Page 62 of Sweet Siren
She waltzed over, rose on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. "A man of thefuture!"
The question was, was he a man inherfuture?
* * *
The next morningbefore dawn as he climbed out of her bed and pushed the curtain aside, he had a partial answer. He was a man she enjoyed. A man she desired. Often and with unbridled pleasure. But he wouldn't make her his mistress. And he had to go slowly to ensure she welcomed all he would offerher.
The sun had not yet risen but the wind off the coast was strong, battering the window panes. He crawled back into her bed beside her with gratitude for her warmth. She snuggled up tohim.
“Now I mustleave.”
She wiggled her hips against his. "I wish you didn't haveto."
He turned in her embrace. Her hair tousled, her eyelids drowsy with fatigue, naked, she was a carefree insistent lover luring him like asiren.
"No. I must." All too aware of her sensitivity to be seen with him, he didn't want to aggravate the issue by leaving her home in broad daylight. If they were to continue their affair, how long could they keep it secret? He didn't want to. God knew, he wanted more of her, perhaps all of her forever. But if she was ashamed of him, his name, his reputation, his past, their love affair would necessarily be short and for him, bittersweet. He wasn't a man to play a waiting game. His entire life and his business success had been built on instinct, speed and decisiveness. In love, he would not change. Could not. He'd force the matter...and do it now. "You know it's best Ido."
She tried to smile, but it was a watery expression. "Do you still want to go to thedrapers?"
"I do."Doyou?
She nodded. "Can I make you tea before youleave?"
"No.”
She burrowed into him, her ferocity to hold him contrast to her dislike of being seen withhim.
He moved away from her, picking up hisclothes.
She donned her robe that she'd flung over the bed and sat on the edge to watch him as he dressed. She wassilent.
He formed aplan.
Securing the last button on his frock coat, he went to her and raised her chin with two fingers. "I'll return at ten o'clock. When I do, I want ananswer."
"To what?" She looked wary,surprised.
"I want you to come to Paris with me. Tomorrow. It will be business. You'll stay at the Grand Hotel. I'll be at Boulevard Haussmann. Pierce is there finalizing a few of his own business contracts. You and I will go to the silk merchants and the art agent who sells Marianne's and Remy's pieces. I have an invitation to a soirée at the home of a French financier. Pierce has accepted for himself. But I want you to come with me. And I plan a dinner party. I'd like you to be myhostess."
She said nothing for a very long time, her face a sea of emotions from shock to sadness to the utter fascination she'd worn when she was in his arms this past day and a half. "I've not been in society for many years. I'm not certain I'd be your finesthostess."
He waited, his heart sinking. She was refusing him. The only woman who'd mesmerized him indecades.
"If I go with you and find I cannot do it, you must promise me to let me return here withoutobjection."
She gave him fragile hope. Whereas he must give her assurance. "You must be with me because you want to, Liv. I'd have you no otherway."
She got to her feet and pulled him close.“I find that I need you, Killian. I'll gladlycome."
