Authors: Vivienne Harris-Scott
La Tour D
’
argent.
Only the most exclusive restaurant in
Paris
…
I should have known
…
We are in the elevator taking us to it, at
the mid-section of the Eiffel Tower; Julian is holding me against him, as he
softly says,
“
You made me the happiest man on the planet
today by agreeing to marry me
…
so this is just my way of saying thank you, and I
’
ll keep saying it for the rest of my days
…”
He gives me light kisses, on my ear, and
neck, until, his lips land on my mine, and they part
…
Then, I
’
m lost.
I don
’
t know if it
’
s because of my birthday or the
engagement, or the height, or his mere presence or is cologne playing its old
trick on me, but my head is suddenly spinning and I feel light-headed, almost
drunk.
Because, for the first time since I
allowed him back in my life, I actually feel sexual desire for him. Clear,
strong, uncontroverted. And, I
’
m helplessly moaning, as my hands hold him tighter
against my body.
When we come up for air, Julian presses
the emergency button stopping the elevator, and looks at me with hungry eyes.
Jesus, I had almost forgotten that look
…
He just says,
“
They
’
ll have to wait a little longer
…”
as he lowers himself, kneeling in front
of me, and his hands are sliding down my underwear, which he puts in his
pocket. And after giving me one last look, he buries his head underneath the
cocoon of my dress, and lifts one of my leg to rest it on his shoulder.
At the first lick of his tongue, I yelp.
Literally.
I feel an electrical surge of lust
traverse my body, and center on the sensitive buddle of nerves, now pulsating
under his touch. My swollen lips are throbbing against his face, one of my hand
is tightly holding Julian
’
s neck, and the other is against the
elevator wall, scrapping for something to hold on to, as I feel myself about to
explode in his mouth.
I can
’
t help the cry that escapes my throat as
he lightly bites me; the exquisite pain, provoking an orgasm I have no control
over as the floods of my pleasure drip onto his tongue.
My entire body is shuddering, and just as
I think it
’
s over, Julian will get up, and we
’
ll put innocent and apologetic masks on;
he lifts my other leg, and I feel one of his finger sliding inside me, and then
two, as his tongue starts nibbling again.
My body tenses, my nipples hurt, and I
bite my bottom lip, until I can
’
t take no more and I am begging him
…
For what I
’
m not sure. To stop? To continue? To grant
me release?
((~~!~~))
The evening has gone seemingly, the dinner was
beautiful, the food to simply die for, and the company, all I could have wished
for on my big day, and now, it
’
s nearly midnight. I
’
m starting to feel tired, and as everyone
is assembling making plans to continue the night at an adjacent jazz club, I
take Julian aside to tell him how I want to finish my birthday.
“
Take me home.
”
I whisper to him.
A silent moment passes between us, as the
understanding of my word dawns on him.
“
Are you sure?
”
he asks, not quite believing me, if his
look is an indication.
“
Yes, take me home. I want to wake up in
your arms in the morning.
”
I reply, giving him a light kiss, as a
promise of the night to come.
He excuses himself to announce we were
leaving, and bids everyone a good night, and when he returns, he just says,
“
Let
’
s go home.
”
Julian and Vi
She was awake, but didn
’
t open her eyes immediately. She revelled
on the sensation of his naked skin against hers.
She felt happy.
He had made love to her with patience,
tenderness and such love. She had felt like the most beautiful woman on the
planet. Her swelling belly and bust seemed to add to his pleasure instead of being
a deterrent
…
Was there a better way to start a new
year?
No, she said to herself, smiling, as she
looked at the sleeping man next to her.
Her fiancé.
He looked so innocent, so peaceful.
Images from the previous day, and his proposal
came to mind, and her smile faltered a little.
After he had handed the bag, and she had
opened the velvet box, and let him place the ring on her annular finger, he had
declared,
“
Now that it
’
s official, there is no more reason for
you to stay with Kevin, we can live together.
”
She had shaken her head, replying,
“
Julian, I
’
m not moving in with you.
”
And they had stared at each other in
silence until he had capitulated and with a sheepish look, said,
”
You can
’
t blame me for trying
…”
she had given him a gentle smile,
“
No, I can
’
t. And, I don
’
t! Count your blessings! I said yes to the
ring, don
’
t you already make me regret it!
”
he had laughed, and announced he had
things to take care of and would come to pick her later on for dinner.
She had watched him leave her room, and
felt relief.
Not exactly the emotion expected from a
future bride.
She loved him, this she knew with
certainty, and he was the father of the baby she was carrying, but she wasn
’
t sure she was ready to trust him completely.
She definitely wasn
’
t ready to live him just yet, not when she
still sensed a controlling streak in him.
She had been there before, and needed to
make sure she
’
d remain free, married or not.
What he had shared with her a few weeks
ago, about his last wife, and their child still worried her.
She hadn
’
t cast any judgment when he had explained
how his decisions had led to the death of his daughter. After all, with her own
history in that department, she hardly could; yet, she couldn
’
t help but seeing a permanent move with
him as giving him the cord to hang her with.
An irrational thought if there was one,
but it was what is was.
She hoped all her fears would fade for
good once they shared a baby of their own.
In the meantime, she had to go home.
(~~!~~))
“
You
’
re always running out on me
…“
he said smiling at her, as he watched her
get dressed.
“
You have to earn the overnighters
…”
she replied in kind.
“
Well
…”
he started, about to argue.
“
No. You did yesterday. Today is a new day.
I
’
m going home,
”
she said in a husky voice, bending over
and giving him a kiss.
“
I consider that a challenge
…”
he retorted against her lips, as he tried
to pull her back into the bed.
She burst out laughing before
exiting the room to go across the hall.
Home.
(~~!~~))
Ethan and Julian
“
You make it sound nefarious
…”
he said, irritated
“
Well, how else, I am supposed to interpret
it?
”
Julian asked with a slight frown.
“
As what it was. A simple, kind gesture from
one friend to another. It was her birthday for crying out loud!
”
Ethan replied, dismissively.
“
Ethan, you
’
re forgetting I know you
…”
Julian said in mildly irritated tone.
“
Actually Julian, no you don
’
t! Not when Vic is concerned! Don
’
t think for a second that because you
happen to be the one she is currently with, that automatically negates my
relationship with her! It would be a mistake on your part, so I suggest you
find it in yourself to deal with this, as I have! Just don
’
t come here and tell me what I can and can
’
t do! It
’
s really none of your business
…”
The men looked at each other in an intense
stare down until Julian said, in a stone-cold voice,
“
Ethan, I thought we were past this? I
’
m not going to be watching my back or you
every minute to make sure
…”
But he was interrupted as Ethan cut in,
asking seriously,
“
Don
’
t you trust her? What you two have?
”
”
Oh, but I do! It
’
s you I
’
m starting not trust!
”
Julian spat back, not letting up.
“
Jesus mate! It was just a bloody car!
”
Ethan cried out.
“
It wasn
’
t and you know it! She told me about your
tradition
…”
Julian
said in a dangerous voice.
“
It
’
s a car, for her to travel around with
your child I might add, so you need to let this go or get a grip!
”
Ethan was openly laughing at him now,
shaking his head, but his eyes had turned artic. He was getting fed up with
this pointless argument.
“
Ethan, I want you to stop interfering.
”
Julian commanded with a chilled tone.
“
And just in case, I
’
m not making myself clear enough. This isn
’
t a request
…”
his voice trailed.
“
Is that so? Well, I
’
ve got even more bad news in that case
…”
Ethan retorted with a sardonic smile.
“
What else?
”
Julian sighed, as he was starting to
immensely regret coming to see Ethan when he
’
d much rather be with Marcus, and try to
concoct a new way to convince Vi to move in with him.
She had left him just over an hour ago,
and when Ethan had rung him to have breakfast at his new digs, his curiosity
had won.
He now lived to regret it.
Settling his gaze back on his friend, he
repeated,
“
What else is there E.?
”
Ethan sat down, crossing his legs, as he
replied nonchalantly,
“
This place.
”
Julian looked around, not understanding
where the comment was headed, and said,
“
What about it? We
’
re in a sunroom
…”
“
Yes, we are in a sunroom, which is in a
hôtel
particulier
, a 1,400 square
meters townhouse worth of the best real estate in Paris.
”
Julian eyes narrowed on Ethan when he
asked in a strained, barely audible voice,
“
Ethan, what are you telling me exactly?
”
He felt his insides churn at the
preposterous idea that had just flashed through his brain.
“
This place is her real birthday present.
”
His friend declared, his eyes unwavering.
Julian could literally feel the color
drain from his face, and a chill shoot up his spine.
“
Are you fucking kidding me?
”
he said, abruptly standing up.
“
I can
’
t accept
…”
he commenced, as cold anger was now
coursing through his entire body.
“
Well, tough luck mate!
”
Ethan interrupted him, also standing, and
facing him, while he pursued,
“
You don
’
t even realize it, but this gift you are
so furious about might actually help you make headway! Because, just in case
you haven
’
t noticed, she is still with Kevin, in
spite of your efforts, a ring, and a promise of a happy forever after!
”
he concluded, irony lacing each and all
of his words.
Julian felt his nostrils flare. He could
actually see red in his head.
They stare at each other , and he is
livid.
He is furious because Ethan has made a
very valid point, and the rage he currently feels towards his friend, is
nothing compared to the one he feels towards the woman of his dreams
’
best friend, who is perpetuating their
living arrangements in spite of Julian wanting to provide for her, as any man
would under these circumstances. He abhors that situation even more than Ethan
’
s latest stunt.
He sighs, and sits back down, trying to
compose himself, flexing his hands, until his fingers aren
’
t shaking anymore.
Once calmer, he asks,
“
Ethan, just tell me the truth. Are you
really doing this for her, or do you hope, that if she accepts it, then you two
will
…
-
”
he can
’
t even finish the sentence, the thought
being utterly unbearable.
Ethan sits across him, and replies,
“
I
’
m doing it for her first and foremost. Vic
craves security. This will give it to her without the contingency of any man,
whether it
’
s me, you or him.
”
“
Why didn
’
t I think of this myself?
”
Julian mumbles to himself,
defeated.
“
Because you don
’
t know her like I do.
”
Ethan replies with sincerity.
“
Giving her a place she owns without string
will give her some peace, and real choice! She
’
s got enough money to rent any penthouse
she wants, but that
’
s not the same as owing something,
modelling it to your tastes forever without any chance of anyone taking it away
from you
…”
“
So, you will give it to her?
”
Julian asks, still in disbelief.
“
The purchase was made in her name, I don
’
t need to give it to her. It
’
s legally hers.
”
Ethan calmly declares.
“
And you think, she
’
ll accept it, just like that?
”
actually paying close attention to is
surroundings,
“
I mean, look at this place
…”
his gaze perused the room and the
overlooking terrace.
“
It
’
s hers. That
’
s all there is to it, she can give it to
charity if she doesn
’
t want it, but she will keep it, this I
know for sure.
”
Ethan concludes with a certainty Julian
can
’
t refute.