She starts telling me about the time her family went on a road trip to South Dakota. The music her parents made them listen to and how packed it was with seven people and how you could barely move. How her youngest sister got left at a rest stop and how the van smelled like farts and fast food.
“So, the next time you’re flying around in your private chartered plane, remember you could be stuck in a smelly van.”
I chuckle at that. A minute later we’re airborne, my anxiety about this flight eased by Chloe’s entertaining story. She finishes her story while I finish my scotch. Then, somewhere over the Atlantic, we make good use of the plane’s bedroom.
CHAPTER 26
Chloe
We’re in Paris.
The city of lights. And love.
That’s where Barrett has taken me. On a date. This man is unreal.
I barely slept on the plane, Barrett’s roaming hands and mouth keeping me up half the flight, but it doesn’t matter. After a shot of espresso and a flaky croissant that tasted of butter and sin, I’ve got the energy level of a five-year-old at Disney.
The hotel is extravagant. Marble floors, gold-plated ceilings, French blue walls with intricate gold-painted details, and crystal chandeliers. That’s just the lobby.
We’re staying in the penthouse. The first thing my eyes connect with when the door opens is the Eiffel Tower right outside the window. French doors open to a balconet, I can’t help but step out to get a better look.
“Barrett! You have to see this.”
I turn to find him in the middle of the room, his hands shoved into his pockets, watching me with a smile on his face.
“The view is good from here.”
“Right.” I nod in understanding. Looking out at the famous landmark, I wonder what Barrett has planned. Will we sightsee? Check out museums? Eat delicious French food until we’re stuffed? I’ve already determined I could sustain myself on croissants if necessary.
“What’s the plan?” I move to wrap my arms around his waist, my temple resting at the center of his chest. I’m in Paris, with Barrett. It’s surreal, yet it feels natural. As if I could be anywhere right now, it would be here. And if I could have anyone by my side, it would be him. I wouldn’t have said that a month ago. I can’t believe how quickly my feelings about him have changed. “Louvre? Musée d’Orsay? Walk along the Seine?”
“I thought we’d take a tour of this bed here.”
I turn my head to look up at him. “You brought me to Paris to have sex?”
“Among other things.” He grins down at me. His fingers slide into my hair and he kisses me sweetly.
The kiss turns burning hot in seconds and I’m considering forgetting all about the enchanting city out the window in favor of spending all day in bed with Barrett, but he pulls away and gives my ass a sharp smack.
“All right. Let’s go or we’ll never leave this room.”
We both know he’s right.
Out on the street, there’s a car waiting for us. Valentin, our driver, takes us through the city. While I can’t always understand what he’s saying due to English being his second language, Barrett is a diligent guide, pointing out shops and restaurants and sharing facts about history and architecture.
The day goes by in a blur.
A private tour at Louvre, lunch on the patio at Le Servan where I don’t bother to look at the menu but everything that is put in front of me is delicious—mussels, sardines on brioche toast and black pudding. And Bordeaux wine which Barrett explains the history of. I love how excited he gets talking about it all. I’ve never been a history buff, so it’s fun to hear all the random facts he’s got stored in his brain.
After lunch we opt to walk and bid Valentin farewell. We spend the afternoon touring Notre-Dame, then make our way over to Ile St. Louis. Even though I’m still full from lunch, I can’t pass up ice cream at world famous Glacier Berthillon.
I select tiramisu flavor while Barrett opts for the wild strawberry sorbet.
“This is ruining Ben & Jerry’s for me,” I tell him between licks.
With his arm around my back, he pulls me in close.
“This is making me think of your mouth around my cock,” he whispers against my ear. I nearly choke on my ice cream.
We take our ice cream to go and walk along the Seine. It’s a warm afternoon, and having gotten a double scoop, I have to work hard to eat it before it melts.
Just when I think the day can’t get better, Barrett leads me to where a boat is docked at the riverside. A private boat tour along the Seine. And there’s champagne.