Upon my arrival in Paris, I checked my messages. Daphney had called me eight times.
“Vicky, How could you go to Paris without me? It’s spring, the best time to go shopping. Why did you go without me? Call me.”
I called her back, and Daphney started in without greeting me.
“Vicky, how could you? I thought we were besties?”
“Daph, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“It was him, wasn’t it?”
“Well…”
“You haven’t been yourself since he came around. I mean, sure, it’s nice that you found someone that worships you and has his own money and company. But it’s queens before weens. We don’t forget our friends.”
“Daph, I wouldn’t. You know it’s just,” I smiled, “he’s been so amazing. He likes me for me and not my money or who my parents are.”
“Oh, I bet. Wink, wink.”
“Daphne!” I laughed. Daphne always could make me laugh. Daphne Gail Whitewalls was an heiress herself and my best friend. Her mother owned seven BMW dealerships and is a real-estate developer. We’d been friends since we were babies. We chatted as the plane taxied to a stop.
“Ciao, Vicky, do everything I would, then text me.” We were laughing as I hung up. I exited the jet, and as I walked toward the car, I noticed three white feathers on the ground. I smiled, knowing that meant something unexpected was going to happen.
“Ms. Gold.” A man in a black shirt waved as he opened the door of the Rolls Royce for me. He loaded my luggage, and we headed to the hotel. Inside, on the seat, there was a note with a single line scrawled across it.
Meet you there.
There was a rose and a small black box with the tag. Open me. I untied the bow, and inside there was a little round ball of Parisian chocolate. There was another note on the rose, Be sure to lick your finger.
I giggled and did as the note said. He knew me so well. I wiped my mouth with my finger, the taste of the chocolate reminding me of our last encounter. I smiled to myself.
We pulled up to the Hôtel Amoureux Passionnés. That’s what he called it. The Ritz George was the grandest hotel in all of Paris. Its reputation of found lovers was legendary. I stepped out onto the curb to the usual swell of paparazzi, and hotel security quickly surrounded me. I was the heir to one of America’s wealthiest families. We had dynasties in oil, water, and power on my mother’s side. My father had made his fortune in venture capitalist investments and international real estate. I was also 475th in line for the throne, so I accepted all the fuss as my due.
At the desk, the concierge greeted me. “My dear Ms. Gold, we simply can not express to you how much we appreciate you choosing our hotel,” he said in French.
I nodded. “Was anything left here for me?”
He handed me two envelopes. “They left these for you. Your room is ready. Shall I show you to your suite?”
“One moment.” The first note was a black envelope tied with a matching bow, just like the chocolate. Opening it, it read: Go sit at the bar. I turned back to the concierge and said, “Please take my things up. I’ll go up later.”
“Gladly,” he said, handing me a gold key to the suite.
I went to the bar. As I sat there, I studied the other envelope. It was a plain, industrial brown, and when I opened it, the only message was an image of a red and white target in the center of a card. I knew what that meant. But how did they know I’d be here? I thought to myself. I quickly put the envelopes in my Ferragamo bag. I removed the rose and sniffed it, twisting it between my fingertips. I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise as someone approached me from behind.
“Did it hurt?” he said in French.
“What?” I replied in the same language.
“Did it hurt when you fell?”
“Fell?” I said, rolling my eyes and not bothering to look at the man.
“Oui. When you fell from the sky.”
“No.”
“But do they know?”
“Who knows what?” I was getting annoyed at this line of questioning.
“Do they know an angel,” he stepped closer and spoke the word angel right in my ear, “has fallen from Heaven?” His voice sent a shiver down my spine. I knew it was him. He kissed my neck and wrapped his arms around me.
I took in a deep breath, my head tilting slightly. “How was your flight, my angel?” he whispered as he kissed my neck and sucked some of my skin into his mouth.
I reached behind me, pulling him around to face me. “Where were you?”
He looked at me with his blue-green eyes and half-cocked smile. “Come, and you’ll see,” he said as he took my hand and led me from the bar.
Oh, how my heart fluttered. There he was, Jacob Diego. Fitness guru, CEO of Global Fitness Direct PA Services, a multi-billion dollar company. 6’1”, medium athletic build, brown hair, well-groomed pencil beard and mustache, and that ass.
Once the elevator doors closed, I said, “I knew it was you.”
“How? My French was perfect.”
“No, it wasn’t. You said, but do they know instead of are they aware, which would be what the French would say. You Americans never understand the nuances. You have improved, though,” I teased him.
He moved me closer to the wall of the elevator. “There is something I know I don’t need to improve,” he said in his thick Spanish accent. He leaned into me and pressed his body up to mine, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck. He brought my lips to his, stealing my breath away. It felt like I was floating, lost in a dream. The ding of the elevator door interrupted my thoughts.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered. I did. He took my hands and led me out.
“Why are you being so secretive?” I asked as I fumbled along after him.
“Shhh…you’ll see.” We stopped. I had the room key in my pocket. He must have seen me put it in there because I felt him reach in my coat and take it out. He unlocked the doors and opened them fully. “No peeking,” he said, taking my purse and leaving me at the door.
“Hurry, I’m not good at waiting.” I wanted to open my eyes badly. I felt his hands cover my eyes as he stepped behind me. He guided my steps by pushing on the back of my knee with his, moving me inside and closing the door. The room smelled of fragrant flowers. He removed my coat slowly, allowing it to fall to the floor.
“Please?” I whispered
“Shhhh…” He kissed my shoulder. I giggled as he took my hand and spun me around three times, leading me in a dance. Suddenly, we stopped, and I could feel the warmth of the sun on my face. “Open your eyes.”
I opened them, and my eyes adjusted to the light. The Eiffel Tower was framed by the window. We were as close as any hotel could be to it, and nothing blocked the view.
I gasped.
Wrapping his arms around me, he asked, “Happy?”
The largest smile beamed on my face. “Nothing could make me happier than this moment right here in your arms.” I squeezed his arms tighter around me.
He spun me around and kissed me again. Not taking his lips from mine, he swooped down and picked me up behind my knees, carrying me to the bedroom.
He broke the kiss as he climbed on the bed with one knee and slid me along the comforter before gently unbuckling my Jimmy Choos. I watched as he stepped back, removed his jacket, and then unbuttoned his shirt, revealing the chest of an athlete. Those beautiful PABs, you know what I mean, the abs so tight that they form an arrow pointing to his groin.
I tilted my head back and inhaled deeply. It was taking all that’s in me not to rush him.
He stepped back with his hand on his chin as he looked me up and down. “What is it you want, my angel?”
I tried to sit up, my almond eyes fixated on his body, but he was next to me in an instant. Jacob wrapped his arms around me, and I melted beneath him as our eyes met. Is this real? Am I here? I thought to myself. I could feel his heartbeat quicken as he took my mouth again, his kisses and everything about him delighting my senses. I inhaled sharply as his hand cupped my breast and gave it a slight squeeze. Heat built between my legs as he pressed kisses along my throat and down to the top button of my blouse. His breath is hot against my skin as his mouth leaves a trail of fire along each inch of skin he reveals. As he undoes the buttons, he kisses my chest, then my stomach.
When he reached for my pants, I helped him by lifting and giving a little shimmy that brought a groan to his lips. I slid my hands up and down his chest before releasing his belt and zipper. I slipped my hands to his butt, squeezing his cheeks, pulling him closer to me. He lifted himself and allowed me to ease his pants from him. I rolled on top of him, taking in his handsome self, my desire for him making me ache. I got up from the bed and stood at the foot. Jacob raised himself to his elbows, looking at me, puzzled. I smiled and ducked out of the room.
I found my bag, grabbed something from it, and scurried back to the room. Jacob focused intently on me as I stood in the doorway. I held his gaze and removed my top.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I wanted to get something.” I smiled and opened my hand, revealing the black ribbons from the box and the note. I held the ends between my fingers as they unfurled. He stared at me as a wicked smile formed on his face. He slid to the edge of the bed and crooked his finger, beckoning me to him. I approached wearing only my black laced underwear set. He pulled me close, his hands reaching up to unhook my bra. I stopped him with a shake of my head. I brought his left wrist back around and tossed the shorter ribbon on the bed. I tied one end to his wrist. He took the other end and tied it to my left wrist. Our eyes met again as he pulled me to straddle him. I bit my lower lip, feeling that his desire had also grown. I was unable to keep from rocking my heat against him. He kissed between my breasts, and I arched toward him, feeling him pulse beneath me. My nails scratched up his back, causing him to moan. In one quick move, he lifted me, holding me strongly behind my knees, and laid me back on the bed.
My eyes popped open, and I searched his gaze.
“Don’t be afraid, Mijita.”
I gasped. What did he say? I’ve heard this before, but…
“Shhh…my angel, it’s only me,” he said, knowing my fear. He knew about my trust issues. He knew the pain, and he knew all about the trauma of before. He had my trust. He had shown me another way, a way to unleash the woman in me. I felt him shift on top of me, and my thoughts were back in the moment.
He kissed me softly, locking my hands in his above my head.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes. Please.”
I knew I would be safe.
“As you wish.”
Nikki Crump-Hansted is a professionally trained actress from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She’s been writing short stories and telling tall tales since she was very young. Nikki is currently one of the original Gods of the Pantheon. She not only writes for the Goddess Nike, but also does her voice, as well as the voices for many of the characters she has written in the blog. Follow her on Twitter @CrumpHansted
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