Chapter 12
12
O h, she was addicted to these romance novels Su Min had suggested, and this fantasy romance in particular was amazing. Two days later, Reina entered the Oshnovs’ indoor swimming pool area, her eyes glued on the novel in her hand. She stepped out of her slippers and shrugged out of her robe, unable to put the book down. The world needed more men like those found in these romance novels. She smiled. These fictional men were all so mmm.
“Hello, moya prekrasnaya .”
The book fell out of her hand as she whirled. Her eyes rounded as she found Vedant Oshnov watching her from inside the pool. Fuck. It was barely seven in the morning. She’d left him asleep in his room just an hour ago, and now here he was, his hot gaze fixed on her.
His eyes slowly coasted over her bikini clad body. His gaze felt like a hot caress as it started from her head, going down her face, down her bare chest, covered only by two triangles of cloth, lower down her navel and to that part of her, which was covered by another triangle of cloth. The Oshnovs’ pool restroom was well stocked with brand new swimsuits, and she’d found this orange bikini there. She’d never felt shy wearing a bikini before, but now, with him, she could feel the goosebumps spreading over her skin. She could feel her temperature soaring and her heart spasming. She’d avoided him for two whole days after their kiss, timing herself so she took the shifts when he was sleeping, just so that she had limited contact with him.
As per her instructions, her team was helping him with his physiotherapy, and he had been walking more and for longer duration as well. In fact, last night, she’d instructed Su Min to disconnect all the screens and wires connected to him and to remove the IV as well. He was getting stronger with each day, and she knew she couldn’t have avoided him forever, just that she hadn’t expected him to be at the pool, this morning.
She finally forced her lips to move. “What are you doing here?”
He smirked. “Waiting for you.”
“What?” She looked beyond and around him. “Why is Stefan not with you? He shouldn’t be leaving you alone!”
“You’ve been avoiding me, beautiful. Our deal was that you’d spend maximum time with me.”
“I have spent maximum time with you.”
“When I am sleeping. That counts as cheating.”
Of course, she’d been avoiding him. She’d behaved wild and brash with him when she’d kissed him as she had. Even now, her lips tingled each time she remembered the pressure of his mouth on hers. Her hands warmed, remembering the feel of his skin under hers. She had never been kissed before, and now she’d had her first kiss… and it had been with him.
He shifted, and her gaze traced over his hard chest, his broad shoulders, that tantalising tattoo on his arm, his harder abs… Fuck, what was wrong with her? This was exactly why she’d been avoiding him. But now here he was, and once again, she was losing control of her eyes, her mind, and her body. Bloody hell.
He quirked a brow and a corner of his lips tipped as if he knew exactly what she’d been thinking of.
She shook her head, refusing to answer his question and asked instead. “Where is Stefan?”
“Since you have been avoiding me, I did a little digging of my own and found out that you like to swim early in the mornings. So, after I woke up, I told Stefan that I wanted to start with the water therapy you prescribed for me. And since you anyway come for a swim, I told him that you wouldn’t mind taking over and helping me.”
Oh God. Now what was she to reply to that?! She studied him again. He was standing inside the pool. Dressed only in a pair of red swim shorts, his entire body on display for her, he was a mistake waiting to happen. After their kiss, she couldn’t deny she was attracted to him and that her body had a mind of its own when it came to him. She ought to return inside and send Stefan to assist him.
His lips quirked. “Are you going to enter the pool or run away like you so want to?”
Her jaw lifted. “Why would I run away?”
“Because you’re too damn scared of this attraction between us.”
“It was just one kiss,” she said. “It doesn’t prove that I am attracted to you.”
“It doesn’t?”
“Not in the least. You and I have been confined here for far too long. We were suddenly too close to one another, and it happened. I wasn’t even thinking of you. I was thinking of someone else.”
His eyes hardened. “Say that again?”
She shrugged. “You heard me.”
Her heart was running away. Keep calm . She had to stay calm. She refused to show him how he affected her—how only he affected her. And she had to end whatever this was that was evolving between them, heating her up and making her behave differently.
“Fine then,” he said. “Since you’ve clarified that, I suppose you shouldn’t have a problem in doing water physio with me today.”
Her heart lurched. Damn this man for challenging her always. She removed her glasses and put them on the table. Unwinding her hair, she tied it once again into a top knot before entering the pool. His hot eyes never left her for even a second as she made her way towards him.
“Let’s start with walking in the water,” she instructed. She walked the length of the pool with him a few times, before moving on to some shoulder rotations and arm swings. Once she was satisfied that his movements were free of pain and easy for him, she said, “You’re doing good. Shall we try swimming some laps?”
She swam side by side with him as they traversed the length of the pool. For the first two laps, Vedant stopped a few times to catch his breath. But after that, he came into his own, swimming alongside her without a pause.
“Hey, let’s stop a bit,” she said, two more laps later.
He smiled. “That felt great.”
“Water therapy is excellent for recovery,” she said.
He raked a hand through his hair, pushing them behind. “I agree. I feel energised and refreshed.”
Silence lapsed between them. She looked around. The Oshnovs massive temperature-controlled pool was on one side of the castle, separated from the rest of the house with its own glass ceiling enclosure. It was magnificent, especially right now, with the early morning sunlight pouring into the pool from the overhead roof, making the water shimmer. She dipped her hands in the water, watching the rays dance on her skin. This had truly become her favourite place in this house.
Vedant gave her a sideways glance. “I love swimming. I used to swim daily before the attack. I am, or I was, rather, an early riser, and these early morning swims always managed to calm me and help me think. Best time of the day for me.”
“I suppose we have that in common then,” she continued dipping her hand in and out of the water, “Swimming is like therapy for me too, and I also love morning swims. So relaxing and rejuvenating. I used to swim daily when I was younger.”
“But?”
“But life happened. I hadn’t swum in years until I came here. Now I can’t imagine going back to my old life and not having time for these simple joys.”
“Maybe you ought to change your job then. I mean, work somewhere where the pace is slower and not so hectic. Life shouldn’t be only about work. You should have time to do things that matter to you.”
She thought through his words. The past few years of her life flashed in front of her eyes. He was right. She’d only been working. Her visits home had also reduced. She was truly not doing any of the things that had made her happy. Perhaps, once she left from here, she ought to look for a job at a smaller hospital where the pace was easier.
“I suppose you’re right,” she finally said.
He grinned. “I usually am.”
She rolled her eyes. “You also think way too highly about yourself.”
“Debatable. But I do know you like me even though you pretend otherwise. I also know you like talking to me, da ?”
Her lips tipped. She liked this naughty, playful side of him. And it was true; she did enjoy his company. “I do like talking to you.”
“Dr. Singh,” he gasped, “Are you actually agreeing with me?”
She turned to face him. “Maybe.”
And before he could say anything else, she put a finger on his lips. “Uh uh. Don’t say anything to spoil the moment.”
His lips spread under her finger. She felt his smile. Her eyes latched onto his mouth. This sexy mouth had started invading her dreams too. She’d dreamt of him for two consecutive nights now. Naughty, X-rated dreams, in which he was kissing her and then his hands and mouth had lowered down her body, touching her, licking her, undressing her. Her breath hitched.
His hand raised to her cheek, and she shook her head. “Our deal was that you wouldn’t touch me...”
“I haven’t yet touched you. You, however…” He lowered his eyes to her hand, which was still on his mouth, her fingers tracing the contours of his lips. Her stomach jumped. She hadn’t even realised she’d been doing that. She yanked her hand away, but he caught it in his.
His eyes on her, he lifted her hand to his face and nuzzled the back of it with his nose. Her heart thudded.
“Mr. Oshnov…” she breathed out.
“Still keeping me at a distance, Reina?”
“We really shouldn’t,” she said.
“There’s no one here, but you and me.” He kissed the back of her hand, and her chest rumbled in approval. He released her hand, but his heavy gaze stayed on her, making her heart race.
Her skin tightened. She felt tingles everywhere. Something came alive inside her when he was near her. It was a beast awakening, demanding fulfilment. Making her ache.
She looked at him. Hair slicked by the water, skin damp, that rugged beard on his face, his arms stretched across the pool wall and all of his fabulous body on display, Vedant looked hot. Sexy. Sinful. That ache in her intensified. And it was all because of him.
Vedant Oshnov made her ache, and he knew exactly how to alleviate that ache. Images of her and him entangled on a bed under white sheets zipped through her mind. Fuck, her thoughts had gone down the gutter. Her heart began to speed. What was happening to her? And why was she unable to control this…whatever this was?
“If you need something for me, then you only have to ask,” he whispered.
Her chest met his, and a spark lit her up. Good God. She hadn’t even realised she’d been moving closer to him.
This close, she barely reached his chin. She studied him. Found his face filled with desire…for her. She scanned the rest of him, her eyes pausing on that tattoo that had intrigued her for so long now. Her fingers traced the design on his arm.
A heavy breath rushed out of his mouth. Her gaze fixed on his lips—lips that had the power to steal her thoughts and make her skin come alive. Tempting… it was so damn tempting to kiss him again and feel all that once more. She only needed to move an inch, and her mouth could be on his again. Perhaps, she could give in to his temptation just this one time and then never again. What could be the harm in that?
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her mouth to his. Perfect. He was perfect. Need blossomed inside her. The taste of him—fresh mint and dark coffee. The feel of him—hot and hard. It was so much more than her dreams. This… him… Being with him like this was far more potent and arousing than her imagination. She snuggled closer to him, wanting more of this ecstasy he was giving her.
If this was heaven, she never wanted to return from here.