Page 104 of The Best Wild Idea
“You’re not going to hurt me.” I breathe the words out like a prayer, hoping she’s not afraid to keep going, and she lowers herself onto me again, filling her body with the entire length of me until I disappear inside her again. “You’re going to have to do the work for me this time, baby,” I tell her, wishing I could take a more active role in everything that’s unfolding if it weren’t for this stupid cast on my arm. But I love getting to watch her take charge right now.
“You’re welcome to pretend that sling is just a pair of handcuffs if it makes it more sexy for you.” She laughs, giving me a playful look. Then she leans forward and presses my lips into hers, gently leading me up and down as she begins to move. “And until that thing comes off, I’m just going to have to own every inch of your body exactly the way I want it.”
She circles her hips, slowly at first, before a desperate need takes over and she starts moving faster, pulling her dress up over her head and dropping it to the floor, freeing her breasts and therest of her body from the material. Her skin, now on full display, the fullness of her chest bouncing against her ribcage as she arches her back in front of me, giving me an unforgettable view. A moan escapes her lips as she tips her chin back, letting her long hair cascade down her back while grazing her shoulders. Then she rakes it back, grasping onto her crown of hair with one hand while her other hand holds onto my shoulder, steadying herself against me while she gets lost in the ride.
The restraint of not being able to fully embrace each other feels maddening, and I’m tempted to ignore the pain and wrap her up in my arms anyway. She leans toward me, suddenly grasping my face between her hands so gently. Her kisses draw out long and tender as her lovemaking turns from desperate to soft and sweet. Showing me what she’s already told me — that she loves me.
She pauses the movement of her hips, then brings her face into mine, clasping the edges of my jaw, kissing me slowly until the feeling of her lips tasting mine sends shooting stars out from the darkness. Her hips come to life again, slowly and deliberately moving against me, bringing me close to the edge all over again. I feel as everything in her starts to clench around me. Her body feels magnetic, pulling me right to the edge with her.
Jules opens her eyes and her lips hover an inch from mine. She watches my face as she takes us both into the oblivion. The release like a cannon going off within me, her lips parting just so as a gasp escapes them, and for one incredible moment, the world stops on its axis. She begins rocking against me again as the waves of pleasure course through her, sending me over the edge one more time along with her.
When we’re finally breathless, with tiny beads of sweat forming along her hairline, she leans her forehead against mine, like she can’t muster up the strength to tumble off me just yet.
“I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else ever again, Si,” she whispers.
“Then don’t,” I tell her. “It can be that easy.”
She laughs and her breath tastes sweet against my tongue.
“I can’t believe I’ve fallen in love with you,” she says, almost too softly for me to hear. As if she truly only meant for herself to hear it.
“And I can’t believe I ever thought that I could live without you,” I answer.
The tower begins flashing outside again and a thousand different light bulbs blink at our feet. She rolls to my side and I wrap my good arm around her, knowing that as close as we can get to one another will never be close enough. Unable to believe that every moment between us — betweenallof us — has finally led us right here. To a view I’ll always remember, and a night I’ll never want to forget.
Chapter 51
Juliet
Silas passes me the bottle and I take a sip, careful to lower it slowly so the delicate champagne bubbles don’t rocket back out the neck of the bottle and up my nose like it did all those years ago.
We’re sitting on the edge of the Seine River, our feet dangling above the water running lazily at our feet. A few couples and groups of French teens are scattered on the banks around us, each watching the evening dinner boats pass by on their way to view the lights of the city from the water. Some of the passengers wave and smile as they do. Others laugh at stories and jokes being shared across the water in French, most of which I don’t understand.
Silas and I stopped at a market street full of shops on the way here, grabbing strawberries and cheese, a baguette, and macaroons. All selected at a handful of shops that sell only the items they have an expertise in, including the incredible champagne Silas picked at the wine store around the corner. We forgot to ask for a few glasses to take with us, so we’ve been passing the bottle between us while we, too, watch the boats drift by on the water. I might even prefer drinking it like this.
It’s our last night here and although Monica was able to reschedule dinner reservations at the Eiffel Tower if we wanted, we opted to make our way down here instead. Our makeshift picnic now spread on either side of us while we lean back and enjoy the perfect early summer evening.
This wasn’t on Grant’s itinerary, but somehow that makes it feel just right. It’s a step down a new path, one that will always have the memory of him behind it, but only us to move forward.
“I can’t believe I forgot the glasses,” Si says, watching me slowly tip the bottle back down from my lips, thankfully not spilling a drop.
I grin.
“I can,” I say before passing the bottle back to him. He sets it down on the pavement beside us and wraps his uninjured arm around my shoulders.
“Are you sure you don’t want to move here instead of Italy one day?” he asks, pulling me closer. “I like how this place feels with you in it.”
A boat slowly drives by, this one with a singer on board belting out a French version of “Ave Maria” that makes my eyes tingle with tears. Not because I’m sad, but because everything about this moment is unbelievable. Paris has hit me square in the soul. I love it here.
“I promise nothing will change, no matter where we are,” I tell him, loving the way his eyes seem to glisten ever so slightly at the sights and sounds of where we are, too.
“Do Andy and Carl know how busy they’re about to get?” I ask, wondering if Silas has already shared our travel plans for the next few weeks. We’re starting with a stop back at Nonna Lisi’s so we can show her that she was right. Si has promised to take the next few weeks off work, while I already let my clients know I’ll handle all my sessions with them when I get back.
“Andy was ecstatic about it. I think his exact words were that he can’t wait to tell you a certain little phrase the second we’re back on ol’ Gloria.” He nudges me closer.
“Ah, let me guess. Does that certain little phrase sound something likeI told you so?” I ask.
Silas’ chest erupts in laughter. My favorite sound, as it turns out. “We’ll just let Andy handle that one when you see him next.”
