Free Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake by Preeti Shenoy

all I can do is shyly tug the sheet and cover my nakedness. Now that it is over, I want to be covered, as I am aware my body is far from perfect, whereas he is like Adonis.
    ‘You are gorgeous,’ he says, his fingers still tracing my features. He is lying on his side, with one arm supporting his head.
    ‘It was my first time,’ I say softly.
    ‘Oh, Nisha! I am so darn sorry. I would have been gentler had I known any better.’
    Oh, if he only knew how happy he has made me! Nobody has ever made me feel the way he has. I feel whole and complete. I feel satisfied. I feel content. I have never known such joy, such serenity before this. He makes me feel like I am truly gorgeous. He makes me feel loved , something that I haven’t felt in a long, long time.
    ‘You are perfect, Samir,’ I say, and I mean it completely.
    And at that moment, I know that it is truly what I believe with my entire heart and soul.

Slave to Love
    T he next morning, we do it all over again before the break of dawn. And this time too it is as urgent, as demanding as the previous night. Like a broken dam whose flood of water submerges the both of us, the force is too powerful to resist. When we finish, I scramble hurriedly for the covers, wrapping the bed sheet around me protectively, much to Samir’s amusement.
    ‘Hurry, or we will get late for the first session today,’ I call out, as I go back to my room through the interconnected door.
    ‘Relax Nisha, we can afford to miss the first session. Come back here right now!’ he says with affection.
    ‘No! I do want to listen to the head of Cruise Line Corporation speak. I have only read about him in magazines. This is a real opportunity for me.’
    ‘That’s what I like about you, Nisha. You do grab every single opportunity, don’t you?’
    ‘Get out of bed right now and get ready. And please stop staring at me!’
    ‘Yes boss,’ he says and laughs heartily.
    It is only when I am by myself, I realize what Chetana meant all those months ago, when she said ‘You never know,’ while helping me with the dress for my date with Prashant. I rummage through my bag and her morningafter pills are still there. I thank her silently as I pop one into my mouth.
    Later, as we walk towards the conference room, I feel really awkward. It’s like I am carrying a large banner which reads, ‘I had awesome sex last night and this morning too.’ Of course, no one can tell, but I still feel very awkward, as though they can guess for themselves.
    I push my emotions aside and try hard to not stare at Samir. The presentation scheduled for the day is really interesting and time soon flies. I make notes and catch Samir smiling at me. I smile back and then do my best to ignore him. By the end of the day, we just can’t wait to be with each other again. As soon as the programme for the day is over, we rush into the hotel room.
    I do not know if it is plain lust or the ambience of this place that is making me desire him so much. Is it because ‘Nisha-the-plain-Jane’ has bagged herself an Adonis?
    Hold on, you haven’t bagged him. You have only had casual sex and there is a difference, you know. He hasn’t made any promises, nor has he even indicated or implied that it is anything more than sex.
    Go away. Let me have my Cinderella moments in peace. You know I deserve it.
    And when we are alone by ourselves, he does make me feel like a princess. He treats me like I am the only woman on earth. Nobody has treated me with suchreverence before. He kisses my toes and then sucks on them. I gasp in pleasure. He touches all of me gently, light butterfly strokes, and makes me literally beg for more. Later, he holds me close and says he is going to make me very happy soon. He already has. We stay in bed that night and order dinner in. I stare at the bedside clock, wishing for time to come to a standstill. I do not want these moments to end. I don’t want to go back to Mumbai. I wish we could stay in this cocooned space of