I’m meeting Paul for lunch, and I can’t wait to tell him all that’s happened.
We’ve been trying to meet during the day too, but it doesn’t always happen. Dad has him working like a horse.
I’ve seen Dad four times since he came to Paul’s house, and if he suspects that we’re together, he’s not giving any secrets away. Not to me, anyway.
He acts like normal with me.
As I cross the street, I see Paul waiting for me in the little café. We came here yesterday too. It was convenient, as it’s in between work and the SkinCeuticals office.
He’s dressed in a white button-down shirt with black pants that fit him elegantly. I like seeing him like that sometimes. It steps away from the bad boy image.
He smiles when he lifts his head and sees me, and I practically skip over to him and into his arms when he stands up to greet me.
Without thinking, we kiss. He kisses me, and I realize it’s the first time we’ve ever kissed in such a public place. The Dark Odyssey doesn’t really count since anybody who goes there who isn’t someone we don’t already know isn’t likely to recognize us.
When he pulls away, his lips part as he seems to realize what we just did.
“Oh, sorry…” he says, but he doesn’t release me. He continues to cup my face. “I was just happy to see you. I forgot where we are.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.”
“Good… because that felt great, and I want to do it again.” He leans forward and kisses me again.
I smile against his lips. “I missed you,” I tell him.
We’re the lovesick couple. We are. The ones who people look at and either love or hate. I just saw this man four hours ago, I woke in his arms, and we’re talking like we haven’t seen each other in years.
“I missed you too,” he answers. “We have all kinds of wild plans for later.”
“We do?” Arousal tickles my insides at the thought of later. We’ve been doing so many things. Each more interesting than the last. I wonder what he has in store for us tonight.
“What are we doing?”
“I think it’s time to go a little darker, don’t you think?” The darkness that he speaks of flashes in his eyes.
“Darker? Paul, you’re going to have to be a little clearer than that.” I chuckle. I know what he means, but I’m teasing.
“You’ll see what I mean later, baby. Just remember the safe word.”
“Red,” I answer, and he nods.
“Good girl. I think we’ll need a few days together again at the club.”
“I agree.”
He chuckles and pulls out a chair for me to sit next to him. I sit, and he lowers next to me, brushing his knee against mine.
“How did your meeting go?” he asks.
“Perfect. I still can’t believe it. I’m going to have my own skin care line, and my own business. I’m so happy,” I bubble.
He smiles wide at that, pleased for me. “I’m proud of you, baby.”
“It’s exciting. I’ve always worked for somebody, and now I’m preparing to work for myself and have my own thing.”
“It’s very different. Not that I’d know. I think my line of work, though, needs me to be aligned with a company like your father’s.”
“Yes, but you’re Paul. You can do anything. I’m sure if you wanted to, you wouldn’t need to work for Dad.”