Passion Blooms in Paris (Diary of a Free Woman)
Read Passion Blooms in Paris (Diary of a Free Woman) Online
Authors: Diane Thorne
Tags: #Erotic Romance Fiction
A Totally Bound Publication
Passion Blooms in Paris
ISBN #
978-1-78184-903-3
©Copyright Diane Thorne 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright December 2013
Edited by Sue Meadows
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2013 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Taboo
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
This story contains 50 pages, additionally there is also a
free excerpt
at the end of the book containing 9 pages.
Diary of a Free Woman
PASSION BLOOMS IN PARIS
Diane Thorne
Book two in the Diary of a Free Woman Series
A tour of Paris should always include a sexy Frenchman
Gwenevere continues her travels in Europe and after several days without a man, she longs to find passion again. What better place than Paris?
She visits the Louvre and meets a Pierre Devaux, a Frenchman, but he’s far from the typical local. He’s a famous French actor and he can’t keep his eyes off Gwen. He offers to escort her through the museum and she gladly accepts. As they explore and analyze the artwork, he seduces her with his sultry words and sexy accent. As Gwen’s desire for him escalates, she quickly forgets about the centuries-old art. But interruptions from fans and visitors keep her and Pierre apart. When he invites her to a private room, she questions if he’s playing games with her. Should she spend the day marveling at the works in the Louvre, or follow what her body yearns for?
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
GQ: Condé Nast Publications
Oscars: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Chapter One
Gwenevere held her purse in one hand and her cell phone to her ear as she stood in a long line outside the Louvre. She’d chosen the rue de Rivoli entrance on the side of the museum and had arrived early for the opening so she could spend the entire day browsing all the magnificent art. The morning sun shone brightly and not a cloud decorated the blue sky. Dressed comfortably, she wore a spring sleeveless dress that tied around her neck and reached her knees. She’d slipped two-inch sandals on her feet before she’d left the hotel to avoid tired and achy feet from standing all day. A light sweater covered her arms and kept her warm from the slight chill in the air. If she grew too hot, she could easily tie the garment around her waist.
“I’m waiting for the Louvre to open,” Gwen said into the phone to her oldest daughter Krystal. “This place is incredible, sweetie. I wish you could see it.” A slight breeze lifted strands of her hair and tossed them in front of her face.
“Bring something back from there. A book would be nice,” her oldest daughter said.
“I’ll look for a book at the shop inside since I doubt I’ll get to see everything. I hear it takes days to go through the entire museum.”
“Did you visit the Eiffel Tower yet?”
“No. I’m going to go there tomorrow. I still have another day left in Paris.”
The older woman in front of Gwen twisted and smiled at her. A tall man stood to the white-haired lady’s right while a younger female, a teenager, was on the left. Given the age difference, Gwen guessed the adults were grandparents and they’d taken their granddaughter on vacation.
“So you’re having a good time,” Krystal said through the phone.
“Yes. The trip has been wonderful.”
“And you enjoyed London.”
“Oh, yes. Very much so.”
The words slipped out of her mouth quickly, hinting at her enjoyment. At the same time, she couldn’t stop from smiling.
“Oh, really?” Suspicion laced her daughter’s question. “What did you do? Meet anyone?”
A smile spread across Gwen’s face as she recalled her stay in London. She’d met Phillip Connor—a sexy billionaire—on the flight and had sex with him on the plane. She’d thought the mile high fling would be the end of her relationship with Phillip, but that hadn’t been the case. At his urging, she’d ventured to his hotel room in the heart of the city and had sex with him in his hotel. The multiple orgasms she’d had, thanks to him, left one hell of a memory.
“I did meet a man and we had fun. I’m not sure I’ll see him again, but our time together was nice,” Gwen said softly.
A touch of melancholy swept through her as she said the words. The time she’d spent in Phillip’s loving embrace had been fun, exciting and certainly pleasurable. But since they’d parted, she’d noticed a longing within her. Was it for Phillip or sex? She wasn’t certain. Either way, she felt a loss, something missing. The more she pondered about it, the more she realized her hungry need was for a man. She wanted to find passion again—heart thumping, blood-rushing, mind-blowing passion. Fortunately, she had four more destinations to stop at in Europe. She was single, free to explore and hopeful she’d find another handsome and charming member of the male species to satisfy her yearnings.
“That’s great, Mom. You should enjoy yourself,” Krystal said. “Have all the fun you want.”
Gwen swallowed the laughter bubbling inside her. She’d done exactly what her daughter recommended. And she hoped to do more.
“I plan to, sweetheart. I’m having a wonderful time,” Gwen said.
“I’ll be sure to tell Kristy you called and let her know you’re enjoying your trip.”
“Thank you. I’ll call you in a couple of days.”
“Be careful, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you, too. Hugs and kisses.”
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, dear.”
Smiling, Gwen lowered the phone and slipped it into her purse. Pride filled her as she thought of her two grown daughters. They were in college and supporting themselves. Gwen had given them all her love and brought them up to be respectable adults. They were now leading their own lives. She couldn’t be happier for them.
“Where are you from?”
Gwen lifted her gaze. A white-haired woman, standing in front of her, smiled.
“We’re from the States, too. Raleigh, North Carolina,” said the female stranger.
“I’m from the Midwest,” Gwen said.
“We’re not too far apart. Are you on vacation?”
Gwen nodded. “Yes. While I was raising my two daughters, I saved up vacation time from my job and funds for a rainy day. They’re grown up now and fortunately, I didn’t have to dip into those funds for major expenses. I’ve always wanted to travel abroad. Here I am.”
“That’s wonderful. Are you alone, then?”
“Yes, but I’m having a great time.”
“My name is Carol, and this is my husband, Jimmy.” The woman twisted and gestured toward the older man who had his attention focused on the entrance of the Louvre. “We’re retired five years now. It was his idea to visit Paris and Normandy. My daughter is too busy working, so we brought our granddaughter. She’s in high school and they closed for fall break.”
Gwen turned to the young lady. “Well, lucky you. Are you enjoying your trip?”
“Yeah, I love Paris.” With a wide grin, the teen tucked her long, dark hair behind her ears. The girl’s bright and innocent smile reminded Gwen of her youngest, Kristy.
“Did you plan where to go and what to see inside the Louvre?” Carol asked. “I’ve read so many reviews that recommend preparing. I guess the Mona Lisa and several other works of art attract large crowds.”
“I’d heard about the crowds, too,” Gwen said. “But I’m going to start at the top and work my way down. It’s impossible to see everything.”
“You’re welcome to join us if you’d like. We’re spending the day here.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I’m okay on my own.”
The line in front of Carol started moving. “If you change your mind and see us—”
Before she’d finished, Jimmy had tapped his wife’s shoulder. “The line’s moving, Carol.”
“Enjoy the rest of your stay,” Gwen said.
Carol reached for her granddaughter’s arm. “Thank you. It was nice talking to you.”
Gwen followed the trio as they slowly walked toward the entrance to the Louvre. While they chatted about their excitement to explore the museum, Gwen took a glance behind her. The line had tripled in size. Visitors were a mixture of young and old from various nationalities. Although the crowd appeared large, she doubted she’d have difficulty seeing the sights inside the massive structure. As Carol had pointed out, the Mona Lisa and other top attractions would gather the most attention. People would stop at them first. Not Gwen. Since she wanted to check out as much as she could, she decided to head for the upper floor first. Her goal was to peruse as many exhibit rooms as she could and savor the beauty of all the pieces of art. Then, by the end of the day, perhaps the mass around the main artworks wouldn’t be as large. She hoped.
A few feet from the door, Gwen fished a ticket from her purse. She held it patiently as she drew near the entrance.
Inside, security guards stood near metal detectors and machines several feet away. Gwen waited as a uniformed employee scanned tickets. Visitors without passes went to another line while others who’d had their passes checked continued to the machines. Men emptied their pockets and placed the contents in bowls. Women laid their purses on the conveyor belt. Each person walked through the big x-ray scanner then collected their belongings. Gwen followed the herd. After she’d passed the screening, she gathered her bag and headed for the information desk.
Gwen collected a map from the counter and stood out of the way to review the document. Holding the pamphlet open, she surveyed the floor plans and compared them with her current surroundings. The escalators were close by as were a set of stairs. Guests were walking in clusters toward the escalators while others proceeded to the halls leading to the main part of the museum. To make the best of her time, Gwen decided to take the route less traveled. She folded the brochure and headed for a staircase.
Voices and claps of shoes remained the predominant sounds as Gwen strode away from the masses. A few people walked ahead of her, including a couple carrying backpacks. The museum appeared solid, cold, filled with history and clean. She almost found it difficult to believe she was inside such a magnificent building with so many valuables. Excitement stirred within her. She’d made it to the Louvre. What a dream come true.
She drew closer to the staircase and noticed a man dressed in a uniform. His attire resembled those of the ticket takers who stood by the entrance. He watched each person pass. When Gwen reached the employee, she smiled and he gave a nod.