Toxic - Zoe Blake Page 0,38

earlier, “Sir, these happen to be a pair of Yves Saint Laurent Cassandra stiletto platform sandals!”

“You should have worn something more sensible.”

“Walk around Paris in sensible shoes?” she repeated in mock horror. “Death first!”

Swinging her up into my arms, I gave her a suggestive wink. “Guess I’m just going to have to carry you all the way back to my bed.”

“I think I know what I want to do with the rest of my time in Paris,” she purred before biting my ear.

Damn, I loved this woman.

By the end of tonight, she would know just how much.

Chapter 15

Lizzie

I stopped at the top of the dramatic circular staircase and looked down into the black marble-tiled entranceway. Richard was there waiting for me, impeccably dressed in a bespoke tuxedo with satin lapels.

He turned at the sound of my approach, and his eyes lit up as I made my way slowly toward him.

I knew the glow from the crystal chandelier highlighted the subtle embroidered zebra stripes of my completely sheer black gown, which swept the floor as I walked. A tiny pair of satin shorts and the long drape of the tuxedo tailcoat saved my modesty. I knew he was going to like the especially sexy, over-the-knee black suede boots I was wearing, which I made sure to flash him a glimpse of when I hitched my gown up high as I navigated the marble stairs.

Since I didn’t have any of the jewelry Richard had given me here in Paris, I wore only the pink diamond lovebird brooch on the lapel.

When I reached the bottom, he took me in his arms. “Do you have any idea what it is like watching you, knowing you’re mine?” His voice was a seductive, low timbre.

The possessive question sent a shiver down my body. This man. He was just so big and strong and intimidating and yes, scary as fuck, and all that intense energy was focused on me and me alone. It was powerful knowing you had the affections of such a man.

Powerful… and dangerous.

Forcing the dark thoughts to the back of my mind, I asked, “So what do you have planned for this evening?”

Richard winked. “A surprise.”

He led me out to the cobblestoned courtyard where a driver waited, holding the door open to a sleek stretch limo. Once inside, Richard held up a purple silk blindfold.

“Do you trust me?”

No.

“Yes, of course,” I stammered.

With trepidation, I closed my eyes as he tied the blindfold around my head. He guided me back into the crux of his shoulder as I felt the limo pull away.

Another game had begun.

A short time later, the limo stopped. I held my arms out in front of me and Richard helped me alight from the back seat.

Reaching up to stroke the silk fabric covering my eyes, I asked, “Can I take it off now?”

“Not just yet.”

We had only driven for a relatively short time, so I knew we were still in Paris. I could hear the sounds of the city all around me; laughter, shuffling feet, conversations in French, music playing in the distance. Despite the late hour, almost midnight, the city still buzzed and hummed with life.

Richard wrapped his arm around my waist and whispered into my ear, “This way, my love.”

From the hushed din, I could tell we had entered a building of some sort.

There was the sound of metal beneath our feet, then the swooshing sound of elevator doors closing. I gripped Richard’s forearm tightly as the floor shifted beneath me. After a few moments, there was a soft ding, and something over the speaker in French. Richard’s hand on my lower back guided me forward.

I could feel the cool rush of air hit my face. Gone was the sound of laughter and conversation, but I could still hear the music in the distance and an occasional car horn. A light breeze fluttered the long sheer skirt of my dress as Richard stepped up behind me. Immediately, I felt his warmth along my back as he wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

Then I felt a tug at the blindfold. As the silk dropped away, I gasped at the sight.

Before me, in all her twinkling-light glory, lay Paris.

Running to the metal railing, I swiveled my head and looked up to see the massive metal structure disappear into the night sky.

We were alone on the Eiffel Tower’s second level.

“This is so cool!” I exclaimed as I jumped up and down before wrapping my arms around Richard’s neck