Last night, I抎 dreamed of her. It wasn抰 the first time, but it had definitely been the most vivid and dirtiest dream. I really hoped that was a one-time slip, and the result of too much Pernod, but the way my pulse sped up as I watched Anna now, I harbored little hope for myself.
I took a sip from my coffee. I needed to shift my focus to other things, other women preferably. Anna was a job, not a woman. I needed to internalize it until even the last fiber in my body got the message.
揧our expression is very strained. What抯 going on? Not happy with your croissant??Anna hit me with a teasing smile.
I wasn抰 sure why but since our evening yesterday, I found her more tolerable than in the past. It was probably a sensation that would pass soon. If I could count on one thing then it was Anna抯 talent to drive me up the wall.
揓ust trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I抣l be living in France for a while.?
揟here are far worse places to live than Paris.?
I had to admit I was pleasantly surprised by Paris so far, but I still would have preferred to return to Chicago.
揌ow about we do something you want today??Anna suggested, surprising me.
Unfortunately, my mind went straight to a scene from my dream last night, which was definitely not something that would happen today.
Or any day.
I hadn抰 done much research on Paris. It wasn抰 a leisure trip after all, but there was one thing that had caught my eye when I抎 read about the city before our trip. 揟he Catacombs.?
Doing the Catacombs on a cold winter day and walking home in the snowy rain probably wasn抰 the best choice. Anna was shivering when we finally got home.
揂dmit it, you were trying to let me freeze to death so you could return to Chicago.?
揑f you freeze to death under my watch, I better not return to Chicago. Your father would make my last days on earth very unpleasant.?
揇ad抯 a fair Capo.?
I smiled sardonically. Maybe she forgot that I had been his enforcer for years. Yes, Dante was fair, but that didn抰 make him any less brutal and ruthless than any other Capo. He judged you by his standards of moral and fairness. 揑 don抰 think that would be the case if you were concerned.?
揟hen you better make sure I warm up quickly,?Anna said, peeling off her soaked blazer. The blouse beneath it was see-through and clung to her body. Her lace bra teased me through the sheer fabric.
揟ake a hot shower,?I said. I didn抰 easily feel cold but even I was looking forward to a warm shower later.
Anna leaned in the doorway to the bathroom, snowflakes melting on her hair. 揥e could take a shower together.?She bit her lip. 揙r you could start by warming my lips with yours.?
Had she forgotten that kissing her had brought me here in the first place? And the worst thing was that I couldn抰 stop thinking about it. 揥hy would I kiss you again? So you can blackmail me again??
I kicked off my wet shoes.
She sighed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 揑抦 sorry about that. I shouldn抰 have used our kiss against you, and I swear I won抰 ever do it again. Paris just meant so much to me.?
揗ore than my safety and feelings anyway.?
揑 didn抰 know you had feelings. You抮e so good at hiding them.?
I only stared at her, not in the slightest amused. And I sure as fuck wouldn抰 start sharing my feelings with Anna, especially when they had been all over the place in the last few weeks.
揑t抯 not true. I would have never told Dad anything, even if you hadn抰 done what I wanted.?
揑抦 supposed to take your words for that??
Anna looked honestly hurt but I didn抰 want to let her off easily. No one had ever blackmailed me before. 揑抳e never ratted someone out when it really mattered. Not even Leonas after he pissed me off.?
揑 guess we抣l never know. I抦 here in Paris now, so you got your wish.?
She looked away. 揟hen don抰 believe me.?She disappeared in the bathroom and for some reason, I felt a hint of guilt when it was really Anna would feel that way. That woman was messing with my mind again!
I went into my room and got out of my wet clothes and put on warm sweatpants.
A screech rang out. I raced out of my room, grabbing my gun on the way and storming into the bathroom, not even thinking about it. Anna stood in front of the shower stall, dripping wet and stark naked.
I froze, my mind drawing a blank for a moment. I lowered my gun. 揥hat抯 going on??My voice was strangely hoarse. Anna抯 eyes took in my naked chest, and she didn抰 bother covering herself. I should have looked away, but I simply couldn抰。 She was absolutely breathtaking. My imagination, even my wildest dreams hadn抰 done her justice. Goose bumps covered her entire body. Her nipples were hard and dusty pink, her breasts perfectly round. Droplets of water traveled down her belly, catching in her lovely belly button, except for a few wayward drops that slid lower to the trimmed triangle of dark hair.