Surrender

I was slow to nod.

“Fuck.” His eyes darkened.

I felt my nipples harden. The tingles raced along my spine.

“There’s time,” he whispered, drawing my lips to his. “I’m not going anywhere.”

My tongue twined with his. Our lips melted together. Vaughn moved on top of me, rolling me on my back.

“I’m not done tonight, you know that?”

I nodded eagerly. “I hope not.”

Chapter Four

I woke up, stretching my hand to the ceiling. I had slept with the wedding band set on my finger. It felt strange, but I hadn’t wanted to take it off last night. Not with the toe-curling sex in front of the window.

“Good morning.” Vaughn walked in the room with a room service tray. “Coffee?”

I sat forward. “Is it that jet fuel or regular coffee?” I asked. I had learned the difference. I was practically Parisian.

He laughed. “I have both. I like the jet fuel.”

I scrunched my nose. “I don’t know how you drink that stuff.”

I made room for him to sit across from me on the bed. He had a tray of croissants and raspberries.

“I do love the croissants.” I tore off the corner and dropped it in my mouth. “Any French bread really. It’s all delicious.”

“What do you think about a kitchen and a pantry we could fill with bread?” he teased.

I picked up a cup of coffee. “Tell me more.”

“We’re going to meet our realtor to apartment hunt.”

I nodded, inhaling the steaming cup of caffeine. “What is it we’re going for? Can you tell me anything about your assignment? It might help me when we’re looking.” I was going to try whenever I had a chance to get answers. In some strange way, it made me feel better about the assignment. The more I knew, the less I worried. It was the opposite of how Vaughn wanted it to work.

“Ok. I can give you a few details. I thought about it and we need to make sure our facts match.”

I smiled satisfied.

“We’re a married couple. Two years. Both from the States. We’re in Paris for my work. You’re here with me, of course. You’re trying to acclimate to the city and then you’ll decide if you want to work or not. In the meantime, you take in the sites and run the flat.”

My eyes widened. “I’m a domestic goddess, basically?”

“Basically.” He swiped a croissant from the tray.

“What if I want to get a job?” I asked.

“Emily, we aren’t going to be here long enough for you to get involved in a career. You can’t practice law. You know that.”

I wasn’t going to revisit last night’s argument. Asserting my independence in this situation wouldn’t be helpful. I had to let this go for now. What I could do, was help Vaughn with his job.

“Fine. But I want more details about us. Our relationship somehow plays a role in the information you received yesterday? How is it important to this mark that you’re a married man?”

“Ok. That’s fair. Think of it this way. I need to be considered stable. Reliable. A devoted wife who travels across the ocean to be with her husband is evidence that I’m someone who can be trusted. It shows dependability. It’s certainly an asset that you’re gorgeous as hell.”

“Now I’m devoted? Wow. Are we in France or did we take a trip to 1950?”