Page 79 of Not Safe for Work
My heart was beating inside my throat. I went perfectly still as he leaned in, peering into my eyes like it held the world’s most profound secrets. His long eyelashes cast soft shadows on his cheekbones and, for one impossibly long second, I forgot how to breathe. ‘And these,’ he whispered, like the thought slipped out before he could catch it. ‘These rosy cheeks. Always a little flushed. Like the mountain air followed you here.’
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. He wasn’t smiling anymore. Not teasing. Not smirking. He was just looking at me … like it was physically impossible for him to look anywhere else. My gaze flicked to his lips for a microsecond. I couldn’t tell if heleaned in, or I did, or if the tectonic plates shifted to bring us together … but before I knew it, we were only centimetres apart, so close that I could feel his breath tickling my cheeks.
I tipped my head up, letting his lips find their way down to mine. His mouth was soft and tentative at first, like he was giving me all the time in the world to pull away. And when I didn’t—when my fingers curled instinctively into the fabric of his sleeve instead—he tilted his head and deepened the kiss. It stole the breath straight out of my lungs.
My lips parted ever so slightly, guiding his tongue inside my world. One of his hands slid to the back of my neck, pulling me closer and anchoring me against the wind. The other found my waist, his fingers pulling at the thin fabric of my spaghetti top where it was tucked into my skirt. A jolt of electricity ran up my spine as he found an opening and dipped his hand inside. He kissed me like he’d run out of reasons to hold back, his thumb tracing a slow, electrifying line along my side. Heat pooled deep in my stomach as his hand skimmed higher, hungry and impatient, like he couldn’t decide what to touch first.
And then suddenly, without warning, he broke the kiss with a low, shaky exhale, resting his forehead against mine. The absence of his lips where they had been pressed against mine was so sharp, I felt like a cold wave had crashed over me. I blinked up at him, my breath unsteady.
‘God,’ he whispered, his voice rough in a way I’d never heard before. ‘I’ve wanted to do that for so long.’
‘Then why’d you stop?’
He ran his thumb along my bottom lip. ‘Because if we keep going, we’ll become one ofthoseBandstand couples … and I’m not emotionally prepared to be such a desperate cliché.’
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm my racing heart as we stood up.Had that really just happened? Or was there something in that fruit cream that had me hallucinating?
‘Do you want me to drop you home?’
‘No.’ The word came out before I could put any thought into it.
A lazy, deliberate smile played on his lips. ‘Can Itakeyou home, then?’
I slipped my hand into his and nodded, surprising even myself.
sixteen
Point of No Return
Imust’vestill been a little high from all the kissing, because when I stepped foot inside his house, the first thing to come out of my mouth was an undignified, ‘WHAT?’ Not ‘wow’ or ‘nice place’ or anything remotely elegant. Just a loud, gawky syllable that bounced off the walls.
Neil chuckled behind me as I walked around and took it all in, my sandals clicking against the expensive marble floor. The place was ridiculously spacious for Mumbai. The open-plan living room had an oversized grey couch that looked comfier than my bed, low warm lamps, a dining table tucked into one corner, and walls dotted with floating book shelves, indoor plants and artworks that I bet cost more than my annual CTC. But it was the far wall that made my jaw drop all the way to the floor. A full glass panel overlooked the vast sea, with a bench built into the wall with cushions and a fuzzy blanket.
‘You have a reading nook?’ I gasped, clutching my heart like it might explode. ‘Withthatview?’
‘It’s where I have my morning coffee.’
‘Well, why did you take me all the way to Bandstand for a view you apparently have sitting right here?’ I asked, pointing at the horizon. ‘If you wanted to impress me, you could’ve just brought me home earlier.’
He took a slow step towards me. ‘Then how would I have known that you were impressed byme…’ Another step. ‘And not my condo?’
I snorted so hard it actually made me double over. ‘Condo?This is not a condo, Neil. This is Mannat’s younger, hotter cousin. This is anArchitectural Digestcover waiting to happen. This is …’ I looked around, waving my arms like a woman possessed. ‘This is just mad.’
He laughed softly. ‘So you like it.’
‘I’mfuriousthat I like it.’
‘Good.’ He grabbed me by my waist and pulled me into him. ‘Because I have a feeling you’ll be spending a lot of time here.’
‘That’s kind of presumptuous of you.’ I had to crane my neck to meet his eye.
‘If that’s the case …’ He murmured into my hair. ‘I’ll just have to make the most of tonight.’
‘Good plan.’ My arms wrapped themselves around his neck like they had a mind of their own, pulling me up on my toes.
He met me halfway, his lips brushing so lightly against mine that it was somehow both exhilarating and unbearable at the same time. I leaned into him, pressing my chest into his body as he spread his strong hand over my lower back. Then I poked my tongue between his lips … and something in him snapped.
His hand slid up my spine, twisting in my hair. If it wasn’t for his other hand pulling me snug against him, my knees would’ve buckled. He walked me backwards without breaking the kiss, guiding me until the backs of my knees bumped into the edge of the oversized couch.
