Chapter 6
Round two is the ‘fucking’ he promised. Hard. Fast. Uncompromising. Unrelenting. I came twice. Sex has never been that rough or that fulfilling before and I loved every second of it.
Two hours after having sex with Olivier, I’m still wide awake.
He fell asleep more than an hour ago. My head rests in the nook of his arm and his steady heartbeat hasn’t lulled me to sleep yet.
I’m too happy, too sated, feeling too much of everything to shut down my rapidly growing feelings for him.
I’ve never had casual sex before and there is something so liberating about it.
In it to win it, looking out for number one, and all those clichés have run around my head and long since left.
The reality is that I have a bad pattern of falling in love with people I have sex with.
The making love is actually true for me.
Olivier and I made love tonight and that will be hard to let go of in a few days, no matter how much I try to convince myself it was only one time.
My brain won’t shut down and rest despite reminding myself that when I leave Paris, I’ll be leaving Olivier behind as well.
It doesn’t seem to matter how intelligent I am or how logical I believe myself to be.
The bottom line is that this is a onetime thing.
That’s it. We didn’t make any promises or commitments to each other, but the unwritten rule of no strings attached was definitely in play tonight.
Closing my eyes, I try to shut off the noise that’s keeping me awake and focus on how I felt just two hours ago after having my first real orgasm.
Snuggling closer, I take a deep breath, giving into the exhaustion that is taking over.
When I open my eyes, Olivier is sitting in the chair across from me with a coffee in his hand, staring at me. “Bonjour. Prendrais-tu un café?”
“Oui,” I reply.
He gets up taking the other coffee I hadn’t noticed from the nightstand and hands it to me before sitting back down in the chair.
His gaze leaves me and drops to the ground as he leans forward, resting his forearms on his knees.
My stomach turns from the negative vibe of his body language, so I brace myself before he even has a chance to speak.
Running his free hand through his hair, he stands suddenly and says, “I have to work today. Maybe I’ll see you tonight.” There’s no sincerity in his tone, his French even slacking off as he glances toward his only escape—the door.
“Okay.” I reply and quickly take a sip to end the morning after awkwardness that is leading to regrets.
I redirect my eyes to the underneath of the top bunk as he says his goodbye, “Au revoir, Rayon de Soleil.”
“Yeah, au revoir.” The door closes and the expected tears don’t come. A numbness to it all rushes through my veins instead. Trying to hold back my disappointment, I sit up and set the coffee down before standing. Maybe I should see if they have other rooms available.
The door swings open and Olivier stands there out of breath, which momentarily takes my breath away. “Did you run back up here?” I ask, hoping the answer is yes.
“Yes.” He closes the distance in three steps. Staring into my eyes, he cups my face and says, “Last night... last night was amazing.” Then he’s kissing me with a fiery passion, his hands groping as his body presses against mine in ways that stirs up the frenzy from last night all over again.
Backing up abruptly, he has a huge grin on his face. “I’ll see you later.”
With my own goofy grin in place, I laugh. “Yes, later for sure.”
He turns and runs out again. Standing at the door, I watch as he takes to the stairs, leaping to touch the ceiling and hollering excitedly right before he descends.
Shutting the door, I lean against the back of it, smiling without reservation and stupidly happy.
I slide down the door until I land on the floor.
All of a sudden, the world seems to offer unparalleled opportunities.
Too giddy to wait any longer to conquer Paris, I jump up and get ready for the day, the grin never leaving my face.
I stroll up the Avenue des Champs-élysées with Icona Pop playing in my ear buds.
The Arc de Triomphe is straight ahead. The trees are blowing in the breeze.
The sky is cloudless and blue reminding me of Olivier’s eyes.
I pick up the pace to match the beat of the music until I find the pedestrian tunnel.
When I arrive ready to climb up, I mentally prepare myself for the two hundred and eighty steps.
At the top, I see huge monuments sprinkled around the city. In one direction is tomorrow’s scheduled adventure—the Sacré-Coeur. Back down Champs-élysées, Place de la Concorde. The city is breathtaking and more than I could have hoped for in other ways.
When I leave, I head for the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
I pass a small bistro along the way that looks busy enough to think it’s good and not so busy I can’t get a table.
I order white wine wanting to blend in and adopt the locals’ perspective and slow down to enjoy life.
Notre-Dame has been open for almost seven hundred years.
I think it’ll be fine if it takes an extra hour to get there so I can appreciate the day.
A very attractive older man in a very expensive looking suit sitting nearby sends a small smile in my direction along with another glass of wine.
The waiter informs me of the gesture. Not sure what to do other than kindly accept, I raise the glass to him.
He stands and walks to me. While he speaks, he offers small hand gestures that don’t clue me into what he’s saying at all. I only catch, “Je m’appelle Jacques.”
“Non parlez-vous Francais.”
“Ahh, you’re Américaine.”
“Yes.”
“May I join you?”
I look at the empty seat next to me suddenly feeling like I’d be betraying Olivier. Let’s face it, this guy isn’t here for casual chitchat. I set the glass on the table along with some money to cover my check and say, “I have to leave actually. There’s a cathedral waiting. Merci and excusez moi.”
He nods kindly as I pass. “Too bad. Maybe our paths will cross again one day.”
Looking back over my shoulder, I smile. “Maybe.”
I feel lighter, my feet rested, and I’m ready to walk again.
It doesn’t take as long as I thought it would to get to Notre-Dame.
I go inside after lining up, but don’t stay long.
It’s beautiful and historical but I’m missing Olivier.
I wish I knew where he was working. I’d surprise him.
But since I don’t, I start back for the hostel, not sure how long it will take me to walk.
I stop and pull out my map. When I discover it’s too far to walk without developing blisters, I decide to take the subway.
I’m used to the New York subway system, so this should be a breeze.
I’m wrong. I get off at the wrong stop but am too intimidated and frustrated to go back, so I walk the rest of the way.
I make it back to the hostel just before dark.
Unfortunately, I’m greeted by Stefan. This time with no woman in sight, so that’s a relief.
I’m kind of over the tongue show already.
“Bonjour, Kandeeeeessse.” My name slurs from his lips.
I walk steady. “Bonjour.”
He runs to the door, cutting me off. “Let me get the door for you.”
Standing there, looking at me, I give a tight smile. “Merci.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. No hurry for you.”
“Pardon me, Stefan. I need to go.” I step forward.
His arms go wide, blocking my way. “Play with me.”
My head jerks back. “What?”
“You know, how do you Américaines say, play with me.” His hand is circling in front of his crotch.
I’m so offended I’m not sure what to say.
Olivier does though. “éloigne-toi d’elle.” His deep voice resonates around the room, penetrating my chest and I jump.
So does Stefan, but I’m not sure if it’s from whatever Olivier just said to him or from the interruption. “Détends-toi mec. Je ne fais que tenir la porte ouverte pour elle.”
I look between the two, caught in the middle until Olivier is at my side. Stefan opens the door wide with a fake smile plastered on his face. “Con, casse-toi,” Olivier mutters under his breath as we pass.
Stefan laughs, then says, “Ta Gueule, Américain.”
The pressure of Olivier’s hand on my lower back keeps me moving forward until we reach the stairs. He steps around me, takes my hand, then books it up the steps. I’m quick to follow but tire after the second flight. I stop, yanking him to a halt. “Slow down.”
He nods. I can see the stress of the situation written in the lines of his face, lines that shouldn’t be there at such a young age. He leans against the wall and I take a final step up and lean against him. “I missed you today. Is it too soon to say that?”
A perfect smile appears and he takes me by the waist, bringing me in for a kiss. “Non. Not too soon. I missed you, Sunshine.”
I smile and kiss him again. This time more on the R rated side, hoping to move to an X-rating soon. “Hungry?” I ask.
“Hungry for you.”
Laughing, I say, “I meant for food. I haven’t eaten much and I’m starved.”
“After.” He starts up the steps again, taking me up with him.
“After?”
“After sex. I really missed you today.” His cocky smile wins me over and I pass him on the last flight.
Running after me, he practically tackles me on the last few steps.
I fall back, turning just in time to land on my ass on the hard wood.
Olivier drops his arms on either side of me, his lips just a few inches away.
I push up and he comes down and we kiss in the middle.
As I wrap my arms around his neck, he lowers us back just as our tongues meet again.
His pelvis presses between my legs and I respond with a moan. “Morrrreee.”
I squeal when he scoops me up and hurries down the hall toward our room.
He stops just outside the door and says, “Pocket. Keys.”
I go fishing in his pocket, then the other and pull out the key. Holding it in the air, I celebrate. “Success!”
“Success. Open the door.”
Unlocking the door, I turn the knob, then Olivier kicks it until it slams against the wall. He moves us to the bed, drops me down on the mattress before rushing back to close the door and lock it.
Reaching over, I turn on the lamp as he stops to lean against the wall. “This is crazy, right?”
“Totally.”
“But you’re into it?”
Getting up, I go to him and lean against the wall right in front of him. “I’m into you.”
“I’m into you too.”
This time I take his hand and lead him to the bed, taking charge. “Now get naked and make love to me.”
“With much pleasure.”