Chapter 14 #2
Her lips curved at the edges. She tried to move her hand away from his but he held on tight.
He cocked his head to one side and smiled at her.
That adorable cleft in his jaw deepened and in that split second Raashi knew that this was going to be a trying evening.
He literally stole her breath away. Dressed in a white shirt, its top two buttons undone and its sleeves rolled halfway up his arms with charcoal grey trousers, he oozed confidence and raw sensuality.
His eyes continued to hold hers in a trance and Raashi had to force her mind back to the reasons she was here for.
Sameer lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her wrist. Her breath hitched but she stood still. She wasn’t going to let him know how his touch affected her, how it messed up her mind.
“Thank you,” he said warmly.
She fidgeted until he released her hand.
“So, are you hungry?” Sameer asked. “I’ve already ordered food. It’s Chinese and probably rather cold now, I hope you don’t mind.”
He pointed to the array of platters on the small table.
“Not at all,” she replied with a smile.
Raashi sat on the sofa and started uncovering the platters. Sameer handed her a plate.
They spoke casually for a while until she asked him, “What happened about the gate-crashing incident at The Sehgal Plaza?”
“Nothing, actually,” he said. “The hotel security couldn’t find the guy taking the photographs and the hosts eventually found the whole thing harmless. They brushed it off saying that their function was just too glamorous and they didn’t blame the guy for wanting to be a part of it.”
“Really? They’re not bothered at all?” Raashi asked, intrigued by the incident.
“Strange are the ways of the rich and famous. A large celebrity crowd was in attendance at the function that day. Rhea couldn’t stop gushing about Vir Malhotra,” Sameer chuckled.
Raashi laughed. “Yeah, Vir has quite a fan following these days. He is going to be a big star and soon.”
“That day at Nox-MixGrill when I heard you sing, you were mind-blowing. I couldn’t believe there was this side of you that I knew nothing of. Do you miss it?”
“At times, I do. Music was such an important part of my life at one time. But, that part of my life was over the day my grandmother died and I had to take responsibility of the business and my kid sister. So yeah, music took a back seat. I don’t even own a guitar any more.
I gave it away a long time back. And to think that there was a time when I never went anywhere without it,” Raashi mused.
“Would you want to go back to being a musician again, someday?”
“Honestly, no. I did it once and it was great while it lasted.
Of course, leaving the band was tough for me.
We were like a family and the boys took a long time to forgive me for leaving them.
But they are hugely successful now and I am successful in my own right.
Besides, this restaurant business is in my blood.
I love it. I never thought I would take to it so effortlessly.
“Janak...” she lifted a shoulder, “he was there when I needed him the most. I learnt so much from him and all the people he sent my way to help me run the business. Honestly, I owe it all to him. I wouldn’t have succeeded without his support.”
“I know. I get it.” Sameer said. “He’s one of those people who understands you completely. He understands what you want, what you’re feeling and then he helps you find your own solutions to your problems.”
“Absolutely.”
Raashi stayed silent for a long time, reliving the early days of her business after she took over, since her grandmother had passed away.
Then she saw Sameer watching her quietly.
She never spoke about that part of her life to many people.
Even Dheer, who she once dated, never understood her need to quit the band and take over the restaurant business.
He never recognized how important it was for her to continue her grandmother’s legacy.
Dheer had never been able to understand or appreciate Janak’s place in her life despite Janak being her lifeline in those days.
But Sameer? Talking to him had always been easy.
And she knew he loved and appreciated his grandfather as much as she did, which just made it easier to talk to him about her past.
She sighed and put her plate down. “Anyway, let’s get to work?”
Sameer placed his fork on his plate and put it to the side. There was still so much of her he wanted to know about. But right now wasn’t the time. So instead, he said, “Of course.”
After calling one of his staff to clear their dinner, Sameer led Raashi to his desk where he had laid out the architectural and design plans for the villa and its surrounding land.
He explained the layout of the spa, how he planned to extend The Marquis and how her restaurant would be the main front of the property.
“What do you think?” Sameer asked, when he saw Raashi studying the drawings.
Raashi asked him several questions and argued over many points with him.
When she was satisfied, she finally said, “Looks good to me on paper, at least. Why don’t we meet at the site tomorrow morning and see all this again in daylight. It will give us a better understanding, don’t you think?”
“Definitely. How about I fetch you from home and we go from there together?”
“Sure, let’s do that!”
Raashi frowned as Sameer looked sheepishly at her. “What is it now?”
“Actually, I have a confession to make.”
Raashi gave him a pointed look.
“Well, I asked my architects to come up with a draft design for your restaurant, along with pictures and ideas. It’s a first cut, but it’s quite easy to envision. You wanna see?”
Raashi didn’t know whether she was angry with him or excited to actually see what he had proposed for her restaurant.
“Sameer, you had no right!” she said, but he caught the glimmer of excitement in her voice and went to the end of the desk, turning his laptop towards her.
“It’s yours, Raashi. If you don’t like it, you can trash the whole thing. You know you have a final say in everything regarding the restaurant.”
Raashi went through the presentation. It was fantastic. Seeing a 3D demo of how her restaurant could actually look like was unbelievable. She was awestruck, impressed and speechless. It overwhelmed her to see her dream actually becoming a reality. Both of their dreams could be fulfilled.
She turned to Sameer.
“Thank you. I can’t tell you how touched I am by this,” she said, pointing to the laptop screen. “It’s more than perfect. It’s something I’ve dreamt of for so long. I wish my grandmother was alive to see this.”
Her eyes clouded with emotion and lone tear slipped from the corner of her eyes.
Unable to help himself, Sameer caught it with his finger.
Her eyes storming with emotions, Raashi leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
He gazed at her for a second and caught her waist, gently bringing her closer to him.
So close, that she was crushed against his chest. And then he speared his hand through the heavy silkiness of her hair.
He put his hand under her nape and brought her mouth closer to his own.
She didn’t hesitate one bit. She closed the remaining distance between their lips and kissed him.
So very gently she teased his mouth with her own.
Sameer let her do what she wanted with him.
She was kissing him softly, sweetly. Little nips on his mouth that drove him wild with desire.
He could feel her hands all over his back as she pushed herself closer to him.
She tugged his shirt and her hand moved under it, seeking contact with his skin.
His heartbeat accelerated as she stroked his skin.
He held her more firmly against himself, feeling her soft breasts against his chest and kissed her desperately.
This was what wanted, since forever, he thought.
She, in his arms, his mouth entwining with hers, her hands on him. This felt right.
He kissed her hungrily, a meeting of tongue and lips and she was with him all the way. His hands moved all over her, caressing the sides of her breasts, molding her hips, pulling her into him. Raashi could feel the strength of his desire. His passionate response to her delighted her.
Ever since Sameer had heard of Rithwik Bali’s marriage proposal to her, he had been insanely jealous.
That another man coveted what was his, had shaken him.
She was his. He had felt helpless before, but now with her in his arms, kissing him, he wanted to scream from the rooftops that she belonged to him.
Raashi felt as if she was in the centre of a raging inferno.
Her body was alight, lit by a thousand flames.
Everywhere Sameer touched came to life. She wanted him, here, right now and to hell with the consequences.
This was where she belonged. Here, with him, loving him, letting him love her.
She wanted more of him, more of his skin to touch.
She lifted his shirt with her hands and undid his buttons.
He pushed it off his chest and she stared at him.
He was gorgeous. She ran her hands across the wide expanse of his chest and across the sharp edges of his abs.
She heard his breath catch and smiled. Feeling bolder, she planted her mouth on his chest and kissed him.
Small kisses first from the center of his chest up to his chin and then down the side of his neck.
She stayed there kissing him and then she bit him right at the base of his neck.