"Radhika?"

Radhika was energetically firing away on her computer," Um? What?"

"I'll shut down your computer. You go get ready."

"Oh, no, I need five more minutes…" She said distractedly as she continued typing.

"Radhika Verma, if you don't get out of here in the next five seconds, you're so going to be fired."

"What?" She blinked. "You can't— I don't…"

 Seema leaned on her desk," its twelve thirty and your meeting is at one. Go put on some shiny lip-gloss," She paused, then leaned forward again, "and get me a picture, if possible. I googled him but I bet those paparazzi pictures don’t do him justice.”

Radhika simply rolled her eyes.

Seema's eyes narrowed, "Scram. But don't rush. Never hurts to make a man wait a little."

“Who is the boss again?” Radhika asked as she picked up her file and her briefcase.

Seema let out a low chuckle and shrugged her shoulders.

…………………….

Radhika grabbed her purse and scooted down the hall, heading for the bathroom. Once inside, she rested her hands on the counter and stared at herself in the mirror.

She turned and fluffed her hair, she had to admit, she looked good.

Oh god! Why was she nervous again?

Because he wasone fine piece of man-flesh.

She could do this; she repeated her mantra over and over in her mind. She would show him who was the siren here and what she could do to his indifferent attitude.

Radhika pouted, re-touched her lips, and pulled her shirt low highlighting the slight curve of her breasts and hauled her skirt up, showcasing her toned thighs.

Taking a deep breath, she strolled out of the bathroom.

Seema let out a heart-felt wolf whistle when Radhika walked out of her office boosting her confidence. Her smile turned wicked as she gave Seema a flying kiss, Radhika looked sizzling as if ready for a quick tumble in the bed.

She was ready to dazzle Arjun Khanna.

…………………..

"Good afternoon, Arjun."

Radhika’s tummy did that odd little flip she’d come to recognize whenever she saw him.

He glanced up from a financial report and did a double take at the beautiful woman in a low cut purple shirt and a very short skirt.

His mouth watered and then went bone dry.

The skirt barely made it past the official legal limit. It wasn’t tight.

No way.

Tight he could take.

It went beyond tight, fitting her curvy hips like a second skin, making him want to run his hands, no his lips over them. The legs went on and on.

The style flattered her hourglass shape, taking advantage of her voluptuous curves and full breasts, and showed a lot of skin. He’d never seen so much of her legs before.

He couldn’t breathe. The shirt dipped marvelously down low to hint her firm breasts. He didn’t know where he was, all he could see was her.

He blinked, looked around and gazed right back at her.

Radhika gave herself a self satisfied smile, she loved the way she was affecting his senses.

“"Radhika, Umm. Right..uh..So..ummm..we n-need to discuss the report?”

“You’re stuttering, Arjun,” Radhika gave him a sultry smile.

Arjun cleared his throat, took a sip of water and said, “Who me, of course not.”

"Did you have a nice night?" she asked with a polite smile.

Arjun seemed to have lost the power of his speech.

God! She looked stunning. He wet his lips. He still felt the effects of their kiss, and now he was feeling the effects of her. "Why don’t you sit?"

She did and readied her file, “Thank you, What’s up?" she sat down and crossed her legs.

Her skirt, that’s what.

The hem inched up her thighs. Not all the willpower in the world could keep him from looking at that peek of thigh. He wanted to tell her something, but couldn’t remember what.

"Arjun?"

Closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead to keep a headache from exploding.

"Are you okay?" The tender concern in her voice tugged at his heart.

She cared for him. It wasn’t a lie. Radhika was finding it more difficult to resist him by the day. But she knew instinctively he could break her heart, the same way he had broken it before. She had hoped one day she would find a man she could love with all her heart. Someone she could stand beside through good days and bad. A partner, a best friend, a lover—all wrapped up into one. It was the way it was supposed to be. She believed that with every fiber of her being. If she couldn’t have that then she was happier to stay single for the rest of her days with her heart intact than she was to live her whole life aching for someone she could never have.

And her heart was already aching….

Arjun wasn’t the one for her. Agreed, the sexual tension between them was explosive but she knew those memories of hurt couldn’t be filled, healed and forgotten.

Heart tugging was not allowed. She was here to give him a taste of what she could be and that was what there was to it.

 He opened his eyes and squared his shoulders. "Right, so let’s go on with the report, shall we.”

"Sure, here it is,” she gave him a copy of her report.

He flicked open the case lying on his table and put on his reading glasses.

Although she would never admit it out loud, Radhika did rather love the way Arjun looked with glasses; they suited him in a way, the way they framed his angular face and accentuated his intelligence combined with a dash of roguishness. The way his shirt clung to his chest and the way….

Why? She groaned did a man look so sexy with his sleeves rolled.

Don’t get sucked in, don’t get—

Too late, Radhika thought as Arjun’s calm, steady gaze did just that. For eight years she’d fought to forget those extraordinary eyes, always twinkling behind his glasses. That smile. The laughter. The deep, down–home voice. That spine–tingling thing he used to do with—

Don’t.

Who was seducing whom, again?

She sighed as she fought for control, focus and concentration.

Arjun was surprised she was perfect. There was just no other way to describe her. Why was she wearing that skirt? Was she planning to meet someone else? Who was she trying to impress?

That soft, glossy skin, Arjun sighed. What he would give to run his tongue over and nibble that lustrous body.

He had decided early on that he would refrain from talking about their past. He couldn’t afford to have more disagreements; they were both professionals and sure could manage to be cordial with each other. But, if she decided to wear that, how would he ever rein on his lust? It did not help at all that the attraction between them sizzled every time they came in touching distance of each other.

He had to have her someway, somehow. That’s it. That will help, getting this kink out of the system.

They talked about the report for an hour.

"So, I guess those modifications and we will be set to roll the ball in two day’s time at the Oil Producer’s meet?” Arjun said closing the file.

She sighed and leaned back, "Definitely. So, I will be seeing you. Please mail me the details of the program."     

Arjun nodded.

As she walked out of his office, the sway of her hips hypnotized him.

Get a grip, Arjun. All he could see was Radhika.

Beautiful, Radhika. Pretty, Radhika.  Sweet, Radhika.

He wanted to spend more time with her, he needed to.

“Ummm. Radhika?” his voice called out.

She stopped and turned as her heart slammed against her rib cage,”Yes?”

She turned back with a questioning smile and he lost every single word in his brain. Complicating matters was the fact that looked ready to be consumed. And he was famished.

All those wet, soft, beautiful curves.

And since he was no saint, how was he supposed to keep his hands to himself?

He leaned one broad shoulder against the door frame, his lean, muscled body filling up the entire space and looking so…so…

A slow smile spread over that fallen-angel's face. Oh, that beautiful mouth, that lean, muscled body. Her stomach jittered, but when his dark eyes locked on hers…

“Are you in a hurry?”

“Yes, I am, Arjun.”

“Alright,” he walked towards her and in a flush swooped down and captured her lips with his. He moved in slowly, slipping his hands around her waist, fitting his mouth to hers. He took his time sampling, his fingers spread over her rib cage, stopping short of the curve of her breast.

Crazy with her own need, Radhika pulled his face to hers, seized his mouth for a breathless eternity of kisses. She let her hands roam freely, as his were, and soon they lay together with no barriers at all, except a desire to prolong the pleasure as long as possible. Finally, Arjun settled over her, joining their bodies with a deliberation that drove her even wilder.

Then he lifted his head to look into her eyes, his own glinting with a smile, “Have lunch with me?”

"No," Radhika adjusted her hips with a move that made him groan.

“Please?” he spelled breathlessly.

“No,” she shook her head in firm denial, still swaying from the hot, potent kiss.

When she didn't relent, he sighed," How about ice cream?"

That had her pausing, looking at him in confusion, "Ice cream?"

"You know, cold stuff, delicious," he grinned, looking way too delicious himself,” and tastes great."

"I know what ice cream is," she scowled, wondering how he made her feel as if she were a petulant child for disagreeing and like a wanton woman for wanting to jump back in his arms for more kisses. "I…well, you just surprised me."

His brow rose, touching just below his hair, "Why?"

Gosh! Did he look good? How was she supposed to resist him when he looked like that?

"Stop that," She slapped one hand to his chest, registering the hard muscle, the smooth, warm.… She shook her head and tried to focus, but her fingers flexed, and she wanted to stroke over his wide chest and down his flat belly… Oh, my, did he have a six-pack?

Of course he did. Not that she cared.

She wanted to kiss him again.

He looked at her, smirked and she quickly pulled her hand away from that sinful thing,”Stop what?”

"Ah! Because you're a businessman, a billionaire," she flung each out at him as if it were an insult rather than a compliment.

"Someone forgot to inform me that no ice cream was part of the job description." Apparently determined not to be too serious, naughtiness sparkled in his eyes. Probably because he knew he had her.

"You know what I mean," she insisted, conceding that she was fighting a battle she was destined to lose.

"Actually, I don't. Enlighten me."

"Why do you care?" She threw the words at him.

"I am an extraordinarily busy man," he said, his voice harder. His eyes connected with hers. She caught her breath. " I am merely suggesting to us being cordial maybe even friends, all these arguments, fights is going to have an effect on our work performance. This is a very important deal for not only me but the whole world, you know it. We need to be warm if not cozy. "

Radhika looked down and sighed, “I agree and the social cause of the deal far outweighs our problems.”

“I am glad you agree, so why no ice cream?”

"You’re not my type."

 “What isn’t your type?"

Walked into that one, hadn’t she? With no idea why she was still talking to him, Radhika took a breath and found the strength to look him straight in the eye. "A guy who doesn’t trust."

“So we’re jumping to conclusions?”

"No." She frowned. "I just —"

"Hmmm. Do you have a date?" Arjun asked, deciding to change the subject for fear of jarring into a dangerous field.

He decided then and there, if she said, yes to having a date, then they had more work to do on that darn report. She sure as hell wasn’t going at all or he was tagging along. He wanted her back in his arms.

“Excuse me, none of your business? Radhika replied shock etched in her features.

He smirked.

“Why do you have one?” She asked surprised to find her heart waiting for an answer.

He then astonished her by saying, "Well, I may have one. So, let’s hurry for that ice cream, shall we?"

"I am not surprised? Thank you but I will decline the offer of your ice cream, you can treat your date with that ice cream, “ Radhika said bitterly, jealousy tingling her entire body.

"Not surprised, because I am obviously irresistible," Arjun replied unfazed enjoying her flustered look.

She sighed.

"Begs the question of how you’re able to keep your hands off me…" He further enquired.

Turning her gaze towards the door, her feet impulsively took a step towards it as she replied sarcastically, "Finding the answer to that keeps me awake at night,” and walked away.