Chapter 23

As if sensing her conviction, Manik reached behind his head with both hands to pull the gray T-shirt over his head.

Dear God, Nandani muttered to herself. He had been holding out such a superb physique, not just from her, but also from all the womankind.

Manik had a killer body. Lean and strong. Sure enough, a six-pack-ab accompanied the rest of the corded muscles that she had glimpsed under the shirt. Nandani's mouth dried up.

Manik caught her staring. "Will I do?" His words were murmured so as not to wake up anyone. But there was something too real about the way he asked. Like even though Manik was the sexiest guy she had ever seen in person, but he cared what Nandani thought about him.

From the way she was gorging him with her eyes, it was pretty evident the physical part of her interest was satisfied. "I think so," she replied.

"Good. Your turn now, Nandani."

Her heart was beating in her chest. She said a prayer of thanks, that she had put on a decent panty this morning, she pulled her tank over her head to reveal a black lacy bra that did as much for her breasts as anything could.

Manik's eyes widened slightly as he took her in. He opened his mouth to speak but was speechless for a second as if the words were stuck in his throat. "That time I ran into you at the college canteen, right after the party? I was sitting across from you trying to form coherent sentences. But all I could do was imagine you like this. Just looking at you made me sweat, Nandani."

Her skin hummed at his words. "You thought about this?" she asked him.

"Yes. I thought about you, as well as the banana cake we were having then. Maybe not in that order." Manik tried joking with her.

"Manik?" Her voice was soft in the darkness. There was a yearning to it she barely recognized like she had been waiting for two months to say his name just that way. She stepped close enough that his knees were touching her thighs as she faced the bed. "Do something for me?"

"Anything, for you," he said.

Nandani could tell he meant it. His eyes were fixed on hers. The air buzzed between them.

Manik leaned towards her slightly, and they were only a breath apart. The silence hung between them for an endless moment. No sound except her heart beating too hard.

"Shut up," Nandani murmured as her mouth closed over his.

Nandani was pretty sure sparks flew when they touched. As she slanted her lips across his, she wanted the upper hand. She wanted to feel in charge. She wanted to make him feel as crazy and mixed up as she had these last weeks and months. She did not know but it was irresistible.

Her body felt like he had lit a match and dropped it straight to her core. And maybe he had. The flames were consuming every bit of the conservative, control-freak version of Nandani, leaving something stormy and insatiable in its wake.

She then lifted her legs on either side of his hips, pressing against him. They tried slowing down but could not. She could feel the war he was waging between control and chaos. Trying to slow down, when everything between them was saying hurry, stroking and caressing her skin like he wanted to memorize every inch of her.

Nandani was drunk with the feel of Manik around her, under her. They had gone from zero to a hundred in two seconds flat.

Kissing him was even better than she had remembered. Her hands framed his strong jaw before running down over his chest and abs.

Her tongue invaded his mouth, while his strong fingers dug into her flesh. Nandani felt she never had this need to drive as well as to be driven. Nandani turned to look at him in the darkness. Manik looked like something was consuming him from inside. His eyes were wide and hungry on her. His breathing was unsteady.

"Nandani." The voice that came from his throat was dark and dangerous, telling her he was every bit as caught up as she was.

"Tell me what you want." If she was in control, it was only by a thread. She ran her hand through his hair and watched his eyes narrow.

"I want to taste you." The words tumbled roughly from his lips. "I want to make you lose control." He gently nibbled her ear tips. "I want to feel you shaking in my arms." His mouth was on hers, sending waves of heat cascading through her body.

They both then made love to each other, satisfying each other's desires, moaning, and groaning with satisfaction. They were pleasing each other until they both lost all self-control. It was an ultimate culmination of their dark fantasies, as they climbed higher and higher. They both were teaching each other love. It was a night that would not be easily forgotten by them. They made love until they were both exhausted and fell asleep, in each other's arms.

Consciousness kicked in hours later. She was lying on her side and wrapped around Manik. His arm was thrown over her back, their legs entangled. The sun was high, and streaming in the window, across his exposed chest and hip. The rest of his body was under the blanket.

Nandani allowed herself a moment to watch his beautiful face. She just wanted to suspend reality for a few moments longer.

Manik's eyes drifted open and came into focus on her face. "So for the record," Manik started, "that was pretty fucking amazing, Nandani." His eyes closed then popped opened as if something had just struck him. "Is it always like that?" Manik asked her.

"No," she said honestly. "It is not always like that," Nandani replied.

Manik seemed to be pleased with her reply. "So what you are saying is you have ruined me for life?"

Nandani closed her eyes. She lay down, with her hand resting over her head. "Pretty much," she replied.

"In that case..." Manik's chocolate eyes turned wicked. He lowered his mouth to her neck.

And then they had round three of their mind-blowing sex.

**************

"Well now I definitely have to go," Nandani said.

"Won't have breakfast?" Manik asked.

She peered out of the window of his room that had a view of the driveway. She saw that the other cars had not yet moved.

He read her mind and said, "The guys will still be asleep. I can pretty much guarantee it. No one will see you if that is what you are worried about?"

Nandani pulled herself out of bed to get dressed. She was lost in her thoughts. She knew this was a mistake. A beautiful mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. "Thanks, Manik. That was..." She shook her head. "But you know we cannot do it again."

He watched her lazily but did not seem perturbed. "Sure thing, Nandani." He then grinned and said, "Thanks for being such a good friend."