Bollywood Superstar

She pretended to wag a finger at her wayward companion, who was looking a mite frustrated now.

“Jas, I want you. Not ten people. Just you. Stand still for a moment.”

But now she was here, Jas was nervous and full of doubt. She distracted herself by dancing Bollywood-style all over the tasteful, cream carpeting.

A bleep from her handbag stopped her in her tracks. The moment she’d been dreading. At least it was a text and she wouldn’t have to actually speak to Krish. She grabbed the mobile phone and opened the message.

“Where r u? Bin lookin everywhere. K.”

“Turn that thing off. I don’t want to share you with anyone,” said Ajay, looming scarily close, ready for his pounce.

“Just a moment,” she begged, punching a few quick words into the phone. “Am OK, don’t worry, c u tmoro, Jas.” Then she pressed the off button, firmly, her decision made. This was the chance of a lifetime. She wasn’t going to back out now.

“Who was that? A boyfriend?”

Ajay made to snatch the phone from her hand but she dodged back, recovering her balance to spin into a high jump away from him.

As he stalked towards her, she stepped back again then bounced on the balls of her feet, waving a hand from side to side in a stagey ‘stop’ sign so that her bangles rattled.

“You aren’t one of those coy girls, are you?” Ajay, enjoying the game, prowled around the perimeter of Jas’ personal space, occasionally lunging forward to provoke a hasty defensive dance move. “I think you’re a girl that knows her body, knows its power, knows exactly how to use it to drive a man wild.”

He grabbed and she tripped over her toes, falling into his reach. He used his advantage with lightning speed, gathering her into his grasp with a tigerish growl.

“You can’t get away from me,” he vowed into her hair. “Now, about that Jacuzzi…”

Jas put up a mock struggle, feeling instinctively that Ajay was a man who liked to take the lead in the bedroom but didn’t want a girl to fall submissively under his spell. This suited her well, as she enjoyed the sense of being overpowered and seduced in her turn. It seemed they were a good match.

“No, no, no, madam,” he said, smacking a hand on her wriggling behind. “It’s the Jacuzzi for you and no escape.”

“What a terrible fate,” said Jas with an irrepressible giggle. “That Jacuzzi is just cruel and you know it.”

Ajay laughed, turning on the jets whilst keeping his other hand firmly wrapped around Jas’ upper arm.

“You know, I’ve never played a villain,” he said, pulling her tight to his chest. “But I think I’d make a good one, don’t you?”

“The evil seducer. Oh yes, that would suit you to a T.”

“With you as the sultry temptress. Yes, I think we should pitch that to a studio. Once I’ve got you to Mumbai.”

“Do you really think I stand a chance?” Jas’ voice softened, her throat tight at the idea that this dream was actually achievable.

“I don’t think it. I know it.”

He caught her in a kiss again, stripping her defences, sneaking past every barrier of sense or reason and taking her for his own.

He undressed her, bangle by bangle, belly chain by anklet by necklace, until she was down to her underwear, standing before him and hoping her lithe, brown body met his exacting standards. From the ravenous look in his eyes, it certainly seemed to.

He looked her up and down for an age of time before stepping back to the fridge and taking out a bottle of champagne and collecting two glasses.

“Well then,” he said gently. “Aren’t you going to get in?”

“Yes. When you get undressed too.”

He smiled. “You want to see what’s underneath? You’ve seen the top half in the movies, I’m sure.”

“Yes. But not the rest.”

She perched on the side of the tub, watching him pop the cork and pour the fizz then place the bubbling glasses on a ledge beside the foamy waters.