And then I tasted her neck. She smelled so good, and even her skin held her essence that drove me wild. She curled her hands in my thick hair and moaned. “Good timing. I never normally have that. Do you often do this with your tongue?”
Until now, I’d never wanted to mark a woman, but Kara had me out of character. I let her neck go and trailed my lips up her chin. “Only with you.”
She pressed her lips to meet mine but then stilled. “What if someone sees us?”
I laughed. “They’ll assume you’re French if you just say oui.”
“Oui?” she asked, but her eyes were open.
I needed her, so I met her gaze and nodded, “That’s it. Keep saying that.”
I claimed her lips fully. She still had that power that rushed through me like she was my first and only, forever. She clearly knew how to weave her spell, but as the kiss ended, she said, “Oh my—” I cut off whatever she was about to say with another kiss. It was like she had a drug inside her that I needed to survive. She held me tight and didn’t open her eyes. “Oui.”
I chuckled. I wanted to rip out my cock and take her right here, on the tree. But I let her go—for now—and said, “We’ll do more later, where your American sensibilities don’t get in the way.”
“Oui,” she said and rested her head on my chest.
I held her like she was important, because she was. For a week she was mine, and I didn’t want this to ever end.
Chapter 5
Kara
Those kisses on the train and at the studio had set my body on fire, but after two more hours in the car, my senses were dulled.
And even worse my appetite was like the gas tank—almost empty. I pressed my hand on his hard shoulder and said, “I’m starving.”
He glanced at me, and my mouth watered for more than food. No man had ever made me like this. Butterflies were fluttering in my stomach from too much desire.
“We can stop for dinner and call it a night.”
A night in his bed would be heaven. Maybe then I’d somehow be able to get him out of my system. At the moment, I curled my arm around my waist and said, “Then we won’t make Monte Carlo.”
His dimple showed, and my lips tingled at the sight. “It will be there tomorrow.”
When did I become this girl? Seriously, my skin was aware of him, and he wasn’t even touching me. What would happen if we were naked?
I pressed my temples then squeezed the bridge of my nose, glancing away to get myself under control. “I’m not sure we should stop.”
He patted my knee, like I was a child. “So, you’re not hungry?”
Work. Until recently, data analysis meant I was surrounded by men in that factory. I knew better than to let my libido too much liberty, but desire diminished too, without food in my belly.
I fixed my collar to give my hands something to do.
Maybe my sisters might be right about me. Back home I’m wound too tight, trying to be perfect. I’m a middle child and perfection is what I do. Time to get out of character was what everyone said I needed. And once I realized they might be right, I met his gaze a little clearer and said, “I… it’s getting dark, and I’m hungry. Is there anything near us? Do I need to search online?”
“The sign said there are hotels at the next stop.” He pointed to the road.
I relaxed in my seat and then glanced around as we left the highway.
No big chain name hotels were waiting. Quentin had no issues following the hotel sign, and two minutes later he headed into what looked like a vineyard.
At the end of the small side road, there was a rather large house. Was this a hotel? He parked like it was, so I squared my shoulders to be confident as my feet pressed against the gravel of the parking lot. “I’m paying for the rooms.”
He grabbed the bags out of the back and carried them toward the door. “Nice try, Kara.”
His accent was almost British more than American sometimes, but my name was absolutely French and made me sigh with satisfaction. We headed for the door, and he held it open for me, though he had our two bags, when my phone beeped.
We walked to an empty desk that would be more suited for an office where he put the bags down. “Who’s texting you?”
My sisters knew the charges were pricy for Europe, and they called me on my app that had a completely different tone. So, I knew from the beep it wasn’t family, and I rolled from my toes to my heels. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not paying the charges to read it.”
He held his hand out like I’d give him my phone.
I glanced at the door where the porch light came on. Someone must be coming, and as I looked behind me at Quentin, I reached in my rear pocket for my phone. Quentin squinted at the screen. “Is Marlon your ex?”
I read the missed call screen before shoving it back in my pocket. “How did you guess?”
“Your reaction.” He motioned toward the lights coming on which probably meant someone was coming. “This is the hotel and vineyard.”
“Together?” I asked, though I understood from being outside that the smell in the air was grapes.
A pretty blonde woman with a wedding ring on her finger came over and said, “The vineyard has rooms to lend for the night.”
He took out his credit card. “Two rooms.”
So, it was just me that wanted this to be more, despite what he’d said at the museum. Probably for the best, as I know I wasn’t in my calm and controlled mindset.
A fling with Quentin made my mouth water with hope of discovering exactly what made sex so tempting.
I should call my sisters and get them to talk me back to being myself—data manager of a wine bottle factory, at least until recently, but normally I steered my team to success.
Maybe that’s why now that I’m out of touch, I want to do way more.
Or it was just how Quentin placed his hand on my lower back like I belonged to him? I said to the woman, “Your inn is super charming. I’ve never stayed on a vineyard.”
The innkeeper handed back Quentin’s card. “Let’s check you in, and you can both get a lovely dinner before it gets too dark.”
The room numbers matched. I quickly shook my head and took out my card to pay my own way. The inn keeper accepted and rang up my room separately.
Good. At least I had some control.
I took my receipt and walked with him to our rooms. He hadn’t said a word in a while, so I said, “You’re serious tonight, Quentin.”
He gave me a quizzical gaze. “Never mind me. Meet you in five?”
I kissed both of his cheeks like I’d seen chic French people do all day and slipped into my room.
I glanced at my missed call log. Marlon hadn’t left a message.
Good.
My room was small, double bed, with a white and yellow quilt and a nice view of the vineyard.
I left my bag near the door and leaned against the wall. I went into the family group chat in the app and texted where I was to my five sisters. The six of us were all we had in the world. None of us were married, and our parents had died just as the youngest had started college.
Done, I checked my cheeks and tossed my phone on the bed.
I didn’t need interruptions tonight. I unzipped my bag to grab my toothbrush and cleaned up.