"We're going to have breakfast and then we'll be on our way. Because out there," He pointed outside, "it's already lunch time." He motioned for me to sit down at the table. I poured myself a cup of coffee that smelled faintly of chocolate and almonds and doused it with a healthy dose of sugar and thick cream.
"I figured you for a 'coffee as dessert' kind of girl."
"Too true. Coffee is only a vehicle to deliver the sweet and the fat."
"You never drank coffee at all at the theater."
"How observant. You're right, I don't drink it at night. Keeps me up." I continued to be amazed and flattered that Kason made note of the smallest details about me. Right down to the fact that I'd be the type to dig a girlie flavored coffee.
"The bakery delivered these this morning." There was a basket of warm breads—pain du chocolate, small salted hard rolls, and something with whole apricots that looked outstanding. "And you'll never taste better butter than this." Dipping his finger into the clay ramekin, he brought the buttered tip to my mouth and I licked it off. He was right, it was so far ahead of any butter I'd ever tasted that it shouldn't have borne the same name. His finger lingered on my lips and traced around the sensitive edges. I gave a small sigh of pleasure, both for the taste and for the touch.
He picked up one of the hard rolls and broke it in two. He slathered butter on one half for me and on the other for himself. He served us omelets with ham and cheese and hot fruit compote made with cherries, figs and hazelnuts.
"I have a feeling that food is going to be a key element in this trip. Am I right?"
"My darling, there is no point in eating swill when you can eat ambrosia." He took a mouthful of omelet and tasted it carefully. "This, for example, is pre-prepared airplane food. It was made yesterday and reheated this morning. If you were flying commercial, it would taste like over salted shit. However, made with real Emmental, Iberian ham and Amish farmed eggs it's actually worth eating. My chef takes special care not to over season, but you'll find the fresh herbs add far more flavor." He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Did you know that your sense of taste is diminished at high altitudes?"
"No," I mumbled as I tucked into the omelet with new found respect, "I didn't."
We finished our omelets and he picked up my fruit cup and silently fed me. He held my eyes as the sweet tart taste filled my mouth. "Oh, Kason, that's too good," I told him. He seemed to get a big kick out of feeding me. I didn't mind at all. It was very sexy to have a man take such interest in my pleasure. He appeared determined to explore every sensual outlet I had.
I was game.
***
I chose to wear pale peach shorts, pretty cream colored sandals and a cotton sleeveless sweater with a peach, rose and aqua weave. The sweater had a matching cardigan that I looped over my shoulders. The underwear I had to choose from stunned me. I wound up just choosing a random set, in white. Everything fit perfectly and felt like a billion bucks.
I twirled in the full length mirror. Very Berkshire Hills. Very sophisticated. Very grown up. I chose to twist my hair into a loose chignon at the base of my neck rather than leave it free. That added to the classy look.
There was a car waiting for us right outside the hanger. I was not surprised to see Taishi waiting to open the door for us to climb in.
"Hi Taishi," I smiled. "Were you on board the flight?" I wondered where Kason had hidden his bodyguard.
"Ah, Miss Annalise. Good morning." He gave me a big grin. After our fashion expedition, the coldness I felt in the beginning had completely disappeared. "Actually, I was the co-pilot. I told you I wear many hats."
"You are very talented. I wanted to thank you for helping set up my parents' security. My mother really took a shine to you. I think it made a big difference in how comfortable she felt with the whole thing."
"She and your father are in excellent hands. I know the two guys protecting them. I'd trust them with my life. We installed a state-of-the-art alarm system. And you mother told me you'd approve of the street level window bars."
"I've been asking them to do that for years."
"You should know that I am in frequent contact with the house. So, no worries."
I felt ashamed that I had not, in fact, been at all worried. I'd been so distracted and entertained by my mystery trip with my dream man that my poor parents' plight had more or less vanished from my mind. Now it was back.
Kason must have seen the look of concern cross my face. "We have everything under control. Taishi's security is impeccable and Archie is moving right along in gathering the evidence we need to put the thugs behind bars for a very long time."
"But the men who want to 'make an example'—your words, Kason—out of my father are still out there. And now my parents are back in Park Slope . . . " I guess I kind of whined the last words. I saw Kason shoot Taishi a look I was glad wasn't meant for me as he guided me into the back of the car.
"We can't make a move until everything is in place. Please try to trust me, Annalise." He patted my knee paternalistically. I half expected him to say 'there, there'. Funny how even under that circumstance the warmth of his hand went right to my core.
The car I climbed into had only two white leather reclining seats in the back. Taishi took his place in the fully enclosed chauffer's compartment in front of us. I looked up to see the top above our heads open noiselessly to the clear blue sky.
Once again, my curiosity got the better of me. The car was like nothing I had ever seen. Even the Maserati 'Batmobile' back in the Hills was recognizable as a sort of sedan. This vehicle was specifically designed for a chauffeur and one or two passengers. It reminded me of a space age hansom cab. "Kason, what the hell are we riding in?"
"Maybach Landaulet," he answered, obviously way too pleased that I had asked. "Very limited production. It's just the perfect car for the South of France."
We zipped along through a fairly modern town, at least by French standards. Soon the Mediterranean came into view and we hugged the coast passing white sand beach after white sand beach.
"This is the town of Agde. I brought you here because it is probably the world's largest naturist place in the world. At the height of the season, there are almost 40,000 naked people in the naturist village part of Cap d'Agde. It isn't a place to linger long, but once in a while it makes for an interesting experience."
I was at a loss. I wondered what was expected of me.
"I thought it would be good for you to discover how liberating it can be to enjoy the sun, a meal or a drink, even a little shopping wearing nothing but your beautiful skin," Kason said matter-of-factly as if he were proposing we take a pleasant hike or a dip in a pretty lake.
We arrived at a marina and Taishi pulled up beside a yacht. Royce's Risk looked huge to me. It was easily the largest private boat I'd ever seen in person.
"I can't stand the actual hotels here at Cap d'Agde. About the only thing I can say about them is that they're clean. So, we'll stay on Royce's Risk. I keep her exclusively in the Med. She's a sweet little boat—perfect for a small sea like the Mediterranean."
"Little boat?"
"This boat isn't even considered a mega-yacht. She's only a hundred and twenty feet. I've never been much of a boat person, really. If we get a wild hair to sail around the world in style, there's always charter."
Did he know what it did to my insides when he threw out a casual 'we' like that? Everything else receded while my brain took a time out to sing 'he said we! he said we! he said we!'.
We got out of the car and I was welcomed aboard the boat by Captain Shane, a nice looking guy from Palm Beach, Florida. The steward, Carlos, escorted us to a deck space encircled by leather cushioned seats. There was a bucket of champagne and glasses waiting for us there. Carlos popped the cork and left us.
I cleared my throat. "So, uhm, we're here to 'experience' a nude beach?"
"Not just any nude beach. And not just a beach, either. This may be the only place in the world where you can go to a
bank, buy groceries or have your hair cut in the buff."
I had to laugh out loud at the image of a naked barber shearing Kason's locks. But it was a bit of a nervous laugh.
"You're game aren't you? I mean it isn't as if you're the only naked person around. Just you, me and thousands of others." If his boyish grin was meant to be persuasive, it worked.
I was ready to do anything to please this man, even if it meant shedding my clothes in front of thousands of strangers. I told him as much. "If it makes you happy to see people staring at me . . . "
"Oh don't be ridiculous. The whole point is no one is going to stare at you. We're all naked. There are families on that beach—with little kids." My eyes widened at that statement. "Unless you go to the adults only section, it's all pretty tame. Seniors, kids, fat, young, beautiful, skinny, scarred, natural and un. They're all there."
Tame, just naked tame. I'd been skinny dipping at a couple of lifeguard parties. That wasn't terrible. Of course, it was in the dark and it was all people I worked with and saw in bathing suits every day. How bad could that be?
But hundreds of strangers seemed a lot different.
Fifteen
We spent the evening in the clothed part of Cap d'Agde. L'Ami Louis was a tiny restaurant just a block from the marina. It had a lovely view of the sea and the food couldn't have been better. I had my first taste of foie gras and in spite of my initial reservations; I wound up absolutely gobbling it down.
"Kason," I had objected, "I hate liver. Liver in any form is disgusting. I've tried it many ways. People have twisted my arm over the years telling me how good this liver or that liver is and the bottom line is that it all tastes like liver. Bleh."
He promised that he would service my body in any way I desired if I would only give the poor fatted goose's organ a chance. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.
The foie gras had been lightly sautéed and served on a simply dressed bed of greens. I took a timid bite. The liver melted like a chocolate truffle against the roof of my mouth. "Oh God. It tastes like a slab of fried butter. Now I see what all the fuss is about."
"Now say, 'I'm sorry Kason, I'll never doubt you again'"
"I'm sorry Kason. I'll never doubt you again."
"That's more like it." He reached across the table and stroked one and then the other cheek with the back of his cool fingers. "Have I told you how beautiful, how superbly and utterly desirable you look tonight?"
I had chosen a little red dress, just a slip, really and a pair of barely there but mile high sandals encrusted all over with crystals. I recognized the signature red soles and knew I was wearing Christian Louboutin again. We were becoming old friends.
I brushed my hair 'til it shone and pinned it back on one side with a crystal encrusted comb I had found in a box in my closet on board the Royce's Risk. All of the clothes that had been on the airplane magically appeared in the master stateroom on the yacht with some new additions. The accessory box was one of them. There were several pairs of earrings including a pair of large heart-shaped red crystals set around with smaller clear ones. They matched perfectly and had to have been chosen with the dress in mind. Kason's personal shopper was extremely good at the job.
"I knew red was going to be one of the colors I liked best on you. Your hair picks up the warm tone so nicely. I had debated about the ruby necklace, but I see that I made the right decision. Much as I think you deserve to be dripping in jewels, this," he said as he slid his fingers against my flesh, "swan's neck needs no decoration."
My hand shot up to my earlobe in the realization that I was wearing a couple of rubies the size of dimes. I'm sure my eyes grew wider even as I made a huge effort to appear nonchalant. I nervously repositioned the crystal comb behind my ear with the realization that it, too, might be more than just a costume ornament.
"You can thank Taishi for that. I told him to find some unique things that might suit you. He's a ridiculous shop-a-holic. Carte blanche and an internet connection and he's off to the races. But I have to admit he's good at it."
"I'll have to thank him. It's very unique." I took a sip of my wine. "Of course, pretty much everything since the day we met has been unique."
Taishi followed behind us as we strolled back to the boat under the stars. It's a good thing it was only a block. As pretty as my sandals were, they were strictly made for standing around looking good, not walking an uneven sidewalk. I held on to Kason's arm as much for balance as for the romance of walking arm in arm.
Royce's Risk rocked gently in her slip, softly lit by dozens of small brass lanterns hung all around the decks. The lights gave off a soft amber glow that invited us to sit and relax on deck. The night was cool and our body clocks made it seem early.
The steward brought Kason's favorite—his snifters and a bottle of Armagnac.
"Care for some?"
"I'm so full I don't think I have anywhere to put another drop of anything." I relaxed against the soft white cushions and watched the waning activity in the marina. Here and there I heard the tinkle of laughter or a bit of conversation but otherwise the only sound was the slap-slap of small waves against the boat's hull.
Kason poured a modest dram of the brandy in a snifter and held it to his nose. "Let's just share a sip, then." Not for the first time I noticed how perfectly formed his features were. I read somewhere that the most beautiful faces are the ones that are the most symmetrical. I was willing to bet that if you sliced pictures of Kason's face right down the center and pasted like sides together the results would be identical.
His nose was delicate and masculine at the same time. It might have been a rather sharp nose in any other face. But on him, bisecting his high cheekbones and the hollows beneath them; ending exactly at the indentation above his generous lips, it was the only nose for such a face.
He held the snifter to my lips and I took a small sip. I leaned my head back against the headrest and closed my eyes. The complex flavor and gentle burn of the liquor infused my mouth and warmed my throat.
I could feel Kason move closer to me but I didn't open my eyes. I allowed myself to simply feel him moving toward my face and waited for the softness of his lips against mine.
Kisses landed like embers against my temples, my chin, my neck. He took my earlobe between his teeth and I heard the scrape of ruby against the pearls of his teeth as he nibbled at me there. I felt chills as his warm breath hissed into my ear and he whispered sweet salty words to set me ablaze.
"Every part of you is worthy of worship. Even your little ear—a delicate pink shell. The ruby is honored just by adorning you. Oh what you do to me . . . you . . . you," he breathed. "You make me feel so completely alive."
I could barely exhale.
***
"It's still early in the States, right?" We were nearly ready to turn off the lights and snuggle ourselves to sleep when I had a sudden flash of worry about my parents. "I'd like to phone home."
"No problem," Kason answered as he handed me his cell phone. "Please give them my regards." He got up out of bed.
"You needn't leave the room. I just want to check in on them." There wasn't anything he couldn't hear, but I found his gesture thoughtful anyway. He was unfailingly polite.
"Are you going to tell them where we are?" he grinned at me.
"Only partially. I know my parents already think the world of you but . . . "
"And you? Do you think the world of me?"
I had already dialed their number when he asked. I would very much have liked to tell him what I thought of him, but I had to settle for a nod of my head because Mom answered on the first ring.
"Hi Kason," she said brightly. She probably programmed his number in her phone weeks ago.
"No, Mom, it's me. How is everything?"
"Everything's good, very quiet. Your father is itching to go back to work."
"Is that a good idea?"
"Well, Archie told us that the two creeps who beat Dad up are back in Chicago, at their union headq
uarters. With them gone and the two bodyguards with us, I can't imagine any trouble."
"Probably not."
"Besides, you father is going to drive me utterly insane. I am seriously worried about what I'm going to do when it's time for him to retire."
"I hear ya, Mom."
"So, where has he taken you?"
To the moon, to the stars, to heaven. "We're in France. Private jet, big yacht. The whole nine yards."
"It sounds wonderful. You're a lucky girl." It was odd to hear my mother say something like that. Normally she would have registered at least token disapproval. Most of the time it was easy for Mom to pretend that I was as celibate as a nun. Because most of the time I was. The few times that she had to acknowledge I was having sex with a boyfriend, she did so reluctantly. It was as if her motherly duty was to at least pay lip service to the moral code she had done a half-assed job of instilling in me. But this time, with Kason, she seemed to approve, if not actually celebrate my misbehavior.
Was it the money? Did the thought of her daughter hooking up with a billionaire miraculously change her standards? As soon as I had those thoughts I felt ashamed of myself. No man—no boy, really—had ever so much as considered my parents. The few times I'd brought a guy home to meet them it was as if they were doing me a favor to even be there. Frankly, even I found the guys of my generation rude.
Now here comes Kason, only seven or eight years older than I and he's like a knight in shining armor. No one asked him to step in and take charge. He could have easily ignored my parents' situation and I wouldn't have even noticed. But he didn't and in doing what he did may very well have saved my father's life. No wonder Mom was so infatuated with him. Who could blame her?
Who could blame me?
Sixteen
We left the dock early the next morning. Kason explained that we'd anchor off shore and take the little rubber dingy into the beach.
Almost Always: A Love Unexpected Novel Page 10