“Yeah. Rosie’s five and James is two and a half. They’re cute and sweet and smart, as if Dominic and Kate put in an order for perfect kids.”
“You don’t say…
“I do say.” But her voice in contrast was forceful, and quickly twisting away, she was straddling Rafe’s hips in two seconds flat. “Now, Mr. Contini,” she purred, “to change the subject from babies, which is way the hell out there, I was wondering if we could get back to talking about you being just a little bit nice to me again—in your inimitable fashion.” She curled her fingers around his rising erection. “In his inimitable fashion.” She looked up and smiled. “Have I mentioned he’s my newest addiction?”
“I believe you have once or twice. And, speaking for him, may I say the sexy sound of your voice alone is enough to make him hard.” His golden gaze was warm with humor, and, sliding his long fingers around her waist, he lifted her slightly. “Put him in.”
She smiled. “Moi? Again? Are you getting lazy?”
“Seeing as how I have my hands full, a little cooperation would be appreciated.” A teasing lift of his brows. “Unless you don’t want to come?”
A second later, his dick was fully ensconced in the woman of his dreams, her warm ass was resting on his thighs, and she was smiling at him like she was enjoying herself.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” she said playfully.
“I don’t see why.”
She laughed. “Okay.”
“That’s the way, baby. Just yeses, always. Remember?”
“Yes, sir, absolutely, sir.”
It was amazing how much his dick liked Nicole in submission mode.
She noticed too. “Jeez, for that much more dick in seconds flat, you can have all the yeses you want.”
“Let me get that in writing. Seriously.”
The quiet gravity in his amber gaze collided with her wild, irresponsible need. And suddenly she no longer cared who called the shots, who was in control, if control even mattered with an entire, blissful month before her in which she could be naively happy. Violently happy. “Just show me where to sign.” She smiled. “Seriously.”
“Done deal. August is turning out to be my favorite month ever.”
“Because to love more and be happy is everything. That’s a Hafiz poem I’m screwing up royally,” she said with a grin.
“It sounds good to me. Perfect, in fact,” he whispered and kissed her.
Chapter 23
Two days later, after Ganz had successfully concluded what Rafe called some unfinished business, they flew to Paris.
Ganz was dropped off at his girlfriend’s apartment and twenty minutes later, Rafe and Nicole arrived at the small fourteenth-century cloister house on the Seine that Rafe called home in the city. Rafe had purchased it when he left university and the building had been converted over the course of several years and considerable expense into a comfortable residence.
This time, rather than bodyguards, the door was opened by a small, plump, middle-aged woman in a gypsy skirt and a black T-shirt with henna-colored hair, enormous diamond studs in her ears, and a smile that was visible from space.
“You darling, sweet boy! How nice to see you again!”
She spoke French, but her enthusiasm was universal and when she opened her arms wide, Rafe moved forward to give her a hug.
Then he turned to Nicole, drew her forward, and made introductions.
“Natalie, I’d like you to meet Nicole,” Rafe said in English. “Nicole, Natalie, who’s kept me on the straight and narrow for many years.”
“Tut, such a liar,” Natalie said in heavily accented English, giving Rafe a little slap on the arm. “He does exactly as he pleases. You must change his bad behavior, ma petite,” she added with a smile for Nicole.
“I’ll do my best,” Nicole replied, shooting a teasing glance at Rafe. “But I may be too late.”
“Nonsense, a man’s better for a strong woman at his side.” She smiled up at Rafe. “Isn’t that so, chéri?”
“If you say so, Natalie,” Rafe replied smoothly. “Who am I to question your magic?”
Her dark eyes hinted at arcane mysteries. “Indeed.”
A small electric pause flickered in the ancient foyer.
Rafe broke the silence first. “Did my parcels arrive?”
“This morning. They’re in your suite as ordered,” Natalie said, staring at him, making it plain her deference was provisional.
“Thank you. If you’ll excuse us,” Rafe said, staring back, his voice conveying his own degree of provisional sanction: even a beloved employee would be wise not to go beyond a certain point.