Page 58 of Their Courtesan
“If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it. Spain in general is vastly underrated these days, but it has a lot to offer.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for my trip to Europe this July.”
“Business or pleasure?”
That smile grew. “In some cultures they still consider marriage a business transaction first and foremost.”
“Forgive me for forgetting your good fortune. Well, if you haven’t made any final plans yet, you must visit Spain. The beaches in summer can get crowded, but are to die for. I go at least once a year.” That kind of commitment was a big deal for a busy man like him. “Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, by the way. I’m sure she’s a lucky woman.”
“The polite thing is to say thatI’mthe lucky one. Certainly, I do think that.” Ethan offered to pour another glass for Miguel, who gestured his approval. “If you have a significant other, I suggest taking her to Cape Cod in the summer. I only hear rave reviews.”
“If I had a significant other, I would consider it.” Miguel tipped back his wine and felt its silk slide down his throat. “As it is, I’m happily single.”
“There are lots of ways to fix that around here. Men don’t stay single for long, regardless of preferred types in a woman.”
Easy for the engaged guy to say.Miguel tried not to chuckle.
“Besides, you’ll need a date if you’re to come to my wedding in June.”
“Didn’t realize I had received an invitation.”
“You will now. Everyone gets a plus one. Bring your assistant if you have to, but it’s more fun to have a date. Guess you could say I’ve been to a few weddings this past year.”
One business dinner and I’m invited to the guy’s wedding.Americans were certainly open with their invitations. “I’ll be happy to come to your wedding… and I’ll do my best to secure a respectable date.” He would not be going to get one that night. Judith would probably be offended if he called herrespectable.
Although their remaining time together could not be long, Miguel and Ethan managed to eke out a final conversation about dating and women. Ethan may have been taken now, but he had an extensive dating history – including his business partner Adrienne Thomas. Now she was going to be the best woman at his wedding.
What surprised Miguel the most, however, was learning of another notable ex-girlfriend of Ethan Cole’s – Madam Monica of the Château.
“You are shocked?” Ethan tried to pour more wine, but the bottle was empty. “Then you must know what she does for a living.”
Miguel snorted. “I may have been to her place of business a time or two.”
“That so? I helped her fund it when she originally opened the doors. Not that she needs my help any longer. Or her husband’s. Do you know Henry Warren?”
“I have not had the pleasure of meeting her husband yet.”
“He’s a good man. Way in over his head when it comes to that place. Even I am in absolute awe of what she has done with it. Well, you’ve seen it.”
“Indeed I have.” Miguel wondered if they could have had this conversation with anyone else present, least of all Adrienne. “There’s a lot to keep a man entertained there.”
They shared a look of mutual understanding.
Miguel looked at his watch. “I’m afraid I must be going. I have an appointment elsewhere later tonight, and it’s a long drive.”
Ethan saw him off. Miguel did not miss another look of understanding in the other man’s eyes.He knows I’m going to the Château and what I’m going there for.The only thing Miguel’s new friend could not have known waswhohe was going to see.
***
“Why are you resisting me?” Miguel clutched her shoulder, bringing her closer to his chest. “You’re so coy tonight.”
Judith slipped against him, her feminine scent killing him inside and out. That thing sticking out from his waist wasn’t going to take care of itself, no matter how much it thought about it.Don’t do this to me, Judith.Was she doing it on purpose? Was she feigning how difficult it was to turn him on? Or was it something else? He had come awfully late, even with fair warning. It was after midnight already. Was she tired? Was it other clients earlier that night? Judith had said there were no other appointments that Friday, but Miguel wasn’t stupid.
“Is it me?” He squeezed her, tighter, his hand meandering down her naked breasts and to her wetness below. “You don’t like me anymore.” Miguel teased her, but he wasn’t the greatest actor in these situations. It was possible she took him seriously.
Judith batted her eyelashes at him. “If it were you, I wouldn’t have been so accommodating, Mr. Bolivar.” Her breaths panted past her lips. Miguel’s cock tried to enter her again, but she pulled away, suppressing a giggle in her throat.Cute. Really cute.“Coming in here so late… acting like you own me. You think you get to have me whenever you want? You’re not my patron. Yet.”
She would be the one woman in the world still leading him on in the middle of sex. “I like it when you call me Mr. Bolivar like that. I mean, if we’replaying…” He seized her whole body. Her breasts. Her stomach. Her hips and the legs spread across his lap. For the past five minutes he had been trying to penetrate her in this position. Now he realized that what the stars intended was pushing her down onto the bed and playing rough from behind. What a sly woman. “Do you want to play with me, Judith? Do you want to get rough? I had been trying to be nice because I had missed you so much.”
