I’d wanted to know more about his marriage. More about all of his past.
But he moved on to happier memories. “When I was a kid, I used to write the Sonata’s notes all over the place in black pen. On train seats. Bathroom stalls. Café tables. My dad would beat me, when he realized I did it.”
“Did it stop you?”
“Of course not.”
I laughed a little.
“Those notes are imprinted in my head. I ended up having everyone love the song too. Rafael. My mother.” He paused for a second and then continued, “She wanted me to play it for her funeral, but. . .I never got the chance. I was in jail for that time.”
And even if he had been free, he wouldn’t have been able to play it.
He sighed. “I’m sorry. That’s not where I was going with that. I was trying to hit a lighter note.”
“I want to know everything that. . .you’re comfortable with talking about.”
“Still, I was trying to make a special request.”
I quirked my eyebrows. “A special request?”
“Yes. You’re no longer my personal violinist fuck toy.”
“That was my job title before?” I grinned.
“With a couple of nasty additions. Now you’re free to do what you want. Although, I would love to hear you play from time to time.”
“Of course.” I slipped my fingers along his arm. “Do you want me to play Strauss’s Sonata.”
“It would be nice to put a good memory to that song. You playing naked in front of me would be perfect.”
“Oh. Now I’m playing the song naked?”
“Yes. That was how I envisioned it.”
I giggled.
“Why would you play the sonata any other way?”
“Fair point.”
And then he devoured my mouth, and there was no more reason to discuss anything else.
We kissed with the energy of new lovers. We explored our bodies but didn’t slip into sex. Instead, we fell asleep in each other’s arms with music playing around us.
Chapter 2
Here Comes The Sun
Jean-Pierre
Movement woke me from my sleep. I groaned and reached out into the darkness, grabbing Eden.
Eden giggled and whispered to me, “I was leaving the bed.”
“I thought I told you that you’re not allowed to leave.” Selfish, I pulled her closer to me and closed my eyes. All it took was one inhale of her scent, and I knew I wouldn’t return back to sleep. “Stay.”
“I’m going to miss the sun rise, if you don’t let go.”
I grumbled and nuzzled against her softness. “You want to see the sun again?”
“Yes. It’s Paris.” She moved against me, slipping her soft fingertips along my face. “Let me go, please. I’ll be right back.”
Groaning, I yanked the covers off us, rose from bed and dragged myself toward the balcony doors.
She followed. “You can go back to sleep.”
“But then I’ll be rubbing my cock against the bed like an addict waiting for you to return.”
She smiled.
I grunted. “Ne Souris pas la sirène.”
“Now I’m back to siren?” she asked.
“For this morning.” I grabbed her hand and walked over to the balcony doors. I was still rubbing sleep from my eyes, when Eden moved the curtains away. I opened the door and led us out.
“Wow,” she whispered and stepped over to the railing. “I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to this view.”
Instead of the sky, I watched her. She was more beautiful than Paris anyway. Waking up completely, I drank in the glow in her hazel eyes. I relished in the spark of light bathing her skin. A cool breeze blew through her curly hair and brought her scent my way.
“This is a perfect sunrise.” She turned to me. “Any regrets?”
“None whatsoever.” I held her in my arms and turned to the sky for the first time.
The sun slowly rose, painting rays of light here, and there. And below, Paris came alive.
Eden looped her fingers with mine, grabbing my attention.
How could I not adore her more than the sun, or anything else?
Eden’s gaze remained on the horizon. And my view stayed on her. I loved everything about her. The way her lashes decorated her eyes—dark, long, and thick. The way the new morning sunbathed her body. The way it glowed a halo around her, as if she was an angel.
She was an enchanting sight to behold.
“Thank you for dragging me out of bed.” I landed a kiss on her forehead. “I’m lucky that I get this view every morning.”
For years, I’d been alone in this penthouse. For years, I’d never even come out on the balcony, or even cared to see the sun. Now I wondered why.
I didn’t know any better. I’d been alone for so long.
Even in my marriage, I’d been alone. It just took me too long to realize it. Looking back at my only marriage and all my ex-wife’s infidelities, I’d never found love.
Eden had transformed my solitude into something more.
Holding her close, my body awakened with desire. I hadn’t fucked her before we slept, although I’d craved her body. In the hot tub, I’d gone hard on her, spreading that sexy body and bending it to my will.