SMITTEN (Paris Après Minuit)

by Juliet Braddock

  And sometimes, January felt guilty. Her time with the girls was often more enjoyable than the hours she spent entertaining Etienne.

  “And your Papa…?” He could already see two of the mothers, who were also picking their children up from school that afternoon, huddling and whispering. They’d spotted him.

  “We always see you!” Simone shrugged. “We missed Janny.”

  And how January missed them. When they were younger, they’d usually head straight to the park, forgoing homework and everything else in their little world. Now, they’d likely want to go shopping. Much to Etienne’s grumbling, January was happy to oblige. He was a typical man, and he hated wasting hours while they toiled away over the latest fashions.

  “Come, mes choux, we’ve got things to do.”

  “We’re too old to be called ‘mes choux,’ Papa,” Sabine corrected him.

  “Are we going to Printemps?” Already, Simone had expensive taste in luxury department stores.

  “First of all, you will both be mes choux until you give me grandchildren—and that better be at least twenty years from now,” Etienne cautioned as he put his arms around his daughters and walked them toward his car. He had decided not long after he met January that a SMART car was impractical and traded it in for a Mercedes-Benz. “And no, we are not going to shop. We’re going instead…to a museum.”

  With her smile illuminating her face, January adored that idea, even though the girls mumbled and groaned. “Oh, come on. Museums are wonderful. It’s better than shopping.”

  Folding her fists on her hips, Sabine took a step back. “Really, Janny?”

  “Really, Sabine,” Etienne told her. “Now, there are a million museums in Paris. Pick one.”

  “The shopping one,” Simone said.

  They allowed the girls to walk ahead, and Etienne took January’s hand. “I cannot spend hours in a store today,” he said. “I can’t do that. And I’m not going to do that. They want me to buy their love, and they need to learn that there’s more to life than things.”

  With a wink, January tried to assure him. “It’s all good. I got this.”

  “You’re taking them shopping?” He stopped suddenly and shot her a quizzical look.

  “Nope. We are taking them to a museum, and they are going to like it.”

  # # #

  “So that Monet guy has a whole garden?” Simone asked as they made their way through dinner at Hippopotamus, which, to January, was the French equivalent of Ruby Tuesdays. The girls didn’t exactly appreciate good food yet. As long as burgers were on the menu, they were happy. While Etienne joined them, January had coffee.

  “He’s dead, Sim,” Etienne interrupted before January had the chance to answer.

  With a playful pat to his hand, January said, “This is why they don’t appreciate art. Oh, he’s dead,” she mocked his French accent much to the humor of the girls. “In Giverny, you can tour his former home and visit the gardens that inspired the paintings we saw today—like the lily pond and the Japanese Bridge.”

  Much to the utter shock of their father, Sabine and Simone had fun at the Musée d'Orsay because January took the time to get them excited. She knew the museum inside and out. Impressionism was her favorite era, and the galleries focused on those artists who were popular in the movement. Together, they discovered Monet, Manet, Seurat and so many more. The girls were particularly taken with the simple grace and elegance of Degas’ ballerina collection and even insisted on buying prints in the gift shop. Etienne wanted to make memories rather than rack up credit card bills, and they made a few pleasant remembrances that day.

  “Well…can we go to Giverny this summer?”

  “While Janny’s here.”

  “Please, Papa, please?”

  Stirring her coffee, January just waited to hear his answer. As of the previous evening, their summer plans were still up in the air.

  “Of course, we’ll find time to go—when Janny’s here.” However, he didn’t look at her while he made his promise.

  The girls had no idea that tension existed between January and their father. They refused to fight in front of his children because Sabine and Simone heard enough bickering between Etienne and Alice.

  Before they left the restaurant, the girls had to run to the bathroom, and Etienne closed his hand over January’s fingers, holding on—as if for his dear life. “They really adore you. And I love what you did today. Just know that. Okay, chérie?”

  While his sentiment touched her deeply, January didn’t want to let him know just yet. “Now, I believe, is an appropriate time to remind you that I told you so.”

  “They want to do everything you do,” he admitted. “After all, you’re far more interesting than their mother.” For one split second, January thought she noticed a flicker of regret in his eyes. She sometimes wondered if he wished he’d had children with her instead. Now, though, they didn’t have that option.

  “Don’t say that,” January urged him. “They’re lucky they have two strong women to look up to in their lives.”

  “I hope they’re okay,” he said. “And I hope they grow up to appreciate days like today in the grand scheme of life.”

  “You’re working on it, Pops, and you’re doing okay,” she said with conviction.

  “Janny, can we stay over tonight?” Simone called out as they hurried back to the table.

  “Uh…” Etienne almost blushed. He had other plans for January that night, now that her houseguest had vacated the premises. “Maybe this weekend. Maman wants you home tonight. It’s school tomorrow.”

  “Come on…”

  “Papa…!”

  “We had a fantastic day, ladies,” January reminded them. “And we’ll have another very soon. I promise.”

  Sabine took her hand and began to swing it around. “But Janny, we will be good…”

  Cupping the girl’s little face, January said, “You always are. But the weekend will be here soon.”

  It broke her heart to tell the girls no, but Etienne was right. She also wanted some time alone with him to try to make sense of the last two days. She didn’t feel like discussing anything serious. She just wanted to live in the moment for the evening and see where thing led.

  When they dropped the children off at home in the posh Eighth Arrondissement neighborhood, Alice ran out to the car to say hello. With a perfunctory kiss on the cheek through January’s open window, Alice said, “It’s good to see you! Are you back for the summer?”

  During the years that she’s dated Etienne, January and Alice came to an understanding, if not appreciation, for each other. Alice understood Etienne’s attraction, but she also admired January’s street smarts and intelligence. Playing nice in the sandbox together made all of their lives easier.

  “Just for a bit. I start filming again in June. I should return mid-August if everything goes well.”

  “We should have lunch if you have time,” Alice suggested. In truth, now that the girls were getting older, Alice just didn’t know how to reach them, and she hoped January might have some insight. Alice wasn’t beneath asking for help when it came to the girls, even if she had to go to her ex-husband’s girlfriend to get it. “Call me, and we can set a time.”

  “I’d love to. We’ve got a date.”

  “Bye, Alice,” Etienne said as he closed the window. “Why the hell does she want to have lunch with you?”

  “I dunno,” January lifted her shoulders. “Maybe she’s interested in a three-way? Partner swapping?”

  “Oh, Janny—stop!” he chuckled. “I’ve just had dinner. You’re making me sick. I don’t like to share you.”

  That was true. Etienne could be extremely jealous. He was the first relationship in her adult lifetime in which she didn’t engage with multiple partners, and she was fine with that.

  “And I don’t want to be shared.”

  “Well, you have been on your best behavior today.”

  Although she’d awakened early, she made it a point to
quietly kick Xavier out of her apartment. After a quick cup of coffee with her bestie at the corner café, she returned to bed with Etienne, and they napped in between making love and getting ready to pick up the girls from school.

  He seemed to have lost the mood, except for the girls. They were always a concern, and that was a factor in his life that January could accept. He should worry about his children. However, he should have also considered the gaping hole in his commitment to January.

  Driving with one hand, he stroked the back of his fingers over January’s thigh as they headed for her apartment. “Little kitten has found her forever home, as those Americans say.” He continued to stroke her, tickling at her chin when they stopped at a red light. “How does it feel to be adopted?”

  She didn’t have to question his intentions. She knew where he planned to take the evening. Kitten play was one of her favorite role-playing scenarios. “Mrr…meow,” January squeaked and nipped at his hand. “Mmmrow…”

  “Gentle, kitten. We do not bite Master.”

  Hunching her back, January twisted in the confines of the seatbelt. “Rrraow…”

  “Now, now. We’re almost home!” He patted her on the head and sped along the street. “Are you hungry?”

  “Mee-yow!”

  “I think I have to stop at the grocery store on the way home,” he said, knowing damn well there was nothing in her refrigerator. “Kittens aren’t allowed inside, though, so you will have to stay in the car.”

  Like a typical cat, presented with information that she rendered useless, January ignored him…and she sulked when he parked the car and unfastened his seatbelt.

  “Oh, don’t be sad, mon petit chat,” he said, scratching under her chin again until she purred. “I won’t be long.”

  Nothing made her feel the heat of Etienne’s affection like this little game. She was his sweet darling furbaby, and he doted upon her accordingly. In reality, he was making up for the past twenty-four hours. She deserved more than his brush-off the previous evening. However, she had to allow him the time and his own means to apologize.

  Before week’s end, though, January planned to get some answers. If Etienne didn’t comply, he’d have to face the consequences. She knew she’d either planned well for her future, or she’d wasted the last five years of her life. It was time for the truth to surface. He could choose between signing on for their house hunt—or risk the chance of losing her forever. January hoped that he wouldn’t consider the latter, but she had prepared herself for the worst…for the most part.

  Before he made his way back to the car, she noticed he stopped in the liquor store. Clearly, he didn’t plan on talking that night, but neither did she.

  “I’ve got treats for my little precious…” he said as he settled in. January scratched her red talons at the bag. “Ah, soon…you’ll have your treats soon.”

  They were literally five minutes from her apartment, and January continued to paw at the grocery bag all the way home. She’d had so many cats in her life over the years, and she played her part well. This was her comfort spot—she could look pretty while he adored her, and she could also switch on a dime and let her attitude roar.

  It was still light outside, but January certainly wasn’t in the mood for an evening stroll. As Etienne lifted her from her seat and into his arms to pet her, he pretended this was the norm. While January hissed and mewed, he endeavored to soothe her.

  Just as they made their way into the building, her upstairs neighbor pounded down the stairs on his way to a club. The baffled look on the young man’s face was almost enough to set Etienne into a tailspin of his own.

  At long last, he placed January down on the parquet floor of the foyer, where she stretched, shook out and gave her arm a few licks. “Good kitten,” he said as he slowly petted her ass. “Welcome to your new home. Now, let Papa get dinner for you, and then we will play.”

  January hopped up on the bench below the window and sat up straight with her arms extended while Etienne attended to her needs in the kitchen. She decided that she’d call “Rouge” on the litter box for the night. She wasn’t in the mood to straddle a tiny sandbox while she peed.

  “Okay, Janny-cat…” Etienne patted his thigh to summon her. “Do you like your new home?”

  She continued to stare out the window, entranced with a tree branch blowing in the night air, and then slowly, she turned, bounced to the floor and made her way, crawling leisurely, toward Etienne. Dutifully, she sat at his feet and looked up at him, blinking.

  “Come, come,” he said and clapped his hands as he headed for the bedroom. And there, he waited. And waited. “Someone’s not going to get her treats this evening…”

  Within seconds, January raced on all-fours into the room and pawed at his leg while she licked his hand.

  “Down, Janny-cat…” With his naughty finger pointing, he took a step back. “We have to make you look pretty first. Would you like that?”

  Slinking alongside the four-poster bed, she rubbed her head against the footboard. As she arched her back, she wiggled her ass. However, she couldn’t roam freely for long, as Etienne scooped her into his arms and plunked her down on the bed.

  “Mroww…”

  “Sit still,” he warned as he turned his attention to her closet. Etienne knew where to find what he needed in her lingerie wardrobe better than she did—hidden away in a pink, antique hat box.

  He sat down on the bed, and immediately, his hands moved to unbutton her blouse. Tracing her hard nipple through the cup of her bra, he whispered, “Such a good kitty for your Master.”

  Again, she tried to rub her head against him, but he took his hand away.

  She sat through the removal of her bra. However, when he prepared to take off her tailored trousers, she gave him a bit of a struggle before she hissed and reached out to scratch his hand. “Now, I know you don’t want your claws trimmed tonight, do you?”

  Backing away in submission, she fell upon her back and lifted her legs so that he could finish undressing her. As he slipped her pink thigh-high stockings over her legs, January began to purr, which continued as he helped her into her pale pink corset trimmed in faux-fur.

  The volume of her steady drone swelled as he turned her over. January knew what was coming, but Etienne seemed in no rush as he laced up her bodice. While he pulled her tight, she didn’t flinch. In fact, she loved the feeling of being strapped inside her lingerie—it reminded her fondly of the art of erotic restraint.

  When he lifted her ass, she began to mew sweetly. His lubricated fingers wiggled in and out of her, and he took in the sight of her wetness while he worked her.

  Nothing in his life ever thrilled him more than January. Etienne just wished he could explain himself right now. He loved her—he loved sex with her. He just didn’t have the physical energy to handle her emotional discussions. He wanted to wait until August when they were away from the world, relaxing for a few days. While he couldn’t expect anything from her, he had to hope that she would wait.

  Once he’d lubed her tiny pink hole, he spread her cheeks wide and slipped the anal plug inside her. Immediately, she reached around to pull the attached fluffy pink tail to her mouth to lick it. She’d destroyed three of those things in the last year alone. He knew he’d have to buy her a new one soon.

  However, she wasn’t quite complete yet, and he settled her matching ears on her head. As he turned her around, she assumed the Meatloaf Position, a popular pouty pose in the feline community in which cats folded their arms inward, rendering them to look like a slab of uncooked ground beef.

  “Now, you can be a very bad kitty sometimes,” he told her. “But I still don’t want you getting lost in the neighborhood. I want everyone to know that you already have a Master.” After he’d buckled her collar, complete with his phone number engraved on the nametag, he gave a pull to ring the jingle bells. “We have the bells so that you cannot hide from me.”

  Pressing her hands into his thigh, she kneaded the ten
se muscles and licked his face.

  “You love it,” he said with a tug on her furry pink ear. “And you look so pretty.”

  January, though, refused to stop lapping at his face and massaging her fingers into his thigh.

  To divert her, Etienne pulled something from his pocket. “What do I have?” He clicked the tiny laser pointer in his hand. “Look—chase it!”

  January dove to the floor as he shined the infamous red dot that no feline in history ever caught. Scrambling, she turned herself around on her knees, only to lose it.

  “Ah, putain! Where did it go?” he egged her on.

  Suddenly, she heard the click again and found the red dot on the tip of her tail, which she promptly took into her mouth. That was precisely why January wore out her tails; her eternal pursuit of the laser pointer always caused some sort of ruin.

  Upping the ante, Etienne directed the beam just outside the bedroom door. He had to get her up and moving so that he could check on her dinner in the oven.

  With her every move, the bells on her collar rattled. Scooting along the floor, January nearly took the silk rug with her, but she followed his every move—climbing the wall, searching inside the filthy fireplace and nearly knocking over an occasional table—in her search for the impossible. At that moment, she recognized the direct parallel to her own life.

  Meanwhile, lazy Lenny laid in her handmade cushioned rabbit bed and minded the madness with her usual detachment. Clearly, rabbits didn’t find the same amusement in hunting the shiny red prey.

  “Janny-cat!” Etienne called out as he stepped into the living room with her food mat and dish, all in pink, of course. He’d just tossed a salmon steak in the oven. Knowing January, she’d merely pick at the food for the sake of the scene, so he didn’t bother with a vegetable. “It’s dinnertime.”

  Gravitating toward her mat, she sniffed as she went along, and then snubbed the food to scratch around the dish.

  The tap of his foot against the floor made his displeasure known. “If you don’t eat dinner, you do not get your treat.”