Page 40 of Once Bitten

“I’ll hold you to that. So...?”

“Oh! Well, after I graduated I had so many big dreams, that all came crashing down on me once I entered the world of trying to get a job in Manhattan with no experience.”

“Oh geez.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I worked all sorts of jobs, but the worst was as a secretary for this accounting firm. Ugh they were so dodgy, always late with pay and probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t make a fuss about it. My manager was a complete bitch who thrived on belittling all the staff under her. Anyway, they were trying to close a deal with Cabot Industries, and Larry was the in charge of it, so he’d have a chat to me every time he came for a meeting, then, I’m not sure what happened, but one day, he stormed out of the meeting room, declaring that the deal was dead and then he grabbed my wrist and said, ‘And I’m taking her with me!’ And I’ve worked for him ever since. He changed my life.” I smiled thinking of him and how, even though this being with Finn was surreal, I missed him on this trip.

“Wow. He sounds like a good guy.”

“He is.” I nodded emphatically, “I hope you get to know him now that you’ll be working with him.”

Finn just smiled and watched me rummage in the bowl of soup for a beef bone to gnaw on and laughed at my excitement when I caught it. “You like your food don’t you?”

“Does it show?” I mumbled around the bone.

“In your enthusiasm? Yeah, I like it.”

“No, I meant, show on my thighs. I can’t diet, it’s just not in my nature. I don’t really drink, I don’t do drugs, I work 24/7, and food is my only true vice. I’ll just have to keep buying bigger jeans.”

Finn frowned and put down his fork and stared at me for a moment. “Kara. Put down the bone and listen to me.” He said seriously.

I did as he asked, confused at the change in mood.

He reached across the table and grabbed my hand, his eyes locked on mine. “You are fucking gorgeous. Don’t ever think anything but that about your body. You drive me fucking insane, every minute that I’m with you, the way you look, the way you move, oozing sex. I’m constantly having to think of my grandma in lingerie to stop my cock from being permanently hard around you. If you weren’t enjoying your meal so much, I’d have bent you over this table and be fucking you right now. I just wanted you to know that.” He let go of my hand but continued to look at me.

How does someone respond to that?

You don’t. You just hope he’ll always feel the same way.

***

“Au revoir, Mati, we’ll be back in a few days!” I waved to her as she escorted us to the door.

“Ma cherie, je l’espere, I hope so. You are, as they say, a sight for my old, sore eyes. Not like this ugly man,” she waved at Finn dismissively and then yelped when he kissed her on the cheek. “Go, go! You are scaring off my customers.”

“Oh my god, I am so full,” I moaned, rubbing my bloated stomach as we walked into the night. The air was cool, and the breeze felt soothing and soft on my face flushed from the warm restaurant and spicy food.

“Over here, Kara,” Finn took my hand and led me around the corner.

I wandered over, sighing long and contented. The air, so different from Manhattan and even Dublin where we’d just been a day ago, smelled of history. The dust from the cobblestones and buildings, scenting the air with stories hundreds of years old.

We walked along the street, hand in hand, in silence. Listening to the cars on the main road jostling for space and the sound of locals mixing with tourists come from all around the world to congregate in this space that was all about fun and feast.

Finn pulled gently on my hand as we crossed the road to a long stretch of metal fence surrounding a park.

“This is the Jardin Medieval, I love it.” He pushed open the gate and ushered me inside. Pressing his fingers to his lips to silence me, he led me to a dark corner on the side of the park, pushing our bodies into the shadows.

“They’re going to close soon, but they rarely check too hard to see if anyone’s still in here. We’ll have the whole place to ourselves.”

It felt so clandestine, huddled against a bush with Finn, his breath sweet and spicy against my cheek, his hand still grasping mine. I couldn’t help but press myself against him a little closer than really necessary.

We stood for a moment, getting acquainted with the dark, listening for sounds of people moving around us. There were none.

“Kara.” He whispered, his mouth just inches from my ear,

“Hmmm?”

“Why aren’t you seeing anyone? Why aren’t you married?”