by Leslie North
“Then why are you blushing?”
“I am not blushing. I am just shocked at your boldness.”
“Just say what you are thinking.”
“I was not thinking that.”
“But now you are.”
Francesca looked away from him. She hated that it was obvious to him that she was thinking about it now. She wanted to stop thinking about it but she could not help but wonder what he would look like naked. His physique was incredible, as his suits hid nothing. If anything, it accentuated his body even more.
“There you go making assumptions again,” she said. She ran her hand through her hair. She was still uncomfortable. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his feather light touch on her. Olivier laughed softly.
“I shall make it clear for you. I am not going to take you now or in the near the future,” he said as she looked at him.
“You make it sound as if there is something wrong with me.” She immediately regretted the words as soon as she said them. Olivier was now even more amused.
“There is nothing wrong with you and I never insinuated that there was.”
“Forget what I said.”
“You are a virgin.”
“Oh God,” Francesca never discussed that with people and she was not about to start now. Especially with a stranger.
“I respect that. So I will not-” Before he could finish talking, Francesca cut him off.
“We are not talking about that. How long until we are back to the harbour?” Even though she liked being at sea, she did not like the direction their conversation was moving.
“About twenty minutes.”
Twenty minutes sounded like a long time, as Francesca was ready to get off the boat now. She was feeling incredibly shy and uncomfortable and now she was cold as the wind picked up. She heard Olivier walk away as she sighed with relief. She needed to catch her breath and relax. Moments later, he reappeared with a blanket, which he placed on her shoulders before wrapping it around her.
“I was not cold,” she lied. She hated how he assumed things about her and got it right every time.
“Yes, you were and you are welcome,” he replied. Francesca was glad that he had gotten the blanket for her. Despite her protests, it was really cold.
They finally reached the harbour. Lord Jacques helped Francesca disembark. She wanted to rush back to the palace but she also was curious about his boats. “Since we are already here, will you show me around?” she asked him. He raised his eyebrows.
“Sure,” he replied. He escorted her around, showing her the boats. Francesca asked him questions about the different ones as he talked animatedly about his greatest passion. She was very curious and each answer generated more questions. He found that he enjoyed talking to her and he liked that she showed interest in his work.
“So do you sell them or what?” she asked him. She realised that she had not asked him what he did with all those boats.
“Sell and rent,” he replied
“Amazing,” Francesca responded. She wrapped her arms around herself; she still had the blanket on her shoulders and she was grateful for the warmth. “I am guessing the one we dined on was your favourite,” she added. He smiled at her.
“It was indeed.”
“Well, thank you.”
“My pleasure.”
“I should get going.”
Jacques nodded and walked her to the car. The driver was already standing there waiting for her, but he dismissed him with his hand. He opened the door for Francesca. “I must say, I was surprised that you came,” he said to her.
“Were you? Why would you assume that I would not come?”
He smiled. “I do not simply assume things about you,” he said to her.
“Yes you do,”
“You are just that obvious.”
Francesca frowned. “Are you calling me transparent?” she asked him.
“That is not what I said.”
“It is what you implied.”
Lord Jacques raised his eyebrows. Conversation with Francesca was never smooth sailing. One minute they were cordial and the next, they were arguing. Lord Jacques had heard the LeBlanc sisters were hard to deal with, but he hadn’t expected this. “I implied nothing. I say what I mean. I do not need to imply things,” he said to her.
“Goodnight Olivier.” Francesca turned to get into the car but she paused. She turned to look at him. “There will not be another dinner date,” she said.
Lord Jacques frowned and tried to hide his disappointment, “I did not say anything about it.”
“But you were thinking it.”
“Who is making assumptions now?” Once again, she amused him.
“I am letting you know.”
“Okay. Just to let you know, there will be another date.” Lord Jacques smiled.
“Don't be so sure.” Francesca was convinced that she was not going to go out with him again. There was an awkward moment where they were staring at each other. She could see the confident look on his face. He looked so sure. He was so sure about many things in regards to her and it annoyed her. “You can wipe that smug look off your face too,” she said.
Lord Jacques let out a laugh as he tipped his head back. “You should address me with a little more respect.”
“I do not need to address you at all.”
“Is that so?” He moved closer to her.
“Yes. I do not want to even address you.” She was not convinced with her reply and neither was he.
“Your body language says otherwise.”
“Then ignore it.”
“I cannot.”
Francesca was feeling increasingly uncomfortable with his close proximity. “Whatever, Olivier, goodnight,” she said.
“It's Lord Jacques to you.”
“Olivier.” She repeated it as if it was a challenge she was accepting. He grabbed her by the shoulders and crushed her body against his as he trapped her between him and the car. “What are-” Before she could finish her question, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers. Francesca was caught off guard by his response and even more surprised at her own. His lips felt so good against hers. She desperately wanted to touch him to see if his body was as hard as she suspected. As the same time, she wanted to push him away and slap him.
Just when she started kissing him back, he abruptly pulled away. “Miss LeBlanc, you are a terrible kisser. Goodnight,” he said before walking off. Francesca was left standing at the car speechless. She could not believe that he could be so cruel as to say something like that to her. She wanted to slap him but she also wanted to pull him closer to her and keep kissing him. She was so conflicted.
“Take me back to the palace,” she told the driver, as she sank into her seat and closed her eyes.
“Oui, mademoiselle,” the driver replied.
Chapter 10
Francesca woke to find her sisters sitting in her room waiting for her to open her eyes. “What are you doing here?” she asked them as she sat up.
“Finally, you are up,” Macee said and grinned at her.
Frowning, Francesca got out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom where she washed her face and brushed her teeth before joining her sisters again.
“How was dinner?” Liane asked her. Francesca's jaw dropped open.
“Did the two of you come this early to ask me about last night?” Francesca asked.
“Yes!” Both her sisters replied and crawled onto her bed. Francesca rolled her eyes and threw herself back on the bed.
“Well? How was it?” Liane asked. She was curious about Lord Jacques, what kind of a man he was and where he would take her sister on a date.
“You do realise that it was for charity right?” Francesca said.
“Stop stalling and start talking,” Macee said.
Francesca laid there staring at the ceiling. She sighed before she spoke. She started telling them about the date. They giggled and laughed.
“He took you on a
boat, that is so romantic,” Liane said.
“Oh, I can see him in a completely different light now,” Macee added.
“He is still the same man to me,” Francesca said.
“You are such a bore.”
“So you are saying that there was no moment where you wanted to kiss him?” Liane asked.
“No, there was not,” Francesca replied.
“Liar,” Macee said.
“There really wasn't.”
“And he did not try to kiss you?”
Francesca did not say anything as she blushed. She suddenly felt shy and wasn’t sure what to say or how to tell her sisters
“Frannie!” Macee shouted.
“What?” Francesca answered.
“There was kiss wasn't there?”
“No, there was not.”
“Yes there was, otherwise you would have replied by now.” Liane said.
“Where is Simone?”
“Oh my God!” Macee and Liane said at the same time. Francesca covered her face with her hands. She was bad at lying. Even Lord Jacques had caught her out so many times when she tried to lie to him. She rubbed at her cheeks.
“Was it good?” Macee asked.
“Macee!” Francesca groaned. She was not prepared to talk about it. She never liked talking about stuff like that because she did not know what to say.
“Don't hold out now.”
“I am hungry.”
“I bet you are,” Macee said as she and Liane started laughing. Francesca rolled her eyes and crawled out of bed. One of the perks of living in the palace was having quarters with everything she needed.
“Can I get some breakfast?” Francesca asked one of the maids. She sat down at the table as her sisters joined her.
“So what is going to happen now?” Liane asked Francesca.
“Happen where?” Francesca asked. She had no idea what her older sister was talking about anymore.
“Between you and Lord Jacques.”
“Nothing will happen.”
“You have no feelings for him?”
“I do not.” Up until then, Francesca was sure that she did not like him but after answering her sister, she found herself wondering if that was really true.
“Why not?”
“He is so much older than I am.”
“Oh Frannie, that is a poor excuse,” Macee replied.
“Macee don't call me that,” Francesca scolded her little sister who enjoyed teasing her.
“She is right. He is not that much older than you, that should not be your excuse,” Liane said.
“He is a nice man. Louis also likes him. He seems like a good guy and he is so attractive. Why don't you like him?” Macee asked.
“We can stop speaking about him now,” Francesca said as the maids brought in breakfast. Macee stared at her plate. “You haven't eaten yet?” Francesca asked her.
“No, I rushed over here as soon as I woke up,” Macee replied. Francesca rubbed Macee's head as she dug into her food. She may be the crown princess, but she was still the baby of the family.
* * *
Lord Jacques had just finished work. He had worked late and lost track of time. As he left his office to head home, he saw Francesca standing by a window looking out. He approached her and stopped next to her.
“What are you looking at?” he asked her as she jumped in fright. She turned in his direction and frowned when she saw whom it was.
“Something I can help you with?” she asked him.
“Is it so difficult to be polite?”
Francesca shrugged her shoulders. “Hello, Lord Jacques, how are you?” she asked. Olivier could not tell if there was sincerity or sarcasm in her voice.
“I am well, thank you,” he replied. He slid his hands in his pockets, as he looked her. “What are you up to this evening?” he asked her.
“Just looking at the stars,” she said.
“You like stars?”
“What girl doesn't?” Besides Macee, of course but he need not know that.
“What else do you like?” he asked her.
“Not speaking to you.” The words came out faster than she wanted, as she turned to face him. “I know you think I am ill-mannered and candid, so why do you bother speaking to me?” she asked him.
“You are actually not that candid,” he pointed out.
“You have not answered my question.”
“I want to kiss you.”
Francesca's eyes flew open. He was too bold for her. “Please restrain yourself,” she said. Her stomach started knotting up as she remembered how it felt when he kissed her and how much she wanted him to do it again.
“I do not want to,” he said and moved closer to her. Francesca took a step back.
“I thought I was a bad kisser.”
“You are,” he said as he put his hand on her cheek and caressed her face with his thumb.
“So why do you want to kiss me?” Francesca asked as she began to take shallow breaths. She was so nervous. Olivier dipped his head close to hers and pressed a small kiss to her lips.
“Let me teach you,” he said.
“I don't need you to,” she whispered.
“Oh, but you want me to,” he whispered back as he pressed another feather light kiss to her lips. “Follow my lead.” As Francesca opened her mouth to protest, he took advantage as he slowly sucked her lower lip in his mouth. Moaning in surprise, she grabbed his arms to support herself as she felt her legs shake. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tightly against him, as he dipped his tongue in to explore her mouth gently. Tentatively copying his movements, she kissed him back as their tongues danced together. Deepening the kiss, he slid his fingers up to tangle in her hair as he held her against him.
“That was better,” he said as he broke the kiss. He found that despite her inexperience, he liked how her lips felt against his and how easily she melted against him. He wanted to kiss her more but he had to control himself as they were in the palace after all.
Francesca cleared her throat. “Goodnight,” she said and walked off as fast as her legs could carry her without breaking into a run. She was out of breath and her heart was beating fast. She hated how much she wanted to avoid him and kiss him at the same time. It was driving her crazy. This kiss was better than the last. He was so much better than her last boyfriend was. It made sense, Olivier was older and definitely more experienced. Either way, she wanted to get back to her quarters and forget that it had just happened again.
Chapter 11
For days, Francesca lingered in the palace hallways hoping to bump into Olivier. She knew it was ridiculous. He was too old for her but she could not stop thinking about him. After that last kiss they had in the hallway, she really wanted to see him again, but she did not want it to look contrived. And the more she wandered the palace, the more she felt as though she looked like a love struck teen girl.
She finally saw him unexpectedly six days later. She was sitting on a bench in the garden looking at the stars when she saw him approach her. She did not turn her head and pretended as though she had not seen him.
“I am aware that you have seen me already,” Olivier said as he sat down next to her.
“What are you talking about?” Francesca asked. She hated how obvious she was to him.
“It is a bit late to be outside is it not?”
“Not for star gazing,” she replied. “It is late for you be in the palace, is it not?” Not that she was complaining. She had given up on running into him around the palace. Had she thought that she would see him this evening, she would have dressed better.
“I had work to do.”
“You sure work a lot.” Francesca was not keen on small talk. All she could think about was the feel of his lips on her. She hated that she had turned into this kind of woman, but she could not help herself.
“I aim to do my job well.”
Francesca turned to look at him. He was looking into the distance. He turned his head and foun
d her looking at him. “What is on your mind?” he asked her.
“Nothing at all,” she said and looked away. She did not have the courage to kiss him first. She wondered what was taking him so long to kiss her.
“It would seem there is.”
“Well there isn't. I shall retire to bed now,” she said as she started to stand.
“You want me to kiss you.”
Francesca whipped her head in his direction. How was it that he knew what she was thinking all the time? She thought she had trained herself to hide her emotions. “What? That is preposterous!” she lied. She tried to stand again, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.
“My dear, it so easy to read you. You betray your thoughts with your eyes.”
Francesca shook her arm free. “I don't know what you are talking about but I do not want to kiss you,” she said. She almost swore when she felt her cheeks heat up. She knew they were turning red.
“So you say. But if you want to kiss me, then do so.”
“I don't.” Even though she denied it, her tone betrayed her.
“Really?” Olivier was not convinced as he moved closer to her. His gaze darkened as he stared at her. He so badly wanted to touch her. He had mixed feelings about her as no woman had ever stirred his emotions this much in such a short time, not even his ex-wife. The first time he saw Francesca, he thought that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. As he got to know her, he found that she did not speak or treat him with much respect, which he found intriguing as no woman ever spoke to him that way before.
Olivier reached out and caressed her face with his hand as he traced her jaw with his thumb. Francesca slapped his hand away. She did not want to make it obvious that she wanted him to kiss her. He raised an eyebrow. He moved even closer to her and pressed his lips against hers. He quickly deepened the kiss and slid his tongue in her mouth. She put her hand on his chest and managed to push him away before slapping him.
“Stop kissing me,” she said. She stared at him as she took ragged breaths. Her cheeks had turned bright red as she fumed. Olivier flinched when she slapped him, but he refused to rub his cheek.
“You are incredibly confused as to what you want,” he said. His voice was so deep and alluring, Francesca felt her insides melt. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to him before he kissed her. This time, his kiss was demanding as he plundered her mouth possessively. Francesca leaned into him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.