Marietta Hotels 2: An Engagement in Paris Read online

  Still she retained possession of his hair, and his eyelids slid down to half-mast, his lips parted in a pant. She ran her thumb down the middle of his neck, over his Adam’s apple, and up again. He moaned, and she let go, breaking all contact. They stood barely two feet from a deep sunken hot tub in the corner of the bedroom.

  “Turn it on,” she commanded.

  He strolled across the room, a spring in his step that she’d missed. She loved seeing him so carefree. He turned a few dials on the wall beside the hot tub, and it bubbled to life, filling the room with the soft sound of the motor. The white noise was comforting.

  “Strip,” she said as soon as Julien turned to face her.

  His grin spread even wider, the tension in his body clear from the slow way he moved to obey her. He tugged up his tight shirt a few inches, showing her the smooth, lightly tanned skin of his ridged abdomen.

  When he was wearing all his clothes, one might think he was scrawny. But as soon as the clothes started flying, it was apparent he was strong, sculpted. Perfect. He let go of the shirt, and it dropped back into place.

  “Julien,” she said, her voice a warning. She loved it when he teased her. She really did. But it had been too long for them. If he made her wait much longer, she was liable to leap on him and devour him whole like the cougar she was. Not that he’d complain.

  His tongue darted out and traced his upper lip, and he pulled his shirt off with one fluid motion. Dropping it to the floor beside him, he took a step forward. The muscles of his chest rippled as he moved. His hands went to the top of his shorts, and he unbuttoned them slowly. Then he dipped his hands into the waistband and freed himself of the rest of his clothes in one thrust.

  She gasped at the hard length of him standing long and proud as he kicked his clothes and flip-flops away.

  “Now me,” she said.

  He nodded and stalked toward her. His muscles bunched and released as he moved, his cock bobbing with each step. The gleam in his eyes was predatory, causing a shiver to skitter down her spine. He hunted her around the edge of the hot tub, and she watched water droplets spray his skin, making it shimmer in the lights.

  Then he was standing before her, and it was her turn to smile. She couldn’t help it, even though she wanted to keep her hard-assed persona and order him about. She was grinning like an idiot, until his hand came up to trace the edge of her spaghetti strap, and she stopped smiling, gasping for breath instead.

  He slipped his fingers under the string of fabric and tickled her with the backs of his knuckles as he slid the strap off her shoulder. Goose bumps exploded across her skin, her spine tingled, and her sheath clenched. He could do that to her with just one touch. And they hadn’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.

  “Nice and slow,” she said.

  He nodded and repeated the process with her left shoulder. He moved the straps together down her arms, tugging the dress lower to reveal her large breasts as they overflowed her bra. They’d both come to enjoy the look of her bigger breasts during pregnancy, and she hoped she got to keep them after she stopped nursing. The soft cotton glided down her skin, overwhelming her with sensation. Julien smoothed the dress over her hips and down her legs until it pooled in a circle around her feet. She placed her arms on his shoulders as he knelt before her, and stepped out of the dress.

  He pushed the dress aside and slid off first one sandal, then the other. Caressing the backs of her legs, he waited for further instruction.

  “While you’re down there…” she said. The words came out a whisper, a plea, instead of the command they should have been.

  He chuckled and leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her navel. He wrapped his arms around her, slipping his big hands into the back of her underwear and cupping her ass. He gave it a good squeeze and licked the front of her panties. The muscles in her legs trembled, threatening to give way. He relieved her of the scrap of clothing and then returned to his duties. He kissed the insides of both her thighs and spread her legs wider. When he blew cold air over her exposed curls, she cried out.

  “In the hot tub.”

  He stood, and she took off her bra, leaving herself naked. After lifting her in his arms, Julien carried her to the edge of the Jacuzzi and lowered her into the hot water. She gasped as the heat flowed over her sensitized skin. She walked down the steps, and Julien followed, groaning as he submerged his lower half.

  “Sit,” she said. He sat on the bench, his nipples and chest peeking out of the top of the water. She straddled him and pinned his hands on the cool tile behind him. He leaned his head back, resting it on the floor beside his trapped hands. He was stronger than her, no doubt. But he loved letting her have control.

  “Don’t move.” This time her voice came out hard, edged with the promise of retaliation if he disobeyed her. She almost wished he would, just so she could torture him with her body. But he held his breath for a moment and then let it out in a rush. He licked his lips and closed his eyes. He wasn’t going to move an inch.

  She dipped her head, closing her mouth around the flesh of his neck. She sucked hard, and he moaned, his body giving one involuntary jerk. She bit down on the skin, and he froze.

  “I said don’t move.”

  She licked the edges of her teeth marks. It had been so long since she’d marked him during their lovemaking, she’d forgotten the thrill of seeing his light skin turn pink from her attentions.

  God, she’d missed this.

  Chapter Nine

  Julien could’ve sworn his eyes rolled all the way into the back of his head as Mandy scraped her nails down his chest. He loved her like this, so out of control that she had to order him about. Had to prolong the agony and the ecstasy. He forced his body into a stillness he ached to break out of. He wanted to wrap his arms around her. To touch her and love her and pleasure them both.

  But she was determined to torture them. And Dieu, he was happy to oblige.

  His dark beauty ran her tongue down his neck to flick his nipple mercilessly over and over again until his body was shaking with the need for release. He knew the best was yet to come, and he wasn’t sure if he would last. When she reached into the hot water and gripped his erection with one firm hand, he cried out, jerking against her hold.

  She dug her nails into his right pec. His eyelids fluttered open, and he blinked her into focus. Her smile was all cat that ate the canary. She moved her hand from his chest and pushed it into his hair. She yanked at the strands until ecstasy flooded his veins; then she dipped her head to his. She licked and bit her way along his smooth chin until her lips were a breath away from his ear.

  “Do not come,” she ordered as chills shook his body. The urge to come just from her words was almost overwhelming. Coupled with the strength of her fingers wrapped around his cock and the surging heat bubbling all around him, it took everything he had to follow her command.

  “Hold out just a little longer,” she whispered, the words a soft contrast to the strict dominatrix vibe she’d been giving off since the first order left her mouth. She knew what she did to him.

  Knew that he would hold out as long as he could. That she would bring him right to that edge and make him walk the tightrope, giving him everything he needed to come but denying him orgasm all the same. He nodded, not trusting his voice or wanting to risk breaking the erotic spell by speaking.

  She licked his earlobe, and he moaned. It was the only release he allowed himself. She leaned back, returning one hand to his chest and keeping the other around his shaft. When she stroked him up and down, he almost lost it.

  “Close your eyes,” she said, the bite back in her voice. He shut his eyes, listening to her heavy breathing, the pounding of his heart, and the bubbling water. Being in the dark amplified the sensations coursing through him. He reveled in the burn of holding off his orgasm. He could feel it building in his balls with each rough stroke from her hands.

  But he waited. And waited.

  Mandy closed her mouth around his nippl
e, and he hollered, his body spasming.

  “Not yet,” she said, her voice muffled by his chest.

  He bit his bottom lip, a tremor running through him from head to toe. She released his nipple, then brushed her chest against his. He wanted to open his eyes, to see what was coming next, but not knowing was even more of a turn-on than seeing. She relaxed her grip on his cock to move her hands to his shoulders, digging her nails deep. And then she impaled herself on his shaft, screaming his name as he stretched her.

  He forced his body not to move. To let her control their lovemaking. Her sheath clenched him with fire, and she began to slide up and slam herself back down.

  “Oh, baby, I’m so close,” she stammered between pants.

  He didn’t have enough moisture in his mouth to reply, or enough brain cells to form the words. Instead, he leaned back and let her ride him. She raked her hands down his chest, and her walls contracted against his cock.

  “Come, Julien. Come with me, baby.”

  He stopped grinding his teeth, stopped forcing his body not to react, and let go. She crushed her mouth against his, her tongue and teeth plundering, and he gave her what she was waiting for. The orgasm tore through him as she continued her glide up and down. She screamed against his mouth, her body shaking out of control. He wrapped his arms around her hips and pushed her faster and faster as he spurted into her, consumed by the most intense orgasm he’d ever had.

  When he finally returned to his body, Mandy’s head lay on his shoulder, her soft hair caressing the top of his back. He held her close, their bodies still locked together. She licked at the side of his neck, soothing the bite she’d left there. His limbs shook with aftershocks, and his eyes refused to open. He felt weightless, his muscles like jelly, his bones replaced by sponges.

  “Mon Dieu, ma belle, c’était incroyable,” he whispered against her hair.

  “Mm-hmm,” she said, unable or unwilling to reply.

  “Baby, we have to get out of here and into bed. We’re exhausted. We’ll both fall asleep soon.”

  She nodded and sat up, and he noticed her eyes were as reluctant as his to stay open. She blinked and lifted her hips. Without her inner walls surrounding him, he felt bereft. They helped each other stand and grabbed towels. As soon as they were dry, he carried her sated body to the bed. Lying down with her in his arms, he couldn’t help the smile spreading across his face.

  It was well worth the wait. And they wouldn’t be awake in an hour to feed their daughter. Angela had assured them she could handle Sophie for the night, giving Mandy and Julien some much-needed time to relax. He wanted Mandy again already, but they had to rest.

  She snuggled up against him, placing a gentle kiss on his neck before sighing. She was asleep a second later.

  He would wake her in a few hours and make sweet love to his bride-to-be. Until then, he contented himself with holding her close and breathing in her sweet cocoa-butter scent. This was the woman who would be his wife. But he still had this paralyzing fear that she wasn’t on board with the wedding. It was foolish. She’d said yes. He had to trust that she was sticking around for the long haul. But something prevented him from believing it. No one was lucky enough to find the love of his life, have the perfect little girl, and keep it all forever. He’d asked her countless times over the past four weeks if she was sure. Watched her reactions and her lack of excitement planning the wedding.

  Weren’t women supposed to be excited about their big day? Especially American women. He’d seen some ceremonies with four hundred people in attendance and great big wedding dresses. Huge churches and reception halls and the women who turned into bridezillas the moment they had rings on their fingers. He was so happy that Tyler’s girlfriend had offered to help them. It meant a lot less stress on Mandy.

  But every time Layla had called, Mandy’s tension had risen anyway. He would be happy when it was over and they were married. So why couldn’t he shake the feeling that Mandy would run away from him the second she got a chance?

  Chapter Ten

  Mandy’s head felt fuzzy. Her brain didn’t want to work. She was warm and comfortable. And then lips were pressing against hers, fingers trailing over her breasts and abdomen in a light, tickling caress. Julien slid his tongue along the seam of her lips, and she moaned, her eyes opening slowly.

  “Morning,” Julien whispered. His bright green eyes shimmered.

  “Not a bad way to wake up,” she said.

  He nipped her bottom lip and thrust his already hard cock against her center, and she shivered.

  “No, not a bad way at all,” she said, letting her head fall back on the pillow as he continued to slide the hot length of his cock over her clit again and again. Her sheath tightened, already wet, already begging for his touch. She loved him soft and slow as much as hard and fast. The fact that they could be rough and crazy, but also sweet and romantic astounded her.

  He kissed her deeply, his slender tongue tangling with hers, licking against the roof of her mouth, around her teeth, sending tingles through her body. She felt the answering rush of heat between her thighs. He tunneled his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp tenderly.

  Her chest burst with love for this man.

  “Baby, are you ready?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He licked his way along her jaw to her neck, and she spread her legs wider, granting him access. Julien slipped inside her with one slow movement, and she groaned at the feeling of fullness. As her muscles tightened around him, he shuddered. A tremor shook her as her body reached for release, when only moments before she’d been sound asleep. He kissed her neck gently, his body rocking into hers. She wondered how long he’d been stroking and caressing her before she was fully awake.

  She was so wet, he must’ve played with her body before she’d woken. The little deviant. He pushed into her again, faster this time, and she cried out.

  “Almost there,” she whispered between pants.

  “Mm-hmm,” he murmured against her neck. His fingers left her hair to trail over the rest of her, tickling down her rib cage until she squirmed beneath his touch. She gasped as his fingers came into contact with her clit. He teased her, holding her at the edge. Denying her release in the same way she’d denied him.

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Putain,” Julien cursed.

  “Be quick, because if you stop now, we’re both going to scream at whoever the hell that is.”

  He hurried his thrusts, pinching her clit and slamming into her. She catapulted over the edge. A strangled sound started in the back of her throat, and Julien clamped a hand over her mouth to stifle the scream. He groaned against her ear as his body stiffened.

  Another knock sounded, and Julien rolled off her. She missed his warmth immediately, but she didn’t have time to protest. He grabbed a robe and tied it around his body before closing the French doors to the bedroom of the suite. Mandy rested her head against the pillow for another moment, trying to catch her breath.

  When she finally got up and pulled on a robe, she could hear Julien laughing with whoever was at the door. She moved into the living room and smiled. Mom and Layla stood in the entryway, and Julien was cradling their daughter against his chest.

  “She’s hungry,” he said and passed their little girl to her. Mandy wrapped her arms around the baby, surprised at how much she’d missed her. Warmth spread through Mandy as she smiled down at Sophie. She was still awed that she’d created such life.

  Julien kissed Mandy on the cheek. “I’m going to shower.”

  She nodded, and he left. “Come in, please,” she said to her mom and Layla. Mandy sat on the chocolate-brown couch, and Layla and Mom took the two large wingback chairs facing her. A soft breeze filtered in through the open French doors to the balcony, bringing with it the scent of fresh flowers and grass from the garden across the street. She still couldn’t believe the opulence of the room. The dormant fireplace took up almost the entirety of the wall
behind the chairs.

  Mandy unknotted the robe, letting it slip off her shoulder. She stopped and looked at her guests.

  “Don’t be shy,” Layla said. “Feed that poor girl so we can go over wedding plans.”

  Mandy’s shoulders tightened at the mention of the wedding. Spending the night and early morning wrapped in Julien’s arms had made her forget why they were really in this beautiful hotel. She let the robe slide from her breast, and Sophie attached herself to the nipple, suckling.

  “How was she?” Mandy asked Mom.

  “A doll. I’m surprised y’all didn’t come knocking at my door all night to check on her. Not even a phone call.”

  A rush of heat blanketed her face, and Mom smiled. It was so good to be in the same room with her. Mandy was happy here in Paris—happier than she’d been in years—but she hadn’t realized until Mom had hugged her how much she missed being at home. She knew she couldn’t have the independence of her own life and live in New York with her family. She’d tried, moving out of her mom’s apartment, going to university upstate, and living on campus. But she hadn’t been able to really be on her own. Not until coming here.

  “I figured you were busy.” Mom waggled her sculpted eyebrows. Laugh lines creased the corners of her eyes. She looked so content. Happier than Mandy had seen her in ages.

  Mandy shook her head and grinned. Leave it up to Mom to understand how much she’d needed to be alone with Julien. He was the only person who would keep her sane over the coming week of chaos.

  “I thought we could work on seating arrangements and final head counts today,” Layla said.

  Mandy turned her attention to Layla as she stroked Sophie’s little head.

  “That’s fine,” Mandy said. She glanced to the bedroom’s closed doors. The shower was still on. Now would be as good a time as any to talk to Layla about Julien’s family. “I don’t think we’re going to have a lot of people. And that’s fine with us. Julien’s an only child. He’s invited a couple of our good friends, but that’s really it.”