Queen of Love

Chapter 11

Thewhirlpoolbathwas better than Genevieve anticipated. It’s better than the one in my current hotel room. Better than the one in her Singaporean mansion or in her Taiwanese apartment.

Perhaps this one was best because Aya was there with her. Naked.

“This is when I’m not jealous of anyone’s long hair.” Aya watched Genevieve wrap her hair up into a loose, messy bun to keep it out of the water. The jets pounded against her body, but it was her heart that felt the lightest. Particularly when she finished fussing with her hair and sidled up into Aya’s embrace. “Looks difficult.”

“Your English has returned,” Genevieve noted. “I thought I lost you a while back.”

She was about to lose Aya again. The woman had fully sunk into the water and now basked in the hot steam and the jets pummeling her body. Was Genevieve even there? I could remind her… She danced her fingers upon Aya’s knee. The one protruding from the water.

“Trust me. I’ve been right here with you this whole time.”

Was that the hot water making Genevieve blush? Or was it the sweet and romantic way Aya spoke off the cuff? “You know, I’ve been thinking… we’re already planning on meeting again, right?”

“Sure.”

“I have to go back to Taipei soon. Then I have to stop off in Singapore before coming back here to finish some business. It will be a while before we see each other again. At least a week. Maybe two.”

Aya chuckled. “A whole week. Ah, I like you, but I’m not a teenager anymore. I can handle a week.”

“You’re a busy woman…”

“So are you.”

“Yes, but… a week is a long time for me.” Genevieve rested her cheek against Aya’s shoulder. “I’m not saying we should rush into anything. Far be it from me to suggest such a thing, considering how little we still know each other, but…”

Aya lifted her head from the rim of the tub. “But?”

Don’t sound like a heartsick girl. Please. Genevieve was too old for that – even if it was what she truly felt inside her fluttering heart right now. “Perhaps we could enjoy some time together online. Although, I worry that pushing anything that isn’t super casual might make it sound like I’m asking you to be my girlfriend.”

“It would be difficult.”

“Because of who I am?”

“Yes… I mean, you’re technically my company’s client. Regardless of how much I like you, we must keep a low profile if we keep seeing each other. I don’t think I’d get in too much trouble as long as we’re trying to stay out of the public eye. I wouldn’t be the first person on staff to date a client. Hell, some of my juniors have done it. One’s married to an old client now.”

“Really?”

“Except I’m also a woman. And I’m gay. It might be different.”

There went any hope that Genevieve and Aya might be vacationing in Okinawa anytime soon. Maybe on a yacht. Far away from shore. At least Genevieve knew how to keep her girlfriends secret in other places around the world. She had done it before, and she could easily do it again. Assuming she had the right kind of relationship with Aya.

“Do you want to date me?” Genevieve’s wrinkling finger traced the line between two small freckles on Aya’s chest. “As much as I would like to date you?”

“I admit I’m a bit surprised you like me that much, but I guess the chemistry is undeniable.”

”Is that a yes?”

Aya pulled her closer, placing a well-timed kiss against Genevieve’s forehead. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’d love to fly you out to my place in Taipei…” Genevieve second-guessed that. “Maybe it’s not a good time to meet my friends yet. We’ve only started dating.”

“Would your friends be okay with someone who works for a living?”

Although Aya’s words dripped in sarcasm, they still stung Genevieve’s skin. “My friends come from all walks of life. There are some like me, yes. As in, they’re used to spoiling their lovers and getting their way, if you know what I mean, but others work for a living, too.” Genevieve didn’t want to say it, but the biggest scandal would be Aya’s nationality, not her work status. Some people are still bitter about what happened almost a century ago.

Genevieve’s worries were interrupted by the fingers toying with the collar around her neck. “Do you want to tell me about this?”