I Kissed A Playboy (10 page)

Brian laughed.

‘Why don’t you change out of your jeans and shirt?’

‘To what?’ she asked naively, unzipping her shoulder bag to examine what articles Gabriel had packed.

‘Nothing,’ said Brian. ‘I thought a warm jacuzzi might aid our sleep.’

Unable to resist the warm water, she undressed hurriedly, sinking tentatively into the spa. Far less body shy, Brian stripped down in front of Faith. She almost licked her lips at the sight of his naked form. Sitting opposite, he rested his muscular arms on the side of the indoor jacuzzi.

‘Nice?’ he asked.

She noted the trace of arrogance in his voice, but knew it stemmed from him wanting her approval.

Hitting the button to release the bubbles she rested her head, letting the tepid water wash away what could easily have been a disastrous day. Brian watched her. She’d never hear it with the bubbles streaming, thus it was pointless saying it, but she looked like royalty with her fine bone structure and flawless skin. As her foot brushed his, making its way up his calf to his inner upper thigh, he had an inkling she wasn’t as sleepy as she was making herself out to be.

‘Faith Spires, are you trying to seduce me?’

‘Not at all,’ she said innocently. ‘Merely having a stretch.’

He grabbed her foot to massage it. His fingers were adept and she genuinely did relax. His kissed each toe. She thrashed her arms in the water trying to sit straight; water sloshing on the floor in her frantic attempts.

‘What’s wrong?’

No one was better at sucking the romance out of the most romantic circumstances than Faith.

‘Sorry.’

‘What did I do?’ asked Brian.

She dunked her head under water for as long as possible to avoid answering the question. Brian was impressed at her lung capacity, but knew she’d rise for air eventually.

‘Did you kiss my toes?’ she asked, deliberately letting bubbles fill her mouth to muffle the question.

‘Yes. You’ve pretty feet. I like the way you painted your toe-nails. Is that a no-go area or turn off?’ he asked, feeling the most sexually unsure of himself he’d ever been.

‘No. No it wasn’t. I’m not a saint, Brian, but I’ve never been with a man that’s made me feel this cherished.’

‘You didn’t appear to like me cherishing your feet.’

‘It was unfamiliar, that’s all. I’m not used to feeling special. I’m not talking helicopters, chartered private flights and five-star hotels; I’m talking about you. When you touch me it’s electric. No man’s done that to me.’

‘I’m glad I’m the first.’

They stared at each other. He lent forward. Faith watched the beads of water run down from his broad shoulders to his chest.

‘I’d be even happier if I was the last,’ he said, giving her a peck on the cheek.

With the room now resembling a set from the movie ‘Titanic’, as Brian climbed out of the jacuzzi Faith knew she’d killed any chance of sex in Paris. Completely nude, he turned to her shaking his head in mock despair.

‘The cleaner will hate us if I don’t grab a few towels to mop up.’

He saluted, clicked his heels and spun, skidding in a puddle of water. Arms pinwheeling to keep himself upright, she saw him careening towards the bathroom. Brian was appalled by the ungainly mishap, but Faith was fond of his goofiness. He had a towel tucked low on his waist, as he threw an armful towels on the floor to soak up the water.

‘Peckish?’ he inquired.

‘Tired,’ she admitted, modestly waiting for a towel to conceal herself as she got out.

Brian passed her a dry towel. Wrapping herself in it, he risked a chivalrous gesture and scooped her up in his arms. She squealed, loving the ease with which he carried her. As he tried to draw down the sheets, he knew it was all going horribly wrong. He dropped Faith heavily onto the bed, falling on top of her.

‘I should’ve thought to take the sheets down before tucking you in,’ he said.

His plump lips curved sheepishly.

‘Uh-huh,’ wheezed Faith.

Realizing he was crushing her under his weight, he rapidly rolled off.

‘Seeing me like this. Doesn’t that reassure you I’m no Romeo?’ he joked.

‘I have a feeling you aren’t like this with other women.’

Slipping under the covers of his side of the bed he almost howled in frustration.

‘I’m not. It’s kind of embarrassing. I play a fair amount of sports which suggests I’ve a degree of coordination. I’ve dated loads of women which suggests I’m not foreign to dating. I can’t imagine why when it comes to you I revert to a boy. You’re gracious, competent, financially independent and self sufficient. What on earth do you see in me when I’m wildly thrashing naked in a posh hotel and flinging you on the bed like a sack of potatoes?’

‘I see a guy that’s fun. I see a boy that brings out the girl in me. Sure you could wine and dine me in the best restaurant in Paris, but how much more enjoyable it is lying on a bed after inadvertently trashing a hotel and having a laugh.’

Faith joined him in bed, throwing her towel on the floor.

‘Careful Faith, you might make me fall in love with you,’ warned Brian as he fell asleep.

Chapter Twelve

When Faith woke, the clock on the antique pine bedside table next to her read 3pm. Sitting up, she studied Brian. His long lashes were shut, his chest moving silently up and down. Although his designer stubble was growing back, he managed to appear boyish. She cuddled him, one arm on his shoulder, the other slithering under his arm to stroke the six pack. He moaned at her contact.

She sensed he was awake. He didn’t speak for a few moments. It wasn’t the surroundings that kept Brian quiet, but the warmth of Faith’s body. Her hands caressed as if treasuring and protecting him. Brian was six foot two. He prided himself on being a man, being in control, being composed and able to deal with everything in a guarded and deliberate manner. Waking in Paris wasn’t new to him.

Waking in Paris with Faith was new. The way she held him was as if she knew he had his own fragilities requiring shelter and nurturing on occasion. To feel he was with a partner was as foreign to him as helicopters and impulsive international trips were to Faith.

Whatever happened, he wanted to recall the feeling in case he ever lost her. In his extensive education with women but limited experience in relationships, this was yet another moment with Faith he was trying to absorb to be able to remember forever. To draw on when he had those unspoken moments of insecurity and lack of confidence mixing with the people closest to him, because this was the complete opposite to those unsettling scenes.

Turning towards her, aware she’d worry she had morning breath, it was finally his moment to consummate their burgeoning love properly. No drunken fumbling in a car, no sneaking in a shared house to satiate their sexual desire for one another. This was a four letter word staring with ‘l’ that he’d never said to another woman, other than his mother. That four letter word was not lust.

He kissed her softly. His touch racing up and down her back, made her shiver as she was unable to resist the locking of lips. His tongue explored her mouth. She darted her tongue to taste the sweetness of him. Brian’s light touch moved down to her buttocks. Faith quivered against him. Their bodies pressed together felt right.

Unlike her own failed attempts to lure to bed the sexiest of men she’d ever encountered, Brian was relaxed. Tending to her insecurities and doubts, he ensured the Egyptian cotton sheet encapsulated them. As divine as her slim, feminine body was, he knew Faith wasn’t comfortable flaunting it. Twisting her onto her back, he sat cross legged leaning down to kiss her again. He ducked under the sheet, his breathing increasing at the sight of her.

Stroking airily, he ran his fingers over her shapely breasts. He wanted more of her, but it was important to him she come first in the proceedings. Brian roamed her body like an undiscovered country; exploring, teasing and massaging where necessary. Have reached her bottom of her divine long legs, he slid down to kiss each of her toes as a reminder of the jacuzzi.

Faith registered what he was doing, but there was no urge to giggle. His expert touch had her in a state of near delirium. When Brian parted her legs to lick from her ankle, up her calf, to her inner thighs, Faith threw the sheet off. Brian raised his head from between her legs. Swiftly he snaked his body up hers, showering her in kisses. She could feel his erection firm on her stomach.

Spreading her legs in anticipation, Brian didn’t respond to his carnal urges. Instead he moved southwards. The moment his tongue brushed her nub, her hips bucked and her head jolted. Pleased at the response, Brian continued with licks, flicks, blowing, kisses and occasionally grazing the area with his teeth. When his lips clamped onto her bud and sucked, Faith climaxed hard, grabbing a pillow for her face to muffle her screams.

She demanded he plough her, but Brian refused until certain she knew every part of her, body and soul, was valued by him. Kneeling between her legs, he massaged her breasts. Faith noticed he wouldn’t make eye contact, his lowered eyes transfixed by her cleavage. Having kneaded them, he used his tongue on her nipples as he had done with the bud between her legs. The tender but erotic way her handled her rounded breasts had her panting. Noticing the change in her heart beat he caught her eyes.

‘Please don’t make me beg,’ she said simply.

Supporting his weight on his elbows, knowing she was ready, he glided his hardness into her. They groaned and automatically, her legs wrapped tight, clamping to his waist. Brian’s fitness regime provided him with a high level of stamina. Unlike Faith who had ridden him feverishly earlier in the week, Brian was smooth and rhythmic with his motions. No desire to rush. He kissed her mouth, neck and ears as he grinded.

Faith nibbled his neck to elicit a sexual growl from him. She pulled his buttocks to her for deeper penetration. Rather than speed up, Brian slowed so Faith could feel the full thick length of him drilling her. He gyrated his hips, reaching areas in Faith that had her internal muscles convulsing on his shaft. Her tightness, his size, their compatible bodies had them functioning as a finely tuned machine.

Their awareness that this was the best sex of their lives bought them both to the edge. Although unspoken, Brian knew Faith felt the same and came hard inside her. As he unloaded, her legs stayed bound to his waist, her arms holding him close.

‘I won’t be the first one to say something,’ said Brian, his voiced laced with vulnerability.

‘I’ll be brave and say that sex was awesome and mind blowing and it did wonders for me.’

‘There’s nothing like stroking a man’s ego,’ said Brian, shifting in bed to cuddle her.

‘I was hoping you’d say the same.’

‘No way. I’m far too cool for that.’

Her head twisted, catching sight of the dimple in his cheek, which alerted her to his teasing.

‘All right Mr. Porterhouse, if you weren’t too cool. In fact let’s pretend you’re the kind of guy that gets out of a jacuzzi and glides butt naked across a tiled floor with everything on show. If you were that man what would you say after our steamy session?’

‘I’d say you’re a very mean girlfriend for reminding me of that, but,’ he paused, ‘I’d also say if that’s what making love is like, I want to do it with you for the rest of my life.’

‘If an interviewer could hear you say that now. Notorious playboy discovers love.’

‘Only with you,’ he said quietly.

It plucked her already delicate heart-strings. This was not supposed to happen this week. Not at all.

‘Are we boyfriend and girlfriend?’ asked Faith nervously. ‘It sounds very playground doesn’t it? Will you go steady with me? Are we exclusive? What does that even mean? Are we exclusive? Why not say “I don’t want you dating or sleeping with other people?” Everything’s a code. No wonder it’s exhausting to discover love with no one being straight and honest with each other.’

‘You’re babbling, Faith.’

‘Sorry.’

Reprimanded, it was as though Brian wasn’t going to answer the question. Her nerves and endless talking was a huge deterrent and probably the reason she’d be permanently single.

Brian passed a menu to Faith.

‘It’s 4pm, Faith. As it’s winter, the sun will set soon. I’d like us to dine watching the sun setting by the Eiffel Tower. This exclusive boyfriend would like his exclusive girlfriend to have a look through the menu and pick whatever she desires for dinner.’

She beamed, studying the pages. Yet again she required Brian to translate the French, but the request felt natural; it didn’t feel as though it were a test for her suitability in socializing with his upper-class friends. Making her choices from the exquisite range, Brian rang the order down to the kitchen.

‘We better get decent for the incoming food.’

She went to her shoulder bag, dreading to think what her twin would have flung in. Drawing out a pair of black jeans as opposed to her blue jeans and a tight black top with studded diamantes, she could’ve sat on the bed and cried. That was not how she imagined herself dining at sunset in Paris.

‘In the cupboard,’ called Brian from the bathroom.

Opening the door she saw a beautiful Armani dress. Floor length, the strapless neutral chocolate brown was cut tight. Her ample cleavage held the dress up and the clingy material accentuated her slim waist and hips. The fabric crisscrossed creating a shimmering effect. Grecian sandals were boxed, keeping her height at a level where she wouldn’t feel Amazonian. There was a wrap to warm her bare shoulders, but having fallen in love with the dress as she twirled in the mirror she decided it would detract from the dress’ striking and elegant simple style.

‘Whoa!’ said Brian stepping out. He was half dressed in a dinner suit. Black trousers, and pristine white shirt and bow tie, deliberately left open on the collar.

‘Lucky I didn’t eat yesterday or I’d have to forget dinner to ravish you.’

No sooner were the words out of his mouth, than the door bell to the Presidential Suite chimed. Brian opened the door and Faith watched as they set the balcony up for dinner. Quickly and quietly, it was as if the staff was ghostlike as they arranged everything. Having converted the balcony to their own private restaurant, one member of staff remained on hand. Taking Brian’s arm, Faith walked out to be greeted by a full view of the Eiffel Tower.

Perfectly timed to the Parisian winter, the sun was setting and the pink and orange backdrop to the world famous structure was ideal. Sitting down, Faith was pleased two outdoor heaters had been set up. They were strong enough to keep her warm in the cool weather.

‘What do you think?’

‘I thought it was going to be the most beautiful sight I’d ever experience in my life.’

‘It’s a disappointment?’ asked Brian curiously.

‘No. It’s glorious. It’s just the most beautiful sight I’ve ever experienced in my life was watching you sleep earlier.’

‘That is not something I expected the Faith Spires at the auction to ever say in my presence, or anyone’s come to that.’

‘It must be the romance of the French.’

As early as it was, dinner was drawn out at the correct pace to savor the food and sunset, Having completed dessert it was dark enough for the light show to start, highlighting the famous monument.

‘Fancy a walk before we have to head off?’

‘We have to go so soon?’

Brian nodded.

‘Don’t be down. When you get a holiday, we can go somewhere special together for longer. I wanted you to breathe easy for a day.’

‘Hard to breathe easy when your breathless.’

‘Is that your way of saying you’d rather have sex, than go for a walk down the Champs-Elysees?’

‘I’d like to do both,’ admitted Faith.

‘Hmmm, the French aren’t quite that liberated. We might get arrested trying those two simultaneously.’

She lightly slapped his hand.

‘Walk then.’

A limousine drove them to the
Champs-Élysées
, where the couple dawdled down the promenade stretch; taking in the specialty shops, cinemas, theaters and cafes. As they walked almost two kilometers along Paris’ most famous street, with its clipped horse-chestnut trees, when Faith saw the limo waiting she knew the magic was over.

Similar to the outgoing journey, once at the airport they cruised through security and customs, onto the Concorde for the reasonably short flight back. Even in her finery, the reality of what was waiting at home lowered Faith’s natural bubbly personality.

‘Can’t really go to the hospital in this,’ she said to Brian as they strained to make conversation after their wonderful few date.

‘No, that’s why Gabe packed you jeans and a top.’