MEERA - 07

"Ok wait how about, if I guess them correctly, you'll have to dance with me on a song." My mouth fell open there. This insanely handsome guy wants to dance with me!? Well he's putting up more than a conversation there...

"Why do you want to dance with me?" I mean the whole beach is filled with a bunch of amazingly sexy women, he doesn't have to do this for a simple dance.

"Cause I want to?" He simply said and I tilt my head thinking of all the possibilities why he would 'want to'. No, I refuse to admit that he is attracted to me. Well I guess there is just one way to find out.

"Ok then let's do this but, I have a condition too." I said and he nodded.

"Fair enough. go ahead."

"If I win and you weren't able to guess all of them, then you have to make our stay at your hotel completely free." I'm pretty sure he'll back down now.

"Done. Let's do this." He said and before I could even register my own shock he took the cup from my hand, I can say I was reluctant to hand it over but, whatever.

"Ok two ingredients we already know, Darjeeling tea leaves and milk, right."

"Um hum. Six more to go."

"No way, six more!? Ok then.." He took his first sip while I turned completely towards him, folding my legs I supported my head on my knees, looking and waiting for his guesses.

"Ok the very first is sugar." He said and I smiled when he took another sip out of it and closed his eyes to savour the flavours.

"Cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger and... black pepper?" He said and took another sip. And all I did was stare at him with my mouth open. He could tell all that in just a couple of sips!? Damn.

"Damn this is so good by the way. But.." another sip, then another...

"Shit." His expressions were puzzled and the corner of his mouth twitched in pure irritation. Another sip. I smiled when I realised he's never going to guess the last one

"Are you planning to finish all my tea? Give it back!" I said and jumped to take back the cup, something I was literally controlling myself from doing all this time. I never share my tea. But instead of just letting me take it he pulled his hand back. What the fuck?

"Give it back Apollo!" I tried once more and this time I might have overdid it with my jump as he stretched his hand further away and I ended up falling over him... Completely over him... and my weight pushed him on the bed of sand. So now we were in a very awkward position where I was over and he was under and his million dollar suit was completely getting ruined by sand. But it was as if for that one fleeting moment all thoughts left my mind (even chai) as I was engulfed by his stormy grey eyes.The warmth of his body seemed to be seeping into mine, He again seemed to be searching for something in my eyes while I was distracted by the little scars on his face, which seemed to be fading with time, but I found myself wondering about the story behind them. Doesn't concern you Meera. And by the way, get up!!

Right. I was probably killing him with my weight.

I blinked and tore my gaze from him, looking everywhere but his damn eyes. I did some fake coughing to make this situation a bit less embarrassing and tried to pull myself from above him. But did not even make it a few inches when his strong and heavy hands which was already resting on my back the whole time pulled me roughly back towards him.

I sucked in a deep breath, we almost kissed because of the force by which he pulled me towards him. My mind was now pieces of a stupid old jumbled that you just can't put together. We were mainly inches apart..

"What are you doing?" I said wiggling around in his grip which just made him tighten his grasp. I might have stopped breathing now since my lungs felt like they were on fire.

I'm on a foreign land, on the beach, in the arms of a man I don't even know for a whole day... and my gut is ringing those sirens of danger, everything is telling me to keep my distance but my heart is saying otherwise. This bitch always says otherwise.

"You lost." I said instead of all the mess that was ringing in my head. He blinked and looked as if my voice just pulled him out of his thoughts and he suddenly realised the reality.

"What?" He asked as if he completely forgot what we were doing before this.

"The tea." I said pointing at the cup which was now laying on the sand and all the tea had sadly spilled out. My heart was aching for it. Ok this is too dramatic Meera.

Taking the advantage of his distraction and by his loss I pulled myself up silently promising myself another cup of tea.

"So you weren't able to guess the last ingredient and the chai is already finished so... You lost." I said with a cheeky smile. The happiness of winning is another thing but the pleasure of defeating someone who was confident about his win is another thing.

"No I did not. The tea is not finished, it spilled, thanks to you. This is a violation of the boundaries of our bet." He said.

"I don't remember setting any kind of boundaries with you Mr....?"

"Apollo Del Valle. You can call me Apollo and-" he said, bending down so his lips were close to my ears.

"Careful with what you say in front of me sweetheart." He whispered and the accent of that deep rich voice drowned in me like venom.

"Very well then, I'll keep my end of the deal. Later." He said and turned around hastily. Don't say it Meera, Don't say it!

"I'll see you around then?" I called out and he instantly stopped in his path and turned around.

"Believe me sweetheart, you're in my city, you'll be seeing me more than you might want to." He said twirling the cigarette between his fingers that he was about to light. Just the thought of tobacco smoke made her instantly sick. And just like that he was gone.

He was just here ruin my little tea moment huh. I thought with a stupid smile still lingering on my lips.