Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(57)

“My father doesn’t like to talk about it a lot,” Kareena said. “But I know that despite the little cash they had at first, they celebrated their love every day. And that’s what makes what they had so much more special.”

She enjoyed the feel of bare feet on his plush area rugs and leaned against the glass pane of the sliding door. The apartment was so high above the noise on the streets, it brought her a sense of peace she’d been chasing for so long she forgot what it even felt like. Bobbi was on a second floor, and Veera was a little higher up. Neither of their places felt like this.

She heard Prem moving around the apartment behind her while she watched the city lights.

“Here,” he said a moment later.

He approached her with two highball whiskey glasses pinched together with his fingertips in one hand, and a bottle in the other.

“I don’t know. Remember the first time I drank with you?”

“We’re not going overboard this time.”

Kareena grabbed the glasses so that he could pour a little whiskey in each. He then set the bottle down and toasted her, his body close to hers. “The first is for courage.”

She tossed it back. The warm liquid burned as it slid down her throat. She took the bottle from the table, then poured another half inch into both their glasses. “The second is for honesty.”

They drank in unison, clearing their throats.

Prem poured a third finger. “And the last is for friendship that includes pani puri competitions, scavenger hunts, and your search to find you your true love.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Kareena said with a laugh. She tilted the glass back, and this time the burn wasn’t nearly as abrasive in her throat. Her head felt a little lighter, her skin warmer.

Prem took the glass from her when she finished and set the bottle and discarded tumblers on the coffee table. He returned to her side and brushed his fingers against the back of her hands at her sides. “Okay. Make your first move, Rina, honey.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Prem grinned in the dim glow of his overhead lighting. “I’ve known you long enough to understand that you like things a certain way. I’m not going to screw it up by taking control and letting you be a passenger on this ride. You have to ask for what you want.”

She wanted to just tell him to take the lead. Judging by the look on his face, he knew exactly what to do. But then again, when would she ever have an opportunity like this to play doctor?

Her mind raced even as her thighs clenched and panties dampened with anticipation. Kareena said the first words that came to mind. “Do you have condoms?”

He was leaning in, his eyes fixed on her mouth. When his eyebrows jumped, she had to wonder if she was killing the mood.

“I do.”

Kareena nodded. “Okay, good. I mean, I’m clean, and it’s been a long time, but I still prefer a condom.”

“Of course.” Prem ran his index finger over the curve of her jaw. Their height difference was more pronounced now that she wasn’t in heels, and it felt like he was surrounding her, with his wideset shoulders and thick arms that seemed to capture her even though they were barely touching.

“Prem?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“I’ve read romance novels since I was in high school, and so many of the heroines are ashamed when they don’t have sex after four months, and I’m, like, is that the scale I have to go by? It’s been a lot longer than four months for me, so by romance standards, I’m screwed.”

“You will be,” he said. She jumped when his fingertips scraped down the side of her neck, and his calloused rough skin raised goose bumps.

Holy cow.

She shoved her glasses up her nose. “Wh-what do we do now?” she whispered.

“Tell me what you want, Rina, honey. I promise I’ll make it good.”

His mouth was inches from hers, and her face felt warm. The base of her spine tingled. It was now or never. “Kiss me then. The way that you did in my shed. The way you kissed me at the bar. And the promise of what you made me in the car before we started driving here.”

Prem stepped closer, his body inches from hers. Her breath caught. The soft pad of his thumb traced over her cheek and touched the corner of her mouth.

“No corner kisses,” Kareena whispered. “Kiss me, mouth to mouth.”

She froze. “Wait, that came out wrong. Like mouth to mouth, but not as if you were doing CPR, because you’re a doctor and I’m sure that’s the first thing that popped into your mind when I said that—”

He swooped in, wrapping his arms around her waist, tugging her against his hard chest, and kissed her. Her brain completely melted just like it had the last two times.

It always feels like magic.

Kareena wrapped her arms around his neck and hesitantly opened her lips. He did the same, giving her just enough space to slip her tongue over his.

This was Prem, and he smelled delicious. He felt delicious.

He groaned, and ran his hands over her back, until he was cupping her butt. It was her turn to groan.

She didn’t know how long they stood there, in front of the windows, sipping from each other’s mouths, but the more they kissed, slowly, deeply, the more Kareena eased closer to Prem, enjoying the feel of him, burning under the slow exploration of his tongue and lips.