winked, satisfied to see her anticipation flushed down the drain.

Geet gaped at his smugness with shocked anger and hastily cracked and swallowed the little piece of ice in her mouth. If anything, the cold ice had only roused the fire in her! And the scum bag Khurana had added fuel in outrageous quantities to the fire.

"Go to hell!"

She pushed him and rushed to the open refrigerator's lower compartment. Geet retrieved the San Churro chocolate hamper that shone under beautiful tissue and florescent wraps. Various goodies were outlined inside the covered basket with a card attached on the side.

"You are the worst man alive"

Geet said picking the hamper.

"And you are the most beautiful woman alive"

Maan caught hold of the hamper. His hands moved and settled firmly over her fingers. His eyes softened as he saw her lips turn to a pout and eyes go Bambi-hurt.' And suddenly all the plans to torment and have more fun with her went down the drain. All he wanted now was her. His Geet. His chocolatier.

Leaning over the basket he pecked her forehead. She looked up confused at his smiling face.

"How I knew you wouldn't open it"

Maan smirked again and eyed the wrapped basket.

Reaching over he pulled the bar stool and settled on it. He pulled Geet into his lap and placed the hamper on the breakfast bar carefully.

"Open it Mishty"

He murmured softly.

"No"

She looked away.

"Please"

She turned and eyed his face for a moment. Then looked at the basket.

Why does this man pull strings over you Geet?

She sighed in surrender and started unwrapping the present. All she wanted was to rip the paper out and throw her rival's goodies out of the window. Instead she took it slow and subdued to show Maan how indifferent she was now. Though she was anything but!

Maan tightened his arms around her tummy, skimming his fingers over her waist while she opened the packaging. Inside, sat loads of goodies from a white chocolate Santa Claus to Christmas tree cookies and bells. The hamper was packed with utter personalized beauty. Not the kind San Churro did! Geet thought narrowing her eyes on a chocolate shell that was completely out of the Christmas themed' hamper. Who put chocolate shells in Christmas goodies? Her fingers skimmed the palm sized oyster shell-shaped chocolate.

She turned towards Maan in astonishment. But he didn't seem to give any reaction.

Geet reached out and carefully opened the chocolate shell lid. What met her there was the most exquisite, most benevolent, most precious Christmas present of her lifetime. Shining demurely, sparkling gloriously in the darkness of chocolate lay nestled the final proposal of their relationship.

Geet gasped and looked back at him for confirmation. He smiled, his face softened with love that could have drowned her through and through. And yet that very love was what kept her afloat. They both turned and looked down at the sparkling ring that shone like a pearl in the oyster. Albeit it was. The silver lining through clouds...

"Marry me Geet"

Maan murmured in her ear.

So soft, so slow. For a moment she thought she had imagined it. But then the diamond ring caught light and glinted up at her. And then she knew nothing was a dream anymore.

"So does her Excellantia take for her husband this mere mortal?"

"No"

She looked back with a sly smile.

Maan raised an eyebrow shocked.

"Her Excellentia didn't quite like the style of proposal. You could have done better with Choco-Song Chocolatier's' hampers Mr. Mortal"

She implied her own chocolate making firm.

"What a shame! Then that wouldn't have remained a surprise"

Maan touted nuzzling his nose with hers.

"You sent me the hamper three days ago. For all you know I would have shredded it open and thrown your proposal back into that smug face"

Geet turned in his lap.

"That's precisely what I knew you would not do. You would have plans and pride enough to lure your man into the cave and take revenge! And I knew you would never open San Churro's pack, neither would you throw it since it had my card."

"You think you know me quiet well!"

"I know that I know you very well"

"Then you should know that I will first establish myself in my business and then think of settling with you Maan. Don't get me wrong, I accept you with everything you have, but it's yours. The multi-million business, the luxury and cars, the apartments and mansion...they are yours

"And they will be ours"

Maan added.

"See! That is what I don't want"

"Geet!"

"Maan you know my goal is just miles away. I am so close to getting ahead in sales and clientele. San Churro, the best chocolatier in Mumbai would not hold a candle to my firm. It's just a matter of a year or two"

"See! And that's what I don't want. Waiting for years to claim you as my wife. To make children with you"

In spite of herself, Geet blushed. What they hadn't done to each other that could qualify as processes to make children!' And yet here she was, blushing and blooming at the thought of bearing Maan's children.

"But Maan..."

"This means you didn't read the full engravings on the basket hamper"

Maan cut her off.

"What?"

Maan nodded.

Geet turned the hamper to the exact place where company logo was engraved. On the rust brown surface, embossed in darker brown was another precious, benevolent gift of Christmas.

Choco-Song Churro

...chocolatier's sinfully.

"What did you do?"

Geet asked indignantly. Shocked would have been an understatement.

"I bought the company"

He shrugged.

"You what?"

"Exactly. So that I don't have to grow old and wait to get married to my stubborn chocolatier"

"You know you are so damn smug!"

Geet pushed out from his lap and stood up utterly confused.

One moment she wanted to laugh her heart out at the craziness, next she wanted to murder the smug Khurana for being so extremely generous; and then she wanted to throw her arms around him and hug her lover for bringing the world to her feet.

She didn't do any of those.

"Maan I can't take what you are offering"

Geet whispered slowly.

"You mean you are denying my proposal?"

Maan got up equally appalled.

He stood tall, towering over her like the mighty business man he was.

"No. I mean yes. I mean...I want to marry you Maan. But I cannot accept San Churro. I have done nothing to earn it"

"You have Mishty. You yourself confirmed that your sales and clientele are exceeding theirs. All they have is their decades old name which you will supersede in coming years. But now I need you. I need those years. I need your full attention Geet. To be my wife"

His voice held such earnesty and love that she could not hold back.

"Oh Maan"

"I know making and feeding chocolates is your favourite thing in the world. That making your own business is your goal. But can't I fit into it? Can't I be a part of your trails?"

Her eyes were tearful, face contorted in painful pleasure as his words changed her mind in a whirlwind of love and promises.

"You're wrong of one thing here."

She said.

"My favourite thing in the world is you"

He smiled and opened his mouth to say something but she hushed him with her finger.

"And you are my road from any goal that I would ever achieve"

She replaced her finger with her lips and kissed him softly.

Geet pulled away with tears on her cheeks at the overflowing joy and mirth that had come her way. This Christmas wasn't lonely after all; it had brought in prospects of many more of such years which would be filled with mirth, joy, presents, her handmade chocolates and Maan.

"I love you"

"I love you too Mishty. Tell me you will marry me"

She didn't give a reaction.

"The San Churro firm?"

She asked skeptically.

"Consider it my dowry"

Maan said that so cutely that she laughed.

"No. No dowries. You will keep the company to yourself until I work Choco-Song upto that mark. Understood?"

"Your choice Geet. I sent you two presents the day I signed the deal with San Churro"

Maan eyed the hamper on the bar.

"Either you accept my ring now or both the ring and San Churro"

He pointed at the ring and basket.

Geet laughed even as she twined her hands around his neck. Her fingers dug into the hair at his nape and she rose on tip toe to seal their deal.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Off course you do! My chocolatier's got to choose the best"

Maan had almost lifted her off her feet when she cried out in sheer ecstasy.

"And you are the best! Yes I will marry you"

She squealed as he lifted her off the floor and twirled her round and round in his arms.

"Maan aaah..haaa..aaa...Put me down. Stop. Stop...please"

She gasped when he finally put her down.

Geet leaned her head on his chest and listened to the thumping of his heart. Things had changed, they were going to change. Her plans were going to change. But as long as he was her's; nothing would matter more than their togetherness.

She felt Maan lean side wards and saw him pluck the ring out of the now dew laden chocolate shell. Gently he pulled her out of his embrace and took her hand in his.

"To my would-be wife. To years and years of loving and cherishing each other. To all those children we will have and the family that together we will raise."

Maan said aloud holding the ring in his hand.

"To my smug-arrogant-pig headed-would-be husband"

She cooed seeing him narrow his eyes in mock anger.

"To the love that you shower and to the love we will create together. To the chocolates we will make together"

"And to those calories we will burn together in bed"

Maan's gaze smoldered with love and passion as Geet's face flushed red.

"Forever Mishty"

He said slipping the ring on her finger. A drop of tear escaped her eye as she stared enraptured at his hand that covered her ringed finger. As if he was symbolizing his protection to her, pledging his life to her.

"Forever Maan"

Geet couldn't help but murmur as his mouth took hers once again. His hands travelled to the nape of her neck and undid the messy bun in one swift pull. Brown locks of depth cascaded down her back and spilled over his fingers as he continued kissing her. Her hair, silken mass over his twining fingers framed their faces, veiling them as they kissed.

Suddenly they were jolted out of the reverie by the shrill oven ping.

"Cookies!"

Geet chirped licking her just-kissed-swollen-pink lips and Maan growled at the interruption.

She laughed at the face he pulled, his narrow eyed mock-angry face.

"Well, that's for being with the Chocolatier!"

Geet said pulling the tray out of the oven.

She picked up a richly flavored warm cookie and dangled the gooey choco-nut filled biscuit to Maan. He dipped his dark head and sunk his teeth into the cookie and took a slow bite, prolonging the action to tempt his domestic culinary temptress.

"Because I am your choice. Me. The chocolatier's choice!"

He pulled her into himself, and melted her mouth under his in a kiss to seal the deal. To seal a future. To make Christmases, each more memorable that the previous; for years and years to come...

So how was the happy-happy treat?

Wish you a Merry Christmas!!! More treats coming up...Vms and all.

Stay tuned cause lots of free time I have and devoting all to writing and creating VMs😃😳

Now please do leave me your Likes and Comments!!!

<3

Frosty