“You look tensed and so out of your element,” Ash remarked, holding open the door for Nina to enter, “Did something happen?”
“Just some issues with Lean,” Nina mumbled, settling herself on the small sofa. The effects of alcohol were wearing away slowly.
“You have so many issues with her always,” Ash grumbled, taking off his shoes and putting them away on a rack which had a cardboard with the words ‘KEEP YOUR OLFACTORY SENSES AWAY’ stuck to it.
“You’re something,” Nina shook her head, laughing. Her mood seemed to have changed drastically. Ash knew how to entertain people. “Let’s not talk about anything else tonight,” Nina suggested.
“That means, you’re offering yourself to me, body, mind and soul,” Ash flopped down beside her, giving a characteristic cocky grin.
“You sound like the devil bartering my soul,” Nina rolled her eyes, “but yes. We won’t get this opportunity again.”
“Lemme show you the devil in me,” his inky black eyes had the twinge of naughtiness in them. Without warning, he bent down and licked her lips.
“Damn!” Nina’s eyes widened, “easy there boy…” but her words were lost into his mouth as his lips collided fiercely with hers. Starbursts danced in her vision as his hungry lips devoured her with the promise of a lifetime. Her hands had automatically moved to his shirt. She hastily undid the top few buttons, putting her hands on his warm chest. Her hands shifted to encircle his neck as he knotted his fingers in her hair, deepening the kiss. Ash smelt of mint and aftershave and the expert movements of his tongue left her giddy.
He broke the kiss first only to dive into the crook of her neck, where he kissed his way to the hollow at the base of her throat. She threw back her head in ecstasy and a soft sigh escaped her lips. His lips were now teasing the edge of her dress, right above her cleavage.
His eyes shot up once, meeting hers, asking for permission. Nina’s face felt hot at the prospect of her first time but she didn’t want to hold back. In a world which was as volatile as camphor, Ash’s actions honestly offered her endless dimensions to escape.
He grinned in a boyish way and lifted her into his arms. She laughed and mock punched his chest. Gently he deposited her on the bed, hopping in with her. “All mine!” he remarked, tossing away his own shirt. The sculpted chest felt chiselled under Nina’s fingers as she ran her fingers over them. Those were signs of strenuous work rather than purposeful bodybuilding and Nina liked it that way. His calloused fingers moved to her back, undoing the zipper in one pull. The dresses splayed out like the petals of a blooming flower.
“I like what I see,” his eyes lit up with unmasked desire.
“Well, then dive in,” Nina chuckled.
Ash didn’t need any more invitation as he peeled off the rest of her dress and his own trousers ended up in a pile beside them. As their skins met, sparks seemed to fly off in all directions. The flames of love crackled in between them as he devoured her with his expert hands and mouth. A rollercoaster of emotions coursed through her as they gave in to their animal instincts. It soon became rough and hot. The sensation was ethereal as he explored every nook and corner of her body.
“You have a forest cultivated here, mister,’ Nina playfully touched the fuzzy hair on his chest.
“Well, I like some other cultivation somewhere down here too,” he pointed towards her legs. Nina’s face was in flames as she buried her face into his chest and soon enough they were kissing again, this time, soft and gentle. His lips were supple, hungry. Their hips met in a perfectly choreographed dance and soon she felt the sharp rush of pain mixed with the highest rapture as all the emotions in her cascaded like a waterfall down her spine. She felt loved, she felt needed, not used. Tears sprang up in her eyes without warning.
“Hey, you’re crying,” concern lit up in his eyes as he drew back, surveying her face. Nina simply nodded, speechless with the assault of feelings in her mind.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No. Please,” her voice was husky with desire. “You didn’t hurt me. I know you never would.”
“What’s wrong then?” Ash seemed confused.
“The son of my employer tried to force himself on me,” she bit her lips, sobbing, “I felt so dirty, so used.”
“Did he?” Ash’s face was all concern.
“No. A friend fought him off. But these things don’t melt away easily.”
“Shh,” Ash whispered in her ears. “I’ll make you forget that. I’ll help you put those away into a corner from where they’ll never surface again. Please let me. I love you, Nina.”
There was so much genuineness in his eyes.
“I love you too, Ashutosh!” she spoke out his full name. It felt so foreign and yet so pleasant.
Without warning, he licked off her tears. “Mmhmm,” he mumbled.
“Oof! You’re impossible,” Nina giggled, giving him a light slap on his nose.
“I’ll make it impossible for you now,” his lips found her neck again as he sucked on it with relish, making satisfied noises. The night outside dragged on. At some point, a power cut happened again but they both were adrift on dreams, cuddled against each other under the downy covers.