Secrets of a Bollywood Marriage

CHAPTER THIRTEEN


TINA STIRRED IN her sleep, burrowing her head against Dev’s shoulder as the blanket slipped down to her waist. She felt as if she should remember something but the memory was just out of reach. She stretched, murmuring with delight when her breasts pressed against Dev’s chest as her legs brushed against his.

A small smile formed on her lips as she dragged her foot along his calf. She enjoyed the friction of his rough hair against the side of her toe. Tina felt the solid muscle and strength under his warm skin. She liked waking up next to him this way. Naked with their arms and legs tangled, as if they couldn’t stand the idea of letting go in their sleep.

She’d have to get used to waking up alone again. Tina’s smile faded as she slid her hand down Dev’s rock-hard abdomen. According to their original agreement, she only had a few more days of this—a little more than a week.

Tina didn’t want to think about it. She tried to block it from her mind as she brushed her fingertips along Dev’s hip, noticing how he didn’t stir under her touch. She wanted to wake him up and make love. Lust heated her blood at the thought. She didn’t want to waste a minute of the time they had left together.

She was almost embarrassed at how eager she was to be with her husband. It wasn’t too long ago when she had looked for every possible way to stay out of his bed. At the beginning of this deal, she had started a countdown, telling herself that she could get through the two months. Now it was a reminder that this was all going to end and she would have to accept a life without Dev.


She wasn’t ready, Tina thought as she wrapped her hand around his erection and sighed. She wanted another chance at her marriage. A do-over.

She could have it if she told Dev about the baby. But she couldn’t do that to him again. She couldn’t keep him in this marriage because she was pregnant. She couldn’t let him take over her life. She knew he was doing it out of a sense of duty, protection instead of punishment, but it was a fate she couldn’t accept.

Tina knew she had to tell Dev about her pregnancy. It was the right thing to do and he deserved to know, she decided as she slowly stroked him. Her instincts told her to wait until he no longer had legal power over her. It wouldn’t be that many more days before she moved out. Today was the fifteenth and...

The fifteenth. Tina froze, her hand clenched around Dev’s velvety soft skin as the shock rippled through her. Today was her wedding anniversary.

Her eyes flew open. Her heart was beating fast, her throat tightening as her gaze collided with Dev’s.

* * *

She knew. Dev was aware of the moment she realized it was their wedding anniversary. His breath caught in his throat as he watched the myriad emotions flickering in her brown eyes. Not one of them was celebratory.

Did she still think this marriage was a failure? He wasn’t ready to give up. Tina was the only woman he wanted and he was going to convince her to stay.

It’s a shame she wasn’t pregnant, Dev decided. That would give them a bond that could never be broken. Not only would they create the family they wanted, but the nine months would also give him plenty of time to repair their marriage.

Tina looked away. “Why did you stop?” he asked in a husky growl.

She turned. “We should get up.”

Dev moved swiftly, covering her body with his, before she could get out of bed. “I was thinking...”

“This early in the morning?” she asked, doing her best not to make eye contact. “That’s never a good thing.”

“Why don’t we take a trip?” he asked as he kissed a trail down her throat.

“A trip?” There wasn’t a hint of interest in her voice.

“We could visit the beaches in Goa,” he suggested as he brushed his lips along her breastbone. “Or we could visit the foothills.”

“Don’t you have a few upcoming meetings at the office?” she asked. Her breathing was uneven as she rocked her hips in anticipation.

“I can postpone them,” Dev offered absently as he slid his mouth down her stomach. His pulse kicked hard as he hooked Tina’s legs over his arms.

“You shouldn’t have to,” Tina said huskily as she twisted her fingers in his hair. “I know you have a lot riding on these investors. We don’t need to go anywhere.”

He paused, wondering why she was acting this way. In the past, they had gone on trips together for work. Why would she decline when it was for just the two of them? “We haven’t been anywhere since Los Angeles.”

Her body jerked. “That was a disaster. Why would you want to try again?”

“Why not? Let’s replace a bad memory with a good one.”

“I’m sorry I walked out on you,” Tina whispered. “Can you forgive me?”

“I already have.” And he meant it.

She gave a tight-lipped smile. “You were right. I was so lost in grieving that I pushed you away. I thought you had married me because of the baby. I wasn’t sure how you really felt about having me as a wife.”

He was also at fault and he was trying to make up for it. Dev wanted to show how much he loved and appreciated her. He wanted to give her the honeymoon she’d never had but he was reluctant to mention that. She was avoiding the topic of their anniversary and now wouldn’t be a good time to present her with the jewelry set he had bought that had once belonged to a maharani. It was the bridal jewelry she should have had.

“Where would you like to go?” He bent his head and teased her navel with his tongue. “Europe? Australia?”

“I’d like to stay here,” she said breathlessly.

He pressed his lips on her inner thigh. “I can take you anywhere in the world and you want to stay here?”

“Why not?” she murmured as she bucked her hips. “Can you think of a better place?”

“No,” he said as he pressed his mouth against the slick folds of her sex. The only place he wanted to be was at home with Tina.

* * *

“Why don’t you wait for your husband in his office, Tinaji?” Dev’s assistant, dressed in crisply ironed white kurta shalwar, escorted her into the garish office. Tina flinched at the sight of the gold-trimmed furniture and campy movie posters. “His meeting should end soon.”

Tina gave the older man a knowing smile. Dev was never on schedule. She was lucky if he showed up within the hour.

“It’s a shame he had to work on your wedding anniversary,” the assistant said.

“It’s not all bad. Dev loves what he does,” Tina replied as her courage slowly faded. “But I thought I could steal him away and take him to lunch.”

“You should visit more often. He would love that. Can I get you anything to drink?”

She declined, the tension rising in her as she waited in the silent room. She didn’t know how Dev could work in this office. It wasn’t like him at all. He preferred natural textiles and modern art. Everything here celebrated his family’s cinema achievements. It was a constant reminder of his family’s legacy.

Tina bit her lip as she looked around. She tried not to compare her modest success to that of the Arjun family. She had made mistakes and taken the wrong advice. While she may never be a Bollywood megastar, she was taking steps to take full control of her career.

And sometimes she needed to take a step away from work. Right now she needed to focus on her family, not her career. I can do this...I can tell Dev about the baby...This is a good thing...Dev is going to be thrilled, just like last time.

Only last time, he hadn’t thought about what all could go wrong. Neither of them had. Tina slowly sat down on the sofa. Last time he had embraced the news. In his world, everything he touched turned to gold and every choice he made turned out better than expected.

Stop it. You can’t hide this anymore. No more excuses. It was time to tell him. Why not now, on their wedding anniversary? Dev cared about her and she had to trust him. Tina knew he would take care of her if anything went wrong and she had nothing to fear.

Tina tugged at her pink sari and made a face. She hated wearing it but she liked how Dev responded when she wore the feminine garment. She needed all the help she could get to place him in a receptive mood.

She looked down at the pile of this week’s movie magazines on the coffee table in front of her. A few of them had the Arjun family portrait, commemorating Vikram’s long career. Another magazine cover caught her eye. Her stomach clenched when she saw a picture of Dev and Shreya in an embrace.

Why? Why did they have to show these pictures and share these stories on her anniversary? How many “it won’t last” or “trouble in paradise” stories must she suffer through?

Tina reached out for it and stopped. She didn’t want to know. She wasn’t going to read the article or the headline. What purpose would it serve? If she kept reading the gossip it would chip away at the trust she had in Dev. If he said he was not having an affair with Shreya, she would believe him. She wouldn’t require proof, just like he trusted her when she swore she hadn’t slept with anyone during their separation.

“Tina?”

Tina closed her eyes when she heard the familiar voice. What was her mother-in-law doing here? How could she have forgotten that Gauri Arjun had an office suite in the building?

She reluctantly turned around and saw Dev’s mother enter the room. The older woman was stunning in a vibrant green sari. Her hair flowed smoothly against her shoulders and it was all Tina could do not to smooth her own short, spiky hair. What was it about this woman that always made her feel awkward and insignificant?

Tina rose from her seat and adjusted her sari as she politely greeted her mother-in-law. The woman waved away her attempts impatiently.

“What is this about you going to Hollywood?” Gauri asked. “This is unacceptable. The Arjun family is the face of the Hindi film industry. Going to Los Angeles is a betrayal of our heritage and our culture.”

Tina’s eyes widened as she jerked in surprise. “Who says I’m going to Hollywood?”

“The rumors are everywhere that you are going to star in a television show. An Arjun on American television!” Gauri shuddered. Tina wasn’t sure which part of the American television it was that bothered her.

But why did Gauri believe she was... Tina winced as she remembered the tidbit of information she had shared with her mother. The casual remark the television director had said at the treatment center about how they should work together. Nothing was signed or agreed upon, but that didn’t matter. Reema was going to make it look like Tina was in high demand. This was yet another indication for Tina that she needed to get another manager.

“Now is not a good time to discuss this, Maaji,” Tina muttered as she nervously clasped her fingers in her lap.


“My son isn’t going to Hollywood,” Gauri said in a hiss. “His destiny is here.”

Tina frowned. “Who says he’s going to Hollywood?”

“You are his wife. You go where he goes. Unless...” She reared her head back. “What are you saying?”

“I believe she is saying that I’m not invited.” Dev drawled. Tina whirled around to see Dev leaning at the door. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw glittery coldness in his eyes. “Congratulations on the role.”

Why would he think she had a role? A role she hadn’t even discussed with him. A role that would require leaving Mumbai. Leaving him.

Did he think she would do that without talking to him? Of course he would. She had left him like that in the past. But she was different now. They were different. Why didn’t he see that? “Dev, let me explain.”

“There’s no need,” he said as he strode to his desk. He showed no emotions but Tina could tell by his choppy movements and the muscle bunching in his jaw that he was holding back his fury. “You are getting the career that you’ve longed for, leaving behind the husband you no longer want and settling a few scores before you leave. Am I missing anything?”