Road to Destiny (Scorpio Stinger MC Book 5) (22 page)

He tasted of wine and longing. His hand stroked down the curve of my back and came to rest on my ass, his fingers burning through the fabric of my skirt. I hadn’t been kissed this passionately in a very long time. And, certainly never by a Frenchman.

Crazy, panicked thoughts ran riot through my mind.
What now? How should I respond?
I’d never been in a situation like this before...with a stranger. I was aroused beyond my imagination and yearning for his touch. Desire unfurled, burning from the inside out. It was both frightening and exhilarating.

I felt his erection stir against my hip as a groan rumbled from his chest. His tongue plundered my mouth, stroking my tongue sensuously. Inhibitions lost, I kissed him back till I was breathless.

“You taste delicious,” he panted against my mouth. My nipples strained against the fine silky fabric—desperate to break free—hungry for his touch.

The sexy Frenchman’s mouth worked its way down from my jaw, kissing my neck, his breath warm and sensuous against my skin. Without warning, he freed my breasts from their constraint, cupping them gently in his palms. I gasped as he pulled a nipple into his mouth and sucked gently. Liquid fire spread from my nipple to my groin. Fighting to suppress a shudder, I moaned softly against his neck.

His five o’clock shadow brushed the delicate skin of my breasts as he moved from one breast to the other. The sensation caused by the contrast between his luscious soft lips and the roughness of his stubble prickling my skin, was downright intoxicating.

Gently he caressed my other breast, his thumb working my nipple to a hard nub. I loved the roughness of his winemaker hands. These were working hands. He was so very cultured in every way—yet his love of the land, of the vines in particular, brought a very earthy quality to him that was sexy beyond anything I’d experienced before.

Alain’s hand on my ass gradually snaked to my ankles and disappeared under my long skirt, burning into my flesh as his hand ran slowly, sensuously up my thigh, leaving a trail of fire in its wake.

In my wildest of dreams I would never have seen this coming.

His index finger traced the outline of my panty, his palm pushing against my sex, rubbing and coaxing.

Oh God!

I’d all but forgotten how good
that
felt.

I should stop him. Soon.

It was too late to pretend I wasn’t turned on, he’d know just how aroused I was simply by feeling the dampness between my thighs. A slender finger slipped under the fine lace and found my hard bud. His warm lips quickly covered my mouth to swallow the low moan that escaped my lips.

This has to stop...but...I don’t want it to...it just feels so...good.

“So wet,” he murmured, lust and pleasure in his hoarse voice as his finger circled my clit leisurely. I moaned softly, burying my face in his neck, my nails digging into the hard muscles of his shoulders.

As much as I wanted him to carry on doing this to me, I wasn’t that tipsy.

“Al..Alain...s...stop,” I stuttered, trying to come back my senses—but my voice betrayed the want in me.

He looked into my eyes, raw lust beaming from them. “Just let go. Let me pleasure you tonight.” I gasped as two fingers plunged into my wetness. My breath hitched as his fingers circled inside me expertly, the sensation delicious. With his thumb he rubbed my clit, while his tongue sucked on a nipple.

I arched my back, wanting more. His erection throbbing against my hip was all too much for my senses and I could stand it no longer. I exploded around his fingers, sucking them deeper into my warmness, my orgasm so strong I wanted to cry out with pleasure. Alain hungrily possessed my mouth, kissing me hard.

Finally he released my lips and gazed down at me, a wicked smile on his face. I peered at him from under my lashes, suddenly shy.

“Your pleasure is my pleasure,” he whispered, as he tasted my essence from his fingers. His eyes shone. “Ahh, so sweet, mademoiselle.”

This man—giver of pleasure and demanding none in return—was so different, so alluring he had all my senses reeling.

Gently, he pulled up my camisole to cover my breasts, and tightened his arms around me. The generous seats had enough space for us both, so I lay in the crook of his arm as he kissed my eyelids. I let out a long sigh, completely relaxed.

“Go to sleep now,” he whispered, pulling a blanket protectively over us. Yet I shivered as a feeling of unease came over me. I couldn’t explain it. My eyes flew open.

I looked straight into angry and shocked eyes. All this time Ms. Desperate had been standing in the wings, watching us.

I
succumbed to the pleasure of falling asleep in Alain’s arms. I hoped I wouldn’t do anything silly like talk in my sleep, or worse still, snore. But in spite of my fears, I drifted off peacefully into a dreamless sleep. I hadn’t felt this good or satisfied in a very long time.

I woke with a start. Soft words whispered in a French accent penetrated the fuzz in my brain. “Wake up, sleepy head.” Alain was kissing my eyelids again, willing them open.

Did that really happen to me?

I was sure I would wake, finding it was all just a vivid dream. I smiled shyly at him.

What must he think of me?

I was practically a stranger and he already knew me more intimately than a lot of men I’d dated in the past. Warmth spread slowly over my cheeks as he gazed intently at me.

“You’re very beautiful when you blush,” he smiled, “I like that about you.” This, of course, only intensified the sensation, and the warm glow spread to my neck too. It was ridiculous that a woman of my age would blush this much. Surely I should’ve outgrown it by now? Apparently not.

“Rebecca,” he said, his tone serious, “I want to see you again. Come to the chateau when your conference is finished.”

My head jolted up.
Did mile high clubs usually work like this?

I always understood it was a ‘slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am’ kind of thing. Meeting up again wasn’t part of the deal, was it? 

“And please have lunch with me today in Paris, and if I may be a little bold, dinner as well?” We hadn’t even landed yet, and he was already making plans for the day.

He must have noticed my surprise because he quickly continued, “The conference only starts tomorrow, yes? I would love to spend your first day in Paris with you, showing you the sights.”

That certainly sounded like good offer. Instead of being alone in the most romantic city in the world, I could have my very own sexy tour guide. At least he would help me stop fretting about Julian Palmer.

“Thanks Alain, that sounds wonderful,” I replied, biting my lip as I watched for his reaction. 

His broad smile displayed a row of perfect white teeth; he was showing his delight in no uncertain terms. He was so easy to please. Doubt crept into my mind: surely a man like Alain had
someone
waiting for him?

“Fantastic. I will organize everything. It’ll be a day you will never forget.” He promised with a silly grin.

With a few simple words everything was changing. What started out as escaping the shackles of my past was fast turning into an adventure into the unknown.

Candice announced that she was serving breakfast before landing, so I quickly returned to my seat. I gulped down the freshly squeezed orange juice. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was. This was a day of firsts for me: freshly squeezed juice on a flight, and a naughty sexcapade. If this was anything to go by, my adventure in France was beginning on a very good note.

“Eat up,” Alain ordered, winking at me, “You are going to need all your energy for today.”

Ravenous, I smiled back at him and dug into my breakfast.

After the trays were cleared, Alain pulled out his laptop, and for the next forty minutes, was completely absorbed in it. “Work.” He smiled apologetically. I really didn’t mind, it finally afforded me some time to think about all that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.

Closing my eyes, I sighed as I remembered the most grueling goodbye I’d ever been through. Only hours before boarding the plane, Julian had held my hands in his, gazing into my eyes. I’d felt like I was drowning in his sorrow. There was nowhere to hide; he was staring into my soul.

“Don’t leave me, Becca,” he pleaded, “Not now...not after everything we’ve been through. Please.”

His voice was gruff as he pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me as if he would never let me go. I hadn’t trusted myself to be alone with him, so I’d made very sure that when I said my final goodbye, we had been surrounded by people from the office. He didn’t care that they were watching, their mouths gaping.

I’d inhaled his scent for the last time.

What just his touch did to me... . I couldn’t allow this man to have such an effect on me any longer. He was out of bounds. It had to stop. I had to do this for my own survival. Before I crumbled and gave in. Because, I really wasn’t that strong. I wanted Julian more than ever.
But not like this.
 

Running away to France seemed like my last chance to get Julian Palmer out of my system. If I didn’t, I would be damned for the rest of my life. I had to do this, I had to stay strong.

Hot tears escaped from under my eyelids. I was leaving a part of myself behind.  Julian had been a part of my life for a very long time. It wasn’t going to be easy. I felt like a traitor...

I remembered the nights alone in my bed: the longing for his arms around me, his lips to be joined with mine, his body covering mine.

No. I had to stop thinking about him. It was over, my new life started today. I was young enough to start over, to be happy with someone who could love me freely in return.

The universe was bringing about changes. Mysterious forces were affecting the beginning of my new life. And I imagined it could have a sexy French man in it. Even if only for a short time.

A
s we disembarked, Ms. Desperate gave me a strange look. Was that one of admiration?
Really?
Alain’s thumb possessively stroked the small of my back, sending shivers down my spine.

“Good luck,” she whispered in a heavy French accent, “you will need it.” My eyebrows shot up.
What did she mean?
She was just plain creepy, especially after what she had witnessed last night. Or perhaps,
because
of what she had watched. I would never know. I didn’t really care.

It was early morning in Paris and I had a whole day to myself before I registered for the conference.

“Come, I have a limo waiting.” The authority in his voice did not invite argument. He gripped my arm and steered me, his long strides purposeful. I had no choice but to follow him. This man knew what he wanted and it appeared as if he was used to getting it, too.

A few minutes later I was sitting in a limo, beside Alain, amazed that I allowed him to just take over.

He reached for my hand and pressed my fingers to his lips, kissing them one by one, causing a warm and fuzzy feeling to flood my insides. His eyes were smoldering now; a sexy smile, curving his lips. He sucked on my index finger—slowly, sensuously—watching me through thick black lashes, his teeth gently nipping into my skin.

“You have no idea how hard it was to let you sleep,” he said gruffly. “I hope you are well rested for what I have planned for today.”

His black hair fell over his eyes, he raked his fingers through it impatiently. He was so goddamn sexy, how was I possibly going to focus on sightseeing? Right now I wouldn’t object to staring at the ceiling of his hotel room all day.

What the hell has come over me?

I shook my head as I tried to shake the fog from my brain.

This woman in the limo was nothing like the person who boarded the plane only hours ago. Years of suppressed longing had finally surfaced. It took a red-hot man, like Alain, to open the floodgates to every carnal thought and desire my body yearned for. Something insatiable had been turned on inside me.

The limo came to a stop in front of my hotel. It occurred to me that I hadn’t given the name of the hotel I was staying at, and neither Alain, nor the chauffeur, Gaston, had asked me. I drew in a sharp breath as my gaze darted to Alain. “Stalking much?”

He lifted a brow mockingly. “You mentioned the hotel last night when we were...chatting. I have a good memory.” Alain winked at me, mischief playing in his eyes.

Good looking and smart, I was in trouble...

Climbing the stairs, a quick slap on my ass stung my behind. The doorman grinned approvingly. Alain raised his eyebrow as a warning and steered me possessively toward the large revolving doors. My cheeks burned as I crossed the vast open space to the reception desk, fully aware of strangers watching us in amusement. Check-in was quick and easy, in spite of the pretty girl behind the desk who kept grinning at Alain, flirting with him.

Alain led me toward the elevator. “I will give you exactly one hour to freshen up, then I’ll come looking for you.” The promise in his voice was undisguised as he pulled me into his embrace and kissed me hard on the mouth. He gently pushed me into the car and stepped away. “I am counting the minutes,” he said, his voice husky. The doors closed as I stared at him, my mouth hanging open at the way he was simply commanding me.

As I entered the suite on the twenty-fourth floor, I drew in a sharp breath at the unequaled, beautiful view across the Seine, the Eiffel tower visible in the distance through the floor to ceiling windows. The panoramic view drew me closer and I took a moment to absorb it all. Old buildings were nestled amongst the new all along the banks of the river.

The bellboy brought my attention back to my immediate surroundings. The suite was tastefully decorated in rich creams and gold, opulent yet elegant. No expense had been spared in decorating it and most likely it cost a fortune to stay here. I paid him a generous tip and he grinned as he left the room.

A huge king-sized bed dominated the room. I was tempted to spread out on the bed for a little nap. On the pillow was a box of chocolates. I withdrew the welcome card from under the pretty deep-red bow. It wasn’t from the hotel management as I expected. I let out a long breath as I read the note.