Continental Divide (16 page)

Tanya's breathing was finally slowing down.
Never in her life had she experienced anything like that. She
couldn’t believe she’d just had the best orgasm of her life and had
not had oral or penile stimulation. It was crazy, but from the very
instant that Imran had rubbed the warm oil on her foot she had felt
a burning that pulled at her center. She’d felt a vague fullness as
though Imran had entered her, but was aware that he hadn’t. Just to
be sure, she’d looked. As he’d massaged her foot it was as though
her body suddenly had pins pricking her in her most sensitive area.
Every pinprick brought pleasure. And every spasm of pleasure
produced more. The feeling had continued until it encompassed her
entire body. Her nipples became pebbled and hard, and all over her
body it was as though she could feel a touch, a caressing, erotic
touch that filled her and brought about an eruption that she’d
never known.

Now she lay quietly panting, wanting to know
just what the heck Imran had done and if he could possible do it
again.
Wow,
she thought what a way to make love. She felt
deliciously sated. Bringing her eyes finally to meet Imran she saw
his grin and knew they’d just begun. She moaned in expectation as
he smiled and poured more oil into his palm and began rubbing her
ankle.

“Round two,” Imran whispered.

***

With the sun streaming through the windows
Tanya could easily picture herself finding her own paradise and
staying on in Pakistan. She took a slow look around Heaven’s home.
Maybe her home would not be as luxurious but it would be very nice.
She smiled as she contemplated the dream, barely hearing Hamid call
her to the phone.

“Damn!” Tanya hung up the phone and willed
herself not to cry as guilt assailed her. She should have called
home before now. She hadn’t because she knew something would happen
to spoil her trip and make her feel guilty for having left. She
felt a hand on her shoulder and knew that Heaven was aware it was
trouble in Chicago.

“What’s wrong?” Heaven asked.

“It’s Lettie. She’s in the hospital. I
shouldn’t have come. No one wants to keep all of Lettie’s kids,
even for the few days that she’s been there. They all make it sound
like it’s my fault, that I did something wrong by not being at
home.” Anger straightened her spine and guilt sharpened her tongue.
She pulled away from Heaven. “I deserve a life also. Do you want to
know another reason I took this trip? Why I came here? Because I
knew this would more than likely be my last chance to just think of
myself. Don’t you think I know what I’m about to take on, my
chances of finding a husband—A good husband are nil to zero. I came
here to pretend that I could have it all, Heaven.”

“You can, Tann. What about Imran? I know you
have feelings for him and him likewise. I told you all along that
he was perfect for you.”

“Do you really think I’m going to try to
start something with him knowing that I have so many
responsibilities?”

“But you already started something with
him.”

“Grow up, Heaven, that’s just sex. He’ll get
over it and so will I.” The moment the words were out Tanya shook
her head and the tears began to fall. “What am I going to do? I
thought I was ready… but six kids…Heaven, how am I going to take
care of them?”

“Tann, you know I’ll help anyway that I
can.”

Tanya tried hard to keep the tears from
falling. She didn’t want to cry and especially not in front of
anyone, not even Heaven.

“This all sounds so selfish. Here Lettie is
fighting for her life and worrying herself even sicker wondering
what’s going to happen to her babies. And I’m crying because I
can’t bring Imran into all of my drama. He has even less money than
I do. The odds of him becoming published are astronomical. And even
if he does, to make a living at it or a living that would support
that many kids from the off start is just about non-existent. Even
if he could, I refuse to ask him to do it.”

Heaven hugged her tightly. “It seems you’ve
been giving this some thought.”

“Daydreaming, that’s all. He’s made me feel
so special here. He’s taken me all over Pakistan. He’s shown me the
beauty and he’s shown me the bad. He’s even made me face up to my
own faults.” She shrugged. “I would have never admitted before
Imran that I was jealous of you. He’s made me feel protected when
we’ve traveled places where we more than likely shouldn’t have. And
he’s fought with me so much that I laugh whenever I think about
it.”

“Sounds like you’ve fallen for him no matter
what you say.”

“I’m not going to lie and tell you no. I
have fallen for him, but when I leave Pakistan, I leave Imran
behind. It won’t take long for us to get over it. I refuse to ask
him to step into this.”

“And what if he wants to?”

“He’s an honorable man, he’ll want to. But I
don’t want him to. I have no need to be rescued by a man.”

“I thought that was why you said you were
coming, to be rescued, to marry one of Hamid’s brother’s so you
wouldn’t have to worry about money.”

“So throw that up in my face now when I’m
all sad. You’re wrong for that, Heaven.” The tension was broken.
Tanya leaned back on her heels and rocked. “Yeah, well, that was a
long shot wasn’t it? Who knows, maybe if I had met one of Hamid’s
brothers before I met Imran?” She grinned remembering from the
moment she’d met Imran she’d felt a connection.

“Why do you think I asked Fatima to call him
to come over and stop you from your crazy plan? I knew Imran was
going to be your match.”

“You set us up.” Tanya had almost forgotten
the day Imran had first kissed her. She’d been laughing so hard at
the expression on Heaven’s face that she’d completely ignored his
words, his telling Heaven that she had been wrong to have used
Fatima in her plans. So he’d known all along, or at least he’d been
aware of it a lot sooner than she had. “You brought Imran here so
he’d be the first man I saw. You’re crazy. What if we hadn’t liked
each other?”

“But it wasn’t crazy,” Heaven couldn’t
resist smirking. “From the moment he walked in the door you were
all over him like white on rice. You liked him from the start and
he liked you. I knew all along I was right. Why do you think I’ve
been trying to get you here for more than a year? I knew he’d be
perfect for you. I also knew that you were both too stubborn to do
things on your own in the proper time frame. Neither of you would
have made a move in time if I hadn’t. We didn’t have forever, only
six weeks, and it worked. You’re in love with him.”

“Look, I didn’t say love.”

“But you are,” Heaven insisted. “I see the
way you are around him and all the time you’ve been spending coming
in here with all those bald face lies. My plan almost worked,”
Heaven’s voice trailed off as she also thought of Lettie. “Tanya,
listen to me and don’t get angry. I could help you take care of the
kids. I can give you a set amount of money each month and you
wouldn’t have to worry. My business is booming. I have the money.
It wouldn’t be a hardship and it wouldn’t be money that I was
getting from Hamid.”

Tanya kissed her and pulled back to look
into her friend’s eyes. “That is so sweet and I love you so much
for it. But, Heaven, if I do not want to be rescued by a man, I
want even less to be rescued by a woman. You’re my best friend and
you know how I am about this, so let it drop okay? And keep your
nose to yourself. Don’t you tell Imran how I feel. We only have a
couple of more days. I want to make the most of them. After all,
when I leave here, that’s it for us. That’s the way it has to
be.”

***

The stars blanketed the sky as Heaven and
Hamid lay on the thick mattress they kept tucked in their closet
for making love on the patio under the stars. Heaven’s head was on
Hamid’s chest as she tried to think of a way to help Tanya and
Imran be together.

“What am I going to do, Hamid?”

“Heaven, you’re going to stay out of it.
Tanya is a grown woman. She asked that you not interfere.”

“But she’s in love with your cousin. She
needs him in her life and he needs her. He’s never been happier. He
can’t spend all his days coming over to play with our son looking
at him as though he’s never going to have sons of his own. What if
Tanya is the woman for him? What if they were destined to marry and
have babies?”

“Then fate will take care of it and fate
will take care of it without you. I’m serious. Imran cares a great
deal for Tanya he’s told me so, but that would be a big
responsibility for him to take on so many of Tanya’s dreams.”

“We could help them out, we could give them
money.”

“And we could take away their pride. My
cousin would never consent to that. Always as a child he lived in
the shadows of my bothers and I. He hated it. As a man he will not
allow it. It is not that my uncle does not have money. Imran will
not ask his father for money.”

“But you told me your uncle bought the house
and furniture for him. He accepted that.”

“He’s also not a fool and he had no desire
to stay in a hovel, which would have been what he could afford. But
for day to day living he takes care of those things himself. He
even cleans his home himself only having a woman come in to clean
and cook a couple times a week.”

At that Heaven laughed knowing that Hamid
thought having help only twice a week was a hardship.

“You’re laughing at me?”

“Just a little. What are we going to do to
help them?”

“We’re going to do exactly as Tanya asked.
We’re going to stay out of it. You’ve plotted and planned and
gotten them this far. Now for the rest of it they will have to take
over.” Hamid pulled Heaven to him and kissed her into submission
pulling the covers over them. “Our bed is not the place for
fights,” he whispered, “but for loving. Let me make you forget
Imran and Tanya.”

***

Imran’s hand lingered on her bare flesh. She
was so soft, so warm. He pulled Tanya even closer, he’d enjoyed her
visit and knowing this was the last night he’d lay with her in his
arm the revelation came. He didn’t want it to end. He wanted her in
his life. Fate had brought her to him and he would not allow
circumstances to keep them apart.

Bending his head to take a puckered nipple
into his mouth Imran suckled her as his fingers probed. She wiggled
into position and began caressing him, each touch making him burn
at his core as he thought of things he could do. He’d ask her to
stay. The thought went away. She wouldn’t stay. She had her
obligations, the children of her cousin, and the babies of the
streets. Could they make it? he wondered. Did they have what they
needed to jump over the hurdle they’d face from the moment they
were together? It was an awesome responsibility, one Imran wasn’t
altogether sure he was ready to face. Tanya’s hand closed over him
and she played along his length, running her finger over his tip.
He moaned and shivered. He very much wanted to try.

Sated yet still aroused Imran wondered how
to approach the subject. Then he thought of a way. He began singing
to her, pouring out his words of love in song. He gave her a smile
as he sang to her, watching her, seeing her eyes pool with tears.
That touched him and made him acutely aware that she now owned his
heart. He was singing to her in Urdu and she understood every word
of love. He used the pad of his finger to brush away her tears. He
kissed the trail the tears had taken. When he was done he pulled
her close, into his arms. She took a deep shuddering breath and he
closed his eyes. She loved him. He felt it. It was now time to tell
her.

“Tanya, I don’t want us to end,” he said
suddenly. “I have feelings for you.” He smiled. “I’m falling in
love with you.”

Tanya pushed off from his chest. “Damn,
Imran, why couldn’t you just leave it alone? We said no ties,
remember? This was just a fling. Now you’ve ruined it. Damn!” She
grabbed for her clothes and began putting them on. “Get up,” she
ordered. “Take me home, back to Heaven’s. I want to go now.”

“What did I do? Why are you acting so crazy?
All I said was that I was falling in love with you.”

“There you go again. Stop it. I don’t want
you in love with me.”

“But you love me also. I feel it.”

“I don’t want to love you, Imran. Don’t you
understand that? I can’t be falling in love with you. I have to go
home, back to Chicago. You couldn’t leave well enough alone could
you? You had to ruin things.” She threw a pillow at him. “I want to
leave.”

“I have to bathe first and so should
you.”

“Fine.” Tanya glared at him. “But we won’t
be doing it together.” She stripped her clothes away and went into
the bathroom filling the massive tube with fragrant bubbles,
ignoring Imran as he walked in and got in the shower.

“You’re crazy,” Imran yelled out. “You’re a
crazy American and I’m crazy for having gotten involved with you. I
knew you were trouble the moment I laid my eyes on you. To behave
in this manner simply because I tell you I love you is irrational.
I will be more than happy to take you back to my cousins.” Then he
became silent.

***

For several long minutes Imran had been
pacing in his cousin’s kitchen. He’d needed someone to talk to.
He’d never been in love before, had never told a woman that he
loved her and definitely had not expected the reaction he’d
received from Tanya on telling her. Maybe it was just American
women. He didn’t know. That was the reason he needed to ask
Hamid.

“Hamid I can’t believe her reaction. I told
her that I was in love with her and she went crazy, demanded that I
bring her back here. Was Heaven this bad?”

“Worse. She beat me up.” Hamid laughed at
the look on Imran face. “I’m not kidding,” he continued and told
the story.

“Is it all American women?”