“I think I’ll order room service and do some reading,” I said to let him know I’d be okay, “it might be good for me to have some time to myself. Maybe I’ll google some of your hotter pics and spend an hour or two masturbating to them.”
He looked at me, threw his head back and laughed. “My god, Ms. Britton,” I never know what to expect from you. You are truly a delight.”
I felt like it, for him I was.
We got to the hotel and there was a message for us at the front desk. Madeline was going to come over and spend some time with me, she had planned some things for us to do.
I was excited, I felt like I’d gotten her approval somehow. Isaac was also pleased, I knew he’d been a little anxious about leaving me alone in the suite. Little did he know, I would have been fine. The suite was more luxurious than anything I’d ever stayed in and had the most incredible terrace overlooking the city and the Arc de Triomphe. I could never be bored in Paris.
He left and I had half an hour or so until Madeline showed up. I decided to catch up on Chloe’s work on the blog and make sure she hadn’t turned it into a full blown book gossip site.
She was doing surprisingly well, she’d apparently gotten another girl to help with reviews, and the gossipy type stories were at a minimum. Perhaps I’d underestimated her.
I followed a couple links and found myself reading about Isaac and I again. I couldn’t help it, it was almost an addiction, reading every single word about our relationship and how the world saw us.
There was nothing about us in Paris thankfully, although I wouldn’t mind them taking photos now that I felt elegant and stylish. I couldn’t wait to wear my new clothes back in Seattle. No more frumpy country cousin look for this girl.
I inadvertently clicked a link to an ad campaign from a couple years ago. Isaac and Maya, the hottest super model of the moment. It was for some British clothing line, and it was hot.
I watched the video, black and white with sensual music, shot on a beach somewhere. He came out of the water, the camera zoomed in on his abs, glistening in the deeply contrasted light.
He ran his hands over Maya’s perfectly flat tummy, and I felt almost aroused as well as envious.
It was stupid though, I had him all to myself, and I was envying a girl who had done a job with him long before I ever met him.
Still, his face, so gorgeous and full of sensual pleasure. I felt myself getting wet and heating up watching him. I clicked back on the video and watched that scene over and over a few times, until he filled my head again and I was ready to strip down and wait for him to return so I could fuck him silly.
A sharp knock at the door broke into my fantasy and I jumped up, remembering Madeline’s visit. I opened the door and let her in, and realized she’d be able to see the laptop from where we were.
The last thing I needed for her to see was my jilling off in the bed to her brother’s old ad work.
As she took off her coat, I rushed over and snapped it shut. I blushed furiously and I could tell she knew something was up.
She graciously didn’t ask though, so I silently thanked her and her good manners. Chloe probably would have tackled me to see what was on the screen.
“I am famished,” she said, “shall we go for a walk and pick up some things for a snack? I’m assuming you’ll have dinner with my brother later on?”
“We’d planned on it,” I said, “but I won’t turn down some French pastries.”
She smiled and said, “Thank god he’s with a real woman.”
We decided to stroll around the neighbourhood, dodging thick crowds of tourists and checking out high ends shops along the way.
I helped her pick out a beautiful red dress and matching handbag at one boutique. She might not be related to Isaac by blood, but she shared his tall elegance and amazing looks. She was dark blonde though, with stunning blue eyes. Men almost fell over themselves watching her move down the street and women gave her mixed looks of admiration and envy.
I could see why she would be comfortable doing performance art, if I looked like that, I wouldn’t mind being the center of attention either.
After an hour or so, she showed me her favourite little café. We took a spot on the sidewalk patio and she ordered us each a café crème and a pain au chocolat. The way the language fell off her tongue was beautiful, I decided I should learn French.
We sipped our coffees and nibbled the most delicate pastries stuffed with creamy chocolate and watched the world go by.
Madeline was really amazing. We had some laughs and at one point couldn’t breathe over some impression she’d done of her last boyfriend.
Finally our visit was over and she walked me back to the hotel.
“Remember where the café is,” she said, “Isaac adores pain au chocolat, he would love to sample the best in Paris.”
“I’ll take him there tomorrow, I promise.”
“You are good to him,” she said, “I’m so pleased with that. You two are radiant together, you can see it’s real. There’s something magical between you two, and I wish all the best for you both.”
“Thank you Madeline,” I told her, “you don’t know how much that means to me. I love your brother and I want your family to know that I would never do a thing to hurt him. And I’m here for the long run.”
She smiled and said she was happy for it, and she would come see us in Seattle soon.
As she walked away I felt buoyed by her acceptance.
Finally, I really belonged.
Chapter Twenty Four
“Love, are you awake?” Isaac’s voice penetrated my deep sleep.
I mumbled something and turned over to pull him towards me. He climbed under the covers and moved his naked body against me, waking me up fully.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“It’s just past one,” he said, “I’m so sorry. It all went much longer than expected. As it was, they were disappointed I didn’t want to spend all night chasing them all over Paris, from one club to another.”
“You could have,” I said, “I wouldn’t have minded.” I might have, in actuality, but didn’t want to seem possessive.
“I couldn’t wait to come back here, the moment the ink dried on the contract, I grabbed my jacket and bolted,” he said and laughed. He nibbled my shoulder and I shivered with the sensation.
“I was waiting for you,” I said, “I meant to stay awake but drifted off.”
“Did all that masturbation wear you out, Ms. Britton?” he asked and slid his hand lower, to my cleft.
“Oh yes, Mr. James,” I said with amusement, “I’ve been touching myself all night thinking of your fat cock.”
He breathed in sharply and growled, “I know you’re joking, but fuck that’s a sexy image.”
He rose up above me and parted my lips, found my clit and encircled it with his finger. I opened myself to him and pulled him down so I could kiss him.
And as much as I loved his finger, I needed his cock buried inside of me.
“Fuck me,” I said and wondered again where this wanton woman had come from. Had she been there all along, only woken up when Isaac took me the first time? “I need to feel you inside of me,” I whispered and pulled against him.
“As you wish,” he replied and fell on me, kissing and plunging into me with his hardness.
It was a frenzied session, brought on by the hours we’d been apart. We came quickly, our bodies undulating together in shuddering release.
I bit his shoulder at one point, afraid to give voice to the feelings that were rising in me. Afraid I’d wake the hotel, the city, with my lusty cries.
“I love you,” he said, his voice hoarse with lust and want as he came inside of me. Condoms were long past and I could feel him, hot and wet, filling me.
“I love you,” I said and locked eyes with him, clenching my pussy around him in my own orgasm, drawing as much of him inside of me as I could get.
We crashed back down to earth together and l
ay in each other’s arms, panting and satiated. For the moment at least.
“Did you eat dinner?” he asked and I shook my head no, still unable to speak, still afraid I’d scream his name and my undying love for him. “I’ll order something for us,” he continued, “we’ll need our energy.”
I nodded and laid back, basking in the afterglow as they say, while he ordered up some assorted meats and cheeses.
We ate, we made love, we slept, and we repeated it all until we fell asleep in the dusky morning light. Our limbs were tangled around each other and our lives were undeniably connected, as deeply as our hearts and as tightly as our love.
***
I woke just before noon and drank in the sight of him. He was snoring lightly, exhausted and satisfied.
I decided to get him a treat, some of the pain au chocolate Madeline had shown me the evening before.
I kissed the tip of his nose, left him a note, got dressed and went out into Paris on my own.
The day was perfect, the sun was shining and there was a crisp feeling to the air. People were bustling back and forth and I was finally able to pick out the native Parisians as opposed to the tourists.
I felt like I had Paris in my blood, my own journey started here after all, the moment my father had asked my mother to marry him.
I was sure I knew where the café was, but I quickly got turned around. I didn’t panic, I was in Paris, not the jungles of South America, so I enjoyed my stroll.
And hour later, I stumbled across the café by accident. I was so overjoyed that I almost forgot how to order. Luckily the man behind the counter spoke English and I was able to get our treats along with two coffees.
It was a fairly quick walk back to the hotel and the coffee was still hot when I made my way across the lobby.
“Miss,” a voice called out to me just before I reached the elevators. “Miss, please, you are not to go up.”
I turned and saw one of the hotel employees, the front desk clerk who had checked us in just days before.
“I’m staying here, remember?” I said, assuming he’d forgotten me.
“Non,” he insisted, “I was told you are no longer welcome.”
“What do you mean? Who told you this?”
“Monsieur James,” he said and looked apologetic, “I am sorry, I have my orders, you are not to go up. Your bags are being brought down and a car will take you to Charles de Gaulle.”
The airport we’d flown into. I still didn’t comprehend what was going on. Where was Isaac? We weren’t due to leave Paris for two more days.
“There must be some kind of mistake,” I said and made my way towards the elevator, “I’ll talk to Isaac and get this sorted out.”
“Non,” he repeated and rushed to block me, “I am sorry, I have orders. Please don’t make me call security.”
I felt as though somebody had punched my stomach when I realized he was serious. The air went out of my lungs and I couldn’t breathe.
“I need to see him,” I said, pleading.
“Come over here until your bags arrive,” he said and gestured to the front desk. As if in a dream or a nightmare, I followed him. I felt like a fool and placed the coffees on the counter. The little bag of pastries was in my purse. My face was burning red and I was humiliated. I didn’t know what was happening.
I pulled out my phone and texted Isaac frantically.
Stuck downstairs, they won’t let me up. Where are you?
I waited for a reply, but there was nothing.
What’s going on? I wrote rapidly.
The clerk was watching me with a look on his face that let me know he was embarrassed for me, but didn’t want to get involved.
The elevator dinged and opened, and I looked up, expecting Isaac. Maybe we had to leave for the US early, maybe he’d been called back for a job.
It was Madeline. She was carrying my luggage and had a look of blazing fury on her face.
“Madeline, what is going on?” I yelled as she approached.
“You should know,” she said, her jaw stiff with anger. She shoved the bags towards me and added, “Take the car to the airport, I’ve booked your ticket back to Seattle. You leave in an hour, so you’d better hurry. It’s coach by the way, no more free ride on Isaac’s coattails. If it were up to me, I would have left you stranded on the street.”
I started to cry, her cruel voice cut me deep and the tears came, unbidden. “What’s going on?” I said, “I just went out to get him breakfast, where is he?”
“You will stay away from him. I think you’ve done enough damage,” she spat.
“What damage? What are you talking about?” I begged her, I was sobbing by then and tears were streaming down my face.
She rummaged around her handbag and pulled out a newspaper. “Tell me now that you don’t know,” she said, her voice dripping with venom, “and to think he trusted you with the one secret that could break him. Enjoy your life, Aubrey, but don’t ever contact my brother again. You’ve destroyed him and our family.”
With that she turned on her heel and stomped back to the elevator. She got inside and was gone.
I was stunned, and opened the paper she’d thrust at me. Through my tears I saw the worst thing I could possibly imagine.
It was a British paper, the Daily something, nothing more than a gossip rag but read by millions.
On the front page was the photo we’d taken in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was blown up and a story surrounded it.
That wasn’t what made me break down and fall to the floor though.
The headline did that.
It read, “Nerdy Book Blogger Tells All.” The print underneath got even worse, “Isaac James is Baby Charlie! The secret meaning behind his tattoos and how she got him to fall in love with her.”
I felt the clerk grab my elbow and help me up. “Miss, your car is here, you have to go.”
Clutching the paper and letting him take my bags, I stumbled to the car and collapsed in the back seat.
On a hunch I grabbed my phone and checked my blog. At precisely the moment I’d been joined with Isaac, coming and loving him, Chloe had posted a story.
The story of us, Isaac and I. She had used the photo from Instagram and hadn’t gotten everything right, but she’d deduced the most important parts. Isaac was adopted and his tattoos were a memorial to his dead mother and siblings.
The driver politely ignored me as I sobbed in the backseat all the way to the airport. At one point he handed me a box of tissues and I let it all out.
I didn’t know how I could fix this, and I didn’t know how Isaac would ever forgive me, but I knew I would fight to get him back and I would find a way to make this better.
Until then I would be broken, damaged, half a girl walking in a world devoid of color, her heart left in the hands of Isaac James.
Until then, I was nothing.
Chapter Twenty Five
The minute I walked through the front door, dropped my bags and collapsed, it all became real to me.
Isaac, Chloe, the ultimate betrayal and the ultimate rejection.
The look on Auntie Abby’s face let me know how bad it was. The flight attendants had given up trying to comfort me and finally left me in miserable silence for the long flight. The cab driver seemed to immediately regret his decision to pick me up as soon I started to sniffle, thinking about how happy we’d been when we’d left from this very terminal.
By the time I got home, I was ready to hide under my blankets and not see anyone for days.
Auntie Abby needed no explanation, she could tell by the look on my face that something bad had happened. She left my luggage near the front door and took me to the kitchen for a tea.
I sat slumped in the chair and remembered how Isaac had filled our lives with his big energy and kindness.
And his fine ass.
I sighed dramatically, unable to contain myself. The kettle whistled and Auntie Abby set out the teapot with a plate of cookies and sat down acr
oss from me.
“I’m not gonna pry, but I can guess that something bad happened. Not only are you home a few days early, but you look like you lost your left leg,” she said, pouring me a cup of hot liquid.
I took a cookie and nibbled it, felt a pang of grief stab through me and devoured the entire thing in one bite. I chased it down with another.
Finally I said, “He sent me home. He kicked me out and sent me home, my life is ruined.”
“What happened? Anyone could take one look at you two and see how much you loved each other. That kind of thing doesn’t just disappear overnight.”
The bell rang just then and I leapt up, praying Isaac had come to his senses. I rushed to the front, brushing my hair from my eyes, and threw the door open.
Chloe stood on my steps. “Aubrey, oh my god, I just heard what happened. I’m so sorry, I can’t believe it, you two seemed so perfect for each other.”
I felt a switch flip and I unleashed my anger on her. I screamed, “You fucking bitch! You posted that horrible article! You spread his secret to the world and you did it to break us up!”
She tried her best to look shocked, but her eyes glittered with smug triumph. She brought her hand to her chest and gasped. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I would die before I hurt you, and the blog was clearly written by you. Maybe you were sleepwalking, but how would I ever know about his tattoos? I read them for the first time a couple days ago, with the rest of the world.”
“Fuck you,” I said, my voice even and dark, “you are dead to me, Chloe. I know you must have read my phone that night you stayed over, dug through all my texts with Isaac for the juicy bits. I want you to go, and if you ever come near me again I will break every bone in your pathetic, lying body.”
I turned and tried to close the door. Chloe stuck her foot in it and wedged it open. “You have to listen to me,” she demanded, “Isaac wasn’t good for you. His fame was going to your head. If in fact I am guilty of anything, it’s that I loved you so much that I didn’t tell you what an egomaniac you’ve been lately. I think anyone who knows you can agree with that.”
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