Pleasure Games

by Daire St. Denis

  A small smile touched her lips and she covered his hand with hers. Her touch was light and cool, and Luca felt a stirring of tenderness toward this complete stranger.

  “Okay,” she murmured. “I’ll try.”

  Then she passed out again.

  Rubbing his temples, he gazed down at the slight woman who took up less than a third of his bed. She was showing all of the signs of a concussion; he’d seen it too many times to count on the racing circuit, and although he couldn’t risk taking her to a hospital or calling an ambulance, he had to get her medical help.

  Back in the bedroom, in the drawer of the small bedside table, was his old phone, the one he hadn’t turned on in two weeks. He grabbed it, booted it up and typed a name into his contact list. Then he pressed the call button. As the phone rang, his heart beat fiercely in his chest.

  It wasn’t anxiety, nor was it adrenaline. This was something else, like he was teetering on the edge of a precipice, vertigo pulling at him, forcing him to jump, and just as he felt himself fall...he noticed the rocks below.

  * * *

  Jasmine woke up to the sound of her own groans. She lay there for a few minutes, listening to the pounding cymbals inside her head, each clash punctuated with a sharp pain that lanced the side of her skull and reverberated through her temples down to her jaw.

  Random images from the last few days flashed through her brain. Her wedding had been cancelled, she’d boarded a plane to Paris...

  Jasmine’s stomach heaved dryly as she recalled nearly getting kicked off the plane. But she hadn’t, had she? She’d made it to Paris, right?

  Then what...?

  Hmm...? Why was it so hard to remember? Was she hungover? She sat up and her head swam like she was wearing glasses with the wrong prescription. Wait a second, she didn’t wear glasses, did she?

  She touched her face. No glasses. Then Jasmine rubbed her eyes, and when her vision cleared, she took in her surroundings. She didn’t recognize a thing.

  Where the hell was she?

  “Ah, our patient is awake.”

  Jasmine turned her head—too quickly—causing her to squeeze her lids shut in pain. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man she’d never seen before. He was tall and thin, wearing a tailored shirt and pants. His face was all angles with sunken eyes and cheeks that made his cheekbones prominent. He had close-cropped salt-and-pepper hair and smiled kindly.

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Hugo Caron. I am a doctor.” The man spoke English slowly, with a French accent.

  “Where am I?”

  “You are in a private residence in Paris.”

  “In Paris?”

  “Yes. You have bumped your head and I believe you have sustained a concussion. I need to perform some tests to see how serious it is.”

  When the man stepped to the side of the bed, Jasmine realized there was someone else in the room. Another man who stood in the shadows.

  “Who’s that?” she asked, pointing.

  The doctor turned, as if he also hadn’t realized there was someone there. “That is...” he began slowly, “the man who found you. You were unconscious on the street. He brought you here and called me.”

  “Oh.”

  Why was everything so foggy? Why did none of this make sense? What had happened to her once she’d arrived in Paris?

  “Oh!” She put her hand to her mouth, a snippet of a memory returning.

  Have yourself a sex-venture. It was Ashley’s voice in her head.

  Slowly this time, Jazz took in her surroundings. The queen-sized bed with the dark sheets and comforter. A masculine choice. The room, a foil to the suite at the hotel—oh, wait, she remembered the hotel! It was airy and light and decorated with antiques—this room was painted taupe and had modern furnishings.

  “I’m going to do some tests and then ask you some questions, okay?”

  Jazz nodded but stopped herself when the motion caused instant nausea. “Okay,” she whispered.

  The doctor shone a light in each of her eyes and then asked her to follow his finger as he moved it from side to side in front of her face. He checked her ears with a scope, and her hearing by speaking quietly into each one. With gentle fingers, he touched a tender spot on the side of her head.

  “Ouch.”

  “I’m sorry.” He tilted her head up and to the side to get a better look at whatever injury she’d sustained and he hmmed.

  “Okay. Straighten your arm out to the side,” the doctor instructed. “Now I’m going to push down, try to resist. Good.” He changed his grip so that he held the underside of her arm and asked her to push down against his hold and then he did the same on the other side.

  Following that, he helped her to stand and asked her to balance on one leg and then the other, and each time he instructed her to touch her finger to her nose while balancing on one foot. There were some more balance and coordination tests before he helped her back onto the bed. He pulled up a chair right beside it and leaned forward.

  “I’m going to ask you some questions, okay? You might not know the answers to some but don’t worry. It’s normal to experience some short-term memory loss after a head injury.”

  “Okay.” Jasmine touched the side of her head gingerly.

  The doctor proceeded to ask her full name, where she lived, what she did for a living. All of those were easy to answer. She may have fibbed that she was still employed.

  “How long have you been in Paris?”

  “Just a day. I think. What day is it? The twenty-fifth?”

  “Yes, June twenty-fifth. Good. Where are you staying in Paris?”

  “Um...a hotel. It’s very pretty, very posh.”

  “Do you remember the name?”

  “Ahh...l’hotel...d’something?” Jasmine bit her lip. “I can’t remember, but it’s near the Eiffel Tower.”

  The doctor raised a single brow. “I see. So, what brought you to Paris?”

  “It’s my honeymoon.”

  The man straightened. “And where is your husband, madame?”

  “My husband?” Jasmine put a hand to her forehead. “I’m sorry. No. It’s not my honeymoon.” She shook her head and then wished she hadn’t. “I’m not married. I just always wanted to come to Paris on my honeymoon.” The words came out in a flurry.

  “So, are you here with anyone?”

  “Um...no. Just me. By myself.” Jasmine was vaguely aware of the doctor getting up and going to speak quietly to the man who had been observing from the corner of the room.

  “What happened to me?” Jasmine asked.

  The doctor didn’t answer as the conversation between the two men increased in volume. Were they arguing? Over what? Surely not her?

  “Excuse me?” She waved. “Hello?”

  Still the men did not respond. The doctor was gesturing at her and speaking rapidly in French. The other man made some guttural remarks and then threw his hands in the air.

  “Hey,” Jasmine called. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on?”

  “Oui, bien sûr.” The doctor turned toward her. “We were just discussing your situation. You have a mild concussion. It’s nothing to worry about. However, you must be observed for twenty-four hours.” He glanced back at the man in the corner. “I can take you to the hospital—but you have no passport.”

  “Oh, yes I do,” Jasmine said. “It’s in my bag.”

  “And where is your bag, mademoiselle?”

  “It’s—” She bit her lip. Blinked. “Isn’t it here?”

  The doctor turned to speak quietly to the other man who answered quickly. “Non. You have nothing here except for what you are wearing.”

  “Really?” Where the hell was her bag? It would have everything. Her phone, her hotel key, her ID, Parker’s credit cards!

  Dammit!


  “So,” Jasmine said slowly, “what will happen to me if I go to the hospital?”

  “You will be asked to show identification and because you don’t have any, they will have to contact the embassy and your next of kin.”

  Jasmine held up her hand. “No.” The last thing she needed was to have to contact her parents, or worse, Parker, and ask for help after being in Paris only one day. She wasn’t ready to face him yet. Absolutely not an option.

  “What are my other choices?”

  “That you stay here. My friend has kindly offered to observe you for twenty-four hours.”

  The man standing in shadows muttered something beneath his breath. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound like he was thrilled with the idea of observing her. Well, Jasmine was not overly keen on being watched by a complete stranger, either, thank you very much.

  “There must be some other option.”

  “You don’t know where you’re staying. You are here alone and have no identification or money. Unless you know someone in Paris, you do not have many choices, mademoiselle.”

  Slowly—very slowly—Jasmine tilted her head to the side. “What about you? Can’t I stay with you?” She pointed at the doctor.

  “Je suis désolé. I’m sorry but it is impossible. My work has me flying to Italy this evening.” The doctor turned toward the other man and gestured him forward. “Luca is a good man.” The doctor coughed as if to cover up a chuckle. “He will take excellent care of you until you remember where you are staying.”

  “What if I can’t remember?”

  “Your memory should return soon. But if it doesn’t, I’m sure the two of you can figure things out.” The man’s lips twisted as if to repress a grin. “Now,” he glanced at the watch on his wrist. “I really must go before I miss my flight.” He nodded to Jasmine. “Au revoir, mademoiselle.”

  The doctor exited the bedroom and the other man—Luca—followed. Jasmine could hear the two of them continuing their heated discussion outside the door, though it became more muted as they moved farther down the hallway.

  She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyelids, willing herself to remember what had happened. Something.

  Anything.

  But for the life of her, the last thing Jasmine remembered was Ashley saying, Buy condoms, lots and lots of condoms.

  * * *

  “She can’t stay here,” Luca insisted once the bedroom door was closed.

  Hugo, who was the team physician for Luca’s racing team, had not only treated Luca after various wipeouts—including the shattered leg that had ended his career—he’d been a close friend ever since Luca joined the team five years ago. While he’d briefly explained his predicament with the family estate, and Hugo understood his need for discretion, Luca had kept most of the details to himself. Including the robbery.

  “I’m sure she’ll remember the name of her hotel by the morning. Anyway, you know how important observation is in these first twenty-four hours. This woman has no one to watch her.” Hugo smiled gently. “Except you.”

  “Isn’t there another way? I am supposed to be lying low. Not harboring an amnesiac tourist.”

  “It’s only for one night.”

  Luca groaned in defeat.

  Hugo patted his arm. “Everything will be fine.” Just then, Hugo’s phone dinged and he tapped on it. “My cab is here.” He tucked his phone into his pocket and headed for the front door.

  “Hugo, wait.” Luca exhaled. He hated the fact that he had to say this. “You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone, do you understand?”

  “Of course.” The expression Hugo wore was kind. And most welcome after the way others had treated him since the sex scandal. “Give her acetaminophen for the pain. You know the drill. Rest. No TV.” Hugo reached for the door handle. “Bonne chance, mon ami.”

  Luca banged his head—once, twice, three times—against the closed door after Hugo left, and then a noise from down the hall had him spinning around. The woman stood there, eyes wide, her feet bare, thick waves of dark hair shadowing half her face.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Her soft apology did more to diffuse Luca’s anger than he would have expected. “Why are you sorry?”

  “For putting you out.” She gestured to his flat in general. “It’s obvious you don’t want me here.” She walked toward him, taking careful steps. Whether it was because her head hurt or because she was scared of him, Luca couldn’t tell. “It’s just...” She seemed to be weighing her words. “I don’t think I could deal with a hospital waiting room or the embassy right now. I’m still feeling a bit dizzy.”

  Hugo was right...whoever this woman was, she needed to be taken care of. “It’s okay,” he said eventually, forcing a smile. “I’ve changed my plans for this evening.” Plans? What plans, Luc?

  “Oh.” A little wrinkle formed between her brows.

  “Please. You are welcome to stay the night.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  She took a tentative step forward and then another until she stood right in front of him. The top of her head came to just below his chin, her face was tilted up so she could meet his gaze. Her lips were pink and full—the kind of lips Anika would have paid a fortune for—but it was her eyes that captivated him. Liquid brown, like melted chocolate, with smudged mascara that rimmed her wide eyes, only making them appear larger.

  There was no fucking way he could say no to those eyes.

  “My name is Jasmine. Jasmine Sweet.” Her lips trembled with an uncertain smile as she extended her hand. “And you are Luca...?”

  “Luca. Luca Deschamps,” he lied.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE MAN UNNERVED HER.

  There was an intensity to those blue eyes—so dramatic against his dark brows, dark hair and olive skin—that made her feel as if his gaze was boring inside of her, seeking something. But what? It left her feeling shaky and...tingly.

  Could be the concussion.

  Still...somehow, she felt comfortable here. She’d only half lied when she’d told him why she wanted to stay. The truth was, he was doing her a favor. Now she could put off dealing with Parker and her family until later. Plus, it was one thing to be traveling solo when she knew where she was staying. It was another when she was concussed, confused and without any identification.

  “Are you hungry?” the man asked.

  “What time is it?”

  He flipped his wrist to check his watch. “Seven thirty.”

  As if on cue, her stomach rumbled and she laughed, though it sounded false to her ears. “I guess so.”

  “Come. Sit.”

  She followed him into the open-concept kitchen, dining room and living room. Like the bedroom, the space was stark. Wood floors, a plain gray leather couch, white walls with dark beams overhead and the floor-to-ceiling windows that seemed to be the norm in Paris.

  Jasmine sat on a gray leather barstool at the breakfast counter, leaning her elbows on the granite surface, her hand going automatically to her aching temple.

  “Un moment.” The man—Luca—strode back down the hall, returning a moment later with the ice pack and two tablets. He first placed the pack against his cheek, murmuring something in French before passing it to her. “It’s still cold. It’ll help with swelling and bruising.”

  “Thank you.”

  Then he dropped the tablets into her upturned hand, his fingers accidentally grazing her palm.

  There were those damn tingles again.

  She frowned, which hurt. Still, her gaze followed him as he opened a small refrigerator, removed a glass jug of clear bubbling liquid, poured it into a tumbler and handed it to her. She took a sip of the sparkling water, which burned quite pleasantly as she swallowed the pills.

  “Are you okay to sit? Do you need to lie down?”

&nb
sp; “I’m fine, thank you.”

  His lips turned up at the ends—not a real smile—as he prompted her to apply the ice pack by taking her hand and placing it against her head.

  “It will help.”

  Jasmine closed her eyes as she iced, ignoring the tingles—and certainly not thinking about the source of the tingles. Once again, she willed herself to remember what had happened after her arrival in Paris, but there was nothing behind her lids but blackness interspersed by shards of light that flashed with each beat of her pulse. For some reason, trying to remember made her head hurt more, so instead, she simply listened to Luca work in the kitchen.

  Cupboards opened and closed. The sound of a nearby drawer as it was sliding open and closed on its runners. A knife against a cutting board. Slicing. Another drawer and the sound of cutlery. The clink of glass against the granite countertop followed by the pop of a cork and the gurgling of liquid being poured.

  When she opened her eyes, a glass of red wine sat in front of her, as did a plate of various cheeses, finely sliced meats, nuts and olives that he’d placed in the middle of the counter between them.

  Luca was tipping his own wine glass back and Jasmine noticed the movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed. He had a strong neck. Lots of tendons and muscles that worked in harmony.

  And then he caught her staring. “Yes?”

  She cleared her throat and pointed at her glass. “Should I be drinking?”

  “Just a glass. It’s good for you. But then water.” He gestured to the platter of food. “Please.”

  Hesitantly, Jasmine reached for a piece of cheese. Oh, it was good, and the more she ate, the more hungry she felt.

  When was the last time she’d eaten?

  Glancing down, she noticed her dirt-smeared blouse. When was the last time she’d changed? Showered? Turning and tilting her chin in a way she hoped was inconspicuous, Jasmine gave her pits a sniff.

  Ugh. Not the freshest.

  “Um...” Jasmine began after eating a handful of nuts and three slices of meat. “I hate to trouble you, but would I be able to take a shower?”

  The man turned from where he’d been pulling items out of the small refrigerator. “It’s not a good idea.”