Page 10 of All the Gossip from Paris (Royal Fashion #2)

CHAPTER NINE

Curling up in bed with a man, and watching TV post-sex was an entirely new experience for Sophie.

Her ex hated the whole concept of post-coital touching.

The moment sex was over, Patrice was out of her bed and straight in the shower.

After that he’d be dressed and headed for the stairs, car keys in hand with barely a ‘bonne nuit’ as he departed.

She would be left sitting semi-naked on her bed listening to his car revving at high speed. Then would come the all too familiar sound of stones scattering as Patrice’s super charged Peugeot hurtled down the chateau’s long driveway.

Tonight with Liam was so very different from her past disappointing experiences with men.

After their amazing sex on the couch, he brought her into the bedroom and lay her on the bed.

He then proceeded to worship her with his teeth and tongue.

By the time he’d finally shown her how to carefully slip a condom over his piercing, Sophie had been all but gagging for him to fuck her hard and fast.

But unlike the first time, Liam had been slow and thorough for their second entanglement.

He’d let her experience just how mind blowing and amazing an orgasm that a man who had an Apadravya piercing could give a woman.

Until now, she’d never understood the allure of cock piercing.

After having had her G-spot so masterfully stroked, Sophie was a total convert.

Adding warmth to her thoroughly pleasured body, Liam had readily agreed to stay the night.

While she’d been busy brushing her hair in the bathroom, he’d dried off and got dressed. By the time she returned to the master bedroom, Liam had created a comfortable space on the bed, piled high with pillows. He’d opened a bottle of champagne, and poured them both a glass.

Sophie stood in the doorway for a moment quietly studying Liam.

He might well look like any other guy, relaxing on the bed in his soft casual clothes. But he’d shown her the sexy beast which lurked beneath the surface. She bit down on her bottom lip recalling the moment she’d broken through to the best orgasm of her life.

Oblivious to her thoughts, Liam was busy pressing the TV remote. Flicking through various channels. “I know it’s already well after midnight and Camille’s fashion show is on later today, but I thought we could watch something,” he said.

The leisurewear looked good on him. But she could admit to the loss of seeing his stunning array of tattoos. Her fingers itched to trace the intricate lines of the inkwork once more.

I’d love to ask him the story of each one.

They hadn’t known one another all that long, but Liam didn’t strike her as the sort of guy who would just go and get ink for the sake of it. Any tattoo would have to hold some special meaning for him. Have its own story.

She glanced at the television. Liam was still slowly clicking through shows. When the Great British Bake Off popped up on screen, Sophie exclaimed. “Oh, j'adore cette série!”

Cooking shows, especially baking ones, were her secret pleasure.

There was nothing better than watching other people create wonders in the kitchen.

She especially enjoyed the programs where the chefs were not professionals.

She could relate to the need for having a private passion taken seriously by others.

“Did you really want to watch this?” he asked. Liam’s voice was flat. Almost pained.

Cooking wasn’t everyone’s joy. But Sophie sensed there was more to his reluctance than just a disinterest in the show.

I can watch this at home anytime.

She only had one night with this wonderful man, and she wasn’t going to mess it up on account of a TV show.

He let out a sigh. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be a pain. My ex fiancée was a chef. We used to sit and watch this show. Pardon the pun, but I’ve kinda lost my appetite for cooking programs.”

Ah. That made sense. She couldn’t imagine having to relive those sorts of private moments with a stranger. Tonight might have been an intimate encounter, but it didn’t mean they were about to share the trauma of their past love lives with each other.

So Liam was once engaged. I wonder what happened.

“Well, what shows do you like to watch? I’m pretty much open to anything at this hour of the night,” replied Sophie.

He flicked through a few more channels. When Suits came on, Liam paused. She waited for him to continue clicking onto the next program. Instead he gave her a sheepish look. “Have you ever watched this show?”

A hearty laugh escaped her lips. “Liam Collins, don’t tell me you’re a Harvey Spector fan!”

He climbed off the bed and took a hold of her, wrapping his arm about her waist. When Liam placed a kiss on the nape of her neck, Sophie groaned. She could get used to being held this way. To knowing that the man she was with could let his guard down and simply enjoy himself.

“Harvey is a legend. Though I’m more interested in the vinyl record collection he has in his office. Not to mention the special edition basketballs he has on the window ledge,” said Liam.

Turning in his embrace, Sophie rested her hand over Liam’s heart. “Lucky for us I have a thing for a man in a well cut suit. And I suppose since it is set in New York City, it’s the perfect show for us to watch tonight.”

Liam screwed up his face. “Actually it was mostly filmed in Canada. Just don’t tell the rest of the folks here in NYC,” he replied.

“Really?”

“Yeah, and so was the one about the hedge fund billionaire. I loved that one too.”

“A word of warning. If you ever meet one of the males of the Royal family, don’t mention that show to them. My father and brothers all said it was so lame,” snorted Sophie.

A quizzical look appeared briefly on Liam’s face. “Oh god! It must be weird watching a show where the actors pretend to be billionaires. Cos you guys are actually real billionaires.”

“I think it had a lot to do with how badly they behaved. How they were able to get around the law so easily. I’m not sure how it works in America, but if my family did half the things they did on that showthey’d all be in prison. Or bankrupt. Or both.”

Freeing the remote from Liam’s grasp she tossed it onto the bed, then announced. “I’m going to order us both a hot chocolate from the late night dining menu. Along with one of those huge American cookies.”

Camille was always talking about the monstrous sized cookies that could be found in New York City. Sophie wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

“I suppose we did both work up a bit of an appetite just now. And hot chocolate sounds good. Hopefully it will put us both to sleep,” said Liam.

Sophie picked up the bedside phone and called room service.

* * *

Liam studied the large chocolate chip cookie in his hand. He was in bed in a luxury hotel suite, wearing expensive leisurewear, and sipping hot chocolate. Seated beside him was the beautiful French woman, who had shown him a night of passion he wouldn’t ever forget.

The TV show was still playing but he wasn’t paying it any attention. His thoughts were focused on one thing. That after today, there was a good chance he wouldn’t ever see Sophie again.

A crushing sadness threatened to overwhelm him.

There’d been plenty of women after his engagement with Brooke had ended. Dozens of one night stands. Most of them were hard and fast encounters. All of them meaningless.

Yet tonight with Sophie had touched him. Deeply.

She was bold, dare he say fearless. The aura of confidence she wore, had Liam thoroughly captivated. And as much as he tried to tell himself this was purely about sex, he couldn’t quite convince himself that it was true.

He kept stealing glances at her. The last time he’d done it, he’d found her doing the exact same thing. They’d exchanged silly embarrassed giggles.

Now, staring at the cookie in his hand, Liam found himself recalling happier times with his ex-fiancée.

Cookies and hot chocolate. That was the life he’d always assumed he and Brooke would be sharing.

But she was now married to someone else.

To Liam’s former best friend. The guy she’d cheated on him with.

Stop it. Remember you promised you wouldn’t think about her. About them.

“So how long are you planning to stay in New York? Are you going to be here for a little while longer,” he asked.

Stupid question. This was meant to be a one-time only thing between them. She lived in Paris, and he was always getting on planes that took him to far flung places.

Cue the splash of cold water on his hopes.

Sophie set down her cup of cocoa, and lay back against the enormous pile of pillows. “Mama and Papa have declared this is a lightning visit. We will watch Cami’s show. Then we’ll be back on the jet and headed to Paris tonight.”

The Royal family didn’t travel by ordinary plane—no they flew in a private jet. Liam couldn’t begin to imagine what that sort of luxury looked like, though the hotel suite gave him a big enough clue. It would be amazing.

These people never had to sit in cattle-class. They didn’t line up for the one or two toilets which hadn’t broken mid-flight. And he doubted they’d ever heard those dreaded words ‘I’m sorry but we are fresh out of the chicken meal.’

“That’s a long way to come for just one night in New York,” said Liam.

“Yes, it is. But the seats on the jet convert to beds. So we will sleep on the flight home if we’re tired.”

She said it in such a matter of fact way that Liam had to bite back a laugh. He was still thinking of how different a life he and she lived, when Sophie plucked his half eaten cookie out of his hands. Picking up both the cups she disappeared out of the room.

Liam was still wondering what Sophie was up to, when she finally returned to the bedroom. One look at her naked body gave him all the clues he would need. She was ready for round three.

He was more than willing to deliver.