*******
I awake to a warm male arm slung across my waist and legs, trapping mine within the 500 count Egyptian cotton sheets. The autumnal sun is making its appearance through a crack in the heavy gold velvet curtains and I wince as I gingerly lift Sebastian’s arm off my bulging bladder and ease it carefully back down onto the mattress, careful not to wake him. Untangling my feet from his is slightly more time-consuming but eventually I’m free and I pad to the bathroom, with a backward glance at his handsome face I see he is still deep in slumber.
I shower quickly and apply make-up, then select dark blue boyfriend skinny jeans, a red cashmere jumper with a gorgeous chiffon back that showed bared skin and was one of my new purchases, and brown suede biker boots. The wind could be chilly at this time of year and what I had in mind, meant we’d be outside for most of the day. Butterflies flutter in the pit of my belly and I flick my eyes over towards the bed, as I step into my jeans and stop in my tracks, as I’m met with a 6 foot inch naked body, unashamed and openly appraising me. My nipples ruche under his gaze and I continue to button my jeans, in need of distance between us.
“Don’t get that look in your eye, Mr! Shower and change; we have a date with Paris.”
“Well don’t you look all sprightly and fresh and clean; ready to be all mussed up?”
I’m lifted before I can swat him away and instinctively I wrap my legs around his waist, leaning back to see him better. “I mean it Seb, we are on the clock.”
“So that’s why you put this sexy bra on for me did you, to just get dressed?” his voice is laced with sarcasm.
“I always wear lovely undies and it can’t hurt for you to know what’s under the clothes - to get a teaser of what’s to come… later.” I wink saucily at him.
He bends to suckle my nipple through my blush lacy balconette and I gasp at the ripples of pleasure that flood my body. I can feel his cock beneath my groin rise to the challenge and I squirm, pushing against his chest.
“Put me down, Seb. I mean it. We have plans and whilst you are doing a fabulous job of convincing me to get back into that bed with you. I stand firm this morning.”
“So do I, baby - rock hard!” he growls against my throat, kissing along the most sensitive part of my skin which sends me mental and makes me wet instantly. Oh come on!
I giggle in frustration, as I look down at his arousal, and all laughter leaves my lips, as I’m instantly, turned on by the sight of him, so unselfconscious of his obvious erection and brazenly modelling his fine physique. He didn’t give a shit about his nakedness, or the fact that he looked so vulnerable, and I loved that about him.
My face flushes, as I bite my lip to stop myself from dropping to my knees and taking him to the back of my throat. We had to be downstairs soon to keep to schedule; a schedule he knew nothing about and I had no intention of sharing with him… yet.
“Fine, on this occasion I’ll go with it, Lulu but only because I promised that you could plan today. Tonight, you are mine and I will be back in control.”
“Thank you.” I lean up to kiss him on the lips but he pulls away, his hands held up in front of him.
“Seriously, Lu, no contact. Let me go have a freezing cold shower, then I’ll kiss you and for God’s sake put a top on, baby if you want to leave the room today.”
I watch his sexy butt swagger to the bathroom and can’t resist stepping forward and swatting it playfully as he steps through the doorway. What was I doing turning down a man as hot as Sebastian? Here I had a man who could compete with David Gandy in the modelling world, Channing Tatum on the dance floor & naked, Ryan Gosling for the sex appeal and Henry Cavill, for looks. Paris and all our plans could wait and despite my earlier shower, I suddenly felt like getting seriously down and dirty.
An hour later and we are finally making our way by metro and foot for brunch or bruncher, as it was known in France, to one of Paris’ best kept secrets. Jean Claude had advised Nathan when I’d asked him to do some digging for me earlier in the week and apparently there was no better place than La Maison Mille-feuille in the 15th Arrondissment.
One thing you had to be in Paris was fit. There was a…lot of walking but as my aim this weekend was to make the most of every second of each hour with my gorgeous man I am happy to wander through the streets hand in hand and enjoy the ambience of one of the most romantic cities in the world.
I feel my bag buzz and locate my phone. It’s a text from Abby.
Well? Any news yet?
I quickly fire off a response and ignore the many many emails glaring at me, willing me to open them. I’m on a romantic break for two and work could wait.
Not yet but u’ll be the first 2 know. Promise. Xx
*
Get a wriggle on girl - I’m chomping at the bit here. Shame its not between my teeth
could do with a Naaaaaa!
*
I’m in France babe - horse jokes freak me out!
*
Horse meat is always on the menu,
when you’re with Seb!
He’s seriously hung!
*
Only jealous x
*
Yep! Now go get on with it.
Love ya!
“Everything Ok?” Seb focuses on me for the first time since we began our stroll down Rue Pasteur.
“Hmmm mmm. Just Abs. She’s bonkers.”
“She is that - loveable though.” I snuggle into his arm, loving that he cares about my best friend as much as I do. “She is isn’t she? Do you think her and Nathan will work out?”
“I don’t know, baby. I hope so.” His voice falters over the last words, causing me to glance up at him.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I honestly don’t know. I know Nathan adores her and I haven’t seen him this happy in years, if ever but it’s happened so fast for them…”
“It’s happened fast for us.”
“Not bloody fast enough.”
“Seriously.”
“I am being serious.”
I swat his arm and he jogs to step in front of me, turning to face me, walking backwards into the crowds. “It took far too long but even if we’d only had 24 hours together, it wouldn’t have mattered - I’ve known you for years - Na and Abs have known each other for a few months.”
“Sometimes that’s all it takes.”
“True. I knew the second you walked out the Cave Bar with Niall all those years ago; the second you turned and looked right back at me, I just knew that you were ‘THE ONE’.”
I frown at his suddenly serious expression and we stop walking, my body pressing into his heat. His arms wrap instinctively around me and we hold tight, both quiet with our thoughts, his lips in my hair, mine at the hollow of his neck. Passersby continue on around us, as we stand stationary gazing at each other, caught in our special moment.
“Why didn’t you stop me, Seb, that night?”
“Fuck, I’ve asked myself that question a million times and I never get the same answer. The honest answer is I wasn’t ready for this; for what I knew we would be together. I was young dumb and full of…”
“…common sense…not!” I butt in, sarcastically.
“Something, like that.” His deep laugh reverberates through our bodies and I pull away to smile wistfully up at him.
“We’ve said it before but sometimes I feel like we missed out on so much time together.”
“I know, baby but we were meant to be apart so Finn could be born, that kid is going places.”
I grin at the thought of my precious boy and nod in agreement. Fate. Four little letters that made such a huge word with such momentous connotations. I firmly believed that Sebastian and I were fate. “He is, you’re right there. I hope he’s Ok?”
Slinging an arm lazily around my waist we continue on our path, side by side and Seb rubs my arm reassuringly. “He’ll be fine, your mum and dad will be spoiling him and G was taking him to f
ootie - he’ll be in his element.”
“He will; I’m sure and this weekend is about us. Sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologise for being a good mother, Lu. It’s one of the things I love about you. Besides, I worry about him too.”
My innards melt and go all gooey, as his paternal instincts kick in and I find it hard not to be reminded what a wonderful father he would have made to our unborn child.
Deep breaths. Try not to go there, today babe, today is about you and him.
“I know you do, you’re so good with him. He loves you and his uncle Na, the male influence you have brought into his life has been so stabilising.”
“Nathan is obsessed with him. He’ll make a great dad when the time comes.”
“Abs will make a great mum too!”
Seb sniggers at my pushy comment. “I think she will too. I also think that they are perfect together but they need to come to that conclusion themselves and not with our meddling. Oui?”
“Just promise me you’ll give me a heads up if you hear of any changes from Na’s camp. He and I are close but I don’t want him to feel like he can’t trust me.”
“Lulu, I’ll always give you a heads up.” His eyes are filled with unadulterated sexual innuendo, as he waggles his eyebrows.
“You manage to make everything sound dirty.”
“And you love it.”
“I do.”
Those two words ring in my head and I’m reminded of why I wanted to make today special and it began with food, I am starving. We cross over the street, heading straight into a cute bakery, with blue and white striped canopies, wooden chairs and navy parasols outdoors and large picture windows filled with all manner of sweets, treats and icings. I advise Sebastian to wait outside and whilst it goes against every fibre of his controlling being he nods and leans casually against the exterior wall. A few minutes later I return and we are seated at a table, apparently the best in the house and our orders taken. The little cafe, is delightfully unpretentious and the perfect spot to people watch from our more secluded position, where we can enjoy the ambience of Paris in peace, holding hands and maintaining contact at all times. This was just what we needed. For the first time in weeks I felt relaxed - like I wasn’t being watched.
Our brunch arrives, croissants, pecan pastries, delicious coffee and hot chocolate and we make fast work of devouring the warm buttery patisseries, with lashings of apricot jam and Sebastian's favourite Nutella. The French carbs are going down singing hymns on ooh’s and ahh’s, as we mop up stray crumbs with gingham napkins and feed one another samples of our own yummy treats.
“You’ll have to choose where we eat more often, this place is a gem of a find - who tipped you off?” Seb replaces his empty coffee cup and relaxes back into his chair.
“James Marcell. Apparently it is his favourite cafe in Paris and he’s been coming here for twenty years.”
“The man has taste - does he have a place here?”
“He did - he sold it to buy The Ashton but he’s looking into buying a holiday home in the Loire valley.”
“I like his style - if he wasn’t gay I’d be worried he had eyes on you.”
My own fly up, concern etched across my brow. “Sebastian, really?”
“Ah, baby I’m sorry.” His big hand closes over mine; thumb rubbing sensuously back and forth across my inner wrist. “That was stupid. I didn’t mean he was watching you… I just think he’s got a bit of a crush on you.”
“Rubbish! James is nothing but professional and only has eyes for Colin.” I lower my voice and bite my lip to refrain from saying more.
“I stand corrected. Where to after this, my love?”
I appraise the sexy man opposite me, from behind my sunglasses, his face so relaxed and full mouth pouting, how could I stay even the slightest bit cross at him - I was just as jealous at any possible female interest in him. “We’ll head over to the Eiffel Tower of course.”
“Of course, silly me.” His grin is infectious.
“What? We have to visit the Eiffel Tower together, it’s a must.” If we don’t, all my plans will go to pot.
“For you, baby, anything.”
“Today is all about us. Being here, with you is enough for me, Seb.”
We make our way over to The Seine River, enjoying a romantic stroll along the Ponts De Arts Bridge. It had been my plan to place a padlock on the well-known ‘bridge of lurve’ with our initials on, joining over a million others that had been placed by couples like us, but they had all been removed only a few months before by Paris city hall due to their weight and the damage they were inflicting on the structure. A shame but I understood why they’d had to be withdrawn and the view from the bridge was stunning, with the view of the Eiffel Tower behind us. Instead, we stopped and posed for an indulgent Selfie and a helpful passerby took our pic whilst we kissed, with the Seine as our backdrop.
“If it matters to you, that we padlock our initials in Paris - I’ll find a way.” My controlling sexy man whispers into my ear and I snuggle into him in acknowledgement. And he would - he’d find a way.
Ten minutes later in a taxi ride via the Quai d’Orsay we are dropped at our final destination. “Oh. My. God. I can’t believe I’m really here.”
“At the Eiffel Tower? Have you seriously never been?” Seb’s face is incredulous as he brushes a stray hair from my cheek.
“Uh uh - never. I’ve been to Paris but never here. I always wanted to come with my lover. It’s supposed to be the place to bring the person you want to spend the rest of your life with.”
“Is that so… so you never brought Niall?” His grin is smug, as he nods his head with rolled lips. “Interesting…”
“Come on, EGO, time to go a’walking.”
“We’re doing the steps then? You realise there are 704, baby?”
“God no - lifts of course.”
“Good job I booked us a guided tour then.”
But…how did you know? I mean, I never said we were coming here?” I frown up into his chocolate eyes.
“Just a wild guess. We are in Paris and you said you wanted to spend the day sight seeing? I booked in with all the landmarks to ensure my lady gets only the best today.”
I relax instantly. That’s so typical of him and part of his controlling habits that I enjoy. “I tried to get us a tour but you have to book at least month in advance - of course you would be able to sort it in a breath.”
“Who you know, I guess.” With a raise of his sexy brows he gives me a cheeky pat on the behind before clasping hands and dragging me to the entrance. “We doing this - or what?
I shake my head at his flippancy. I knew he’d never be able to just let me be in charge for one day. I’m surprised we’d managed to get this far. I just hope he’ll go with the flow a little bit longer, just enough to allow me to be brave and put myself out there.
As we make our way to the foot of this gigantic industrial icon, both elegant and alien all at once, with the October sun bright and low on the horizon, our arms around each other’s waists, I take a second to enjoy this special moment. I’m here visiting one of the most famous landmarks in the world, with the sexiest man on the planet, he’s all mine and openly showing his feelings for me any chance he can; a pat on the bum here, a trailing finger down my face there and plenty of knowing looks - those knowing looks that melt my panties and make me want to return to our hotel, forgetting the outside world and this whole sightseeing plan.
We meet our tour guide and Sebastian arranges everything, chatting for a short while in hushed tones. A few moments later we are shown to the lift, where queues of people wait patiently. We bypass each one of them and step inside the silver escalator, alone, our only companion the lift operator.
“Um, where is our guide?” I ask him in surprise.
“You’re looking at him, baby.”
“Sod off, you? No. Seriously?”
“Seriously. I can tell you e
verything you need to know, facts, figures, history, the romance of it all, just ask and then we’ll start on you getting an ‘eyeful of what’s towering in my jeans’ - fancy a tour down below?”
I burst out laughing at that, I can’t help it. The lift operator does well to maintain a straight face as I lean into Sebastian’s body and we retract to the back of the lift to watch Paris blossom beneath us as we escalate. My lips find his on a smile and I’m reminded of why I’m here. I love this man so much, his humour, sex appeal, controlling ways and thoughtfulness. Never mind that he’s involved himself in my plans, if it meant that we are now alone and can enjoy this special time without feeling entirely claustrophobic.
We move on past the first floor, where people mill around at the shops and restaurants and continue upwards, my stomach flip-flopping all the way, a strong combination of the fear of heights and nerves from what I’m about to do. Seb’s arm around me is a great comfort but I know he senses my discomfort.
“You Ok, Lu? You’re very quiet.”
“Hmmm mmm, you know me and heights. I’m better than I thought I’d be.”
“The wide-open spacious feel of this place helps. My mum is petrified of heights but was fine when we visited years ago as a family. If it gets too much just tell me and we’ll go back down. I’ll take care of you, I promise.”
Oh yes, I know you will - so well.
My jaw is clasped gently and I look up into his eyes, the air leaving my lungs, as I’m hit with the beauty of him, and instantly calmed. “Thank you, I’m good. I’ll be good.”
I’ll be fine when I’ve asked you my question.
At the second floor we have to change lifts and again are ushered into a lift for a party of two. Finally we reach the top, taking the last few steps to the rooftop of the Eiffel Tower. Bubbles of nerves begin to pop with each descent towards the sky but Seb holds my hand tightly within his the whole journey and when we step onto the roof, I’m full of confidence, ready to get this party started.
“Wow, are high up!”
“324 metres, lady.”
“Thank you Mr. Geeky Tour guide.” I release myself from his grasp and tentatively take a step closer to the observatory edge.
The One Adored (The One Trilogy Book 3) Page 9
