Somewhere Only We Go

Chapter 4

Kabir

The next few days passed in a blur with meetings I had lost count of. Working for Avi is bigger than I thought it would be. But it's also a project that has gotten me excited after what feels like years. For the past few months, I have been so focused on getting clients that pay big rather than what excites me. And I was kind of starting to lose my love for photography. But working with Avi's new publishing imprint is huge not just because it pays well but also because it's a big step for queer literature readers in India. This new romance imprint from Luminary Books has almost 60 to 65% of their books focused on queer love stories. That in itself got me excited even though I am not a reader.

After the last meeting with the team that is going to work on the designs for covers, I walk out of the conference room, a little exhausted and ready to call it a day.

Don't do it, don't do it, don't do it.

Too late, my eyes were already set on his office, where his assistant was sitting on the chair, her legs crossed, in a pencil skirt, her tanned legs looked perfect. Avi was sitting on the desk and their legs were a little too close for my comfort, which is weird, because um, he is just a client. He was busy on his phone and the woman was waiting with a notepad in his hand. With his sleeves folded around his elbow and tie a little loose, he looked perfect and my mouth suddenly went dry. I need to get out of here.

Avinash has been avoiding me since the dinner at his apartment. The man is starting to give me migraines. I can swear on my life he wanted to kiss me that night he cooked the perfect dinner for me, something no one has ever done. And I wouldn't have stopped him, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about kissing him myself. But even at the dinner, he was playing this game of push and pull. And since then he has barely glanced at me, let alone talk to me.

Which I should be happy about. So I don't know why I ended up knocking on his cabin when he was busy with his very gorgeous assistant. They are talking, you lovesick idiot.

Shut up brain, it's too now because they are both looking at me. Sonali, I think that's her name looks confused and Avinash is again unreadable. It's like I met a different version of this man at dinner.

"Uh, can I talk to you for a second?"

I want to see how you are going to get out of this one.

Dammit, what was I thinking, is it too late to run away? I tried stopping you.

Avinash's eyes are still on me when he asks Sonali, "Is there anything else Sonali?"

"No sir, this is all."

"Thanks, I'll see you later."

The woman gets up and leaves the room, locking me inside with Avinash.

Neither of us moved from our place. Fuck what do I do now, I don't have anything to talk about with him.

"Have coffee with me."

"Huh?"

Gotta stop doing that Kabir. As if reading my mind, he smiles.

"Don't say a word." Now he is grinning and man he is gorgeous. It's unfair how some people have the perfect feature and their one smile can hold so much power.

"I wouldn't dare." Prick.

"I'll see you around, I guess." I turn to leave, I need to get out of here as soon as possible.

"So we are meeting at the cafe directly?"

"H-" I close my mouth at the right time. "What do you mean?"

I was hoping he didn't catch that but he did, I couldn't see his face because I wasn't facing him but I could hear that smugness in his voice.

So we know his different voices now?

Dude you are not helping, shut the fuck up.

"I told you to get coffee with me."

I turn around. "I didn't say yes."

"I didn't ask."

"I-" Well he is right he didn't ask but hell if I am going with him anywhere.

But you want to.

Not when he ignored me.

Oh, so you're hurt. Shut up, please.

I didn't realize when Avi came close to me, but now he is standing right in front of me. With one hand he pulls the curtains down. Before I could ask why he did that he shoves me into the nearest wall, I wince from the contact my lips parting, as his lips meet mine and I melt in the kiss.

Every single inch of exhaustion leaves my body as he shoves his tongue in my mouth, kissing me like a lover long lost who found his way back to me.

I couldn't help the moan that left my throat, and Avi groaned, his one hand trailing down my spine while he pinned me to the wall with his other hand, and man his grip was strong. That only makes my tongue move faster for control and before we know it, the kiss gets sloppy and messy, our tongue entangled and I am pretty sure there is going to be a mark on my wrist where he is pinning me but I couldn't care about the pain, not when he is kissing me. Why didn't we do it sooner?

He pulls away and then bends a little his mouth trailing my jaw now. "Have coffee with me, or drinks, I don't care what Kabir, just come with me." Both of us are breathing hard so it takes me a few seconds to find my voice.

"Yeah okay. Coffee sounds good." He carefully removes his hand where he is pinning mine and I wince a little, yup that is leaving a mark. His eyes find mine and for a few minutes neither of us says anything, we stand there, I am so lost in his eyes that I don't say anything when he takes both my hands and rubs my wrist softly where he held it tightly a few minutes ago. I don't say anything when he takes my hand and brings it to his lips, softly kissing the inside of my palm, I don't say anything when he pulls me gently, kisses my temple, places his car keys in my hand and asks me to wait in his car if I don't mind he has to place a call before leaving.

And while I wait in his car I realize I won't mind anything he asks me to do. And that is scary because I barely know the guy, and I feel like I am exploiting him because he asked me for help in clear terms, he has stated in clear words what this is about and I am now doing this for myself. I know he thinks I am some sort of bigger man who refused his money but the truth is, I refused it because I want to date him. And I know this week in Goa is the only time I can have with him. I wanted to stay away from him and treat it like a contract, but the past few days when he ignored me, it felt like someone had kicked my heart.

One night with Avinash Mehrotra is like a drug, the kind parents usually tell their kids to stay away from when they leave for college, only there is no one to warn me and even if there was I don't think I could have stopped myself from slowly getting addicted to him.

The door on the driver's side unlocks and Avi takes his seat but something about him feels wrong. He looks tense. He throws his blazer in the back seat and grips the steering wheel before I ask him what happened, his next words shock me and send blood rushing down my veins at the same time.

"You need to stay the night with me."

"Huh!" Dammit.