Page 14 of Embracing Love

Chapter 7

The restaurant close to the Notre Dame resembled more a country tavern than the chic Parisian restaurants she was used to. With hearty food and barrels of wine from which they refilled their glasses the whole evening, it was one of the best meals she’d had in Paris.

With friends, both old and new, sitting around talking for hours, Tanya’s soul was nourished. It was exactly the type of evening that she needed.

They all sauntered out of the restaurant just after midnight to waiting taxis outside.

“Come with us,” Patrice urged, as Thierry lifted his hand to the blank-faced taxi-driver.

“We’ve got this one,” said Luc, and pulled her towards him. They lived in the same direction and made sense, though Luc lived further out. Patrice and Thierry would have to take a detour just for her sake. “We go the same way.” She explained to Thierry.

They bade their goodbyes and the she climbed into the taxi, moving up right against the door when Luc got in. He still shifted up real close beside her, leaving an expanse of black leather empty.

It was the first time they’d managed to talk all evening. Thankfully she’d been sandwiched between Thierry and Patrice who seemed to have taken it upon themselves to make sure she was well looked after and never lonely. She went back a long way with these two, regarding them as old friends.

Luc seemed to be vying for her attention. She was all too aware that after a great evening where she had probably overindulged in food and drink that she was in danger of letting her guard down, of throwing caution to the wind, and of making wrong choices.

It was a problem in her post-separation era.

Sitting next to this gorgeous man helped take her mind off Vincent; he was good for something.

She liked to think that her plan was working—that with each passing day, being in Paris, away from him, helped.

Unfortunately, until she weaned herself away from checking his daily life updates on social media, she would continue to suffer. She could not yet begin to move on with her life.

One day.

“Did you have a good evening?” Luc asked, brazenly reaching out for her hand. She shivered. The touch, a touch, the contact and the feel of another’s warm skin against hers, stirred her senses.

The taxi slowly sped down avenues lined with black lace trees. Streetlamps flickered, allowing her the glimpse of Luc’s face every now and then. And she wondered why someone like him took such an obvious interest in her.

Could it be that ‘hasn’t had sex in months’ aura that hung around her? She knew she only had to give him one sign of her interest and he would be all for it. Temptation was itself a distraction.

This situation she was in now reminded her of the time she’d given in and had a brief liaison with Michael Zimmerman. Even thinking of that now had her blushing with embarrassment.

It was something she would regret forever. Yet at that time, being with someone who wanted her, who needed her in a way Vincent had not, dulled the pain that was eating its way out of her stomach.

Just like now. The pain, lukewarm these days, still lingered. It could be temporarily forgotten in moments of madness. Moments such as these. Mad moments with Luc so close to her she could smell the wine on his breath. She could taste it if she so chose. A moment like this where she stood indecisively at the crossroads of a path which would lead her to short-lived passion, or long-term suffering.

A light brush of her hand against his leg would be all it took. So slight, it could almost be seen as an accident, given the way he sat, legs more than a hip-width apart, like some seated Superman, potent, powerful and sensuous…and all hers for the taking.

Her heart hammered against her ribcage and the blood drained straight down from her head to below. Pretty soon, if she didn’t think straight in the next few minutes, she’d find herself waking up tomorrow morning alongside her next mistake.

A brush of her lips on his would start it off, and he’d wash away her feelings of inadequacy and failure, of not being enough for the man she still loved.

They’d kissed before, once, and she knew his kisses would be quick to ignite. The state she was in right now, she wouldn’t be able to stop as quickly as she had that last time.

Dare she risk it?

A few pleasurable hours with Luc, to connect, to reach the crest and ride the wave. To feel wanted again. To lie in a man’s strong arms, just to be held, and caressed. Tanya hungered for all these things and more.

She looked up at him, and that was all it took. He bent down and his lips sunk into hers, her body excited and relieved to have found a release.

“Yours?” he asked, pulling his lips away long enough while he waited for her instruction.

She didn’t want him in her place, because getting him out wouldn’t be easy. And she preferred to wake up alone. “Yours.” She told him, as he bent forward, then stopped, his lips almost touching her. It wasn’t the answer he’d been expecting.

“Yours is nearer.” He whispered.

---