Chapter 6
Prem kissed Heer. She could feel his energy. It literally pulsed through her, like it always had. This man was so alive. So vital. She swallowed, tried to look away, but he snagged her chin with his finger, forced her to look back into those dark eyes.
"Please, Heer."
Hot tears filled her eyes. She wanted Prem back. She wanted to tear that mask off his face, to see him, to know what was going on deep in his mind, at his core. She clenched her jaw in frustration as a tear slid down her cheek. He smoothed it away with the pad of this thumb and lowered his head.
"God, you have no idea how much I've missed you Heer." His voice was thick and rough and it curled through her. He brushed his lips softly over her wet lashes. Her throat tightened. She tried to regain her breath. The tension in the air was tangible.
Prem's hands found her waist, and he splayed his fingers over it and gently pulled her towards him. Heer forgot how to breathe. And then he kissed her again. Heer's knees went weak. She could feel the heat of his palm right through her clothes.
Prem looked at her longingly and said, "Do you know how truly beautiful you are?" Heer blushed.
"What happens now, Prem?" "How are you going to catch RR?"
Here's how it goes Heer. Call up RR and talk to him. Tell him you were upset last night since he called you late. Tell him that your cousin from USA came home after a real long time and that you were catching up. Convince him that you want to take your cousin along with you for the trip abroad. RR would want to meet me. Tell him yes.
"But....... RR would recognise you, Prem."
"There are a lot of things I learnt in the army, Heer and one of those is disguise. I can be you long lost cousin" Prem smiled and Heer's heart skipped a beat.
Heer called RR and told him the exact things that Prem had asked her to. RR was shocked. "Who is this cousin of yours, Heer? I haven't heard you talk about him at all."
"It's ok, Rishab. He is a distant cousin of mine. I want to spend time with him before he leaves the country."
"I want to meet him, Heer. After all, he is a cousin of yours. And I intend to marry you. So, he's family Heer."
"Of course, Rishab. We can meet tonight at the hotel. See you tonight," Heer put down the phone. She had to stop herself from getting sick. It was not easy pretending to be nice to Rishab when she knew what he was doing.
"Good job Heer." Prem said, watching her.
"Come on, lets get out of here. We have till night for the showdown. Let's spend some time together. I know a nice place where we can go. And I am sure you will love it." said Prem.
"Are you asking me out on a date, Prem?"
"I am trying to do what I should have done a long time ago. You never know how tomorrow will turn up, Heer. I want to spend every moment with you." Prem said sadly.
"What are you talking about, Prem? Once RR is caught, you will come back to me, won't you?"
"Let's not worry about all that now Heer. Come on, or we are going to be late."
Prem took her hand and led her to his car. It was a convertible. He opened the passenger door for her. Once she sat in, he closed her door, climbed in the driver's seat. Heer looked at Prem. He truly was gorgeous. He meshed the ruged power with an urban sensibility. He made her stomach swoop. She remembered the kiss and her mind began to wander.
Prem shifted into first gear and swerved into the traffic with an exhibitonist shriek of rubber on tar. Heer braced her hand against the dash. Tires screeched. He'd stopped for the red light.
"When did you start having speed issues, Prem?" Heer asked.
"I am just trying to have some fun, Heer." he replied smiling.
"Could you possibly drive just a bit slower?"
The light turned green and Prem took off at a quiter speed this time, slowing to an almost regular pace.
Prem drove fast into the morning, clouds skudding high above them in an otherwise clear sky, the breeze refreshing, the top of the car still down. Heer had tied a scarf around her hair. They had blankets and a basket of food in the back.
"Where are we going to, Prem?"
"To the beach."
A couple of hours drive and they neared the shore. The traffic had thinned and Heer could smell salt on the wind. Prem floored the gas pedal as they hit the coast raod and the wind tore her scarf loose from her hair. She caught it, lifted her chin, closed her eyes and let the breeze rush through her hair. Far from the city, she began to feel relaxed and free.
Prem stole a glance at Heer. She was smiling to herself, her eyes closed, her hair swirling and bouncing about her face. She looked blissfully happy. Something soared wildly in his chest, and a new energy bit fiercely at him.
Not only did he want to kill RR, he wanted Heer with him. Completely. Forever.
Prem grinned, then turned onto a sandy road and wondered just how badly burned he was going to get before the job was done. He wanted to stop these feelings. But to hell with it. He loved her. Always had. And he was going to take what he could get, because he was pretty damn sure she wasn't going to see him again, once this was over. Ever. And for the first time, fear whispered through Prem. He focused on the road ahead, trying to hide the way he was beginning to feel.
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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