“I love you too. Now let’s get ready for dinner.”
We got ready in our separate rooms and Jake came over while I was finishing up my makeup. His naughtiness resurfaced when I asked him to help me zip up the rest of my dress. Rather than helping me, he unzipped my dress, and draped his cold hands onto my body. He hands quickly crept up the front side while kissing the back of my neck. I turned to face him and tried to loosen his grip. He had a strong hold on me as he continued to caress my neck with his lips. There was no use fighting this battle, as he was much stronger. Using this as an excuse, I gave into both our desires. His hands traced over my back while his lips traveled to my chin. My hands wrapped around his neck and I brought his head up to join our lips.
Without a fight, my little black dress fell to the ground.
At this point my mind waged war on my body. Should I see this all the way through or should I stop Jake now? My body quivered, “Yes!” My mind retaliated with a “No!” Ugh. What a war this was. I wanted my body to win, but my mind was still stronger. I sighed! I’d been patient up until now, what was a bit longer till I got married? My mind won.
“Jake!” I pleaded. “Jake? Honey? Please, don’t.” My weak plea did nothing to alter his determination. My body was hoping it wouldn’t. Now that the dress was off, his lips and hands ran amok.
I would try once more and figured if this didn’t work, I’d concede to both of our desires.
“Jake…I’d really like to honor my mom’s wish and stay a virgin till I get married. Please?” I begged one last time.
That stopped him in his tracks. He acquiesced grudgingly. He let me go and walked away while I got back in my dress and finished getting ready.
He muttered something that sounded like, “I gotta get this done soon.” He was probably trying to find some other way to woo me into bed.
Dinner at the Eiffel Tower was almost as spectacular as the view. We could see striking views of the city with many impressions of the tower’s intricate metal latticework. It was unbelievable to think that three hundred men built this structure in one year.
“Did you know,” I said while taking a bite of my grilled sea scallop, “that Sarah and I didn’t have time to visit the Eiffel Tower when we were in Paris?”
“Why not?” Jake asked, while enjoying his pan-seared veal with crispy spinach.
“Well, it was our last night in Paris, and we decided to splurge and go have a meal at Guy Savoy. Our meal took almost four hours and by the time we were done, the tower was closed. I’m glad we got to come today. We’ll have to take a picture and e-mail it to Sarah.”
When we got back in the car the driver took us on a scenic tour of the city. We saw the tower lit up from the ground, and we followed the Seine into the Rive Gauche. Revelers sat outside cafes and brasseries on Boulevard St. Germain des Pres sipping their lattes and grabbing a bite to eat. On the way back, our driver came up the Rive Droit and drove through Champs Elysees again.
“Today was beyond a doubt the most perfect day I could’ve imagined. I’d be content to go home tomorrow, it was so ideal. Thank you, Jake.”
Jake looked satisfied that I was happy.
“So what’s on tap for tomorrow?” I asked with a smile. “How could you possibly top today?”
“You start your day with more cooking classes. In fact, there’s a cooking class every morning for you at 6:30 a.m. They’ll take you through their entire program in the week that we’re here.”
“Are you serious?” My arms and legs flailed up and down in excitement as we walked back into the hotel. A few hotel guests turned around to see the crazy American.
“If you want to do it, show up at the Escoffier school by 6:30 every morning.”
We stood outside my door and I asked Jake what he planned on doing while I was at my cooking class.
“I’ll be asleep. You can bring me breakfast every morning when you’re done.”
“Deal!” I said. “I’m so excited, I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”
“Glad you like it. Go in and rest. You have an early morning,” Jake said kissing my lips.
“Aren’t you coming in?”
“I’m only coming in if you let me stay. I won’t have the willpower to leave tonight.”
My mind fought with my body again. I sighed and let him go.
“Good night,” I murmured, while kissing him back.
Today was truly the most magical day, and could have only been better if Jake had proposed. With such a romantic setting as the Eiffel Tower, Jake might have been encouraged to propose again if my first rejection hadn’t scared him off. Oh well. I shouldn’t dwell on it. I appreciated what I had now.
The alarm went off at 6:00 a.m., and without any struggle, my body gleefully got up and got ready for cooking class. I put on a pair of jeans, a T-shirt, and the Ritz apron I received yesterday. In class, there were two other students ready for our intensive lesson.