Page 37 of What Happens in Dubai

‘Ah,’ he groaned and came closer, whispering in my ear, ‘it is a good job I’m very good at English then, Zara. Oui?’ I wasn’t sure if it was the combination of cigarette smoke and his smooth sexy accent, or the fact I was in this glamorous, otherworldly club, but I felt complete and utter desire staring into Henri’s large brown eyes.

‘Would you like a drink?’ I turned my head to the large bottle of vodka sitting on the table.

‘No, no, I’m drinking water tonight, but thank you,’ he replied, rubbing his stomach.

‘OK, more for me then,’ I giggled.

‘What brings you to Dubai, Zara? Business or pleasure?’

‘Business, believe it or not. I work in an aesthetics company and we were doing a photoshoot out here today. I’m guessing you’re here for pleasure, Henri?’ I couldn’t help but blush as the words left my mouth.

‘No, me too. Business meetings. I am an actor and I have a film being released soon. A lot of the production money comes from Dubai,’ he said.

‘An actor? That must be a chat-up line, surely?’ I blurted and Henri shrugged.

‘Oui, acteur. No chat-up line, Miss Zara. But I am hoping it’s working!’ Henri smiled over to me, showing his sparkling teeth. He then dived into his pocket and showed me YouTube clips of him in his latest film.Ooh la fucking la,I thought. I couldn’t believe it! Here I was getting chatted up by France’s finest actor. Not that I understood his videos or could hear the majority of his words over the banging music playing behind us in the club. But he was a fucking actor with an entourage of staff at his beck and call. Henri and I spoke for over an hour; he was kind and seemed engrossed in my ‘normal’ life, asking questions and actually listening to what I had to say.

When the girls arrived back at the table, my heart sank a little as I felt insecure compared to them. I watched them innocently wrap around his shoulders, introducing themselves, but Henri’s warm, seductive eyes remained fixed on me.

‘You’ve been away for ages, girls!’ I stated.

‘We were right over there! We just wanted to make sure THIS happened!’ Skylar pointed to both Henri and I, and I instantly blushed.

‘Ah, they are wing women! I like them, Zara,’ he smiled.

‘Me too!’ I watched as the three girls topped up the glasses and moved back to the other side of the room to give us space.

‘You know, Zara, I think you are very sexy. Your eyes are like le chocolat,’ he said. The way he spoke made the words vibrate off his tongue, and I couldn’t help visualising how his tongue would feel purring on my clit strings. Despite my determination not to have any more one-night stands, I couldn’t deny the incredible amount of sexual chemistry between us. And this wasn’t any guy trying his luck on last orders in the Savoy or The Horseshoe. He was a practically a celebrity – the possibilities were endless.

Henri gently pushed the hair back from my face, then whispered in my ear, ‘I would love to taste you, Zara,’ while caressing my upper thigh. I spontaneously turned moist. I began to imagine walking down the red carpet with this handsome man at award ceremonies. I was completely down for spending my life in a beautiful chateau in Paris.Could this be the man I’ve been waiting for?I smiled as I imagined Tom’s face if he saw me now, getting chatted up by a fucking movie star.

Henri looked at his watch and sighed. ‘I don’t want the night to end, baby!’

I nodded in complete agreement. I felt the same. Every part of me craved his French fancy, and I couldn’t let him leave without me.

‘You could always come back to my hotel? Just for a coffee or something,’ I said, trying to sound casual.

He squeezed my leg tightly, seeming pleased with my request.

‘Oui … or something? You could always come back to mine too,’ he suggested.

‘My best friend is staying in my suite, so maybe yours would be better?’ I replied, and Henri lifted his eyebrows cheekily.

‘She’s in another room, Henri. Don’t get too excited,’ I snickered.

‘I only have eyes for you, my Zara,’ he grinned lustfully, moving his hand further up my leg, making me throb.

‘So, your place or mine?’ He held his hand out for me to take.

I thought briefly, not knowing if the suite had been Febreze’d since I was last there this morning. I severely doubted Ashley had been fit for a clean-up.

‘Yours.’ I reached over, placing my hand in his. ‘Can we lose the men in black following you, though? I don’t need an audience, Henri.’

‘Ha, oui! That would be a genre of film I’m not too familiar with, Zara.’ He laughed noisily, then motioned to one of his men. Henri spoke quickly in French as he gave the man orders. There was something so powerful yet gentle about him, and just seeing how he instructed his entourage made me more aroused by the second.

‘I told them Zara would protect me now. Shall we?’ He stood up, and I felt butterflies attack my stomach like a swarm of midges doon the Strathy on a hot summer’s day. This was real. It was happening.

‘Should you tell the girls we are leaving?’ Henri asked, glancing around the club for my new friends.

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