by Ju Ephraime
“Bonne nuit, mes amies.”
*****
He left and went into the bathroom to freshen up before going to bed. He was almost to the door of one of the guest rooms when he remembered he’d not taken the phone from Wolfe. He hurried back and walked in on a sight he knew would keep him up at nights. Wolfe was all over his wife like a dish of his favorite food. Raymond backed out quickly, but not quickly enough because the scene he walked in on was one he wished he’d not seen. He’d never be able to look at Daphne the same way again. The need for the phone was no longer important.
He spent a long sleepless night, tossing and turning the entire time. When he did fall asleep, it was to be caught up in one exotic dream after another. None of it brought him any fulfillment. This was tortuous.
“Why the long face, Ray?” he asked, staring at him.
“I wasn’t aware I had a long face. I don’t spend time looking at my face in the mirror.”
“Get over it, Ray. So you walked in on me making love to my wife.”
“So you knew I was there? Now I won’t be able to look Daphne in the eye.”
Wolfe turned cool eyes on him. “Daph didn’t know you saw us, and I’d appreciate it if you kept it that way. Try your best to erase it from your memory. What did you want anyway?”
“Oh, now you are curious. Now you want to know what I wanted. I was coming back to ask for your cell phone. How was I to know you’d fall on your wife like a starving man the minute I walked out the room?”
“I’m always hungry for my wife, Ray, and I make no apology for that. Here’s the phone. And, for the record, if you spend the night here again, you go to your room and stay put.”
“Excuse you,” he replied, allowing a small grin to escape. “You don’t tell me what I can or cannot do. Pull your horses back, you sex fiend. You need not worry. I won’t he here tonight. I’ll get my own place immediately. I don’t want you corrupting my innocent mind.”
“Your innocent mind? Right!” Wolfe was laughing so hard he spilled coffee all over the floor.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny.”
“No kidding, Ray, and by the way, I thought you couldn’t do anything until you got your wallet from your taxi companion.”
“That’s correct, but I believe she’ll be here today.”
“How do you know? Did you call her?”
“You damn well know I didn’t, but I’m going to do so now. I’ll let you know after I get through talking with her. By the way, why don’t you have a phone or television in your guest room?”
“That’s done purposely to discourage anyone from overstaying his or her welcome,” he said, with a wicked grin.
Sometimes, he believed Wolfe had some of the DNA of his namesake. He was just wicked, in more ways than one, and his sense of humor was warped. But he didn’t have to live with him, thank God.
Taking the phone, he walked back into the guest room and dialed his cell phone.
Wow, she answered on the first ring.
“Hi, Raymond,” she began. “I’ve only been waiting all night to hear back from you, or did you forget?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t forget. It’s a long story, but before we go any further, could you please tell me your name? I feel at a disadvantage talking with you. You have my personal stuff, and I don’t even know your name.”
“Okay, you’re right. It’s Gabrielle, Gabrielle Descotte.”
“Gabrielle, it suits you.”
“Thanks,” she replied. “I don’t know if that’s a compliment, but I’ll take it as such.”
“It is a compliment,” he admitted. “So, how and when can I expect to get my coat from you?”
“I’ll be coming in on the 10:00 A.M. flight by LIAT. If you meet me at the airport, we can do an exchange.”
“I’ll meet you there,” he told her, before hanging up.
He walked back into the kitchen, and Wolfe was still sitting at the kitchen table where he’d left him.
“Can you take me to the airport on your way in to work? I have to be there to meet the 10:00 A.M. flight from St. Barth.”
“What do you mean, take you to the airport? Do I have to wait while you conduct your business?”
“No, I’ll have my wallet and will pick up a rental from Hertz until I can arrange to have something permanent.”
“You're not upset about last night, are you, Ray?”
“What’s there to be upset about? I just need my own space, and I intend to start just as I mean to go on. I don’t want to be bunking with anyone, not you, Foxx, or Maman. I want my own set of keys. I’ve lived on my own for the past five years, and I kind of like it that way.”
“Okay, let me know when you are ready. I’ll go for a quick swim, and then I’ll be ready.”
“You still do that morning swim thing?”
“Yes. Why? You think I should give up on exercising because I got married?”
“No, I just thought you wouldn’t have the time with your wife, the restaurant, and the baby.”
“Well, you thought wrong. Do you want to come with me?”
“Yes, I’ll go for a swim. I need something to clear my head, and the salt water is as good as any medicine. I need some swimming trunks. Have you got a spare pair?”
“I don’t own any.”
“You still swim in the buff?”
“What other way is there?”
“Is that beach still private, Wolfe?”
“The last time I checked, the LaCasses still hold the deed.”
“Okay, I don’t want anyone spying on me and putting my picture on the Internet.”
“Why would anyone want to put your picture on the Internet? You got it going on like that, mon frère?”
“That’s for me to know. We’d better get going before I change my mind.”
“Who’re you hurting if you change your mind, Ray? Wait till I tell Foxx about this.”
They took the elevator to the ground floor and took off toward the beach.
“I’ll race you,” he said, and he took off running.
Wolfe overtook him without much effort, but Raymond put on a burst of speed and left him in his dust. He’d run track at university, so running was his high. He wasn’t even breathing hard by the time they got to the soft sand of the beach.
*****
After stripping down, they dove into the waves together. He was impressed at the fluidity of his brother’s swimming style. He moved like a dolphin in the water. He tried to copy him, as they swam toward the horizon.
Raymond had forgotten how good it felt to ride the waves. He hadn’t done this in years, but it felt as though he’d done it only yesterday.
They spent a good forty-five minutes swimming and riding the waves. Soon, they’d have to leave, if he was going to get to the airport on time. It was an hour and a half away.
They got back to the house, to find Daphne preparing breakfast. The smell of cooking made him realize he hadn’t eaten since last evening, so he was famished.
“Hi, Daph, what are you cooking? It smells wonderful. Don’t tell me you've become an expert cook like your husband.”
“Bonjour, Ray. Did you sleep okay? And, no, I wouldn't dare put myself in the same class as Wolfe, or any of the LaCasses for that matter. I know how to make a decent breakfast. That’s about it. I leave the more complicated cooking to him.”
As she said this, Wolfe walked in. He greeted her with a kiss, which she returned. Seeing them like this, Ray made up his mind. That was the kind of relationship he would want if he were ever to get married.
Chapter Six
They made short work of the breakfast and were soon on their way to the airport. At this time of the morning, rush hour, they hit quite a bit of traffic. He wanted to be there ahead of the plane. Every time Wolfe was forced to drive within the speed limit, Ray felt like gnawing on his knuckles, but as excellent a driver as Wolfe was, there was nothing he could do about the traffic. So, when they got there, the plane had be
en on the tarmac for a good fifteen minutes.
He didn’t want Wolfe with him when he met Gabrielle, so he talked him into dropping him off and leaving.
As he walked into the lobby, he tried to appear nonchalant. He spotted her immediately. She was draped against the airline counter, one hand on her hip, her wide golden eyes fixed on his face. He’d only seen her that one time, but the unusual appearance of her eyes had made an impression on him. He would never forget those eyes. They took up most of her small, pixie-like face. Electrifying and golden, her eyes were fringed with impossibly long, thick feathery lashes, as dark as the perfusion of hair tumbling around her face. Her eyes drew attention to her remarkable skin texture and tone, which was extra-extra-light coffee. Her high cheekbones, perfect bow of a mouth, and full bottom lip made him think of all the things he’d like to do with that mouth.
As if her perfect skin and gorgeous hair weren’t enough, her body was tight. He could be doing one set of things to her with one hand while his other was occupied doing other things. Her breasts were medium sized—perfect. They drew attention to her small waist, which flared down to soft, inviting, curvy hips, all supported by a pair of legs that wouldn’t quit.
The skirt and top she was wearing complemented her beautifully. She was perfection personified. His breath caught in his throat, and the blood left his brain and pooled in his groin.
His reaction to her shocked him. He felt it like a kick in his groin. He’d never had such a powerful, intense sexual reaction to a woman in his life, and he’d had his share. What was it about this woman that sent him into a tailspin?
He deliberately tried to keep his face expressionless as he extended his hand in greeting. There was no way he was greeting her with the customary kiss. He was in enough trouble as it was and was not going to compound it.
She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Gabrielle Descotte.”
He took her outstretched hand and knew instantly it was a mistake to touch her. “Raymond LaCasse, it’s nice to see you again.” Damn, how lame was that? He could not move. The jeans were biting into his flesh. He had grown harder, incredible as that seemed.
Her hand was small in his so-much-larger one, but her grip was sure and firm. Placing his other hand over hers, he gave hers a brief squeeze as he tried to ignore the scent that seemed to perfume the air around her.
“Are you visiting for a while or flying back today?” He didn’t let go of her hand while he waited for her answer.
“I’m going to spend a couple of days. I booked a room at La Suite Villa.” She smiled at him, a brief flash of perfect white teeth. Good. He released a breath he was not aware he had been holding. He let go of her hand as he felt a slight tug from her.
“How are you getting to your hotel? Did you rent a vehicle?” Hell, he had to keep talking to give his body time to settle down. There was no way he was walking around with this hard-on he was sporting.
“No, I haven’t yet, but I will. I’m going to hang out for a few days, possibly a week, before returning to St. Barth. I still have a couple of days shooting left.”
“You work on St. Barth?”
“For the next couple of weeks, yes.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m a model. So I travel a lot. Talking of which, here's your coat. I didn’t remove anything from it except to answer your phone the two times you called. It only rang twice.”
“That’s good. I like it that way.”
“Really? My phone rings all the time. I was thankful for the reprieve I got being without it for a day.
“Have you eaten?”
“No, I was going to ask you to recommend a place.”
“The great places I know are a drive away from here, but we can grab a bite at the airport restaurant. They serve a great breakfast.”
They set off to get the elevator that would take them to the fourth floor, where the restaurant was located. It was a first-class restaurant run by one of the hotel chains on the island, so they had a reputation to maintain.
He was glad when they were seated at a table. Phew, he was finally able to relax and think with his head and not his cock.
“Have you got my coat?” she asked.
“Oh no, I left your coat in my brother’s car. He gave me a ride over here, but I’m going to rent a vehicle from here until I can get one permanently. The traffic was horrendous, and in my rush to get here on time, I forgot to get your coat out of his trunk, but here’s your phone.”
He knew he was rambling on, but he felt ridiculous having to apologize for not having her coat.
“So how long before I get my coat back?”
He could tell she was a bit annoyed that he’d not brought her coat by the way the smile had disappeared from her face.
“As soon as I pick up a vehicle, I’ll go to my brother’s restaurant and pick it up from there. It’s almost two hours from here and even farther from your hotel, but I’ll try to get it back to you today. When are you returning to Paris?”
“Not for another three weeks. I've got a shoot I have to be back there for. What about you? When are you returning?”
“I’m not. Not for a while anyway. I’m done with school and here to work, whether for myself or for someone else, I haven’t quite decided yet.”
“What area are you looking into?”
“I’m an investment banker. That’s what I did for the four years while I was at university. I’m not only good at it, I also enjoy the work.”
They ordered some food—he a beignet and coffee, she a full breakfast. They were busy talking like old friends. She was easy to talk with. He felt as if he’d known her forever, but like all good things, it had to end. He had to make a move if he was going to get a vehicle.
Without appearing to be smitten, he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible, so he called the auto rental car company from his cell phone and gave the agent the particulars he was looking for in a vehicle. This would not only shorten the time he had to stand in line, it gave him an extra few minutes in her company.
She had a healthy appetite and ate all her breakfast. It was a joy to watch her eat. He didn’t want to stare like a lovesick teenager, but it was difficult. He found himself staring at her mouth, imagining it on certain parts of his body. That kind of thinking was playing havoc with his body. His cock was pressing against his jeans, threatening to poke a hole through the fabric.
He took a deep breath to calm his explosive reaction. Swearing under his breath, he exhaled and shifted in his seat to ease the pressure on his body.
“This is a beautiful island. I like what I was able to see as we approached the landing. It’s not as touristy as St. Barth, but then St. Barth is a much smaller island with everything within walking distance. I want to visit the shell beach before I leave. Have you been to St. Barth?”
“No, but I've heard about it. How long was the flight?”
“Less than an hour. More like twenty minutes.”
“That’s not bad. I heard St. Barth is considered by many to be the Caribbean's most beautiful island. Is that true?”
“It is a beautiful island with white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. However, it’s very hilly with narrow, winding roads, but I love it. I love the red-roofed buildings. The roads are so steep you can see the roofs of the buildings as you go up and up. Gustavia is flat, but it’s surrounded by very hilly landscape. If you’re uncomfortable with hills, you can spend all your time in the town, which is located on the water’s edge. This is my fourth trip there. Everything is outrageously expensive, but I love it.”
“Well, I’ll have to show you Martinique to get you to like it too. It’s not like St. Barth, with the exception of them both being French. Here, more people speak the French Créole, but we speak French too, not like the Parisian, of course. Are you native Parisian?”
“Yes, and no. My dad is from Paris, but my mom is from Madrid. So I claim both nationalities and travel back and forth to visit my relatives on
my mom’s side any free time I get. I love Madrid.”
“So, you speak Spanish too?”
“Yes, fluently.”
“I have a smattering of Spanish, but I’m not fluent by any means.”
“I’m sure you're good at it and are just being modest. Do you think your vehicle is ready?”
He’d gotten so engrossed in talking with her that he’d forgotten what he was there for. What a moron he was being. Calling for the bill, he paid and waited while she used the restroom before making their way to the Hertz Rental, which was the largest rental company on the island.
*****
He picked up the vehicle, a red Mercury Milan. It was not his vehicle of choice, but since he didn’t intend to keep it for more than a few days, it would do for now.
“My brother’s restaurant is on the other side of the island, and it will take a while to get there and back.”
“I really need to get the coat,” she informed him, looking worried.
“I can assure you that it’s safe with Wolfe.”
“Who’s Wolfe?”
“He's my brother. I have three brothers, and two sisters. Brian, Cecilia, Wolfe and Foxx, who are twins, and Franchesca.”
“Wolfe and Foxx?” she asked incredulously. “Is that supposed to be a joke? Those are their real names?”
“Yes, those are their real names. When you meet them, you’ll see and pray that you don’t meet them together.”
“Why?”
“Then it becomes a nightmare.”
“How?”
“I don’t want to ruin the experience for you. You’ll see for yourself,” he told her, with a grin.
“Now you have me curious. I can’t wait to meet them. So, take me to my hotel, and then we can go on to your brother.”
*****
She didn’t know how to tell him that it was critical that she have her coat in her hands. She liked him and didn’t want him to know the mess she had gotten herself involved in. If she got the coat back, everything would be all right.
She was looking forward to enjoying herself during her week on the island. It was a beautiful place. The people were very friendly, greeting each other with a kiss on the cheek. She especially liked the singsong voices and the Créole accent. It was so different from the French that she spoke, but she had no difficulty following them and communicating with them because she’d found out everyone spoke excellent French. They were just more comfortable communicating with each other in their native Créole.