“Come, my love.” I lift Valentina to her feet. “I think Maria needs a moment to process. After all, becoming an instant billionaire must be quite intense.”
“Billionaire.” Maria looks up at me, disbelief written in her eyes.
I nod.
“Wait.” Valentina puts a sassy hand on her hip and looks up at me with mischief in her eyes. “You never said I would’ve inherited billions. That’s a lot of cheese for a little mouse like me. Maybe if you’d said that I wouldn’t have--”
“Why, you little--” I sweep her into my arms as she bursts into giggles. Claiming her mouth is the sweetest thing I’ve ever experienced, and my little mouse is worth more than the Cruz fortune ten times over.
Epilogue
Valentina
I sit on the bench sipping my hot chocolate as Cesar waits in line to fill my new crêpes addiction. We’ve been in Paris now for two weeks, and I’ve eaten one every day. Sometimes I indulge in two, and I can’t quit craving them.
I’m not sure what we’re going to do when it’s time to go home. We’ll either have to move to Paris, or Cesar will have to find a cook to make them for me back in the States. I’m going to guess he’ll be hiring a cook, because I’m starting to get homesick.
A smile pulls at my lips as I think about how I once wanted nothing more than to be free of that place. Now I’m itching to get back to it. I think Bandit is over all of this travel, too. She likes to roam the house and have free rein. As much as she loves the views from the penthouse suite, she favors her litter box at home.
I polish off my hot chocolate and set the empty cup down. My phone dings in my coat pocket. I pull it out and watch as Cesar moves up in the line. The vendor, Dino, bursts out laughing when he sees my husband once again. Cesar only smiles. He’s all too happy to get me something to eat.
Jewels: You like?
The text is followed with a drawing she’s done of a bracelet. I smile when I see little cats hanging from it like charms. It’s adorable. I had no idea how good Jewels could draw until I started telling her about all my design ideas. She has such a talent that anything I describe, she can bring to life.
Me: Love it! I have an idea. What if we made jeweled cat collars?
Jewels: I’d wear one myself.
Me: Me too. LOL.
I giggle as she tells me she’s going to draw up a few ideas. I text her back some things that pop into my mind before putting my phone back into my pocket. I glance over to see Cesar handing Dino some cash. My eyes drift to the woman across from me. She opens her violin case and pulls it out. She leaves it open to collect tips as she starts to play.
I smile as I watch her. The sound is soothing to me. A man in a fancy suit on his phone blocks my view of her before almost falling on his ass over her case. I jump up when he starts to scold her and kicks her case onto its side. I can’t make out what he’s saying. I get up to give him a piece of my mind. He doesn’t have to be a jerk. He turns right before I get to him and bumps into me.
“Watch it,” I snap and glare up at him.
He starts to open his mouth but shuts it quickly. I’d like to say it was because he was scared of me, but I have no doubt my husband is now behind me. I peek over my shoulder to make sure he has my crêpe in his hand.
“Little mouse.” He gives me a look that goes right between my thighs. I know it’s because I let the man bump into me when I could’ve easily gotten out of the way.
“He started it.” I hold up his wallet.
Cesar smirks as I open it and pull out a stack of euro. I toss the wallet into the trash can nearby. When I glance back to the girl playing the violin, who looks to be my age, she stares at me with wide eyes. I’m not sure if she’s shocked or impressed. I drop the money into her case.
“You play beautifully.” I smile as I hold my hand out to my husband. He takes it, guiding me down the sidewalk while handing me my crêpe. I lick my lips in anticipation of my first bite.
“You let another man touch you,” he says as I take a giant bite of it.
I moan around the mouthful that I have. “You can punish me when we get back to the hotel.” That’s what I try to say, but my mouth is full of food. I’m sure he can piece it together.
He wraps an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close, making me feel safe and loved.
“Did my mouse steal anything else today?”
I think about it for a moment. “No, but it doesn't look like I’m losing my touch. I have to keep my skills sharp.”
“You could never lose your touch.” He lifts my hand and kisses it. It’s still hard to believe sometimes I once thought that Cesar was scary. The man can be downright deadly with other people, but he’s a big softy when it comes to me.
That tingle between my thighs grows more intense as I think about how good Cesar is to me. I walk faster toward our hotel.
“I thought we were going to finally climb the Eiffel Tower today?”
“I can see it from our room.”
Cesar’s body shakes with laughter. I polish off my crêpe.
“Are you in a hurry, wife?”
I huff a breath at his lazy tone. “You have to punish me,” I remind him.
“Yes, that is right. You let another man touch you.”
“Not really.” As much as I want to be punished in the most wonderful way that only Cesar can, I didn't want to touch that man. “Don’t go thinking that this gives you leeway to be bumping into women.”
Cesar throws back his head laughing. I poke him in the stomach to get him to stop. I purse my lips so I don’t laugh with him. But the sound is contagious coming from him so I cave. I always do when it comes to my Cesar.
“I do not touch other women, little mouse. I made that vow to you the day you walked into my life. You know I take nothing less than what I want. And I want you. Always have, always will.” His mouth drops onto mine. I moan and try to deepen the kiss.
“Wife,” he grits and pulls back.
It takes me a moment to remember we’re outside on a sidewalk with people buzzing all around us. Luckily we’re close to our hotel so I won’t have to wait too long for my punishment.
“Husband.” I dig my fingers into his shirt as I start to pull him toward the front doors. He grabs me, lifting me into his arms. I let out a small scream. The bellhops don’t give us a second look. They’re already used to our shenanigans.
I bury my face in his neck and kiss him there. His hold on me tightens more when I give him a small bite. I just need a little taste to hold me over until we get to our room. The elevator gets us there quickly.
“Little mouse.” I lift my head to look at Cesar. He lets my legs go so I can slide down his body as he puts me on my feet in our hotel room. Bandit circles around my feet before darting back to her cat house.
“Naked,” he orders.
I step back, slowly undressing piece by piece and letting each hit the floor. Cesar’s eyes roam over me, eating up every inch of my skin. I turn and head over to the bed, bending over it, my ass in the air. I look over my shoulder at him, giving a wicked smile as I wiggle.
“I’ve been bad.”
“You don’t look too upset about it.” He walks over to me. His hands roam over my ass, dipping down between my legs. His feet push against mine, making my legs part more for him. A moan leaves my mouth as his other hand comes down on my ass in a loud smack.