One Last Kiss

By Anna C

Tara and Aditya have been married for nearly 4 years and things are going quite smoothly for them. Until she's invited to her college reunion in Bangalore. Tara has anyway been planning to visit India to see her mother and wonders if she should make it to the reunion as well.

The only thing is that her ex boyfriend, Maanav might be there. Tara has never really got over Maanav. Will sparks fly when they meet once more? Will Tara let go of the wonderful life she has with Aditya in the UK for a chance with Maanav again?

This is a standalone book by Anna C author of the Girl-Boy series.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna C
• Release date: Dec 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215487785

Book preview

Part 1

Tara

Chapter 1

The night before the email that would change my life appeared in my inbox, Aditya and I had just finished supper at The White Hart and I was the slightest bit tipsy as we made our way back to our house in Easton Road.

‘This was a bad idea,’ Aditya said as we reached the tiny gate that opened into the garden that led to our house. ‘We should have stayed at home. You should have made your dal makhani.’

‘Why? You’re not even sh-shlurring,’ I said, watching him unlock the main door. The blast of warm air inside was much welcome after the walk in the chilly night had frozen my cheeks.

‘But you are,’ he said disapprovingly as he removed his coat and hung it on the coat rack. He made an exasperated sort of face as he helped remove my coat and then my earmuffs as well.

‘Why sho grumpy?’ I said with a grin as I sat on the arm of the sofa in the living room.

He sighed. He was so cute, I thought. And he was mine. My smile grew bigger as I threw my arms around his neck while he tried to remove my shoes.

‘Tara, you have school tomorrow. I have work. We can’t behave like kids!’ he said as he tugged off my shoes finally.

‘Oh god!’ I groaned, falling back on the sofa, my legs in the air. ‘Don’t remind me about tomorrow! It’s still Sunday yet!’

He kept the shoes on the shoe stand by the door neatly and then removed his and kept it next to mine.

I knew he was right. But it was different for him – he would hop on his train to London and get off at Liverpool Street and head into work without a care in the word. I on the other hand would have to deal with a bunch of testy seven year olds who hated Mondays more than I did. Most Sunday nights, I almost forgot why I loved teaching but the children almost always got over their moody behaviour in an hour or so of school and their laughter and enthusiasm more than made up for any grumpiness on my own part.

‘Tara. Come on. Let’s get you to the bedroom,’ he said, tugging at my hand.

‘Sho shoon?’ I asked, my tongue stumbling over the words.

‘How are you such a lightweight? You had two beers for fuck’s sake!’ he said, sounding exasperated as I got up unsteadily and followed him. In the bedroom, he undressed quickly and economically while I stood at the doorway, watching him.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked as he stood only in boxers, shivering slightly.

‘Can’t I enjoy the show?’ I asked, crossing my arms.

Something finally seemed to give. He rolled his eyes and prowled towards me.

‘This is an interactive show. You have to participate too,’ he said, pulling me forward by threading his finger into the loop of my jeans.

‘Now you’re talking!’ I whispered as he unsnapped the button and pushed down my jeans. I stepped out of them and I lifted my arms dutifully. He tugged the pullover I was wearing over my head. I was surprised he had managed to do both without copping a feel.

‘You know what happens when I drink,’ I murmured.

‘Two beers’, he indicated with his fingers, ‘is not even counted.’ I was standing in my lacy white bra and a low waist panty and I pouted.

‘Fine. Whatever,’ I said and made my way to the bathroom. He stopped me, with a hand on my elbow, just as I’d known he would. His hot gaze raked over me and I shivered the slightest, not because of the cold but because of what his proximity did to me.

‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he asked.

‘Loo,’ I said but he twirled me around and picked me up in his arms.

‘Ooh! Sho shtrong!’ I said, running my hands over his biceps, leaning close to sniff him. He dumped me on the bed and removed the rest of my clothes as well. I was lying in bed, naked and cold but his gaze warmed me. But he needed to be here. Not so far away.

‘What are you doing?’ I asked him in a complaining tone when he walked around the bed. I was really horny. That’s what happened when I got drunk. Also, the sight of my husband’s yummy body already had me panting.

He held the condom packet between his thumb and forefinger and waved it slightly. Oh. Okay. I felt my face heat as he pulled down his boxers and rolled on the condom onto his thick cock. My mouth watered as he rounded the bed and clambered on top and parted my legs. I grew wetter and watched him as he pushed two fingers inside me. I arched towards him, my breath coming out in pants as he finger fucked me leisurely.

My mouth was dry and I pushed my head back into the pillow as his fingers found my G spot. I didn’t even realise I was moaning loudly as he flicked my clit with his thumb and that made me come all around his fingers.

‘You’re the only drunk I know who’s sexy,’ he said as he bent forward to take my nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard while his fingers remained inside me.

‘Two beers don’t make me a drunk!’ I gasped as he tugged at my nipple and then, moved to the other, laving it with his tongue, looking at how it hardened before he took it into his mouth.

He didn’t reply as he continued sucking my breast and then he lifted his head, positioned himself between my legs and plunged straight in. I let out a shout as he worked his cock into me like a piston. I was trembling already when he kissed me. I held his face and kissed him back as he fucked me hard, just the way I wanted.

His stamina and endurance were always remarkable, I thought, as he continued pumping into me even though I’d come twice already. My legs felt like jelly. They were trembling so much and at this point, I didn’t care about the central heating. I was sweating just from the sex.

When he finally came, he collapsed over me, and I clutched his sweat dampened hair as he regained his breath and pulled out. But I knew it was just a few minutes before he’d want to go again. Lucky me, I thought, as our eyes met and he reached out to touch my parted lips and I loosened my grip on his hair. I felt the exhaustion of the day melt away but in its place, anxiety for Monday started to make its appearance.  

I stopped thinking as he licked a path across my breasts. His tongue made lazy circles around my nipple, making it hard once more.

‘Umm...’I groaned. ‘I’m sleepy. We both have work tomorrow.’

He looked up at me in a bewildered sort of way, and he shook his head. I stretched out on the bed, feeling the sweat cool on my body as he disposed of the condom and came back to lie down beside me.

‘Now you’re sleepy?’ he asked, his voice still husky with desire as he spooned behind me.

‘Yeah,’ I said, deliberately pushing my ass back into his body.

‘You say one thing and your body says another,’ he muttered, but he put an arm around my middle and pulled me close. My eyes drifted shut. I was content. My husband and I loved each other. We had an adorable house in Witham; we both had jobs we loved and enjoyed and we were young. The world was ours for the taking. Life really couldn’t get better.

Aditya rested his chin on my shoulder.

‘We’ve been married four years,’ he said.

‘Nearly,’ I corrected him. ‘Not four years yet.’ I felt his shrug.

His palm splayed over my belly. ‘When are we having a baby, Tara?’ he asked softly, his hand rotating circles around my middle.

I turned to him and cupped his face and kissed the tip of his nose.

‘When I stop being one myself,’ I whispered.

‘Tara,’ he said in a reprimanding tone. ‘We have to get serious about this. I’m nearing 30.’

‘And I’m just 28,’ I reminded him. ‘Can we hold off this conversation for when I come back from India?’

He threw his leg over mine and pulled me closer, tightening his hold over me. ‘I hate that you’re going without me. What am I going to do here till you get back?’ he whispered.

‘Dream of me,’ I mumbled into his chest. Sleep hit me hard and fast but I regained enough consciousness to tell him - ‘You know Amma needs me. She hasn’t been too well and it’s been two years since I visited last.’

He kissed the top of my head and pulled me closer until there was no space between us. I felt warm and protected in the cocoon of his love and the uneasiness that the baby talk brought about receded.

‘I love you Tara,’ he whispered.

I squeezed him back, even though my eyes were shut tightly.

‘I love you too, Manav,’ I mumbled.

Chapter 2

In the morning, Aditya barely spoke to me as he got ready for work. I didn’t know what was wrong and I was annoyed because it was a Monday and I had to reach school and discuss the week’s plan with my colleagues. I had no time for his moodiness.

He was brusque as he finished drinking his coffee and I realised he was going to go to work just like that. Without saying goodbye, let alone a goodbye kiss. I reached the door just as he stepped out, not even turning to look at me.

‘Adi!’ I said as he hoisted his laptop bag on his shoulder.

‘I’m getting late,’ he said.

‘But what happened?’ I asked, irritated that he expected me to be a mind reader and know what was wrong.

He turned to me, his face set in grim lines. I tried to cup his face and kiss him when he pulled back. Hurt, I stared at him, at the tick in his jaw.

He made a face. ‘Why Tara?’ he asked.

‘Why what?’ I asked, confused.

‘Last night, you said, I love you Manav, before you fell asleep,’ he said.

I stepped back, embarrassed and shocked. No! I hadn’t done this in years. Or months at least. Fuck. No wonder he was pissed.

‘Adi, you know it means nothing,’ I said quickly.

‘Really? I love you means nothing?’ he asked darkly. Before I could answer, he shrugged. ‘Fuck it. I have to leave now or I’ll miss the train.’

He walked away and I stared at his back, feeling all the misgiving rise inside. My stupid sub-conscious tended to forget that Manav was not my husband. Aditya was and I loved him. I sighed as I went back inside and got ready for school. Why did this damn thing happen again and again?

The first time it happened, Manav’s name slipped out just as we were both falling asleep. I’d felt so content and loved with Aditya. I had been so happy and one wrong name ruined it all. Aditya had been confused. He knew that Manav was my ex-boyfriend from college. But he hadn’t thought I still harboured feelings for him. I didn’t. Manav was old news. Purged from my heart, I assured him.  

I convinced him that it was just a mistake. He didn’t look too pleased but he was mollified until the next time it happened. I didn’t know why my brain did what it did. When it happened far too many times within the first two years of our marriage, I decided to visit a therapist.

We used to live in Colchester then, and the psychotherapist I’d visited wanted me to talk about Manav instead of trying to identify the problem and offering me a solution. That annoyed me because I didn’t want to talk about Manav. I wanted to forget all about him and I stopped going there.

I brushed out my hair and made the bed quickly and got my things ready. I had to make up to Aditya somehow and I wanted to text him before I left for school. I picked up my phone and contemplated what I could tell him. It had to be the truth.

‘Adi, you know I love you. And only you. I never want to talk about him again so I don’t know why his name pops into my head. Please forgive me?’

I saw the ticks turn blue and I wasted precious seconds hoping he’d reply but he didn’t. Swallowing my pride, I made my way outside, locked the house, pocketed my keys and got into the car. Maltings Academy, where I taught primary school children was not too far and I liked getting in early. I could just walk but I had to carry lots of things with me, so driving was the easier option.

As I drove along the quiet roads, I thought of the upcoming India trip with a little bit of discomfort. Amma had been asking me to visit her for some time now and since she wasn’t keeping well, I felt I had to make the visit. My brother Nikhil was in the US and he had visited her a few months ago with his family and she had been harping ever since that it was so long since I had come to see her.

Aditya couldn’t come with me because he couldn’t take leave during summer break when I had lots of free time around. He had a lot of misgivings about me going to Bangalore for all of August but I knew he’d come around.

I reached school even as all these thoughts swirled around in my head and I snapped out of it. I parked my car at my spot and got out with my many bags and paraphernalia and walked inside the school building.

A few teachers were coming in too, and we nodded at each other and smiled as we walked to our various classrooms. I had to get the room ready before the class trooped in, in an hour at 8.45. I checked my phone to see if Aditya had replied. He hadn’t.

Pursing my mouth, I decided to let it go for the moment and put on my happy face. The children needed to see me cheerful if I had to get through the day. And greeting them first thing in the morning was what kept me going too. There were always a few stragglers who came in red-eyed and runny-nosed but by the time the first break rolled around, everyone was more than a little gung-ho. It all came down to me and the activities that I planned for them and this part was often more strenuous than keeping them in control.

I really loved my job sometimes. If only I didn’t have to wake up so early. But that was a given no matter what kind of a job it was. Look at Aditya. He had to commute to London every day where he worked as a data analyst. Almost everyone commuted to their work. The only difference was that mine took just ten minutes.

I laid out the phonics worksheets on the tables and walked back to my desk. I checked my watch. I had just enough time for a cup of tea in the staffroom. Quinn said she had some hot gossip about the new music teacher Andrew and although I wasn’t exactly dying to hear it, I wanted the excuse to mingle with everyone and laugh a bit with everyone before the workday began in earnest.

My phone pinged once. I grabbed it eagerly on my way out of the room. It had to be Aditya. But it was a notification for an email. Frowning, I tapped it open and walked towards the staffroom but stopped short at the entrance.

Someone tapped my shoulder and I stepped aside, letting them go into the staffroom. I was reading the email that had arrived in my inbox.

‘Tara!’ I barely heard Quinn’s excited voice and didn’t even register how she always pronounced my name as Taerrah.

I walked to one of the empty chairs and re-read the email. It was an email from the alumni association of my college. They were having a reunion for the first time in many years and they were inviting everyone. There was a Facebook link to the event and I had to register for it. I checked the date. It was in August, the time I would be visiting India.

I looked up, feeling blood rush to my face.  What were the odds? I tapped on the link which took me to the Facebook page. But I didn’t check to see who all were going. I decided to send a reply later. Since I was going to India anyhow at that time, maybe I could attend the reunion too.

What was the harm, I thought.

What if Manav came there? He wouldn’t. He had no use for such sentimentalities, I told myself. Also, this was a reunion for the entire college, not just my batch.

‘Taerrah, I have to tell you who I saw on Sunday evening,’ Quinn whispered as she sat down next to me. I turned to her, a bright smile on my face.

‘Tell me all about it,’ I said.

Chapter 3

Later that day when I went back home, I thought long and hard about what I should do. I wanted to tell Aditya about the reunion but after my gaffe last night, I wasn’t sure he would take too kindly to me going to a place where I could possibly meet Manav. But that was