Obsession Or Love ?? A Virika FF - Page 17

Viren didn't take them straight back to the condo. He pulled into a parking lot close to home and whipped the small sports car into a vacant parking space.

"We need to eat. This place has the best Italian food in the area, but it's nothing fancy." He hopped out and jogged to the other side of the car, opening her door and taking her hand to pull her out of the vehicle.

"Uh...I'm not exactly dressed for fancy." Still in her jeans and sweater that she wore for the clinic, she knew that she was a mess. Both physically and emotionally.

"You look beautiful. But I know it's been a tough day. Is that okay?"

"It's great. I love Italian and I'm starving."

Surprisingly enough, what she told him was true. She had skipped breakfast because she had gotten up late, and lunch had come and gone while they were at the police station.

Viren held the door for her, guiding her through it with a hand at the small of her back. God, the man had great manners. She'd have to remember to compliment his mom later for raising her son to be polite. Jeevika couldn't remember the last time a guy had actually run to open her door. Probably...never.

The interior of the restaurant was dim, each table lighted with a large, fat candle in the middle. It wasn't fancy, but it wasn't exactly a dive either.

"Mr. Vadhera. How lovely to see you again." The leggy, beautiful blonde who greeted them showed them to a corner table, gracing Viren with a smile straight from a toothpaste commercial.

After they were seated, Viren ordered a beer on tap and Jeevika asked for an iced tea. She breathed a sigh of relief when the fawning female finally left to get their drinks.

"Flirty woman." Jeevika wanted to bite her tongue immediately. What business was it of hers if a woman flirted with Viren? Maybe he liked it.

"You mean Kate?" Viren's expression was puzzled as he closed his menu, obviously already decided on what he wanted.

"Is that her name? She didn't introduce herself to me. She seemed much more interested in you." Shut the hell up, Jeevika. You sound like a jealous girlfriend.

"She wasn't flirting. I'm a regular customer. She has to be nice." Viren shrugged.

Oh Lord, the man was clueless. She studied the menu, trying to let the subject drop. "You've been here before. Any recommendations?"

"It's all good. I'm having the chicken parmesan."

Jeevika looked at the menu like a kid in a candy store. It had been so long since she'd had so many choices or eaten in a restaurant as an actual customer. "It's so hard to decide."

Viren was grinning when she finally looked up from the menu. "You look like you're trying to solve a major problem."

"Do I look like I don't get out much?" she asked with a light, self-mocking laugh.

His eyes grew stormy as he shot her a look so intense, she could feel heat wash over every inch of her body. "You are the loveliest woman I've ever seen sitting across a table from me. No one else even comes close."

She blushed, actually flushing rose-red from the I-want-you look in his eyes and the heat of gaze. No man could drive her crazy like Viren did. One word, one statement, one look...and she was flustered like a freaking teenage girl.

Jeevika was actually grateful to see an older, dark-haired waitress coming to deliver their drinks and take their food order. She decided to make things easy and have the same thing Viren was having. As the waitress left, Jeevika picked up her drink, puzzled. "I think they made me an alcoholic iced tea."

Viren chuckled as he glanced at the beverage in her hand. "It's definitely an alcoholic iced tea. I didn't know you wanted the real thing."

"What's in this?" she asked, staring at the glass of liquid that was actually pretty close to the same color as conventional iced tea, but it was in a stout drink glass and topped with a cherry. None of the restaurants where she had worked were equipped with a full bar and she wasn't really an expert on drinks.

Viren grinned wickedly. "Rum, gin, tequila, vodka, triple sec...and a splash of cola and sour mix."

Oh, crap. She'd be doing a happy dance on the table. A glass of wine made her tipsy. Holding her alcohol well wasn't a talent she had ever perfected, probably because she seldom imbibed. "Promise you won't let me dance naked on the table when I'm done." She cocked a brow at Viren, waiting for his agreement.

She glared at him as he burst into a full belly laugh, gasping for breath as he answered. "Seriously? From a drink or two?"

"It's not funny. I don't drink much," she told him defensively, suddenly feeling pretty damn unworldly and out of place sitting across from a billionaire who had been around the block a time or two. Or three.

Viren grinned at her. "I know. Try it. If you don't like it I'll get you something else." His expression sobered, his eyes alight with heat and something else that she couldn't quite define. "And I definitely promise that you will not dance naked on the table, unless it's at home in a private performance." His voice was gruff, his expression heated, as though he were imagining exactly that scenario and was looking forward to it.

She refused to meet his eyes, the lump in her throat feeling as big as a baseball. Hell, why not? She could use a drink after the morning she had just been through. Sipping cautiously, she let the liquid flow over her tongue and down her throat, swallowing hard to get by the knot that had formed from Viren's sexy comment. "Not bad." She licked her lips. "It doesn't really taste all that strong."

He shot her a wicked smile. "It's deceiving. They're pretty potent."

They enjoyed their drinks and dinner with companionable conversation. Viren talked about his family and told her about some of his projects. Jeevika shared funny stories from her career as a waitress, and a few from her years in medical school.

Viren destroyed his entire plate of chicken parmesan and finished hers when she couldn't eat another bite. He ordered them each a tiramisu and a second drink. The dessert was delicious, but she couldn't finish it. Of course, he was willing to polish that off for her, too. The man could put away a lot of food. Maybe he needed it to fuel that big, sinewy, sculpted body that never failed to leave her panting like a dog after a tempting treat.

"How do you maintain such an incredible body when you eat like that?" she asked him, wanting to kick herself for wording it quite that way, knowing that it was the alcohol that was twisting her words.

Note to self: Do not drink more than a watered down glass of wine from now on.

His eyes shot to her face, his expression mischievous. "Incredible, huh?"

She shrugged. What was the point in denying it? His body was incredible. "Well, it is." Incredible. Rock-hard and sexy as hell. The hottest body on the planet.

"I work out in the gym at home every day. If you think I look good, I guess it's worth it," his incredulous voice informed her.

Oh, hell yeah. Way worth it.

"It shows," she choked out, trying not to be obvious about the fact that she wanted to jump his bones in about a hundred different ways. "It's one of the reasons that women like Kate fall all over you. Not the only reason, but one of them." Oh, shit. Had she really said that out loud? Damn alcohol! She needed to bite her tongue.

"Women don't admire my body, my personality or anything else about me except my money," Viren told her in a matter-of-fact tone.

Jeevika looked at him, flabbergasted. Did he really believe that? "Oh, so it doesn't matter that you're insanely handsome, a genius, funny and extremely kind? Women just want the cash?" God, he really was infuriating. Didn't he know? Didn't he realize that he had so much more to offer than just his money?

"Yes."

Her heart ached, knowing that he really did think that money was his only asset. Hard to believe, especially when she had been on the receiving end of his generous nature so many times. Also difficult to comprehend as she glanced yearningly across the table at the most handsome, desirable man she had ever laid eyes on. "I do." He looked at her with a bewildered expression as the words slipped from her mouth in a heated rush. "I want you. And it has nothing to do with your money." The words spilled from her lips without pause, uncensored. She looked away from him, slightly mortified at what she had revealed, but his constant refusal to realize his own value made her insane. "I don't give a shit about your money."

"Yeah...I noticed that," he said in a graveled voice.

Finally, she looked up at him and his expression was unreadable. Confusion? Disbelief? Distrust? Hope? They were all there, but she had a hard time figuring out which one took priority.

She tipped up her glass, finishing the last of her second iced tea. "I'm done."

Jeevika wondered if she would regret her spontaneous outburst later, and decided she most likely wouldn't. Somehow, she needed to get through to Viren, even if it was uncomfortably humbling. He was so self-contained, so controlled, but there was an underlying vulnerability lurking beneath the surface. That self-doubt that she occasionally spotted in those gorgeous eyes should never linger there. No man as handsome, kind and generous should ever know a moment of uncertainty.

Viren was, without question, an alpha male, Gut instinct was clawing at her insides, telling her that his issue had nothing to do with domination and everything to do with some type of trust issue.

They stood and Viren pulled out his wallet, dropping some cash on top of the check. She sighed as he grasped her hand tightly, tugging her gently through the door. It was early evening and the cooler air helped clear her foggy head. She couldn't remember every one of the ingredients in the drinks, but they had certainly loosened her tongue.

The drive back to the condo was only a few blocks, but it left Jeevika squirming in her seat. Viren was too close and smelled way too tempting, and she was still embarrassed about the fact that she had basically spilled her soul to him. Oh, maybe not everything, but admitting how much she wanted him and getting no real response was pretty deflating.

What did I want him to say? I want to help him and that means expecting nothing back. He never promised anything.

Really, she hadn't expected anything, but having him say that he wanted her too would have been nice. She felt raw, exposed. And being in his company was anything but comfortable at the moment.

I don't understand him. I don't know what motivates his behavior.

But she wanted to. There was nothing she wanted more than to understand every one of Viren Vadhera's secrets.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the condo. Wandering through the kitchen, she headed for her room to take a shower. She was about to call a brief goodnight to Viren when a large, muscular arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against an equally large, masculine body.

"Don't go. Not yet." Viren's husky voice against her ear sent a shiver of need through her body, momentarily stunning her into silence.

He lifted her, cradling her against his chest as he strode into the living room and sat on the couch, her body sprawled on his lap. "What's wrong?" she questioned softly, feeling the restless tension in his body. His muscles were bunched tight as she fanned her hands over his shoulders.

"I need to hold you for a while. Please. You took twenty years off my life today, Jeevika. I'm going to end up old, bald and crazy if you keep having incidents like this." He wrapped his arms around her, plastering her body tightly against his.

"I'm sorry." She laid her head on his shoulder, relishing the abrasive feel of his whiskers against her cheek, trying not to let her spirits soar because he was hinting at a future for them.

"I can't take it. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you," he said in a strangled voice.

The living room was dim, lit only by residual light from the kitchen. Her heart raced as she pulled back to stroke his rough jaw. He was afraid for her safety. She couldn't help but be touched by it. There had been very few people in her life who had really cared about her in that way, and certainly never a male, except for her father. Her ex probably would have shrugged it off and told her that it was her own fault for volunteering in that part of the city. He hadn't exactly been the nurturing type.

Capturing her hand, he drew it to his lips, dropping light, soft kisses to her palm. "I had a very hard time not going for your cop's throat today."

"Why?"

"For God's sake, Jeevika, the man was having bad intentions about you." His answer was harsh.

"He was just being nice-,"

"He was imagining what it would be like to have you," he informed her in a raspy voice. "I'm a guy. Believe me. I know. And I hated it. I don't like to share."

Gulp. Was he insinuating that...

"I didn't know that I was yours." Was she?

"You are now."

"Since when?"

"Probably since the first moment I saw you. Definitely since the moment I touched you. And absolutely since last night." His hand moved to the back of her neck, guiding her mouth to his.

He flipped her in one smooth motion, his mouth never leaving hers. One moment she was on his lap, and the next, she was the massive sofa beneath him. He kissed her until she couldn't breathe, couldn't think, she could only feel, she wrapped her arms around his muscular back, trying to get as close to him as she possibly could.

She needed this, needed him. She slid her tongue along his, desperate to get closer, wanting to crawl inside of him..

Pulling her mouth away from his she gasped, "I need you, Viren. Please."

He buried his face in her neck with a guttural sound. "Bedroom."

"No. Here. Now. Right now," she panted. She didn't want to move, didn't want to close her eyes .

"You know I cant."he said trying to move away from her.

"You can." She wanted him like this, spontaneous and needy.

"So don't tell me that no woman wants you for anything other than your money. I want you so damn desperately that I'm begging you" she told him furiously, trying to make him understand that what she felt was far from monetary.

She couldn't tell him the depths of her need. She wasn't ready to strip her soul and Viren wasn't ready to hear it. And maybe she wasn't ready to deal with it. But, damn it, he'd take this. He'd take her. Now.

"You're so hot. It's so hard to believe that you want me like this. Tell me. Again," he demanded.

"I need you, Viren."

"Only me?"

"Only you. You're the only one who makes me feel like this." And he was the only man who could make her this crazy with a simple touch. She knew it was a weakness, but at the moment, she couldn't bring herself to care.

"I want you so much, Jeevika, but I'm not sure I can do this." His voice was both passionate and angry.

She recognized his need to dominate. The cause wasn't clear, but she knew he needed to be in control. "Hold my hands, Viren. Take control. I don't care, as long as you do it now."

Both of his hands were clenched in a tight fist, but they opened slowly and wrapped around hers. He entwined their fingers and lowered their joined hands over her head.

"Yes. You have control. I'm exactly where you want me. Now take me," she pleaded, needing him to take her this way. She had enjoyed last night Instinctively, she knew it was critical that he learn to trust in small steps, make love instead of just copulate.

Hands entwined, his fingers squeezing hers until they were nearly numb, Viren pumped his lower body as she answered him by grinding up against him, meeting him halfway.

Her heart ached as her body joined again and again with Viren's, knowing that this moment was pivotal, extraordinary and special.

His mouth covered hers, his kiss almost violent as he ravaged her mouth, owning it, as his velvet-soft tongue swept through every inch of her mouth.

Overwhelmed by his strength, absorbed in the cadence Jeevika lost herself in Viren. Completely. Utterly. Willingly.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she whimpered into his mouth, her body trembling, pulsating.

Dragging his mouth away from her lips, his face fell against her neck. "Incredible" he said breathlessly against her skin.

She yanked on her hands, needing the return of her blood circulation. She freed herself and wrapped her arms around him, threading her hands through his sweat-soaked hair, cradling his head against her neck. His weight was heavy on top of her, his body relaxed and sated, but she wasn't ready for him to move.

"I think I just died," he huffed, still breathing hard.

"I guess I must be dead right along with you then. I was there," she answered with a gasp, her hands still sifting through his hair.

Later, she would wonder how long she and Viren had laid there in a world of their own, stunned and astonished by what had occurred, but at that moment she just absorbed the peace that came after the turbulent storm.

After an unknown amount of time, Viren rolled off of her. "I'm heavy. I'm sorry."

Curling into his side, she sighed heavily. "It was fine."

"It was beyond fine," he growled, playfully and intentionally misunderstanding her.

"Thank you, Viren," she whispered softly.

"For what?" he asked, puzzled, as he wrapped one arm around her protectively and stroked the hair from her face with another.

"For what just happened." For trusting me. For letting go of a few ghosts. For giving me what I needed. For giving yourself what you needed.

She couldn't see his face, but she didn't need to. She could hear the grin in his voice. "Sweetheart, don't thank me. I should be worshipping at your feet."

"Ah...well...if you must...go ahead." She answered like a queen addressing one of her subjects, trying to lighten the mood.

Small steps .

He snorted. "Can't right now. You wore me out."

"Ungrateful cad." She swatted his shoulder with a smile.

"I don't need to be at your feet. I already worship you," he whispered gently as his lips brushed over hers and he released her to tuck himself back into his jeans.

Viren held her wrist as she turned to leave. "You were crying. Just tell me if they were good tears or bad tears," he asked, his voice warm with concern.

"Good. Definitely good." Unwilling to say anything more, she brushed her lips against his and forced herself to walk away. She knew how Viren felt about sleeping with someone. She'd have to be content with what had just happened for now. "I need to shower. Someone made me all...dirty"

Laughing at the low growl she heard behind her, she slipped away to her own room to shower and crawl into bed, falling into an exhausted but contented sleep.

This Update was for My Twinnie ! its her Birthday today ! Happiest birthday Twinnie !love u loads nd loads nd loads ! Hope u enjoy reading this.

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