"Wow," she whispered.
"Wow," he echoed, his breath brushing her neck.
She laughed. Not because anything was funny, but because she was so damn happy. She wanted to cherish this moment forever. She was in Paris. She was in love. She was in Paris, in love, and making love. It didn't get any better than this.
Chapter Twelve
Ndari was not in love and her would-be lover was a complete tyrant.
Keane wasn't going to let her go shopping with anything less than five bodyguards, including himself. Ndari wanted Keane to herself, she didn't understand why they couldn't go shopping alone together. She wanted to show him the Paris that she knew and loved. He'd been there before. He said he hated it. She wanted to show him why he should love it as much as she did. But in order to do that they needed to be free to move around the city without multiple vehicles and security guys armed to the hilt checking exits and entrances. Her entire life had been a series of bodyguards. She didn't need more. What she wanted was the freedom to explore the city she loved with the man she loved.
"But I don't understand why the two of us can't just go shopping together, why we can't go see the Louvre or why we can't go to the Eiffel Tower alone. I want to take you and be a couple of tourists together. It'll be great. Why do we need guards?"
He grunted. "Aside from the fact that your brother is probably still after you? And I have more enemies than I do friends." He shook his head. "The guards stay. They always stay. Your safety is the most important thing."
"Of course my safety is the most important thing, it always has been. But we can go out, you and me, and still be safe. I could go out by myself and still be safe."
"Absolutely not," he growled.
She gave him a stern look. "I wasn't planning on actually going out by myself. I just want you to know that it is possible to go out without bodyguards and survive the experience. I've done it many times."
He gave her a long look, "Yer not convincing me. It was sheer luck that your troublemaking ass didn't get you in more shit when you were escaping from the palace."
She grinned. Okay, he wasn't wrong. But she still wanted to keep him to herself. She sidled up to him, pressing her breasts against his chest as she looped her arms around his neck and stepped up on her tiptoes to press tiny kisses against his throat.
"Please," she said breathily against him.
He groaned, took a fistful of her hair and pressed her tighter to his chest. Finally, he relented, "Fine, just me, but I'm taking my weapons."
She squealed and jumped away from him, clapping her hands in excitement. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you. Just make sure the guns are well hidden. Paris is supposed to be the city of love, not the city where my lover frightens the locals and gets himself arrested."
They started at the Louvre. She figured they would start off with something artsy, something Keane might be less than interested in, and then move their way into the fun stuff, the stuff that Keane would be more likely to enjoy. But she was surprised at how much he seemed to enjoy the museum. He wanted to stop and look at things, discuss certain paintings or artists. She was impressed with his depth of knowledge when it came to art. She, of course, had been trained with the very best art history tutors. But as far as she knew Keane dropped out of high school in Ireland and had never taken up any other kind of education.
When she asked him about it, his response was to tell her that just because he was a dropout didn't make him stupid.
She understood why he might be defensive, but he didn't need to be with her. "I'm not calling you stupid," she assured him softly. “And I completely understand how people who might have a lack of formal education and opportunities can still educate themselves. I've seen it plenty of times. I just didn't take you for someone that might be interested in, say, the Mona Lisa.”
He shrugged, "Not really interested in Van Gogh. I'm more of a Gustav Klimt guy."
She laughed and hooked her arm through his. They continued through the Louvre. They didn't stay long, only a couple of hours. After all, she had so much more of Paris to show him. And honestly, it could take days and days to get all the way through the Louvre. So, they hit up the highlights and then left, slipping out before the afternoon crowds arrived. She took him for lunch in a special spot in old Paris. A little Bistro that she'd fallen in love with years ago when she came here with her aunt and sister for shopping. The beignets were utter perfection.
It was located down a back alley and through an archway. It was the kind of place that the locals knew about, but tourists didn't often stumble upon. It was a bit laughable to have someone of Keane's size and bulk, especially with weaponry hidden underneath his jacket, in such a place. Sitting on a delicate chair next to a delicate table, outside of an old-fashioned Bistro. But he seemed to enjoy every moment. He sipped his sparkling wine and orange juice and he helped Ndari eat cheese and crackers off a shared plate.
This is what she wanted. This is the type of day she wanted with him. She wanted to show him her Paris. She wanted to see that quick grin of his whenever he came across something he liked. She'd never seen him so relaxed. It felt good. And she hoped it felt good for him to.
"Where to next?" he asked, downing the rest of his mimosa.
She glanced at him through her lashes. It was truly a pleasure to see him so at ease. His green eyes were sparkling, and his posture was casual, instead of the usual alert tension he carried.
"Shopping?"
He grunted something unintelligible, but stood and held his hand out. She took it and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Together, they hit up some of the best shops in Paris. Ndari was a fashion follower in a big way. She absolutely loved haute couture. She would wear other things like rocker T-shirts and running shoes, but her heart lay on the runway. She wanted to have the very finest fashions and she wanted them at the height of every season.
Once again, Keane looked slightly out of place, holding her purse and glaring at every entrance and exit and every person inside every shop that they entered. But he went with her, and he didn't seem to hate it. He even went so far as to help her choose the cuts, cloths and colours that he thought would look nice on her. Of course, he tended towards the skimpy side, or he did until she tried on one of his suggested outfits. He stood there grinning like a maniac until he saw the salesman's eyes on Ndari. Then he quickly changed his mind and started suggesting full coverage outfits, including jackets, hats and sunglasses. She laughed. He definitely wasn't used to having a girlfriend like her.
It was around their fifth shop when Keane’s cell phone rang. He frowned down at it and answered. Seconds later, he exploded, “What the fuck do you mean she slipped away? Fucking Ivan is going to gut all of us.”
Ndari tried to look concerned, but a smirk slipped through. She suspected she knew exactly where her bestie was. Keane frowned down at her and said into his phone, “Hang on.”
He gripped Ndari by the back of the neck and pulled her flush against his body. “You know where the hacker is.”
“I do not!” she protested. She really didn’t. She only suspected.
“Tell me,” he growled.
Ndari wasn’t about to give up her best friend so she stood on her toes and kissed him soundly. He hooked an arm around her waist and hauled her up his body until only the tips of her shoes touched the ground. He deepened the kiss and everything around them faded. They explored each other, reveling in their ability to do something as simple as kiss each other in the city of love without having to worry about anyone seeing and caring.
“You two are just the cutest!” a voice squealed from behind them.
Ndari didn’t get a chance to look over her shoulder before she was being seized from behind in a massive hug. Keane started to go for the gun hidden under his jacket then realized who was tackling them. Ndari maneuvered her body around so she could hug her best friend.
“Jaya!” she exclaimed, then she looked over her shoulder at Keane with a grin. “I fou
nd her.”
“You two are both in serious shit,” Keane grunted.
He lifted his phone back to his face and informed the security team in Indonesia that he found their missing charge. Then he called Ivan Vogel, Jaya’s husband, to personally apologize for his wife managing to slip away from Keane’s security team. The two men held a brief conversation that sounded distinctly growly to Ndari. In her opinion they took themselves too seriously. They needed to have more fun in life. Maybe she would suggest a bros trip somewhere. Like Japan. Or Australia. Or Disneyworld. First she would research where bros liked to hang out, then she’d make the suggestion.
Keane hung up his phone and glared at the two women. His eyes then focused on Ndari. “You knew she was coming here, that’s why you wanted Paris.”
She grinned guiltily. “Maybe, but it also has some of the best shopping on this continent.”
“Look, it’s not a big deal,” Jaya tried to reassure him. “I was never in danger and I needed to make sure Ndari got out of the palace safely. I was worried when I didn’t hear from her.”
“You could have told your husband, or your security team. Any one of them would’ve gladly checked on the Princess’s status and updated you,” Keane lectured her. “Your husband is one of the most wanted arms dealers in the world. You can’t just be taking off any time it pleases you.”
Jaya shrugged as if to say she could take off whenever she wanted. She certainly had the tech skills to herself out of most situations. So far she’d managed to escape Ivan and his security about a half dozen times. Ndari knew Jaya loved her husband, but she didn’t like being caged.
“Ivan is going to lock you up tighter than ever after this stunt,” Keane warned.
Again, Jaya shrugged. “Yeah, probably.” A mischievous smile touched her lips. “But he’ll have to be with me if he wants to enforce his rules. And I’m all good with being locked up with Ivan.”
Ndari laughed at the stars in her friend’s eyes. She felt that way about Keane. They were both in love with big bad men that would huff and puff at the rest of the world, but they would spend a lifetime protecting the women they loved. At least Ndari hoped that was how Keane felt.
“You have time for a half hour visit, then Jaya’s ride will come for her.” He looked around and spotted a nearby café. “There.”
The two women tried to complain, tried to convince Keane that he should let them spend the whole day together. They threatened to handcuff themselves to each other, but that plan fell through when neither could produce a set of handcuffs. Finally, they had no choice but to head to the café arm-in-arm, casting glares of misery at Keane who followed close behind.
Jaya and Ndari talked as fast as they could, laughing and gossiping about their months spent apart. True to his word, Keane escorted Jaya to a waiting car after their half hour was up. They lamented that it wasn’t enough time and assured each other that once Jaya’s house arrest was over, Ndari would convince Keane to take her for a visit. They hugged goodbye and Jaya slipped into the backseat of the car. Though Ndari only got to see her friend for a few short minutes she felt filled to the brim with joy. She was surrounded by people that cared about her and the feeling was indescribable. She was happy.
After, Ndari decided that she was done shopping, especially since she couldn’t do it with her best friend. She announced that she was hungry again, and Keane, of course, was more than willing to feed her. It helped that the man always seemed to be hungry, which was fair. He had to keep up his energy if he was going to maintain those muscles.
She chose one of her favorite restaurants, which was extravagant, but she trusted that he would be able to cover the cost of the restaurant with all his mercenary money. It was important that he be able to keep a woman of her good tastes in jewels, fancy meals and big houses.
Once more, Keane impressed her with his knowledge of both the French language and high-end cuisine. At his request, Ndari helped him pair his food with just the right wine. Then, after they finished their supper, Keane insisted that Ndari have a wide selection of desserts to satisfy her sweet tooth. An amused waiter set every dessert served in the restaurant on their table. She leaned back and laughed as the waiter set one of the dishes on fire, bowed, then strode away. They picked up their spoons and sampled each desert, sharing bites with each other. Ndari’s favourite was the chocolate mousse and Keane’s was the crème brulee.
She watched him across the small candlelit table, her eyes sparkling and a smile hovering on her lips.
He caught the look and commented, "Didn't think I'd be up for all this fancy shit, did you?"
She shook her head. "Honestly, no. You don't seem the type."
He shrugged. "I've been around. Some of my clients like to eat stuff like this, go out to theaters, all that crap. And it doesn't bother me none to tag along. I like learning new shit."
She loved it. She loved everything about him. He didn't fit in with the wealthy patrons that surrounded them. He didn’t want to. Yet he was completely at ease, comfortable choosing a salad fork and sipping high-end wines.
After they finished their lavish meal, Keane escorted Ndari to the Eiffel Tower, which of course, was best done at night. They took the elevator to the top and stood together, his arms wrapped around her, watching the stunning blanket of lights that was Paris at night.
She sighed and snuggled back against his chest. "Nothing compares to this view."
He hunched his shoulders and moved his lips to her ear. "Oh baby, so much compares to this. I'm going to show you the world. Not just Paris, but everything you've ever dreamed of seeing. I'm gonna take you to the great barrier reef, the Sidney Opera house, the Japanese gardens, Sao Paoulo, Alaska."
"Alaska?" she asked.
"Need to see a guy who owes me money," he grunted.
She laughed so hard another couple shot them a dirty look. She smothered her laughter as best she could and shook her head. "I thought you wanted to show me something there."
He shrugged. "The guy has a dog you might like."
She laughed again, and he said, "Naw, I think you'll love the scenery. We'll take a cruise out to the icebergs and glaciers. You'll love it. You can buy a winter wardrobe."
"Oooh," she sighed breathily. "I always thought I'd look adorable in one of those fashionable ski jackets and a pair of Uggs."
She felt so content and happy that she thought she would explode. She didn't trust that she could keep this moment forever. But she would keep the memory forever. Even if everything fell apart. If she died tomorrow, she would die a happy woman, because this memory was the best she had.
They left the Eiffel Tower and made their way back to the house making out like giddy teenagers, intent on getting up to the bedroom as fast as humanly possible.
They entered through the back door, lips locked, arms wrapped around each other, stumbling and laughing. Suddenly, Keane shoved her behind him and pulled two guns from the holsters beneath his jacket. She didn't know why she was unceremoniously squished between him and the door, but she did know they must be in real danger. She heard the clicks of multiple guns being cocked and her heart sank. She took it back; she wasn't about to die happy. She was about to die pissed off. They could have at least waited until she was done fucking Keane's brains out one last time.
Chapter Thirteen
Ndari glanced over Keane’s shoulder and realized that they were being confronted by a room full of palace guards. She gripped Keane’s shoulder and said, “Please don’t kill anyone.”
He turned his face to look at her with narrowed eyes. “You don’t want me to kill the guys who broke into my house and are pointing their weapons at me?” he demanded, his voice booming in anger, his accent thicker, as he turned the full wrath of his gaze on the men filling their kitchen. “The fucking men who are pointing guns at my future wife?”
Every weapon in the kitchen except Keane’s suddenly pointed at the floor.
Ndari would’ve laughed if the situation wasn’t so
serious. Even though there were nearly a dozen palace guards, they still looked a little green at being faced with one extremely angry Irishman.
“Half of these guys are related to me,” she said quietly to Keane. “I’d hate to have to tell my aunt Christine that her youngest son was killed while trying to retrieve me from my future husband. It’ll make for awkward family reunions.”
“Fuck!” Keane snapped and pointed his guns at the floor too.
They seemed to be in a standoff. Finally, Ndari peeked around Keane's shoulder and said, "What do you guys want with me? Why does my brother keep sending you?"
One of them took a shuffling step forward. Her cousin, Tereq.
"We need you to come with us, Princess Ndari."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah I pretty much figured that's what you guys want. What I want to know is why?"
She could feel the tension vibrating through Keane.
He was a person of action, and there were threatening men in his home. The restraint that he was showing was incredible. She placed her hand on his back and rubbed, trying to ease some of the tension.
"You can't really believe that I'll go with you," she said, and then she glanced at Keane. “Or that he'll let me."
Tereq took another tentative step forward. "It doesn't matter what you want. Your brother sent us to collect you and that's what we'll do."
"Even if it means your death?" she asked, annoyed.
Whatever Tareq was about to say next was lost in the cacophony of Keane's men piling in through the front and back doors and surrounding the palace guards in the kitchen.
"Hold!" Keane shouted at his men.
No one moved a muscle. Keane glanced at his number two, Jacob, and said, "A little late?"
His man shrugged. "You gave us the night off. Figured you could take care of yourself." Keane glared at him and Ndari asked, "What happens now?" She didn't direct the question at anyone in particular.
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