Paris Was The Place I Met My Billionaire Lover (My Sweet Billionaire Love Story Series) (6 page)

“On the contrary, good sir,” Caitlyn said, kissing him again.  Afterward, she added, “Now, we were talking about my future...”

* * *

“Unbelievable,” Harrison said as he poured himself a Remy Martin, not even bothering to swirl it around the snifter before taking a big, fiery gulp of the dark brown brandy.  “I can’t imagine what’s gotten into her.”

Sabrina looked up from her tea, her legs folded under her in her easy chair.  She raised her brows, blew into her tea cup and said nothing.

“I’ll bet she found a boyfriend,” Robbie said, poking his head into the room.  He stepped in to the room and turned around, saying, “and she’s all...” before wrapping his arms across his chest so that his hands appeared to be the hands of a lover, stroking his/her back as they kissed.  He groaned and mimicked exaggerated sounds of kissing and moaning while stifling his own chuckles.

“Good night, kid,” Harrison said with an impatient growl.

“Night, Robbie,” Sabrina said as Robbie shrugs, turned with sagging shoulders and shuffled out of the room.

“Night.”

Left alone, the adults conferred.  “I’m getting on the next plane,” Harrison said, already stepping toward the phone.

“And do what, follow the clues through the streets of Paris?  I love you, Harrison, but Liam Neeson you’re not.”

Harrison had to chuckle, in spite of himself.  He nodded, saying, “You’re right, baby, as always.  But there are people I can call, professionals -- ”

“Who will spy on your daughter against her wishes or, worse, kidnap her back to the States.”

“Precisely,” Harrison said, picking up the phone.  “Glad we’re on the same page.”

“No, Harrison, we’re not.”  Sabrina stepped slowly toward him, carefully taking the phone from his hand and setting it down.  “But let’s turn this page together anyway, shall we?”

Harrison sagged a bit, but his posture was so rigid and uptight that it was hardly noticeable.  Sabrina added, “She’s a bright and capable young woman.”

“She’s a liar and a thief,” Harrison said.  “I can’t believe I raised such a person!”

“That’s because you didn’t,” Sabrina forced a little reassuring smile.  She set her hand gently on his chest.  “She lied, yes; and since she lied I guess you could say that she took the trip dishonestly -- ”

“Stole it -- ”

“No, Harrison, you gave it to her; and you’ll give her a lot more.  Because you’re her father, and it’s your job to provide for her.”

Harrison stepped away, barely clinging to his anger; confusion pushing his offense to the corners of his mind.  “It’s my job to protect her!”

“No.  It’s your job to teach her how to protect herself, and to learn how to
stop
protecting her, Harrison, to let her learn to protect herself.”

“But not there,” he said, his voice louder, more impatient, more desperate and afraid.  “Not now, not this way!”

To counter his increasing agitation, Sabrina’s voice was deliberately calm and smooth, serene, her smile shaping her tone.  “True, this isn’t the way we’d have chosen, but this is the way it happened.  And really, given any set of circumstances for such a thing to happen, which would have been acceptable?”

Harrison took a moment to consider, staring off into the imagined distance of his fractured reasoning.  “Well, she could have... I mean, if she’d just ... “ Harrison drew and discarded mental card after mental card, each image inspiring the same ire, the same frustration.  “She... I mean, there are times when...”

“There are times when you have to learn to let go,” Sabrina said, “times that aren’t ours to choose.  And this is one of those times.”

“Okay, I’m not saying I’m perfect,” Harrison said with a nod, “that I’ve got nothing to learn.  But I’ve still got plenty to teach that kid!  What she’s doing is reckless and dangerous -- ”

“And that’s a part of youth, a part of life.”  Sabrina adjusted the collar of his robe.  “Anyway, what she’s doing is defying you, and that’s what’s really bothering you, isn’t it?”

“No, Sabrina,” Harrison said, noting the snap of his own voice and also the inappropriateness of its direction and of its inspiration.  “I mean, I’m not so crazy about that, I’ll admit, but it’s not what’s really bothering me.  It’s... I’m upset because... she... and I... she...”

Harrison stood, dumbfounded, the lucrative lawyer stumped by his wise wife.  She kissed him on the cheek and said, “She’ll call back, and she’ll come back.”

“And when she does, we’re gonna come to an understanding.”

“No,” Sabrina said, a loving correction, “when she does all of this will get settled in its own way and in its own time.”

Harrison’s confused expression turned from the swirl of imagined horrors to the plain and simple beauty that stood before him, smiling, calming him; bringing him back from the shores of distant, unknown lands to the comfort of his own home, heart and hearth.

He said, “How did I ever get so lucky to find you?”

Sabrina smiled and kissed him.  “I can’t imagine.  But since we’re both here...”  She kissed him again, and he kissed her back; two souls singing an old, loving tune in their own distinct harmonies.

That night, they sang for hours.

* * *

Monet’s Gardens at Giverny were like the living incarnations of Monet’s great paintings; which of course, they were.  Caitlyn stepped as if into a surreal environment of a painting come to life; water lilies seemed to burst up out from the dark, glassy pond surfaces that only magnified the blue of the skies in its reflection.

“It’s breathtaking,” Caitlyn said, the thick perfume of flowers drifting up her nostrils to intoxicate her.  “I’ve loved the paintings, naturally -- ”

“That is the only way to truly enjoy them,” Julien interjected.

“But to see it all up close, in person, it’s just... amazing.  I can see why Monet was so inspired.”

“It is natural beauty almost too great to improve upon,” Julien said, eyes scanning the thick, lush flora around them.  “And that is the genius of art, to find a way to improve upon the masterpieces of God himself.”

“Yet you don’t think to preserve such pieces is worthy of my life?”

“Not your life, no.  Your life should bring forth masterpieces anew, works that others will adore and admire and care for.”

Caitlyn tilted her head, her own eyes casting a long and longing look over the great inspirational garden surrounding her.  “That’d be great, but isn’t the age of the great artist really past?  Like the age of the prophecy?”

Julien nodded with a knowing smile.  “They are quite similar, despite their seeming opposition.  It takes insight to understand that, Caitlyn, wisdom you possess and dare not ignore or cast aside.  And that may not produce paintings, Caitlyn, or tunes or popular films...” Julien sneered into a distant dissatisfaction, turning his attention quickly back to Caitlyn. 

“What greatness you may bring forth upon this world is unseen and unknown, Caitlyn, but it is nonetheless certain.”

Caitlyn’s right eyebrow rose alone, the other two skeptical to join its partner.  “I suppose right now I may not have much choice but to find out.”

“I will ensure that your discovery is a pleasurable experience.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Caitlyn said, resting her head on his shoulder as they strolled over an arched Japanese-style bridge.  “So, what is it that I’ll be doing for you, exactly?”

Julien considered, shrugging one shoulder.  “You will act as my personal assistant, and observe my consultations with clients, how I implement whatever courses of action my clients and I deem necessary.  What will you be doing?  What will you be learning?  Everything.”

“That’s sounds interesting,” Caitlyn said, “don’t get me wrong.  But I’m not going to feud with my family and turn my back on the only opportunity I’ll ever have for a truly bonafide education just to be your personal servant, for you to toss me aside when you’re finished with me.”

Julien looked a bit shocked at Caitlyn’s assertiveness, and in truth she was a bit shocked by it herself.  But it felt right and sounded good; and ever since arriving in Paris, she’d become more comfortable in her own skin, discovering her own sense of personal power.

Julien nodded and smiled.  “Quite right, Caitlyn.  But I would not have you turn your back on your family, or your education.  Nor will I keep you against your will or cast you aside at a whim.  Should you want to go anytime, to your home in Los Angeles or to anywhere in the world, I will send you without any expense to you.  If your father is no longer interested in subsidizing your education, I will do so.”

“You will -- ?  You’re saying you’ll fly me anywhere in the world and, what’s more, pay for my education anywhere I can manage to get in?  Assuming, that is, that things don’t work out between us.”

“Assuming nothing,” Julien said, posture straight, head back, chest expanding with pride and protectiveness.  “Should you want to continue your education without us severing ties, so much the better.  Whatever you want, whenever you want it, Caitlyn; that is my offer.  It is all that I offer; I offer you all.”

Caitlyn’s mind began to reel. 
Who is this man?
she had to wonder. 
He’s obviously making promises he can’t or won’t be able to keep.  But he’s already taken me to bed, isn’t that the great goal of these elaborate lies, these suspicious seductions?

She said, “It certainly sounds like an offer I can’t refuse.  I guess I have to ask this, not that I think of myself as
that girl,
but... how rich are you, exactly?  I can’t imagine they pay business consultants all that much.”

Julien laughed, leaning back as his chest pushed out heaving slabs of mirth.  He said, “My clients are world-class, I assure you.  But you’re quite right. Let’s just say I have a... savings from previous dealings that ensures my leisurely enjoyment of this life and all that it has to offer.”

“Then why work at all?” Caitlyn said.  “Why don’t we just go and spend your money traveling?”

“Because that’s not what you’re looking for, Caitlyn.”  She wanted to be offended at his presumptuousness, but he was right.

Again.

And anyway, making love was a lot more fun than making war.

Julien took Caitlyn back to her rented condo, planning to pack her belongings and move them into his townhouse not far from the
Louvre
, where they first met.  It struck Caitlyn as kind of fast, to be suddenly living under this man’s roof, but it did make a lot of sense from a practical standpoint.  Apartments in Paris were expensive and hard to get, and his townhouse was centrally located, safe and would be rent-free for her.  From there, Julien promised he’d rent Caitlyn apartment if that became what either of them felt was best.  As loathe as she was just to trust him, she had to admit that he gave her no reason
not
to.  And he did offer spectacular possibilities for her life and future, regardless of how things shook out between them.

And with things so tense and unresolved with her father, it was easier to follow that road with Julien and see where it would take her.  She knew that if worse came to worse, she could make a call, get a flight and get home.

If I can get to a phone,
she had to remind herself, instinctively reaching into her purse and glad to find the cell phone her father had given her.

Dad,
she thought to herself, suddenly feeling isolated, alone, afraid.

“You’re worried,” Julien said, wrapping his arms around her from behind and giving her a gentle, loving squeeze.  “I understand.  But I will take care of you now, I promise.  You have nothing to fear and everything to look forward to.”

Julien started kissing the back of Caitlyn’s neck, pulses of energy streaming down her body, making her loins quiver and her knees nearly buckle.  Julien guided her to the free-standing bar in the living room, pushing one of the three bar stools aside.

Julien set his big, strong hands on her waste and lifted her onto the bar stool.  He kissed her deep, long and slow.  Their tongues pushed against one other.

Julien caressed Caitlyn’s firm breasts.  She clutched the brass railing. 

Julien spread Caitlyn’s legs, smooth and long, as he pulled her closer.  Julien placed himself into Caitlyn’s quivering womanhood, her juices warm and thick to ease their union.  Caitlyn’s shoulders arched, she bit her lower lip.  Her head tilted to the side as Julien plunged deeper.  Caitlyn felt Julien’s strength as it pressed into the most-hidden corners of her secret self, her private being. 

Caitlyn’s chest heaved her firm, strong breasts.  Julien began to stroke even faster, Caitlyn’s pink fist holding tight, wrapped firmly around him, pumping and squeezing. 

Julien said, “
C’est bien, oui?  C’est bien
très bien
.”

“Yes,” Caitlyn whispered, “so good...”  Caitlyn’s head bobbed on her shoulders, blonde hair dancing around and over her shoulders in a sexy cascade, a silken waterfall.  Caitlyn’s lips pouted and puckered, eyebrows arched as Julien delved her furthest and untouched depths.  Julien was so forceful and engorged that Caitlyn feared her poor pelvic cradle might collapse from the sheer force and power of her Frenchman’s strident churning.