“You haven't told me who you are.”
“Oh.” I sit up. He’s right. I’m going to tell him; I just don’t want to ruin our trip. I figured I would wait until we got back home. These have been the best days of my life. I think I kind of forgot about all that crap I’m tied to with my family. Mateo does that to me. When I’m with him, I tend to forget about everything else except for us.
“Come, we’ll shower.”
He plucks me from the bed, tossing me over his shoulder, making me laugh. I really think he should have thought more about this plan of us showering together if we’re trying to get out the door quicker. That plan blew up on him, or I guess you could say, on me.
Once we finally leave the hotel, the day is sunny and warm, and oh-so-Paris.
“What’s so funny?” Mateo asks as we enter some fancy store.
“You, you’re funny.” I release his hands but only to wrap myself around his arm. Two women greet us, speaking in French. They are both not only dolled up but very sophisticated looking. Their appearance is so flawless that they could be mistaken for one of the mannequins.
“English, please. I called ahead and was told–”
“Of course,” the woman with dark red hair rushes to say.
“Is this her? She is as beautiful as you said.” The other woman starts to gush all over me.
“What’s happening?” I whisper, clinging to Mateo. He pulls me back a step when the one who seems enamored with me starts to touch me.
“No touching.”
“No touching?” The other one laughs. “We’ll have to do some touching. Isn’t that what today is about?”
“It’s about whatever she wants it to be about.” Mateo responds, looking down at me. “You said you’d like to go shopping. This place does it all, I was told. Nails and all the other stuff. All those things that girls like.”
“I did want to go shopping.” I’d mentioned it in passing. What I wanted was to pick up something other than my plain panties and bras. I wanted something sexy. Glancing around this place, I’m sure they’ll have something to that effect.
“You can leave her with us,” the red-haired one says.
Leave me? I don’t even get a chance to protest that.
“Not happening.” Mateo is firm.
I let out an audible breath, dropping my hands before they get to my cheeks. “I want him to help me pick some of the items out.”
“That’s more than okay. Usually the men are running for the doors. I’m Annabell.” The redhead holds her hand out for me. I take it. “And this is Carly.” She nods to the blonde, who winks at me. I start to relax.
“Where would you like to start?” Carly asks.
“I was really hoping to see some…” I lick my lips, trying not to blush, but I don’t think that’s possible.
“Lingerie?” Annabell fills in for me.
“You have great curves,” Carly adds. Mateo tucks me in closer to his side, making them both laugh.
“Come.” Annabell motions us toward the back and into a giant dressing room. “Let us grab some things. We’ll be right back.”
“Think I might have bitten off more than I can chew,” Mateo says when they leave the room.
“You don’t have to stay.” I drop my arms from around his. I never loved the idea of being the center of attention, but with Mateo, that’s different. I love it with him. I was getting excited thinking about trying on different things for him.
“A bomb couldn’t get me out of here.” He pulls me into him. His cock presses into my stomach. “I have a feeling this is going to be the sweetest kind of torture there is.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to love every second of it.” As long as I’m with him, that’s all that matters to me. Because I know I’m halfway in love with Mateo. Who am I kidding? I'm all the way there already.
Too bad he has no idea who I really am.
15
Mateo
“You look amazing.” I can’t stop staring at Milly. “Have I mentioned that?”
“Only about a dozen times. But who’s counting?” She smiles.
We’re in a secluded area at the back of a restaurant, the best servers and food in Paris at our beck and call, but she’s the only thing I see, the only thing I want to taste. Our days and nights together have redefined my entire life. I thought I was living before I met her. I wasn’t. I was going through the motions.
Mrs. Verne has told me so many times that I wasn’t actually getting anywhere–that no amount of stolen goods or money wired to my accounts could define me. That I had to define myself. Maybe she was right. Because the more I get to know Milly, the more I realize I’ve been missing the most important thing of all. Love. The kind of love that’s growing between the two of us every second.