Page 71 of Mine

Chapter Nineteen

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.”

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