FF: The Healing Touch: Thread #2 link in index - Page 73

Chapter 6

Khushi looked at him with confusion in her eyes, "If you want to tell me these things then why are you holding back?"

Arnav looked into her eyes, the eyes that had been haunting him every night since he laid his eyes on her.

His eyes softly caressed her face and lowered down to her lips, lips that were glistening in the darkness. He gently brushed his thumb against her cheek, lowering his left thumb to brush against her bottom lip.

He knew she was still waiting for his answer, he knew she wanted him to open up to her and was trying to understand why it was so difficult for him.

"Because of this Khushi" he whispered against her lips as his softly settled on hers.

Insane, the little voice in his head shouted, it is sheer lunacy to get involved with this woman. As soon as his lips touched hers, a small part of his brain that was still functioning told him that he was sunk.

He knew the safe thing would be to pull away, yet he continued to draw her closer. Her soft lips opened, inviting him to deepen the kiss, an invitation he gladly accepted.

He felt her lips warming under his, her body relaxing; heat crackled, sparkled and bounced back and forth between them like summer lightening.

He wanted her, he desired her, and he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He felt her tongue touch his softly, like a butterfly kisses a flower. He felt her shiver in his arms and his urge to hold and protect her emerged.

He felt her moan against him as he slowly pulled away, his name on her lips.

He slowly, reluctantly lifted his head, he watched her with hooded eyes as she struggled to open hers. Desire swirled like a raging storm in her eyes.

Hell. That's where he was going to end up if he didn't let her go. Yet his hands continued to hold her, pressing against the small of her back, fitting her even more solidly against his hard body.

"Again" he groaned.

"Again" she agreed.

This time his mouth came down hard, unyielding, ruthless. He felt her rise up on her toes, straining against him, with the ocean roaring in the back.

He held her head with a strong grip in her hair, hair that felt like silk and smelled like jasmine.

His other hand wrapped around her incredibly small waist, rubbing, soothing her.

Instantly he felt her sigh beneath his mouth, Damn.

It would have easier if she's resisted, or held back, just a little. But instead she was giving him all that she had, without any hesitation.

He heard the voices coming from afar, the privacy on the beach had been invaded.

Arnav slowly lifted his head and loosened his hold on her as he backed away.

Silence descended.

They seemed to have most of their conversations in silence; it always seemed to work for them.

He noticed the blush that adorned her skin, like the colors of a sunrise across an untouched land.

She wrapped her arms around her torso and bit into the lip that had just driven him to insanity.

"Well, that was...interesting".

For the first time in a long time, Arnav felt like laughing.

"If interesting is the best that you can do, I must've been doing something wrong".

Khushi looked up at him with a gasp, not able to meet his eyes she turned towards the ocean.

"It was nice Arnav"

At her soft admission a smile finally found its way to Arnav's lips, a smile he couldn't stop for anything.

"My ego thanks you Khushi"

At that Khushi did look at him and found herself breathless, if she thought he was handsome before seeing him standing in front of her, all ruffled from their kiss with a smile on his face completely knocked her for a loop.

Arnav knew that look, she was still feeling the effects of the kiss and her eyes were telling him that she wanted it to happen again.

"We should head back" said Arnav in a voice filled with frustration. If she continued to look at him like that he wasn't sure what he was capable of.

Khushi awoke the next morning with a spring in her step and smile on her face. Everything in her small little world felt, smelt and looked different.

Upon returning to her room last night she had felt restless, yet happy. Not being able to fall asleep immediately she had brought a book to bed and before she knew it she had fallen asleep dreaming about her first kiss.

As Khushi rushed around in the kitchen making sure breakfast was being served on time she was hoping he would join her for the morning meal.

As soon as all the guests were taken care of she waited a few more minutes to see if Arnav was going to come to the dining room, feeling slightly disappointed she readied his tray that would be sent up to his room.

"Is that for Mr. Raizada?" asked Mary as she helped clean up the breakfast mess.

Khushi looked over at her and nodded a yes.

"Well he's not here, I saw him leaving around 7 this morning, do you want me to take it up and see if he's returned?"

Khushi felt an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach, he had left that early? Was he coming back?

"No Mary, I will go check if he's here before I take the tray up, it's pretty late, maybe he's already eaten breakfast" said Khushi as she walked to his room.

Khushi stood staring at his door for a few minutes, feeling very hesitant about intruding on his space. He had been a perfect gentleman when he walked her back to the Inn and bid her goodnight, and now he was gone. Did he regret it? Was he avoiding her?

She didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable; even though last night had been pure magic for her she wasn't nave to think that Arnav felt the same way. He was definitely more experience in these matters and she didn't' want him to think that she couldn't handle it.

Finding the resolve to speak to him she knocked on his door and waited. After a few minutes and another knock she realized that he wasn't in.

Walking back to the kitchen Khushi realized that she was completely overreacting. He's a businessman; there are a number of reasons why he had to leave so early this morning.

"Khushi I was just coming up to get you, Mr. Raizada just called and said that he needed to speak to you, he's given me his number" said Mary as soon as Khushi stepped into the kitchen.

Khushi took the slip of paper from Mary and said, "Thanks Mary, I'll be in the office if you need me".

Khushi quickly walked back to Buaji's office and shut the door, no matter what he wanted to discuss she wanted to make sure that it was in private. The last thing she needed was anyone finding out what had happened between them.

Taking a deep breath Khushi sat down in Buaji's large black leather swivel chair, quickly dialing his number she wait for him to answer.

"Hello" came his deep baritone voice.

"Hi, it's me Khushi" came her reply.

For a few seconds there was complete silence and then she heard him speaking to someone in the back.

"Arnav if you're busy, we can talk later" said Khushi.

"I have a really full day today, so I may not get another chance to talk to you" said Arnav while taking a deep breath, "Khushi the reason I called, well...after last night I didn't want you to think that I just left".

Khushi fell deeper into the soft leather of the chair, feeling truly happy at his words.

"I'm glad you called" whispered Khushi

Once again there was silence and Khushi could feel him pacing around, she bet he was running his hands through his hair trying to figure out his thoughts.

"Arnav your busy, it's ok. We can talk later" assured Khushi.

"Have dinner with me tonight" blurted out Arnav abruptly.

His tone was almost harsh and she knew that he wasn't really asking her.

"Alright, but I need to be at the Inn, how about I make us something?" replied Khushi

She heard him release a long sigh as if he was relieved at not being questioned further, "We both have a long working day, why don't I pick something up on my way home? Chinese?"

Khushi face glowed at his words; she had felt her heart skip a beat when he had said, "on my way home". She was sure he had not realized the slip of tongue.

"That sounds good Arnav" said Khushi with a smile on her lips.

Hanging up the phone Khushi leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes. For the first time after finding out that he had left so early this morning she felt the happiness of last night return to her. She went back to that moment when his lips had first touched hers; it had felt so natural, as if she had been waiting for this exact precise moment her entire life.

Khushi had always assumed her first kiss would be awkward, she had never expected perfection. Although she had nothing to compare it to, her instincts told her it had been a phenomenal experience for both of them.

Khushi was at the front desk using the computer to place an online order for the Inn's amenities and linens, Buaji had left a very specific list of items that needed to be ordered right away.

Just as she was about to take a bite out of her very late lunch of macaroni and cheese she heard footsteps come across the main entrance of the Inn towards her.

Quickly taking her napkin she wiped her mouth and hands to turn towards the visitor with a welcoming smile.

Khushi watched the most exquisite women walk into the Inn, her short white skirt showing off the longest shapely legs she had ever seen, making Khushi feel inadequately short, her figure perfectly defining ever curve that men dream of, for the first time in her life Khushi had to admit the women in front of her was breathtaking! .

"Hello" said the stranger.

Khushi smiled up at her and welcomed her to the Inn, "Hello, how can I help you?"

The stranger gave Khushi a warm friendly smile, "Actually I'm looking for one of your guests, Mr. Arnav Singh Raizada, is he in?"

Khushi felt stumped for a few seconds upon hearing Arnav's name on this woman's lips.

"I'm sorry he's not here right now, can I take a message?"

The women let out a tired sigh as she rummaged through her purse, "I was afraid of that" she murmured.

"Well I believe he's booked a room for me?" she questioned

Khushi looked down at her reservations and remembered Arnav asking her to book the one extra room that she had in his name.

"Ummm yes he does have an extra room booked, can I get your name please, I would have to confirm it with him since the room is in his name?" said Khushi

The beautiful stranger turned to her fully giving Khushi her undivided attention, "Mrs. Vandana Singh Raizada".

Right at that moment Khushi felt like someone had pulled the rug out from right underneath her, happiness never did seem to linger for very long her life. She should have known this was too good to be true.