Page 30 of Driven By Desire

“So we’re lovers then?” Enjoying the ridiculous conversation, Krish steered her slowly away from the poor, endangered tomatoes.

“Too seedy.” Earlier discomfort forgotten, Max looped an arm through his. “You’re my relationship person.”

Cracking up, Krish wrapped his arm around her and tucked her in closer. “I like being your relationship person.”

Standing on tip-toe, she rubbed her nose affectionately against his. “I like it too.”

“We should go back to the mob.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he pulled back but kept her hand firmly clasped in his. “I hope you remembered to pack your swimsuit.”

Rolling her eyes at him in a perfect imitation of Pooja, she mumbled, “As if I could forget with the constant lists and reminders you kept sending me all week.”

They were almost back at the house before she whispered, “I also packed the chocolate sauce.”

---***---

Standing at one end of the makeshift cricket pitch, Krish watched his ‘relationship person’ swagger to the crease.

Trash talking with Chirag who’d been nominated wicket keeper for the over, she wiggled her hips and scuffed one foot against the ground.

She fit into his life. Into his family. Perfectly.

Letting the last of his misgivings fade, he called out, “Ready to play?”

When she only wiggled her hips in answer and bent at the waist to take her position, Krish fumbled the ball he’d been primed to throw. Aware of his brothers’ amused gazes on him, he picked up the ball and shook his head in a bid to clear the fog of arousal blanketing him.

“Play!” Pooja’s excited screech had him halfheartedly lobbing the ball at Max who smashed it out towards the designated boundary. Adi’s futile attempt to stop the ball ended when it crashed across the line.

Max’s triumphant whoops and hollers had him laughing even as she wiggled her hips again preparatory to facing his next ball.

Catching the ball Adi threw to him, he unleashed his own ferocious competitive streak and focused.

The next ball whipped past her and into Chirag’s gloves before either of them could blink.

Krish’s taunting grin was met with a ferocious scowl.

Tossing her ponytail back, she wiggled and settled in again.

This time bat and ball connected with a crack that resounded around them.

Adi and Pooja sprinted after it even as Max charged down the crease towards Krish.

Positioning himself so he could catch the ball Adi was already scooping up and turning to throw, Krish found himself tackled and slammed into the ground.

For the second time since he’d met her, Krish lay winded with Max sprawled in an ungainly heap on top of him.

“Are we playing kabaddi or cricket?” The wry question from under her elbow had Max collapsing in helpless laughter on top of him. They were still lying in the dirt when three faces appeared above them.

“Game over then?” Chirag’s hopeful question had Max scrambling off Krish narrowly missing his head with the bat. Sitting up, he caught his breath before saying, “How about a swim?”

An excited chorus agreement had the mob taking off to change into their swimsuits. Getting to his feet, he followed at a more leisurely pace with Chirag.

---***---

Krish swallowed his tongue. If he’d known that was the swimsuit he was reminding her about, he would have doubled the number of messages.

In a one piece black halter with a neckline cut almost to her navel, Max executed a perfect dive into the pool from the board at the deep end.

A loud splash of water had him blinking out of the daze and scrambling to retrieve a drowning Pooja from next to him.

“You let go of me!” Her red, furious face spluttered at him. “You promised you wouldn’t.”

“I’m sorry.” Trying desperately not to laugh, he pointed out, “We’re standing in the shallow end and I’m right next to you so it’s not like anything major would have happened.”

“I could have drowned!” Climbing out of the pool, she planted her hands on her hips and looked down at him.

“Problem?” Max swam up beside him. Slicking her hair out of her face, she smiled up at the affronted little face.

“He almost let me drown!” The quivering finger along with the outraged matron pose had both of them grinning.

“She’s going to be an actress someday.” The muttered aside had Pooja frowning suspiciously at him.

“Daily soaps I think,” Max agreed. “The saas bahu dramas.”

“Max, will you teach me how to dive like you?” Sitting down in front of them and dangling her legs in the water, Pooja held her arms out while pointedly ignoring her brother.

Picking her up and settling her on to her waist, Max said, “You need to learn how to swim first.”

“If you are in the deep end, you can catch me when I dive.” The plea had Max glancing over at Krish who shook his head. “No. Not until you’re a good swimmer first.”

“That’s sensible.” Levering Pooja into position, Max tried to diffuse the situation before the two locked horns again. “I’ll help you practice your swimming now.”

Noting the time and the setting sun, Krish pulled himself out of the pool to go see to dinner.

Changing into shorts and a comfortable sweatshirt, he had the bonfire and barbecue set up before the rest of them straggled in from the pool.

Tossing them towels, he watched as they settled down around the bonfire.

Wrapping a sarong around her still damp swimsuit, Max came over to where he stood flipping the meat on the barbecue.

“Can I help?”

“Did you take after your dad in the kitchen?”

“Nope.” Poking at the array of marinated meats lined up on a side table, she picked up a wooden ladle. “I’m an excellent assistant though.”

Backlit by the flames from the bonfire, her hair drying in riotous tangles around her shoulders, she was a vision.

A vision he wanted in his life on a permanent basis.

Throat tightening as the realization slammed into him, he dropped the ladle he’d been holding.

The smell of burning meat had him dragging his gaze back to the dinner he was charring.

Sighing, he dropped it on to a separate platter to see if later he could rescue some of it for the dogs on the property. Grabbing the platter with the chicken on it, he added them to the grill. Handing Max the oil, he left her to the job of brushing them with oil and keeping them moist.

The hours passed in a pleasant haze of good food, shared laughter and the warmth and comfort of family.

When the fire finally died down to a few smoldering embers, Krish stood to put it out completely.

The last of the staff had disappeared into their quarters close to an hour earlier.

Chirag hauled a protesting Pooja off to bed while Adi and Max helped with clean up.

Making short work of it, they swept the area clean of litter and hauled everything into the open plan kitchen.

Mumbling a sleepy goodnight, Adi wandered off in the direction of the bedroom he was sharing with Chirag leaving Max and Krish to lock up for the night.

“I’ll say goodnight then?” The husky question had Krish’s fingers vising around the deadbolt.

Locking the front door carefully, he turned to look at her. “I wish you were sharing a room with me instead of Pooja.”

“I could share yours first before being a good girl and heading to my room.”

Every cell in his body sat up in attention at the whispered suggestion. Clearing his throat, he tried for sanity. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. I have to go check on Pooja before-“

“Chirag’s already settled her into bed. She’s probably fast asleep by now.” Slipping one hand around the nape of his neck, Max put her lips to his ear. “Live a little, Krish. With me.”

On a groan, he turned his head and claimed her mouth in a kiss that left them both breathless. Pulling back a little, he rested his forehead on hers and muttered, “This is crazy.”

Gripping his hair, Max peppered his face with kisses. “So let’s be crazy.”

“Max, don’t! I have to go check on Pooja and we-“

The rest of his words disappeared as she grabbed his t-shirt and fused her mouth to his in a kiss that seared his brain and left his heart reeling.

Having her in his arms after a whole day of watching and not touching was heaven.

Rational thought fleeing, he swung her up in his arms and made it to his bedroom in record time.

Drawing the drapes on the huge French doors that led out to the swimming pool, he turned to find Max naked in his bed.

Hair tumbling down across her breasts to touch her navel, she knelt in the middle of the huge double bed and held her arms out to him with an unconditional trust that undid him completely.

Emotion clogging his throat, he turned the lights off and plunged the room into darkness before joining her in bed. Closing his eyes, he buried his face in the curve of her neck and held on tight.

“You have too many clothes on.” Her languid voice slicked over his skin and had him nuzzling her neck. Cool hands slipped under his t-shirt and eased it up and over his head. Exploring the delicate curve of her neck, he brought one hand up to cup her breast.

Arching against his touch with a soft gasp, Max continued to stroke and explore the warm muscles of his back.

Covering her body with his, Krish lowered his head to kiss and suckle the breast he’d been caressing.

Fisting her hands in his hair, Max cried out.

Dragging his head up, she brought his plundering mouth back to hers.

Impatient fingers fumbled with the waistband of his shorts and divested him of it in a minute.

Skin slid against skin. Her legs fell apart to cradle him intimately against her. Imprisoning her hands over her head, Krish kept her trapped as he explored every inch of her with his mouth.

Writhing against him, Max managed to slip one hand out of his hold. Sliding it between them, she closed her fingers around the hard, silken length of him. His harsh intake of breath had her smiling to herself in the dark.

Reciprocating the favour, Krish explored her moist core with a skill that had soft moans escaping her.

When the exquisite torture of her fingers became more than he could bear, Krish took her mouth with a kiss that branded her as his forever.

He sheathed himself and slid into her with one long stroke that had her gasping against his lips.

“Krish.” The name escaped her lips on a soft sigh as she arched her hips and took him deeper. On a ragged moan, Krish started to move. Locking his eyes with hers, he let his passion slip its leash.

“I love you.” Her fierce whisper had a violent shudder racking his body.

Burying his face in her hair, he moved with a desperation that mirrored the storm of emotion in his heart.

With a hoarse cry, he emptied himself inside her at the same time as she shattered beneath him.

Breathing in short, harsh bursts, he slumped over her like dead weight.

Long fingers trailed down his spine in slow, lazy strokes until he found the strength to haul himself off her and to the side. Propping himself on one arm, he looked down at the delicate outline of her face. A smug, sated smile beamed back at him.

“Say it again.” The husky order had her stilling. Dipping his head, he kissed her. Gently, deeply, voluptuously. “Please.”

“I love you.” The words feathered over his lips and reached in to touch the deepest reaches of his heart. Gripping her chin so she could see what was in his eyes, he leaned in close to whisper. “I-“

That was when the screaming began.