Coffee, Sex and Law

by Avril Rose

  "What? What are you talking about?”

  “I made him believe there was enough evidence against him to put him behind bars.”

  “Which totally isn’t true according to what Julia said,” I explain.

  “Yeah, but he doesn’t know that,” he says, winking.

  He stands up, picks up a briefcase he had set down in the entrance, and hands it to me.

  “I got Victor to sign an agreement. He’s selling his shares to you, at a... well... a nominal price. Congratulations, Miss Pasquier, in a few days you'll be the sole owner of Temple Coffee!”

  “You’re kidding me!?” I say, starting to jump for joy, wondering if I’m dreaming.

  All of this is too good to be true.

  “I promise you, it’s real.”

  I jump into his arms, hugging him so hard I almost suffocate him.

  “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I exclaim over and over.

  He takes my face in his hands and stares at me intensely.

  “Zoe, I’ve been in love with you since the first day I walked into Temple Coffee. I love your creativity, your enthusiasm. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I love your body, your soul, your feistiness, and all the rest.”

  “How would I have made it through all this without you?” I ask him seriously.

  “I’d rather not even think about it,” he says honestly.

  “I love you, my 00S.”

  We both start to laugh.

  “I found a nickname for you, too.”

  “Oh yeah? What is it?”

  “I won’t say another word without my lawyer present,” he teases.

  He tips me back onto the couch and sits between my legs, taking hold of one of my thighs. I wrap my leg around his waist to feel him as much as possible. The last time we made love seems forever ago. And it's been unbearable.

  We kiss for a few long, delicious minutes. I savor the scent of his skin and taste the slightly mentholated flavor of his mouth. He slips his tongue between my parted lips softly and sweetly. His tongue dances with mine, the rhythm becoming more intense. The heat spreads through each molecule of my body, awakening the fire that was sleeping there. I move my hips, pressing into his pelvis. The move is efficient: I quickly feel his desire for me growing. Our breathing becomes progressively more halted. He unbuttons my pants and I take them off before doing the same with his. We’re both naked in less than a minute. I shake with desire for him. His hard cock brushes between my legs as he lies down on top of me, making me moan happily. I'm soaked with desire for him. He slides a finger inside me, a satisfied smile on his face.

  “Did you miss me, Zoe?”

  “You can’t even imagine how much. Get inside me.”

  My entire body is begging for him. I don’t want foreplay. I need to feel him inside me, now. He rips open a condom packet, staring feverishly into my eyes. I rub his hard member, loving the fact that I can give him pleasure. He lets himself go, without any false modesty, his eyes burning into mine. He wraps his hand firmly around mine, guiding me to move faster and faster. It’s so... intimate.

  “Touch yourself,” he commands softly.

  I do as he says, completely unembarrassed. Things seem so easy with him. So self-evident.

  Still staring into his eyes, I lower my free hand to my pussy. I brush my fingertips against my swollen clit, still rubbing his shaft. It's so good. I finally close my eyes to enjoy these new sensations. They are heightened as Liam puts a finger inside me, causing me to cry out in surprise. I bite my lower lip to fight the orgasm that is already threatening to take over. I stare deep into his eyes while he unrolls the condom over his cock under my hungry gaze.

  He penetrates me immediately. Our bodies are now one. He’s motionless for a moment, brushing the wisps of hair from my face.

  “I love you,” he murmurs.

  He begins slowly, deliciously thrusting, filling me completely. My hands, first pressed against his muscular back, move down to his hips to guide his movements. He moves perfectly.

  “Liam...”

  My voice sounds like it’s coming from another dimension.

  He speeds up slightly, causing a fire to explode in my loins.

  "I love you. I love you so much,” I whisper.

  These words, so simple, so strong, so sincere, have an immediate impact. On him. On me. He accelerates until he's exhausted. I explode around him in a powerful orgasm. He joins me in ultimate pleasure a few seconds later. I almost cry under the life-giving effect of the release.

  The Liam effect.

  ***

  Three weeks later

  “Zoe! Open up! It’s me!”

  Liam is pounding on the door. Anxiety instantly surges through my body.

  I run to open up, worried to hear him so worked up. Something serious must have happened, there’s no other explanation.

  He strides in holding a newspaper, waving it before my eyes.

  “It's done, Zoe! It’s over!” he says enthusiastically.

  "What?”

  “It’s done! They got Anderson kicked out of France! For fucking good! It’s over, Zoe!” he says, laughing and hitting the newspaper with the back of his hand.

  “Show me that thing,” I say, my brow furrowed, grabbing the paper out of his hands.

  I read the headline on the first page and I can't believe my eyes.

  Am I dreaming?

  “It’s a huge scandal, Zoe. Top officials arrested! Corrupted judges! Big names have been revealed. It’s all anyone's talking about! The 'Anderson affair'!!”

  Liam is ecstatic. In his excitement, he lifts me up by the waist and twirls me around the apartment.

  I let myself get caught up in his delirium, laughing along with him.

  “Is it really over?” I ask, still not really believing it.

  “Yes, it is really over,” he assures me, kissing me hard.

  Actually, it’s not the end. This is where it all begins. Finally!”

  Epilogue

  Zoe

  "But why didn't you say anything, Zoe?" my mother lectures me.

  “Because I didn’t want you to worry!” I exclaim, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

  “I’m your mother! I could have helped you financially,” she says, justifying herself.

  "I know, Mom. But it was a much bigger problem than that.”

  “Yes, I see that now!” she thunders.

  "I'm sorry, Mom. I should have called you,” I apologize.

  "My daughter! On the front page of a national newspaper!”

  “It’s only a tiny little inset,” I say, trying to calm her down.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s going on, Zozo.”

  And there she goes again with that ridiculous nickname.

  “Do you have any idea how I felt when I realized you were involved in such a huge scandal?”

  “I'm sorry,” I repeat.

  “Well, anyway...” she finally concedes.

  We’re both silent for a second. I don’t dare say anything. The best plan is to wait until my mom gets it all out of her system.

  “I can't get over it. How did that man get so many people to support him and his scheming? Town hall! The police! Judges! He was going about his business for years without a care in the world. And he tried to kill you,” she says as she starts to cry.

  “Mom!” I say in a moralizing tone. “He did not try to kill me... he just scared me.”

  “He could have!” she argues.

  “But he didn't!” I exclaim to bring the drama down a notch. “He won’t be able to do any more harm, now,” I continue, my voice calmer. He’s barred from ever returning to France, thanks to the anti-corruption unit’s amazing work.”

  “Who?” she asks between sobs.

  “It’s a specialized unit. Of the judicial police,” I explai
n.

  I think about all the things my mother still doesn’t know. The biggest is definitely the fact that I almost lost the shop by signing that contract of sale.

  “Tell me about Liam,” my mom teases, surprising me with the sudden change of subject.

  “I... he...”

  I start to giggle, betraying how I really feel.

  “Interesting,” she laughs. “I hope we’ll have the pleasure of meeting him next week.”

  “Yes! I’m excited to introduce you. And he’s excited to meet you.”

  “Penelope already packed her suitcase,” she says, laughing.

  I smile, thinking of my little sister and the fact that we’ll soon be reunited.

  “Mom?”

  “Yes?”

  “I miss you guys, you know.”

  “We miss you too, sweetie.”

  "I love you. Give Penelope a hug for me.”

  “I love you, sweetie. Have fun tonight!”

  “Thanks, Mom. See you next week!”

  I feel happy and light when we hang up. I immediately begin preparing for the dinner party I decided to organize at the last minute. It’s not every day that a crook like Domenic Anderson gets deported!

  Alright, everything is ready.

  As I wait for my guests, I prepare a strong coffee for myself with notes of spice and a subtle cacao aroma. Delicious. I let my mind wander over memories from the last few weeks. I sure have had my dose of fear and surreal events. What I need now is a bit of peace and quiet and normality. In any case, if I had to go through it all again, I would. Along the painful journey, I met an incredible man, a man I’ve fallen madly in love with. I can’t imagine how dull and empty my life would be without him. Now that I know him, it’s difficult for me to imagine a life without Liam Desages. No, not difficult. Impossible.

  That day I spilled coffee on him seems like it was forever ago. I smile as I think back to that moment.

  My heart stops when Liam walks into the decorated room in his elegant navy blue suit, a white dress shirt with the collar unbuttoned, and shiny brown leather shoes. He walks in with confidence, straight to me, his eyes shining and a bright white smile lighting up his face.

  My God, he's sexy.

  And he's in love with me!

  A radiant, victorious flame dances through every cell in my body and soul.

  “Good evening my love!” he whispers in my ear before gently kissing my lips.

  He lifts me suddenly onto a bar stool and, wrapping my legs around himself, kisses me again, this time with ardor. I laugh, happy to finally see him again. Every second away from him is torture. I feel like I can’t breathe when he’s gone.

  “You’re magnificent,” he says. “How long do we have before the others arrive?” he asks maliciously.

  The clicking of stiletto heels on the hardwood floor answers his question.

  “Hey there, love birds!” Chloe announces, a bottle of champagne in hand.

  “Hi, Chloe!” I say, hugging her warmly. “Did you come alone?”

  “No, Mister Divorce is parking the car.”

  “Stop it, I never called him that!” I say, amused.

  “Oh? Hmm, you're right! Where did your nicknaming obsession go to? Well, anyway. Lisa is with him. Her divorce has come through. So consider yourselves warned, they're super-annoying. They spent the whole ride over making jokes about it. Pure hell. I'll tell you one thing, I won’t be getting a ride home with them, that’s for sure!”

  I’ve always loved Chloe’s monologues. Her disgusted act is rather hilarious.

  Hugo and Lisa join us a few minutes later.

  “Hey, Zoe! Hugo just told me the funniest joke,” she says as she kisses my cheeks.

  “Oh no, seriously!” Chloe whispers as she turns away so they don’t see her roll her eyes.

  “When a man gets a divorce, the blame is always shared.”

  I’m silent, waiting for the punch line. Lisa is already laughing her head off.

  “Do you know by who?”

  “Uh, no,” I say, playing along.

  I do my best to avoid looking at Chloe.

  “The wife is fifty percent to blame, and the other fifty percent is the mother-in-law!” she says gleefully.

  And now she and Hugo are delirious with laughter.

  “You see what I’m talking about now?” Chloe asks in a low voice, barely moving her lips.

  "Oh, yes.”

  “Get me a drink. Immediately,” she begs.

  “I have another one. What’s the difference between grammar and divorce?” Lisa continues.

  “Jesus, can someone please stop her? Zoe, take pity on me, please!”

  I do as Chloe asks, laughing, and ask my guests to stand around the buffet I’ve set up as Liam fills the champagne glasses.

  We’re all here, raising a glass, happy to be together.

  “To Temple Coffee!” I proclaim with joy.

  “To Temple Coffee!” my dearest friends echo back.

  If only you could be here to see this, Dad.

  The thought awakens deep emotions within me. So many things have happened since he died. But I’m still here, in this space, so full of memories. And I'm ready to create so many more. With my friends. And with Liam.

  “Are you alright, Zoe?” Liam asks, seeing my misty eyes.

  “I’m much better than alright,” I assure him.

  I lean into his chest and return to the laughter and conversation.

  “So, when’s the move, then?” Hugo asks.

  “In three weeks,” Liam answers. “But Zoe is already at my place all the time.”

  “It's just so handy to live closer to the shop,” I say, as if I needed to justify it.

  “Riiight,” Chloe teases. “You only agreed to move to cut down on your commute.”

  “And so I could watch you carry boxes in your Jimmy Choos,” I tease back.

  I look into Liam’s eyes and I’m full of admiration and love. I could get lost for hours, months, years in that hazel green heaven. Our silent exchange is full of promise and incredibly intense. I'm crazy about this amazing man. I feel invincible when I’m by his side, like nothing can happen to me as long as we’re together. Nothing, except for the best.

  We promised each other we'd spend forever together. What more can I hope for?

  I have faith we can keep our beautiful promise.

  Because he's the love of my life.

  The Liam effect.

  The End

  Acknowledgements

  I’ve been living my dream for a year now. Thanks to Addictive Publishing, I have the great honor of having an audience, of meeting amazing people, and of discovering a world that was completely unknown to me before. I have learned that, beyond the marked out path, there really are trails worth exploring. And there's no doubt that it's these that bring the greatest joy.

  A huge, loving thank-you to my very own Liam, who has been an incredible source of support throughout this journey. What would I do without you? I certainly would have lost my Temple Coffee...

  To Aurélie, thank you for being my guinea pig and reading my work before I sent it off to my amazing editors. You’ll have to check out the corrected version, it’s worth it!

  Maud, Sophie, Noémie, thank you for your professionalism and for always listening. I can tell my “pen” has evolved and I know it’s thanks to you. I’ll always remember our friendly debate over “Mister 00S”’ (James Bond or OSS 117??).

  Carole, thank you for designing the cover (I know it will be perfect and you’ll keep my taste in mind) and for your patience with all the questions that will be coming your way (just wait!).

  An enormous thank-you to all my readers I’ve met along the way on this new, exciting adventure off the beaten path. You have made the journey all the more beautiful. Thank you for your encouragement, your positive feedback, a
nd your support on social media. You contribute, each and every one of you, to my immense happiness.

  I hope you enjoyed the ride with Liam and Zoe, experiencing their passion, their doubts and pain, their joy and success, right along with them. And I hope you smiled (or even laughed) with Zoe’s outrageous friends.

  See you again soon for a new adventure!

  © EDISOURCE, 100 rue Petit, 75019 Paris

  March 2018

  ISBN 9791025742297

  ZIAM_001