CHAPTER563
Totally fine.
In the bathroom I turn on the walk-in shower, feeling lighter, while I put some towels on the heated rack for getting out. The bathroom is one of my favorite rooms in this apartment. It’s modern and huge, always so sparkling clean thanks to Janetta our housekeeper who comes by at noon daily. It has a huge tub in one corner that we have used a lot; inbuilt jacuzzi and the shower is big enough for us both to shower and have a lot of fun in here together.
I love our whole apartment. It’s in the sixteenth district, a chic part of Paris, surrounded by money and gorgeous buildings and Arry did really good in finding us both a pretty large, yet modern apartment, penthouse. He’s a born New Yorker and likes to stay up high.
It’s spacious and open plan, airy. Probably as big as back home and yet has a hint of French design in the detailed coving, sash windows and ornate fireplaces in every room. It has a vibe of old world in the building itself, yet with our combined taste in modern décor and muted tones, after I applied my touch. It’s modern and homely. It’s not like our love nest back home, which I miss like crazy, but it’s a good second best.
I shower quickly and dry myself even faster, wrapping myself in warm fluffy towels and make my way back to our bedroom adjoined by this door. The other door leads to the lounge in the other side and I always found it odd that our bathroom was in between the two rooms with two doorways.
Arrick is standing at the vanity looking down at his jars of hair gel, one handedly opening one of them, completely oblivious to my presence. He is on his cell to Amanda, his PA, and I hear him tell her to book his return flight for Friday.
He hasn’t even told me that he plans on going back in half a week and I instantly feel my insides sink. I hate knowing that’s all I have of him this time and for god knows how long. It’s already Tuesday, that means he leaves me in three days. It’s not enough time, it never is.
My mood dissipates rapidly, pushing down the knot of tears and aching disappointment and remind myself that in one month, term will be over for Christmas. Four more weeks and we get an entire holiday where I can come home with him and shadow him like I did in the short summer break. That was the last time I managed to get out of Paris. That’s all I need, some unbroken no pressure Arrick and Sophie time, back home in New York City. Back to seeing our friends, family, and normal life.
I wander quietly past him, catching his eye in the mirror as he looks up and he frowns. His apology I guess, knowing I heard the plan for his departure once more. I don’t respond, staying deadpan as I make my way to my wardrobe and pull out some long dresses and refuse to let this detail affect our plans today. I don’t want another squabble about him going away; we have one almost every time and it’s pointless.
He can’t help it or change it.
It’s sunny out but not that warm as it’s late in the season. I pull out some sweaters and long boots to go with a thicker dress and throw them all on the nearby chair, trying to focus on only getting dressed. He ends his call and I try to stay on task.
“Hey.” Arrick comes up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist gently and nuzzles my neck from behind, making me tilt my head so he can gain full access, uncaring about my wet hair. Like the traitorous wench she is, my body gets the immediate surrendering sag of muscle and bone as tingles span every inch of skin.
“So, you’re leaving Friday?” I sigh, completely hollow inside, so used to this that even the pain of it is numbing out. It’s become more of a sad acceptance nowadays and despite telling myself not to mention it when we’re planning a nice day, it’s out almost automatically.
“I’m sorry baby. I thought I had more time with you but the new contracts for the merger are being poured over on Saturday with the entire board of directors. This merger affects all shareholders and it’s a huge deal. Even Jake is working crazy hours and driving Emma insane.” He sighs, tightening his hold over my towel and squeezes me gently. Tone apologetic and soft and I refuse to let this ruin our day. He was in such a great mood and he is right; one month and then we get a real break from this life. We can talk about next term later. I have time, I have a month to give them an answer.
“It’s my show in eight days, my final show… The one you promised you would be here for.” I turn in his arms and blink up at him, heart in my mouth and complete pleading fear running through my head. I haven’t asked him or expected him to be at anything else all year, just this one thing, because it matters more than anything.
I’m showcasing my very own line of designs in front of not only my school and tutors, but notable names in fashion. All the year two students have a slot and mines up at eleven am in just over a week. He has known about this for six months and knows it marks the wrap up to my year and goes towards my final gradings.
“And I’ll be there… I promised, didn’t I? I’ll be on a flight home the day before and back here in bed with you that night. I’ll walk you in there myself.” He’s serious, no hint of doubt and I relax a little. I need him there, for moral support, to stop me going to pieces with nerves, and just to be the grounding force he always is for me. The only ally among a class of people who barely tolerate me yet have never really accepted me.
“You better… I need you there. It’s one date I wouldn’t forgive you for breaking, Arry, I mean it.” I sound sterner than I mean too but this is something that matters almost as much as graduating my second year. I have a lot of people to impress and a lot of hopes pinned on something I have been working so hard for. All this bullshit we have put ourselves through, all comes to rest on this important event. I’m not someone who wants to use my families name or money, or even Arry’s, to achieve my success; I want to be known for my skill and my designs and this show is a start to something on that path. Something I did myself.
“I know you do… I can see that little scowl right about here.” He presses his thumb between my eyebrows with a cute smile and I can’t help smiling too, breaking the tension, and hating, yet adoring how he always knows how to get around me.
“That scowl will get a lot bigger and fiercer if you let me down.” I prod him in the abdomen, smirking at the little flinch, which turns to outrage when he whips my towel off me in a split second and throws it away behind him.
“You were saying?” He grins, letting go to stand back and admire me. I throw my hands on my hips and lift my chin a little higher.
“You think this makes me vulnerable and less likely to go hell cat on your ass?” I ask outright, but my eyes immediately follow him sliding his shirt out of his chinos and slowly unbuttoning it from the top. Looking at me with absolutely no veiling of how much he wants me back in bed.
“Nope… means I am about to distract you in ways I know you are powerless to resist.” He gets three buttons down and slides it over his head instead, all tanned glorious muscle on show that tenses and move as he does. I can’t help the way my body reacts to the perfection that he is.
“What happened to going out on a date? … Eiffel towers and all that city of love stuff?” I move back as he comes at me, slowly unbuttoning his pants, eyes glued on mine with crazily dilated pupils. I am all for this change of plans, but he still has to work at it a little. I like when my boy chases me.
“Think we might just hit the sex marathon part and order some food to stay in bed. French cuisine, easy on the snails, right?” He leans out and catches my wrist and hauls me back to him at speed. Colliding softly and immediately lets his hand roam over my ass and grips it firmly so he can butt my pelvis into his.
“Any objections?” His eyes move to my mouth and like a switch that he knows how to flick, all I want is for him to kiss me again, devour my body and take me back to that place between us when we have sex. Our little bubble of complete contentment and I wonder if maybe that’s all I need. Maybe I’m just suffering from lack of us being intimate and it will restore some sense of security if we spend a day making love. I watch his mouth move achingly close and shake my head breathlessly in answer. Urging him to close the gap and kiss me, but he stays just out of grasp and smiles slowly.
“Do you want me?” He asks softly, unexpectedly and I glance up at those perfect hazel eyes questioningly. He knows I always do; I don’t understand his need to ask. He’s smiling with that half smile of his, dimples on show, making me breathless.
“I always do.” I answer softly and am rewarded with that mouth on mine, kissing me so passionately that my knees give way and I’m left clinging to him."
