Page 106 of Forgotten Promise

John stepped off the curb and climbed into the back of the limo.

Benjamin followed him in. The driver slid into his seat and then they pulled away from the curb. John stared out the window, his profile silhouetted by the lights as they left Nice.

Benjamin pointed to the bottle of champagne on ice. “If you’re interested in a drink, we can pop the cork on that. Then when we get to the casino, we can order those shaken-not-stirred martinis.”

John turned down the offer of champagne. “I know it’s evening here, but I’ve only been awake a few hours. I don’t know about martinis for breakfast.”

They were getting somewhere. At least John was talking.

“Sleep okay on the flight?” Benjamin asked, feeling slightly stupid for the inane question.

“Like a baby. Not sure if it was because that pod thing was so comfortable or if it was the past few days catching up with me.”

“Probably both,” he suggested. “I made sure you were on one of our newer planes.”

“For fuck’s sake, I forgot you own that airline.” John shook his head.

“Er…sorry?” Benjamin did his best not to smile. “But I’m glad you slept. I feel like I’m still playing catch-up too. Two whirlwind cross-country trips in as many days with practically no sleep was probably the most insane thing I’ve ever done.”

“Same.” John fell silent, though Benjamin knew his thoughts weren’t quiet. He kept waiting for John to ask him the hard questions. Like why he was here. Where Kailani was. Why he didn’t speak up when Selene dissolved the trinity.

John asked none of them. Which relieved Benjamin, because he didn’t want to have those conversations without Kailani present.

But it also bothered him.

John wasn’t passive by any means, so the fact he wasn’t calling Benjamin out told him just how angry he was.

John gazed out the window. “I’ve never been to Europe,” he confessed.

“During the day, this is a scenic drive.”

“I didn’t realize you couldn’t even fly directly to Monaco.”

“As an American, I can assure you, you’ll find it shockingly small.”

Benjamin waited for the next question. Waited for him to ask about Hawaii, about Kailani. Instead, they spent the thirty-minute drive in awkward silence.

The silence changed from awkward to awed, at least on John’s part, when the driver dropped them at the Hotel de Paris.

“Jesus,” John murmured in appreciation.

While it was nighttime, the square was overflowing with well-dressed people and the mouthwatering smells from the Michelin-star restaurant Louis XV-Alain Ducasse. It was also humming with the engine sounds of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, and Rolls-Royces.

John was in danger of getting whiplash as his head jerked from side to side, his eyes unable to take it all in fast enough.

The hotel, which was right next to the casino, was illuminated, and even though Benjamin had seen it before, this time he was seeing it through John’s eyes and he had to admit…it was truly beautiful.

Benjamin escorted John through the wide lobby, with its ornate marble floor, stained glass skylight, and sculpted arched ceiling, to their suite. The journey was slow as John’s gaze took in everything, remarking more than a few times that he’d never seen anything like it.

The Diamond Princess Grace suite he’d reserved was beyond exceptional, but Benjamin didn’t give John time to admire it, instead gently pushing him into one of the bedrooms, where a freshly pressed tuxedo was waiting for him.

John studied the garment, and for a tense moment, Benjamin thought he would refuse. He could blackmail John to stay in Monaco, but he couldn’t force him to change into that tux…or force him to listen.

When John slipped into the bathroom, Benjamin heard the shower turn on, so he stepped out onto the balcony, took his phone from his pocket, and sent a quick message. He took a few minutes to enjoy the view of the French Riviera, then he gave into his own desire and slipped back into the bedroom. John emerged from the bathroom with a towel around his waist, and one draped over his head as he scrubbed his hair.

Benjamin leaned against the open doorway, watching.

John hesitated when he pulled the towel off his head and saw him. Benjamin waited, willing to retreat at the first sign John didn’t want him there.

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