Priya in Heels (Entangled Embrace) (17 page)

“Your
fois
told my mom that your mom was bad or mean, or something like that.”

I choked. “What?” Rage swarmed through me as I backed away, drawing attention.

Manuk gracefully returned me to the dance. “I don’t believe that, of course. Your parents are really nice, and my parents know them better than they do your
fois
, but what was that about?”

I gritted my teeth. “They’re manipulative, backstabbing bitches.”

He stared at me.

“I’m sorry. I don’t usually say things like that or hate on anyone, but they spend a third of their life pushing their kids, a third gossiping, and the other third trying to make my mom’s life miserable. My mom’s the sweetest, and she doesn’t manipulate.”

He chuckled, easing the tension. “I didn’t think so. I just wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into.”

“If we get married, my family is great, just don’t deal with my dad’s side. Now I sound as bad as them.”

“No, you’re not demeaning them, just standing up for your mother.”

“We can’t get away from them.”

“Oh, believe me, they won’t say anything again.”

“Why?”

“I’ve already talked to them.”

Wow! What a surprise. Manuk had defended my parents—like a true son-in-law.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tyler

I had almost punched the pearly white teeth out of the dentist’s face when Raj profusely apologized about retracting his invitation to Club Red. It wasn’t Raj’s fault their parents invited him. It wasn’t Raj’s fault that I couldn’t control my temper around the dentist from Dallas. He was after Pree.

I’d never been the jealous type, but anyone who tried to get that close to Pree deserved to get beaten. The worst part was knowing that the guy intended to
marry
her and that her parents approved of it.

Why was I even sitting in Club Red’s parking lot? Why was I waiting for Pree when she was at a club with someone else?

I tapped my phone, fighting my urge to call her. What was she doing in there? Dancing with him? Was he touching her? Kissing her?

I unclenched my fist. I couldn’t go in there. I couldn’t make a scene or embarrass Pree, though she shouldn’t have been scared and hid her feelings. Still, that should be me in there.

Screw it. I texted her.

Tyler:
Are you at the club?

A few minutes later:

Pree:
Stalker.

Tyler:
I’ll take you home if you’re done with the dentist.

Pree:
Are you here?

Tyler:
Outside, waiting for you.

She didn’t return the text. I gnawed my teeth. Another five minutes and I’d go in there after her. I wasn’t about to get pushed to the side because of some dentist.

Tyler:
I’m in the parking lot.

Pree:
Be there in a second.

I crawled out of the car and paced the sidewalk until I saw Pree emerge with Tulsi and Jeeta. Pree separated from them, keeping close to the side of the building. I walked around a few cars, popped up behind her, grabbed her waist, and spun her around. She almost screamed until my laughter rocked her against the wall.

“Ty!” she choked out.

“Did you miss me, babe?”

She slapped my chest. “You scared the crap out of me.”

I chuckled as she caught her breath. “Is this you coming home with me?”

“Yes, but—”

In a quick movement, I lifted Pree’s legs around me and pushed her against the wall. Holding her up, I kissed her, and she kissed back—torrid, passionate, and fervent. I wanted her to always know what we had, and that the dentist could never give her what I could.

I pulled back. “I already warned you about being alone with me again. You come home with me…you know what’ll happen.”

She nodded, stunned, her lips moist and swollen. I lowered her and led her to the car. There was no way I’d make it to Houston. I’d stop at the first nice hotel, wrap her soft body around me, and plunge into her like there was no tomorrow. Remembering how she’d felt last time made my body ache. Hell, I was almost ready to go right now, in the backseat if she let me.

In the car, Pree didn’t say much. There were more pressing matters at hand than making love.

“How was the dentist?” I broke the silence first.

Pree groaned.

“Does he kiss like I do?” I asked with bitterness.

She playfully punched my arm. “Better.”

I squeezed her thigh. “That’s not funny. Don’t play with me when it comes to other guys.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you going to tell your parents?”

“About?”

The squeeze turned into a tickle on her inner thigh. She jumped.

“I almost told them myself. Your dad likes me, you know.”

“He likes everyone. My mom is wary of you.”

“Because she can tell.”

Pree yawned.

“Tired?”

“Yes. Long day. Speaking of which, why are you still stalking me?”

“Still?”

“I thought you went home.”

“When Raj told me the dentist had been invited to the club when he wanted to invite me, I was not happy. What would the dentist do if I showed up?”

“Depends on what you did or said in front of him.”

“I would’ve been all over you. Think he’d get mad?”

She shrugged.

“Did you dance with him?”

“Yes.”

Heat constricted around me, the flames of ire. I clenched my jaw. “Did you like it?”

“Not particularly, but he insisted.”

“Dick.”

“Ty.”

“Babe, you’re dancing with and leading on a man who wants to marry you. Your parents and every Indian in Texas think you guys are getting engaged. Don’t you think that pisses me off?”

She chewed on her lower lip. So she wanted to play this game? Back and forth with my heart like my feelings didn’t matter? As if what we had wasn’t the real thing?

“Maybe I should go clubbing with my ex-girlfriend. She’s been calling me.”

Pree looked out the window.

Incensed, I went on, “Don’t worry. She doesn’t want to marry me. She just wants to screw me.”

Silence.

“Do you mind?”

“Whatever,” she spat. “I’m not your girlfriend. You can do whatever you want.”

Her words cut through me, filleting my chest and taunting my heart. I scoffed and poked. “I
will
do whatever I want. You’re right. You’re not my girlfriend.”

She muttered beneath her breath.

“You’re stubborn, Pree. Doesn’t feel good, does it? Call your parents.”

“What?” She gaped at me.

“Call them. Tell them who you’re with. Tell them the truth, and then call the dentist and tell him it’s off.”

“Ty, it’s one in the morning. My parents are asleep.”

“The dentist ain’t.”

Silence surrounded us. The sexual tension from half an hour ago had flattened out and morphed into just plain old tension. I pressed my lips together, flared my nostrils, and sped with a tight grip on the steering wheel. I hadn’t been this pissed in years.

“Slow down,” Pree muttered.

“So we can drag this out, too?”

“Well, there goes your brilliant plan of getting me into bed.”

“Nope. Still gonna get you into bed.” I wasn’t giving her up that easily, but right now, I couldn’t talk to her. She just didn’t get it.

I turned on music and drove without saying anything so I wouldn’t say something I’d regret later. Pree eventually fell asleep.

Good. If she didn’t want to see the world the way it was and make a decision, then at least she was quiet about it.

My anger dissipated over the next few hours. I should’ve pulled over instead of driving so long and so late, but then we’d end up in a hotel room where either Pree would have sex with me without taking care of the real issue or she’d fight with me. I hated fighting with her.

Pree jerked awake and looked around, as if disoriented.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Bad dream.”

“About what?”

“Stuff.”

“You snore.”

She glared at me.

I cracked a smile. “It’s sexy.”

“Where are we?”

“Twenty miles from Houston.”

“I slept all that time? Sorry.”

“For what?”

“I could’ve offered to drive or kept you company. You’re probably tired, too.”

“It’s fine. I needed a few hours to cool off.”

“We’re back on that?”

“You’re creeping toward cheating on me and then telling me about it. What the hell, Pree?”

“You don’t understand.”

“Explain.”

“I’ve explained before, many times. You don’t understand because you don’t want to.”

“Then why are you coming home with me? You know what I want. Are you leading me on, too? Gonna get me all fired up and drop me?”

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“Obviously. When you figure things out, then give me a call.”

Neither of us said another word until I pulled into the parking lot.

“Thanks for the ride,” she muttered.

I grunted, didn’t give her a second look, and scrolled across my touch-screen phone. “Hey, Meagan,” I spoke into the phone, feigning interest in my ex.

Pree landed with knees on the seat and snatched the phone.

“Pree,” I growled.

“Who’s Meagan?”

“My intended,” I snarled.

“Not funny.”

“You think the dentist is funny? Don’t expect me to wait on you when you’ve got two guys hanging around waiting for you to make a decision. Give me my phone.”

“Is Meagan your ex?”

I unbuckled my seatbelt. “My phone.”

She held it behind her back. “Just tell me. You guys really have been talking?”

“Do you care?”

Tears glistened in her eyes and it killed me. At least she felt the pain she was causing me. At least she cared.

“Well, I guess if she’s willing to give it up, then…”

I pulled her against me. She barely kept balance on her hands, one crushed between the space between the clutch and the radio and the other on the middle partition.

My lips were almost against hers when I said, “You think all I want from you is sex?”

She gave a slight shake of her head.

“I want you to be honest with yourself and stop BS’ing. Be with me or don’t be. Pick one.” I took the phone and released her. “When you decide, call me.”

Pree slammed the car door and stomped off. Oh, hell no. She didn’t have any right to be mad. The fact that she
was
this mad only proved my point. Pree was in love with me. How could she live with herself if she married the dentist?

I marched upstairs after her, watching the perfectly toned backside of the woman of my dreams. She continued past my apartment toward hers.

I glanced at her as I unlocked my door, but she didn’t look at me.
Fine. Let’s all be mad.

I tossed my keys onto the counter when someone banged against the door. Pree.

I opened after the third knock, the phone to my ear just to heighten her anger. She glared at me and snatched the phone, turning it off. Not that it was on in the first place.

“What the hell, Pree?”

She shoved me inside and slammed the door behind her. “You better not talk to your ex again.”

I chuckled. “Don’t tell me what to do. You’re engaged, for all I know.”

“I’m not engaged, Ty, and the thought of another woman all over you makes me want to kill her. That’s not good.”

“You think the thought of another guy touching you makes me giddy? I saw him nudging you, whispering in your ear. You know how hard it was for me not to kick his ass? You’re lucky I’m so damn respectful of your family and culture to keep my fists at my sides. Although I had every right to tell them the truth.”

“And ruin Raj and Vicki’s engagement party?”

“No. I would’ve taken your parents, and that dentist, into the driveway and told them the facts. They need to know. And not just that you slept with me, that you don’t want to marry the dentist, that you know
I’m
the only man for you, but the fact that I love you.”

We both froze as soon as I admitted the simple truth. Pree blinked. “You love me?”

With a less-tempered tone, I replied, “How the hell could I not love you?”

Her eyes glistened.

“What we have has been in perpetual motion since the second you walked into my emergency room. You can’t just put us behind you and marry someone because your parents want you to.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Do you know what an event horizon is?”

She shook her head.

“It’s a gravitational pull that is so strong, you can’t escape it. It’s the point of no return. We passed that point a long time ago. There’s no turning back. Can you say you and the dentist have that, or that you ever will?”

“No. You’re right, Ty. I can’t marry him. I’ll tell my parents.”

“Do you promise?”

She nodded.

Relieved, I exhaled. “Do you remember what I said to you in the hallway?”

“What?”

“I told you what would happen if I got you alone. And guess what, babe?”

She stepped away and hit the couch. I closed the space between us, lifted her onto the back of the couch, and wrapped her legs around me. I planted a fast, passionate kiss on her mouth.

Pree didn’t put up a fight. At the first touch, she melted into me.

I licked her from her throat down to her cleavage and muttered, “I’m not going to be as gentle this time.”

“That doesn’t sound nice,” she teased.

“I’ll have you screaming my name, but I promise you’ll love it.”

“Ty,” she gasped.

“I’m going to make you pay for making me suffer tonight.”

“You’re so full of threats.”

I pulled away and arched a brow. “You think I’m all talk?”

“You’re still talking, aren’t you?”

A grin escaped. I had to smile at that. Taking Pree by the wrist, I led her into the bedroom. I caught her off guard when I suddenly turned into her, hoisted her onto my hips, and had her flat against the wall.

“Oh!” she gasped before I kissed her, reminding her without words of what we had and that no man,
especially
the dentist, would ever make Pree feel this way.

Her legs tightened around my waist as she met my rocking hips, but unless I had telekinetic powers, I couldn’t get her clothes off if we stayed here all night. I masterfully walked toward the bed while Pree, still straddling me, peeled off her shirt, exposing a sexy pink and black lace bra.

When I laid her down, I stripped off my shirt and shucked my pants while she unbuttoned her jeans. I helped the rest of the way, tugging them down to reveal matching panties. I kissed her hip as she arched into me. She wove her hands into my hair, which drove me crazy, and pulled me harder, offering everything she was.

Pulling myself up, I gripped her waist and gave Pree a warning look. She froze, hands limp on the mattress beside her.

“Now for the payback,” I groaned and rolled her over.

A person’s natural inclination was to get leverage, which meant Pree was already on her knees and forearms as she struggled to get up. I glued my body to her mouth-watering backside and she relaxed.

“Are you scared?” I draped her hair over one shoulder and kissed it.

Panting, she replied, “A little.”

“Why? You think I’d hurt you?” I scraped my teeth down her shoulder blade and unhooked her bra.

She shuddered. “No, but I don’t have any control.”

I trailed kisses down her spine and she arched so that her butt was firm against my chest. Returning to her shoulder, I asked, “Do you trust me?”