by Mia Villano
“Are you sure this isn’t Tom Cruises place?” I asked Avery as we grabbed our luggage and headed into a massive home.
“Funny. No, but he lives on the same road.”
“What?” I looked at her in shock. Avery shrugged and raised an eyebrow.
“Please. It’s not like he was over for the neighborhood cookout or anything. We haven’t even seen him. I’ll show you his house later. This one is better.”
I was speechless.
Once Avery showed me around the house and I got settled in my room, bigger than our whole condo, we opened a bottle of wine. It felt so good to be disconnected from the insane life I was currently living at home. After I was unpacked and relaxed enough to take a nap, Avery insisted we go hiking. I agreed to hike the two and-a-half mile path that supposedly had gold underneath the trail. When we reached the end of the trail I saw Colorado’s highest free-falling waterfall, Bridal Veil Falls. Avery talked me into going on additional trails in the Bridal Veil Creek Basin. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, cranky, and missing Fabrice. Avery seemed worse off than me. We walk all the time and she never seemed this winded before. For once, I was holding up better than she was.
I needed to hear Fabrice’s voice and I wondered if he seen the pictures of Marin and I. I didn’t want to bother him while he was with Celeste and no news from him was good news. By midnight, he must have been reading my mind and he called me.
“Hi, beautiful.” His husky voice sent a shiver through me. I missed that strained, raspy Parisian accent.
“Hi. How are you?” I asked.
I was sprawled out in front of the fire place drinking a glass of wine while Avery ordered us a movie.
“I’ve been better. Celeste passed away this morning. Thankfully I was there.”
“Oh, Fabrice. I’m so sorry. I don’t even know what to say.” I didn’t. I had no idea what the right thing would be for me to say to the man I loved watching his ex-wife die in front of him.
“Just hearing your voice makes me better. I miss you so much. Right now, I wish you were in this bed with me so I could hold you.” My heart melted.
“I miss you too, baby. I would have loved to be with you. I’m staying in Avery’s house in Colorado. She is letting me stay here for a week. I needed to get away. I’m sure you saw the news with Marin at the train station.”
“I saw it. She sent it to me. Are you going to be alone?” his tone changed.
“Well, yes. Avery is staying until tomorrow afternoon and then I have this mammoth house in Telluride to myself. With you gone, I thought it would be perfect to get away. That confrontation with Marin did me in. I didn’t threaten to punch her. She was waiting for me at the station. You aren’t mad, are you?” I was sensing he didn’t like the idea of me in Colorado. Avery stood up and uncorked us another bottle of wine.
“No I’m not mad. I don’t like the idea of you alone so far away. I’m not worried about that picture with Marin. It was quite comical. What the hell was she doing at the train station and why were you there? I told you to use my driver while I was gone.”
“Yeah, I don’t need to go to work in your car. Those women will be even more of a nightmare. I’m fine on the train. Marin was down there to threaten me with something she either heard, or made up. I don’t want to talk about it over the phone. We can talk when you’re back. I will be fine. I’m going to enjoy some me time and chill out. I want to give General Morou my two weeks’ notice when I get back and figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life.”
“I want you to do that. Can I call you while you are alone?”
“Of course, I want you to call me as much as you want. Don’t worry about me. You take care of what you have going on and next week we should be together again.”
Avery started picking at her nail polish as she waited for me to get off my phone to start the movie.
Fabrice told me the funeral was in two days and he was going to stay with his parents and head home. I promised him I would be fine for the hundredth time and we ended the call with my promise to call him as much as possible when Avery left.
Avery and I watched a couple of movies and fell asleep on the sectional couch. I drifted in and out of sleep thinking about Fabrice, Anthony, and anything else that was bothering me. Avery on the other hand was knocked out. She didn’t worry about anything and I envied her for that. She heard me up and starting coffee first thing in the morning.
“Izz? What the hell?” She was turned into the couch covered up with about five blankets.
“Why would you sleep on the couch when there are like fifty bedrooms in this house?”
“I was too tired to get up. I couldn’t move last night. I don’t know what it was. I was never so exhausted and cold. I couldn’t get warm.”
“It’s probably the air up here. I was tired too. Remember, we went on a hundred mile hike.”
“What time is it?” She asked.
“It’s six. I can’t sleep, and I thought we could go and check out the Telluride Art Walk before you left. I want to browse some of the stores in town and see Tom’s house. Do you want breakfast?” Avery’s parents had the house stocked with everything we needed and that included a refrigerator full of food.
“Jesus woman, I’m going to be glad to leave your ass here later. By the way, the art walk is at night so you will have to do that alone.” Avery sat up rubbing her eyes.
“That’s mean. I made eggs and zucchini. You love that.” One of my specialties. Avery jumped up and padded towards the gourmet kitchen. We devoured the breakfast, drank a pot of coffee, and headed out into town to shop.
We spent the morning shopping and I bought some unique gifts. I wanted to buy clothes for Sophia’s baby in this boutique, but I didn’t know what she was having. I was hoping for a girl. I saw the cutest little faux fur coat and sheepskin boots.
When it came time for Avery to go, she seemed upset to leave.
“Well, the car will be here in five minutes. I hope you are going to be okay. I hate leaving you.”
“I want you to leave me. I need to think without anyone bothering me. Not that you bother me, but I need to just be alone. I have a lot to think about.”
“I know. Call me if you need anything. I left you Raul’s number. He will be here in five minutes if you need anything.” Raul was the manager of the house when they weren’t there. A house manager? What the hell?
“Where did you say to go eat for good salads?”
“The Fireside, best hummus and falafel salad I’ve ever ate. You will love it. Plus it’s a bar, dance place, that kind of thing. You never know, I heard Tom Cruise goes there once in a while.” She winked at me and grabbed her luggage.
“Tell Cherise I said hi.”
She rolled her eyes. “I won’t be able to get a word out when she sees me. It will be spanking city. Good thing you won’t be home. It may get loud.”
“You’re sick.” I laughed. I walked over and hugged her tight. Avery was so important to me. I couldn’t imagine life without her.
When she left I decided to take a long nap. I made something to eat and enjoyed some alone time. I called my mom to tell her I was fine, spoke to Avery, and I wanted to call Fabrice but the time change thing had me confused. I also didn’t want to intrude.
There was a huge hot tub on the porch along with a heated pool. I concocted a Bloody Mary from a mix I bought at one of the gourmet shops and headed to the hot tub to watch the stars. It was so relaxing and I was completely alone. Something I haven’t been since I was born. As I sat there thinking, I realized how wonderful my life was. Except for my job that gave me no satisfaction, my life was amazing.
The next day I slept in, wrote my letter of resignation, and was thinking of heading back to school to get a Masters in Women’s studies. I had a ton of money saved and if I worked it right and quit buying shoes, I could live comfortably without working while I got my degree. I couldn’t think of anything else to do so I went for a long hike and came back
and napped. I talked to Fabrice and told him everything was fine and I was staying in, watching some movies and making spaghetti. He would be flying back soon and he was crying as he kept telling me how much he missed me. It broke my heart to hear his voice and how upset he was. I wanted to be with him, but it wasn’t my place. He needed to do this alone.
The next evening, I decided to venture out to the Fireside. It was not what I expected outside. It looked run down and ram shackled. I almost turned around and went somewhere else until I saw the people walking inside. It seemed to be the most popular place for twenty-somethings. Walking in, I could see why that was the case. It was as if I walked into a ski lodge for the rich and famous. I settled in a booth by myself and away from the bar part of the restaurant. I wanted to eat and have a drink. It was still early so it wasn’t too crowded. The waitress brought me a menu and I ordered the salad Avery told me about. At twenty-five dollars, this better be one hell of a salad. I ordered a dirty martini which was adorned with mammoth olives and garlic. Half way into devouring my salad and ordering another martini, I looked up hoping no one was watching me eat like a pig. No such luck. In dim blue lights that were lighting the walls, I saw a man looking at me. I couldn’t make out his face at first.
A gorgeous man sat up against the brick wall staring at me with a straw sticking out of his mouth, a drink in his hand, and a quick grin made me take another look. I looked away and looked back at him making sure it was him. He winked and nodded at me. Through the darkness, he looked familiar. He was beautiful and rugged looking. It couldn’t be. Then it hit me. It was my Fabrice. He was in Paris. What if it was a guy that looked like him? He stood up and walked in my direction. It wasn’t until he walked up to me that I realized it was him.
Chapter 12
“Mind if I sit with you?”
I couldn’t even speak. In fact, I started to cry. How did he get here so fast? How did he know where I was?
“What are you doing here? You were just in Paris” I finally spoke, wiping my mouth with my napkin and pushing my salad away. I sat there and stared at him as the tears fell.
He was dressed in his ripped and worn-out jeans, a wool coat with a Gucci scarf, his signature white shirt and his John Varvatos boots. I wanted to eat him alive. I was thrilled he was there, and he looked so damn delicious.
“I was. That is why they make planes, Isabella. I heard a beautiful woman was going to be having dinner here and I had to come and introduce myself.” He smiled at me. His gaze held mine intently.
“Oh, really? Did you find her?”
“I believe I have. She’s taking me home and fucking my brains out soon.”
“What if she doesn’t take strange men home?” I laughed. He sat down next to me. He pulled me close to him and kissed me. His lips moved across mine sweeping over them, his tongue licked my bottom lip. His hand crept up my thigh and he grabbed me through my jeans. I was throbbing by the time he kissed me again. Oh how I missed those lips. The waitress came back to see if I would like another drink and I quickly asked for a to-go box. She didn’t take her eyes off Fabrice. As if she remembered our girl code, she looked at me and smiled.
“Certainly, I can put it in for you. Can I get you anything, sir?” she asked.
“No, I have everything I’m going to need. Thank you.” Fabrice said not taking his eyes off me.
She walked away and quickly came back with a to-go box and a smile.
“Have a wonderful night,” she said.
“We will. Thank you.” Fabrice threw a hundred dollar bill on the table.
“Want to get out of here?”
“I guess, I was waiting to see Tom Cruise. I heard he comes in here. I was hoping to go home with him.”
“Tom Cruise.” He said in the accent.
“Yes, Top Gun, Mission Impossible, Jerry McGuire.”
“Oh, him. I told him to get lost. He was looking for you up front. I paid him off.” He grabbed my hand and I slid out of the booth.
“How much?” I laughed.
“Ten dollars.” He couldn’t keep a straight face. We ran out of the restaurant to a car parked in the front and hurried in.
“Where am I taking you?”
I gave the driver the address and Fabrice was all over me before I could finish with my sentence.
“I know you wanted time alone. I needed you. I won’t stay but a day or two. I have to get back. But, after the funeral, I had to see you. I love you, Isabella.”
He kissed me. I licked my lips to taste him more. For a few moments he said nothing but looked into my eyes. I touched his scarf and said, “We can come up with something to do with this.”
“That’s why I wore it?”
He looked at my breasts. My tits were peeking out of my blouse and he popped the top button. His face went between them and he planted a kiss. It stirred an awakening between my legs. My man was back and with me. Having time alone wasn’t that important anymore.
“I missed my girls.”
“They missed you.” The driver pulled down Avery’s long winding driveway.
“Wow, are you sure you aren’t staying with Tom Cruise? This house is amazing. You are here alone?”
“I know. I’m afraid to go anywhere but my room and the kitchen. It’s too big. Maybe we can go exploring later.”
“You;re the only thing I’m exploring.” He grabbed my ass and dug his fingers in making me gasp.
I unlocked the massive wooden front door and we walked into the log cabin style foyer. He didn’t even look around. He had one carrying on bag and threw it on the ground. I’m all he cared about.
“I don’t care about anything right now but you. I want the world to be you and me tonight and nothing else.”
He was ready to devour me. I wanted him to. I wanted to devour him.
I threw my leather coat off and walked up to him. He took me in his arms and my pulse started racing. The man in my arms was so powerful and authoritative, and he was mine to fuck for at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours. There was no one but him and me, and our need. We could do whatever we wanted, be whoever we wanted, and love as much as we wanted.
“Let’s go to my room.” I practically slithered up against him. I wanted to be wrapped in his body.
“First, I want you naked. Take off your clothes except your shoes.”
“Oh, you do?” Though I never dreamed I would admit it, pleasing him was almost an honor. Giving into his dominance was turning me on more.
He didn’t say anything.
My sex clenched with anticipation of his dominance. He took the scarf and his coat off.
“Why don’t you undress me?” I teased.
“No. Take your shirt off, slow.”
I complied. This was his game and I loved playing it. The entire room I had been staying in for the past few days looked different. It wasn’t the same. He was in it and everything changed. He walked up to me but he didn’t touch me. His eyes were burning on my body.
I began to unbutton my blouse and he watched intently, licking his lips, his hands in his pockets. Something was different with him. He watched me more intently like I was his possession. I hadn’t seen such intensity in his eyes before.
Once I unbuttoned my blouse I let it fall to the ground. I stood in front of him with my bra and jeans.
“Mmm, those tits, Isabella.” I felt my breath catch in my chest when he bent down. His mouth covered my nipple and he sucked it through the lace of my bra. His mouth tugged on it pulling it to a hardened point. His hand grabbed my other one and his finger tip stroked that one. My sex clenched with each suck and stroke.
When he stopped and looked back up, I reached behind me and unhooked my lacy black bra and let it fall to the ground. My legs felt so weak I didn’t know how I would walk up to the bedroom. I watched him swallow hard while staring at my tits. They felt so heavy, so needy. I wanted to press against him.
“Jeans off.” He whispered. His arms were crossed in front of him as he watched me u
nbutton my top button and unzip them. I had to take my heels off to get my pants down. I stepped out of them and let my pants come off. I opted for no underwear and he noticed right away.
“No panties?” His eyebrow lifted in surprise.
“No.”
I kicked the jeans off and slipped my heels back on. I was naked in front of him as he continued to watch me.
“Fabrice.”
“You’re mine.”
“Only yours.”
“Every inch of you is mine, Isabella.” I felt myself get wetter. He walked up to me and grabbed my head in his hands and kissed me. I closed my eyes and melted. I’ve missed his kiss for so long. He has been gone for only a week, but it seemed like forever.
I kept my eyes closed as his warm full lips trail down my neck. He unclipped my hair and let it cascade down my back. Grabbing it in his hands, he pulled it lightly and looked into my eyes.
“I can’t breathe without you.”
“You don’t have to.” I sighed.
“I love you.”
“I love you. Take me to bed so I can show you.”
“Oh, baby. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I’m here now.” His voice caressed me as much as his fingers that traced the lips of my overly sensitive sex.