by Leslie North
Loosening his grip on her, he caressed her back as he tangled his fingers in her hair. He really liked it when it was down as he found himself wanting to stroke her silken tresses. As Francesca rubbed her hands down his chest and over his arms, she moaned when she felt how strong he was. As her hand found its way to his face, she enjoyed the feel of his facial hair under her fingertips. Most men she knew were cleanly shaven all the time and she wondered what it would feel like on other parts of her body as she shivered at the thought. She liked how he felt and had to resist the urge to rip his shirt open; she did not want him to think that she wanted him that much.
He watched her as she touched him. It had been so long since he had been with a woman and he found that he enjoyed how she felt. He so badly wanted to take her right there out in the garden, but he was determined to be a gentleman. He respected the fact that she had kept her virtue and carried herself like a respectable woman. Her only flaws were her shyness, which he found a bit endearing, and her lack of respect in how she addressed him.
“I am in pretty good shape for a man my age,” he said to her as Francesca looked at him.
“What?” she asked.
“You expressed that I am too old for you.”
“I did not.”
“You implied it when you pointed out our age difference.”
Francesca cleared her throat and looked away. His age was not an issue for her, in fact she preferred him over the immature boys she had dated. She had just used it as an excuse to deny the confusing feelings she felt inside. But now she couldn’t deny it any longer.
He laughed gently as he caressed her silken skin. She closed her eyes, wanting to remember this moment. After a few moments, she opened her eyes in frustration. Grabbing his hand, she placed it on her breast as she stared at him.
Olivier masked his surprise, as he did not want her to stop. He found that he liked her sudden forwardness and he could feel her breast seem to swell in his hand. Cupping her breasts, he rubbed his thumbs over her nipples as they swelled to tight nubs.
Swaying slightly, Francesca closed her eyes as she surrendered herself to the pleasurable sensations he was creating. Dipping his head, he captured her lips as he continued to massage her breasts.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned his forehead against hers as he took a deep breath. “We have to stop,” he said, as he took a deep breath.
“Why?” she asked breathlessly.
“Because, if we don’t stop now, I won’t want to and that isn’t fair to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your virtue, Francesca. You arouse me like no woman has done in a very long time and I’ve no wish to damage your virtue.”
They heard voices. Francesca quickly straightened her dress and got to her feet, as she saw palace guards approaching them. They were on patrol as usual. They greeted her and Lord Jacques and then carried on walking.
“I must get to bed now,” Francesca said, as she turned to walk into the palace.
“Well then, goodnight,” he said. As Francesca walked away, she held her hand to her stomach hoping to tame the butterflies dancing merrily inside her. Lord Jacques ran his hand through his hair as he watched her walk away. Things had gotten heated up too quickly. She sent him mixed signals, as she seemed hopelessly confused as to what she wanted from him.
Chapter 12
Lord Jacques had just come out of a meeting. Throughout the whole meeting he had not been able to focus. All he could think of was Francesca. Her deep brown eyes, silky hair, but most of all the way she responded to him. He loved making her smile, it lit his whole world up. She had been on his mind all weekend. Since his ex-wife, he had not thought about any woman like that. As he sat down at his desk, his thoughts returned to Francesca as he remembered how she felt and smelled.
He looked up when he heard the door open. He raised his eyebrows when he saw Francesca walk in and shut the door behind her as she leaned against it looking at him.
“Miss LeBlanc, this is a surprise,” he said as he stood up from his desk.
“What do you want from me?” she asked him.
“Excuse me?”
“You kiss me and I find that I can’t stop thinking about it.” Lord Jacques started smiling, as she held up her hand. “Please don’t smile. You have no idea how frustrating this is. I don't like you, I don't like speaking to you, you are too old for me, you can read me like no one else,” she listed as her voice trailed off. Francesca realised that she was not making sense but she needed to get it off her chest.
“Like I stated before, you are confused about what it is that you want.”
Yet again, he was able to see through her. How did he do that? She had yet to be able to read him. In fact, she had no idea what he was thinking. “Why aren't you interested in a woman your age?” she asked him. It bared no relevance to what they were talking about but she blurted out the first thing that came out of her mouth.
“Should I?”
“Shouldn't you?”
“Miss LeBlanc, why did you come here?” He stepped from around his desk.
“No, stay there!” Francesca called out. She could not handle being close to him. “I only have five minutes. I came with Macee, she came to see Prince Louis,” she added, as she realized that she was rambling. Lord Jacques did not listen to her, as he walked towards her. “Stay there!” she shouted. He raised his eyebrows and stopped walking.
“I affect you that much?”
“That is not the point.” Francesca ran her hand through her hair. She was starting to forget the reason why she came there in the first place. “I don't know you.” She really needed to think about what she wanted to say before she said it.
“Do you want to know me?”
“Yes. No.” Francesca groaned, as he laughed.
“You do know me,” he said to her.
“Do I?”
“You do.”
“I only know that you are divorced, have no children, you are thirty-six years old, you work in the palace as the crown prince's advisor, you exercise a lot, you’ve been building boats since you were seventeen, you studied physics and economics at university. I don't even know why, there is no link,” Francesca’s voice trailed off. She realised that she knew quite a lot about this mysterious man.
Lord Jacques watched her conflicting emotions flit across her face. Cupping the side of her face, he waited until she looked at him. “Do you want to know why I have an interest in you?” he asked as Francesca nodded.
“How do you always know what I am thinking? It's so frustrating. I am not this transparent. I refuse to accept that.”
“We are connected,” he told her as he rubbed the side of her face. Francesca frowned at him. She did not want a connection; at least she did not think so. She had never had one with anyone before, so she had no idea what it looked like or if she wanted one. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on,” he said.
“What?”
“You want to know what I want from you and why I have an interest. So I am telling you.” Francesca nodded. “There is something about you that is so intriguing that I find myself wanting to know more. From the very first time I laid eyes on you, I have felt drawn to you,” he added.
“There is nothing interesting about me,” she responded as she attempted to look away.
Grasping her chin, he turned her head back to him. “On the contrary, there is plenty.”
“Is there?” Francesca found it hard to believe. At this point, she was not doing anything with her life. She put her hands on his chest. She was not that girl. She always kept her hands to herself but it was as if his chest was calling to her. She remembered how hard it was and she wanted to touch it again.
“Yes. You are the most wonderful, profoundly challenging, intelligent, beautiful person I have ever met. Before you I never thought I would love again, I swore off women, but you changed everything. You, Francesca.”
Lord Jacques let her touch him for a
moment before he kissed her. Finally Francesca thought to herself. When he kissed her, it felt as if all her nerves were on fire. She felt pleasure in every part of her body as her knees weakened and she found herself leaning against him for support. He kissed her so gently and softly.
“Do you understand now?” he asked her as he held her in his arms. She felt so small and fragile as he looked down at her and kissed her forehead. Francesca knew that she had to go but she did not want to leave the comfort of his embrace. She liked being his arms.
Olivier caressed her side as he ran his hand down her hip and rubbed it lazily. This was a new sensation to Francesca as she felt what she could only assume to be arousal. “Lower,” she whispered.
“There is a sex kitten inside of you. Maybe I don’t know everything about you after all,” he said to her.
“What?”
“When I touch you, the sexual side of you emerges.” He moved his hand lower as Francesca moaned.
“No, there is not.” She hated that he was right. She always thought that she was not a very sexual person. She did not even like talking about sex. She had always viewed herself as an uptight, sophisticated woman, but when she was with Olivier, she found herself melting as pleasure overtook her.
Lord Jacques kissed her neck as his hand roamed around her body. Her skin was so soft and warm. He inhaled, as he took in her scent, which reminded him of peaches. At this point Francesca could barely stand as she clutched his shirt tightly as she moaned.
“I don’t want to stop,” he whispered against her neck.
“Then don’t,” she whispered back.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Olivier, please don’t stop.” As his hands roamed across her body, he cupped her hips, as he pulled her tightly against him. Francesca opened her eyes in surprise as she felt his arousal pressed tightly against her. Moaning, she leaned into him. Her hands found their way around his neck as she held on. Trailing his hand up her back, he tangled his hand in her hair, as he tilted her head. She moaned into his mouth, as she panted. She did not want him to stop, but if he did not, she was sure that she would explode and she was not sure she was prepared for that.
“I have to stop touching you,” he said as he took deep breaths.
“Please don't,” she whispered. He stepped back and straightened her clothes. “What are you doing?” she complained.
“You said you did not have much time.”
“What?”
“You came with your sister.”
Francesca groaned. He was driving her crazy. “Yes,” she said as she nodded. She ran her fingers through her hair and checked her clothes.
“There is that sex kitten, again.”
“And whose fault is that?” she shot back petulantly
Lord Jacques laughed. “I will not take you here,” he said.
“What? Who said anything about that?”
“You were thinking it.”
Francesca rolled her eyes and walked out. Just for one second she thought about him making love to her and he saw it. She could not understand how it was that he could read her so well. It was annoying, as she could not keep her thoughts to herself around him.
“Why are you coming out of Lord Jacques's office?” Macee asked as she approached her sister.
“Hmmm?” Francesca could not even defend herself. Apparently, she was terrible at lying anyway.
“Francesca?!” Macee's eyes were wide open.
“Do not make a scene Mace, I will tell you everything.” She figured it was better to tell her the truth rather than listen to her make fun of her. She needed someone to talk to anyway. It would have been better if it was Liane, but Macee was her only choice at the moment.
Chapter 13
Macee stood in the palace hallway frozen with shock and excitement. She could not believe what her sister was telling her. Francesca was the uptight boring one. Now here she was telling her about her make out sessions with Lord Jacques at the palace. How was it that she did not know about this?
“Are you serious?” she asked Francesca
“I am,” she replied. “Macee, I am freaking out about this and I don’t know what to do.”
“Why are you freaking out? It’s clear that you are enjoying yourself.”
“Macee, be serious.”
“I am serious. You like him much more than you care to admit and you are enjoying these little steamy sessions you are having.”
“There were only two and a half.”
“Half?” Macee laughed.
“At the harbour, it was only a kiss. So it counts as half but why do you think that I like him?”
“You would never let just any man touch you. Not even with a ten foot pole.”
“That is not true.”
“Oh, yes it is.”
Francesca sighed. She was so confused. She could not tell right from left any longer. She started walking away. Macee placed her hand on her belly and rushed after Francesca.
“Listen,” Macee said as she caught up with her.
“You are not that pregnant yet,” Francesca said to Macee, who was holding her bump and walking weirdly.
“It has been six months and besides I get tired faster now.”
“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” Francesca asked trying to turn the discussion away from her.
“No, and we are not going to change our minds. Back to you. You are falling for this guy.”
“Macee, what?” Francesca laughed. She had only known him for a few months. This was ridiculous.
“No man has ever unravelled you the way he has,” Macee said. Francesca looked at her. “Yes. You are so uptight. It is as if you are scared of letting go and having fun. I bet if you just let go, you would really see Lord Jacques for the man he is and you will love him. Or admit that you do,” Macee said. Francesca frowned. She could not be in love with him. It was too soon.
“It hasn't even been six months, how could I?”
“There is no time line for love, sis.”
“When did you get so mature?” Francesca asked, as she linked her arm with her sister's.
“Tell me about it,” Macee replied. She could not even believe the words coming out of her mouth.
“Why do you like him so much?”
“He is incredibly attractive and has such a good heart. He is wise and trustworthy.”
“Trustworthy?”
“He could not be the future king's advisor if he were not.”
“That is true.”
“Let's go eat. I cannot question you on an empty stomach,” Macee said. She still had so much to learn from her sister. Francesca knew that the jokes were going to come out as soon as she was full. She buckled up and braced herself for them, as they headed back to Macee’s quarters to eat.
* * *
Prince Louis, Jean Pierre and Lord Jacques were having lunch together. Jean Pierre had not seen Lord Jacques since the Global Girls charity event and he was curious as to how the dinner date went with Francesca. He had first-hand experience with the LeBlanc sisters and he knew that they were not easy to deal with. Lord Jacques admitted that he had not found it easy with Francesca as he shared that he had taken her on one of his yachts.
“But it was for charity, so it is alright,” Jean Pierre said. Prince Louis looked at him and raised his eyebrows.
“There is something more going on here.” Prince Louis said to Jean Pierre.
“What makes you say that?” Lord Jacques asked.
“You spent 70,000 Euros for a date with her and then took her on one of your boats, which you never do. That feels a little personal to me,” Prince Louis replied.
“The bidding did get quite ferocious. You were not giving up,” Jean Pierre added. Lord Jacques smiled and sipped his drink.
“She is worth that and more,” he replied. The prince looked at him.
“So you fancy my sister-in-law?” Prince Louis asked as Lord Jacques nodded.
“I do,” he replied.
“There is just something about her.”
“Yes, she is a good woman,” the Prince added.
“If you can handle the three of them together, then you are ready to be with her,” Jean Pierre said as Prince Louis laughed and agreed.
“I think they like me,” Lord Jacques said.
“They probably do but they protect each other fiercely,” Prince Louis said. He remembered when Francesca found out that Bridgette was behind the rumour leak and the revealing of Liane’s pregnancy; she was ready to have her head on a pike.
“It is settled then, you all will come to my house for dinner,” Jean Pierre said.
“That will be interesting.”
“Oh, it will.”
***
Lord Jacques was sure that everything was going to work out well. The sisters were nice to him previously, why would it be any different now? His confidence quickly wore off when he arrived at Liane and Jean Pierre's home. He was sitting across from the LeBlanc sisters at the dinner table. They all stared at him for a moment, as if they were analysing him. Jean Pierre and the prince stayed out of it, as they watched the women.
“How is Simone?” Lord Jacques asked Liane.
“She is fine. What are your intentions regarding my sister?” Liane asked. Lord Jacques coughed in surprise. The subject had gone there rather quickly.
“I really like and respect Francesca. My motives and intentions are pure when it comes to her.”
Macee and Liane were both touched by the fact that he respected her but they were not going to give in so easily. “You have known her for only a few months. You cannot really say that you know her,” Macee pointed out.
“Her favourite colour is purple. She is a bad liar. She has a beauty spot underneath her chin,” Lord Jacques said. Francesca frowned. When had he seen her beauty spot? He had not even mentioned it. “She is terrible at telling jokes,” he added. Macee and Liane wanted to laugh, but they managed to contain themselves. It was so true that she was terrible at humour.