Part 13: You Belong To Me!

Okay now this is my favourite part so far ... And you'll all know why once you read the whole part and I hope you guys like it too :D Erm next update will be .. I'm not too sure, hopefully soon!


Monday, January 3, 8.30 P.M.

No, that wasn’t true. They’d been alone that night when Armaan had saved Riddhima’s life. When she had really needed help. ‘Why did you save me that night?’ Riddhima asked softly, before she could lose her nerve. 


His eyes widened. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Five years ago, you saved me that night, when I was screaming for help. Why did you help me?’

He looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know,’ he said so quietly she had to lean closer to hear. ‘I guess any one would have. You sounded desperate and were screaming for help. So I helped you.’

Riddhima smiled a little. ‘Right. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He took her elbow gently. ‘Let’s get your bag.’ 

Armaan reached for both of her bags from his car boot, but she held onto the bag that held her violin case. ‘I’ve got this one.’

Armaan lifted her heavy suitcase as if it weighed nothing. ‘Then let’s go.’

They said nothing until they sat in the car, their equation all of a sudden gotten awkward. Armaan hadn’t expected her to remember that night and was rather surprised when she had suddenly asked him about it. He wanted to ask her who she was running from that night, but thought it was better not to just yet. She still seemed upset from Abhay’s interrogation and wasn’t too sure that she would approve him asking about her personal matters. He would ask her later, once he had won her trust and he was sure that he would do that very soon.

Riddhima on the other hand was also surprised when Armaan had opened the passenger door for her to get in the car. But she supposed she shouldn’t have been. Armaan Malik had been the epitome of good manners all day. Which would make his bad-boy mode even more enticing, she knew. That he had a bad-boy mode was not even in question. Of course he did.
And the thought of it turned her on. A lot. ‘Dammit,’

He said nothing more, taking them northwest, out of the city. They had at least a half-hour drive ahead of them and she suddenly found herself edgy. It had been a roller-coaster day and as Nikki had said, it wasn’t over yet.

‘Why did Nikki drive separately?’ she asked.

‘Her daughter graduates her primary school tonight. If we run late, she’s going to take off so that she doesn’t miss it.’

‘Primary school graduation? They do that?’

He nodded, smiling wistfully. ‘Yeah, it’s really cute.’

‘I thought you didn’t have kids,’ she said, then wished the words back.

He glanced over at her. ‘Been asking about me?’

Her cheeks heated. ‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ He glanced at her again, a little longer this time before returning his gaze to the road. ‘I was there when Nikki’s son graduated from his primary school.’ He cleared his throat harshly. ‘I’ve known Ria since she was born. I wish I could be there for her tonight, but she’ll have tons of family there for her.’ He handed her his wallet. ‘Her picture’s in there.’

Riddhima opened his wallet hesitantly, feeling awkward handling his things. But the awkwardness fled when she saw the little girl’s sweet smile. ‘She’s adorable.’

‘And happy,’ he said, a little too fiercely. ‘Nikki’s a good mom.’

Riddhima wondered if he’d had a good family too. Or a good mom. She wanted to ask, but he’d respected her privacy about her trial. She’d respect his. If he wanted to talk about it, he would.
Besides, if she asked about his mom, he’d ask about hers. She gave him his wallet and he slipped it in his pocket.

‘So what are my responsibilities as your native guide?’ she asked.

‘To keep your eyes and ears open, tell us if people we talk to in Anderson Ferry have relationships that aren’t obvious.’

‘I haven’t lived there in a long time. There will be a lot I don’t know.’

‘You’ve kept up though. You knew Kervick’s mother had a recent heart attack.’

Riddhima barely remembered telling him that, but he was a detective. Of course he’d pick up on details. She’d have to keep that in mind. ‘Because I talk to her on the phone and visit her when she has her doctor’s appointments, here in the city. I haven’t been back to Anderson Ferry in years.’

Again he glanced at her. ‘Why not?’

She hesitated, then shrugged. ‘There isn’t anyone there for me anymore.’

‘No family?’

This time she didn’t hesitate. ‘No. None. Except my sister and her husband and their kids.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘It’s okay.’ Although it really wasn’t. ‘And you? What about your family.’
 
 ‘None to speak of.’

‘So it was a she’d thought. ‘I can respect that, Detective.’

‘Armaan,’ he said. ‘My name is Armaan.’

‘Okay. But you still haven’t answered my first question honestly. Why am I here? I don’t think I can help with you anything in Anderson Ferry. You never even asked me who I still knew. So why am I here?’

‘You asked to come. To be there when we notified the family.’

She studied his profile, noting that he was careful not to look at her now. A muscle twitched in his taut jaw. ‘You’re afraid,’ she murmured. ‘For me. Aren’t you?’

‘Aren’t you?’ he countered ‘Because if you’re not, you damn well should be.’

That gave her a pause. And then she understood. ‘You’re my bodyguard?’

‘No. We are not bodyguards.’ He said it as if reciting from a handbook. ‘That’s why you’re our consultant. Unpaid of course. Donating your time out of the goodness of your heart, a desire to support your community and to catch the psycho who had a human heart delivered to your car.’       

‘Of course,’ she murmured. ‘Your native guide.’

Now he looked at her. ‘Yes. Do you want to quit?’

She thought of Jake’s brutalized body. Of the letter ‘R’ burned into his back. Armaan and Nikki manipulated the system to keep her safe. ‘No. I think I like this arrangement just fine. I certainly won’t fight you on it. And I’ll be the best native guide you could ever want.’

‘Okay. Now, can I ask a question?’

She steeled herself for a question about her trial. ‘You can ask.’

‘Are you involved with Sid Shah? Specifically, I mean romantically.’

She blinked. ‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘Friends only. We’re not compatible at all.’

‘Good. Are you involved with anyone?’

‘No.’

‘Would you?’

‘Become involved with someone?’ She still studied his profile. ‘He’s as nervous as I am.’ She thought. She’d expected confidence. Swagger. She hadn’t expected nerves. Maybe he wasn’t as dangerous as she’d imagined.
‘No Riddhima. He is. To you, he is. Say no. Just say no.’ But her mouth would not cooperate. Just saying no had left her alone for too long. ‘Maybe. It would depend.’

‘On what?’

‘Think girl. About the killer leaving you a human heart. You don’t need Armaan Malik distracting you. It would be nice if he stayed focused, too.’ He r brain kept on screaming at her, but her heart was overpowering her brain!

‘Riddhima?’ he asked when she said nothing. ‘What would it depend on?’

She sighed quietly. ‘Well, for starters, on whether I’m some killer’s number two.’

Monday, January 3, 9.00 P.M.

He lifted his face into the wind, letting it cool him. Then he looked down at his feet. Prerna Kashyap was done. He hoped she found hell to her liking, because that’s exactly where he’d sent her. She’d died beautifully, with much screaming and weeping and begging.
Just as he’d hoped. He turned the satisfaction back to shore. He’d take care of her worthless heart back at his plant. The wind was kicking up and he needed a steady hand. Plus, the cement floor would be easier to clean than the deck of his boat. He’d learned the hard with Kervick ... cutting out a human heart, even after death, produced a lot more blood than even he’d anticipated.
He wouldn’t have time to freeze Prerna Kashyap’s body, which was a shame. It’s been fun sending Jake through that big freezer. Kind of an experiment, just to see how he’d come out. But Prerna would keep until he got her where she needed to be.
Which was wherever Riddhima Gupta planned to be tonight. He knew exactly where to find Riddhima, of course who would know Riddhima better than him. And then she would find Prerna. Then the cops would come and there would be much brouhaha. A second one, they’d say. A serial killer, they’d moan. The press would go wild.
It would be easy to identify Mrs Kashyap. He’d left her face. Kind of. Her son Kabir would come straight away ... if for no other reason than to be certain his inheritance was well tended.
Of course the bank accounts had been cleaned out. ‘By me.’

Kabir had no money of his own, poor guy. Mama Prerna kept him on a tight financial leash with a teeny little allowance that barely fed his methadone habit. He’d come back east and quickly. He’d want the money. And maybe because Kabir would want to prove to himself that Mama was really dead. ‘And I’ll be waiting.’

‘Too bad she fucked you over Kabir,’ he murmured. ‘Because even if I let you live, which I will not, you’d be answering to the cops for what you did.’
Because murder had no statute of limitations.

He crouched next to dead Prerna and yanked her up by her throat. ‘Right, Mrs Kashyap? No fucking statue of limitations. But I didn’t do anything,’ he mimicked her cruelly and flung her away. He rose, dusting off his jeans. ‘No, you didn’t. So I did.’        

He grabbed the pack of cigarettes from the table next to his tools. One left. He’d bought this pack specifically for Prerna. Virginia Slims. They made a smaller burn mark, a benefit since her back was a lot narrower than Kervick’s. He’d used all but one burning the ‘I’ into her skin.
She’d screamed all kinds of useful information, like her bank account passwords, her son’s cell number and the name of her attorney ... the one who held her confession letter. All of which would come in very handy. He lit up the last cigarette and took a nice long drag. He had time for one smoke before heading back.

Monday, January 3, 9.15 P.M.

Armaan’s fists had tightened on the steering wheel, his mouth flattening at Riddhima’s cool assessment of her possible fate. ‘You’re not going to be any goddamn killer’s second victim, Riddhima. It’s not gonna happen. I won’t let it.’

There was the confidence she’d expected. He was nervous about the personal stuff, like whether or not she’d want to be involved with him, but he was completely secure in his duty as a cop. And as her protector. ‘Good to know,’ she murmured.
‘So tell me, what would your becoming involved with me depend on? Please.’

The ‘please’ undid her. ‘Tum nahi samjh sakte.’

The muscle in his taut jaw was twitching again. ‘Try me.’

Riddhima looked away, staring out of the window at the I-95 traffic as she searched for an answer. Finally she decided on the truth. ‘It would depend on how exciting you are.’

He was silent for a long moment. ‘I don’t understand.’

Riddhima smile was rueful. ‘See? I told you.’ She gathered her courage and turned to look at him. ‘I’m a lot of trouble, Armaan. I’d advise you to keep moving on.’

He frowned, but said nothing and she found herself disappointed. A piece of her wished he’d argue, but another piece of her was glad he didn’t. He might be sweet and he might be kind, but ever instinct she had said he’d be a thrill-seeker. And then she’d become one too. Again. Which couldn’t be allowed to happen. Again. Abhay had actually done her a favour by dredging up Aditya’s death and her trial earlier. And fortunately or unfortunately it had bought back a lot of painful memories of the mess she had got herself into after Aditya’s death, the biggest mistake of her life! It was just the bucket of cold water she’d need to focus on reality.

Riddhima settled back for the rest of the drive to Jake’s ex-wife’s house. Then sat up when Armaan exited the highway a few exits too early. ‘Where are you going?’

His expression was grim as he pointed. ‘There.’

There was a gas station at the end of the exit ramp, but instead of pulling in, he drove behind the building and parked the car. Pocketing his keys, he came around to her side, opened the door and popped her seatbelt free.

‘What is ...’ was all she had time to say before he took her by the shoulders and pulled her too her feet. She stared up at him, her skin buzzing and her pulse pounding. He was angry. But he was also aroused and that fat, so was she.

‘Is this exciting enough for you?’ he growled before digging his fingers into her hair, a second before his mouth came down on hers.

Coherent thought fled. Yes. Please. More. He was hot and demanding and hard. Her hands were on his chest, then around his neck as he pressed her against the car. Oh God, he was hard, in all the right places. He ate at her mouth, nips and bites that made her moan. His hands slid down her back, into the pockets of her denims. She lifted her toes, as threaded her fingers through his hair pulling him closer.
Narcotic. The man was a narcotic. She ripped her mouth away, struggling for control where there was none. ‘This is why you don’t get involved. Not even a little bit. It’s like an alcoholic having “just one drink”. You can’t. No maybes. Just no.’

His breathing was strident against her cheek, sending new shivers down her spine. ‘Is this exciting enough for you?’ he repeated, much more quietly.

‘Too much,’ she whispered her arms still around his neck. She needed to move, to push him away but she could not. He felt too good. Smelled too good. Made her feel too good.  Alive. Wearily she leaned her forehead against his chest. ‘Way too much.’   

‘I should apologize,’ he said roughly. ‘But I’m not sorry. I’ve wanted to do that since this morning.’

‘Do you always do everything you want?’ she asked, a little bitterly.

‘No. Not nearly. And I get the impression neither do you.’

He was right. She swallowed hard, wishing. ‘What do you in your spare time?’

‘What?’

She lifted her head, met his dark eyes. ‘Your spare time. How do you spend it?’

His jaw tensed. ‘Are you asking me if I’m involved with anyone? Because if you think I could do this when ... I’d be no better than Kervick.’ 

‘No. Nikki told me that you’d had no one since you lost your wife.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘What else did Nikki say?’

‘That you were a good man. A good friend.’

His anger disappeared like mist. ‘Oh.’

‘I need to know, Armaan,’ she urged, her voice low. ‘Please. You spare time?’

‘I don’t have a lot of spare time. I sleep. Sometimes I do weekend coaching.’

‘What do you coach?’ She hoped he would say something normal. Something safe.

‘Now a little basketball. In the fall, it’ll be football. Why?’

She let herself breathe. That was normal. Americana. ‘I just needed to know.’

He was studying her intently. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I know,’ she murmured. Eventually, if this worked out, she’d tell him. She’d have to. But for now, for this moment, he held her in his arms and she was warm, her body needy. It had been a very, very long time. She lifted on her toes, fitting her mouth to his, her kiss light, tentative.
For about five seconds. Then he took the kiss deeper, made it richer. So much hotter. He wrapped his around her waist to pull her closer. He ended the kiss gradually, giving her mouth a little nudge as he pulled away.

‘We have to go,’ he whispered. ‘I have to work.’

‘I know,’ she whispered back. He helped her into the car and buckled her in with a tenderness that made her want to sigh. He’d pulled the car back onto the highway before clearing his throat. ‘For the record, in the future, that’s how I’d like to spend my spare time.’

He was nervous again. It was sweet. ‘I won’t fight you on it.’

He glanced over with a wry smile. ‘Good to know.’   

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Part 13: You Belong To Me!

Okay now this is my favourite part so far ... And you'll all know why once you read the whole part and I hope you guys like it too :D Erm next update will be .. I'm not too sure, hopefully soon!


Monday, January 3, 8.30 P.M.

No, that wasn’t true. They’d been alone that night when Armaan had saved Riddhima’s life. When she had really needed help. ‘Why did you save me that night?’ Riddhima asked softly, before she could lose her nerve. 


His eyes widened. ‘Excuse me?’

‘Five years ago, you saved me that night, when I was screaming for help. Why did you help me?’

He looked uncomfortable. ‘I don’t know,’ he said so quietly she had to lean closer to hear. ‘I guess any one would have. You sounded desperate and were screaming for help. So I helped you.’

Riddhima smiled a little. ‘Right. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He took her elbow gently. ‘Let’s get your bag.’ 

Armaan reached for both of her bags from his car boot, but she held onto the bag that held her violin case. ‘I’ve got this one.’

Armaan lifted her heavy suitcase as if it weighed nothing. ‘Then let’s go.’

They said nothing until they sat in the car, their equation all of a sudden gotten awkward. Armaan hadn’t expected her to remember that night and was rather surprised when she had suddenly asked him about it. He wanted to ask her who she was running from that night, but thought it was better not to just yet. She still seemed upset from Abhay’s interrogation and wasn’t too sure that she would approve him asking about her personal matters. He would ask her later, once he had won her trust and he was sure that he would do that very soon.

Riddhima on the other hand was also surprised when Armaan had opened the passenger door for her to get in the car. But she supposed she shouldn’t have been. Armaan Malik had been the epitome of good manners all day. Which would make his bad-boy mode even more enticing, she knew. That he had a bad-boy mode was not even in question. Of course he did.
And the thought of it turned her on. A lot. ‘Dammit,’

He said nothing more, taking them northwest, out of the city. They had at least a half-hour drive ahead of them and she suddenly found herself edgy. It had been a roller-coaster day and as Nikki had said, it wasn’t over yet.

‘Why did Nikki drive separately?’ she asked.

‘Her daughter graduates her primary school tonight. If we run late, she’s going to take off so that she doesn’t miss it.’

‘Primary school graduation? They do that?’

He nodded, smiling wistfully. ‘Yeah, it’s really cute.’

‘I thought you didn’t have kids,’ she said, then wished the words back.

He glanced over at her. ‘Been asking about me?’

Her cheeks heated. ‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ He glanced at her again, a little longer this time before returning his gaze to the road. ‘I was there when Nikki’s son graduated from his primary school.’ He cleared his throat harshly. ‘I’ve known Ria since she was born. I wish I could be there for her tonight, but she’ll have tons of family there for her.’ He handed her his wallet. ‘Her picture’s in there.’

Riddhima opened his wallet hesitantly, feeling awkward handling his things. But the awkwardness fled when she saw the little girl’s sweet smile. ‘She’s adorable.’

‘And happy,’ he said, a little too fiercely. ‘Nikki’s a good mom.’

Riddhima wondered if he’d had a good family too. Or a good mom. She wanted to ask, but he’d respected her privacy about her trial. She’d respect his. If he wanted to talk about it, he would.
Besides, if she asked about his mom, he’d ask about hers. She gave him his wallet and he slipped it in his pocket.

‘So what are my responsibilities as your native guide?’ she asked.

‘To keep your eyes and ears open, tell us if people we talk to in Anderson Ferry have relationships that aren’t obvious.’

‘I haven’t lived there in a long time. There will be a lot I don’t know.’

‘You’ve kept up though. You knew Kervick’s mother had a recent heart attack.’

Riddhima barely remembered telling him that, but he was a detective. Of course he’d pick up on details. She’d have to keep that in mind. ‘Because I talk to her on the phone and visit her when she has her doctor’s appointments, here in the city. I haven’t been back to Anderson Ferry in years.’

Again he glanced at her. ‘Why not?’

She hesitated, then shrugged. ‘There isn’t anyone there for me anymore.’

‘No family?’

This time she didn’t hesitate. ‘No. None. Except my sister and her husband and their kids.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘It’s okay.’ Although it really wasn’t. ‘And you? What about your family.’
 
 ‘None to speak of.’

‘So it was a she’d thought. ‘I can respect that, Detective.’

‘Armaan,’ he said. ‘My name is Armaan.’

‘Okay. But you still haven’t answered my first question honestly. Why am I here? I don’t think I can help with you anything in Anderson Ferry. You never even asked me who I still knew. So why am I here?’

‘You asked to come. To be there when we notified the family.’

She studied his profile, noting that he was careful not to look at her now. A muscle twitched in his taut jaw. ‘You’re afraid,’ she murmured. ‘For me. Aren’t you?’

‘Aren’t you?’ he countered ‘Because if you’re not, you damn well should be.’

That gave her a pause. And then she understood. ‘You’re my bodyguard?’

‘No. We are not bodyguards.’ He said it as if reciting from a handbook. ‘That’s why you’re our consultant. Unpaid of course. Donating your time out of the goodness of your heart, a desire to support your community and to catch the psycho who had a human heart delivered to your car.’       

‘Of course,’ she murmured. ‘Your native guide.’

Now he looked at her. ‘Yes. Do you want to quit?’

She thought of Jake’s brutalized body. Of the letter ‘R’ burned into his back. Armaan and Nikki manipulated the system to keep her safe. ‘No. I think I like this arrangement just fine. I certainly won’t fight you on it. And I’ll be the best native guide you could ever want.’

‘Okay. Now, can I ask a question?’

She steeled herself for a question about her trial. ‘You can ask.’

‘Are you involved with Sid Shah? Specifically, I mean romantically.’

She blinked. ‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘Friends only. We’re not compatible at all.’

‘Good. Are you involved with anyone?’

‘No.’

‘Would you?’

‘Become involved with someone?’ She still studied his profile. ‘He’s as nervous as I am.’ She thought. She’d expected confidence. Swagger. She hadn’t expected nerves. Maybe he wasn’t as dangerous as she’d imagined.
‘No Riddhima. He is. To you, he is. Say no. Just say no.’ But her mouth would not cooperate. Just saying no had left her alone for too long. ‘Maybe. It would depend.’

‘On what?’

‘Think girl. About the killer leaving you a human heart. You don’t need Armaan Malik distracting you. It would be nice if he stayed focused, too.’ He r brain kept on screaming at her, but her heart was overpowering her brain!

‘Riddhima?’ he asked when she said nothing. ‘What would it depend on?’

She sighed quietly. ‘Well, for starters, on whether I’m some killer’s number two.’

Monday, January 3, 9.00 P.M.

He lifted his face into the wind, letting it cool him. Then he looked down at his feet. Prerna Kashyap was done. He hoped she found hell to her liking, because that’s exactly where he’d sent her. She’d died beautifully, with much screaming and weeping and begging.
Just as he’d hoped. He turned the satisfaction back to shore. He’d take care of her worthless heart back at his plant. The wind was kicking up and he needed a steady hand. Plus, the cement floor would be easier to clean than the deck of his boat. He’d learned the hard with Kervick ... cutting out a human heart, even after death, produced a lot more blood than even he’d anticipated.
He wouldn’t have time to freeze Prerna Kashyap’s body, which was a shame. It’s been fun sending Jake through that big freezer. Kind of an experiment, just to see how he’d come out. But Prerna would keep until he got her where she needed to be.
Which was wherever Riddhima Gupta planned to be tonight. He knew exactly where to find Riddhima, of course who would know Riddhima better than him. And then she would find Prerna. Then the cops would come and there would be much brouhaha. A second one, they’d say. A serial killer, they’d moan. The press would go wild.
It would be easy to identify Mrs Kashyap. He’d left her face. Kind of. Her son Kabir would come straight away ... if for no other reason than to be certain his inheritance was well tended.
Of course the bank accounts had been cleaned out. ‘By me.’

Kabir had no money of his own, poor guy. Mama Prerna kept him on a tight financial leash with a teeny little allowance that barely fed his methadone habit. He’d come back east and quickly. He’d want the money. And maybe because Kabir would want to prove to himself that Mama was really dead. ‘And I’ll be waiting.’

‘Too bad she fucked you over Kabir,’ he murmured. ‘Because even if I let you live, which I will not, you’d be answering to the cops for what you did.’
Because murder had no statute of limitations.

He crouched next to dead Prerna and yanked her up by her throat. ‘Right, Mrs Kashyap? No fucking statue of limitations. But I didn’t do anything,’ he mimicked her cruelly and flung her away. He rose, dusting off his jeans. ‘No, you didn’t. So I did.’        

He grabbed the pack of cigarettes from the table next to his tools. One left. He’d bought this pack specifically for Prerna. Virginia Slims. They made a smaller burn mark, a benefit since her back was a lot narrower than Kervick’s. He’d used all but one burning the ‘I’ into her skin.
She’d screamed all kinds of useful information, like her bank account passwords, her son’s cell number and the name of her attorney ... the one who held her confession letter. All of which would come in very handy. He lit up the last cigarette and took a nice long drag. He had time for one smoke before heading back.

Monday, January 3, 9.15 P.M.

Armaan’s fists had tightened on the steering wheel, his mouth flattening at Riddhima’s cool assessment of her possible fate. ‘You’re not going to be any goddamn killer’s second victim, Riddhima. It’s not gonna happen. I won’t let it.’

There was the confidence she’d expected. He was nervous about the personal stuff, like whether or not she’d want to be involved with him, but he was completely secure in his duty as a cop. And as her protector. ‘Good to know,’ she murmured.
‘So tell me, what would your becoming involved with me depend on? Please.’

The ‘please’ undid her. ‘Tum nahi samjh sakte.’

The muscle in his taut jaw was twitching again. ‘Try me.’

Riddhima looked away, staring out of the window at the I-95 traffic as she searched for an answer. Finally she decided on the truth. ‘It would depend on how exciting you are.’

He was silent for a long moment. ‘I don’t understand.’

Riddhima smile was rueful. ‘See? I told you.’ She gathered her courage and turned to look at him. ‘I’m a lot of trouble, Armaan. I’d advise you to keep moving on.’

He frowned, but said nothing and she found herself disappointed. A piece of her wished he’d argue, but another piece of her was glad he didn’t. He might be sweet and he might be kind, but ever instinct she had said he’d be a thrill-seeker. And then she’d become one too. Again. Which couldn’t be allowed to happen. Again. Abhay had actually done her a favour by dredging up Aditya’s death and her trial earlier. And fortunately or unfortunately it had bought back a lot of painful memories of the mess she had got herself into after Aditya’s death, the biggest mistake of her life! It was just the bucket of cold water she’d need to focus on reality.

Riddhima settled back for the rest of the drive to Jake’s ex-wife’s house. Then sat up when Armaan exited the highway a few exits too early. ‘Where are you going?’

His expression was grim as he pointed. ‘There.’

There was a gas station at the end of the exit ramp, but instead of pulling in, he drove behind the building and parked the car. Pocketing his keys, he came around to her side, opened the door and popped her seatbelt free.

‘What is ...’ was all she had time to say before he took her by the shoulders and pulled her too her feet. She stared up at him, her skin buzzing and her pulse pounding. He was angry. But he was also aroused and that fat, so was she.

‘Is this exciting enough for you?’ he growled before digging his fingers into her hair, a second before his mouth came down on hers.

Coherent thought fled. Yes. Please. More. He was hot and demanding and hard. Her hands were on his chest, then around his neck as he pressed her against the car. Oh God, he was hard, in all the right places. He ate at her mouth, nips and bites that made her moan. His hands slid down her back, into the pockets of her denims. She lifted her toes, as threaded her fingers through his hair pulling him closer.
Narcotic. The man was a narcotic. She ripped her mouth away, struggling for control where there was none. ‘This is why you don’t get involved. Not even a little bit. It’s like an alcoholic having “just one drink”. You can’t. No maybes. Just no.’

His breathing was strident against her cheek, sending new shivers down her spine. ‘Is this exciting enough for you?’ he repeated, much more quietly.

‘Too much,’ she whispered her arms still around his neck. She needed to move, to push him away but she could not. He felt too good. Smelled too good. Made her feel too good.  Alive. Wearily she leaned her forehead against his chest. ‘Way too much.’   

‘I should apologize,’ he said roughly. ‘But I’m not sorry. I’ve wanted to do that since this morning.’

‘Do you always do everything you want?’ she asked, a little bitterly.

‘No. Not nearly. And I get the impression neither do you.’

He was right. She swallowed hard, wishing. ‘What do you in your spare time?’

‘What?’

She lifted her head, met his dark eyes. ‘Your spare time. How do you spend it?’

His jaw tensed. ‘Are you asking me if I’m involved with anyone? Because if you think I could do this when ... I’d be no better than Kervick.’ 

‘No. Nikki told me that you’d had no one since you lost your wife.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘What else did Nikki say?’

‘That you were a good man. A good friend.’

His anger disappeared like mist. ‘Oh.’

‘I need to know, Armaan,’ she urged, her voice low. ‘Please. You spare time?’

‘I don’t have a lot of spare time. I sleep. Sometimes I do weekend coaching.’

‘What do you coach?’ She hoped he would say something normal. Something safe.

‘Now a little basketball. In the fall, it’ll be football. Why?’

She let herself breathe. That was normal. Americana. ‘I just needed to know.’

He was studying her intently. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I know,’ she murmured. Eventually, if this worked out, she’d tell him. She’d have to. But for now, for this moment, he held her in his arms and she was warm, her body needy. It had been a very, very long time. She lifted on her toes, fitting her mouth to his, her kiss light, tentative.
For about five seconds. Then he took the kiss deeper, made it richer. So much hotter. He wrapped his around her waist to pull her closer. He ended the kiss gradually, giving her mouth a little nudge as he pulled away.

‘We have to go,’ he whispered. ‘I have to work.’

‘I know,’ she whispered back. He helped her into the car and buckled her in with a tenderness that made her want to sigh. He’d pulled the car back onto the highway before clearing his throat. ‘For the record, in the future, that’s how I’d like to spend my spare time.’

He was nervous again. It was sweet. ‘I won’t fight you on it.’

He glanced over with a wry smile. ‘Good to know.’   

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