Page 57 of Rogue Lyon

“What a delight that was,” she said, hooking her arm into Jules’s.

“The best. I am so glad you got into the spirit of it. It’s not for everyone.”

“I adored it,” she said, squeezing closer to him as they walked toward their hotel. “Every moment. Thank you for taking me to Petit Paradis.”

He took her hand and kissed it. “You are so unique, so delightful to spend time with, Meredith. Right now, I cannot imagine being here with anyone else but you.”

Her heart did a silly little flip. “Do you mean that?”

“Of course.”

“Or is it the wine speaking?”

“No.” He stopped and turned her to him. “It is a truth. Being with you makes me happy, showing you new things makes me smile, and it… It’s good for my soul.” He paused and drew his head closer to hers. “You are good for my soul.”

“Your wretched soul, huh.” She raised her eyebrows at him.

For a moment, Jules’s eyes widened and his mouth opened, but then he tipped back his head and let out a loud guffaw. “Yes, you’re right. I am a wretched soul, but maybe, just maybe, you can save me.”

Soon they arrived back at Le Meurice. The road was cast in shadows and the streetlamps were being lit. A horse and cart clattered past, spilling husks of straw, and a woman was begging on the corner.

Jules handed her a coin and wished her bonne nuit before he and Meredith headed into the entrance.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, nodding at the restaurant.

“In all honesty, no. The bread and ham with our wine we had was more than sufficient.”

He smiled. “To our bedchamber, then?”

“Excuse me, Mr. Habsburg.” The receptionist held up his hand. “Please, one moment.”

“Yes?” Jules stepped up to him.

Meredith’s knees weakened a little. What if he was going to accuse them of a false marriage? Kick them out onto the streets for the night?

“You had a delivery. It is in your room, but the messenger awaits payment.” He nodded to a young man in a black beret seated in the lobby reading a newspaper.

“Ah, yes, of course, thank you.” Jules nodded and stepped up to the young man, a wad of cash emerging from his pocket. Quickly, he paid him and they exchanged goodnights.

Meredith pushed her shoulders back down from where they’d bunched up by her ears with sudden tension.

“Right, now that is out of the way,” Jules said, “we can go to our bedchamber.”

As she looked at the stairway, her body hummed with excitement. Jules had already hinted that he wanted to bed her again tonight. That he desired for their bodies to become one. Was that to happen now or much later? Would he wait until the stars came out?

Surely, that would be the proper thing to do.

They walked past another couple dressed up for dinner and Jules nodded a greeting to them.

Meredith hardly trusted herself to speak. Her body was almost quivering with anticipation. They drew no curious glances; it really was as if they were married. As if they were meant to be.

Jules paused at their bedchamber door and dug into his pocket for the room key.

When he opened it, he gestured for her to enter first.

Meredith was giddy with excitement; her nipples were tight and her belly a knot of expectation. It was as though her body remembered every sensation, every kiss and slide of flesh, and craved it more than anything else she’d ever wanted.

The door shut with a definite click and the key turning in the lock created a clunk that tapped around the darkening room.