Page 46 of Once Bitten

“OK. I’ll wait. Don’t be late!”

He ran up to me and tucked his finger under my chin, lifting my face up to his. He searched my eyes for a moment before giving me a gentle kiss.

“You look like a really sexy Lady Liberty,” he whispered, before reaching for the end of the sheet. He paused for a moment then pulled it off my body, leaving me completely nude and bellowed with laughter as I yelled, “Bloody bastard!” and ran to my bedroom.

***

Forty-five minutes later I was completely dressed, ready to go and had been waiting for 35 minutes. I checked the time, 8:50. I had wanted to grab a coffee and some breakfast before the day long list of meetings we had, and if I didn’t leave then I wouldn’t have time to go over the notes before the first group came.

Finn still hadn’t returned and I was lying if I didn’t say I was annoyed. 5-10 minutes late I could’ve understood, but thirty-five minutes was pushing it and he could’ve called to give me a heads up.

I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit, I was feeling like an idiot. When it was just the two of us together, I could pretend that I don’t want more, I could be content with just the thought that this as temporary, but moments like this morning when it seemed like he wanted to hide something from me, I realized that I wanted to be a part of his life, not just a week of great sex in Paris.

Pulling the black suit jacket over my arms, I checked myself in the mirror one last time. I was dressed in my usual black tailored power suit, a gift I gave myself every year with the Christmas bonus, tight over the curve of my ass with a higher than necessary slit up my thighs, giving me an added confidence when men’s eyes lingered there a little too long. I was no stick figure and could do with a few extra minutes on the treadmill every day, but I knew how to work my curves to my advantage.

I had a quick last glance in his bedroom to make sure it was empty and I grabbed my portfolio and locked the door behind me.

Storming down the beautiful hallway, I rounded the corner to the bay of elevators and clashed with a muscle hardened body, my papers flying all over the floor.

“Kara!”

It was Finn.

I ignored him and tried to gather up my papers and put them back in the right order.

“Are you ok?” He reached down to grab my hand and I shook it off, trying to bite back my anger but not yet ready to talk to him.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, she, the um, it just took longer than I thought. I’m sorry.”

I slid the last sheet of paper back into the folder and sat back on my heels and sighed. “You could’ve called.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Look, just give me FOUR minutes for a superhuman quick shower and I’ll take you to out breakfast.”

He pulled me to my feet.

“It’s ok, I was just going to go to the hotel breakfast.” I said, turning to the elevator and jabbing my finger on the down button.

“Oh, no, you’re in Paris, it isn’t breakfast unless it’s eaten out of a paper bag or you’re sitting on wicker furniture! Come on, let me make it up to you. Four minutes!” He called as he ran to our room, not giving me a chance to reply.

I shook my head incredulously, “arrogant prick.” I said out loud to assuage my frustration.

“I heard that!” He called from down the hall as he opened the door and slipped out of sight.

“Good!” I punched the air with my word and sank into the nearby chair.

***

The warmth of the sunshine on my face instantly evaporated my annoyance (and insecurity) at Finn, and I let him take my hand as we walked along the bridge of La Seine to the coffee house he insisted had the best pain au chocolat.

“Do you actually know where you’re going?” I asked after we’d been walking for over 20 minutes after the cab dropped us off. “Or am I going to be immortalized forever by a police sketch on the side of a milk carton?”

“Kara Kara, why so doubtful?” He stopped dead in his tracks, his frow burrowed and looked around, lost.

“I knew it!”

“Psyche!” He yelled and pulled on my arm, running towards a cafe on the corner of the nearest alley.

“Finn! I’m in stilettos!” I tried to keep up with him and stop my arm from being ripped out of its socket.