Page 82 of Tender Offer
Mirrored doors part to unlock a capsule of memories. I take her hand and guide us through the place we once shared. Vases of pink and white peonies fill the living area, with the ambient light of the sconces warring with the moon shining through the windows.
I take our coats, unpair the Bluetooth, and remove the headphones. Faith Evans’s “I Love You” hums from my phone as I remove the blindfold.
It takes a second for Madison’s eyes to adjust to the light. Her brows dip, and her gaze drifts to the sofa where we spent many nights drinking wine and listening to music. It lifts to the dining room table I chased her around before the first time we made love and glides over to the balcony with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
“Welcome back,” I whisper.
Tears roll down her cheeks. I kiss them away. Sobs fade into moans through the night as the echoes of our past blend with our future.
“You are divine. And this dress.” I pull apart Madison’s faux fur coat and groan. “Let’s go home.” I nuzzle her neck.
“I want to meet your brother.”
“He’ll be there tomorrow.”
To the driver’s credit, he keeps his eyes straight ahead. There’s no partition to separate the sounds of our kisses and my hands traveling over her vegan bodycon dress.
I’m insatiable, as if I wasn’t driving into her guts on the balcony just this morning.
Work called me into the Paris office this afternoon. I didn’t want to leave, but I have an avalanche of work waiting for me once I’m back for good. I needed the break and savored the time away, reconnecting in the place where Madison and I first fell in love. Stocked tea and fresh pastries from the corner bakery she loved were waiting on the kitchen counter when she woke up.
My tongue savors the taste of her mouth as I angle her head against the headrest. The exploration ignites shockwaves through my body, hardening the imprint against my thigh.
“Baby,” Madison moans at the pressure of my hand on her jaw and the graze of my tongue dipping between her lips.
“I missed you, Puff,” I mumble.
We stop in front of the hotel where we’re having dinner. My hand never leaves the small of Madison’s back as I navigate through the foyer to the lifts. The restaurant is on the top floor, overlooking the surrounding district.
A woman in a black and white suit greets me by name and guides us through square tables with rose-pink tablecloths. The dining room is a quaint space surrounded by aged brick, high chandeliers, and gold antique molding. On the other side of a set of double doors is a private salon with windows that rise to the ceiling.
William makes a beeline across weathered wood floors when he sees Puff. He’s so excited to finally meet her that he lifts her before I can give a proper introduction.
“I’ve been waiting for this day,” he says, trapping Madison in a bear hug.
“Easy,” I chide.
“My apologies.” William’s wink says otherwise. He sets her down with another hug. “Thank you for bringing him back tolife,” he murmurs and pecks her cheek. “Come. I want to hear all about you.”
William grabs Madison’s hand and guides her to the table. His suit is a subtle contrast to his blue eyes, which are crinkling at the corners like it’s Christmas morning.
He slides out an upholstered chair for her and whistles. “You, Maddie, are wearing that dress.”
“And you’ll wear a neck brace if you keep it up.” She snorts as I drop into the seat next to her in a huff.
“It’s all good. Right, Maddie? We’re practically family the way you got this one whistling love songs around the office.” William leans closer to pretend he’s telling her a secret. “Right after his holiday in the States, he had every picture of you he could find— Chill, bruv, I was only taking the piss!”
Madison is in tears, head back and laughing as I chase my dick of a brother around the table, who’s cackling louder than her. I grab him by the tie and ruffle his sandy blonde hair with a smirk. My eyes don’t leave hers when I slap him on the back, harder than necessary, and wink.
“Not ashamed to admit I’m a man in love,” I say. “You don’t need all the details about how I was before you put me out of my misery.”
“I kinda do,” she giggles.
“I like you, Maddie,” William says across the table.
The wait staff filters in and out between our appetizer, soup, and discussion about Madison growing up in Louisiana. We’re still waiting for the main course when the salon door opens.
“There you are. Didn’t think you’d make it.” I wipe my mouth with a napkin and secure the button on my black suit coat on my way to greet KD, who doesn’t return my smile.
