Tiger's Quest (17 page)

I knew people were probably watching us, but at that point, I didn’t care. He was able to sweep through the moves expertly, even though I didn’t know what I was doing. The dance was fiery and passionate, and I was quickly overwhelmed by him and the cadence of the melody. He wrapped me up in a blanket of mental and physical sensations, orchestrating the perfect seduction.

When the song was over, he had to hold me up because my legs had turned to gelatin. He laughed and nuzzled my neck, happy with my reaction.

The song changed back to a normal, slow one. After I had recovered enough from his tantalizing onslaught against my senses to speak, I said, “I thought that kind of dancing only happened in the movies.

Where
did you learn to dance like that?”

“My mother taught me several traditional forms of dancing, and then I picked up a lot of moves over the years by watching. Mr. Kadam hooked me up with Nilima, who became my practice partner.”

I frowned. “I don’t really like the idea of you dancing with Nilima. If you want to practice, teach me.”

“Nilima is like a sister to me.”

“Still.”

“Alright, I promise to never dance with another woman.” He smiled. “Though, I still like it when you’re jealous.”

We started slow dancing again, and I put my head on his shoulder, closed my eyes, and just let myself enjoy the feeling of being held by him. The song was only halfway over when I felt him stiffen and saw him look behind me.

“Well . . . well . . . well,” a silky, familiar voice interrupted. “The shoe’s on the other foot this time. I believe this is
my
dance.”

I spun around. “Kishan? I’m so happy to see you!” I threw my arms around him.

The golden-eyed prince folded me in his arms, pressed his cheek against mine, and said, “I’m happy to see you too,
bilauta
.”

K
ishan pulled back to have a good look at me. “I missed you. Has my idiot brother been treating you well?” In a stage whisper, he asked, “Did you have to use the tiger repellant?”

I laughed. “Ren’s been treating me very well despite my giving
him
a pretty lame Valentine’s gift.”

“Ah. He doesn’t deserve one anyway. What did he give you?”

I reached up to finger an earring. “These. But, they’re much too extravagant for me.”

Kishan stretched out his hand and touched an earring lightly. His rakish pirate about-to-make-off-with-your-woman-and-what-do-you-think-you’re-gonna-do-about look melted away to a soft smile that turned up the corner of his mouth. He said quietly, “Mother would have approved.”

“Do you mean these belonged to your mother?” I asked Ren, who nodded briefly. “Ren, why didn’t you
tell
me?”

He responded lightly, “I didn’t want you to feel pressured to wear them if you didn’t like them. They’re a bit out of date now.”

“You should have told me they were your mother’s.” I slipped my arms around his neck and kissed him softly. “Thank you for giving me something so precious to you.”

Ren hugged me close and kissed my cheek.

I heard a dramatic sigh behind us. “Ugh, I think I preferred him whiny and despondent. This is just sickening.”

Ren growled softly, “Who invited you here anyway?”

“You did.”

“Yes, but I didn’t invite you
here
. How did you find us?”

“We flew into Salem, and I found the invitation for the dance at the house. I thought if there was a party, I should be here. Figures that all the pretty girls would already be taken. Perhaps . . . I can borrow
yours
.”

Kishan held out a hand, but Ren stepped in front of me and threatened, “Over my dead body.”

Kishan pushed up the sleeves of his sweater. “Anytime, bro. Let’s see what you’ve got, Mr. Romance.”

Intervention time
. In my sweetest voice, I said, “
Kishan
, we’re kind of in the middle of a date and, though I’m
very
happy to see you, I wonder if you’d mind heading home for now? As you can see, it’s not so much a party as it is a couple’s thing. We won’t be gone long, and there’s sandwich stuff and a giant plate of cookies back home. Do you mind?
Please?
”

“Fine. I’ll go. But only because
you’re
asking.”

Ren retorted, “And
you’re
asking
for it
.”

Kishan flicked Ren on the ear and mocked, “That’s right. And we’ll see if you can
bring it
to me later. Bye, Kelsey.”

I had a very strong feeling that my hand on his arm was the only thing holding Ren back from going after his brother. He watched until Kishan was out of sight, but even afterward, he couldn’t seem to relax.

I tried to pull his attention back to me.

“
Ren
.”

“He takes too many liberties. Maybe it was a mistake to ask him here.”

“Do you trust him?”

“It depends. I trust him with most things. Except—”

“Except?”

“Except
you
.”

“Oh. Well, you don’t have to trust
him
with me. You just have to trust
me
.”

He scoffed, “
Kells
—”

“I’m serious.” I put my hands on the sides of his face so he would look at me. “I want you to understand something. Perhaps Yesubai chose him, but
I
chose
you
. You are the one I want. Not Kishan.”

I sighed. “I feel kind of sorry for Kishan, actually. He lost the person that he loved. That’s why we should make the most of our time. You never know when someone you love will be taken from you.”

He held me close for a minute and pressed his cheek to mine as we slow danced, knowing that I was no longer talking about Kishan.

“That won’t happen to us. I won’t leave you. I’m immortal, remember?”

I smiled halfheartedly. “That’s not what I meant.”

“I know what you meant.” He teased. “But I had to fight off three men to win your affection, and I don’t want to have to take on my brother too.”

I laughed. “You’re exaggerating, Tarzan. You didn’t really have to fight off anyone, well, except Li. You had my heart all along anyway, and you probably knew it.”

“
Me
knowing it and
you
knowing it are two different things. I was a lonely tiger for too long. I deserve to be happy with the woman I love. And I won’t let anyone take her from me, least of all Kishan.”

I gave him a look. He sighed and twirled me around. “I’ll try to be more patient with Kishan, but he knows how to push all my buttons. It’s extremely difficult to control myself around him, especially when he flirts with you.”

“Please try. For my sake?”

“For your sake, I’d undergo excruciating torture, but I can’t tolerate him flirting with you.”

“I love
you
. I’ll tell him to knock it off. But, try not to beat each other up while he’s in town, okay? No tiger fights. Don’t forget you need him here, remember?”

“Fine, but if he continues to throw himself at your feet, all bets are off.”

After a moment, I said softly, “You didn’t say it back . . . that you love me too.”

“Kelsey, ‘I am constant as the northern star, of whose true-fix’d and resting quality there is no fellow in the firmament.’”

“Caesar died, you know.”

“I was hoping you didn’t know that one.”

“I know them all, Shakespeare.”

“Okay, then I’ll just say I love you. There is nothing in this world more important to me than you. I’m only content when you’re near. My whole purpose is to be what you need me to be. It’s not poetry, but it’s from my heart. Will that do?”

I smiled lopsidedly. “I think so.”

We didn’t stay at the dance much longer because Ren’s mood had changed despite my teasing, kisses, and pronouncements of love. He danced with me, but his mind was elsewhere, and when I told him I’d like to head home, he didn’t protest.

When we pulled up the drive, I noticed that the lights were on in my house. Before we went in, Ren enfolded me in a soft embrace and kissed me tenderly.

He put his forehead against mine and said, “This is not exactly the ending to our romantic date that I had planned.”

“You still have another hour.” I grinned and put my arms around his neck. “What did you have in mind?”

He laughed softly. “Actually, I was planning to ad lib the rest, but that’s not going to happen with Kishan around.”

Ren kissed me again, and we heard a muffled comment too faint to understand. He ripped his lips away from mine and growled quietly, muttered something in Hindi, and opened the door with a scowl.

Kishan was watching television while scarfing down an incredible amount of snacks. Six different bags of pretzels, popcorn, cookies, chips, and assorted other goodies were strewn about the coffee table, all half-eaten.

“Just sickening,” Kishan groused. “Couldn’t you guys have finished kissing at the dance so I didn’t have to hear it?”

Ren helped me out of my coat with an irritated growl, before I headed upstairs. He said he’d be up as soon as he got Kishan settled in. The
settled in
part sounded ominous to me, but I nodded, hopeful that they would at least attempt to be civil to each other.

I was just slipping my pajama top over my head when I heard Ren bellow, “
You
ate
all
of my peanut . . . butter . . .
cookies
?”

I shook my head.
Two tigers living this close to one another is going to be a major headache.

Not hearing Kishan’s reply, I decided to let them work it out for themselves. I carefully nestled the ruby earrings in my ribbon box for safekeeping and wondered about Ren and Kishan’s mother. I scrubbed off the makeup and pulled the jeweled combs out of my hair, letting the soft curls cascade down my back.

I found Ren resting on my bed, scooted against the headboard. His tuxedo jacket was thrown across a chair, and his tie was undone and hanging around his neck.

I climbed onto his lap and kissed his cheek. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close, but he kept his eyes closed.

“I’m trying to deal with Kishan, Kelsey, but it’s going to be very, very hard.”

“I know. Where’s he going to sleep?”

“In my bed, in the other house.”

“And where are you going to sleep?”

He opened his eyes. “Here. With you. Like I always do.”

“Umm, Ren, don’t you think that Kishan will make assumptions about . . .
you know
, us being together.
Together?
”

“Well. Don’t worry. He knows we’re not.”

“
Ren
. Are you blushing?” I laughed.

“No. I just didn’t expect this topic of conversation.”

“You are definitely from a different time, Prince Charming. It’s kind of an important conversation to have.”

“What if I’m not ready to have this conversation yet?”

“Really? Three-hundred fifty years go by, and you aren’t
ready
to have that conversation?”

He growled softly. “Don’t misunderstand me, Kells. I’m more than
ready
to have
that
conversation, but
we
aren’t going to. At least, not until the curse has been broken.”

My mouth dropped open. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying? That we can’t be
together
until we get chased by immortal monkeys and demons at least three more times, which could take
years
!”

“I’m really hoping it doesn’t take that long. But, yes. That’s what I’m saying.”

“And you aren’t going to budge on this, are you?”

“No.”

“Fantastic! So I
am
going to be an old maid living with two very large cats!”

“You’re
not
going to be an old maid.”

“By the time you decide to be with me, I will be.”

“
Kelsey
, are you saying you’re ready for all that now?”

“Probably not, but what about a year from now? Or two years? Eventually, I’ll go crazy.”

“It won’t be easy for me either, Kells. Mr. Kadam agrees that it’s just too dangerous. His descendants live exceptionally long lives, and he feels that the amulet is responsible for that. It was an awkward conversation, but he told us both that it would be best if we didn’t take any . . . unnecessary chances. We don’t know how the amulet or curse works, and, until we’re men again, complete and whole, I can’t risk anything happening to you.”

I remarked dryly, “It’s not like Mr. Kadam killed his wife, Ren.”

“No. But he wasn’t a tiger, either.”

“Afraid we’d have kittens?” I teased.

“Don’t even joke about that,” Ren said stone-faced.

“Well then, what are you afraid of? Do you want to take a class?” I couldn’t help it. Mom’s sarcastic humor made an appearance.

“
No!
” he said with great consternation. I laughed. “Kelsey! You aren’t taking this seriously.”

“Sure I am. I just happen to be talking about something that makes me nervous, and I usually respond to nerves with humor and sarcasm. Seriously, Ren, you’re talking about
years
when I am almost to the point of attacking your rather attractive self
now
.” I sighed. “Do you really think it would be dangerous?”

“The truth is I don’t know. I don’t know how the curse will affect us. And, I won’t put you at risk. So can we delay having this conversation . . . at least for a while?”

I grumbled, “Yes. But you should know that I have a . . . difficult time thinking straight around you.”

“Hmm,” he pressed his lips against my neck.

“That doesn’t help by the way.” I sighed. “I guess a lot of very cold showers loom in my future.”

Ren mumbled against my throat, “You and me both. Did you have difficulty thinking straight around your other boyfriends?”

“What boyfriends?”

“Jason or Li?”

“I don’t really think of Jason as more than a friend. Li was a good friend with potential. Mmm . . . that feels nice. They were people who were interesting and who I wanted to know better. But, not boyfriends. I didn’t love them like I love you, and they didn’t make me feel this way.” I groaned softly. “Not like this.”