Natural High
(Darcy)
I think I could quite happily die now like this in Liam’s arms underneath the Eiffel Tower. Nothing could improve this moment. Life could never get any better than this.
Even if we are surrounded by all these people. Somehow I don’t even care, they’ve all vanished into the background as Liam holds me tight.
Our tongues explore each other’s mouths, as his hands continue to explore my ass. He grows hard, digging into me, and I long to rip his clothes off.
Eventually, Liam breaks the kiss and says, “Wait here, I’m going to get us in the Restaurant le Jules Verne at the top of the tower.” He takes a few steps away, turns back and adds, “And I have to make a phone call. I won’t be long.”
I watch his back as he walks away, feeling like I’ve just lost something.
Chase stands nearby, scanning the crowds. For what, I don’t know. It seems pointless having him here.
Pulling out my phone, I take some pictures of the tower. I take a selfie of myself with the tower above me and text it to Kirsten.
Liam still isn’t back, and my mind is drawn back to work, as it always is when he’s not around. I pull my phone out again and text my father.
Interior Design show is great, we need to buy it.
After I hit send, I shove it back in my purse.
“Ready,” Liam says appearing beside me, his smile beaming straight to my heart.
He takes my hand, and leads me to the awning-covered entrance of the restaurant’s elevator.
We step into the elevator, and Liam wraps his arm around my waist and holds me tight as we rise above Paris. The city is stunning, and I flit my eyes all around, taking in as much as I can.
Chase comes with us.
At the top, the doors open and Chase is directed away. I suppose bodyguards have a waiting area?
Liam and I are lead through a busy, high-end restaurant with white tablecloths and candles. Our table is at an outer window, and I can see a white cathedral high on a hill in the distance. This trip to Paris turned out better, more magically, than I could’ve imagined.
“I’m surprised they had a table,” I say.
“They always have a table if you have enough money,” Liam says, his caramel eyes twinkling.
“I can’t figure out if I’m hungry or not. Or what I’m hungry for. My body has no idea what time it is. It’s a weird time to be eating, since it’s three in the afternoon.”
“Oh well, the food here is amazing. Once you taste it, you’ll want it.”
The waiter appears, and Liam orders in French. I have no idea what he’s saying, but my God, it’s making me wet. I wish I’d worn panties, because now I’m thinking it’s going to show right through my skirt when I stand. I should’ve worn a black one, instead of red.
We chat as we’re brought dish after delicious dish. It turned out to be a five-course tasting menu. Once I start eating, I realize how famished I am, and eat nearly all my food.
But there’s only one thing on my mind the whole time, and that’s getting back into Liam’s arms.
“Enjoying your dessert?” He asks.
“It’s not really the one I’d hoped for.”
“No? What did you want? I can make it happen.”
I laugh, and say leaning forward towards him, “I was kind of hoping for the Fat Kok Special.”
“I definitely planned on taking you back to my apartment and ripping off your clothes.”
“Do we have to wait that long?” I ask, half embarrassed, half desperate.
“Let’s go walk around the tower first. You’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”
“I’m okay. I won’t be disappointed.”
“Oh, yes, you will,” he says as he stands and walks away from the table.
Maybe he’s going to pay the bill. I don’t know. I only know this meal has taken forever, and we’ve gone far too long without touching.
While I’m waiting for him to return, my phone rings, dragging my mind back to work. Before I even get it out of my purse, I’m thinking of the text I sent to my dad, and how he’s going to react to my advice to buy the convention. As in, he’s going to say I told you so, and that I wasted a trip to Paris.
Except where I’m sitting right now, dining in the Eiffel Tower with Liam and overlooking the most beautiful city on earth, this is anything but a wasted trip.
I glance at the screen as I drag my finger across to answer. It’s not my father. I don’t recognize the number.
“Darcy Knight,” I say.
“Hello, Ms. Knight, my name is Rochelle, and I’m calling from Elite Exhibitions. Normally, we’d go through a recruitment agency for this, but we’re already well aware of you and your reputation.”
“Okay,” I say, my heart racing.
“Our CEO is planning on retiring in a few months, and we’re looking for a replacement. Would you be interested in interviewing for the role?”
My eyes wide as I glance around the room. CEO. This is a dream come true, though I’m not sure I’m qualified.
Although I know I could do it and do it well.
But it would mean I’d be the CEO of the biggest rival to the company my father is CEO of. And owns. And worked so hard to build.
“That sounds very interesting, thank you. I’ll have to think about it and get back to you,” I say.
My hand is shaking as I hang up the phone. CEO. My dream-come-true job! But at the expense of destroying my relationship with my father. I’m not sure I can do that, even if he is an ass.
I need to talk this out with someone. Except I already know what Liam will say. He’s been pressuring me to get out of my family’s company for weeks. I need to talk to him about it anyway.
Liam appears and strides towards me. My heart stops at the sight of him rushing for me, like he’s on the attack.
He says something to me in French. I have no idea what it means. I give him a puzzled look, but he takes my hand and pulls me up from my seat.
“What’s the hurry?” I ask.
More French, more words I don’t understand but that sound so fucking sexy I don’t even care. He continues talking, his arm now around me, squeezing me to accentuate certain mysterious words that sound oh-so-good rolling off his tongue.
We reach the restaurant exit that leads to the outside of the tower, the beauty of Paris on the other side. Liam leads me through a door and out into the openness of the tower, amidst the crowds of tourists.
There’s a light breeze that’s cool on my face and bare legs, but my core is burning hot right now and I barely notice.
Liam leads me to a small area that’s only slightly tucked away, sheltered on two sides by the heavy metal structure and the third by the railing and the drop below. Chase is standing in the area, but he’s the only one. I glance around, wondering why no other tourists are here.
Chase nods at Liam, and moves from the space as the two of us move into it.