Priya in Heels (Entangled Embrace) (8 page)

Chapter Fourteen

Tyler

I knew we’d mentioned checking out a hot new Latin club, but this wasn’t the place I imagined Pree going to. The place was dark, loud, electric, and most of these girls could’ve been mistaken for hookers the way they were dressed. But this was the right place, according to Vicki’s text. I trusted her, and I was anxious to see what sort of surprise she promised.

I saw Vicki on the dance floor grinding against Raj. Good for them. I caught her eye, and she pointed to the left. I recognized Tulsi, who gave me a look before returning her attention to the dark-haired girl in front of her.

I expected Pree to be wearing jeans and a blouse, her usual go-to outfit. The girl in the heels and miniskirt couldn’t possibly be her. Her hair cascaded down her back in billowing curls that bounced with each seductive move she made. Her backside narrowed at her waist and tapered into a flirty, short skirt. Those legs went on forever.

I walked up behind her, staking claim before some idiot tried to, and received the “do-yo’-thing” nod from Tulsi.

This tasty morsel in tight, short clothes
was
Pree.
Damn.

I danced behind her, taking in her lavender scent as I spoke into her ear. “Can I have this dance?”

She startled and spun to face me. Before she could say no or run off, I swung her back around, jerked her against me, and kept dancing. Pree stiffened at first, refusing to move, but I wanted her to dance like she was dancing before. I kept my hands on her hips, glued her to me, and moved with the slow, pulsating rhythm.

“I prefer it from behind,” I said, my lips against her ear as I teased her with an accidental kiss.

She trembled in my arms.

Tulsi wagged her brows and rocked away from us, disappearing into the crowd to dance with a guy.

“Come on, dance with me,” I urged Pree.

She never stopped swaying. Being near her made my heart race. Touching her drove me insane. When her body was against mine, all bets were off. With every second, her rigidity melted away, and she danced, pressed against me. Her slim back and butt fit perfectly into my body, and she definitely knew how to move that butt against me. The way she danced almost made me drop to my knees. I wanted her. I
needed
her. In every way. I’d just wanted to talk to her, date her, but now, I wanted more. I wanted everything with her.

I shuddered, and Pree continued to dance as if she knew what she did to me. I licked my lips and planted a palm flat against her stomach. My other hand slid down the length of her short skirt and touched the silky skin of her thigh.

In response, Pree clutched the back of my neck as I panted in her ear. The room was hot, dizzying with so many moving bodies, but the second she touched me, the temperature shattered the roof.

I groaned, “You’re killing me.”

I was done for. By the sound of Pree’s escalating breathing, her heaving chest as I brushed my lips against her neck, hovering between grazes and kisses, I knew she wanted me, too. She could try to deny it, but her body could not lie to me.

Surrounded by her scent, intoxicated with her touch, I was a moment away from taking her home when the song ended. The brief interlude while the music changed gears was enough to snap Pree out of her daze. She took a step to walk away, but I drew her back. This time, we faced each other. I wanted to see her expression while we danced, to see if desire transformed her features. I wanted to see if I made her feel good, if she felt as if she were surrendering like I was.

I gave her a wink and she draped her wrists over my shoulders for a slower dance. Sweat beaded on her skin, catching the light so that she shimmered. It took everything in me not to lick her throat, her chest, and taste the saltiness of her skin.

Because Pree was almost a foot shorter than me, I leaned down, my eyes intent on her soft lips before I spoke again in her ear. “You look good enough to eat.”

She didn’t respond, but her gaze fell to my mouth when I pulled away. The corners of our lips touched. She pressed harder against me, almost inviting me when the music changed gears again, this time energetic and fast-paced.

Pree broke away and looked around as if she’d been in a trance, and headed to the bar. I followed hot on her heels, wiping perspiration from my brow. I sat beside her and ordered a cherry vodka, her favorite, and pushed it toward her.

“I’m good,” she said, refusing to make eye contact.

“It’s already paid for, don’t waste it,” I insisted.

“Want to split an appetizer?” she asked instead.

“Sure.” I ordered and paid before she could dig into her tiny cross-shoulder purse.

She slapped my thigh. “I was going to pay.”

I covered her hand and kept it there when she tried to retract it. “You go to places like this often?”

“First time. How did you know we were here?”

“You still think I’m stalking you?”

“Coincidence?”

I sipped my drink. I didn’t release her hand until a plate full of hummus, warm pita slices, feta cheese, and olives arrived. Pree devoured most of it, and I helped finish the rest. “Want to dance some more?”

“I don’t really dance. You getting two dances in one night is a miracle.”

“I imagine if you danced like that all the time, more guys would be stalking you.”

“So you admit it.”

“No, but you are worth stalking.”

“Compliment or creepy?”

I chuckled.

“Not working tonight?” she asked.

“What? I don’t work at night.”

“No band stuff?”

“No. What are you doing after the club?”

“What normal people do—sleep.”

“People do other stuff, too.” I stroked her arm.

Pree gulped, looked down at her drink, and swirled the contents.

I grabbed her bar stool and dragged her closer, then rested my arm on the back and leaned in. “I can name a few things people do in the middle of the night.”

Looking away was a mistake. It exposed her neck, and my lips were eager to finally have a taste. While my hand found her upper thigh, beneath the skirt, my mouth made contact with her neck. I kissed her, and not a peck like I’d given her before on the cheek.

She gasped. Turning to me was another mistake, because I caught her lips with mine. She froze, but her mouth remained open to everything my lips did. They matched my every move.

“I knew those lips would taste good,” I muttered against her mouth.

“I could’ve told you that.”

When she didn’t move away, I kissed her again. I ran my fingers through her soft hair and cupped her cheek. I gently, ever so cautiously, darted my tongue past her lips while my hand on her thigh stroked higher. She sucked in a breath and clutched my shirt.

“Come back to my apartment.”

She pulled away. “That’s not a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea,” I insisted.

“No.”

“Give me a good reason.”

“I’m not that kind of girl.”

“But you want me.”

“Cocky.”

“Honest.” I swirled a lock of her hair. “Are you scared?”

“I fear nothing.”

“Now who’s cocky?”

“Honest.”

“I think you’re afraid.”

“Of what?”

“If we were alone, you’d be all over me.”

She scoffed.

“One kiss alone and you’d be ripping my clothes off.”

She shoved me away. “Get over yourself.”

“Maybe you’re afraid to admit that you really like me.”

Pree froze.

“Because I really like you.”

“Let’s get something straight.”

“Hit me.”

“Men will say anything to get into a girl’s bed. You will never get into the same bed with me. We will never hook up. I’m not one of these girls who forfeit their senses because they’re in heat.”

She stood and marched off, finding Vicki and Raj on the dance floor. They exchanged a few words and the couple continued dancing. Pree searched for Tulsi, who was practically having a threesome between two guys. She shook her head and, defeated, returned to her seat.

“Back so soon?” I asked.

“I have to get off my feet. I’m so tired.”

“Didn’t drive here, did you?”

“Vicki dragged me here, and she’s too busy dancing.”

“Just ask.”

“I’ll ask her again later.”

“No, I mean, just ask
me
.”

“For?”

“To take you home.” I grinned.

“By taking me home, you mean dropping me off in front of my apartment, where we go our separate ways.”

“If that’s all you want. Ready?”

“You done partying?”

“I just came for you.”

“So you finally admit to stalking me?”

I placed a hand on her back as we walked outside. I opened the car door for her and again when we arrived at the complex. I took Pree to her door. She turned to say something, but I planted my hands against the wall on either side of her head and trapped her.

I could’ve kissed her again, convinced her to go to my place. By the way her gaze lingered on my mouth, the way she chewed on her bottom lip, I suspected she wouldn’t mind so much.

But I wanted Pree to obsess about me, about our kiss. I wanted to get into her head and stay there. I wanted her to replay tonight over and over until she could no longer take being away from me. I wanted her to
need
me the way I needed her.

My body had its own plan. I tilted my head and aligned our mouths. Not kissing Pree was the hardest thing I had ever had to do.

I exhaled. “Call me when you want me to come over.”

Her breath hitched.

Then I walked away.

Chapter Fifteen

Priya

I had found myself in a compromised position when Ty had dropped me off the other night. My mind had wandered toward naughty things, and now I was caressing my phone with the need to call him. It was a bad idea to be alone with Ty, a bad idea to let him touch me. His kiss had been mind boggling, everything I imagined a first kiss to be. His lips were masterful weapons and I had just about lost myself to him.

Sexual gratification at the hands of Tyler O’Connor suddenly seemed like a stellar idea…until I came to my senses. Unfortunately, I only stayed in my senses when I wasn’t near him. And when Mummie called to inquire about the decision regarding Manuk. In fact, Mummie called almost every other day, and all I could say was that I needed time.

I managed to stay away from Ty for a couple of weeks with a new, albeit as strenuous, work schedule, although I caved and answered his calls. That voice.
Wow, just wow.
I loved to hear it when he called first thing in the morning, having just woken up, just to tell me good morning. That ragged and sexy voice gave way to visuals of what he looked like in bed.

Texting was safer.

Work was a viable excuse to decline his invitations. I’d been too tired to hit the gym in days. Being cooped up in a gym held no appeal after being locked indoors all week. Even the prospect of watching a movie in the cardio theater didn’t lure me after looking at computer notes and programs all day. My fat cells were probably loving the lack of exercise and conspiring to mound up into fat rolls. It drove me insane and I finally decided to get a run in.

I walked several blocks to the riverside to jog. Running felt amazing. As the sun set and twilight came quickly, I picked up my pace. The neighborhood was safe, but the population had turned sparse. I ran longer than usual and I’d left my phone at the apartment. I clutched my keys in my fist with the keys sticking out between my knuckles.

As I hurried home, I worried about the impending decision about Manuk. Mummie wouldn’t take “no” for much longer. Not that she was pushy, but what solid reason did I have to turn Manuk down? The other suitors had been weird, too traditional, and had wanted a wife-servant as opposed to an equal. Mummie had understood. The only negative thing about Manuk was my stubborn belief that he made me uncomfortable. He did not. I chose to be.

I walked several blocks, consumed by my thoughts, zoning out, as usual.

No wonder I hadn’t sensed the two guys lurking in the alley to my right, not until they jumped out, grabbed me, and dragged me into the darkness. My heart leapt into my throat. I punched. My keys scraped flesh. I kicked, too. Runner’s legs were strong.

I remembered to scream and shrieked before one of them clamped his hand on my mouth. My entire life flashed before my eyes. Fear inundated me, but survival fought to maintain control. The thing about being in the medical field—one may not know how to defend or disarm, but one
did
know what killed. I aimed the keys and fists for superficial and exposed death points: the jugular, the carotid, the trachea.

“Hey!” A man yelled from the sidewalk. It sounded like Ty!

I elbowed my attacker and cried, “Help!”

One attacker dragged me farther back into the alley while the other stepped forward to fight the stranger. As the light from the streetlight moved across him, I saw that the stranger was indeed Ty. My heart raced even faster with spiraling amounts of relief but now, I was also concerned for Ty’s well-being.

In my struggle, my hair escaped its band. I watched Ty as I fought, more pissed than scared because I didn’t want Ty hurt. I didn’t want the men to touch him, to beat him or worse.

Ty punched his attacker after taking a hit. The mugger kicked him in his jaw and threw him against the side of the building. I was going to be sick. They scuffled until Ty got the upper hand and pummeled his assailant.

By now, I had managed to rip out a chunk of hair from the guy who wrestled me. I tried to get to my attacker’s throat. Ramming keys into his eyes helped. He slapped me with the force of a punch, sending me flying backward until I stumbled over something and hit my head against the wall.

My attacker helped his cohort to ambush Ty and plunged a knife into his shoulder. Dazed, I sank to the ground. My chest almost exploded when Ty howled, yanked out the blade, and swiped the attacker across the face. The assailants fled. I never saw their faces.

Without wasting time, I ran to Ty and pulled him out to the sidewalk, where streetlights felt like armor. I had to know he was safe.