by Avril Rose
“Liam?”
“Hmm? What?”
“Why is it different with me?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe I have a thing for coffee roasters?”
“Ha-ha, very funny.”
I pretend to be offended.
"And you? How do you feel with me?"
“I still feel guilty about your stained suit, believe it or not,” I tease.
“It was a Dior. And it’s ruined. You’re going to have to spend a few nights here to make up for that,” he retorts.
He’s lost in thought for a few seconds.
“I feel good when I’m with you,” he continues. “I can’t explain it. It’s unknown territory for me. I don’t really know what to do about it, in fact.”
His sincerity goes straight to my heart.
“I think you’re doing a fine job.”
I sit up to place my lips, swollen from our love-making, on his mouth.
“We can take things as they come and see how it goes. What do you think?”
“I think your plan suits me just fine!” he says, kissing me back.
I lay my head back down on his chest. I’m lulled by his hand delicately caressing my tangled hair.
His breathing slows. And I need to pee.
“Can I use your bathroom?” I ask before he falls deeply asleep.
“Of course, make yourself at home.”
When I return to my lover’s side, he’s sleeping peacefully. God, he's gorgeous!
I admire him for a moment, resisting the desire to wake him up to satisfy my hunger yet again.
I curl up into his arms, smiling.
What I feel for Liam is new, scary, and exhilarating.
And I feel amazingly good.
***
“Zoe? Zoe! Wake up.”
Liam’s voice pulls me gently from my dreams.
“Hi,” I say, still half-asleep. “What time is it?”
“It’s very early, but I have no idea what time you start,” he explains.
I truly appreciate his concern for my business.
That’s a good sign, right?
“I open the shop this morning. I need to be at Temple Coffee at 6:30.”
"Jesus. How do you do it?”
“I either open or I close, I don’t usually do both. Victor and I switch,” I explain between yawns.
Getting out of 00S’s bed is a real task. I jump up in one go, as is my custom, and quickly flit down the stairs.
“Towels are in the closet under the sink. Take whatever you need.”
I hop in the shower, relaxing under the hot water, realizing how intense the last few hours have been. I spent an incredible night in the arms of this fabulous man.
How lucky am I?!
My blissful thoughts are interrupted by Liam, who joins me under the fine stream of water. I smile, welcoming him. He hugs me sweetly and then kisses me full on the mouth, awakening my body as if by magic. Desire seeps through every inch of my being, carried by the blood flowing through my veins. I want him. Again. Already. I stand up on my tiptoes to feel his erection between my legs.
“I can't get enough of you,” he murmurs in my ear.
I love it when he says what he’s thinking out loud. I love how he puts words to the feelings I feel too.
I take his cock in one hand, the other hooked over his neck. I don’t want him to stop kissing me. I begin rubbing him, back and forth, ready to pleasure him. I increase the pressure little by little, his erection becoming more impressive, revealing his reaction to my attentions.
I watch him lose control and slowly kneel to take him with my lips. Gently at first, then, full in my mouth, swirling my tongue around his shaft, savoring the salty, bitter taste. I accelerate as he moans. I’m aroused by the pleasure I’m giving him. I take him deeper, much deeper than I thought possible.
“Zoe...”
I love hearing him say my name.
“Zoe... I’m going to come in your mouth if you keep going.”
I tighten the suction of my lips around him. My way of giving my consent.
A sigh of ecstasy lets me know he’s on the edge.
He stiffens suddenly and pulls free from my grip, releasing hot, salty liquid over my skin. I've just had an incredibly arousing sexual experience.
Did I actually dare to do that? Who made him come like that? I feel completely uninhibited with him. I spent eight years with the same man, and I never felt so bold, never experienced so much pleasure. I like what I’m capable of doing with Liam, and it feels so natural.
I stand up. He smiles and then slides his tongue into my mouth.
This kiss is different. Knowing. Sensual.
***
Sitting at the small kitchen table, steaming cups of coffee in front of us, the mood is romantic.
How am I going to survive without him? When will I see him again?
Stop worrying and just take things as they come.
“Are my boxers comfortable?” he jokes.
"Yes, very. Way more than my fine Italian lace panties that cost ninety bucks.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I think it’s sexy knowing you’re wearing my underwear.”
“Well, in that case, think about the fact that I’ll be wearing them all day. That shower has made me late and I won’t have time to stop at my place.”
He takes my hand and holds it to his mouth, gently kissing the inside of my wrist.
“That was the best shower of my life.”
"Really?”
This confession surprises me, and I don’t manage to hide my reaction. I see Liam as a guy who's been with a thousand different women, with a range of experience so vast compared to mine.
“Yes! What? You think I put my cock in just anyone’s mouth?” he asks, laughing.
“It’s the first time I’ve given a blowjob,” I blurt out, feeling both ashamed and intoxicated.
“Well, I must say I’m impressed. You're delicious, Zoe. In every respect.”
I blush. The seconds tick by. I drown my embarrassment in my cup of coffee.
A text message interrupts my silence.
“Victor,” I say to Liam.
“Do you... do you get along well with him?” he asks hesitantly.
“Why do you ask?” I say, surprised by his question.
“I thought I noticed some tension between you the morning when you spilled coffee on me to get my attention,” he explains seriously.
Get his attention?!
He can’t contain his laughter for long, and I join in, of course.
If he only knew... If I could have, I would have crawled into a hole that day. I was so embarrassed and so afraid of his reaction. I never expected him to be so understanding and reassuring.
“Victor tends to treat me like a child. Which I understand. We’ve known each other forever. Before becoming my dad’s partner, he was first and foremost his best friend. He’s part of the family, the friend who was always there for our birthdays and family gatherings. When Dad... died,” I say, swallowing hard, “he offered to buy my dad’s shares for a very good price. He didn’t want to be a minority partner to a twenty-four-year-old kid. But he quickly understood it was out of the question for me. He eventually accepted the situation. But sometimes he expresses some bitterness at still having to put up with me. He made a decision to be my dad’s partner, not mine. I was pushed on him. So there are good days and bad days. Despite his short fuse, he’s a good person. Someone I can count on.”
Liam watches me as I tell my story, attentive and interested in every word I say.
“That’s good, Zoe. It’s important to have someone you can trust by your side,” he agrees.
***
He drops me off at Temple Coffee at 6:30, as planned. We have a very hard time separating our lips when it’s time to go.
I walk i
nto my second home without losing the smile that’s plastered on my face, staring at the business card Liam handed me after adding his personal number to it with a pen.
What a date! What a night!
The only downside is that we haven’t planned when we’ll see each other next.
Come on, Zoe! Stay positive! After all these magnificent firsts, it’s obvious you’ll see each other again.
I spend my day floating on a cloud under a bright shining sun. 00S will not come in for his coffee this morning: he already drank it as an after-sex treat with me this morning.
“You know, you’ve been smiling like an idiot since I got here,” Victor says, teasing me.
I stick my tongue out at him; it’s a reflex. I’ve returned to being a twenty-six-year old. A real one. It feels good.
“That means it’s your turn to serve Crabby McGrump,” he says nonchalantly.
I put on my usual smile for Crabby McGrump: the smile that says “Your mood will not cross the line of this counter.”
“Good morning, sir. The usual?”
“Yes, obviously!” he replies dryly.
I roll my eyes once I’ve turned around.
“But I want it really hot this time. Not lukewarm like last time,” he goes on.
“Of course, sir. An Americano, no sugar, and a splash of milk. Coming right up.”
And real hot.
I hum Queen’s "Don’t Stop Me Now" in my head. The invigorating effect is immediate.
I hand him his hot drink, making sure not to spill it, and wish him a good day as I give him his change.
He leaves without so much as a “thank you” or “goodbye.”
But I couldn't care less.
Because I’m still sitting pretty on my little cloud.
I take a short break in the back of the shop once the morning rush has passed.
I call Chloe, who tried to reach me this morning.
I’ve told her a thousand times that I can’t answer the phone at that time, but with Chloe it's like talking to the proverbial "brick wall."
Chloe, the third pillar of our trouble-making trio with Lisa and me, is a pretty blonde with a deep voice and big blue eyes. Chloe was a customer at first. I had nicknamed her Busty Barbie on the wise counsel of Victor. She's voluptuous and tall, the kind of woman who turns heads wherever she goes.
One day, after ordering her usual mocha, she went to sit at a table and broke down in tears. Seeing her like that, alone, pushed me to go talk to her. She was working in sales and had just been fired. She quickly got back on her feet. That’s what I love about her. Her strength.
My “single and loving it” friend now has a job in event planning for a well-known communications company. She has made her career her top priority and has no desire to invest time or energy in a romantic relationship for the time being.
“Hi Zoe!”
“How are you, darling Chloe? Back in Paris?”
“Don’t even ask... I just spent a week in the rural Pampas. No Wi-Fi, completely isolated. Sheer horror...”
“You know, you really need a digital detox!”
“What I really need is a night out at a swanky bar with you and Lisa. She’s actually in. Crazy, right?”
“We could go to—”
“Oh please, not your pleb hangout,” she interjects. “I want something chic, for real!”
I hear her snap her fingers, as if a light bulb had suddenly gone off in her head.
“Do you know the Baron?”
“Um, by name, yes.”
My lover’s hungry eyes, his enveloping and caressing hands, his athletic build – it all comes rushing back in an instant. I disconnect from reality for a second without even realizing it.
“So, you’re in?”
I need a minute to come back down to earth.
"What? Uh, no, Chloe. Not the Baron. That’s exactly the kind of place I hate.”
“Come on, Zoe, please. We try it out tonight, and next time, I promise, you choose. Say yes, come on!”
Victor pokes his head into the back of the shop, letting me know he needs my help at the counter.
“Alright, alright. Le Baron,” I give up; no time to argue with Chloe.
I shove away everything I think about that type of place, where you have to prove your credentials (or rather, your earnings) just to get in.
“Yeaaaah! You’re the best!” she yells. “I have a connection who'll get us in. Seven o’clock? Does that work for you?”
“Sure... Victor’s closing tonight.”
I hang up, disappointed by my defeat.
Come on, a bit of optimism, for heaven’s sake! A girls' night out is always a good thing, no matter where it is.
Plus, Liam goes there often. So it’s a good way to learn more about the man that is now occupying one hundred percent of my brain.
***
Chloe is a regular. Getting into the Baron is a quick formality, even if the bouncer did hesitate for few seconds when he took in my “not-so-Baron” look.
As I walk into what Chloe calls “the hippest place in Paris,” I start to understand the reputation.
Each woman I pass is more dolled up than the last: rhinestones, glitter, heavy makeup, impeccable hair, and hip clothes. I’m in the middle of a roomful of aspiring models, dressed simply with light makeup and hair I let air dry after a quick shower. Only my heels, which Lisa lent me, even begin to fit in.
I follow my friends as I check out the extravagant decor: a large room that looks like a vaulted cellar, very dim lighting, and armchairs and tables arranged to create small, intimate spaces. And the bar has a chic, industrial look.
I sit down at the table Lisa points to. I don't feel very comfortable, lost in the immense space.
From where I’m sitting, I can just make out what I think is the dance floor. But at this time in the early evening, it’s more of a lounge than club atmosphere.
My mind wanders to thoughts of Liam. Here I am, in his world. Is it the environment that he likes? Or the people that come here?
“Champagne! A round on me tonight, girls!” Chloe announces, thrilled.
“You got a new account, didn’t you?” Lisa guesses.
“Bingo, Sherlock! A golden account, if I do say so myself. You’ll get the details later – we’re not here to talk shop, we're here to let loose! So, Lisa, how’s the divorce moving along?”
Since I got to know her, my new nickname for Chloe is “Blunt and Direct.”
“The divorce isn't going to get settled in ten minutes,” Lisa says peevishly.
“Come on, Lisa, you have to look on the bright side!”
“No. Let me finish out my ABT in peace.”
"Your what?”
“ABT: Authorized Blue Time,” I translate for Chloe.
“She hasn’t finished yet? It never ends! How much longer until our national treasure of fun is back?”
“A little under four weeks. It got pushed back a week because of Zoe’s Mister 00S.”
“Wait!” Chloe cries, her hands signaling a time-out. “Back to the beginning. What’s this code name?”
Lisa starts in on a summary of my misadventures with Liam: the spilled coffee and the unexpected encounter at Mister Delmotte’s office, via our sexcapade at Temple Coffee.
“You slept with Lisa’s lawyer?” Chloe asks, shocked.
"No, of course not! Why do you all want me to sleep with this Delmotte guy? 00S is one of his colleagues. Well, his boss, to be exact.”
"What? Liam is Mister Delmotte’s boss?” Lisa asks, stupefied. “It’s his firm?” she continues, her voice rising an octave.
“Who is this Liam character?” Chloe asks, completely lost.
Now it’s my turn to make the time-out signal.
“Cool it, crazies! We’re going to get kicked out of here! Mister 00S is named Liam Desages. He’s one o
f the partners at the Desages firm, founded by his father. Last night, he invited me to dinner at Le Cinq and we spent the night at his place, in his apartment. It was... pretty hot.”
I explain everything in a calm, reasonable voice, as if it were a simple list of facts. I could have given a presentation on global warming in the same tone.
“He’s gorgeous,” Lisa adds, turning to Chloe. “As classy as Michael Fassbender, as hot as Theo James, and as gentlemanly as Christian Grey in book two, ya know? But without the red room!”
“Oh, is that all?” Chloe asks, almost beginning to drool.
“Better than that! The only problem is this place.”
“What’s the Baron got to do with Liam?”
“Liam told me he comes here regularly. The people here seem so different from the man I got to know last night. Liam likes simple, natural things more than he wants to admit. This place is pretentious,” I say, waving a hand at my surroundings, “it’s nothing like him.”
“You can like an atmosphere that’s, let’s say... showy... and still like the simple things. I like this place,” Chloe argues, “and I also like your pleb bar you’re always taking us to.”
"Yeah, you're right,” I concede. “I’m just afraid I’m wrong about him. It’s too good to be true,” I confess to my friends.
“Enjoy the ride, Zoe,” Lisa advises. “You have nothing to lose if you take life as it comes.”
I smile when I hear these words. This sentence is destined to become my motto!
“So, you like my pleb bar after all, eh?”
“Don’t cry victory just yet. It's not going to become our HQ or anything. And you, Lisa, how are you?” she asks, changing the subject.
Lisa smiles, visibly appeased that she’s being less brutal with her questions.
“Is that divorce coming along?”
I was duped, too!
Lisa throws the scrap of paper she’s been fidgeting with straight at Chloe’s face.
We all end up laughing at Chloe’s teasing.
The good thing about our little group is that there’s always one to lift the spirits of the others.
Our girls’ night is going along great, including sincere conversations and immature jokes.
Suddenly, I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. A man. A woman. Holding each other by the waist. Smiling. Their connection leaves no room for doubt. They look deep into each other’s eyes. He whispers in her ear. She laughs. They seem happy, radiant. And in love.