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“I’m in character, Eva. Don’t ruin it for me.”

“Dare I ask who you’re playing?”

“A 1920s Parisian who is trying to win the affection of the most beautiful woman he’s ever laid eyes on.”

She throws her head back and laughs uninhibitedly. I can’t help but join her.

Matis is waiting for us when we get downstairs. “Mr. Bertini. Miss Harlow. Your car is here. Follow me.”

The car takes us directly to the restaurant, though Eva might think it’s a pit stop at a landmark.

I get out of the car first and offer her my hand.

She smiles up at the Eiffel Tower in awe. “Wow. It’s beautiful.”

I glance down at my watch. “Just wait until dusk in about an hour. It’ll be even better. Though where we are going might make that difficult to see.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Let’s go. I’ll show you.”

I usher her closer to the tower. Her neck cranes to keep looking at its height. At the south end of the tower, we walk up the stairs, and I open the door.

We are greeted by friendly staff. “Good evening. Name, please.”

“Roman Bertini.”

The girl’s eyes widen at my name. I’m paying to make sure we get the service Eva deserves. I’m sure the staff has been told to treat us like royalty.

“Right this way, Mr. Bertini.”

We ride the elevator in the southern pillar up to the second-floor restaurant in the Eiffel Tower.

“There’s a restaurant inside of here?” Eva whispers as she links our hands together.

“There is. Care to spend the evening with me in the heart of Paris?”

She looks at me, eyes wide in disbelief. For a moment, she doesn’t say anything, just stares at me like she might be seeing me in a new light.

Her features soften as her mouth curves into a smile. “You set all of this up?”

I offer a small shrug, suddenly slightly self-conscious, like my heart is being exposed without my permission.

“I seriously underestimated you,” she says as we step off the elevator.

That makes me smile. As terrifying as it all is, I like that she doesn’t just see me as a grumpy billionaire without a romantic bone in his body.

The hostess escorts us to a corner of the restaurant, where there is a table tucked away from everyone else, right by the window. I pull a seat out for Eva, then take my own seat across from her.

“Your waiter will be with you shortly,” our hostess informs us, then leaves us alone.

Eva looks out the window, the steel of the tower surrounding us. I let her take it all in.

“Wow,” she breathes. “Thank you for this. It’s incredible.”

Two hours go by, and it feels like five minutes. We’ve eaten seven courses, laughed, drunk wine, and watched the sun go down over Paris.

We walk out onto the viewing deck together. The wind hits the moment we step out, sharp and restless. It tugs at her hair and cuts through my jacket with the kind of chill only height can deliver.

I begin to lean against the railing, but she corners me, pressing her lips against mine. With her hands in my hair, she kisses me with searing intensity.

My mouth moves against hers, and our tongues tangle together insistently.

I need her more than I need my next breath.

The time it takes to pay the check and take the car back to the hotel is excruciating.

As soon as we are in the room, I’m barking orders.

“Get your ass to that bedroom. Right. Now.”

I follow her there, unzipping her dress along the way. When she spins around to face me, she pulls the straps off her shoulders and lets it fall to her feet.

She now stands in front of me in red lace underwear and clear sky-high heels. Red lipstick still stains her plump lips.

Something comes over me. I want to worship every single inch of her tonight.

“Lie down on the bed for me,” I say through the thickness in my throat.

She does as I asked while I strip myself down to my boxers. I grab her right foot, noticing the light-pink nail polish on her delicate toes. I press my lips against the center of her toes, then move to the arch of her foot.

She watches me, her breaths becoming shallow. My lips move up her shin to her inner thigh. Every couple of kisses, I gently press my tongue against her skin.

I move along her bikini line, kissing around her panties. Then move to the other side and make my way back down to her other foot.

She is starting to writhe and squirm beneath me, but I’m undeterred. I want to taste all of her.

I climb over her and kiss her lips for a fleeting moment, then move down her neck to her collarbone. Her shoulder. Her arm. Hand. Fingers. Then repeat it all on the other side.

“Roman,” she pants when I make it back up to her collarbone.

“Yes, baby?” I respond softly, then pull back her bra and suck her nipple into my mouth.

She lets out a soft, breathy sound. Half moan, half sigh. I do the same thing to her other nipple.

Once I’ve had my fill of her breasts, I trail kisses down her belly, skimming her side and hip until I land at the top of her panties. I tease around the edge as I scoot down between her legs, licking the area around her panties.

“Roman, please. I need …”

“Tell me, what do you need from me?”

“You.”

“What part of me do you need, baby?” I drawl slowly, enjoying the effect I’m having on her now.

“You, Roman. I need you inside of me,” she replies in a plea, like if I don’t honor her request, she might lose it.

She’s not the only one hanging on by a thread. I strip myself of my boxers and brace myself on top of her, elbows on the bed. She grabs my dick and places it at her entrance. I push in all the way in one fast thrust.

We moan in unison, my forehead meeting hers. Fear begins to choke me as the strength of my feelings for her hit me. I push them aside, looking down at her innocent eyes. Right now, I’m going to enjoy every second of my time with her in this beautiful city.