that, though, she wouldn’t believe him, not after less than two days together. She didn’t know him well enough yet. But she would. Oh, yes, she definitely would.
Nine
Time was so fickle. It slowed down when Melanie least wanted it to, like whenever she was sitting in the dentist’s chair, or she had to wait in line to renew her driver’s license. But the next two days with Drew shot past with blinding speed.
The hours were packed with a blur of images—their private tour of the Louvre, a candlelit dinner at the Eiffel Tower, an early morning visit to Notre Dame, café au lait sipped at a sidewalk café, an afternoon stroll past brilliant flower stalls and fruit markets, and an evening boat ride on the Seine.
The new credit card was delivered to Drew’s townhouse, and Melanie was able to pick up souvenirs for her mother and her friends. She also bought a cheap camera and took pictures of everything she saw. No doubt her friends would like pictures of Drew, but she was shy about taking any. She didn’t want to make assumptions or cross any invisible barriers by mistake.
Way before she was ready for the end of her fairy tale, she found herself lying with Drew in their cozy hotel room for the last time. They’d come together with a different kind of desperation tonight, one tinged with sadness that their time together in Paris was nearly over.
She faced him and looked into those incredibly blue eyes. She hated talking about the details of leaving, but she needed to. “I should get to the airport early in the morning,” she said.
He stroked her hair back from her face. “Not too early, darlin’. You’re going home in my plane.”
She sighed. She should have anticipated that he wouldn’t let her suffer through any potential airport drama. “That’s very generous, but I have a ticket. I may have to navigate a little red tape because I physically am not in possession of it, but—”
“I’m going back, too, so you might as well catch a ride with me.” He smiled, and when he did that, he was irresistible. “There will be empty seats.”
“Are you fibbing to me for the first time? You said when we met that you planned to stay two weeks. I distinctly recall you saying that.” She remembered their meeting in vivid detail and probably always would.
“I did plan to stay two weeks, but some unexpected business came up, and I have to head on home.”
She narrowed her eyes, still suspicious of his motives. “Are you sure about that?”
“You bet.” His expression was relaxed, as if he had truth on his side. “I really have to go back.”
“I still say it’s very convenient that you suddenly have to leave when I have to leave.”
He shrugged. “Suit yourself. If you insist, you can be crammed into a center seat of the middle row with crying babies on one side of you and partying college kids on the other side. Or you can fly back in a quiet cabin with me.”
She couldn’t help laughing. The trip over had been a real rodeo, very much like he’d just described. “Well, when you put it that way . . .”
“I knew you’d come to your senses.” He grabbed her and rolled her onto her back. “And we can leave on our schedule, so you don’t have to get up at dawn.”
She gazed at him and fluttered her eyelashes. “Meaning what, kind sir?”
“We have more time for this, dear lady.” He lowered his head and gave her a kiss that was both gentle and sweet.
But she wanted more than gentle and sweet. Thrusting her hands through his hair, she gripped the back of his head and pulled him into an open-mouthed kiss filled with all the passionate longing churning in her heart.
Catching fire, he gave it right back to her. He continued to ravage her mouth as he reached for a condom. Lifting his head, he brushed the condom packet against her cheek. “Put it on for me?”
“Gladly.” She took the packet, ripped it open, and tossed the packaging aside. Then she reached down and grasped his thick, warm penis.
He groaned. “Damn, that feels good.”
“It gets better.”
“I know, darlin’. That’s why I gave you the condom.”
She rolled it on with practiced ease, caressing him as she went along. In their nights together, he’d become quite fond of having her take care of this chore. She finished by cupping his heavy balls and squeezing gently. How