“Tara,” Nicolas began, as he approached the young woman, “let me introduce you to Nina Giavicci. Nina is my personal coach. I owe the dazzling evolution of my career to her. Nina, this is Tara Châvigner, the colleague I have told you so much about. She's the one who taught me the ropes at Cesucom.”
After the initial fear, Nina’s eyes filled with caution, as she gave her a cold and penetrating look, making Tara feel terribly uncomfortable.
However, the coach seemed to be aware of the effect she had on her and immediately pulled herself together. Her hostile expression disappeared and gave way to a condescending and indifferent look. Out of politeness, she bowed her head pretentiously and said:
“Charmed.”
Her greenish hazel, almond-shaped eyes shone with a rebellious glow as they scrutinized her severely. She wasn’t wearing make-up. Her small, straight, slightly trumpet-shaped nose was, like her cheeks, almost childishly pink. Her full lips, also naturally pink, remained half-open, giving her a somewhat insolent appearance. Lastly, her light brown hair that was cut short, framed and highlighted her face perfectly. Her natural beauty was stunning, yet she didn't seem to care. Tara, charmed by this strange being, answered with an admiring smile:
“As am I.”
Nina looked so deeply into her eyes that the young consultant choked. The coach's gaze was so penetrating and incisive that it took only a split second for her to feel totally exposed.
Then, as though she had seen everything she needed to see, Nina seemed to forget she existed and turned to Nicolas:
“I'm done.”
“Thank you, Nina,” he said, closing his eyes and inhaling heavily. “I love the atmosphere that you've created, I feel good here. Tara, how do you feel in my office? Nina did some work on the energy...”
Tara, not knowing what to say, looked around the room trying to feel the positive energy, but she was so troubled by Nina that she felt nothing but her own heart and the warmth of the blood rising to her head.
“Yes... the air smells pure,” she stammered, saying the first thing that came to her mind.
She panicked. The look on Nina's face made her lose her self-control.
“I'll see you in a few weeks then,” said Nina to Nicolas as she picked up her coat to leave. “Goodbye.”
On her way out, she grazed at Tara while weighing her up with disdain. Then, with her head held high, she disappeared into the corridor. As for Tara, she couldn't take her eyes off her, overwhelmed by her presence. It was Nicolas who pulled her out of her reverie:
“Impressive, isn't she?”
Tara couldn’t even respond. She was barely breathing.
“I need to talk to her,” she finally declared, as if she were talking to herself.
“She'll be back,” Nicolas promised, happy that she liked Nina.
Troubled, she nodded silently before leaving.
Sitting in front of her screen without really paying attention to it, she thought about the coach all morning. Without admitting it completely, she felt a strong attraction and admiration for the woman that she couldn’t explain. She knew she had to talk to her, even though her obsession for this stranger seemed crazy. The next time she returned to Cesucom, she would muster up the courage to approach her.
After lunch however, she had replaced all thoughts of the coach with thoughts of the wonderful dinner that awaited her and Victor. Only a few more hours and they would be reunited... Where was he going to take her? What would they talk about when they were face to face?
Smiling now, alone in front of her computer, she imagined the perfectly sculpted body of the handsome and mysterious dark-haired man that she had discovered when they woke up side by side... Perhaps she would see him naked again tonight?
She bit her lip in anticipation.
Having decided to slow down the pace at work, she left the office at four o'clock which gave her enough time to go home and prepare for her date. As she got ready, the adrenaline was gradually building, accompanied by the joy and the apprehension inherent to such an event. She couldn't help but imagine their reunion and the excitement of the evening to come.
When her clock truck 7:30 p.m., she trembled with fear and joy. Not warmly dressed enough for winter, wearing only a cashmere coat over an emerald dress, she decided to call a taxi. Once she arrived at the Place Saint-Michel, standing in front of the fountain, she took a deep breath in while she searched for her date.
She was gorgeous. As shy as she was at that moment, Victor would never be able to resist the explosion of charms that was going to be offered to him that night. To seduce him, she had opened her long cashmere coat despite the cold, showing off the emerald dress that perfectly outlined her body worthy of a goddess, albeit without an ounce of vulgarity. She had added an extra touch of sensuality with a pink gold necklace that hung down against her cleavage. Her lioness' mane was pulled up into a sublime ponytail from which rebellious blond locks of hair hung around her face, highlighting the superb earrings that matched her necklace. Finally, a light lipstick emphasized her hopeful smile, while her big beautiful eyes, shining with eagerness, wandered around the Place Saint-Michel in search of her prince.
Suddenly, a very handsome man took hold of her hand and raised it to his mouth. She turned around eagerly to find Victor kissing her delicate fingers and looking at her tenderly. Totally under his spell, she contemplated him without saying a word. He lifted his head to look her in the eyes, his captivating smile still as disarming as ever.
“Good evening,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks turning red.
It was her third time meeting him but she was still as astounded by his aura as ever.
“You look beautiful,” he replied, obviously very happy to see her again.
Tara replied with a radiant smile.
“How was your day?” he asked, offering her his right arm.
“Intense,” she replied, thinking of her meeting with Nina. “I'm very happy to be with you tonight,” she confided as she grabbed his arm.
Victor smiled as he looked straight ahead, pleased to know the feeling was mutual.
“I reserved a table at the Muraille de Jade, an Asian restaurant that serves a very refined blend of Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese flavors. Does that sound good?”
Tara nodded eagerly.
“All right”, he said. “I hope you’ll like it.”
Tenderly resting his left hand on the hand that Tara had placed on his right arm, he guided her from the Saint-Michel fountain to Saint-André-Des-Arts street, a quaint historical street that was very lively on this Friday evening.
At the table, she couldn’t stop staring at him. In addition to his divine physique, Victor had a soft heart. She could sense it by the way he listened to her and asked her questions. He didn't just make her talk for the sake of talking. She felt in his eyes that he was listening attentively, that he was interested. And when she asked him questions in return, he answered with the same honesty and enthusiasm. She felt like she had found the man of her dreams. At the mere thought of it, her heart raced, and she looked at Victor with more and more affection. Without realizing it, she was allowing herself to fall in love with him and accepted the vulnerability that her growing feelings exposed her to.
“It was delicious! Thank you so much,” she exclaimed, taking his arm again, without him having to offer it to her.
Sitting at a table with Victor and contemplating his beauty was indeed very pleasant, but walking next to him, holding his large, firm arm in hers was undeniably better. After spending almost two hours facing him, separated by a solid wooden table, all she wanted now was to be closer to him. Her heart was already his, and now, she wanted to physically experience the love she felt so strongly in her bosom.
“I'm glad you liked it,” he said, with a satisfied smile.
“Where are we going now?” she asked, noticing that they were walking steadfastly towards the Seine.
“I'm taking you to a very special place, worthy of the extraord
inary woman that you are.”
Tara was wide-eyed. Never had she received such a compliment. She nodded silently, not wanting to reveal the love that was emerging from the depths of her being just yet, nor the vulnerability that inevitably came with it.
After they had walked a few minutes, amid the stone buildings, lit by the orange light of the street lamps, they stopped in front of a sparkling black Jaguar parked on the quay of the Seine.
“Is this yours?” she asked, surprised.
“Madame's carriage is ready,” he replied cheerfully, gallantly opening the passenger door.
She had never driven in such a beautiful car before. Enchanted, she immediately took her seat in the car. The black leather interior was soft and cool and the dashboard luxurious.
When he sat down next to her, she felt her heart leap in her chest: they were both alone in the car, protected from the outside world. No one could see them or hear them. They were so close that he only had to lean towards her for their lips to touch... Was he going to kiss her? She stared at him with starry eyes, holding her breath…
Alas, her hopes were shattered when she heard the powerful engine of the car switch on. Realizing that their kiss wasn't going to happen straight away, she turned towards the window and took a deep breath.
Even though they didn't drive for long, the journey was like an endless battle against desire and temptation. She couldn't help but examine the large, strong hands that controlled the steering wheel, as she did her best to hide the attraction she felt for him. Victor on the other hand, continued to make polite small talk which she admitted, annoyed her a little: why wasn't he as eager as she was to embrace her and kiss her?
After crossing the Seine and the Louvre, they arrived at the prestigious Place Vendôme and stopped in front of the very famous Ritz hotel.
“Are we going to have a drink?” she suddenly asked, excited at the idea of spending a romantic moment in one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.
“If you want to,” replied Victor with a smile that melted her on the spot. “But above all, we're spending the night here... If you want to of course,” he said with a wink.
Tara froze then and there, both moved and overcome with an indescribable desire. Her first real night with Victor would take place at the Ritz... She was aware of the value of his gesture: in this historic hotel, some of the rooms cost over ten thousand euros a night!
After handing his keys over to the valet, Victor offered her his arm and guided her across the red carpet. Tara grabbed on to him, biting her lip in excitement.
To her amazement, it wasn’t into a hotel that Tara had just stepped, but into a sumptuous royal palace, akin to the most beautiful rooms of the Louvre. The space was illuminated by thousands of flame-like lights coming from the chandeliers and decorated with the most magnificent and majestic period furniture and fixtures. The enchanting atmosphere was perfumed by dozens of sophisticated flower arrangements placed throughout the palace. And, adding to the dazzling beauty of the premises, was the undeniable elegance of the clients who were dressed in gala attire, as well as the staff who were standing at attention, ready to satisfy their every wish.
“Mr. Marneffe,” began one of the butlers with intimidating elegance, “the Windsor Suite has been prepared according to your instructions.”
Victor thanked him politely before turning to Tara:
“What do you want to do? Go for a drink or visit our suite?”
“Go to our suite!” she exclaimed, clutching his arm even tighter.
“If you'll follow me,” invited the butler, leading the way.
They followed him. Tara, who was mesmerized, didn't know what to think. Everything was so impressive, from the Empire tapestry, to the ceiling, to the Louis XV moldings and Louis VI furniture.
They crossed a luxurious corridor where the butler stopped to open a door:
“The Windsor Suite,” he said, handing the keys to Victor, “named after the Duke and Duchess of Windsor who were regular clients at the Ritz in the last century.”
“Thank you,” replied Victor, inviting Tara to enter the room.
“You're welcome, Mr. Marneffe. I wish you an excellent stay with us. Please don’t hesitate to call on us if you need anything.”
With these words, the butler bowed and disappeared, leaving Tara and Victor alone in their royal bedroom.
Taken aback, Tara let go of Victor's arm and allowed herself to discover the room: never before had she stayed in such a grand and glorious place. The Windsor Suite had a sublime living room with white walls, adorned with gold moldings. The pale-colored Louis VI furniture and the fabrics of white, old rose and olive green gave the room a soft and intimate appearance that she and Victor would delight in.
“It's beautiful!” she exclaimed, as she turned around.
“I'm glad you like it,” replied Victor, looking at her tenderly.
After admiring the room for a long moment, followed by her suitor’s content and delighted gaze, she hurried to discover their bedroom. Once again, she stopped in her tracks, fascinated by what she saw: she and Victor would spend their first night in a royal bedroom with spectacular moldings, where the warmth of the gold was softened by the white of the walls and the soft blue turquoise of the curtains and furniture.
As she approached, she discovered fresh rose petals of a soft and pure pink, which Victor had requested be scattered all over the bed. On one of the small beige pedestal tables at the foot of the bed, she found a bronze champagne bucket shining under the light of a white and gold antique lamp. Bathing in ice cubes inside the bucket was a bottle with a bluish label on which Tara could read "Krug Clos d'Ambonnay". Lastly, she saw two crystal champagne flutes just waiting to receive the sparkling drink with its golden robe.
“I know that our first night didn't go as you would have hoped,” Victor admitted as he approached her.
As he took a step in her direction, Tara, who was completely under his spell, watched him drawing nearer, unable to react.
“I wanted this night to be memorable, and as precious as the being who lives within you.”
On these words, he reached out and touched her face delicately while gently drawing her to him. Then, as she completely surrendered to him, feeling like she was in a dream, she sensed Victor's delicious lips touch hers.
Just then, the ground disappeared beneath her feet and time seemed to stand still. He held her face in one hand, kissing her tenderly, while with the other hand he caressed her voluptuous body that she had hidden under her emerald dress.
Without realizing it, their kissing became more and more passionate, and Victor's caresses became stronger and freer. When at last he seized one of her generous breasts from underneath the light fabric she wore, their uncontrollable passion took hold of them both.
Then, without hesitating for a second, Victor opened the neckline of her dress to free the breast that was languorously pointing in his direction. As he bent his head down to its level, he grabbed it with his lips and caressed it with the tip of his tongue. Tara, dizzy with passion, couldn’t hold back a moan of pleasure. Victor became more and more voracious as he kissed her breast with more and more ardor, releasing the second breast with an expert hand and then embracing it passionately. In seventh heaven, Tara bit her lip so as not to moan excessively. While she felt Victor's movements increasing in speed and his large hands savagely seizing her breasts and her body, her entire being called him to enter her.
Suddenly, she was lifted from the floor and carried to the bed where Victor threw her down before lying on top of her, kissing her again eagerly. Tara, who dreamed of nothing more than to feel him inside of her, held him lovingly between her legs, languorously caressing his broad and muscular back. He didn't make her wait much longer. Standing up in front of her he got undressed, revealing his extraordinary body and his beautiful male attributes, the vision of which filled Tara with joy and excitement. Slowly bending down over her again, looking into her eyes with intensity, he
contemplated her with love and respect, pulling up her dress and pushing aside her panties. Dreamily, Tara plunged her head back as she gave herself to him. Seconds later, he slowly moved his pelvis in her direction and gently penetrated her.
Then, as Tara's whole body began to shudder, she moaned uncontrollably. Still on top of her, Victor thrusted himself back and forth at increasing speed as Tara, wildly ecstatic, squealed with pleasure while clinging to his firm, powerful shoulders.
She now belonged to him, body and soul. Fulfilling his every desire, she rode him with passion while he watched her move, her generous breasts and her long ponytail offering him a sensual dance that thoroughly captivated him.
They made love for a long time, until together, they finally surrendered to the most beautiful and the most powerful orgasm Tara had ever experienced.
“Victor,” she moaned as she curled up against him, in love like she had never been before.
In response, he held her tight against him and kissed her on the forehead.
With her eyes half open, she caressed his muscular torso while contemplating the stunning, softly lit room where they were spending their first night together. A feeling of gratitude filled her heart. How fortunate she was to be in the arms of such a wonderful man in such a wonderful place....
They cuddled for a long time. Then, later that evening, Victor got up and ran them a hot bath. While waiting for the bath to fill up, he opened the bottle of champagne and filled Tara's glass.
“To us,” he said, toasting with her.
Touched, Tara replied with a content smile.
In the bath, their love making resumed, so much so that they flooded the entire bathroom floor. As for the bed, they took advantage of every second they spent in it to discover each other. Victor repeatedly explored Tara's body, right down to the last details, taking as much pleasure in caressing her intimacy with the tip of his tongue as in penetrating her. Moreover, there wasn’t a chair or a sofa in the suite that hadn’t taken part in their repeated encounters. Their night was filled with pleasure, so much so that by the time dawn had arrived, they were both sprawled out on their sumptuous bed, exhausted.
HAGEN: 1. Revelations Page 5