by L. C. Giroux
"Allain! Look 'ow beautiful." Marie held the flowers under her nose and breathed in their fragrance. "Did you tell 'im we grow these?" Marie had a look of pure happiness on her face. Violet on the other hand did not.
"Allyn, he wants her to go to the symphony this weekend but it isn't playing and this dress is... scandalous."
"I can't listen to two conversations at once. Marie, I don't remember if I told him your family grew Jasmine or not. Violet, maybe he has made some kind of special arrangements and the dress just looks like satin. How scandalous could it be?" She held the dress up and it just looked like a length of material. When he had seen it in the boutique he immediately saw her wearing it. It was a long column of liquid satin it would highlight her every curve.
"Marie, go try this on." Allyn leaned back and smiled. He had gotten the measurements from Enzo so it should be a perfect fit. Marie took the dress and left for the ladies room. "Allyn tell me the truth. You are fine with her dating this guy you barely know?"
"I know him better than you think and yes, really I am fine with it. Why?"
"I, I was just hoping... forget it, I'm just being sentimental. Its a hazard of being pregnant. I want to know everything you know about him."
"Violet, you had your fun with Michael before you were married, let Marie have some fun while she is here."
"I just don't want her to get hurt. I think she is trying to get over a man she has loved a very long time. I don't want her to have one of those awful rebound relationships." Allyn sat up at the mention of another man.
"Some boy back in France? I didn't know she had any one serious?"
"I think it was unrequited on his part, that doesn't mean she isn't vulnerable." At that Marie walked back into the room and Allyn didn't know whether to kiss Enzo or kill him. He must have misunderstood and given him the measurements of the final shirt and not of her actual body. The dress was too big but in a way that would make a man's eyes roll back in head. The silk satin clung to her breasts but the plunging neckline that was supposed to be daring was indeed scandalously low. He could only imagine what the back looked like. It was on seeing the back that he knew he had to see her in that dress. He cleared his throat to regain his composure.
"Well, I suppose I see what you mean it is cut awfully low."
"Non, Non, it is supposed to be comme ça." Marie was defending the dress?
"Well but it is too long." Violet really didn't like it.
"Non, it is perfect to wear with my tallest 'eels. And they will look beautiful with this color." He looked down and noticed that she had worn shorter heels than usual today. He braced himself as Violet walked around to the back.
"Marie, turn around and show Allyn the back of this." Violet was completely exasperated now. Marie turned around and Allyn's breath died in his chest. Scandalous didn't begin to describe how low the back was now.
"Oui, its very sexy, non?" Oh God help him, yes. The back of the dress was supposed to be low cut. It was a halter style he had been told, that left the back completely bare. It was seeing her sunbathing topless one day after she had graduated from university that had finally made him realize that she was a grown woman and he could no longer deny his attraction to her. She had been lying on her stomach and had removed her top to avoid a tan line. The long expanse of her bare back made him want to cover it with kisses. He had wanted to lick the salt from her skin. The dress showed her back to perfection but because it was too big it dipped down to just above the curve of her ass, exposing the back of her hips and the dimple on either side. He had no trouble imagining his hand there soothing the muscles as he did the other night. Kissing his way up those sensuous curves, nibbling up the bands of muscle on the sides of her spine.
"Allyn, say something." Was his sister kidding? He couldn't breathe and she wanted coherent thought.
"Yes, well..." Violet looked at him like he had turned purple as he sat there.
"Violet, Je t'aime but I am going to meet Smith in this dress. 'e bought it for me and I like it." She snatched the flowers off his desk and walked back to the ladies room to change back into her clothes.
"Allyn, you weren't very helpful. Couldn't you have at least told her it was indecent?"
Allyn cleared his throat. He was not as unaware of his sister's actions as she might think. "It is no more scandalous that she wear that to meet her date than you deciding underwear is optional during business hours." His sister turned scarlet and gasped. Allyn burst out laughing. "Did you think no one noticed? From the way your walk changed, am I safe in assuming that your dear husband is behind this."
"Oh! Allyn don't you tell a soul. I swear... Oh, I am going to get even with him." He laughed harder.
"I'd tell you not to get your panties in a bunch but... Oh, don't worry. Who would I tell anyway? If she wants to wear the dress let her."
"But what will he think?"
"That he is a devilishly lucky guy." Marie walked back into his office in her regular clothes.
"Violet are you still talking about the dress?"
"Marie, I just, I think it sends the wrong message." Marie-Hélène answered his sister but stared straight at him.
"Non, I think it sends just the right message. 'e wanted me to know that 'e thought I was beautiful et desirable. If I show up in something else then 'e will think I didn't comprehend." She looked down at her feet for a second then stared into his eyes. "The dress is very sexy but 'e makes me feel that way. All 'e has to do is touch me and..." she turned to face Violet. "Don't you feel that way about Michel?" Violet blushed to her toes.
"Yes, I would wear anything he asked me to, within reason." His sister glared at him and he almost started laughing again. "Fine wear the dress. Do you want me to come to the house tonight and see where we can have it altered? It is bias cut so it would need to be done by a professional."
"Non, c'est bon. I know how I can fix it. It will be sexier but less revealing." Allyn tried to keep his face neutral and failed. Sexier? The woman was going to give him a heart attack. He couldn't wait till the weekend.
Standing behind a pillar waiting for Marie to arrive he thought back over the last couple of days. He had been surprised at the initiative she had taken on the project he had given her. She had arranged interviews with people on the ground at their various sites in Africa. She had even interviewed him on the money and resources that were available. He had to work to keep from grinning like an idiot while she did. Her questions were intelligent and incisive. She hadn't interviewed him as much as cross-examined him. He was proud of her in a way that made no sense. She was just the woman he was in love with but her intelligence had made an impression on everyone.
If he hadn't loved her before he would have after the afternoon they spent riding. His chest hurt just remembering how wild and free she looked. She had left her hair down and worn jeans and a bikini top with a shirt over it. The vision of her on the horse, wind whipping through her hair, her laughing, daring him to catch her was breathtaking. It was a moment he would treasure always. She had fallen asleep in the sun after lunch. It gave him a chance to at least pretend that it could be like this forever.
So now he stood hiding in the dark waiting for her to arrive. He was far enough away from the entrance that she wouldn't think to look for him there. He had told her he would bring her in through the doors in front so she would be expecting him to come from that direction. His palms were sweating while he waited for her to show up. Would she reconsider? She had seemed adamant about wearing the dress and meeting him when she was talking to Violet. Could she have changed her mind? When he looked up his heart stopped and then slammed in his chest.
Harold had escorted Marie in.
"Mademoiselle, are you certain you want to do this?"
"'arold, now you sound like Violet, I will be fine. 'e will be 'ere for me en une minute. Allez, Allez-vous, go, 'e is very shy." Allyn shook his head behind the pillar. Did everyone think Mr. Smith was evil?
"Do you have your phone if y
ou need it?"
"Ought," Allyn almost burst out laughing at the caricature of an exasperated teenager, "Oui Papa. 'arold, 'e will not allow anything to 'appen to me, seriously. Go!"
"You have my number if you need a ride home." Allyn heard Harold walk to the entrance and then heard the door open as he left. He stood there a few minutes to get his breathing under control. As he did the musicians had started tuning up, as much as he loved the symphony, listening to them tune still made him twitch with the cacophony. This was one time he was happy for it though.
"Close your eyes. Don't turn around." His breath was warm on her ear and she struggled to control her immediate reaction to startle. She closed her eyes.
"Bonne nuit, Smith." He kissed the back of her neck and she shivered as he raised goose bumps all over her. She felt his arms come around her and fought the urge to sink back into him. She couldn't just fall apart at his feet no matter how much her body might want to. Then she felt the silk slide over her cheeks and groaned.
"Monsieur, we 'ave already established that you are not ugly. Is this still nécessaires?"
"Ah, that is true, but it makes you so exquisitely sensitive, I can not resist." She slumped in resignation. She didn't mind the blindfold, in truth he was probably right but she was hoping he would reveal himself to her tonight. When he finished with the scarf he wrapped his arms around her again and nipped at her shoulders ending with a possessive bite on the back of her neck. She fought against the melting sensation that threaten to overtake her. As soon as he had pulled away, she twisted in his arms and kissed him. She poured everything she was feeling into that one kiss, her desire, the emotions he had stirred the last time they were together all combined in a tidal wave. She almost laughed when he went stiff at her kiss. Did he think he was the only one that could surprise. He had been so sweet when they had gone riding. As much as she liked the excitement of Monsieur Smith, she liked his sweetness and protective urges also.
"Missy, if you keep doing that we'll never get in the theater." He turned her around and stepped beside her as he slid one of his arms around her waist. He guided her down the aisle of the theater. She was surprised when he stopped her and told her to sit. Somehow he had them bring in a couch or divan. She stroked the velvet with her hands. She felt the couch dip as he sat beside her.
"Are you comfortable?"
"Oui, c'est bon. Don't leave me, oui?"
"I will be right beside you." She smiled at the quiver in his voice. He had found the chain around her hips that she had used to cinch the dress slightly so the back wouldn't be quite so scandalous. His fingers were playing with it.
"Do you like my addition to the dress? It makes it more sexy, non? It still clings at the hips mais the top is free, comme, un costume grec. Ah, a toga."
"Yes, you look very like a goddess. Am I worthy of worshiping you?" She turned toward him. She didn't need eyes to hear the smile in that statement.
"Peut-être, maybe, I will 'ave to come up with some tests to determine your worthiness." He placed a chaste kiss on her shoulder.
"I await your challenge to prove my devotion, my lady. The musicians are now about to begin." Then she was surrounded by music. She had been to the symphony before both in Paris and home in Grasse but this was different. Maybe he was right, the blindfold had made her more sensitive to the sounds, also to everything that touched her skin. It was as if the music became physical as it brushed past her. This combined with the silk of the dress, the velvet of the couch, and his caresses were affecting her like nothing she had ever experienced before. Just when she thought she wouldn't be able to stand it anymore the music stopped. She started clapping then stopped when she realized she was the only one that was. Then it dawned on her they were the only two in the audience.
"'ow did you do this?"
"I have some pull with the board. Actually this is just a rehearsal, they would have been here anyway. I just got them to let us in and to bring in more comfortable seating."
"Are the musicians done?"
"No, they are just taking a break. Did you enjoy their selections?"
"Oh, oui, merveilleuse."
"I'm glad. Would you like some champagne?"
"Oui, the music, champagne, I feel like I could float. Do you 'ave a magic carpet, monsieur?" It was all so sensual. She would have liked to feel his body hard against hers. She sipped from the champagne flute he had given her. She felt the couch shift as he got up and then again as he sat back down.
"Come, let me be your magic carpet." He pulled her into his arms. He had turned so that he could lie back on the couch with her on top of him.
"Merci Monsieur. Are you wearing a tuxedo?" With her free hand she had started exploring his chest and was surprised to find a vest and bow tie.
"Yes, actually I am. I thought since I had picked out an evening gown for you I should dress appropriately."
"That was kind of you but take it off." He choked on his champagne and started coughing.
"I don't think this is the place for that."
"Oh, not all of it. 'old this, s'il vous plait." She handed him her glass and then found the ends of his bow tie and pulled on them undoing the knot. She skimmed her hands down and found the buttons of his vest and quickly undid those. Now she could start on his shirt. She caressed his jaw and trailed her fingers down his neck to the collar of his shirt and one by one popped the studs back through the holes they were in. When she reached the middle of his chest she stopped and ran her hands under his shirt. She smiled but managed not to laugh at his shiver she when she did it.
"There, you must be more comfortable maitenant. I would bet you look more 'andsome aussi. Très debonair."
"Yes, I am more comfortable, but no, you don't get to peak to see if I look handsome." She took some measure of satisfaction that her undressing him left him intrigued at least his voice sounded like he was as affected as she. Good! She was starting to get frustrated with the silly blindfold. Should she just tell him she knew who he was? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the chain around her waist give way.
"There now you will be more comfortable also." His fingers stroked slowly down her spine. He spread them across the back of her hips sending the heat from his hand to pool in her belly. When he got to the edge of the dress he slid them under the silk to caress the individual curve of each cheek. Finally his fingers tantalized the sensitive skin just at the top of the break. He was not intrusive, instead he was barely touching her, the softest stroke like swan's down on her skin. When she whimpered he kissed the top of her head but removed his hand. When she tried to sit up in protest he found her lips and stole her breath with his kiss.
"The musicians are coming back in and I thought I would remove my jacket. As lovely as you are in this dress, I'm afraid the air-conditioning is a bit chilly." When her brow furrowed he laughed at her. "Trust me, this will be better." He sat them up and she could hear him remove his jacket. He then wrapped his arms around her and lay back down with her on his torso. He covered her with his jacket like a blanket. She had to admit she hadn't really felt chilled but she was more comfortable now. Then he started stroking up and down her spine again. "Now no one can see where I am touching you." Something in his voice made her gasp.
"What are you going to do?" she didn't mean for it to come out as a whisper.
"What would you like me to do?" The way he was touching her made it difficult to breathe let alone think.
"This. 'ow you were touching me before." He continued to stroke her skin and with his other hand he started to massage her scalp. The two combined made the urge to melt into him overwhelming. Every muscle relaxed under his touch, she had never felt so safe and adored.
She wanted him to feel the same way. She forced herself to move. First her hands finished unbuttoning his shirt then spread it so she could lay her cheek against his skin. Her hands finally got to explore the muscles she had sensed the other night. She pressed kisses over his flushed skin almost down to his waist.
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br /> "I don't think that is a good idea." His voice sounded like he was strangling.
"I do not agree, Monsieur. I want to make you feel as good as you have made me." She could hear him nearly panting, his control was stubborn though. "You will not win this argument, I would give up now." She ran her fingers along the skin just under his waist band and felt him flinch. She didn't intend to do anything more here but he didn't know that.