Page 8 of All the Gossip from Paris (Royal Fashion #2)
CHAPTER SEVEN
A short time later there was a gentle knock at the door of the suite. Sophie set down her drink and hurried to answer it. In the entrance stood a woman in a black suit. She held four large black and white Saks Fifth Avenue department store bags in her hands.
“My apologies for the delay Ms. Royal. But I took the liberty to go looking for a few extra pieces.”
There was a reason why high end hotels were able to charge the prices they did. The front of house team at Royal Resorts was paid to anticipate their guests every need.
Sophie followed the woman over to the dining table, eagerly opening the first of the bags as soon as it had been set down.
“Did you want me to wait while the gentleman tries the clothes on?” asked the woman.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’m sure they will all fit.”
She wasn’t going to make mention of the fact that the gentleman in question had disappeared the second she’d gone to open the door.
“Well then, please let me know if you need anything else. We are here to ensure your stay is a comfortable one.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your efforts.”
She escorted the staff member to the door. As soon as she had closed it, Sophie grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie from the dining room table. After tearing off the price tags, she went in search of Liam.
He was standing in the main bedroom gazing out the window taking in the New York City lights when Sophie walked through the door. Memories of what Camille had said about Ryan being uncomfortable with having expensive clothes given to him, had her approaching Liam with care and caution.
“They managed to find some clothes for you. I will leave them here.” She waited until he’d turned around before laying the garments on the bed. “Take your time trying them on. If anything doesn’t fit, we can ask the team to change it.”
His gaze settled on the clothes. “So how does this work? I mean, I wear them tonight and they go back to the store tomorrow?”
It took all her strength not to laugh at such a preposterous notion. The idea of returning clothes once they’d been worn was out of the question. More recollections of what her sister had said about her and Ryan’s early fashion exchanges slipped into Sophie’s mind.
Ryan didn’t want to feel like he was a kept man.
From what she’d understood things had become a little strained when the press and social media had gone ahead and branded Ryan as Camille’s cute toyboy.
“The clothes are yours Liam. Consider them a gift from a member of Camille’s family. No strings attached. Just me being a friend.”
That didn’t sound at all weird now, did it?
“I don’t wish to appear ungrateful or rude, Sophie. Believe me that is the last thing I would want. It’s just that I’m a bit uncomfortable with all this …”
He pulled his hands out from where they’d been stuffed into his jeans pockets, and waved them in the direction of the designer garments.
“I usually buy my clothes from outlet stores or at Walmart. The labels I own are not the sort of ones you’d find in a department store.
Especially not one which offers after hours sales service. ”
Liam had his pride. Who was she to try and take it from him? To buy him.
“I tell you what. If you don’t feel right taking the clothes I’ve bought you, how about we make a trade.”
A trade was the only thing that made any sense. The last thing she wanted was for Liam to feel like he’d been pressured into accepting her gift. If they did agree on an exchange, then hopefully he wouldn’t feel like it was all one sided. That she was taking his power.
“What sort of trade?” he asked.
“Well. I. Um.” Sophie thought for a moment. What could Liam possibly offer her that she couldn’t just go and buy for herself?
Ah. Of course. I don’t want a thing. I want him.
“You are a photographer, and in exchange for you accepting these clothes …”
“Yes.”
“I would like you to photograph me.”
* * *
Before he’d had the chance to offer up his reply, Sophie had scooped up the clothes and shoved them into his arms. Liam staggered back a step.
One of his mother’s favorite movies was Titanic. Liam had sat and watched it with her more times that he cared to admit. So when Sophie mentioned the idea of him photographing her, he was left to wonder if she meant like the heroine had wanted Jack to do.
Like one of your French girls. In the nude.
“When you say photograph you …” he began.
Sophie was a strikingly beautiful woman. The idea of seeing her naked was tempting. Very tempting. Who knew where it could lead. But he’d learned that making assumptions was a dangerous thing for a man to do.
“What exactly do you mean Sophie?”
Sophie’s brows furrowed for a moment, and then her eyes went wide. She laughed. “Oh, no I don’t mean that sort of photography. I meant with clothes on.”
Her cheeks had gone bright red. Liam’s heart went out to her. He’d made her uncomfortable. If he didn’t do something and quick, this evening could end before it began.
He glanced at the clothes in his arms. “I should go put these on. Once I’m back we could settle in the living room, and discuss my photographic services.”
“Ok, see you soon. I’ll also go change,” she replied, then quickly left the room. The second the door clicked shut, Liam let go of the breath he’d been holding.
His heart was racing as his mind conjured up visions of what Sophie’s naked breasts might look like. He licked his lips. How good would it feel to run his tongue over those tight little buds? Would she like them to be teased gently or sucked hard?
“Fuck. I am in serious trouble here,” he muttered. She might not be asking him to photograph her naked tonight, but there was still a good chance that they’d end up tangled together in the expensive bed sheets.
He began weighing up the pros and cons of making a move on Sophie. The yes vote was currently miles ahead in the polls.
But first things first. The sooner he got out of his tight jeans the better.
* * *
After grabbing her travel bag Sophie retreated to the relative safety of the second bedroom.
Relative because while it afforded her a private space in which to change, she soon realized that having two bedrooms posed a different problem.
If she didn’t play her cards right, she might end up sleeping alone in one of them.
There was a reason why some of her favorite romance novels included the good old trusty plot device of ‘there is only one bed.’
I wonder how upset my American cousins would be if I accidently burned one of their hotel beds.
She was surprised as to how horny she was feeling tonight. Her body thrummed with unsated need. Desires that had long lain dormant following her painful breakup with her ex now flared, hot and ready.
Slipping out of her skirt, then unbuttoning the light silk blouse only made things worse. Her teeth pressed into her bottom lip as she trailed her finger over the bare flesh of her stomach. A gentle pulse beat in her core. She hooked her thumbs into her panties. Down. Down. And off.
Reaching for her leisure pants, Sophie made herself a promise. If Liam decided to be a gentleman tonight, the second she got the chance, she’d treat herself to a long hot bath. In the warm water, she’d take care of her aching needs.
That’s the last time I forget to pack my little bag of toys.
She pulled a top out of her bag, but instead of putting it on, she set it aside. If she was going to let Liam know that she was up for a night of sex with no strings attached, she had to play it smart.
A light cotton t-shirt was the obvious answer. It was comfortable. And with no bra underneath, it would clung tight enough for her hardened nipples to be on display.
Running her fingers through her hair, Sophie gently tussled it into a messy look. In the bedroom mirror, she considered her appearance. She looked like she’d just been for a roll in the hay. Bed mussed, but not fully sated.
Perfect.
“Sexy and ready for one more round,” she whispered.
Now she just had to hope that Liam saw things the same way she did. A night of fun, with no consequences.
After tomorrow’s fashion show, she’d be on a plane back to France, and Liam would go on to his next photographic assignment. And when their paths eventually crossed again sometime in the future, she’d simply just tell him that she’d never meant to hold him to the deal about taking her photo.
Sophie’s mind was clear. Whatever happened over the next few hours, tomorrow morning she’d say goodbye to Liam. She would check out of this hotel suite and not look back. This was a night for no regrets.