Thursday, November 8, 2012

Walk the Line - Chapter 49

Arnav grimaced as he walked into his bedroom at the farm house. Khushi followed him, noticed that he was favoring his right side.

‘Take off your tee,’ she said.

‘What?’ he turned around in surprise, wincing as his muscles twisted.

‘Take your tee off, so I can see what’s hurting you.’

‘I’m okay, Khushi.’

‘Stop being a macho man, Arnav. Let me take a look, okay?’ She stood with her hands on her hips.

He shrugged and took off his tee. A dark, angry bruise had formed on the right side of his ribs. She ran a finger lightly over it, tears suddenly coming into her eyes at the thought of him being hurt because of her. She took his hand and led him out to the kitchen. He sat on the counter, watching as she warmed up some water and found a soft towel in the bathroom.

‘What exactly are you doing?’ he asked.

‘Warm compress,’ she replied.

‘Shouldn’t it be a cold compress?’ he grunted in a little pain.

‘Warm is better, it allows the blood to come up to the injury and reduces swelling,’ she replied, dipping a finger into the water to make sure it was just the right temp. She dipped the towel in the water, wrung it out and held it against his ribs, pushing his hand away when he tried to take it from her. She kept up the compress for about fifteen minutes, till he started feeling a little better.

Then she wiped down his face and hands with the towel, noticing the scrapes on his knuckles. He watched mesmerized as she took care of him, allowing himself to be treated like a child. She raised his knuckles to her lips, gently kissing them. He took her chin in his hand, making her look at him, seeing the tears trembling on her lashes. He leaned forward and gently kissed them.

‘We need to put something on these,’ she was looking at the scratches. ‘Do you have any antiseptic lotion or cream?’

‘In the bathroom,’ he answered.

‘Let’s go.’ Hand in hand, they went to the bedroom. He sat on the bed, his ribs feeling a lot less stiff than before. She went into the bathroom and found the cream. Sitting down next to him, she reached for his hand and lightly rubbed the cream over the sore knuckles. He covered her hands with his, the pads of his thumbs lightly caressing the back of her. She raised her eyes to his only to find him looking at her intently. He took the antiseptic cream from her and dropped it on the bedside table. Her eyes followed it and she saw the gun.

‘You had it with you?’ she asked, frowning, ‘in the car?’

‘I couldn’t take any chances with you, Khushi. I knew they would try again, and I was right,’ he gritted out. Her eyes searched his. He let her see how he felt. Every ounce of what he felt was in that look. What he would do for her. What he would not do for her. His life, he’d put it in jeopardy if it meant she would be safe.

She swallowed as she read all that and more in his eyes. Holding his face in her hands, she leaned in and kissed his eyes, He stayed still, eyes closed, feeling her lips move to his nose, his cheekbones. He could feel her soft breath on his skin, and that was his undoing. His hands splayed across her waist, moving up her back, pulling her to him, till she straddled him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, she bent down and touched her lips lightly to his. Lips parted, she nibbled at his lower lip, occasionally sliding her tongue along it, tasting the stubble on his chin. She was breathing deeply, as if she would inhale the essence of him through her nose as she continued kissing him. His lips parted and then he took over, moving his tongue into her mouth, his territory. The kiss became deeper. Hands roaming all over each other. She ran her hands, along his chest, finding his nipples and lightly tugging on them. Smiled against his mouth as a deep groan vibrated against her hand. His hands dug into her hair, pulling her away. His eyes were darker as he searched for something in her face. She looked down at him, her eyes heavy-lidded and dark, lips moist, parted inviting. He put his hands under her armpits, lifting her away, to stand in front of him. He turned her around, his fingers finding the bottom of her tee and helping her take it off.

He trailed his fingers down her spine, and up her shoulder blades feeling her slight jerk at the touch. His lips slid down her back, stopping at her bra hook. Swiftly he undid it, his hands sliding under it, reaching up and finding her soft breasts, filling his hands with them. He could feel her nipples harden under his touch. He rolled them under his palms, gently making them harder, until he heard a soft ‘Oh!’ from her. He could feel her breathing, or was it his breathing. He didn’t know anymore. He stood up, pulling her hips against him. Her hands clutched him, as he slid it across her smooth belly, finding the navel and swirling in it. Sliding just below the waistband of her jeans.

His lips and tongue were reveling in the soft skin of her back. His nostrils flared as he breathed in deeply, the heady mix of her skin and D&G. He knelt behind her, holding her up by her waist, kissing the skin below the low waistline of her jeans. This wasn’t satisfying him. He stood up and turned her around, bending his head to take his first sip of her in who knew how long. His hands made short work of the bra as it dropped to the floor. He stepped back, feasting his eyes on her breasts. Her eyes were closed, head thrown back, hands clutching his shoulders, her long loose hair framing her. With a swift movement, he picked her up and knelt on the bed, her arms wrapped around his neck, her head on his shoulder.

He laid her down gently, leaning over her as he kissed her again, watching as her eyelids fluttered shut just before his did. His tongue stroked across her lips, asking for entry, and she couldn’t deny it. He could feel her fingers trailing down his chest, stopping at his nipples and then she leaned forward, stroking her tongue on first one and then the other. Sensation shot through his body and he whispered, ‘Khushi’.

She leant over him, her breasts tantalizingly close to his lips. He reached up and closed his mouth around one, while his hand closed around the other. A faint moan came from her throat, as she threw one leg over him. He reached for the buttons on her jeans, undoing them, and lowering the zip. Raising himself up on one elbow, he peeled it off. She lay there breathing rapidly, heart pounding as he trailed a hand down one leg, almost wonderingly, his fingertips flaming along her nerve endings. He looked back at her face, and it took his breath away. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, lips parted and a crimson stain on her cheeks and her throat. The pale brown aureoles of her breasts, the concave stomach with the enticing little navel .. all seemed to be begging him to touch her. He wanted to worship her. He raised himself up, picked up a foot, bringing it to his lips, gently kissing each toe. His hands trailed up her leg, on the inside stopping at her thigh. She gave a soft gasp as his hands brushed against her inner core, feeling the wetness through her soaked panties. Her leg was bent at the knee and he bent down to kiss it, slowly parting her legs as he kissed the inside of her thighs, moving up.

All he could smell was her, all he could taste was her, all he could see was her. But he wanted to hear her. He moved over her, covering her body with his, shedding his pants along the way, his boxers and her silk panties the only barriers in their way. He let his hardness rest against her wetness almost with relief. He kissed her again, his tongue diving down into her mouth. Her nails were clawing at his back as he moved against her, his nipples grazing against her soft ones. His skin was flaming everywhere she touched him. He didn’t have much control left. He rolled over, nudging her legs apart with his knee, his hand hooking into her panties, tugging them off impatiently. Bringing his hands between them, he stroked her center, feeling her wetness gush over his fingers. He gently stroked her again and again, feeling her hips start to writhe, pushing against his hand, begging for him to help her out. He increased the pace, watching her as she flung her head back, her back arching under him, her mouth open as she tried to get in air that she was rapidly running out of. Her hands snaked down his spine, and he could feel each never ending shooting pleasure to his center. Her fingers slipped below the waistline of his boxers, clutching, digging into his buttocks. He gasped as she shoved his boxers down. He raised himself a little helping her take them off. She looked at him then, eyes wide and dark with desire. He looked into them, shuddered and closed his eyes as her fingers finally found him, wrapped around him and began stroking him. Her inexperienced hands were shaking his world.

She pushed him back, and slowly made her way down his chest, her hair brushing against his skin. He lay still waiting for her. To see what she would do, trying not to move as her hands continued to slide along him. Her tongue flicked across his skin, his abs contracted in response. Her mouth went lower, she drew back. For the first time, she looked at him fully. Lifting her eyes to his face, her tongue came out and stroked lightly along the tip of his erection. He drew in a shaky breath. With a slight smile on her face, she slowly took him in her mouth. Using her hands and her mouth, she moved slowly on him. Sucking him and tasting his salty sweetness. Dipping down to take him fully in her mouth, before slowly letting him slide out. His hands reached out for her head, guiding her, showing her the rhythm he wanted, his hips rising to meet her lips, as each time, she sucked him a little harder, her tongue twirling around the sensitive tip, teeth scraping along the tender underside. He was getting close to the edge.

‘Khushi,’ he gasped. No more, he couldn’t take any more. ‘Enough!’ Breathing deeply. Gripping her hair, he brought her up, and rolled her under him. Then slowly guided himself inside her. Closing his eyes at the exquisite tightness. For a moment, he didn’t understand and then his eyes flew open. She was still a virgin! He tried to draw back, but she looked at him, wrapping her legs around his thighs, refusing to let him go. ‘Are you sure?’ he managed to ask one last time. She nodded and closed her eyes as he let go, slowly inching his way in, allowing her to feel and adjust to him. Drawing back, and moving in again, until slowly he settled into a rhythm as he was able to finally sink into her all the way. He stopped, leaning his forehead against hers, she lifted her lips and kissed him. He moved inside her again, if possible, he got even harder as he felt her with every pore of his body, her body hugging him.

They were caught in a dance as age-old as time itself. They built a rhythm that was all their own. Moving slowly, at first, and then as hunger caught hold of them, it grew more frantic, as arms and legs and lips entwined.

He couldn’t hold out much longer, he knew. He was almost close to losing it. He reached between them to rub her hard little nub, harder, his ears now filled with the tiny moans she made with each stroke. He buried his face in her hair, nipping her neck, ‘Come with me,’ he gasped, as he panted for release. With each stroke, he whispered to her, ‘Come with me..’ He raised his head, and looked into her eyes, her soul. He wanted to watch her until he heard her throaty gasp, ‘Arnav! Yes!’

Two little words in his ears threw him over the edge, he let himself go with a hoarse ‘Khushi!’, as he shuddered with her, his fingers digging into her hips. Her back was arched, as she convulsed around him, holding him until he had no more to give her.

***

They lay cuddled in bed, a single sheet thrown over them, her head on his shoulder, arms and legs wrapped around each other, cocooned in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ softly. ‘Did I hurt you?’

She shook her head, smiled dreamily and said, ‘No. It’s not something I do with everyone, you know.’

He chuckled. ‘I should hope not.’

‘Ooooh!!,’ followed by a small fist thumping into his shoulder. He chuckled and drew her closer if possible.

There was a knock on the door.

‘Arnav beta, lunch is ready.’

‘Thanks, Uttam,’ he rolled his eyes. ‘Come on, lazybones. Let’s go get some lunch. I’m starving.’ He sat up, drawing her up with him.

She sat up clutching the bed sheet to her chest, ‘I need to use the bathroom.’ He nodded reaching for his boxers, he pulled them on. She picked up her discarded clothes and headed into the bathroom. Five minutes later, freshened up, she walked out of the bathroom. Her face was glowing. It was the only way to put it. There was an inner glow to her face that lit up the room. Reaching out to cup her neck, he pulled her in for a hard quick kiss, before entering the bathroom himself.

Ten minutes later, there were sitting down to the excellent lunch that Uttam had put together.

They had almost finished eating when he raised the question uppermost in his mind. ‘So Khushi, Have you thought about ever coming back and settling down in India?’

She raised her head to look at him, straight in the eyes.

The imp did a face palm - again!

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, do you think you would ever want to come back to India?’ he tried to look nonchalant about it.

Tell me what you want, Arnav, please, she thought. ‘I don’t know. I haven’t given it any thought.’

He looked taken aback. Why taken aback? she wondered.

‘Why not?’ he asked really curious to know why she would not think about relocating back to India..

‘Arnav, I spent four years, building a reputation from scratch. I have a successful career. A life I love. Parents who love me. Friends who care about me. All in California. I invested in that life, Arnav. Why would I want to give it up? To come back to India again? for what?’ Please, please she prayed inwardly, not knowing what she was praying for.

He looked at her stunned for a second, before that blank mask came down on his face. ‘So all this,’ he waved a hand in the general direction of the bedroom, ‘had no meaning for you?’

She stiffened and said, ‘what do you want me to say, Arnav? Of course it did, but .. what does that have to do with me staying in India?’ Please tell me Arnav, I need to know, if you feel the same way.

‘I have to spell it out for you?’

‘Yes.’

He shook his head, angry with himself for not being able to say the words, with her for not understanding what he wanted to say. He thought she understood him. He stood up, palms on the table, leaning over her. Furious now.

‘What about us, Khushi? I thought it was something special between us. THAT,’ waving his hand towards the bedroom, ‘was something special. But maybe I was wrong. Maybe you just wanted to have your first time over and done with? Well, I hope you enjoyed it,’ he snarled, before slamming his palms down on the table again, glaring at her and walking away.

The imp gave him a disgusted look - Really, Dude?

Khushi sat there with her mouth open. Pain ripped through her, as she watched him walk away with tear-flooded eyes. What just happened? Did he really think that of her? That all she wanted was sex? That was all this had meant to her?

She got up and followed him into the bedroom. He was sitting on the bed - their bed, she thought - elbows resting on his knees, his hands joined together, glaring at his feet. She put her hand on his shoulder. He jerked away from her touch.

‘Arnav, that’s not what I-’

‘What else am I supposed to think, Khushi?’ he muttered. ‘Let’s just go home.’ He got up and stalked out, picking up his gun and his sunglasses on the way.

She sighed and followed him out. He was sitting in the car waiting for her when she came out, her red eyes masked by the sunglasses. She got in and he drove off before she even had her seat belt on.

The drive home was made in silence. Madonna was crooning on the stereo The Power of Goodbye. 


Your heart is not open so I must go
The spell has been broken, I loved you so
Freedom comes when you learn to let go
Creation comes when you learn to say no

You were my lesson I had to learn
I was your fortress you had to burn
Pain is a warning that somethings wrong
I pray to God that it wont be long
Do ya wanna go higher?

There's nothing left to try
There's no place left to hide
There's no greater power
Than the power of good-bye

With a savage move, he turned it off.

****

7 comments:

  1. What a jerk.... but loved the fact that u have kept ASR so in character.... wouldn't have been as good if he had actually spoken the words... Dammit !!!
    :D

    Almost half a century.... wow Madhs... and not even a single boring moment...

    Loving it... No. 50.... Please???!!!???

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  2. Loved it......pehley pyaar fir takraar....wen will these two grow up or rather when will ASR stop behaving like a spoilt brat.....but kya karen we love him aisey hi.....

    Update soon..... :)

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  3. awww arnie baby put his foot in his mouth... how can he be so unsurea bout her feelings? but.. well.. he should be. this chapter is just perfect. I love that they had sex just after the big fight but the highlight , for me, was her care of him after the fightscene... was just.. beautiful. i love the way he reveled in her care.. and i'd always expect him to be a considerate lover, and he was.. but seriously? he cant speak those two golden words? arnie baby, what shall we do with yoU!

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  4. Oh common!!!!! How dumb can u be Arnie boy???? Even the imp is smarter than u!!!! After having such a hot and sizzling love making session, u turn around and accuse ur lady love for just wanting her first time over and done with???? if she was so desperate she wouldn't have waited for u to come to her life dude!!!! What an ass!!!!!!
    Great update Madhu!!! I've been so mesmerized and hooked onto this story, that didn't even realize I haven't commented from quite many chapters.... So sorry... But damn woman, u write so well... I just couldn't help reading and reading...

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  5. They are both silly and Not able to Sit Down like adults and Talking to each other Openly.

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  6. That was just beautiful, well written and thought out. The ending was aww come on tell her you love her. Maybe she has to read between the lines? You got this spot on, but what a dumbo, she gave him herself, she didnt stop him, condidering ehat shes been through he thought if was a thankyou? Honestly...

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  7. Arnav is such a jerk sometimes. He can be so cruel in his anger. Why doesn’t he tell her what he wants

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