Chapter Thirteen
Thirteen
That afternoon, from their vantage point on top of the freight car, Priya and Ethan had a panoramic view of the field that separated Moksha from Knight Estates. The sky was overcast, but shafts of sunlight broke through. As Priya soaked it all in, her phone buzzed with a call from her parents.
“Hello again,” she answered.
“I forgot to ask,” her mother said. “How’s Mr. Ethan enjoying the food? Everything okay?”
Priya glanced at Ethan as he dipped a samosa into tamarind chutney. He took a bite and closed his eyes, a look of pure satisfaction on his face.
“Everything is perfect,” Priya replied, scanning the rooftop spread.
There was paneer tikka, marinated in spiced yogurt and charred to perfection, a fragrant pulao sprinkled with cashews and raisins, a vegetable curry, and, of course, the samosas that Ethan was enjoying.
“How are things going with you and Puppa?” Priya asked.
“Pri!” Deepa cut in, snatching the phone from Mumma. “How’s Ethan?”
“How about a ‘Hey, hello, how are you?’ for your sister?”
“I know exactly how you are. Hanging out with Ethan Knight while I’m stuck here with Mumma and Puppa.”
“Life’s unfair, Dee,” Priya shot back with a grin.
“Oh, you have no idea,” Deepa said, her voice softening. “I need to fill you in. You’re not going to believe what’s going on.”
“Tell me.”
“You know Mumma and Puppa are visiting Vinod Uncle next week, right? Well, they’re going to—”
Before she could finish, Puppa grabbed the phone from her. “Priya, beta. How are you?”
From the background, Deepa shouted, “Pri! They’re checking out some guy that Vinod Uncle has in mind for you!”
A flicker of unease passed through Priya. “Puppa, what is she talking about?”
“Beta, I’ve misplaced my address book,” Puppa said. “Can you check if it’s in my office?”
“Don’t change the subject,” Priya insisted. “What’s going on with Vinod Uncle?”
“It’s no big deal.” Puppa sighed. “He just wants us to meet someone while we’re there. It would be rude to say no, Priya, since we’re already visiting. So, we’ll just have tea with this fellow. That’s all.”
“That’s all?” Priya huffed. “Well, have fun at your matchmaking tea, but leave me out of it. I’m not interested, and I don’t need you and Mumma sizing someone up on my behalf.”
“Relax, it’s not like we’re planning your wedding behind your back. Now, about that address book. Can you look for it and let me know if you find it? I need to let Mr. Foster know I’m turning down the offer to sell Moksha.”
Priya’s heart sank. “So that’s it? You’ve made up your mind?”
Her father’s silence stretched long enough for Priya to realize that further discussion was pointless. “Fine,” she said stiffly. “I’ll look for your address book and call you back.” Ending the call, she tucked her phone back inside her bag.
“Everything okay?” Ethan asked, setting his plate aside.
“Just family stuff.” Priya averted her gaze, adding more failures to her list. She had not been able to convince her father to sell Moksha or send Ethan away.
Forcing herself to shift gears, she glanced at Ethan’s plate. “Mumma wanted to know if you’re enjoying the food. I didn’t tell her you’ve been ordering delivery on the side.”
“Listen, I love your mum’s cooking, but I’m not cut out for the vegetarian lifestyle. Man can’t live on potato samosas alone.” Ethan grinned and speared a piece of steak with his fork.
Priya raised a hand to her heart in mock offense. “Really, Heathen? Eating steak right in front of me? You know how sacred cows are to us!”
“Listen, you. I’m not falling for that again. ‘Don’t wear leather, Ethan, you’ll offend my father. Don’t eat steak, Ethan, you’re disrespecting me.’ You’re worse than my entire PR team.”
“Keep that up, and Bollywood won’t touch you with a ten-foot pole,” Priya teased. “And you need Indian fans, Ethan. We’re taking over one samosa at a time. Doctors, CEOs, tech billionaires. Throw a stone and you’ll probably hit one of us.”
Ethan’s smile was entirely too smug. “I don’t know about the stones, Pri, but I definitely know someone who’s ready to hit it with me.”
“You did not just slide that into our conversation like that.” Priya tossed a cashew at him. “You’ve grown way too comfortable, Ethan. Sitting back, letting women chase you while you barely lift a finger. ‘Make the first move, Priya. I need to be sure, Priya.’ ” She rolled her eyes.
Ethan chuckled, the sound low and deep. “I get my fair share of no-strings-attached offers. But this is you, Pri. And I’m willing to bet it’s the first time you’ve ever thought about doing something like this.
So, if you’re going for it, then it can’t be with just anyone.
That Ravi guy?” Ethan let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
“He doesn’t have a clue. It has to be me. I know exactly what you need.”
“And what exactly do I need?” Priya’s pulse raced as his eyes held hers, unflinching and full of quiet intensity.
“You need someone who won’t rush you but won’t hold back when it counts.” Ethan’s voice turned huskier. “Someone who can turn off your thoughts with a touch. Someone who will leave you breathless, who’ll show you what it feels like to lose control—completely—and love every second of it.”
A tightness gripped Priya’s throat, tension crackling through her like the air right before a storm breaks.
“You need someone,” Ethan said, his voice dipping into a smoky murmur that wrapped around her like a velvet ribbon, “who will make you so unapologetically sure of yourself, so completely alive, that when you walk into a room, people can’t help but stop and take notice.
That’s how you bounce back. But you have to trust me, Pri.
Trust that I’m not out to hurt you. Or cheat.
Or lie. And more than that? You have to trust yourself enough to know that this is exactly what you want. ”
“Ethan?” Priya said, every inch of her lit up, alive, pulling toward him like gravity.
He stilled, as if he knew exactly what was coming—and he was waiting for it.
Because this part was hers.
“Stop talking,” she whispered. She didn’t want to wait another second to make her move, not with him looking at her like that, not with him talking to her with that voice.
Closing the gap, she cradled his face between her hands.
Her kiss was awkward and fierce, all edges and emotion, years of longing rushing to the surface all at once.
Priya almost pulled back in embarrassment, but before she could, Ethan’s hands moved to her waist, drawing her into him with a heat that made her knees weak.
The feel of his hands through the fabric of her clothes, the scrape of his stubble, the soft noise he made low in his throat—it all tangled together and sent her reeling. She leaned back, drawing Ethan down with her.
Priya’s world condensed to the sensation of lying beneath Ethan, his breath mingling with hers, the weight of his limbs, the liquid fire of his kisses.
A sudden drop of rain hit Priya’s forehead, pulling her out of the moment. Opening her eyes, she spotted dark clouds looming overhead.
A passing shower, she told herself.
But nature had other plans. Within seconds, rain started to patter softly on the metal roof.
Ethan froze as it hit the back of his neck. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his lips inches from hers. His hair was already starting to dampen, dark strands falling into his eyes. “Are we seriously getting rained on right now?”
Priya let out a breathless laugh, her fingers still clutching the fabric of his shirt. “Of course it’s raining. The heavens have impeccable timing.”
Ethan laughed, then leaned down to kiss her again. His lips were warm and soft, and she forgot the rain entirely. Each drop on her skin felt like the sizzling hiss of water hitting a scalding hot tawa. But soon, her clothes clung to her, the rain coming down harder and faster.
Ethan pulled back, his forehead pressing lightly against hers. “As much as I’d love to stay right here, we need to leave.”
He stood and helped her up, his other hand steading her as she wobbled on the wet roof. “Got you,” he said.
“My Knight in soaking armor,” Priya teased, brushing the rain from her face.
As they turned to their ruined picnic, Ethan picked up his plate. “Well, there goes my steak,” he declared, tipping it into the tiffin.
“Everything’s turned to mush,” Priya cried, scraping the rest of their food away. She slammed the tiffin shut and stood, feeling the rain running down her back.
“It went better than expected.” Ethan stepped behind her, pulling her against him.
“How do you figure?” Priya turned in his arms, staring at him like he’d lost his mind. “You’re soaked, I’m shivering, and you’re over here acting like we’re in the middle of a romantic Bollywood rain song.”
Ethan, however, just pulled her closer. “You kissed me, Pri.” His lips trailed down the curve of her neck.
Drenched to the bone, Priya melted into Ethan’s embrace. She was lost in his arms, oblivious to the world until a sudden clap of thunder broke the spell.
“Would you look at that?” Ethan chuckled. “Even the gods are applauding.”
“Or telling us to get a move on.” Priya grabbed her bag and started descending the ladder. Halfway down, she tossed a grin at him. “Race you back, Heathen!”
“Hey, that’s cheating! You got a head start,” Ethan called out as she peered at him over the edge of the roof. Sweeping their things onto the picnic blanket, he knotted the ends and chased after her.
Priya hopped off the ladder, her laughter echoing in the rain as she sprinted toward Moksha. She didn’t make it far before Ethan closed the distance. He caught her hand and spun her around, drawing a surprised squeal from her.
“Easy, hotshot,” he said. “We’re never going to make it that way unless you want a mud bath.”
Priya’s eyes dropped to the waterlogged patch of ground ahead, slick with mud.
“I have a better idea.” Ethan grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her up in one swift motion.