Chapter 23
“Rose must not suspectyour presence. Try to conceal your faces as much as possible. You can talk, but your behavior must appear natural. Is it clear to everyone?”
Lucas and Rose”s close ones all respond with a unanimous “Yes.” I glance at my phone and notice a message from my coach, informing me they shouldn”t be much longer. I inform everyone, and each person takes their position as I join Manille at the other end of the room.
Hardly have I taken my seat when my friend turns into a detective.
“So, what happened?”
“What?”
I feign innocence, but I know her piercing gaze won”t let me off so easily.
“Don”t act like you don”t understand where I”m going!”
A sigh escapes me, and I approach my friend.
“I talked to Corentin,” I whisper.
As I put my hand on my neck, I”m surprised to find I can discuss this topic without stuttering.
“You talked to him? Did you suggest sleeping with him?”
I”m about to answer, but our exchange is interrupted by the arrival of the couple. My eyes land on Rose, and I”m immediately charmed. Her caramel complexion is radiant and flawless. Her delicate features highlight her gentle face, giving her a natural sweetness and kindness. Her long, golden blonde hair shimmers under the dim light, and its waves cascade down her back, making her look like an angel.
In one word, this woman is beautiful! Her doe-like brown eyes are fixed on her man with so much love I almost feel jealous. I watch them settle in, laughing and chatting as only soulmates can. Lucas tries to hide his stress, but I can see he”s tense, and if I notice, I suppose Rose does too.
Damn!
I take out my phone and send a message to Lucas.
Me: Lucas, you need to calm down.
Taking advantage of Rose”s absence, as she went to the restroom, he responds.
Lucas: What if she says no? What should I do?
Me: Stop worrying. Everything will be fine.
Rose returns, and I refocus on Manille.
“Yes, I asked him if he wanted to sleep with me.”
“And he agreed?” she exclaims.
The look I give her is enough to answer her question.
“How do you feel? One-night stands aren”t typically your style, so I”m surprised and a little worried. You know if you change your mind, it”s completely normal. He”ll understand, I”m sure.”
I take a deep breath, without thinking much, my decision is made.
“I admit it surprises me too. I didn”t think I had the courage to make such a proposition, but let”s say the tension between us is so strong I couldn”t stand by. So, I took a chance.”
“And did you, do it? Does he have?—”
I furrow my brow. “Manille!”
“What? I wanted to know if everything went well, that”s my only concern.”
I squint, unconvinced. She mostly wants to get her hands on the juicy details, but too bad for her, there aren”t any. Not yet.
Manille calls a waiter to place an order while I turn my attention back to Lucas. I”ve not seen him so anxious, and if this continues, I doubt he”ll make his proposal tonight. It”s time for me to play my role.
I pick up my phone again and send him another message.
Me: Join me in the restroom. Right away!
“I”ll be back,” I tell Manille as I get up from the table.
I slip into the men”s restroom, and it doesn”t take long for Lucas to enter. He”s sweating and breathing heavily. He might have a panic attack if this continues.
“Damn, it”s stressful! I don”t know when or how to bring up the subject. I prepared a speech.”
I let him spill everything coming to his mind; he needs to get it off his chest. Meanwhile, I seize the opportunity to devise a plan B. Lucas”s panic is growing, which is not good at all. I”ll have to calm him down, and it”s ironic because I”ve been the one reassured repeatedly, not the other way around. I don”t have much experience, but I wonder what Corentin would say in this situation, and the words come naturally to me.
“Maybe I shouldn”t do it.”
I am left speechless, struck by the realization I was wrong to believe Lucas could be as nervous as me, people like him were far too brave to succumb to panic. I had it all wrong. In the end, everyone has their moments of vulnerability, and somewhere, reassures me. I take a deep breath and place my hands on his shoulders.
“Stop, Lucas, stop!”
I”m almost surprised by the firmness of my voice, like my blond friend. Staring at him intensely, I try to show him my determination and instill in him some of the courage I possess. There”s no way he”ll give up now, so close to the goal.
“Lucas, I understand it”s stressful. It”s not easy to dive into the unknown, but you have to do it. Consider yourselves; there”s so much love between you. You can”t give up. Do you love her?”
“Of course!”
“So, she”s the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, start a family?”
His gaze is determined, he doesn”t even take the time to think. “Yes!”
“Then, it”s your turn! Don”t doubt, go for it!”
He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “Do you think she”ll say yes?”
“You love her, and she loves you too, it”s obvious. Why would she refuse? Listen to your heart, Lucas. Tell this wonderful woman how much you care for her. Don”t hold back, don”t even read your damn note. Express everything you feel, remind her of your best memories, and talk to her about the future you want to build together. Go now! Otherwise, I”ll be unable to organize your wedding,” I say with a lighter tone.
He smiles back, and I expect him to rush to his future wife. However, he surprises me by hugging me. He hugs me so tightly I feel all his tension leaving him, his body relaxing.
“Thank you for your help, Florence.”
I hug him back, then leave first, my eyes teary.
“Was it good?” Manille asks as soon as I sit back down.
“I think so, look.”
When Lucas joins Rose, he doesn”t wait a second longer and declares his love to her. We can”t hear their words from here, but Rose”s reaction confirms he”s saying the right things. Finally, when Lucas gets down on one knee and opens the carefully chosen ring box, Rose can”t hold back her tears of joy. She jumps on him with overflowing joy.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course, yes!”
Everyone rises with a unanimous movement, applauding them warmly. Rose, recognizing the fake customers, is surprised and moved. A solitary tear rolls down my cheek, and with Manille, we embrace, overwhelmed by joy.
“I”m proud of you, Florence, and I hope you are too. You did a good job!”
“Thank you, Manille. I”m equally proud of you, this place is beautiful because of you.”
My friend grabs my face in her hands and gives a loud kiss on my cheek. Finally, we decide to let the future newlyweds enjoy their happiness with their loved ones. We gather our things, I discreetly wave goodbye to Lucas, who nods slightly in return and sends me a silent thank you. Outside, I say goodbye to Manille, who disappears into the darkness of the night. She promised to spend the evening with her little sister.
A smile lights up my face as I lift my chin to the starry sky, proud of what I have accomplished. I didn”t anticipate reaching this point, but I did. A few weeks ago, I believed I couldn”t do anything, and yet, here I stand.
I start walking when I hear a voice calling me. I turn around and meet Rose”s sparkling eyes. Before I can say anything, she jumps into my arms, her face flooded with tears. I remain stunned by her reaction, but I hug her back, nonetheless. When she pulls away, her gaze filled with tenderness moves me.
“Lucas told me everything you did for us tonight and all the help you provided him. I wanted to say thank you, Florence. Thank you for everything.”
Her sincere expression touches me. I find myself slightly bewildered, my mind and heart getting tangled in this wave of gratitude. I almost stutter a response.
“You”re welcome, it”s my job after all.”
I”m still marveling at the evening when Rose brings me back to reality.
“Oh, please! I know it was more than that. You”re friends, and I owe this beautiful proposal to you as much as to him. So, accept my gratitude.”
I offer her a genuine smile, and she gives me a conspiratorial wink before heading back to the pizzeria. I stand there, feelings swirling within me like a kaleidoscope of emotions. This evening has been magical, infused with success and love, and yet, there”s something else swirling in my mind. Corentin.
As I continue my way, the rain starts to fall. My thoughts and emotions mix with the melody of drops crashing on the wet ground. My green satin dress might be soaked, but I don”t care. This evening has been exceptional, and what matters is all. But amidst all of this, Corentin still holds a special place in my mind. I almost feel like he was with me tonight, as if he slipped into the third chair of our romantic table, watching and judging me for my lies.
I curse myself as I cross my street. It”s a strange feeling to walk alone, trying to see the world through someone else”s eyes, especially if someone is supposed to be your friend. My gaze falls on the cracks in the sidewalk, as if these details could help me clarify my thoughts. I”ve held the belief people come into our lives to teach us something, whether positive or not, before disappearing. For me, Corentin is like a lighthouse, assisting me in finding light in dark moments and waves crashing on the shore of my emotions.
As I pass by a glass building, I stop to contemplate my reflection. I”m wearing the same dress I had when we first met in the elevator, but this time, I don”t lower my eyes nor am I covered in cake. Today, I stand proudly, despite my past. I walk on the path of my dreams, rain sliding on my skin, carrying away the weight of my worries. Tonight, I won”t let anything spoil this moment. My cheeks regain their color, and my lips regain their hue, mainly thanks to the makeup.
I gaze at the lamplights reflecting on the wet ground. My eyes explore everything around me with a new clarity. The streets of Paris are surprisingly quiet, a rarity in this capital. As I cross the street with my eyes, my building stands before me. I wonder if I should visit Corentin in his apartment to share my evening with him, but I realize it would be merely an excuse to spend time with him. He could easily sense the truth because he has consistently possessed a sharp observational ability.
As I let my thoughts wander, I am suddenly enveloped by a familiar scent filling the air around me. I freeze and slowly turn my head, my heart beating faster. I”ve smelled this scent so many times since I”ve known Corentin; my nostrils could unmistakably recognize it. Suddenly, I feel an arm wrap around my waist.
I find myself in Corentin”s arms, my heart skipping a beat. His solid chest against my back, his fragrance enveloping my entire being. I lift my head to look at him, and I notice the umbrella above us, shielding us from the rain.
This man is decidedly more perceptive than I am. Under the light of a streetlamp, we stand there, observing each other. The rain continues to fall, but I don”t feel it anymore, I only sense the weight of his gaze on me. It”s as if Corentin can read the emotions passing through my mind.
“I didn”t know you liked to stroll at night,” I whisper in his ear.
He slowly tilts his head toward me, his eyes anchored to mine. I melt under his magnetic gaze. His arms tighten around me, bringing me closer to him.
“It happens from time to time. It helps me unwind.”
I nod, understanding what he means. But there”s more, much more. We”re observing each other, the emotions between us too intense to be expressed in words. I instinctively move closer to him, burying my face in his neck, inhaling his familiar and captivating scent. His warmth comforts me despite the falling night and the gentle breeze dancing around us.
“Florence, my tulip,” he murmurs softly, his breath caressing my ear.
I let out an involuntary sigh. He knows how much the nickname touches me, how it resonates in me like a sweet melody. I lift my eyes to him, my gaze captured by his. In the silence of the moment, I feel like we share much more than words. Each glance, each breath, each heartbeat seems to be a silent declaration.
I nestle beside Corentin, and we start our walk bathed in the soft glow of the moon. His scrutinizing eyes delve into mine, and I instantly feel he”s waiting, anticipating my reaction. I sense his doubt, his silent question. He assumes I had a romantic date with Lucas. If only he knew. Yet, he skillfully avoids directly asking the question, waiting for it to come from me.
“Did you have a good evening?” I inquire, my fingers gliding over the damp fabric of my dress.
He arches an eyebrow, far from being fooled. His intense gaze, laden with implications, makes me blush. He knows something is going on; he has this unique way of capturing emotions beneath the surface. But I need to change the subject, divert his attention, or else I might reveal everything.
“Pleasant,” he replies in a deep tone. “Nothing beats a calm Paris. And you?”
His warm breath brushes my face, and I can read the apprehension in his eyes. My heart dances in my chest, a chaotic dance mixing fear and anticipation. How could I put into words everything I feel? The hopes, the worries, the dreams clashing. I brush away these thoughts with a subtle gesture and continue our silent walk, letting him get lost in the melody of raindrops.
“Are you going to ignore me?” he asks, a slight note of concern in his voice.
“I”m thinking, which is not easy when you haunt my thoughts.”
“I understand. Know it”s the same on my side.”
A sigh of understanding escapes my lips. We are caught in a complex tangle of emotions, bound by an invisible thread transcending words. We remain silent, wrapped in the soft sound of rain on our umbrella. Then I break the silence again, without even thinking about my words.
“What are we going to do, Corentin?”
“I don”t know, Florence. I have no idea what awaits us, or what”s happening.”
I can”t help but smile. It”s almost comforting to know he”s as lost as I am. We finally reach our building, and I follow him to the elevator. I rest my head against his shoulder as he presses the buttons for our respective floors. But once we reach my floor, I stay frozen. I can feel Corentin”s gaze, his short breath, perfectly in tune with mine. The doors close, and we both know what it means.
I gently step away, facing him. The air seems electrified, charged with desire and tension. He moves a bit closer, his eyes scanning my face. His throat tightens, and he struggles to run his tongue over his lips. His attention oscillates between my flushed face and the neckline of my dress. A warm heat awakens in my belly, my breath quickening under his scrutinizing gaze. Then, suddenly, he pulls me against him, pressing me against the cool wall of the elevator. His powerful arms surround me, and the intensity in his gaze stirs up a whirlwind of sensations in me.
A warm electric sensation spreads between us as he moves in slowly. My heartbeats quicken, and I feel his warm breath against my lips. Then, finally, his lips touch mine. The contact is both familiar and unprecedented, a blend of passion and urgency. We both let out a sigh of relief, as if this kiss had been waited for an eternity.
The first moments are slow, an exchange of breaths and caresses. Then, the intensity rises, and our lips move together, brushing and entwining. The accumulated tension releases in this kiss, giving way to a mix of well-being and happiness. My defenses finally crumble, doubts and questions fading into the wet air. There”s only him, me, and the bond uniting us.
I need him, the only thought persisting and filling my entire being. He leads me into his room, a sense of urgency pulsating between us. He positions himself above me, his warm breath caressing my skin. I let out a sigh of contentment as he tries to pull back, to resist the pull pushing us toward each other. But I don”t want this moment to dissipate, I don”t want to leave room for regrets.
I move closer to his ear, letting my lips brush against his skin as I whisper. “Just once.”
These words are like a spell, breaking down the last barrier of his resistance. My neighbor gives in, wrapping me in his powerful arms. His face, bathed in the moonlight filtering through the window, radiates breathtaking beauty. My heart tightens in my chest as our lips meet in a kiss transcending time and space.
A shiver runs over his skin, and I feel him yielding, abandoning all resistance. He pulls me closer, and I wrap my arms around his neck, securely anchoring myself to him. All that remains is him and me, the darkness of the night, and the gentle murmur of our breaths intertwined.
I lose myself in the depth of his gaze, in the warmth of his irises captivating me irrevocably. As he leans over me, our lips brush, finally joining after this unbearable wait. An electric thrill of pleasure courses through my entire body, and I can”t suppress the subtle moan escaping my lips. Our kiss is a passionate fusion, a fire momentarily leaving me defenseless.
I let myself be carried away by this embrace, wrapped in the softness of the plush bed. Corentin nestles against me but makes sure not to crush my quivering body under his weight. My heart beats at a frantic rhythm in my chest, almost threatening to escape my ribcage. Short of breath, I lose myself in his kisses, in this whirlwind of emotions igniting my being.
For a fleeting instant, our lips separate to share a breath, then reconnect with even greater enthusiasm. Corentin gently places a kiss on my lips before pulling back slightly. Our foreheads touch, and I can feel the thinly veiled hunger in his gaze. My entire being yearns for one thing only, to experience his hands exploring my skin.
“I need you to say it, Florence. Is it me you choose?” he murmurs, his voice hoarse, charged with sensuality, but also tinged with a slight concern. “I didn”t expect to see him in this state, let alone be the cause of it. But damn, how I love it.”
“Yes, Corentin, it”s you I choose. It will always be you,” I whisper in a barely audible murmur.
A satisfied smile stretches his lips, then he throws himself on me again with a fervor I would not have suspected. This kiss is different, filled with tenderness but burning with a new fever, with an inflamed urgency. I welcome his tongue with indescribable pleasure as he undertakes suggestive movements against my increasingly impatient center.
The moonlight is now our only witness as his hands gently slide from my thighs to my waist, then up my dress before removing it with a careful touch, making me shiver. My fingers undo the buttons of his own garment until our naked skins finally make contact, creating a waking dream where my fantasies come to life.
Corentin explores my body with striking delicacy, his hands gently massaging my breasts, enveloping them in a burning embrace. His gaze settles on me with a burning intensity before he leans in to kiss them, nibbling them with devouring passion.
Desire sweeps me away, my nails sliding over his muscular back, grazing his imposing shoulders before moving up to his hair, which I pull slightly, eliciting a hoarse moan from his lips. Corentin”s mouth explores my skin, peppering fiery kisses. From my chest to my belly, down to the hollow of my thighs, he leaves no place unexplored.
“You”re so beautiful,” he murmurs with sincere admiration.
Unable to reply, I offer him a seductive smile in return as he slips between my legs, his tongue tracing a sensual path at the base of my neck while his fingers reach my clitoris, causing electric sensations throughout my being.
“If only you knew the effect you have on me. You can”t imagine how much I want you.”
His husky and enchanting voice dances in the air, making me shiver. Driven by growing pleasure, I grip his forearms with strength. Our caresses alternate between slowness and fervor, letting me drown in this passionate dance of our bodies and hearts, each movement bringing me a little closer to ecstasy. My lover doesn”t make me wait any longer. He intensifies the rhythm, inserting two of his fingers into me as my moans grow louder.
“Corentin.”
My legs tremble, but he pulls away, not letting me reach climax with his fingers. Instead, he quickly gets rid of his jogging pants and boxers, showing his impatience roughly equivalent to mine.
My gaze travels along the muscles of his body with evident appetite until my attention settles on his groin. The sight of his erect member suddenly intimidates me, and I feel a mix of excitement and hesitation facing his arousal.
“Are you sure?” Corentin asks me, his gaze capturing my turmoil. “If you”re not ready, we can stop everything here.”
My smile can”t be contained because his tone, devoid of any frustration or resentment, warms my heart. He genuinely cares about my well-being, and his taking the time to ask confirms I made the right choice.
Without another word, I pull him closer to me, sealing our lips in a burning kiss. The fervor of this contact expresses what words struggle to convey. As our lips part, I whisper in his ear with a voice filled with determination:
“I”m ready for you.”
My teeth gently capture his lobe, eliciting a wild growl, further fanning the blaze between us. He positions himself above me, his elbows on either side of my head, and with a gesture full of tenderness, he brushes away a rebellious strand of hair from my face. His gaze plunges into mine, shining with renewed passion, while my arms instinctively wrap around his biceps, as if I”m seeking to anchor myself to him, to this moment.
Then, he enters me with deliberate, tantalizing slowness. A rush of warmth mingled with a hint of discomfort envelops me, but it swiftly dissipates, replaced by a synchronized moan as Corentin reaches his destination. He remains still, letting me get used to his presence, to the magnitude of our burgeoning connection. I tighten my grip on his arms, one hand on his shoulder, the other on his bicep, as if I need this anchor to ground me in the emerging reality.
As he gently initiates his movements, soft and caressing back-and-forth, the discomfort fades to make room for a wave of new sensations. Our bodies seek and explore each other, gradually uncovering one another. Each movement and caress become a way to connect with each other.
With time, his thrusts become faster, more confident. Our rhythms naturally align, our bodies connect in a passionate dance. My sighs escape in rhythm, and when Corentin”s finger teases my clitoris, a new intensity courses through my being. I am on the edge of explosion, my nails digging slightly into his skin, blending pain and pleasure.
I scratch his back, he moans. I nibble, and he responds by licking my skin. A tender and ardent mixture, a burning fire consuming everything in its path. I want more, more of him, more of this passion uniting us. Heat radiates from my lower abdomen, my body igniting in unison. Our foreheads press against each other, and he grips my hip with a possession, creating a delightful shiver.
My heart resonates in my chest with an irresistible frenzy. Our breaths intertwine, our moans merge into an intoxicating symphony. Orgasm hits us together, our souls igniting in a powerful fire slowly consuming us.
My one-night lover reaches his climax inside me, whispering my name in a seductive murmur. As he collapses against my feverish body, my nails sink one last time into his flesh. Our breaths gradually calm, but our bodies refuse to detach, bound by an indescribable intimacy.
Entwined, Corentin buries his head in the crook of my neck, a shower of wet kisses left on my skin. Time seems to stand still, our pulsations synchronized. Yet, everything has its end, and when Corentin finally withdraws to lie beside me, his presence is already missed.
It”s as if all of this were a dream, a dream I wish could last longer. But my eyelids are heavy, my limbs tired, and soon, sleep carries me into its gentle comfort, bathed in the tender glow of the moonlight.