“MADEMOISELLE?” A SHADOW FELL OVER MY FACE and I shaded my eyes against the brilliant sun. My thoughts had drifted to dreams of my lover’s sighs as he cherished my body, a temple to his pleasure, an offering to our mutual lust.
I looked up beneath my sun hat at the face of reality. A beautiful skin bronzed by a tropical sun I allowed only on my limbs, never my face.
My lover took my hand and brought it to his lips. “You slept well last night?”
“Yes, thanks to you.” I smiled.
“You realize there was no other way to save you, but to trap him like that.”
“Of course, darling. It just took me some time to put it all together. I have my vulnerable side, he played on it, and you recognized that and took control of the situation. You take such good care of me.”
I shut my eyes briefly as a warm tropical breeze caressed my near-naked flesh. I’d worn little more than next-to-nothing bikinis for the better part of the past month. I could spend my life here, quite content, just as we were at this moment.
“You seemed to enjoy last night?”
I peeped open an eye, smiled at him and swung my legs over the side of the hammock. He was a handsome man and the time spent in the sun had given color to his face. His once-dark hair, now threaded with silver streaks, held continental allure. Holding his gaze, I padded across the redbrick patio dusted with the silky white sand from the beach beyond. With great care to let him view the backside of my pearl-and-crochet thong, I sat in his lap, nestled my bottom into his crotch and took his face in my hands, kissing him passionately.
“Yeah, I like that, Charlie. I like that a lot,” he whispered, staring into my eyes.
“Darling, did Jenkins get to the car before the authorities found it?”
He nodded toward the breakfast table, where the morning paper lay. Beside it was the black videotape.
“Paul, promise me that you’ll destroy this one—it’s not one of my favorites.” I stroked my husband’s cheek, imagining his hand on my breast. He was physically unable to, of course, but I knew, as always, he would make sure that if I wanted a hand to touch me, he’d have a tantalizing lover for me by sunset.
“I’ll see to it, sweetheart. Whatever you want.” He lifted his chin for another kiss.
I kissed him again and glanced down at the headline: Man Arrested in Kidnapping/Extortion Plot of Wife of Erich Technologies Tycoon.
Cade had let his greed surpass his desire. It was too bad, because I had so enjoyed being with him. However, Paul had warned me of the risks. He’d said there might be men who couldn’t see the gift they’d been given, having just one day with me. He was right. Paul was always right.
The warm tropical sun shone down, warming my skin, reminding me of the first time I’d met Paul, on this very beach in Saint-Tropez. We’d made love all night on our private stretch of beach. He’d told me repeatedly how he’d always watch out for me.
I lifted my leg over his hip, straddling his wheelchair. A padded metal brace held his head erect; white straps, made of softest chamois, kept his shoulders back, his body from toppling out of the chair. His form, though lifeless, was exercised daily by a private therapist, but it wasn’t enough for Paul. He needed to remember what it was like to make love to me, and every time he watched as my body gave way to ecstasy, in his mind and in his heart, he came, too. How could I deny him this one simple pleasure?
It had all come clear to me after Cade explained his plan. He was more interested in the money. Even if he had planned to run away with me, it was still all about the money. With Paul, it wasn’t about the money. It was about me.
I was glad for the chip Paul had planted in my cell phone, which I’d carried in the pocket of my jogging suit that night.
I brushed an errant wisp of hair from his forehead and leaned forward, purposely pressing my breasts against his chest, hoping he might feel something. “Did I show you the tie I bought for your birthday?”
His smile turned to a sexy grin, his eyes bright with arousal. “No, but I’d love to see you wearing it.”