On impulse, he brushed away a few strands of hair that were covering her face, and unable to resist temptation, he delicately trailed his fingers across her skin, sighing at the delightful touch of her soft skin, the sight of her small breasts moving slightly with each breath, the fruity scent she left in the air, on the pillow, on the sheets.
She woke up from the contact, and as soon as he noticed her eyes opening, he withdrew his hands, but he couldn't take his eyes off her. She blinked a few times, shifting and settling into the soft bed, even closer to him, guided by her subconscious or, as E. L. James would say, by her inner goddess. She locked eyes with the beautiful eyes before her and offered a shy smile, which was immediately returned in kind.
"Hi," she practically whispered. Anyone who saw them there, at that moment, would
The pale-skinned young man shifted in the soft bed, seeking a more comfortable position. In doing so, his eyes caught the faint morning sunlight filtering through the gap in the curtains. The light roused him, but he kept his eyes closed, wanting to stay cocooned in the embrace of the soft cotton sheets and his head buried in the feathered pillow, a luxurious touch in the upscale hotel room.He reached out, expecting to find a certain enticing brunette with whom he had probably spent the best night of his life, but on the right side of the bed, all he found was emptiness, though the spot was still warm, indicating her recent presence. He slowly opened his eyes, trying to adjust to the change, and saw her standing by the side of the bed, getting dressed, seemingly oblivious to his awakening."Where are you going?" he asked, his voice
He nodded in agreement and looked around, spotting her robe hanging on a chair. As she picked up her nightgown and panties from the floor and slipped on her flip-flops, he put on his boxer shorts, grabbed the beautiful robe, and walked toward her. Taking the garment from his hands, she hurriedly entered the bathroom, and he finally went to open the door, finding a suspicious and slightly irritated John outside.Even though John found it odd that Nicholas and Sophie had both overslept at the same time, he didn't question the story about his best friend feeling unwell, turning off his phones, and oversleeping because of it. He also pretended to buy into Nicholas's suggestion that Sophie probably hadn't come down because no one had informed her that the meeting was at nine and that she must be a heavy sleeper not to hear the phone ringing.
"I love these two," Sophie said, referring to two sculptures. "They're Michelangelo's Slaves. The Dying Slave here is unfinished... and the Rebellious Slave is this one. They caught the attention of scholars because they represent two completely different behaviors, right? The Rebellious Slave seems to be writhing, while the Dying Slave has a serene expression, as if surrendering.""There's also intense debate about whether he's really surrendering to death, resigning... or if he's experiencing pleasure," Nicholas added, stopping next to her. "Look at his body's position, how his arm stretches behind his head. And his face? He doesn't make me think of the peace of eternal sleep, but of moments of complete sexual satisfaction." They locked eyes for a few seconds, and she bit her lower lip while he instinctively ran his tongue across his lips. Sensing that Maya was watching them, John mad
"Nicholas, I...""Sorry. I'm sorry, Soph. I don't want to talk about the past, I... We don't even need to talk, actually. I just want to spend this night with you." He smiled again. "Yesterday was all too fast... We were woken up this morning. I want to spend an entire night with you! Enjoy every second of this night and keep this moment in my memory, even if it's the last moment I'll be able to be close to you, babe. Can we do that?" He asked hopefully. "After all, they say what happens in Paris stays in Paris, right?"Probably, anyone who knew how much Sophie loved Nicholas would expect that she would be disappointed, let down, even sad at that moment with his words. However, not only did she expect something like that, but she also knew where all that speech was coming from. After all, one thing was spending some moments together, a
They kissed on the lips a few more times, and he held her by the nape of her neck, leaning in further and pulling her lower lip between his, then finally requesting entry for his tongue, which was granted with pleasure. Their tongues explored each other slowly. The taste of crème brûlée mixed with wine and the distinct flavor of her Nicholas made Sophie never want that kiss to end. The uniquely characteristic taste of her Sophie, enhanced by the chocolate of the petit gâteau and the vanilla of the ice cream, was something Nicholas wanted more and more of.When they pulled apart, smiling as only fools and lovers can, Nicholas took her hand and she followed him without hesitation. He led her to a part of the terrace she hadn't seen before, where there was a futon surrounded by flower beds and several lanterns. It was the most romantic spot Sophie had ever seen in her l
Sophie woke up to the unmistakable sound of her cell phone alarm, set for eight-thirty in the morning as usual, even though she had gone to bed much later than usual that night, making it much more uncomfortable. She quickly turned it off, immediately noticing the shiny object that had adorned her bedside table for a few days, and turned it on to hear a more pleasant sound while she spent the next five minutes stretching some parts of her body before getting up, following her morning ritual.As she performed the gentle movements she was used to, she observed the music box: a tiny Eiffel Tower sculpted in white gold with tiny sparkling gems spun within a crystal dome, playing "As Time Goes By" on a violin. It had arrived a few days after Sophie returned from Paris, from the strangest trip of all, during which she had experienced some of the most beautiful moments of her life and, at the same time, some of the most uncomfortable ones.The gift, without any card or identification, had ar
However, drowning in work helped but didn't solve. There were days when just a momentary pause from coworkers and work partners was enough for her image to appear vividly in his mind like a movie—full of smiles and laughter, perfect curves, expressive eyes, and shining hair. And on that morning, the situation was even worse, to the point that he had become distracted more than once during the first meetings, failing to listen to what Will was saying about a children's program they would start filming the following week, and to Boris's questions about the merchandise for a new sneaker brand in the upcoming youth series.Sighing deeply and slumping heavily into his chair, frustrated by his inability to control his thoughts, he picked up his phone, contemplating calling her. He could ask how she was, inquire if she had received his gift, even though he knew very well that she had because he had been informed on the day of its delivery, and act as if she were just another acquaintance he
"I never got over it, my friend. But... I buried it! I wanted to believe I had moved on, and nothing was better for that than pretending to everyone... pretending to myself. I hope you understand..." She made a small grimace of regret."Of course I understand, Soph. I just... wish I could do something.""You can!" she interrupted. "Screw this shift of yours! I'm going to ask Blaine to send any journalist there, because I need my best friend more than my most competent employee today." She gave a little smile. "We'll go to my place, and I'll tell you everything... all the details of the past and the present... everything about me and the damn Mr. Nicholas Pierce.""Alright, now you know absolutely everything that happened between me and Sophie. You know why I felt so angry when we met again, the reason I made you change our plans in Paris...""A hell of a story!" John observed, taking a sip of his beer. "Are you sure this is really your life and not a scri