Page 78 of Pleasure Games

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WOULDSHESHOW? Luca’s doubts far outweighed his confidence. He was also taking a big risk—no, a huge risk—by suggesting this rendezvous. But if there was one thing he’d learned, Jasmine was worth the risk.

Thankfully, the paparazzi weren’t quite as fierce as they had been a few weeks ago. There was always a new scandal somewhere for them to prey upon. Besides, his televised declaration of love seemed to have swayed public opinion, especially when it’d been followed up with an announcement that he’d be running the estate, after all...with his brother. Now the world knew there were two Legrand heirs.

He waited in the shadows of salon five in the Musée d’Orsay, the old train station in Paris that had been converted into a museum. It was not nearly as large as the Louvre, and it was much quieter. A necessity for what he had in mind.

He checked his watch. It was five minutes past the appointed afternoon time. And then it was ten.

Fifteen.

She wasn’t coming.

Suddenly a woman appeared in the entrance of the salon. She wore a red dress—bless her heart—a black bag over her shoulder and black heels that did amazing things to her already shapely legs. Her dark hair fell in stylish waves past her shoulders. She stopped inside the salon, glanced around, referred to a pamphlet in her hand and moved inside.

She stood in front of L’âge d’or: La nuit by Léon Frédéric, just as Luca had instructed. He’d chosen this salon for its remoteness in the museum.

He walked up behind her quietly, hoping she wouldn’t hear him.

However, perhaps she felt his presence, as he did hers, because as soon as he was within earshot, she spoke. “Americans should adopt the European attitude toward the naked body.” Her voice was low and husky.

“Do you think so?”

“Oh, yes. We’re much too uptight.” She tilted her head to take a better look at the rendition of a group of people, mostly naked, sleeping together in a field. “The human body is very beautiful.”

He brushed hair from her shoulder. “You are very beautiful,” he said softly against her skin. Then he raised her chin and turned her toward him.

Her eyes were large and liquid as she gazed up at him.

“I’m so glad you’re here.”

She blinked and he felt her soft breath on his cheek. “You’re a hard man to say no to, Luca Legrand.”

Relief filled him. “I hope that’s a good thing.”

“Sometimes.” She smiled up at him.

He recognized that smile. A lethal mixture of sensuousness and innocence.

His relief grew. “I would like to thank you for making the trip.”

She bit down on her lower lip. “How would you go about doing that? Thanking me?”

“There are so many ways, Jasmine.” It was true. He wanted to be so many things to this woman. Her lover, yes, but more, too. He wanted to be the man she woke up to, the man she shared her fears and hopes and dreams with. He wanted to laugh with her, cook with her, read books together on a cozy couch. He wanted to share his life with her.

While her presence suggested much, he needed desperately to know that she believed in him and there was only one way to find out.

“Do you trust me?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know, you’ve given me very little reason to trust you.” She shifted from one foot to the other. “Why?”

While she was playing it cool, Luca could feel the warmth emanating from her skin, telling him that she already knew where this was going. He had been explicit in his letter...

He leaned close and whispered in her ear. “There is a fantasy of yours I would very much like to fulfill.”

Breath stuttered inside her throat. “Oh?” She was trying to sound coy. It was so fucking sweet.

“But it requires trust.” He paused. “Can you forgive me enough to place your trust in me?”

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