Page 49 of Shades of Ruin

“Pretty much,” I laugh in response. “Although size has very little to do with excellence in Paris. The smallest of alleyway restaurants can have the very best of food. There have been plenty of times that Le Fournil’s line was out the door and two blocks down because Sophie makes the best croissants in the whole 1st arrondissement.” I catch myself before revising, “Made the best croissants.”

“Are you okay?” Angélica comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my neck. “I know it’s hard to be here without her.”

“I’m fine.” It’s not a complete lie now that I have the comfort of Angélica’s arms. “It’s just difficult to accept that she's really gone.”

“Will you reopen the boulangerie?”

“I don’t see how it could function without her.Isure as hell can’t make pastries like she did. I don’t think anyone can, so the essence of Le Fournil would be lost without her.”

“So what will you do?”

“Hold onto it until I think of the best way to honor her memory. There’s an apartment above it that we can use whenever we visit Paris. I’ve never actually bought my own place here, so this is the first property I’ve owned in the city.”

“We’ll come to visit again, then?” she asks hopefully.

“Of course.” I turn her around so I can take her into my arms and squeeze her tightly. “Wouldn’t dream of keeping you away from the city you’ve fallen in love with in one afternoon. I’ll bring you back whenever you like.”

“So romantic,” she laughs with a peck on my cheek.

“Romance is my middle name,” I tease as I kiss her back on the lips.

“Wait, whatisyour middle name? I don’t think I’ve ever asked.”

“Gideon. My father really fucked me over with the G’s.”

“Gavin Gideon Greyson,” she says, trying it out. “It suits you.”

“Whenyousay it, it does, but it’s a fucking mouthful. I’d much rather you be screamingGreyin that breathy little voice while you come on my cock.”

“Stop it,” she scolds, shoving me away. “You’re not getting me horny in the sacred kitchen that your dearly departed mentor taught you to roll croissants in.”

“Then why don’t I take you to a kitchen that I’ve already desecrated in every way imaginable?” I purr, my blood pumping with the urge to show her where my darkness was born. “Want to see the restaurant that taught me how to be cutthroat in every sense of the word?”

Her brown eyes flash with hunger and desire as she trails her fingers across my chest and down my abs before she stops right at my belt. “Is that even a question?”

“Javi is going to love you,” I laugh while capturing her wayward hands and steering her out of Sophie’s kitchen. “Ever heard of Dix, angel?”

I’mable to steal a table from an unfortunate couple on Dix’s prominent guest list for tonight. They likely waited a few months at the very least to get in, but I have considerable sway in the Parisian culinary community. And it helps that I’m best friends with the sous chef. Javi took over the kitchen at Dix after I left, and he’s done a pretty damn good job with the menu since.

Angélica and I enjoy a ten-course meal along with a few off-menu selections courtesy of the kitchen. She raves about every dish to the point that I get a little jealous watching her stuff Javi’s food into her mouth and moan with every bite.

After we finish, I order a vintage bottle of Bordeaux from Château Lafite Rothschild, one of the most prestigious wineries in the world. We have a few glasses as we wait for the other patrons to slowly dwindle down until we’re sitting in an empty dining room with a few staff cleaning tables and floors.

After deciding that I’ve given Javi enough time to get the kitchen in order, I stand to my feet. “Time to see the chef responsible for your over-expressive pleasure at the dinner table tonight.”

“Over-expressive?” she scoffs, her brows knitting in a scowl.

“You heard me.” I lean down and press my lips to her ear, keeping my voice low so none of the staffcan hear me. “The only thing that should have you moaningthatloudly when your mouth is filled is my cock. And I fully intend on reminding you of that tonight when I take you home and fuck you on the balcony beneath the bright city lights for anyone to see.”

She swallows hard, a sudden, heated mixture of anger and arousal coursing through her body. “You wouldn’t.”

“Keep telling yourself that, angel. It won’t save you when I have you bent over the metal railing with my cum dripping out of your cunt. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure you enjoy my cock even more than the ten course meal Javi threw together.”

“S-should we get the bill and head back to the hotel?” she gulps, already eager for me to take her home and make a mess of her. I see her thighs press together as she struggles to ease the ache between them. And I fully intend on leaving her desperate and wanting for a while longer.

“Not yet,” I reply, a wolfish smile spreading across my lips. “We’re going to meet the man whose food you just tongue-fucked like a ravenous little whore.”

“Oh my god,” she shrieks, her eyes darting around the room. “Eating food isn’t sexual, you pervert!”

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