Hush (13 page)

“That sounds… very reasonable of you,” I said.

The scar cutting just above his lip reflected in the light. “So… maybe I’m just being presumptuous but… what should we do for our second date?”

The waiter returned with the bottle of wine and two glasses. He popped the cork and poured the first glass. When he moved to mine I waved my hand and said, “No, I don’t drink.”

“Try it Sloane,” he said, “It is quite lovely with seafood.”

I rolled my eyes and I swore I heard a chuckled rumble in Siva’s chest.

“Go ahead,” I said to the waiter and he poured me a glass. He didn’t fill my glass quite as much as he had Siva’s, bless him. I could just hug this staff.

The waiter left and Siva quirked his head. “So, second date?”

“First off, it is very forward of you Mr. Kapur. I’m not sure I should accept,” I said with a sigh and my eyes sparkled with mirth.

“My apologies Ms. Campbell,” he said playing along.

“But,” I sighed. “I think I must say yes. I’m thinking a movie date. A perfectly normal, non-formal, movie date. It’s time you loosen your tie Mr. Kapur.”

“I am perfectly capable of loosening my tie,” he joked.

“Oh, I’m sure you are,” I said and a smile lit my lips.

The waiter returned some time later with two steaming plates full of food. “Enjoy your meal,” he said before disappearing.

“Who is supposed to eat all this?” I asked in shock.

“Us,” he said.

“But, but, but,” I said my mouth opening and closing like a fish.

He smiled patiently. I finally snapped my mouth closed.

The plate held a succulent lobster, oysters, shrimp, scallops, and other little critters I couldn’t identify. His plate held the same. He dipped a piece of lobster into butter and slurped it down. He motioned for me to eat, his eyes darkening, so I did.

* * *

“I am so full I’ll never eat again,” I said.

Siva laughed.

“I have to agree,” he said patting his flat stomach.

He paid the bill, I didn’t even want to begin to think about how much it cost, and stood offering me his hand. I took it and he hauled me up.

“Oomph,” he said. “Did you gain ten pounds?”

“Stop it,” I said and tried to smack his arm. He danced away. The little boy was back. I hoped he stayed.

He laced his fingers through mine. His hand was warm and solid, his grasp steady. He had managed to get me to drink a little wine and my head was already feeling fuzzy. We tr
omped down the steps and out on
to the dock.

The sun had long since descended and the moon had risen. It was a full moon and made the ocean water glitter white. The stars sparkled like little winking diamonds.

“It’s so beautiful here,” I said staring at the sky in awe.

Siva smiled. “It is.” His hand cupped my cheek and his violet eyes bore into mine. “But you are a much more beautiful view,” he breathed and his breath tickled my face. He pushed my back against the railing. The ocean roared below us drowning out the sound of my beating heart. His nose skimmed the side of my face, inhaling. “Oh Sloane, what have you done to me? You have bewitched me.”

“Is that bad?” I breathed.

His white teeth shone brightly in the darkness. “I don’t think so,” he said, softly. “I think it’s a very, very, good thing.”

I sighed in relief. “Good. That’s good.”

“Yes it is,” he said. “Come on, let’s go.”

He ran down the dock, holding my hand, and I tried to keep up with his long legs. We came to the end of the lot and instead of heading to the car he pulled me towards the beach and down on to the sand.

“Siva,” I laughed. “You’re going to get us covered in sand.”

“I don’t care,” he said and his hands fisted my hair. “It’s time I start living,” he smiled.

He was lying on the sand and I was lying on top of him.

I pressed my lips to his smooth collarbone. His skin was so soft and so warm. I closed my eyes as emo
tion overcame me. I was falling
hard, for Siva Kapur, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get back up.

Chapter Nine

“Catch me,” I said suddenly jumping up. I kicked my flip flops off and ran as hard and as fast as I could.

I could hear his laughter behind me. Siva had such a lovely laugh and he did far too little of it. He was always so serious, so angry, with only those brief moments where his soft, little boy, side shown. I could hear his arms and legs pumping. Sand arc
h
ed behind me. A giggle escaped my lips. It was nice being young and carefree for a change, especially with Siva. After Dev died and Mac tried to… well I just hadn’t felt like myself. I had felt broken. But now I knew that I wasn’t
broken
, I was hurt. You can repair something that’s hurt, like a scraped knee, much easier than you can repair a broken vase.

“I will get you,” he called from behind me but much too close for comfort. I spurred forward. A smile was playing on my lips. I felt so free. Like, if I ran fast enough I might take flight with the birds.

I zigged and I zagged and then an iron bar wrapped around me. Siva laughed, such a deep pleasant sound, and hauled me over his shoulder. He dropped down onto the sand. I held onto his shoulders. For being so lean his shoulders were surprisingly muscular. He lowered me so that we were at eye level.  We were both breathing hard from exertion. His violet eyes were so piercing. I felt like I couldn’t get enough oxygen to my brain. He did that to me.

I don’t know how long we sat just staring into each other’s eyes. My whole body tingled when he looked at me like that. I had never wanted anyone more than I wanted this sexy complicated creature before me. He was killing me.

“Let’s get back to the house,” he said, a promise winking in his purple eyes.

A smile spread across my face. “Yes,” I said.

He hauled me up and we headed to the car.

We just didn’t expect what greeted us when we arrived back at the beach house.

* * *

“What the fuck!” Siva screamed and the car slammed to a stop rocketing me forward. “Fuck! Who did this! Shit!” he fumed and fussed hitting the steering wheel in the process. He put the car in park and hopped out. I took a deep breath before I followed him. I knew all hell was about to break loose. I closed the car door behind me.

“No, no, no!” yelled Siva pulling on his hair. “Fuck!”

I looked at his town house
and was shocked at the damage that had been done
. The door had been forced open and then had something gouged into it so little wood chips littered the ground. All the windows were broken, from the inside, so who knew what
all
had went on in there.

Siva crumpled to the ground, something white in his hand.

“Fuck that bastard,” he said in a scary soft voice. Violence raged behind his eyes on a tightly reigned leash.

“Siva,” I said hesitantly.

“Don’t touch me!” he yelled and I flinched jumping back.

“Do… do you know who did this?” I asked.

He unclenched his hand and let the white piece of paper flutter to the ground. I bent and retrieved it.

You ruined me. Now I’ll ruin you.

Who could have done this?
His father maybe?
But this just didn’t seem like something Rajas would do.

Siva finally turned to me. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going inside to… survey the damage. Get back in the car. And Sloane?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“Lock the doors.”

He disappeared inside the house while a shiver went up my spine. His words echoed in my ears.
Lock the doors.

I opened the car door, settled into the seat, and pressed the lock button. I began peering around looking for anything unusual. Nothing seemed abnormal. It was just a quiet street.
People probably sleeping.
Who did this?

Siva came out of the house visibly disgruntled. The police showed up a moment later. They spoke with Siva, taking notes, and then went into the house. All the while I sat and the panic threatened to overwhelm me. I needed my medicine.

I unlocked the car and ran into the house.

“Sloane,” said Siva gruffly. “I told you to wait in the car.” He was standing in the kitchen with the two officers.

“I need my medicine. Please,” I begged, hyperventilating, in the entryway. I couldn’t get enough oxygen to brain.

Cold Siva was gone and in his place was sweet Siva.

“Stay here,” he said. “I’ll go get it.”

He started towards me and then up the steps. “It’s in the small outside,” gasp for air, “pocket of my,” another gasp, “suitcase.” I sounded like I was having an asthma attack not a panic attack.

He came down the steps a moment later with my prescription bottle and a glass of water from the bathroom.

I emptied out two pills into the palm of my hand and popped them in my mouth before swallowing the entire glass of water.

My breathing immediately began to slow.

“Better?” he asked stroking my cheek.

Moody much?
Sneered my conscious.

I nodded my head.

“Good,” he said. “Now go back to the car and wait. I’m going to finish up here and then we’ll leave. Lock the doors,” he added. I could see that he was worried, a wrinkle forming
between his brows. So, I listened. I squished my lips closed and scurried back out to the car, the pills slowing my racing heart, and I could feel his eyes boring into my back making sure I made it into the car in one piece. Who did he think was lurking in the shadows?

I pushed the lock button on the door and wrapped my arms around myself as I waited. It was getting late… well maybe early was
the better term. Time passed and passed a
nd passed.

I grew bored. I had nothing to do but stare at Siva’s d
ecimated
house. It looked so different now than it hand this morning… or yesterday. It had seemed so inviting but now it looked sinister. The jagged glass shards leered at me. The ruined door mocked me. I finally had to look away.

I wondered if any of the neighbors had seen anything. But it didn’t seem likely. Wouldn’t they have called the police if they had?

Someone pulled on the car door startling me. I jumped and my head nearly hit the ceiling but it was only Siva. I unlocked the doors and he slid in starting the car. He smelled faintly of cigarette smoke. I didn’t feel like calling him on it and after what happened to his house I felt like I needed one too.

“Where’s our stuff?” I asked looking back at the house as he pulled away.

Siva turned to me and sighed. “Nothing was salvageable. Except your pills,” he said pulling the bottle from his pocket and handing it to me.

“Are you okay?” I asked after a while. The car hummed around us.

He sighed, long and shaky.
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said.

“You don’t sound sure,” I said. “Do you know who did this?” I asked him again.

He shrugged. “No, but I have an idea.”

“Care to share?” I asked.

“No,” he said sharply.

I looked out the window at the racing scenes going by.  I didn’t know what to say to that. He didn’t want to talk to me. He didn’t want to confide in me. But he said
he was trying. But was trying
good
enough?

* * *

“Sloane,” someone shook me. “Sloane.”

“Huh?” I said coming awake and rubbing the sleep from my eyes and smudging my mascara in the process. Great, now I looked like a raccoon.

“We’re home,” Siva said.

Home, this was my home now.

I stretched my stiff limbs and yawned loudly. I followed Siva to the elevator.

“I’m sorry our evening was ruined,” Siva said softly while the elevator surged upwards towards the
flat
.

“No one could have predicted that,” I said leaning against the elevator wall. I yawned again.

The doors slid open to the foyer and I slugged forward. I didn’t know how I would make it up the steps. I guess I’d crawl if I had to.

Siva trudged up the steps behind me and laid a steadying hand on my waist.

I headed towards my room but Siva stopped me, grabbing my hand. His other hand cupped my cheek. “Sloane, I want you to know that…” he swallowed. “That I… care,” he flinched.

I nodded my head. He
cared
. It wasn’t a declaration of love but I was pretty sure it was all I was going to get. It was good enough… for now.

* * *

I slept in late. It was the first time I had slept in, in a long time. It was nice but not something I wanted to do every day. The sheets were bunched around my bare legs. I was still wearing the sweater from last night. I must have been too tired to change into pajamas. The previous evening came rushing back to me. Siva and I had been having a great time until we got back to the townhouse.

Had it been fate, maybe, telling me that we weren’t meant for each other? My head felt clouded and my mouth dry. I desperately wanted some ibuprofen and to brush my teeth.

I
tucked my hair behind my ear. I sat up and put my head in my hands.
My head hurt and my mouth was fuzzy. This was why I never drank.

“Sloane,” said Siva and I felt his hand on my back.

“Jesus Christ!” I cried jumping up from the bed like I’d been shocked.

I turned around and found Siva lying in my bed completely naked except for a strategically placed piece of sheet.

“Oh shit,” I said blushing, maybe his use of language was rubbing off on me. “Did we…
did
we, um…?” I couldn’t make my brain or my mouth formulate the words.
I couldn’t think of any other reason why he’d be in his… uh... state of undress.

He smiled and his t
eeth were blinding white. He
laid
back down on the bed and put his arms behind his head. “No, we didn’t. You passed out after you undressed me. I now understand why you don’t drink,” he said. “And just so you know, in case you were wondering, I have no interest in doing that
with someone who is unresponsive, that’s not my cup of tea.” He grinned at me, clearly enjoying
himself
.

“You mean… I did that?” I said motioning to his figure.

He smiled. “I did say that.”

“How… um… did my jeans get off?” I asked and he grinned, obviously loving that I couldn’t remember anything. I wanted to smack him.

I thought I remembered taking them off and going to sleep but that was clearly not what happened. The naked proof of that was staring me in the face.

“I do believe that I removed that particular article of clothing. You passed out before I could get any further,” he said.

“Shit,” I said. “Did I… uh…
persuade
you in any way?” I flinched at my words but he only smiled.

“Sloane, I do believe it was a mutual decision.”

“Oh God,” I said and buried my face in my hands. “I’m never ever drinking ever again,” I said into my hands. His chuckle filled the room. “I need a shower,” I said letting my hands drop, “and you need some clothes.”

He stood and wrapped the sheet around his waist. “Sloane, I do believe it was you that removed my clothes,” he grinned.

“Never drinking ever, ever, again,” I mumbled heading into the bathroom. He followed. “Siva,” I said warningly.

I turned to find him grinning. “You need a shower, I need a shower, let’s save water by taking one together.”

“When did you turn into such a conservationist?” I snapped.

“Two point two seconds ago,” he said and his white teeth were startling against his caramel colored skin.

“Knock yourself out,” I said pointing to the shower. “It’s all yours
but I certainly
will not
be joining you
.”

“Sloane, don’t be like that,” he said.

“I think I have a right to be,” I said putting my hands on my hips.

He grinned at me and said, “I’m the one that’s naked. I think that I should be mad but I’m not,” he said and his hand cupped my cheek. “Oh Sloane, what are you doing to me,” he said and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. He started to leave and then stopped and looked over his
shoulder at me. “Shower and then we’ll go out for breakfast, or maybe it’s lunch now. We’ll go for brunch,” he grinned like he invented the word.

“Sounds good Siva,” I muttered. Once he was out the door I closed and locked it behind him before I sank down onto the floor. My heart was all over the place and my brain was following it. My heart yearned for Siva and
my
brain was
agreeing
with it but that nagging voice in the back of my head just wouldn’t shut up. What was it saying?

Dev.

Over and over again it said, Dev.

* * *

I pulled my hair back into a bun at the back of my neck. A few curls escaped framing my face. I had put on a pair of jeans and a flowy tank top. The sun was shining brightly outside and I did not want to become drenched in sweat. I slipped my sunglasses on top of my head for easier access and grabbed my purse.