Page 2 of Marry Lies
“The suit, as well as the general air of importance and arrogance.” I open my mouth to argue, but she beats me to it. “Here on business, then?”
“I guess you could call it a business trip,” I tell her, walking closer.
If you can count visiting my father as a business trip.
“What brings you to the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the night?”
I step closer, letting my eyes rove over her. The dark water is hiding anything indecent, but the light from the Eiffel Tower highlights the softness of her exposed body, the way her skin glows with pale gold undertones.
I can’t stop staring at the way the shadows fill the hollow of her neck. Her smile grows with each passing second, like she knows I’m captivated against my will. There’s both a delicacy and a strength in her smile—like I shouldn’t be watching her.
Which, of course, makes me want to watch more.
“I can’t sleep,” I tell her honestly.
“Me either.” She stares at me as she floats in the water. Her eyes wander over my suit. “I don’t see a wedding ring, so I’m going to assume you’re single.” I open my mouth to retort but she continues down her list of assumptions. “And you’ve walked over to me, which is a red flag. If there weren’t other people around, I might find it creepy. But… based on that forehead crease and the way you’re frowning, I’m going to assume you often wallow in melancholy, hence the middle-of-the-night stroll.”
“I don’t wallow in melancholy—”
“Well, maybe not entirely. You’re here talking to me, so there’ssomethinginteresting about you somewhere underneath that stuffy suit. Am I right?”
My lips twitch but I don’t smile. I don’t particularly enjoy that she was able to size me up so easily. NormallyI’mthe one sizing people up.
“I can neither confirm nor deny your assumption.”
She snorts. “You sound like all the posh blokes in London.I can neither confirm nor deny…” she trails off, mocking me.
“Do you enjoy hearing yourself talk?” I ask briskly.
“Some people lack the ability to laugh at themselves. That’s where I come in,” she teases.
I stare at her and clench my jaw. Is she serious?She’sthe one swimming naked in a fucking fountain.
If anyone has the right to judge, it’s me.
“I hear there are public showers at the train station,” I bite back. “In case you didn’t know that. I can only assume you’re either without a home or completely unhinged.”
She laughs. “Of course you would think that. It’s calledhaving fun.Have you ever heard of it? Try not to spontaneously combust.”
I glower at her. “You’re ridiculous, do you know that?”
“I’m well aware.”
My eye twitches. I slowly walk closer until I’m at the edge of the fountain, and I glance over to the pile of hot pink clothes on the ledge.Such an assaulting color, just like her personality.
“Well, I’ll leave you to yourfun,” I say quickly, glaring at her before turning around.
“Isn’t there anything you want to do before you…” she trails off. “Some big adventure, or something simple like getting a tattoo?”
I spin back around to face her. “Oh, so we’re getting deep now? Alright. The answer is yes, of course there are still things I want to do. And how do you know I don’t already have a tattoo?”
She laughs again, pulling her hair out of her bun and dipping it into the water so that it floats behind her. “Do you?”
Before I can bark a response, she stands, exposing her top half.
I immediately avert my eyes and listen to her wet footsteps as she heads toward her clothes. I sneak a quick glance a few seconds later. Her back is to me, clad only in high-cut underwear. I begin to salivate as I take in her round ass, her strong thighs…
My lips part as she slides the tank top over her head and down her torso. As she busies herself fixing the fabric, I have time to take in the backs of her thighs, her hourglass shape, and the way her wet hair sticks to her straight spine. I look away again.
