From the corner of my eye, I observed an older man watching me and Livvie. I wouldn’t have noticed him, except he was alone and without shopping bags—or anything in his hands at all. He caught me watching and tilted his head in greeting before turning to look at a window display. I warily pulled my attention back toward Livvie. The old man wasn’t anyone I knew and he hardly looked dangerous. I had left the world of intrigue behind. Old men were only old men.
“Paris? You are so damn sweet when you want to be. I’ve already been to Paris though—last year.” She bounced as she walked happily. “I can probably get the time off work, though. It’s late for requests, but Giovanni is pretty good about that kind of thing. I’m a student, so I don’t think he expects too much out of me.”
“Giovanni—is he handsome?” She seemed surrounded by men sometimes: Reed, Marco, Rubio, and now Giovanni.
“Only in that tall, dark, and foreign kind of way. Not my cuppa, really.” She grinned.
“Asshole.” I swatted her ass as we walked. People were beginning to stare at us while we walked. I thought of the old man and started to feel better about him watching us. It was more than possible that Livvie and I were simply drawing attention to ourselves. Some people even seemed to enjoy our antics. “Anyway, I know you’ve been to Paris before. I read about it in that email you sent to your friend.”
“Don’t remind me,” Livvie said.
“I am reminding you. It didn’t seem like you had very much fun while you were in Paris. You were lonely and some bastard stole your wallet. I thought we could go together and make new memories. I’ve never really played the tourist before. It could be fun. What do you think?” I took several swallows of coffee, pleased it had sufficiently cooled.
Livvie’s eyes told me all I needed to know. They were bright and excited.
“I think… you’re amazing, James. No one makes me as happy as you do.” She hooked her arm in mine and rested her head on my arm. She let out a little sigh of contentment that warmed me better than the coffee.
“It’s settled then. I’ll make all the arrangements. We’ll stay at the best hotel and eat at the best restaurants. We’ll see all the best things and have the best sex.” I was shockingly giddy. I’d never been the type before. I tried not to overthink it despite the niggling worry always running in the background of my thoughts that warned me how dangerous happiness could be.
“And I’ll be with the best boyfriend ever!” Livvie did a little hop and spilled coffee onto her mitt and sleeve. “Ah, boo! My glove is all wet. Oh well, at least it didn’t burn my hand.”
We stopped at the next trash bin and tossed the coffee. Livvie stood still as I wiped her off as best I could with my gloved hands. Once finished, I pulled off my gloves and put them in the garbage along with hers.
“That’s the first time you’ve called me your boyfriend,” I mentioned softly. “We’ll buy new gloves in that shop over there.” I pointed. “It wouldn’t hurt to find some outfits for Paris. I rather like the idea of you in lingerie.” I bent down and kissed her lips. Livvie took it upon herself to deepen our affections by cupping the back of my head and pressing her lips once, twice, three times against my own until I opened my mouth to her tongue.
Livvie’s kisses had gone from shy to ravenous during the course of our relationship. I was surprised to discover my growing taste for Livvie’s forwardness. She’d had such a demure nature in the past and I’d loved to play The Wolf to her Little Red Riding Hood. I hoisted her up into my arms and she wrapped her legs around my waist. A mother hurried her children past and called us disgusting. I grabbed Livvie’s ass and squeezed before I pulled away from the kiss and set her down. I tugged my coat down.
“I’d only kiss my boyfriend like that,” she panted and giggled. I gave her one more kiss and managed to keep it chaste.
“I accept. These lips officially belong to me, and mine they will remain. If I find them anywhere near another man, he better be kin to you.” I was entirely serious.
“You manage to say the most romantic things in the creepiest way possible. If I didn’t know you, I’d be scared of you,” she said with a smile and a wink.
“Oh, I’m still scary.”
“Not to me,” she whispered. I felt a little pinch in my chest.
“It’s only acceptable from you.” I tilted my chin toward the shop I had mentioned earlier. “Should we do some actual shopping on this shopping trip or are we only out to pervert young children?”
“Can’t we do both?” she said with such seriousness I had to struggle to keep a straight face. Did other couples banter as much? I didn’t think so.