~ Nikki ~My knees are knocking together as we leave the limo and make our way toward the suite. I’m drowning in delirium and gazing up at Jameson with fluttering lashes. He chuckles.I have an arm twined around one of his and I’m swaying a bit from the wine and the orgasms… And the exciting thoughts of things to come.I snicker at that notion. Somewhat ecstatically.Jameson gives me a knowing look and I try to contain all the impulses clawing at me. No easy feat, but at least I’m not terribly dizzy and giggling like a schoolgirl.I’m damn close, yes. There’s plenty to be said for aphrodisiacs and decadence. The primary aphrodisiac being Jameson, of course. I’ll give the food and beverages all kinds of kudos, but it’s the man who has my blood humming and my body thrumming.There’s an electric palpitation to my heartbeats and I might actually be floating on air.Jameson seems to know it.That only sets me more on fire.When we’re in the suite, he suggests, “Why don’t you go into my bat
~ Jameson ~I’m well aware of the hole I’m digging for myself. And Nikki is shoveling right alongside me.I want to say this is a simple matter we can both contain, that we are intelligent, consenting adults and therefore perfectly in control of our actions. Capable of surviving the repercussions.But as I help her into the tub and slip in behind her—settling with my back to the high ledge, my head propped against a stack of towels—and she positions herself between my legs and leans into me, her shoulder blades conforming to my pecs, I know I’m blatantly lying to myself.What I’m not doing is lying to Nikki.Yes, I’m still omitting a key fact. Yet every response I have to her is real and honest. And I’ve come to understand that there’s a reverse axiom to my mother’s saying, because pleasing Nikki pleases me.I will allow that I’m currently being handed golden opportunities to explore a more intimate relationship with her. Let’s face it, Paris is its very own treasure trove of opportun
~ Nikki ~There are rose petals everywhere. Dozens and dozens of them. Red, cream and yellow, all scattered about as though they were loaded into a cannon and discharged. I envision, for a second, how this scene would look as they rained down on the suite, with me standing beneath the delicate barrage.I’m not one to fantasize about roses and candlelight and sensuous music. But I’ll willing admit… I’m totally into this visual.I lie a little to myself and simply consider that it’s only because we’re in Paris that I’m so captivated and euphoric. I won’t feel this way in Italy or Zurich or anywhere else. Not even if there actually was business to tend to in Hawaii or the Maldives.Unfortunately, I’m not the least bit convinced of my tiny fabrication. We could be in a roadside motel in the middle of nowhere—no ambience whatsoever—with coyotes howling in the distance, and I’d still luxuriate in the ripples of delight through my body. I’d still feel my skin tingle. I’d still experience the
~ Nikki ~“I should not be so ravenous,” I say as I collapse into a chair at the formal dining table. I first eye Jameson, looking dashing, as always, in a sharp black suit, black shirt and matching silk tie. Then my gaze drifts to the spread on the table that looks fantastic.Prompting him to joke, “Are you talking about sex or food?”“Both,” I murmur as I reach for my latte and sip, while debating where to start with breakfast.Pierre joins us and ceremoniously lifts the domes off the dishes that needed to be kept warm.He announces, “In addition to the pastries and croissants, we have eggs Benedict and crepes sucrées, which are sweet crepes prepared in the beurre Suzette style, or with bananas foster, or with cream cheese filling and berries. We also have crepes galettes—more specifically known as galettes bretonnes, traditional Brittany crepes that are less sweet and topped with a fried quail egg, spinach, heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese.”“So… Crepes are a thing in France,” I m
~ Nikki ~We are sitting at the railing, overlooking the stage, with no obstruction of our view, whatsoever.Overhead, the red-and-white-striped, billowy awnings—with their accompanying small-bulbed, string lighting—create a Big Top effect that’s enchanting.Everything is red. Strikingly red. Almost a deep crimson that is sexy and seductive, rather than that cheesy, middle-of-the-road red that just screams Valentine’s barfed all over, and it’s not a pretty sight. Know what I mean? Maybe not. I have a thing about red, I guess. It can look dated, like… 1980s taffeta bridesmaids dresses with those tremendously puffy sleeves and ginormous bows on the butt, and the sickly sweet color that seems flimsy, in a weird way. My aunt’s wedding photos, from her super-short-lived marriage, makes me think of this.Here, however—and despite the old-fashioned feel and the “antique red” accents—the crimson is warm and perfectly paired with all the golden lighting and gas lamps.Below us, there are tiers
~ Nikki ~“The French are huge jazz fans,” Jameson murmurs in my ear as we’re escorted to a table for deux in a cozy corner.As we settle in, I note there are mostly couples drinking and dining, with a few bro-groups at the bar, who are likely part of a conference taking place here, or at a nearby hotel. Laughter occasionally erupts from them, though they quickly simmer down, given they’ve also ascertained this is more of an intimate venue than a rowdy one.I can’t deny it’s incredibly romantic, but that’s really the nature of the beast in Paris, I’ve come to learn. Especially in a place like this, with low lighting and a live jazz band that features haunting muted trumpets and sexy saxophones. There’s some dancing on the designated floor, and I’m a little envious that’s not going to be us tonight. We have to draw the line somewhere, and I’m guessing that’s probably it.Jameson orders light fare for us and sparkling water. But when the charcuterie board arrives, it’s definitely meant
~ Nikki ~The man possesses many gifts. Many, many gifts. He’s talented in all manner of fields and arenas. And he also excels in the bedroom.I’m pretty damn sure Jameson could write his own tantric or Kamasutra manuals and they’d fly off the shelves.For that very reason, I carefully inch backward, place a foot on the bench, cautiously balance, and then ease onto the edge of the mattress, sitting comfortably. I flatten my palms at my sides to steady myself.And spread my legs.Jameson’s expression darkens to that of a lustful lover who knows precisely what his partner wants.Well, okay, I’ve made it abundantly clear what I want. But he’s wholly attuned and rests a bent knee on the bench. His hands skim over my thighs and shove the hem of my nightie up to my waist as I raise my hips. Then I settle in again. He wedges his large frame between my legs and leans in to kiss me.I find myself twining my calves around his waist, locking the embrace with my ankles. He groans and then deepens
~ Jameson ~I’ve always been a master of timing. It’s in my blood.At present, however… I’m caught in crosshairs and not fully certain if I should weave to the right or bob to the left or… Fall down. Figuratively speaking, of course.Perhaps literally, too, in a sense.I start out easy…so I think. I say, “I didn’t jump to the conclusion that you were proposing to me.”“Ha-ha.” She gives a half-snort that’s comical.“And you do pose a valid question.” A seriously dangerous one, for the landmine it drops us into. But, again, it’s a valid one.She doesn’t press for an answer, just lightly traces her fingernails over my skin, making my pecs flex beneath her touch.I inhale her hair and generally luxuriate in the feel of her naked body against mine.I neither want to shatter our serene state with a bombshell, nor spoil our last night in Paris over any sort of intense diatribe.Not to mention… I don’t want to run her off. We have two more weeks of critical meetings. I don’t want her to sudd