Phoebe rose to her feet, and Quentin stood with her. They left the terrace strolling back into the front room where they retrieved their coats and left the suite. With a mild breeze in the air, the cool temperatures were a welcome change to Chicago’s turbulent winds and chilly atmosphere. A limo sat waiting for the couple as they meandered out to the front of the building. The hotel wasn’t lacking in personnel as the employees milled about helping other guests who were mostly checking in, in the hopes to see the Eiffel Tower light up once the clock struck midnight.

Getting comfortable inside the limo, Phoebe rested against Quentin’s broad chest as they were chauffeured around town. The grandiose of Paris was a serene beauty, holding a contemporary and notable blend of landmarks. The romantic city provided no shortage of picturesque views. Each avenue accommodated the wide tree-lines, and outstanding sights. Estates, gardens and exhibition halls stood on virtually every turn. Architectural structures were also a beauty of the city as they pronounced the cities elegance with on every corner. When the limo pulled to the curve at Carrousel du Louvre, Phoebe turned to Quentin to kiss his lips. She made sure to make it quick since she was well aware of the danger they could get into if she lingered too long. Realistically, Phoebe adored the thought of being prey to Quentin, and soon he would find out just how much.

Quentin and Phoebe exited the limo and strolled hand in hand inside the underground shopping center. It was brimming with rambunctious activity as travelers, citizens, and the like milled about in search of last-minute items and preparations for the New Year. Entering Barneys, Phoebe patted Quentin on his arm with a promise.

“I won’t spend too much of your money,” she teased.

Quentin kissed the side of her forehead. “I’m not worried.”

“Hmm,” Phoebe murmured. “You may take that back when I’m done.”

Quentin chuckled. “I doubt that very seriously.”

They strolled through the store. “I don’t know if you’ve ever dated a high maintenance girl like me,” she continued to tease.

Quentin just laughed. It was funny to him that she set out to make him think she could spend his fortune in one store. Besides that, Phoebe must have forgotten that Quentin knew her inside and out. He could guess how much money she would spend since she had a knack for adding things up in her head and justifying whether it was worth the price. Not many multimillionaire women would think twice about it, but Phoebe Alexandria Rose was the exception.

“Go ahead,” he humored her, “do your worst, baby girl.” Quentin leaned in and pushed a kiss against her forehead then turned to leave.

“Wait, where are you going, babe?”

He offered her a bemused grin. “Not far,” he said, “I’ll be back before you can miss me.”

Phoebe blushed and batted her lashes. “I miss you already.”

Quentin’s smile grew even further, and he stepped back into her space, pulling her in by her waist. “Then I’ll stay,” he said.

A shiver fell over Phoebe as she stared into his dark onyx eyes. “It’s okay, go on and do what you were going to. I’ll be here.”

Quentin sank his palm against her face, slipping his hand into her hair. With his other wrapped around her, Quentin pulled her lips to hover right below his. “I promise to be back quickly. I wouldn’t dare leave you unaccompanied for too long. Some guy could try and steal you away. Then Paris would have their first brawl at Carrousel du Louvre. Can you see the headlines? Quentin Davidson of Chicago Illinois, knocks a man unconscious for coming too close to his lady love.”

Phoebe giggled.

“Then I supposed you better get back then.” She stuck her tongue out and pretended to lick up his lips, missing his mouth by a breath.

An inundation of warmth seized Quentin and his eyes darkened furthermore. “You shouldn’t tease me in public,” he said. “Sometimes, I can be instinctual.” He let his words sink in.

A ball of nerves shot down between Phoebe’s thighs and rested against her labia. She tilted on her toes as he leaned and their mouths joined.

“Stop,” Quentin warned. It was an interesting caution coming from him as he continued to kiss her.

“After you…” Phoebe breathed.

His hand left her hair and flew to her jaw. Slowly, he peeled off of her while simultaneously sucking in a breath. That one had almost gotten away from him. It was why he’d beckoned Phoebe with the gesture first. Quentin’s ability to take things slow with her whether it was sex or otherwise was becoming a losing battle.

“Go,” Phoebe said.

Quentin kissed her forehead then turned and left the store. His thoughts flew as he thought about what was happening here. Phoebe, his long-term friend, and now lover was pulling his heart strings. He’d longed for her before but what he was feeling lately was insoluble. Connecting with her on an intellectual basis was one thing, but their physical connection was something entirely different. She’d waited for him, and Quentin had no idea that he was someone Phoebe had grown to yearn for.

It tripped him out and made him feel a jubilant emotion of something he had no experience with. Marriage had never been on his radar before. It was something Quentin still wasn’t one hundred percent sure about now, even as his footsteps took him down the hall and up a short escalator to Zales. Quentin entered the store but stood by its entrance. He’d only been in the jewelry retailer once when a gift was in order for his mother’s birthday. Now the diamond store held a completely new meaning and it gave off an extra flutter in his chest and caused his heart to pick up an extra beat.

 

Back in Barneys, Phoebe strolled around the store in a semi daze as she grabbed a few things for tonight. An hour slipped into two as she pranced around the establishment with heavy thoughts on her mind. Just weeks ago, Phoebe had wondered what her New Year would look like and now she smiled thinking of the sudden shift the road before her was taking. Even as she grabbed the last item she wanted and sauntered to the register, she mused over being in a relationship with Quentin. As she pulled out her credit card to make her purchase, a shadow covered her, and deep grooving vocals tickled her ear drum.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Quentin asked.

Phoebe sucked in a breath, and ripple of heat fell over her. “I was getting ready to pay for my things.”

He tisked. “That wasn’t the agreement.” His lips hovered just above her ear, and the heat from them caused Phoebe to squirm, and her pulse quickened.

“I thought you were gone,” she half panted.

The cashier rang them up and Quentin reached for her bags then slipped his hand inside hers.

“That means you’re supposed to wait for me. Not swipe your card. Didn’t I tell you I was taking care of you?”

They strolled hand and hand out the door. “I kind of told you I was spending your money.” She laughed, and he smirked. “I was just kidding though.”

Quentin held her with a raised brow. “But I wasn’t.” He tucked her arm between his, and they exited the shopping center and climbed into the awaiting limo. Quentin casually draped an arm across Phoebe’s shoulders, and they rode to their next destination.

“Have you ever seen the way the sky lights up a pink gray hue when the sun sets?” he asked.

“Pink and gray? I can’t say that I have.”

“I know the perfect spot for us to catch it,” he whispered, pulling her in to kiss her forehead.

“Sounds delightful.”

As they rode, Phoebe rested in the strength of his arms, the beat of his heart and the warmth of his solid body. The limo pulled to a stop right outside Pont de l’Archevêché bridge, and Quentin and Phoebe slipped out. They strolled with their fingers tightly bonded to the middle of the bridge just as the sky fell. A crackling of soft grays from the clouds and pink filling from the retreating sun mixed across the heavens.

“Wow,” Phoebe said, “this is beautiful.” She leaned into Quentin, and he pulled her close while producing another gift box, this time wrapped in a silver bow. Phoebe’s eyes rose in surprise and glanced at him then back to the box. “Another gift?”

Quentin smiled slowly as Phoebe took the box from his hand. She hurriedly removed the bow with a bright smile, excited about what he could be giving her next. She popped the top and look back at him with a curious stare.

“Another key?” she said, trying to figure out what this one could possibly unlock.

It was then that Quentin produced a golden lock. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, it was 18 carat gold along with the key in her hand.

“This key opens this lock that symbolizes my love for you,” he said.

Phoebe’s heart warmed, and she gasped. “Quentin…”

Quentin reached in his coat pocket and retrieved a magic marker. With it, he inscribed his autograph across the metal safe then handed it over to her. With tear-stained eyes, Phoebe accepted the marker and also scribbled her name across the lock right underneath his.

“And now,” his deep voice grooved, “we seal our fate.” He snapped the lock shut around the metal frame of the bridge then turned to her. “If it is your will, you can toss that key overboard.”

Phoebe’s heart thumped so hard she thought it would beat out of her chest. “Why would I do that?”

The tradition says you toss the key so there is no possible way to break the bond of our love.”

“This is the love locks bridge,” she asked, just now realizing it. “I thought they took down the locks and changed this bridge so it couldn’t be done again.”

“They did, but I called in a favor.”

Phoebe reared her head back. “You called in a favor?” she echoed. “Who would grant you something as extraordinary as this?”

Quentin winked and tugged her nose. “The specifics aren’t really that necessary, are they?” his voice grooved.

Phoebe pushed her lips out and peered at him before taking her hands off her hips and tossing them around his waist as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“This is beautiful, babe,” she crooned. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Quentin kissed her forehead. “There’s more in store for us tonight. I think you’ll love our new year’s destination.”

Phoebe moaned, snuggling further into his embrace. “Didn’t you know,” she said, “nothing could be better than this.”

A blanket of warmth tussled around them in the disguise of the wind, and they held together, stable and planted against one another.

“Can we stay here for a while?” Phoebe asked.

“We can do whatever you would like to.”

Phoebe sighed. “You’re going to spoil me. Consider this your only warning.” A teasing laugh escaped her, and Quentin chuckled.

“A warning?” he said. “Like the one I gave you back at Barneys to which you ignored?”

Phoebe turned her face into Quentin’s chest and giggled. “I couldn’t help myself,” she said. “Your kiss is absolutely incredible.” Phoebe pulled her face from his chest and turned up her chin to look at him.

Gazing back with a dark penetrating stare, Quentin responded, “I could’ve very well pulled you to the nearest dressing room and taken advantage of you. Then what?”

Heat simmered straight to Phoebe’s nipples and her areolas tightened into nubs. “We would’ve gotten caught,” she said. “There’s nothing you could’ve done to keep me quiet.”

“And yet you didn’t heed to my warning.”

“I took a gamble,” she said with a shrug.

“Hmm,” he said, “I guess it’s a good thing I keep my iron clad strength on reserve then.”

Phoebe giggled again and buried her head back into his chest. They stood there on the bridge for another hour before she turned and leaned against the railing tossing the key overboard. Phoebe sighed, contented and Quentin pulled her in placing a kiss on her forehead. Deciding they could leave, Phoebe grabbed Quentin’s hand and they strolled back to the limo with their fingers linked. But as they got closer, Phoebe sauntered out to take a glance at the other side. When a tickle of chills cruised up her fingers, she turned back sharply and was caught up in the undertow of his gaze. His fingers continued to dance against hers and more chills fled Phoebe’s skin. She stepped back to him and tightened their connection just as they’d made it to the limo.

The drive across town was euphorically silent with Quentin pondering on the plans he’d made for tonight and Phoebe thinking of her own. When Quentin had mentioned a masquerade ball earlier, Phoebe had been excited thinking about the intrigue in attending an event like that to bring in the new year. However, while at Barneys, a naughty thought had crossed her mind and no matter how hard she tried, Phoebe couldn’t shake it. They pulled up to the Shangri-La Hotel, and left the comfort of the limo for the now chilly temperatures that surrounded the city. After the sunset, Paris’ temperature had dropped, making for a cool night on the town.

Again, Phoebe and Quentin linked fingers as they made it to the elevators that took them to their suite. After Quentin opened the door, Phoebe took a step inside when he tugged her hand, causing her to glance back.

“I was thinking,” he began, “there’s something I need to put last-minute touches on for our New Year celebration, which means I need to leave you alone for just a minute.” He pulled her soft hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

“A minute as in sixty seconds?”

Quentin chuckled. “Okay, an hour,” he said.

“Aww,” she groaned, and it tugged Quentin’s heart that she’d rather be beside him.

“I promise not to take too long,” he said.

Phoebe glanced at her watch. “It’s nine-thirty. You’re not going off to spend the New Year with your French girlfriend, are you?”

At Quentin’s frown, Phoebe laughed. “I’m just kidding,” she said, placing a hand against his face. “You know I would never believe that.”

Quentin wished he could agree with her, but unfortunately, he could only play it by ear. “Don’t play with me, girl,” he said.

“Hurry back,” she said.

They leaned in at the same time and kissed quickly. Quentin left the hotel within three minutes of their departure as the elevator stopped to pick up other occupants. The surprise he had for Phoebe had been something he’d always wanted to do for her, and this was the perfect time for it. He rode back the way they’d came with thoughts of loving her forever and the purchase he’d made at the mall balancing on his mind.