Once is Never Enough

ONCE IS NEVER ENOUGH BY RACHEL CADE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ONCE IS NEVER ENOUGH Copyright © 2006 by Rachel Cade ISBN: 159836-263-1 Cover Art © 2006 by Steve Cook All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without permission, except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. Printed and bound in the United States of America. Dedication: To Paris, may its beauty and mystery last another thousand years. Chapter One Toni felt ridiculous as she got ready for the D'Ambrose's dinner party. Despite being asked to go as well, her boss and associate had ditched her for better company hours before. As she'd watched the French brothers down more than five people's fair share of wine, ogle and pinch women the night before, she openly cringed at the thought of being their exclusive company. Here she was in an expensive hotel in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and all she wanted to do was spend the evening with a tall bottle of wine and blissfully drift off into drunken stupor. Alcohol had been more of a friend lately. Actually it had been more like a lover. Showing up during the day at work to alleviate tension, or in the middle of the night as it snuggled deep within her, keeping her warm. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, she saw a woman she hadn't even known she'd turned into. She was a powerful woman, though. She'd scraped for years working three jobs to put herself through school, and now six years later, she was at the top of her game. She'd broken through the glass ceiling and now everyday she sat at the executive table of Jaren-Brown Advertising. The only woman. A small smile came to her lips as she recalled her achievements. She’d also made many sacrifices to break through that ceiling. Perhaps too many. A string of bad, and almost good relationships littered her past. Her younger sister had nearly drawn blood from her ears as she shrieked and jumped when she'd told her she was going on a free trip to Paris. Yeah Paris, this must be the executive’s version. Staring at the Eiffel Tower, and other various landmarks, from an office window. But even those visions were better than the one she was looking at now. She ran her fingers though her short, dark brown hair. It was a little longer than she usually wore it considering she had been working day and night to get ideas going to try and figure out something to satisfy the two eccentric clients she had. But she'd promised herself when she got back to L.A. that she was seeking out Kendra and getting her hair done. She had to prop herself up on a stick to keep from falling asleep. When had her life gotten like this, she thought, as she held her head back and dropped Visine™ into her eyes. When had work taken over and consumed her so much that there was no time for fun or joy? Maybe when she got back to L.A. she would try to spend more time

with her family. Drop back the schedule a bit. It was not the first time that thought had gone through her brain. Several times before she had realized how much work had pretty much consumed her life, coming to the conclusion that she needed to cut back a little. But she didn’t, in fact when she’d tried, she’d almost lost her mind. Wondering if she did less work, if she kept doing twice as much as her male counterparts did, would she be fired? Probably not, but she wouldn’t feel as good about herself or her performance. And that was probably worse. She looked at the three dresses on her bed, all purchased it seemed, with at least some thought of man snagging in the back of her head. Red, white and black, were her choices. She opted for the white, which was a gauze Marilyn Monroe type dress that stopped just above the knees. It was the longest one she had so it was going to have to do. The last thing she wanted was for them to think she was trying to flirt. She cringed again. A quarter to seven. How did she always manage to lose track of time even when she thought she was paying attention? They were sending a car to pick her up. She grabbed her purse and hesitated as her bare toes hit the strappy, white mules she was about to put on. They were rather high, weren't they? At five ten she always hesitated with the stiletto heels. These in particular were going to put her at well over six feet. A knock at her door prompted her to put on the shoes anyway. A half hour later she found herself once again staring at the city through a window. This time it was the window of a silver limousine, complete with appetizers and champagne in the back. If her destination had been someplace else she might have actually enjoyed the ride. She sat back adjusting her fly away skirt and found herself closing her eyes. When they opened, the first thing that caught her eye was the horizon. The setting sun had turned the sky a blaze with a series of reds, yellows and oranges. Only warm summer sunsets were like this. And it looked so amazing against the greenest hills she'd ever seen. Wait a minute...hills? She bolted up in her seat. "Excuse me?” She called to the driver again, "Excuse me?" It took a moment for her to realize he couldn't hear her and that she'd have to use the phone beside her. "Oui, Madam?" "Where are we going?" "The D'Ambrose Villa, Madam." Villa? They didn't say anything about a villa. "Where is that?" she asked. "We are no less than a mile away." Toni cleared her throat, "Thank you." And placed the phone quietly back down on the receiver. The villa that belonged to Francois and Honore D'Ambrose might as well have only belonged in a portrait designed by some fine artist’s hand. Everything from the landscape to the coral shingles of the roof were touched by perfection. A man she couldn't recall seeing before stood at the bottom of the

stairs. As she stepped out of the limo with the help of the chauffeur, she was dismayed when a stout breeze came along and threatened to cause her light gauze dress to fly upwards. She quickly managed to keep it down with a desperate move of her hand. "Thanks." she said, offering the driver a gentle smile as his gloved hand took hers. The man, who she realized was the butler, came toward her. She stood before him as he gave a soft bow. "Good evening, Ms. Wright." She returned his greeting. "Allow me to escort you to the patio. The D'Ambrose's will be along shortly." Toni quickly found herself seated at an open patio where champagne was cooling and an immaculately set table was waiting. She smiled at the arrangement. Francois and Honore were boorish men, but not without taste. Or at least the sense to buy it. The sunset once again drew her attention as the butler poured her champagne and excused himself. An hour passed. Every twenty minutes or so, a different person came out to tell her that her company would be arriving shortly. The dinner had been lovely. And quite frankly, she didn't really mind being without company, especially their kind of company. But she did, however, mind being stood up. Which was evidently the situation. It was funny she had to come all the way to Paris to be stood up for the first time in her life. Now the sky was darkening and a cool breeze rustled through the trees, causing her to rub her shoulders from the chill. Another half hour, or was it forty-five minutes? She should have worn a watch. Time crept by very slowly when you were just sitting doing nothing with only your own thoughts to keep you company. This was getting ridiculous. She’d already disliked coming out here but they were clients, so she felt obligated. But she was quickly readying to abandon any obligation and demand that someone take her back to the hotel. She was a city girl and she only felt comfortable being where lights, establishments and authorities were. Strange things had a habit of happening when people were out in the middle of nowhere. At the vague appearance of car lights on the left of her horizon, Toni tossed her napkin down into her plate. "Look what the cat threw up," she mumbled under her breath. As the car got closer, she watched as it passed the limo to park in the garage on the side of the house that she hadn't noticed earlier. She quickly turned the rest of her head back around from its whiplash inducing position. Lifting her half-empty champagne glass up to her lips quickly, she almost choked on it. Perhaps it was her anger she was actually choking on. She was more than pissed off to be left waiting and looking like a fool for almost two hours, now she was going to have to smile and play nice for the clients.

And hopefully come up with a quick excuse to get away. She sat there racking her mind for excuses, expecting the two overrated gigolo's to approach any minute, she realized twenty more minutes passed. Or had it been a half hour? She pushed away from the table, causing the white metal of the antique chair to squeak against the tile. She picked up her purse off the back of the chair and began a fierce gait toward an exit. A deep scowl was on her face, she was determined to leave the damn place. She walked through the well-furnished living room, turned a corner to head down the marble staircase, and hit a wall of hardness with such hefty force that she fell backwards. Toni gasped hard and absently reached out for the arms, pulling at the hands and attached to them out of the darkness. The man barely caught himself from falling over on top of Toni as her unexpected grab caught him off guard. He was straddling her thighs between his own and still stunned, she could only watch as his eyes drifted down her body to where the skirt had once again rode up her legs. This time though it was well past her hips so her underwear was quite visible. He quickly averted his eyes back to hers and she saw a blush creep over his tanned face. “I'm sorry." Toni had been staring into his winter gray eyes so long, she almost hadn't caught what he'd said or done. "Here, let me help you." As the man started to lift her up from the floor into his embrace, something overwhelming came over Toni and she began to twist out of his grasp. She did it so suddenly she was unaware that it would cause her to fall to the floor. And she did, with a hard thump. The man barely concealed his amusement as he ran his fingers through his short, blond hair. Toni cursed from her position on the floor. "You see, you should have let me help you." "Yes, I saw you were helping yourself as well," she snapped, scrambling to get up and ignoring his outstretched hand. His grin widened at her stubbornness and he lowered his hand back to his side. He stared down at the woman still laying between his legs. "Sorry, I couldn't help it." Toni stood and realized that even in heels, she still had to look up to him. That didn't happen too often. Clear, gray eyes were watching her intently. "Couldn't help what? Staring at me, or not being a gentleman?" He laughed; her obvious anger only seemed to amuse him more. "Both I think but for the record, I've never been a gentleman." Her brown eyes narrowed, "I believe that." He continued with that direct glare at her, even though the rest of his facial features seemed serious, his eyes betrayed a playful mischief.

"It really doesn't matter if you believe it or not." She scoffed at him shaking her head. "I should tell Francois he should hire less arrogant help." She watched his eyes fill with amusement as he burst out laughing. She sighed dramatically and tried to pass him as he was seemingly caught up with himself. But he moved to block her path. "I'll admit," he said catching his breath," I hadn't expected that." The scent of his cologne, she'd never smelled before and it was playing games with her senses. The same way this man's body and his eyes were assaulting her very being. She knew she just needed to get away from him and soon. She wasn’t used to a man’s very presence keeping her off guard. She swallowed discreetly before saying, “Will you please move out of my way?” "Are you always so polite?" "Do you always look up guests’ dresses?" It dawned on her then, his Russian accent. She'd heard so many dialects since she'd been in this city, but this was the first time she'd caught a Russian one. No matter though, he was still a jerk. He tilted his head. "I didn't have to look up your dress. And has the thought ever occurred to you, that if you weren't in such a rush you wouldn't have run into me. Where were you going anyway?" This man's arrogance and rudeness caused Toni's mouth to gape. "What business is that of yours?" "It might have something to do with the fact that you're my guest." He held out his hand. "You must be Toni. I'm Zenya Rubinov." She took a half step back trying to put together what she just heard, at the same time her lips began to form words. He was wearing a dark navy blue suit with a button down shirt to match. Not really the attire of any of the other staff. "But I'm supposed to be meeting Francois and" "Honore, I know," he finished for her, "They had some pressing engagements and asked if I could meet you instead, I apologize for the wait." Toni tried to pretend her eyes weren't wandering to his slightly pink, full mouth as it formed each word. The heart-shaped mouth was in the center of a perfect jaw, strongly angled and chiseled with the slight beginning of blond beard stubble showing against the light. His hair was longer on the top than the sides and back, which was clipped close to his head. It had a kind of wild look to it, but more natural than the crazy gelled-over look most of the guys in L.A. had. He lowered his hand when she made no attempt to reach for it. He stood quietly watching her as she watched him. "It's all right," she began after a time, "but I really do need to leave, I've been here over two hours." "I know," he answered," and I'm sorry—look, can we just sit and eat—" "I already ate." "You did?"

"Yes." She watched as slight frustration marred his features. "Well, we could at least have a drink." He stepped forward. “Please, I feel so bad." There was something about the way he looked at her that made her want and fear at the same time. Why were his eyes so clear, so knowing? It seemed like he could almost look through her eyes into her mind and see what she was thinking. I should tell Francois he should hire less arrogant help. Oh God, had she really said that? She was so embarrassed. Only she could manage to go out to the middle of nowhere, run head-first into one of the most gorgeous man she'd ever seen and make a complete fool of herself; to the point where she was desperate to part his company. But he was still blocking her path. "I really do need to get going." "No wait—wait please. Just stay for one drink, just one, that's it." "Why?" He put his hands in his pockets. "Well, for one, I know Francois would be pissed if I was a no show." She gave a look of skepticism and he added quickly, “Which I almost was. So will you stay?" She wondered how far he thought his boyish charms were going to get him. Not too far. Still, she sighed heavily in ascent. A wide grin slowly spread across his face. Combined with his eyes, it made him wickedly gorgeous. She had more than a feeling she'd just agreed without words to an evening with a blond devil. "How long have you been in Paris?" Zenya asked, sipping his scotch. He was sitting across from her at the intimate table, which now had two large candles to illuminate the darkness around them. Toni was looking down at her skirt which seemed untamable in the breeze and kept drawing it up around her hips. It was an annoying but thankful distraction from the man who sat across from her. His eyes seemed to engulf the light of the candle, causing them to become an almost molten gold. "Does it really matter?" she spoke absently, not looking at him. He shrugged, "Just making conversation." Her cheeks stung as she looked up at him, and realizing what had happened. She was being curt and snippy. As she had been since he’d met him. But she really couldn’t help it. It was a defense mechanism she’d perfected long before she ever knew a man could be named Zenya. "Two days." "Seen any sights?" "No." "Why not?" She was trying to tuck the skirt under her legs, "I haven't really been out. This was a business trip for me, not pleasure." "Mmmm," came from his throat, as he fiddled with the few scraps of lamb and wild rice he'd left on his plate. "Gee, were you hungry?" she asked dryly. "Yes," he answered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Am I

boring you?" No, he wasn’t boring her. It was exactly the opposite. He was actually too beguiling to look at without her mouth hanging open of its own volition. But she certainly wasn’t going to tell him that. So she only sighed and looked back out toward the horizon, giving him no verbal response. He put down the fork and the slight chime of it hitting the plate was the only sound heard between them for a while. She pretended to watch the sky as he regarded her. "May I ask you a question?" He didn't wait for permission. "Do you treat all men like this or is it just me?" Her brows lowered. "What?" Zenya pulled out his cigarettes. "I think you heard me." Toni pulled both her lips into her mouth, even though she new it wasn’t a very appealing look. Nor had she intended it to be. She was just trying to refrain from yelling any obscenities, but still, she knew when her mouth opened, something was going to come out. She leaned over the table at him. "Well, you know what I think? I think you are just one of many in a long line of arrogant, foreign men I've met since coming here. And incapable of comprehending the word no and that's fine. But don't assume you won't hear it from me." He pulled out his lighter and lit his cigarette. "Meaning?" She rolled her eyes and returned to the direction she'd been staring in, away from him. The starry night sky was a pleasant change from watching this man that seemed to breathe just to annoy her. "...did I stay here?" "I don't know. Why did you stay?" She looked back over at him. It was the first time he didn't have that silly smirk on his lips. She wasn't even thinking as she spoke, "Would you believe the drink appealed to me more than your company? I'm guessing that you’re not too happy all that boyish charm was wasted on me." She was on a roll with this rude-bitch thing and she knew it. She sat back, waiting for him to throw his napkin down and storm away screaming native curses into the walls. He tilted his head at her. "Keep guessing." They stared each other down for a moment until she looked away. "Wha-," She stopped herself, “I should be leaving.” "Should you?" She stopped looking in every direction except into his face and then let her eyes lock with his, "Yes, I definitely should." Against his better judgment, Zenya wanted nothing more at that moment than to lean over the table and run his tongue down this woman's soft, brown neck and taste the saltiness of her perfume. He hardened at the mere thought of it. Why she was trying so much to pretend she didn't like him was a mystery. But he admitted it was a much less familiar game than he usually played with women. And it excited him. "It'll be somewhat pointless for you to leave just to escape my

company, since I would have to drive you back into the city anyway." "What?" she asked, coming out of her own reverie, "Where's the limo?" "It's gone." He took a drag of his cigarette. "I guess they only paid him for a certain amount of time, but then again, he's never really been reliable." Not believing him, she went over to the balcony. She looked over the edge and sure enough the limo was gone from its parking place, just as he knew it would be. She whirled back around to him angrily, not noticing his eyes lurch up from staring at her legs, "Why didn't you tell me he was leaving?" "For one, I found out after the fact myself, and at the time you had just stopped being mad at me about being late. And you did say you would stay." Her mouth gaped, "For a drink, not all night." Smoke blew from his mouth. "Like I said, I will drive you back." "I don't want you to drive me back." "Why not?" He wondered if she knew how her brows furrowed when she was confused and upset. He was becoming more amused by the second. He always did have an odd sense of humor. Toni's mouth opened to form the reason, but no thought came to her mind save childish gibberish. She had spoken enough tonight without thinking first. "Oh," he said breaking the silence. "It's because I'm a stranger...right Toni?" Her mouth thinned, put like that, it did sound rather silly. Despite the fact that he actually was a stranger. His eyes were wandering over her again, those iridescent winter eyes. She folded her arms to cover her shakiness as a chill ran up her back. Zenya put out his cigarette and stood simultaneously. "You haven't even given me a chance you know. We still have the opportunity to have a very pleasant evening." He noticed her look of skepticism and his brow rose, that rakish grin followed, "And I promise I won't get fresh with you." Her eyes couldn't conceal her slight surprise at his remark even as the sass filled remark left her lips, "I know you won't." He laughed out loud, sending the resonant sound echoing through the breeze. The warmth of his laughter seemed to ease the tension between them. He seemed to sense it as his gaze appeared more thoughtful toward her. "May we start again?" Chapter Two As Zenya poured Toni another martini from the bar, he asked, "I thought Francois said there were supposed to be others here with you?" She had to try hard not to roll her eyes at the thought of her boss, "Yeah, they couldn't make it." To his credit, his expression didn't waiver. "What a shame." She took the olive out of the martini, "Right." "Okay, so maybe it's not," He leaned on the bar, "American

businessmen are boring to me. All they speak of is what they have, who they fuck and then, they have nerve to think that makes them tough guys or something." She watched him laugh shortly, "But isn't that what you do?" The corner of his mouth lifted as he poured scotch into his glass, "I never tell anyone about who I fuck, Toni." She laughed shortly and without humor, eyeing him with skepticism, "Right, sure you don't." He feigned surprise, "You don't believe me?" "As you so meticulously pointed out earlier," She began as she slid from the stool, "it doesn't matter if I believe it." The second helping of liquor had started to spread its beguiling warmth through her belly. "Besides," She turned toward the open patio doors, "soon we'll be going our separate ways, never to meet again." "Exactly," He answered softly, watching the way the dress caressed her thighs, "that's why I'd like to get as much out of you as I can." "Meaning?" Her tone was mocking, though to him it held a bit less bite than it had earlier. He continued to run his eyes over her as she stood with her back to him. The damned dress seemed to mock him as it swayed in the breeze. Moving back and forth over her thighs, revealing and then concealing at the same time. Her deep caramel skin seemed to glow in the soft light of the room. It almost seemed as if was calling to him, desiring him to come to her and run his tongue down the indenture of her spine. His swift and sudden erection caused him to hit his drink with his elbow, and the liquid to slosh over onto the bar. Chuckling to himself as he cleaned off the bar, she turned back to face him, "What?" "Nothing, you just certainly know how to keep a man on his...toes." "Do I?" She knew damn well she did. "Yes." Toni finished the martini, feeling the effects now spread to her limbs. Sitting back against the arm of a maroon couch, she asked, "You don't mind if I take off my shoes do you?" He blinked as he felt himself grow harder, if it were possible. "No." She was removing the straps as she spoke, "Thanks, these things look nice but they kill your feet after a while ..." Her knee was suddenly in between his thighs. She froze as she unwittingly stared at the monstrous bulge that stood at the apex of his thighs. A tidal wave of heat seared its way though her body and settled between her own trembling thighs. After a moment the thought finally registered that she should lower her leg. But as she moved, his hand caught her under her knee. She tried to stifle her gasp as she braced the sides of the couch with both hands. Zenya's fingertips began to move in slow circles under her knees, fingers that were much cooler than her leg; long, tapered and soft to the

touch. "Look up at me Toni," He demanded softly. He was staring at her intently, drawing another tingle from her back. His free hand was on her cheek but his eyes never moved from hers. Mesmerized by the smoky-gray depths, she found herself unable to look away. A small smile touched his mouth before her world became one of only tongue, teeth and lips. In some moments kisses begin tenderly and are slowly brought to a fevered pitch. But not their kiss. The kiss began hard, demanding and remained that way. His hand went under her chin, bringing her mouth closer to his. Was it possible for a man to have a mouth so soft? His head tilted to have better access to her at the same time his tongue invaded her mouth. They drank each other, all the while trying to gain more advantage of each others bodies. Zenya's hand moved from the back of her knee, sliding fingertips up her thigh, leaving her leg exposed as the thin material was lifted by his movement. It moved to the small of her back, dragging her from the couch. She was standing in front of him now on her tip toes, leaning into his body as her mouth moved in unison with his. Toni's body crept closer to his, as her hands left the couch and slowly moved up his abdomen. They skimmed over iron muscles and she knew without having to look that they formed into male perfection. Their lips parted. When Toni reluctantly opened her eyes, the world seemed hazy, different somehow. And Zenya was bent in front of her, running a warm, very wet tongue over her cleavage. Her breath caught in her throat as he tugged on the fabric, releasing her swollen breast from the tight confinement. She watched as his long tongue emerged from his mouth to flick over her erect nipple, causing it to tighten in a delicious almost painful way. He repeated it, hearing her stifled gasp before proceeding to slowly rotate it around her nipple. Simultaneously she took the back of his head, bringing him closer as he took the entire nipple in his mouth and began to suck as if he wished to devour it. Toni's eyes slid shut as she hunched over slightly, waves of pleasure consumed her and she only knew the feeling of his mouth. He pulled down the material that was over the other breast and she felt his teeth graze over the sensitive tip. As his mouth coned over her, all she could feel was the velvet texture of his tongue sliding over her sensitive flesh. The cool air from the patio blew in, running over her exposed, wet breast as he sucked on the other. He dropped to his knees, leaving her with both breasts exposed and aching. She was trying to catch her breath as she stared down at him. His head was down, shielding his expression from her eyes.

A few minutes passed and neither moved from their position. As Zenya kneeled before this woman, it was all he could do not to pull her down there with him and impale her against his quivering erection. One that he was afraid would explode at any moment. Coherent thought began to come back to Toni, she swallowed and began to pull the straps of her dress back up. She stopped in mid-motion as she felt his hands glide up her calves. Zenya rested his face against her covered thigh, stroking it with his cheek. His hands continued moving upward, passing her thighs to stop at the rim of her panties. He moved his head to settle between her legs, his nose buried in the apex of her legs. As his fingers caressed the rim of her bottom he wrapped them around her thighs coaxing them apart. Toni watched as his head darted down to the hem of her dress and he used his mouth to lift it, offering gentle licks and kisses along her thigh as he did so. Her body began to tingle more as his mouth moved higher and higher. In a smooth motion, his thumbs hooked around the waist of her panties and yanked them downward. Her mouth opened to speak but nothing came out as she watched the white fabric pool at her feet. She hadn't even time to think when his head disappeared under her dress. "Oh my God." Her mouth formed the words but no sound emerged from her lips with it. He pushed her legs farther apart and turned so they were both facing the same direction. He tilted back his head and opened his mouth, fitting it deeply into Toni's already moist core. Zenya's tongue flicked back and forth over her savoring her taste and woman's scent. His hands held her hips tightly and he heard her moan. Her thighs tensed on either side of his head. Toni bit her top lip as his mouth circled her nub, sending a shock wave through her that extended to the tips of her fingers. Heavy breaths were forced out of her lungs as she tried to stay upright while Zenya continued his assault on her body. She noticed, as she hunched over, the huge erection that was begging to be freed from his pants. She wanted to reach down and touch him but found herself succumbing to an orgasm that forced a harsh gasp from her lips. As she struggled to catch her breath, she thought he would stop but he continued to suckle and lap at the feminine water that he summoned from her body. Despite still reeling from her first climax, she ground down on his face, wanting more of him in a way she couldn't put into words. A heavy groan rumbled from her throat as his mouth cupped closer to her and his wet tongue gave deeper strokes into her. Toni threw her head back, struggling for air as her body leaned back against the couch of its own volition. Zenya pulled his mouth away from her and came out from under her dress. He watched her as she tried to hold herself up against the couch as he rolled the taste of her around his tongue and the roof of his mouth.

His eyes and his whole demeanor seemed to darken, "Do you know what you taste like?" His voice was husky and just above a whisper. Slowly she shook her head. He moved up her body, his eyes never leaving her face as her hands braced tighter to the arm of the couch. Zenya's lips met hers for a drudging kiss, his tongue snaked around hers. She tasted her own flesh as it mingled with the faint taste of scotch. He dragged her bottom lip gently into his, pulling it down as his knees began to bend. His body began to descend down hers, "Strawberries," he whispered. She felt his warm breath permeate the thin fabric of her dress sending little pleasure pulses through her abdomen and settled at the peaks of her breasts. Her bottom rested on the arm of the couch as he put her legs over his shoulder. She didn't see her skirt fly up in a blur of gauze as his head came toward her again. His tongue dove inside the warm, wet flesh as deep as it could stretch from his mouth. He heard her short scream before she could cut it off and whimpered instead. He continued to pump his tongue into her body and felt her thighs quiver next to his head as her feet tried to pull him closer. He caressed her outer legs as he felt her ass begin to squirm on the couch. Toni's gasps and moans began to fill the room, her body arched back until her head hit the plush sofa cushion. She gritted her teeth and grasped the cushion, her legs opened wide over the arm of the sofa. The pressure of his mouth grew again as he feasted on her. She gasped loudly as he began to stand. With a tight hold on her hips, he brought her body with him, never allowing his mouth to leave the numb flesh he seemed to wish to devour. It seemed she was a cup he was dipping his face into and he wouldn't be done until he drank the last drop of her. Her breathing quickened even more and he felt her thighs tighten around his head. She began to pull his head and body over the arm of the sofa , pressing him closer to her. She came fully in his mouth, her back arched against the couch. Her shout surely echoed back to Paris. Her stomach quivered as she tried to force air in and out of her lungs. Vaguely through the aftershocks she felt that delicious mouth of his nibbling and kissing on her inner thigh. Half of Zenya's body had been pulled onto the couch with this beguiling woman who lay under him exasperated. Her eyes closed as she reveled in ecstasy. Slowly he drew away from her and stood upright. Rounding the back of the couch, he gazed down at her remarking to himself how beautiful she looked with her body exposed to him and glowing from the soft light of the room and the aftermath of passion. He leaned down on the back of the couch grinning down at her. "I like this dress," His fingers gently caressed the thin fabric which was gathered about her waist, "Would you take it off for me?"

Her eyes opened and found his peering directly into hers. Toni felt almost pinned to the couch with that stare. She sat up on the couch and put her feet on the floor. Her face was flushed and her body was still throbbing from the assault of his mouth. Toni stood abruptly without thinking, she was about to turn to him and say something. Words she was unaware of stuck in her throat. "Now." She heard him order. She felt a tremor run through her. She didn't move for a long moment. As Zenya stared at this woman's motionless back, he wondered if this was the end of their evening. As he straightened, he noticed her hand move up her arm. She started to take the straps of her dress off each shoulder. Then she reached behind herself to unzip the back. He found himself pressing to the front of the couch as he watched her force the dress over wide, brown hips to reveal a narrow waist and a perfectly round bottom. The white fabric swished to the ground to pool at her feet. Zenya's brow rose and he grasped the back of the couch like an enemy, forcing himself from climbing over it and grabbing this tall goddess that stood bare before him. He licked his suddenly dry mouth, "Hold up your arms and turn around." She did, in a time that seemed like forever before she was in facing him, perfect and completely nude. From under her lashes, she watched his brow lift and his stare could only be compared to that of a predator stalking prey. Her heart lurched in her chest. What could possibly be going on in that mind of his? She watched as he started to come around the couch toward her, his eyes were gray narrow slits and his hands were balled into fists. She felt her breasts swell and turned her head forward again, biting her bottom lip. His cologne reached her first, tantalizing her senses as it wrapped around her. Then his hand splayed across her belly and she felt his swollen cock pressing into the small of her back. Warm breath caressed the side of her neck and she felt her nipples harden. Toni heard rustling and saw his shirt fly toward the couch before she felt his mouth on her neck. Zenya's long fingers caressed her abdomen as his lips sucked on her earlobe. She leaned back into him and her head lolled back. The warmth of his skin was consuming. And Toni felt as if she could drown in his heat. Her mouth opened but only heavy panting escaped, Zenya's mouth was on hers caressing and then taking her bottom lip into his own. She reached around to take the back of his head in her hand and pull him closer. She just needed him closer. He pulled her back against his groin, which he was grinding into her and she heard him stifle a groan. The numbness between her thighs was

starting to waiver, leaving an aching emptiness in its wake. To her chagrin, she felt him leave her and a cool breeze immediately replaced the velvet warmth of his body, leaving her colder than she'd felt all night. She didn't move or turn back to him. "Go to the patio doors." His voice was husky, thick and almost unrecognizable. She began to walk, wearing nothing but her stiletto heels as he'd requested. As she was about to turn back to look at him, he said, "Sit on the chaise." Toni did as she was told and found herself staring through the beautiful open antique doors into the Paris countryside. But all her thoughts were clouded with what was going on behind her. She didn't hear him walk up behind her, but soon her vision was beholding the bare backside of an Adonis as Zenya casually closed the doors of the patio. Arms outstretched to grab each door, she watched as his shoulder muscles flexed and noticed the small amount of perspiration that glistened on his back. It led down to an incredibly full, toned ass with no shred of tan lines. She wanted to desperately reach out and grab it. And felt a lurch in her loins at the He turned to her suddenly, holding onto the doorknobs behind him. A sly grin prominent on his face. She never noticed the grin. Toni was lying back on the chaise as Zenya leaned over her, kissing her upside down. Their mouths mated and his hands roamed down her body to knead her breasts, playfully toying with her nipples, letting the hardened tips stab the center of his hand. He felt her fingertips softly tracing over his side down to his waist. He never thought her fingers would touch the engorged part of him that jerked under her fingers. She felt his sudden intake of breath against her lips as he broke the kiss briefly. Toni shifted her body upwards to close the space between them, not wanting to lose his warmth or the taste of him in her mouth. Zenya returned her kiss, not sure how he would proceed with this woman. His whole body was on fire and he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on. When he did finally nestle himself deeply inside of her would his body just explode? Toni's warm hand wrapped around his shaft and he almost choked on his own air as she stroked him with excruciating slowness. He felt himself begin to make love to her hand and had to stop himself. She had a firm grip on him and as he pulled away from her, he thought he would come undone by the feel of her soft fingers gliding over the tip of his cock. She felt his breath ease over her mouth. Suddenly Zenya's hands were on her hips, dragging her off the chaise. She clumsily but eagerly followed him, their eyes locked intensely as she felt him push her up against the

wall. He took her arms, bending them at the elbows and placed them under his own, all the while maintaining eye contact. She found herself unable to look away; his eyes pierced hers, clear but mysterious and completely predatory. The coolness of the wall combined with the warmth of his nearness was causing a dangerous effect on her. Her already aching nipples distended even further, seemingly reaching for him. The center of her thighs was throbbing to the point where she had to squeeze her legs together to try and smother the feeling, but to no avail. He saw the movement from the corner of his eye and swiftly took his foot and kicked her legs back apart. That delicious mouth was on her jaw now, kissing and licking as he moved down to her neck. His hands moved down her arms to her waist. Toni's breath stopped as she felt him begin to slide her body up the wall, lifting her. Breath hissed between his teeth when he felt his rigid member graze against her softness. He knew he had to have her, but he still wasn't sure how long he could hold out. He was already near the breaking point. Instinctively her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer to her. "I want you." It was the last thing she heard spoken in a raspy whisper against her mouth. He entered her immediately with a powerful thrust that sent a high gasp from her throat. Simultaneously she ripped her arms from the wall and wrapped them over his shoulders. He completely filled her and then some as her body had to stretch to accommodate him. "God." Zenya kept his strong hands positioned on her hips and stood astride feeling her wrap around him. His face was tight and flushed slightly pink around his cheeks. He was looking down at their joined bodies and something barely audible was said before he began to slowly pull her up. Toni's eyes rolled back as she felt him moving inside her. It was excruciating pleasure and her muscles clenched around him just as he was almost completely separated from her. He groaned pausing before he started to chuckle. He looked at her and said something in Russian as if he believed she understood it. Whatever words she was going to say in response, stuck in her throat as he thrust powerfully back inside of her, stealing her breath. She clung to him as if he were her only anchor from drowning as he moved in and out of her again and again. He wrapped his hand under her bottom and pulled away from the wall. Her arms wrapped around him tighter as her head pressed over his shoulder. The pace quickened and soon he was ramming into her uncontrollably. Toni's nails dug into his back as she held onto him. Any

dirty talk she planned went out of the window as her words only came out in sluggish inaudible squeals and groans. Zenya's harsh groan echoed in the room as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. The sleek wet tightness of her body stretched around him was almost more than he could stand. He continued to plunge into her, never wanting to stop. Regardless of the fact that his legs were going numb, all his feeling was as the center of his legs where he rode her. Toni threw her head back, gasping as her first orgasm fluttered through her core. He felt the spasm and he held on tightly to her as her body arched back. His fingers were wet from the sweat over her dark skin. She was pinching him and it was all he could do not to come. Zenya gritted his teeth and stumbled them both back against the wall. Pressing deeply inside her, he lifted her legs into the hooks of his arms. Dazed, Toni stared down at this man who seemed to have taken claim of her body. His shoulders and chest were covered with a heavy film of sweat; a perfect v-shaped torso with washboard abs was in between her legs. Her sight of him ended where their bodies were joined. She looked up into his face. He was watching her watch him, his jaw set. Toni's stomach lurched. What was happening to her? Why did just a look from him hold so much power over her? He began to move again, not taking his eyes off her and she began to react to the deep deliberate strokes he was giving her. She was biting hard on her bottom lip as small high-pitched pants escaped her mouth. She pressed her back into the wall and took one arm off his shoulder, bending it back to press against the wall as he strokes turned into pounding once more. Her mouth opened wide as she pressed her head into the wall but nothing came out at first, not even a breath. She was too consumed with the inferno he was starting deep within her. Never before had a man filled her so completely and never before had a man given her such a good... Toni's mirror- cracking scream filled the room. Both of her hands were placed palms down above her head as Zenya held on tightly to her waist. If he did not have a secure grip on her, she would have fallen to the ground in an exhausted heap. He continued thrusting into her as she barely noticed that less of her back was against the wall and more was stretched out vertically in front of him. Soon her whole body was off the wall with the exception of her hands. She tried to look up at him, but more often she seemed to lose control in her neck muscles because all it wanted to do was go limp. It caused her head to bounce along with her breasts each time he banged himself against her. He pushed in once, twice, and then she heard his hard groan. Zenya's hands pushed up the slickness of her back, as he tried to suck in some much needed air. Her flesh was clenching, vibrating around him begging him for release as sure as his engorged member was begging her. She weakly wrapped her arm over his shoulder as he carried her limp

and drenched body to the couch where their sexual encounter had began. He laid her on her back and she sighed, closing her eyes. He caressed her wet face with the backs of his tanned fingers. She looked beautifully satisfied with her lips slightly parted to let air through. A need claimed him to kiss that gorgeous, swollen mouth of hers, so he did, tilting her chin up as he did so. Even though Zenya was still nestled deeply inside her, she knew their encounter was finished. That was, until he began to lift her legs up over his shoulders. Toni's eyes flew open and she gasped, staring up at him. A small smile appeared on his mouth but was quickly gone. He pushed harder and harder into her and held on tight to her open thighs. Her wetness was drenching him, helping him to glide very smoothly in and out of her. Toni clenched his arms as her head pressed back deeply into the pillows. She squirmed under him, not knowing how much more of his hard pounding she could take. Zenya growled then as he continued to pump, "Toni," He said through clenched teeth, “Oh fuck." She felt an orgasm building up in her body. Her eyes widened as this huge man rode her like lightning. Zenya leaned over her more, pressing her legs toward her body, his eyes were closed and he grabbed the top of the couch for support. He spread her legs wider and began to pump so hard, all she could hear was the sound of his wet flesh hitting hers. Zenya moaned through deep heaving breaths, he knew he was going to come at any moment and wanted to hear her too. He opened his eyes when he heard the small screams coming from her. He only could see her chin because her glistening body was arched so far back her face was covered in the pillow. "Ohh," He heard her moan as if she was in pain or dying, but the moan slowly turned into a groan. As his mouth dropped a harsh groan left him and he remembered hearing the longest agonized scream of "Yes!" he had ever heard. He emptied himself into her but still not able to stop pumping. It was as if his body was only programmed to do that. One last time he did, before utter exhaustion consumed him and he lay on top of a quivering, panting Toni. Chapter Three "Are you cold?" Toni blinked her eyes several times to clear her vision. Briefly she couldn't fathom where she was or what she had done. Zenya was lying beside her, still quite naked. He was alert but he looked tired. She fought against the delicious feeling that coursed through her as she felt his skin and body heat next to her. She straightened, "What time is it?"

A flash passed over his foggy eyes that made her think he didn't care to answer that. Could she admit to herself that she truly didn't care to hear the answer? She had only spoken to break the silence. What had she done with this man? "It's early." His voice was very soft, but deep, and his accent very prominent. "I didn't mean to fall asleep." She spoke more to herself than to him. She struggled to sit up, trying not to notice how exhausted her body still was. She just couldn't take feeling that warm, smooth skin against hers. She especially couldn't take it in combination with those winter eyes boring a hole in her, arousing her even in the wake of mind-numbing passion. Toni could feel his eyes on her back as he rose up on one elbow. She placed both feet on the roughened texture of the Turkish throw rug and looked around the floor. To her left her dress was in a material pile and she only saw one of her shoes. When had she taken them off? "I need my clothes," she mumbled. Zenya's eyes narrowed, he reached his hand up and ran his fingertips down her spine, "No you don't." Toni's mouth opened and her thighs clenched at his touch. She stiffened and jerked away. How could he do that? Usually after sex she could just walk away. She usually forgot about whoever she was with long before he even left the room. And now this Russian man was here drawing fire from her with even the slightest touch. She had to get away from him. Zenya clenched his teeth, "Back to the ice princess thing again I see. And I thought she had fallen away with your dress." He saw nothing of her reaction except a slight tick in her shoulder. He didn't even need to see that to know he'd pissed her off. She stood quickly just wanting to get as away from him. It took every ounce of strength she possessed not to fall back onto the couch. Her thighs were numb and her legs seemed to lack bones. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing what his lovemaking did to her. No, the wall shaking screams did that, moron, she chided. Toni bent over to get her dress, not staring back at the angelic god watching her from the sofa. "I need to get back to Paris," she said flatly. "Of course you do." His voice leered with sarcasm. He grabbed his cigarettes out of his forgotten coat pocket. "Are you going to take me or not?" she spat still not looking at him. "Do I have a choice?" He lit the cigarette and took a long drag of it as he watched her pull the dress down over her head. He watched as the white hem teased her nipples and caressed her ass and hips before she settled it into place. "If I do then I will take you on the bar—from behind." Toni was thankful she was looking away from him. She didn't want to

see those eyes watching her. And yet, she had to bite her lip against the scene his words conjured in her mind. Deep inside of her she still tingled and throbbed from the most intense sexual encounter of her life and yet, it had begun to glow with embers from a new fire. Just from his words. She had to stop this, "Why do you still feel the need to be such an asshole? You got what you wanted. Can't we at least part company in some civil, adult manner?" Zenya crushed his cigarette down in the ashtray on the coffee table, "I think we got the adult part down pat." His voice was tight. "Why are you so uncomfortable with me touching you all of a sudden? You didn't seem to mind it a few hours ago. Especially when I had my tongue up your —" "I need to get back to Paris." She spoke louder and harsher than him, cutting off the rest of his words. "Business as usual, eh?" He snapped. He leaped from the couch and began to snatch his disregarded clothing off the floor. His shirt was still over by the patio doors. He looked from it back to this haughty bitch; who only a few moments ago it seemed he had been grinding into on this very couch. Now she was trying to act like—no—was she? Did he just get played? "Yes, that's right," She spoke as if she'd heard his thoughts, causing his face to snap toward her,” That's was all it was suppose to be." She mumbled. "Well it wasn't," He growled as a few long strides put him directly behind her. In the back of his mind he acknowledged he was much angrier at this point than he should be. She turned around to face him, almost stepping back from the intensity of his gaze and the scowl on his face. "What are you so upset about? You got what you wanted." "That's the second time you said that," He closed more space between them, "What makes you think that? What makes you think that was all I wanted?" Her mouth went dry and the cold resolve she tried to have with him receded immensely. All that seemed left was an almost shy, inexperienced girl who seemed to be talking to a guy for the first time. As she stared up into the smoky depths of his eyes her voice was quiet, but clear, "Because it's all I have to give." His teeth ground against each other, fighting the urge to kiss her just then. But he wouldn't, not with the traces of sadness he saw in her eyes. "That's a lie," Zenya said roughly, "Although it is one of the more sincere ones I have heard." Before he touched her he turned away from her and headed to the bar to get his keys. At the sound of them jiggling, Toni didn't feel right. He was at the door about to open it when she said, "Wait." She gave him a look that made her look sixteen, "I—I can't find my

underwear." He laughed, "What?" "I can't find my underwear," She repeated, her voice tainted with annoyance, "What did you do with them?" He shrugged, "I took them off." She was scanning the floor as she walked along the couch, "And what did you do, throw them or something?" "Did you see me throw them?" She heard him giggling, "I'll look under the couch." Toni began to scan other parts of the room, but truthfully, her thoughts were not on her lost panties. They were of the man who was on his hands and knees in front of this couch looking for her lost panties. A man she'd barely known for a few hours. He was looking for panties he had taken off her. Lost in his body, lost in her own. Lost in the same moment of passion she had been lost in. How could she have done this? Normal women didn't do things like this. Even though he did have an annoying and arrogant charm about him, he was still a stranger. "Found them." Zenya stood from the couch holding her thin, lacy underwear in his hand, "I promise not to be so hasty next time.” Next time. Toni's cheeks stung at the words. Just at the thought of them being together again... He was regarding her in that way he had again, quiet and unmoving. As if she was the only thing there ever was to see. Her chest felt tight, "You are so delusional." "Am I?" "Yes, you are." She walked over to him to snatch her underwear from his hand. But he caught her hand and wouldn't let go. "So you didn't enjoy sleeping with me then?" Silence. "You didn't enjoy getting fucked hard, by me?" Toni tried to pull her hand away, "You are nothing but a vulgar bastard." He was pulling her toward him, a grin tugging at his full mouth, "Wrapped in at least an aura of sophistication. And face it, you like it." She pulled harder, "You're absurd!" "For one reason or another she refuses to admit it. And she'll fight me at every turn. But that's okay. I think I'm up to the challenge." He let her go then, releasing the underwear as well. Cheerfully he walked toward the door, "We should get going, it's quite a drive back to Paris." Zenya opened the door for Toni who only watched him, rooted in the same spot. He held it open wide for her, bowing long beside it, gesturing for her to exit. Toni scoffed as she snatched her purse from the bar and stormed out of the door in the haughty stiletto clad glory of Erica Kane. His grin spread into a

smile worthy of any fox, "After you, my lady." Dawn hadn't even broken yet. The sky had only a slightly lighter tint of blue that separated it from the rolling hills. The drive back to Paris was particularly quiet. Zenya had, to her relief, decided to fill the silence with the sounds from the radio. It was some international pop station that played some of the latest and retro sounds of music. Toni hadn't even given the slightest thank you as he'd opened the car door for her. He made no mention of it, merely walked around the front and got in on the drivers side. She had been more surprised than anything. Usually only doormen did that for her. And that was because they were getting paid to. All she could see was beguiling number of stars that still filled the sky. Some sparkling brighter than others. But all just seemingly endless. It was a breathtaking sight. Something you never did see in L.A. where the sky seemed made only of buildings. “It's nice out here in a strange way." His voice gently broke the silence. She had to agree. They continued to drive with the radio sending light sounds through the car. Until it was she, who miraculously broke the silence, "How did you meet them?" "Francois and Honore?" "Yeah." "We don't seem like we have a lot in common?" He asked smirking. "But let me warn you, if this is some lurid sexual tale, I don't want to hear it." He made a face, "You think I had sex with Francois and Honore?" "No." She rolled her eyes biting off a laugh, "You—you know what I mean." "Not really. How could my meeting them involve some lurid sexual tale if you are not referring to...” to as well, still do. I won a little bit of money from them." "How much?" "Fifty thousand dollars." Toni's eyes widened, "Since when is fifty thousand dollars a little bit of money?" His brow rose, "You don't know how they play." She scoffed, but was truly interested. "So did they get their money back? Or try to send some French goons to kick your ass?" He laughed and the rich sound filled the car. She detested to admit it, but she liked his laugh. "They don't strike me as the type of men that like to lose. Even in a small way." "You’re right about that," He nodded, "They tried to get their money back. They did manage to get a little. In the end, they couldn't beat me. I even got a little more from them. And a few others at the table. Later on, they offered to buy a drink for 'this salaud Russian'. The rest is history." She shook her head, imagining the story just as he'd spoken it, "I can't imagine why people would just gamble there money away."

"What else is there to do with it?" "Um, I don’t know, use it to help people less fortunate than you?" "I donate money to several charities in Russia," His eyebrows lowered, "I see I have been cast typed a frivolous playboy in your eyes." "Type cast." She mumbled. "What?" “Type cast," she repeated louder, "The correct saying would be type cast." "So then you agree with this? I am right?" This time he scoffed and she noticed his foot press on the accelerator. "Perhaps you can grant me that I can manage to tie my own shoes without help." She watched the speedometer go over sixty-five, "Can you slow down a bit please, we aren't trying to escape assassins." "Why don't you shut up, and let me drive." She snapped her gaze away from him, embarrassment burning her cheeks. She stayed silent as he’d requested and soon they were speeding through the darkness of the Parisienne countryside. Zenya was shifting gears and his eyes were menacing as he watched the dark road in front of them. He looked as if he wanted to run someone over. Toni slowly shook her head as she rested her forehead on her hand. "This is what I get for drinking too much." His eyes narrowed. She was speaking more to herself than him, "Every time I drink, I do something stupid. This must have been the dumbest thing I have ever done." The car came to a screeching halt on the side of the road. She gasped, grabbing the dashboard in front of her believing they'd hit something—or someone. Her eyes were saucers, "What happ—" "Are you trying to say that the only reason we had sex is because you were drunk!" Toni had to remind herself to breathe as she stared at this man whose eyes were like silver daggers pointed at her. "I did have a lot to—" "Bullshit," He yelled, "We fucked because you wanted to," He pointed at her, "And because I wanted to," He pointed back at himself, "That is it!" She watched his chest rise and fall with each hard breath he took. He was furious. "I can't wait until I get you out of my car." Without thinking, her hand reached for the latch of the door. She jerked it opened and jumped out. She slammed the car door. Not even realizing she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. "Where do you think you're going?" She heard his muffled yell. She was forced to begin her hard trek in front of his car, using its headlights to see. Her heels digging in the soft earth made it difficult to stomp away. She heard the click of the car door opening and heard it slam. Within seconds it seemed he was in front of her and had her arm in a tight grip. "Let go of me!" "Let you go where? Where in the hell are you going?" He whirled her around to him, "Away from you," she spat. He raised a blond brow, "You know what your problem is?" "My problem?" "Yes, your problem." Her eyes narrowed viciously on him. "You're too

goddamned uptight." "Uptight?" He nodded, "Yeah...uptight." She snatched her arm away hard. "You don't know shit about me pal, all right." He closed his mouth from the argument that he had known her very well over the past few hours. That remark would only earn him a hard slap to the face. Zenya's eyes searched her face as he spoke, "I know you and I could have been having a good time. But you don't know how to deal with it because you don't want to let yourself go —" The she attempted to walk around him but he held out his arm, blocking her path. Toni huffed and darted to the other side of him, only to run into his long arm, which again jutted out to block her path. "Maybe for a couple of hours you gave in, but it seems like as soon as you came you went back into bitch mode." "Just move!" She slapped him against his iron-hard chest. When he made no movements to show the move pained him at all, she did it again. "You wanna hate me for being honest, fine. But you know I tell the truth. You need to stop being uptight and just let yourself go—" "You need to let me go." She shoved at the large, unmovable man in front of her. Why, for the love of Pete, wouldn't he just get out of her way? "You know, this isn't at all necessary." He said calmly. She took in some deep breaths. His words swirled around her head. She briefly glanced around their desolate surroundings. This was crazy! He was her only way back to the hotel. All she had to do was put up with his company for a small amount of time and she would tell him to pull over as soon as they hit city limits. She had to be able to find a cab or something. Over the years she had dealt with more than her share of pompous men, including her male co-workers. She could deal with him. Besides, wasn't she the one that just had been speaking about them being civilized adults? He saw her slowly calm, judging that she must be rationalizing the situation out in her head. "There you go," He soothed, "just relax. You're going to get yourself all worked up and sweaty. And you don't want to do that again, do you?" It was just the sound of his voice. And it triggered something within her. A tremor shot through her core that made her shift her stance. She looked up at him. He was close, his eyes wandering over her face, lingering over her mouth. Whatever anger he had in him had drained away. Something else had replaced it. She could easily see it as if it was plainly written on his face. He wanted her. She circled him as if he was something venomous, never taking her eyes off him. His hand had been caressing her arm as he'd spoken. She stepped back from his gasp. "No, don't do that." Puzzlement came over his face, but those eyes, they betrayed him each time.

"Don't do what? What am I doing?" He stepped toward her, his hands outstretched in question. She held her hand up as if to halt him. "No," she said again, "Just stop!" "Stop what?" His voice was too soft, too gentle. Stop looking at me like that. Stop coming near me. And don't touch me. I don't want to smell your cologne. Please... Yet still, he moved closer. "I can't stop anything between you and me. And neither can you." "No," she whimpered in a way that was so unlike her. She was trying to convince herself what she knew she couldn't deny. She wanted him too. "No," She said again, even more weakly, "we're out in the middle of nowhere." Zenya grinned as his face came toward hers, "Yeah, we are." He was nuzzling her neck. The deadly combination of his morning beard stubble, the softness of his lips and his tongue was intoxicating. Toni almost squealed out loud. She started backing away from him. “I can’t," She whispered. "We can't." She didn't get far before his hand was on the small of her back. "I can and you want to." In a swift movement, he claimed her mouth, bringing her body to his. His tongue coaxed her mouth open and invaded, causing her to cling closer to him. He reveled in the feeling of her lush curves pressed against him. All he wanted was more of her and once he got it, he wanted more still. As the kiss deepened he bent over her, dipping her. All that could be heard was the light sound of the car engine, crickets and their heavy breathing. Zenya discovered that he liked caressing her small protruding chin as he tilted her face up to him. And she adored the way his tongue had this way of curling around every nook and cranny of her mouth. They pulled away no more than half an inch when necessity called for them to get more air. They stared each other down, absorbed one another with their eyes since their mouths couldn't at the moment. The next kiss was much harder and more primal than before. They gently nipped at each other’s lips and began to mimic one another’s movements. If he licked her chin, she licked his. They suckled on each other’s mouths. Toni inhaled in a hiss as she felt his large hands grab her bottom, pulling her hard into the full erection inside his pants that was dying to be free. Her thighs caressed his and she felt an almost uncontrollable urge to get closer to him.

Her hands roamed down his shoulders to his waistband and yanked his shirt out of his pants with a hard jerk. Zenya pulled away. She opened her eyes to find him grinning down at her. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly and she moved to close the gap between them. But he took her hand, stopping her. "Finish." "Finish what?" she asked. "Undressing me." A silent moment went by, she just stared at his chest. He brought her hand to his shirt. She felt his heat permeate the thin material instantly. And it echoed another heat through her, "Please," he pulled her closer. "I like it when you touch me." A slight tremor went through her hands as she undid each button, fully aware that he was watching her face. His was mostly covered in shadow. The headlights from his car were the only illumination that could be seen for miles around the quiet countryside. Toni's mouth was on the wide golden chest that was displayed before her. She couldn't help herself as she lapped at his skin. She wanted to devour him. She wanted to devour his heat. Zenya held her head to his chest with both hands as her hands roamed down his torso. She shifted and her mouth found his neck, leaving a wet trail as she sucked his Adam's apple. Her ministrations sent more heat to his rigged erection causing it to pulse with the blood that coursed through it. Soft female hands unzipped his pants. They ventured inside and her nails lightly scored the rigged flesh that was waiting there. She felt his body tense and heard his intake of breath. A satisfied smile tainted her lips before her mouth closed over his tiny sun-kissed nipple, at the same time her hands pulled down his underwear and grasped and measured the full length of him in her hand. He was thick and long and just the memory of feeling him inside her; the mere thought of feeling him again made her insides quiver. His hand was on her neck, holding her to him as she continued to suckle him. A low groan rumbled from his throat as he began to slowly pump himself through her hand. His rigged cock was pulsating in her hand and her hand throbbed and trembled as she felt his power, a sensation she knew she would never forget. Grasping her bottom, he yanked her into him so that her thighs straddled his. Her softness was exposed to his steel thigh as his long fingers settled in the cleft of her bottom, pushing her hard against him. Toni's mouth opened and a small moan escaped, before he captured it in his. Another long, simmering kiss ensued as she stroked him and he moved his pelvis to meet her. Moaning in one another’s mouths, she began to ride his thigh. Her breasts pushed against her dress as her arousal grew. Her nipples grazed the fabric with their painful erectness.

Inhaling deeply and with a groan, Zenya pulled his mouth away from her and grabbed her wrist, snatching it away from his stiff shaft now slightly damp with the pre-cum she'd summoned with her strokes. His pants were wide open and hanging low off his waist. She could do no more than stare and appreciate the perfect abdominal muscles that led down to a navel that was begging for her tongue. It seemed his cock had grown even larger and now jumped and twitched with the heavy dose of blood that scorched through it. That aching emptiness filled her again as she stared at it amazed. Zenya was looking away from her. His hand rubbed his chin harshly, as if he was angry or confused. His other hand was balled into a fist. "Get on top of the car." The words were spoken gruffly. From anyone else she would have probably been afraid. A dark excitement went through her as she placed both her hands on the car hood. She started to turn around to sit on it when she felt his hands grab hold of her waist. "No." She stopped, feeling her lids grow heavy as she felt the tip of him point against her butt through the thin fabric of her dress. "Stay like this, put your knees up on the hood." She swallowed and did as she was told. Her body began to throb as she felt his thumbs make small circular motions against her hips. Zenya removed his hands from her hips and placed them on the back of her knees. He heard her soft whimper as he pushed her knees apart as far as they could go, sliding them across his car hood. He pushed at them again just for good measure, sending a small shock through her core. Licking his lips, he ran his hand up her silky thighs, his thumbs lightly grazing her inner thigh as he lifted the loose fabric up around her waist. He found her white lace underwear wet with her arousal. She was ready for him. She would always be ready for him. He yanked at it, ripping it several times until he got them off. Toni shivered. All of her body was open for him to see. And she was half-dazed with desire only wanting to feel his huge cock inside her. Zenya caressed and marveled at the gorgeous brown thighs and bottom that was displayed before him. His tongue ran over his white teeth. "Ooo God," Toni whimpered, "shit." His hot mouth was all over her exposed flesh, in particular the extra sensitive nub that leapt out for his caress. She pushed her face against the car as his tongue turned into a velvet spear bringing forth more womanly desire to drench them both. Toni was sweating against the hood as an orgasm hit her, she screamed between clenched teeth. As she still reeled from her first release, Zenya grabbed her by the waist and pulled her up onto her knees. Before she could even register what was happening, she was impaled on his pulsating cock, drawing

moans and gasps from each of them. Zenya caressed Toni's hips as he began to drive into her roughly. Toni hunched over as her wet core filled and stretched for this man. Each thrust sent a wail from her. Her hands splayed against the smooth hood as he continued to push himself hard and deep into her. Her eyes closed tightly as quick shocks coiled through her. Several moments of fast thrusts caused her screams to echo over the hills. He grunted harshly just before stopping, so far inside her, he couldn't possibly push further. But he wanted to. Whimpering, Toni pulled herself up to support her body weight with her hands. Her mouth open and eyelids heavy from desire, she began to stroke him with her body. Every time she lifted up she squeezed her muscles around him. After a few minutes she heard his breath hiss. He wasn't touching her and he let her control the pace. He watched as her cinnamon colored bottom slowly came up and down over him. He moaned and placed his hands behind his head to keep them off her hips. It was delicious torture. And he loved it. Of its own volition though his pelvis began to move with her and soon they were meeting each other thrust for thrust. His hands made their way around her waist, pulling her back to him until she was upright with her knees bent against the car hood. They were both panting heavily as he placed his other hand on her shoulder. She screamed as he began to grind her body down on him, pushing up to meet her as she did so. Her knees pressed into the steel of the car. Her hands covered his as her head bent forward, an agonized expression on her face. He wasn't going to stop. Her legs had again gone numb as orgasms racked her body over and over. Her dressed was plastered to her body from the sweat that drenched her. He growled as her flesh quivered over him. He only wanted more and more still. He found pleasure in the sounds of her agonized moans and screams. But he knew his climax was eminent. The tender flesh under his shaft had begun to tighten. She didn't know what to do with her hands. She placed them over her face as he continued impaling her with his rigged member. "Pleease come," She wailed, "please." It didn't even seem like she was in her own body after that. She remembered him pushing harder. Then they just felt it. A climax so strong she arched back, sobbing with its intensity. And tears rolled down her face. He grunted and she heard his voice crack as he shouted her name. They came at the exact same moment. Her knees slid back off the car hood and her feet landed in the dirt outside of his.

Toni's sobs lightly subsided. And she felt his tight grip on her loosen. Her legs went limp and she slowly fell forward onto the car hood. She tried to catch her heaving breath. She felt Zenya lean slightly over until he fell against her back. His warm flesh pressed against her and his chest hair tickled her back. "What—what the fuck was that," He breathed against her back. Her response was only an inaudible sound. Her cheek pressed hard against the metal of the car hood. All she could do was stare out into the darkness outlined by a slight tint of daylight making the sky a dark, navy blue. Yet, she saw nothing. She heard Zenya still sucking in deep breaths as he began to move a few minutes later. He was nestled deeply inside of her and she thought of how full and titillating he felt. He looked down at the woman sprawled out before him. He couldn't really tell if she was conscious. She hadn't moved a single muscle since she'd collapsed on the car. Even her core still vibrated around him with the aftershocks of what they'd just done. He smiled to himself. They must have made quite a scene on there, highlighted by the Mercedes' headlights. Toni lay on top of the car with her arms bent as if she were being searched. Her skirt was a clingy, wet mass riding high around her waist. Her gorgeous, round bottom exposed, as well as two of the best long, curvy legs he'd ever seen. And her high stiletto heels sunk deep into the earth. He looked down at himself, seeing his pants in a pool around his ankles. His shirt hung wide open and he saw them joined, as perfect as any woman and man could be. A cool breeze rolled through just then. Much cooler than any of the others had been. The air made Toni's wet cheeks sting. The act seemed to call her from her reverie. Whatever thinking you could do about absolutely nothing at all. Still, she felt very much at peace. More so, than she could ever recall at any other point in her life. She swallowed, and then started to move. Biting on her bottom lip she tried to lift her body up. Her muscles and bones felt almost nonexistent. Zenya's eyes narrowed on her. He was curious what her reaction to him would be in the aftermath of their latest indiscretion. Almost every fiber of his being screamed for him not to, but he withdrew himself from the warm confines of her body. They both made small protesting sounds. He bent down to draw his pants back into place, seeing her attempt to put the damp clothing around her waist back into some kind of order. He saw her hands fumbling. She wouldn't turn to him. She just stumbled along the car trying to make it to the passenger door. Zenya would've laughed if he wasn't so pissed. Toni tried to discreetly wipe at her cheeks as she tried to get to the car.

She most definitely didn't want him to see that. "Are you okay?" She heard the mocking tone in his voice as he broke the silence. She wasn't okay. Once she made it back to her hotel she'd probably be bed-bound for two days. "Yes." She managed, "I am okay." He made it to the passenger door before her and opened it. "Thank you." She said softly as her vision was engulfed by his broad chest. He had yet to button his shirt. "You're very welcome." His chin almost touched her forehead. He was tempted to tilt up her face, so he could look into her eyes, but he didn't. Toni got into the car. And Zenya returned to the driver’s side. Chapter Four The endless lights and buildings that greeted them when they finally returned to the city were almost overbearing. For Toni it seemed like they were returning from another world, not just from a small distance outside it. The ride with Zenya had thankfully been quiet. It was good because she had absolutely no idea what to say to him. The time they had spent together had been unlike anything else she had ever done in her life. Perhaps it would be something nice to look back on when she was back in smog-ridden L.A. sucking down coffee while she tried to complete her next assignment. "You can let me out here." She spoke again without thinking. He glanced around, beyond her to the surrounding park, "I thought you were staying in a hotel?" "I can drop you off at your hotel — it's not a problem." Maybe not for you but it is for me, she thought. "No—no that's all right—" "Don't be ridiculous. What would Francois and Honore say if they find out I just dumped you out into the night in the middle of Paris?" He joked. But he was thinking inside that he knew he wasn't going to let her go until she was safely at her hotel. "Where are you staying anyway?" "The Royal Monceau." "Oooh swanky." She shook her head smiling slightly. Due to the ridiculousness of the hour, Toni began to nod off as they rode through the ancient streets. She awoke to catch a thin strip of fire along a horizon of buildings she didn't recognize. 44 She began to stir as her eyes squinted, "Where are we?" Zenya had been sitting beside her, watching her sleep with his own weary eyes. She looked a little younger when she slept, her face almost devoid of make-up. He loved the way she nuzzled in the seat as she tried to get more

comfortable. It was so cute it was almost overbearing. To see such an extraordinarily sexy woman, looking and acting so innocent. He wanted to pull her into his lap and let her nuzzle into him. She looked over at him and he looked away, not wanting her to see the desire in his eyes. "Come on, get out of the car." "Where's the hotel?" She asked, getting worried as she peered out in front of her. He was already getting out and closing his door. She opened her side as he rounded the car to open the door for her. "What is this?" She asked her expression worried. He looked devilishly handsome in the morning light. Only two buttons were snapped on his shirt leaving her an eye-pleasing span of golden skin to admire. "Don't worry madam," He smirked as she held the open car door as barrier between them, "I am done with my kidnapping and ravishing for one night." His face held a slightly darker shadow of beard, making his face seem even more sculpted and angular than it already was. Damn, should any man look that good? He nudged her back from the door, closing it. Toni sighed, what game was he playing now, "Come on, what are we—" Her voice stopped in her throat as she turned. In a distance enough for her to be able to take it all in, yet close enough to know it wasn't a picture, stood The Eiffel Tower. "Oh my God." She murmured. Zenya's mouth was by her ear, "You can't go back home now and say you didn't see any sights. That would have been a tragedy." He began to walk along the wide court toward the huge impressive landmark of the city. No one was out at this time of day. Except for the birds, they were alone. He looked back at her from a distance. She wasn't directly behind him but still rooted in the spot by the car. Staring at the large figure. He whistled to get her attention and jutted his head in the direction of the tower. He waited for her to catch up to him. Remarking to himself how the light of the sky signaling the approaching dawn made her skin almost glow. While they walked, he decided it was best if he didn't look at her again. He knew if he did he would instinctively pull her close to him. And he didn't want to take the chance that she would pull away. "Where are you from?" He asked suddenly. "The United States." Zenya rolled his eyes, "Well, duh. I meant what part—what part are you from?" She folded her arms as they walked to brace against the early morning

chill, "Los Angeles." "Ahhh," He said as if the info was some type of revelation. "Never been there. What's it like?" "What's it like?" She repeated, surely no one had ever asked her that. "It's L.A." She shrugged with indifference. "Is this your first vacation from there?" "This isn't a vacation. It's a business trip." "So, why not have a little fun on your company's dime?" She didn't really have a response for that. It hadn't even really occurred to her to do anything besides get her account with the D'Ambrose's finished. "Or is it that you are incapable of having fun?" She immediately came to her own defense, "No—no that's not true." "Then how could you come to Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower or any other sites for that matter?" They continued the leisurely pace as they came closer to the landmark. “I was busy trying to please your two arrogant and eccentric friends for one." She covered her mouth, "Please, don't tell them I said that." He chuckled, "No need, they already know that." He sidestepped and their thighs caressed, "All right then. Well, you're finished with Francois and Honore. So you don't have any reason not to enjoy today." Now standing where the large structure began its upward stretch from the ground, Toni felt compelled to stare at his long, tanned fingers as they caressed the long beam. "Did you know someone once sold this?" His back was to her as he spoke. "What?" she asked, pulling her gaze from his fingers. do that?" Zenya licked his lips before he spoke, noting her eyes quickly zeroed in on the movement before darting back to his face. "Well, he managed to get his hands on some counterfeit government stationary and passed himself off as a government official to some scrap-metal dealers. He told them that the maintenance of the tower was costing France too much money and it was going to be scheduled for demolition. And as such, the Eiffel Tower was on sale to the highest bidder." Toni gasped, "That's ridiculous." "Apparently they believed it. He accepted one of the dealer's bids and went to Austria, cash in hand. The guy that fell for the scam was so ashamed he didn't file charges. And remains unknown." Toni shook her head, her mouth creep into a smile and she began to laugh. A slow throaty laugh that held Zenya captivated. "Would you kiss me Toni?" The words were out before he could take them back. She straightened slightly as her laughter subsided. "No." "No?" He repeated. "No," she said feeling a heat blossom through her,

"I won't kiss you." "Why not? I asked politely." "And I said no politely." "But we're under the Eiffel Tower, you have to kiss me," He sighed, batting his eyes, "It would be so romantic." "And what do you know about romance exactly?" She tried to keep from laughing at the ridiculous face he was making. He released the bar and stepped toward her, his eyes were light and full of mischief. She stepped back simultaneously, teasing him, "More importantly, what do you care of it?" Thoughtfully examining the relaxed happiness on her face, it stirred a place deep inside him. Zenya kept pursuing and she continued to back up until they almost made a full circle around the beam. "Toni, are you really going to make me chase you down in high heels for a kiss?" She started to giggle. "Listen," He coaxed as they both continued to circle the beam at a slower pace, "if you fall, you will skin those pretty legs and I will have to kiss them to make them all better." A few lightning quick paces in the opposite direction and he was right beside her, caressing her arm. "Do you see how it's inevitable?" Her eyes widened as she wondered how a large man could move so quickly. But once she was enclosed in that hypnotic gaze of his, all thoughts escaped her brain. Warm, soft lips covered hers and she was gone. She went back to that place where she'd been when she allowed this completely stranger to invade, take over and then completely consume her body. When he touched her, there was no question of any morality or insanity to what she'd done. Because it was just...right. Her arms snaked his shoulders and clasped around his neck. His arms went around her waist to pull her closer. They enjoyed a kiss in timeless pose under the Eiffel Tower. *** By the time they actually did reach her hotel, Paris had begun to wake up. Zenya was looking at the steering wheel. "So, when do you head back to L.A.?" She smoothed at the wrinkles in her skirt, "Tomorrow morning." He pulled to a stop in front of the entrance, "So this is where we 'go our separate ways never to meet again'?" She hated the way her stomach dropped as he said that. What was wrong with her? The doorman started toward his car with the intention of opening the door for Toni. Toni tried to laugh it off, it wasn't convincing, "I guess so."

The doorman opened the door, signaling the end of whatever this had been. She looked back at him and he didn't hear the long breath that exhaled though her teeth. The doorman helped her out of the car. It remained open as she looked up at the hotel. She grimaced, this just wasn't right. She ducked back into the car and stretched out her hand. "Goodbye, Zenya Rubinov." He looked down at her hand his brow raised as if to say 'a handshake?' With a strangely solemn expression on his face he gently took her hand, turning it over so the palm was face down. His fingers slowly moved up her hand and he bent over placing a gentle kiss just above her knuckles. When he looked up at her, he could see a war in her eyes as she tried not reveal her true feelings. "Goodbye, do novyh vstrech." He released her hand. Toni's face disappeared from his view as she stepped away from the car. The doorman shut the door with a quick finality. Her walk was quick as she was escorted to the hotel entrance. She made sure not to look back at him. She tried to ignore the aching butterflies in her stomach and the way her whole body and especially her hand tingled as if it wanted to burst into flames. Zenya's teeth gritted as he watched her walk out of his life and back into her own. After checking for vehicles behind him, he pulled quickly into the street and saw her walk through the glass entrance doors as he drove away. When Toni walked into the Royal Monceau she knew she wasn't the same person that had left here the day before. Everything just seemed so different. Slowly she made her way to the elevator, stepped on when it chimed and made her way to her room. As soon as she stepped inside, she removed the stiletto heels; she vowed to never wear again no matter how good they looked. It seemed like each part of her body ached in unison and she was tired as hell. Despite desiring to merely fall into the bed, she made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. She removed the white dress and draped it over the door. Reluctantly she got into the steaming shower and let the water rain down on her body, slowly removing the scent of man and cologne from her skin. After she managed to crawl from the shower, she pulled on the thick, white terry-cloth robe compliments of the hotel. Next she went to the bed where her other two dress choices still lay from the previous evening. Her head, damp hair and all, hit the pillow and Toni was soon dead to the world. Chapter Five Zenya had barely made it half way through the casino when he was ambushed by Francois D'Ambrose. His annoyance was clear as the tall,

pale Frenchman looked him over. "Where's your Siamese twin?" Zenya asked flatly, walking around him. "I didn't know you two were capable of functioning at this hour." Francois rolled his eyes as he easily kept up with Zenya's pace. "How was it?" Zenya's eyes widened, "How was what?" "Dinner in Siberia." Zenya let out a hidden breath, for a moment he thought it had been obvious to Francois how he and Toni had spent the majority of their evening. "It wasn't so bad." "We really owe you for doing it." Zenya pretended a game table caught his attention as he walked. He was actually hiding his smirk from the man. "Think nothing of it. What are friends for?" The previous day the two brothers had spent the better part of an hour arguing Zenya into it. It had been ridiculous now that he thought of it. But the way they had spoken of Toni gave him the preconceived notion that she was some frigid prude. In a way she was, but she just needed someone to melt her in the right places. He hoped he had done a thorough job of it, both times. Although Francois and Honore seemed determined to believe they knew her as this, he would do nothing to sway their opinion. Yet still, all he could think of was that brilliant smile under the Eiffel Tower. "I guess you are planning on going to bed? You look like you haven't slept all night." "So perceptive," Zenya remarked as he made his way to the elevator. 50 *** Toni was enjoying a blissful, dreamless sleep, when harsh noises caused her to stir. Bang, bang, bang. She twisted in her sleep, trying to will the noise from her mind. Bang, bang, bang. Her eyes barely opened. But they registered the brilliant sunlight coming through the light drapes. She groaned. Hadn't she put the ‘do not disturb sign’ on her door? Pushing out of bed and tying the belt of her robe tightly around her, she went through the bedroom of her suite through the living room to the front door. She looked through the peephole. Candice Rogers. In all her blond glory. According to Candice's actions, the two of them seemed to have made friends. Exactly when and where this happened, Toni couldn't be sure. It wasn't that Toni didn't like the woman. She really had no definitive reason not to. It was just something about her. Toni opened the door and tried her best to smile politely. But anyone that had an ounce of shrewdness could see she was an unwelcome

guest. "Hey." Toni greeted. "Hey." Candice smiled genuinely as she stepped into Toni's hotel suite. The blond woman whistled low, "Nice digs. Better than my spot." Toni closed the door and her eyes briefly, knowing she was never going to get back to sleep today. "But you are an executive," Candice smiled, showing large dimples implanted on each cheek. Candice was very pale, with crystal clear blue eyes. She and Toni were the exact same height. But where Toni kept short, ultra chic hair cuts, Candice had long, silky-golden blond hair that skimmed her waist. Toni had often thought it was ridiculous for a grown woman to have hair that long, often remarking it was no longer the middle ages. But to each her own. "Bumped into Brian on the elevator." Brian. The name itself almost gave Toni indigestion. Brian Gerstein was the other sorry associate besides her boss that was originally supposed to attend the dinner party with her yesterday. But he had bowed out at the last minute, feigning sickness. "How did he look?" Candice shrugged frowning, "Like Brian, the slightly over-tanned-metro-sexual that he is." That drew a chuckle from Toni, causing Candice to smile. "He said yesterday that he was sick." Candice scoffed, "Not too sick to have been drinking it up at the bar with some redhead until the wee hours of the morning." Bastard. Wasn't it always the jerks and slackers that got over in the office? "Any sign of our boss?" "Nope, I guess everyone is doing their own thing." Toni sat down on the couch across from Candice, "I heard you got stuck going solo to the D'Ambrose's dinner thing." The very subject she didn't want to discuss was now up for discussion. She had been so exhausted and everything else since parting ways with Zenya this morning. She hadn't been able to think of what she was and was not going to say about what happened. Well she knew she was never going to say anything about what really happened but Another knock at the door. Was her hotel room Grand Central Station now? Candice motioned to the door. "Do you want me to?" Toni shrugged. "Sure." The blond sauntered to the door and opened it, without looking through the peephole. Toni rolled her eyes. They were greeted with a huge bouquet of flowers that almost engulfed the doorframe, blocking the poor person that had been stuck carrying it. Toni's mouth dropped in a gasp and she stood from

the couch. Candice smiled widely, squealing. "Oh my gosh, these are gorgeous!" “Where would you like them Madamoiselle?" The invisible bellhop strained from behind the arrangement. "Oh, um, right here." She pointed to the empty table and tried to guide the young man to it, when she realized he couldn't see a thing. He sighed when his hands were finally free of the weight. Toni grabbed her purse and handed him a nice tip. "Merci." He said slightly, ogling both women before leaving. Toni closed the door behind him and looked over to see Candice happily opening the card that was sent. "Sorry we missed your evening but we hope you still had a good time, Francois and Honore D'Ambrose," Candice handed over the card to Toni, as if there were any point considering she'd already read the contents. As Toni took it, she tried to ignore the thought that she had hoped they were from Zenya. Why would he send her flowers, they just parted ways a few hours ago. "What's wrong?" Candice noticed Toni frowning. She tried to laugh it off, "Oh, they spelled my name with a 'y'." "Oh." Candice appeared a bit puzzled but turned and busied herself smelling and rearranging the already professionally arranged bouquet. Toni read the card again before tossing it on the table and sitting back down on her spot on the couch. Even with Candice in the room, Toni somehow managed to meander off into her own thoughts. And those thoughts were blissfully of nothing, when the young blond woman spoke with her back to her. "So if Francois and his brother didn't show, who did you have dinner with, Toni?" Toni stared at her back as she pointlessly played with the flower display. If looks could actually kill... "Someone else." Candice turned then, smiling, "Yeah, who?" Despite peering dangerously at the woman, Toni could find nothing sneaky or pretentious in her smile. The woman sat across from, her blue eyes twinkling as she waited for her answer. Toni stared down at the small note on the coffee table, "Their silent partner." Candice seemed surprise, "Silent partner? I didn't know they had a silent partner." Toni sighed, standing up from the couch, "If you did, he wouldn't be silent." She went over to the large windows and opened the cream-colored drapes. Her eyes immediately shut as the blinding light filled the room," God, it's that bright out?" "It's called daytime, Toni." Candice called from behind her. She scoffed quietly, "What brings you here, Candice?" "Oh," She said enthusiastically jumping up from the couch. "I came to tell you about the party tonight. It's being thrown by Celine Mauraille."

Toni's voice was indifferent as she stared out into the heart of Paris, "Who is Celine Mauraille?" Candice shrugged, "She's like some huge actress here I guess, as well as a big designer's muse or something." Toni got the impression that even though Candice tried to sound vague, she knew a lot more about this Celine Mauraille than she was letting on. "So she's throwing a party." "Yes and you got invited!" Toni turned away from the window, "Me?" "Yeah," Candice's eyes had grown to a saucer size as she pulled the ticket from her blazer pocket, "It says you plus one, pleeeeeease let me be the plus one." Toni frowned as she stepped toward Candice with her hand outstretched to receive the invitation with her name engraved on it. An invitation she had no idea how this woman got her hands on first. "It's a costume ball." Toni squinted."How did I get invited to this?" Candice's smile was from ear to ear, "I don't know, but you need a plus one." Toni handed the invitation back to her, "Make it plus two. I'm not going." "What? How can you not go? This is like one of the hottest parties of the year! So I've heard." Toni almost chuckled as she plopped back down on the couch, "And I'm sure you'll have a great time. Me? I've personally seen enough drunk French people to last me a lifetime at The D'Ambrose's the other night. I'm sure this will be nothing but more of the same." "But it's a costume party!" "So they'll be drunk in costumes!" Toni tried to not laugh."Look Candice, you are free to go in my place. I am sure you can find a date. Ask the metrosexual. I'm sure he can't get enough of shit like that." Candice's face contorted into something between pain and annoyance, "I'm not asking Brian to go with me to a ball. It's like a date or something." To Toni's dismay, Candice sat down next to her, "Toni, this is our last night in Paris before we're on a plane tomorrow back to smog-riddenoverpopulated L.A. We've got to do something special. What could be more special than this!" She waved the gold engraved invitation in her face as if to hypnotize her to do her bidding. *** Zenya got off the elevator, heading to his room when he ran smack into a man he wished he didn't have to see. The man jumped back into the wall as if he wished to seep through it. "Zenya—Mr. Rubinov. I was just looking for you, actually." Max Howard barely came to Zenya's armpit in height. He was slightly balding and had small, dark brown eyes in which he hid behind enormously big and thick glasses. The glasses of course were, and continued to be, the source of numerous jokes for the people that knew

him. He looked and dressed like a man who had been down on his luck most of his life and kicked while down there. Max Howard was one of the shrewdest bastards you could ever meet. He had to be in order to be part of Zenya's circle of associates. But one of Max's flaws was the many card and crap tables that adorned the casino downstairs. And as of late he was owed Zenya about thirty grand. "Max." "Max," He chuckled, "that's my name. I—I tried to call you yesterday but Noelle said you were out." Max jutted his hands out to Zenya's direction, "You look like you had a good time," His laugh died quickly when he realized Zenya didn't find the same humor as he did at the moment. Zenya scratched his temple, "Unless you have my money, what are we talking about here?" "The money! The money that's right. I am working on that and I will have it for you." Zenya nodded, "Three days." "Three days! Zenya come on! How am I supposed to do that?" Zenya continued his smooth gait watching the man press into the wall as he passed him, "Do what you do best, hustle." He continued down the hall to his room. Thankful, once he got behind the door, to be alone. He closed all the blinds and went over to the couch which he made his bed on most days. Sometimes it was intentional, more often it wasn't. As he fell asleep he heard Toni's voice. Goodbye, Zenya Rubinov. Toni stood in her bedroom, looking in dismay at her reflection in the antique oval mirror. She knew she shouldn't actually put on the gold mass of material Candice handed her, but she was just so damn pushy. In the end Toni only relented so she could stop hearing the woman's voice for a minute. Finally she opened her mouth through the scowl, "Candice!" The young blond rushed in the room as if she'd been standing right by it. Toni pointed to the dress, "What the hell is this? I look like a hooker from the eighties." The dress itself was short and slashed up and just completely hideous. "Well," She pulled a huge wig from behind her. "I thought maybe it would be cool if you went as Tina Turner. She's got a huge following here." "That's very nice Candice but I thought I mentioned if I go to this thing I wanted to do something subtle. I am not going to be there long and I don't want to be uncomfortable while I'm there." Candice glanced down at her watch, "It's almost six thirty and the party starts at seven. I need to go get ready." She was already rushing to the door. "There's a whole rack of stuff for you to choose from here. Just find something and meet me downstairs."

As she heard Candice close the door, she sighed, shifting out of the dress and kicked it far across the room. Her hands wondered over the racks, almost settling on the black witch costume any of her colleagues would have died to see her in. It was their not so secret nickname for her after all. She reached almost to the end of the rack when a pleasing fabric caught her eye. Perfect. *** Toni left her hotel room close enough to being late that she was sure Candice had pondered leaving her. If she hadn't actually done just that. Several people gave her odd or approving glances as she walked by. She got off the elevator and went to the lobby, still not seeing Candice, she wondered if she really had taken off. Most of the people in the lobby at least briefly paused before turning back to their duties, at her. A cluster of three women, who looked like current or at least former models with their tall, waif figures and hollow cheeks, were also dressed for the ball. One was a cat in a skintight black suit. The other was a ballerina in a sticky-sweet, pink leotard and pouf skirt that left little to the imagination and the last dark haired woman was in shiny dominatrix costume with heels that made her at least six four. They were all engrossed in a conversation of rapid French until Toni walked by. She recognized their looks and understood each in turn. She smiled smugly, ignoring their cold disdaining stares. Yep they're real, her smile boldly said as she walked through the glass entrance door the doorman was more than happy to open. She caught the back of Candice, who had somehow managed to squeeze that mass of blond locks into a tight bun on the top of her head. Her short green costume was Tinkerbell from the Walt Disney pictures. She was puffing heavily on a cigarette as she conversed with their limo driver. When the driver's head turned in her direction, Candice stopped smoking and turned too. "Toni!" She yelled, "I thought you'd decided not to come! I didn't know what to do! Where the hell else can I go dressed like this?" Toni smiled slightly, "Sorry, you look great Candice." “So do you...subtle huh?" She scoffed, "Well..." *** "Isn't this place great?" Candice had to yell so Toni could hear her amongst all the various chatter going on about them, as they went up the packed stairs to get into the party. "This place is called Noir it's like the hottest place in Paris. The first floor is the club and up on the—" "Thanks Candice, I got it." When Toni actually got into the club, she almost wanted to make a mad dash out of the place. The music was blaring a crazy techno only a sixteen year old or obviously Europeans could get into. Men and women in

bondage costumes were dancing in cages along the wall and on the dance floor itself. Well it was a scene for the ages; bad, good and bought bodies all gyrated in psychotic motions to the music. Gold, silver wings and skin seemed to be the trend. She could have been the most normal looking one in the room. The promised land to her right was the bar. Toni pointed, yelling to Candice, "I'll be over there!" "All right!" She found out the hostess was crazy and rich enough to have an open bar. She was well on her way to making her wish she hadn't when someone tapped her shoulder. "You've been hugging this bar for the better part of an hour. Get up, you're going to dance with me." Candice pulled Toni away from the bar and toward the dance floor when Abba's “Dancing Queen” came on, causing the crowd to shout with joy. "Oh I used to love this song!" Candice yelled. Toni was too busy trying not to spill her drink. Even if she wanted to, Toni found it difficult not to laugh at the girl, and barely moved to the music herself. Since all the people around her seemed to be moving too much. If she moved the way they did, she was sure to throw up all over their Dior's and Manolo's and probably insight a riot in the process. But Candice did seem like she was having a good time. Into the third song Toni began to sweat, mostly from all the body heat generating from the people around her. Candice was pulled into the quick embrace of a man dressed as Zorro and Toni just turned and left. There wasn't any point of losing her voice just for Candice to hear she was going. The doors of the main entrance had closed to stop reporters from trying to sneak in. After asking at least ten people where the exit was and getting no English answer, she figured it would be best if she found her own way out. She had quickly walked away from the last swarming man who she was sure had propositioned her for sex in some way. She made her way to the elevators and pushed number two. Hopefully someone upstairs would be sane and speak some kind of English. This place was decorated beautifully. Downstairs with its flashing lights and open dance floor was obviously made for dancing the night away. But the decorations up here were much more refined. Recessed lighting went along the walls which were painted an ox blood red that matched the rug. The long narrow hall almost seemed like an elegant movie theater. She went to the end to find a wide door. She heard clapping and shouting and hoped she hadn't just somehow made her way back to that circus someone called a ball. A large man was engrossed in a conversation with a willowy, dark haired woman and barely noticed her as she passed. She opened the large velvet door to find the floor of a semi-packed casino. The groans and shouts of people as they won and lost whatever they were betting,

hit her ears. No one there was in costume. And she immediately felt self-conscious as more than one person looked up at her. She swallowed and started down the stairs as she tried to lose herself in the crowd. Not too likely. "Are you from the party?" A gorgeous woman in a sparkling blue dress asked. Toni laughed shortly, "Yeah." "I like your costume." Toni's smiled widened, "Do you have any clue where the exit is?" "You wish to leave? But the night has only just begun." Toni nodded, "I have an early flight out tomorrow so..." "Oh, I see," She pointed to the huge wall enclosed in glass which showed Paris alight, "There is a set of stairs out their which go down to the road, be careful in those heels though." Toni nodded, "Thanks." She went to the glass opening, a small glass door with a small gold handle. As she closed the door behind her a soft breeze fluttered over her. And the ruckus in the previous room died down. She stood on a large stone veranda that looked like it should be on the side of some historic European mansion somewhere. Her breath caught silently in her throat as she got a full, live view of Paris at night. Lights fluttered across the horizon for as far she could see. And the Eiffel Tower was lit in the distance. It should have been a painting that she was staring at rather than reality. She was used to looking at the building crammed skyline of L.A. And it was nothing like this. This was the old world illuminated and it was spectacular. The sound of water caused her to move to her right, behind a large stone pillar, and she was astounded to find a huge water fountain. It was made out of stone and seemed as it had been around forever. The water was lit by lights from the bottom and so was the water sprout which was at least twenty feet above her head. The figure was of a posed mermaid and water seemed to sprout from her hand. Toni smiled and dipped her fingers across the water as she peered down in to see if anyone had thrown money inside to make a wish. She would be leaving here tomorrow, she thought sadly. And everything would go back to the way it was. She took off her shoes and decided to sit on the side of the fountain. At least she could enjoy this scene, this wonderful breeze, for just a moment. Toni curled her feet up beside her and was leaning slightly with her hand propping her up on the edge of the stone fountain. She had no idea how the light of the water illuminated her body and the ripples of the water reflected off her skin. "Cleopatra...surveying the beauty of her land?" Toni would have jumped off the fountain if she wasn't completely frozen from fear...and something else. She would have known that voice anywhere.

But still she dared not turn around. "Y—you came for the party too?" Why was she so breathless? "No." “You were at the casino then?" "What a curious Cleopatra, you are." His voice might as well have been a hand wandering and caressing every part of her body. "Just making conversation." She responded quietly. Her eyes were scanning back and forth at random across the horizon as she tried to ignore the fact that her body was throbbing in that way, it had only done once before. "I don't suppose there's anything wrong with curiosity," His voice was deep melodic and utterly male. "After all, I am feeling a bit curious myself." "Curious," She turned her face to him, "About, what exactly?" She had to force herself to continue speaking. He was wearing a black suit tailored to perfection. It molded his body like a glove. His expensive white shirt was open a bit at the neck, revealing a bronze throat and a thin platinum chain. The chain sparkled and so did his eyes. They intently watched her, causing even more warmth to coil through her body. Her fingers itched to reach out and touch the soft skin just underneath them. He was clean-shaven and his sharp jaw seemed to be created just for her to nuzzle. "I was curious to know what caused the queen to abandon her court? It's dangerous for such a woman to be out unescorted," He didn't notice her eyes squint at him when that signature grin hit his lips, "She could find herself ambushed by a man with dishonorable intentions." She smiled as she forced herself to look away from him, "Aren't they the only kind?" "So you're not afraid your highness?" Her heart was beating at an increasing speed but it had nothing to do with fear. "No." "Good." He stood up from the fountains edge. "It's never wise to make decisions based on fear. Come with me." Was it a question or a demand? Toni stared at this man's leather clad outstretched hand. Did it matter? She took his hand and stood from her perch on the fountain. The beads from her authentic wig jingled as she did so. She followed him down the steps; the forgotten woman had directed her to and into a private garage. There, next to the silver Mercedes he had been driving the other day was a shiny black and chrome Ducati 999. Toni looked up at him, "What's that?" He smiled wryly at her, "It's called a motorcycle, Toni. Don't tell me you've never been on one?"

She looked warily at the vehicle, "Tricycle, that's about it." He chuckled heartily as he gently pulled her to it. He handed her a black helmet. "You can have this; I don't usually wear it anyway." "You don't usually wear it? But isn't it reg—" "No." He spoke over her words as he drew a long leg over the back and sat on the beautiful vehicle. He looked impossibly gorgeous and should have been on a magazine cover somewhere. Cool gray eyes slid down her profile, "Hike that dress up and let's go." She let out an inaudible noise as the rational side of her tried to keep her from getting on the bike. Despite her hesitation, she reached down to her ankles and pulled the iridescent pleated fabric up her legs and thighs with one hand while the other held the helmet. When she looked up, he was regarding her with a gaze that sent shivers up her spine. For a moment, she thought he was going to get off the bike and come to her. She hoped he would. Instead, he shifted in his seat and patted the seat behind him. The seriousness of his face shifted into a smile. She walked over to him and awkwardly swung her leg over the back and sat against the seat. He turned the bike and luckily the sound of the motor covered her gasp as the vibration went straight up her inner thighs. Zenya placed cool gloved fingers under her knee so she could fit her foot to the footrest. His hand stayed on her skin longer than necessary, caressing her skin before he pulled them away to wrap tightly around the bike's handlebars. "Zenya?" He turned to her so she saw his side profile. She wanted to lean over and kiss that perfectly sculpted cheek. "Yes?" "Where are the seat belts?" He chuckled as he started off into the night and she squealed, trying to pull the helmet over her wigged head. Chapter Six After securing the helmet, Toni promptly grabbed Zenya tightly around his waist. She reminded herself that this was pretty much not guaranteeing any safety, with the exception of the fact that, if he were to fly off the vehicle, she was going with him. But it sure did feel nice. When she noticed he had basically run several lights and was starting to drive up on a semi-crowded street she screamed, "You're going to get arrested!" He scoffed, "Trust me I'm not." At first as Toni crammed closer to him all she could do was stare at the beautifulstructures they passed as the modern world mixed with the old one. As well as the many cafe's they passed that were signature in Paris. They ended up on a street so old; the road was still paved with brick. The buildings were very old and close together. Toni looked up to see people had clothes hanging off their porches. This was the side of Paris

they skipped-over in the tourist brochures. "Where are we?" She asked quietly as he turned off the bike. Zenya smiled, "Don't you ever like to be pleasantly surprised?" As he moved to stand and get off the bike, he was pleased to find her arms still holding tightly to his waist. She abruptly let go at the tug of his movements. Swinging her leg over the back she got off the bike. Toni looked up and down the tight alleyway as he turned to her. "Are you just going to leave your bike here?" He nodded, "Yes." He grabbed at her hand, "Come on." They edged around the corner and to her surprise again, the building she saw had a small sign that said Moretto's. To her greater surprise an older man with glasses and an easy smile opened the door. "Mr. Rubinov." He laughed, "Good to see you again." They were led in as Zenya said, "Thanks, you too." When the man saw Toni in full view his eyes widened and to Toni's shock and slight embarrassment he gave a long deep bow, "Cleopatra, we are honored to be in your presence." Zenya chuckled slightly and looked over at her. Moretto's was small but well furnished. Dark wood tables were in the center of the room and cozy booths were along the walls next to tinted windows so you could watch the motion of the city. The place was quiet and empty except for two couples engrossed in conversation. They had briefly looked up and gave small smiles as Zenya and Toni entered the room but thankfully went back to their conversation. They took a booth and the man who'd introduced himself as Angelo gave them menus and excused himself to give them time to order. Toni had the rim of the wig in her hand, "Maybe I should take this off." Zenya's eyes looked up from the menu, "Then you wouldn't be Cleopatra." Toni scoffed and picked up her menu. She left the wig on, only because she remembered there was no telling what her hair looked like under the thing. Everything on the menu looked utterly delicious. She didn't realize until then how utterly famished she was. As both their faces were hidden from the other behind their menus, she heard Zenya deep voice murmur, "I haven't touched you today you know, only in passing." Toni lurched as she felt his warm, shoeless foot caress the inside of her calf. Electricity shot through and her eyes widened. She tried to move or divert her leg from his touch, "Zenya, no!" she whispered. To her dismay and secret delight his foot followed her. "You're only suppose to say 'Yes Zenya, yes'." She didn't know if she wanted to laugh or sigh as his foot moved higher up her leg, arousing her more by the second. Perhaps just screaming out in frustration from this crazy enigmatic man God had thrown in her lap was also an option. Zenya's foot was halfway up her thigh when Angelo returned to the table, "Are you ready to order?"

Toni jerked, causing Angelo to give her an inquisitive look. An amused tilt was on Zenya's lips as he hid behind the menu. "Give me the steak; make sure it's well done." He handed the menu to Angelo and stared innocently at Toni as she tried not to squirm in her seat. "And you madam, are you ready?" Toni jerked sideways as Zenya's toe hit a very inappropriate area, "Yes!" Zenya grinned and put his head down. "I'll have the same, well done." Angelo smiled pitifully at her and she immediately felt embarrassed. He probably believed Zenya was dating girls with fits now. Angelo left them again and Zenya smoothly removed his foot. She shook her head in dismay at him. He ignored her, "A woman with an appetite, I like that." She pursed her lips but said nothing. As they waited for the food she asked, "So you live here? In Paris." His brows lifted, "No." She waited briefly to see if he would actually divulge where he did live but he didn't. He just stared at her with his mouth shut and that amused gleam in his eye. "Well, where do you live?" He shrugged looking casually out the window, "Here and there, a little bit of everywhere I guess. No particularly regular zip code where I lay my head." She squinted at him and her mouth formed as if an unappealing odor just went by her face. "If you don't want to tell me, fine. It's not like I had intention of ever showing up at your door." He laughed shortly, "What? It's the truth." She swung her hands out, palms up. "Nobody just lives a little everywhere." “I do." But his words were drowned out by hers, "Bums and winos." "What?" He laughed. "Bums and winos. They can live a little bit of everywhere." This was the first time she'd noticed he'd taken his off his gloves and was rubbing his thumb over the wide silver band he wore on his forefinger. "So I am a bum?" She rolled her eyes, "Obviously not, but you have to admit it's odd that you don't have any particular 'zip code to lay your head'." She was getting frustrated. She felt like he was lying to her. So he didn't want her to know where he lived. Was he worried that she was the clingy type of girl that didn't know how to just have a little fun and let it go? Well he'd picked the wrong one. She wasn't clingy. She was more than capable of taking care of herself as she'd been doing for twenty six

years before he came along. He saw the expressions come across her face. He slowly watched her begin to withdraw back into that place she was in when they had first met. "Toni lo—" He began. "No it's fine. Don't worry about it." She heard him sigh as she folded her arms and stared out the window. Why was she making a big deal out of this? Even she wondered. Who cared where he lived. They'd had their fun. And she was going back to L.A. tomorrow. Not a few miles away, another continent. She frowned and slowly put her arms back on the table, "I'm sorry that wasn't—" "I conduct business in a lot of different places. So I move around a lot." "You don't have to explain—" Angelo interrupted them with the arrival of their steaks. They were so hot they still seared on the plate. The smell made Toni's stomach grumble. "Enjoy," Angelo said feeling satisfied as he saw looks of delight consume their faces. *** Toni was so full, she was glad she was wearing the loose gauzy material so her stomach was able to stretch and breathe. They said their goodbye to Angelo and the cook, his brother Gianni. And left the restaurant. Zenya laughed as he looked back and noticed her wobbling a bit with her hand on her stomach. "Not bad, huh?" "No. Not bad." To her utter surprise his bike was still in the same place, untouched, with the helmet placed on top. She shook her head, "I can't believe no one stole it." Nonchalantly he said, "They know who I am." Toni scoffed. He got on the back and saw her still standing a few feet in front of him. He made note of her wariness, "Are you going to drive crazy again?" “No!" He raised two fingers, "Scouts honor. Now pull that dress up again so I can see those legs." Toni's cheeks burned. And to her secret astonishment she felt embarrassed at how this man could make her heart flutter. Her heart never fluttered. She tried to pull the dress up and shimmy quickly onto the bike, but his eyes and neck followed every motion and she didn't escape the wolf whistle he gave her. As she got on the bike he turned back slightly to her, "Hmm, this bike is dipping a bit more than before, you sure you should have gotten that steak?" She gasped and hit him on the shoulder, "Don't you dare; you had one too!" He shrugged, "But I'm a man."

"Says who?" "You." He chuckled as he turned on the bike. He was putting on his gloves as she stared at the soft somewhat lighter hairs at the nape of his neck. A compulsiveness that could only be described as animalistic drew her to lean forward and kiss the area. Zenya stopped in mid motion. The feeling of her mouth and her breasts pressing into his back gave him an instant erection. He smiled as he braced both hands on the handles, "See." He said simply before speeding back into the night. *** They arrived back at the casino and he returned the bike to the garage. He got off the bike and turned to her as she awkwardly scooted off again, "So why are you dressed like the Queen of the Nile?" Toni was placing the helmet back on the bike, "I was at Celine Mauraille's costume ball." He made a face, "Oh yeah, I forgot all about that...you went to that?" She rolled her eyes, "Briefly." He rubbed his chin as he regarded her, leaning back against the hood of his car, "Just doesn't seem like your taste." Her hand was on her hip, "And just what do you know about my taste?" "A lot." His face said everything his words did not. He placed both hands on the hood of the car, leaning back slightly. He didn't say anything but she knew he was thinking of what they had done the previous evening on top of that car. She was thinking of it too, and it caused a shiver to creep up her legs and spine. "Well," He asked staring at her, "what are we going to do now?" In the silence that followed she felt her heart beat faster. She watched as his teeth sucked his lips in a bit and she saw just the edge of his tongue as he licked his lips. He kept a conservative face as he pulled away from the car. He started toward the back of the dark garage and in his stride he motioned with his index finger for her to follow him. In the back where she followed him she saw there was an elevator. As the doors opened and they got on, she noticed he moved to the far corner of the elevator and relaxed himself against the wall. She wanted to walk over to him. And feel his arms around her and just envelope herself in his body heat. But she remained on the opposite side of the elevator. For the ride they pretended they were perfect strangers. From the length of the ride, Toni guessed if they weren't at the top of the building, they were pretty close to it by the time they stopped. They walked down at short hall and Zenya pulled out his keys to open the only door, revealing a modern room with dimmed, recessed lighting. The living room itself was right before them, sunken in by several steps. Warm earth tones were used on the throw pillows that were against the oval couch. As it seemed with everywhere in this city, a huge veranda with a glass wall showed a spectacular view of the city. "My bum's retreat," Zenya said as he watched Toni admire the room.

She smiled as she heard him gently close the door. He motioned to the couch. "Sit down, make yourself comfortable." The couch did look inviting, "May I use your bathroom?" "Sure," He pointed to their right "It's just down there." "Thanks." She entered the bathroom which was white with gold trim and a huge marble Jacuzzi bathtub. She didn't really need to use the bathroom, she just wanted to take the wig off and try to get herself together. If that were possible. She took the wig off and stared at the reflection looking back at her. Her hair didn't look too bad. A little spiky but not out of the norm. And thankfully not damp and flat. She played with it a little, trying to arrange it in some fashion before she stopped. Girl, what are you doing? She didn't know. What was she doing here? Having some fun, for once in my life. With a total stranger. A total stranger I already screwed, twice. She took off her shoes and her toes crinkled against the cold of the marble. She took some tissue and wet it to wipe some of the heavy liner from around her eyes that she'd used to get that 'Egyptian' effect. Taking a deep breath, she left the shoes and wig in the bathroom and returned to the living room. She found a wonderfully cool jazz playing on the surround sound. Zenya was sitting on the couch with his back to her, his arms resting on the top of the couch. She softly padded barefoot down to the couch to stand in front of him. He looked up at her and smiled, "What happened to Cleopatra?" "She escaped," She answered quietly. "Mmm, I'll have to do something about my security." Toni giggled. His smile lessened as his eyes darted to the stereo before returning back to her. "Dance for me." He requested quietly. She shook her head as her foot dragged over the carpet, "No. I don't dance." Those oddly clear eyes roamed over her form, "Yes, you do." She shook her head again. "All you have to do is move your body to the music." She sighed even as she turned around and began to move her hips to the sway of the beat. Zenya watched for a few moments before he leaned back further into the couch and widened his thighs to accommodate his ever-growing hardness. Toni continued to move with the beat and leaned over to pull the dress up. She let the material bunch in her fisted hands to the top of her thighs. It showed the expanse of her long, shapely legs as her hips gyrated with the beat. Her back was still to him so she didn't see him squirm in the seat. Zenya's eyes followed every curve of Toni's body as it swayed with the

music. Damn, she was beautiful. The gold shimmer of the dress seemed to make her skin a deep bronze. His cock began to jerk in his pants as he watched her. He watched as one of her hands left the side of her dress and began stroking up her body. He only guessed that her hands wondered over her breasts because her back was still to him before it rested on her nape. With a deep intake of breath he leaped from the couch. He was through with watching. So wrapped up in the music and the feel of her own growing arousal, Toni hadn't heard Zenya move at all, until she felt the expanse of his body pressed into her back. He molded himself to her and his hips followed each movement of hers. His mouth was on the back of her neck where her hands still covered and he licked into the grooves of her fingers. His other hand was on her exposed thigh. The feeling of his mouth, the warmness of his breath, sent Toni reeling. She quickly moved her hand from the back of her nape to the back of his, pulling his head down to kiss and suck at her neck and shoulders. She moaned and soon their pace was of their own making and had nothing to do with the music. Around and around their hips went up and down, as Zenya sucked ravenously on her neck and she grasped the back of his head, holding him there. She felt his firm body pressed against hers. His hand moved from the side of her thigh turning inward just short of touching the thing he wanted most. It didn't stop him, however, from stroking his hands over this tender bit of flesh and he felt her thighs open wider. She leaned back into him with a moan and he captured her mouth in his. He caressed her face with his free hand as they openly drank each other. Moving his hand off her cheek to the bodice of the gold dress, he pulled it down and let his hand fill with the round globes of her breasts. She sighed into his mouth. They were aching and glad to be freed. He gently squeezed them together and let the nipples stab the center of his palm. She swirled around and found herself face to face with him. His lids were low over his eyes that were staring at her mouth. His mouth started to come down over hers when she stepped back. He stepped toward her to close the gap as his serious gaze was on her exposed breasts. She felt like giggling but as she saw the intense desire on his face as he began to take off his clothes, she continued to back away. A dark excitement, mixed with a fear of the unexpected, fueled her heartbeat. He continued toward her, peeling off his clothes, revealing more and more of his admirable golden body and she continued to step backward. His expression didn't reveal the fact that he knew her knees were about to buckle from the chair that was right behind her. He heard her gasp as she fell back to it and caught her and the chair by the back before she tipped all the way back.

He set the chair back up with a hard thump, startling her, but she remained in the chair with her eyes glued to his. He let go of the back of the chair and straightened. He was shirtless now and his hands were on the zipper of his pants which was directly in line of her vision. He pulled down the pants and underwear at the same time without unzipping them and his rampant erection bobbed to freedom. "Desire is a strange thing isn't it?" His voice was even deeper than usual and she could barely tell the color of his eyes because his lids were down so low. He placed both hands behind his neck as he watched her. She wondered if he was aware of how beautiful and sculptor worthy it made him look. “Yes," was all she said as she squirmed in the seat, pulling her dress up well above her waist. She watched him sigh as she lifted the legs he so admired, high and arched her foot. She moved to pull down her panties when she felt his strong hands on her ankles. She felt him kiss the heel of her foot and his tongue run over the indenture of her anklebone. He repeated this action to the other foot and she moaned, feeling the back of her legs pressed against each warm, firm contour of his body. His naked body was so close to hers, she was having difficulty getting the panties down her legs. She had forgotten in mid motion that was actually what she'd been doing as she felt his mouth wander over her ankles and the bottom of her calves. She felt his hand over hers as he helped her pull the thin underwear off her leg. She looked down between her legs and saw a hefty portion of his stiffness poking out between her thighs. She braced herself on either side of the chair as he pulled the underwear completely off and tossed them to a far corner of the room. Toni gasped as Zenya pushed her knees together, causing them to vise his cock. She felt his shuttered breath as he began to move back and forth between them. Feeling the sheer power of his body made her core weep even more for him. She put her hands over his as she watched him lean over slightly with his eyes closed continuing the powerful motion of his hips. She heard his teeth grit and simultaneously they both knew he was almost to the edge. He straightened as she opened up her legs slightly to release him. His strength drew a gasp from her as she felt him grasp her ankles and used them to part her thighs, lifting and sliding her so that her bottom hung off the chair. "Are you ready for me?" She nodded, her voice small, "Yes." He leaned in over the chair, his hand rested over the top to steady him. His face was but an inch from hers, "Of course you are. You're always ready for me, right?" Toni's whole body was throbbing as her vision was invaded by this almost blindingly handsome man whose features were drenched in dark desire…for her.

"Yes," she answered breathlessly, "I'm always ready for you." Those were the last words spoken as he kneeled down and entered her with one smooth stroke. When the pumping began Toni could do nothing but grab the back of the chair where his arm was still bracing their bodies. Heavy panting and the sound between a groan and some inaudible word came from her. "Ohhh, damn. Shit." All she could do was push her head into the back of the chair. Zenya braced the chair tighter as he watched himself sink down into her body. Her mouth was open and her face was flushed. She was just so tight and wet and she kept clenching him with each thrust. He growled and put his other hand on her hip. He slammed repeatedly into her as she held up her legs straight and wide for him. The chair began to inch back across the carpeting each time he drove into her and soon his long legs were stretched behind him and his toes bent, as he used his whole body to pleasure her. Toni whimpered loudly as he continued to drag himself in and out of her. He slowed down the pace and began to move slowly and deliberately making her moan and shiver. She heard his breath hiss between his teeth, "That's it, take all of me baby." She grabbed his shoulders, not sure if she wanted to pull him closer or shove him away. Goddamn, was it always like this? She heard him begin to pant harder than he had before and suddenly he moved his hands to the side of the chair. Toni ran her hands down his wet, perfect body to his waist. She still whimpered from the throbbing her body was doing, still wrapped around him. There was a glint in his eyes that wordlessly told her get ready. He bent his body at the knees but didn’t let them touch the ground. Toni gasped so loud she thought she would choke on her breath. He was slamming into her body so hard an earthquake could have shaken the whole building and she wouldn't have known the difference. Spasms shot though her body and she tried her best to hold her legs open for him but lost control beyond the knees. They swung like a rag doll as he continued to drill into her. Zenya bit his bottom lip hard but the groan still escaped. He heard Toni screaming and the knowledge that he gave her such pleasure helped bring him over the edge. His face went into the back of the chair cushion, his open mouth letting out a long harsh groan. Toni went completely silent and her body arched off the chair, her face contorted in pure simple agony. As his climax vibrated through him, he dropped her back down against the chair. She sighed hard whimpering as wetness creep out of the corner of her eyes. Her arms fell limply to the sides of the chair as her body twitched and jerked in the aftermath of yet another unbelievable orgasm. She had no idea her body could feel this way. That any one man could make her feel

this way. *** Toni awoke the next morning in Zenya’s bed. With the curtains drawn and the room shroud in darkness with only faint lighting trickling it, she had to assume it was morning. She heard light snoring and felt his warm, steel thigh resting atop hers. His arm was cast over her stomach just under her breasts. She really couldn't recall the last time she lay in bed with a man. Closing her eyes briefly she remarked how delicious it was. Her body and soul were still aglow from the past evening. She smiled and snuggled closer to him, caressing his forearm with her hand. She lay there and listened to the sound of his breathing. She looked over at him to see if she could make out the outline of his face in the darkened room. It was hard to but she was able to make out the red lines of the digital clock on the table beside him. "Seven-thirty, oh my God!" She quickly rolled from under him to get out of bed. In the darkness she over estimated her space and fell with a hard plop to the carpeted floor. The movement and sound caused Zenya to sit up in bed. "Toni?" He rubbed his eyes as he heard her rustling around. "Yeah," she answered breathlessly, "Damnit, I can't even see." Zenya took the remote off the nightstand and used it to lift the automatic blinds from the four windows surrounding his bed. They went from the floor to the top of the ceiling and flooded the room with light. She used her hand to shield her eyes from the sudden burst of light. She turned away from the source to the bed and was gifted by another kind of light. Zenya, in all his beautiful masculine glory was looking over at her from the bed. He was completely naked and exposed to her, lying amid the rumpled dark gray sheets of his bed. His still looked tired and his blond hair mussed around the top of his head. He was simply perfect. And she had to leave him. "Good morning, Cleopatra." He grinned. She smiled back gently, "Good morning." He just stared at her and took it all in. The wide, sexy eyes, her high cheekbones that gorgeous heart shaped mouth. Her slightly toned arms that led down to the fingers that had caressed him, the nails that had scratched at his skin when she screamed out her pleasure. The round, high breasts he'd cupped in his hand and the dark nipples that tasted as good as any sundae to him. And then there were the legs. Something about them just sent him reeling. He didn't even want to think in detail about the small midnight triangle that was bared at the apex of her thighs. It did taste like strawberries and inside it...laid sheer heaven. All of this was wrapped in the softest caramel-brown skin he'd ever seen. Toni looked away from him, trying to ignore the way he stared, trying

to pretend it didn't make her flush. She saw her discarded costume and bent down to pick it up. She quickly pulled it down over her head. When she'd placed the wrinkled mass back in place, she said, "I guess they're gonna have to charge me for the costume." She took in a sharp breath when she realized that he was beginning to get hard again. "You're leaving today right?" He remarked, not moving to cover himself. She nodded and started to move toward the door, "I have a nine a.m. flight back to L.A." She went through the door. "I'd better get going." Zenya watched her moving so quickly, his teeth gritted and he flew off the bed behind her. She was in his bathroom getting her wig and putting her feet back in her shoes. She was about to come out of the bathroom when she was stopped short as his tanned figure filled the doorway. His elbows rested against the doorframes. This really wasn't strengthening her resolve. "I really do need to get going." He nodded, "I know." Reluctantly he turned sideways, allowing her to pass. She swallowed and cleared her throat as she moved to his front door. This was it. She was going. She turned back and didn't see him. She shook her head and opened the door. From the back Zenya heard his door close. He wasn't going to go after her. She had to leave. She was going back to Los Angeles. He’d known it from the beginning. He took a deep breath and sat down on his bed. Four, five, maybe six seconds went by before he ripped the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around his waist. He tore through the suite and opened his door. She hadn't quite made it to the elevator. Toni pushed the button and immediately the door dinged and opened. She got on and heard his running steps behind her. Her heart dropped. Why was he doing this? She knew if he asked her to stay, she would. She turned to him. He was panting and looked just as wide-eyed as she did. His lips were slightly parted but he wouldn’t speak. He just stood there with this wrinkled sheet slung low over his hips. Toni swallowed. The elevator doors moved to close and she saw him jerk, almost dropping the sheet. The door only made it half way before she put her hand up, stopping it and pushed it back to hold it open. She leaned forward a bit. "Thank you, for—you made Paris very memorable for me." His grin was very slight as he tried to be amused, but this time his eyes betrayed more emotion. "Well, I'm glad I could do that for you." She laughed shortly, her eyes crinkling a bit. She was about to

move her hand from the door when he leaned in and kissed her fingers. His eyes didn't leave hers, "Do novyh vstrech." Her hand tingled as she pulled them from the door. "Bye." The elevator door closed. Zenya sighed deeply, resting his back against a nearby wall. He closed his eyes leaning his head back, "Just stay with me." *** Toni really felt out of place this time when she reached the hotel. This time of the morning on a weekday, most people were dressed to carry out business of the day. Here she was walking in, wearing a garish gold Cleopatra costume that obviously looked worn since the previous evening. She tried to ignore the inquisitive stares and made it to the elevators. She got off on her floor and had almost made it to her door when she heard, "Toni?" She sighed and almost cursed out loud. Candice was coming down the hall in a black turtleneck and blue jeans. "Hey," She tried to smile and be nonchalant. Candice's wide blue eyes went up and down her profile, "What in the world happened to you—you just disappeared from the party—oh my God." Her eyes opened wider. "You got laid, didn't you!" Toni gripped the wig tighter. "Oh my—who was it? American, foreign, what?" Toni motioned back to her door. "You know what? I need to go change and pack up." She promptly shut the door in Candice's disappointed face. *** Zenya had taken a shower and was staring at his unshaved reflection in the mirror. All the while in the shower he thought of her. He thought of the things they'd done together since meeting. The anger, the laughter, and the passion she'd brought out of him. He shouldn't have let her go. He could have made her stay. So she could do what? Get pissed off at you again. She's not the type of woman who would abandon her career for a little time in the sack. And that's all you had to offer her. "Right." But you still want her. *** The rest of the time Toni was in her room preparing to leave felt like a blur. She washed and changed out of the costume. Opting for a black, simple business suit that was her normal attire in L.A., she also fashioned her hair back in its typical style and smoothed a bit of a plain colored lipstick on. The spell was officially over. She sat down on the edge of her bed and flipped over the flap of her suitcase so she could zip it up. Even hours later, her body still tingled.

Even after bathing she could still smell him. She leaned over, crushing the side of her face into her hand. "Damn." Why was she acting like this! It was just sex. Mind blowing, hemisphere reaching body-numbing sex. Not once. Not twice. "Three times." She mumbled. Her room was quiet after that, except for the sounds of her getting ready. *** At the airport Toni was very quiet and sat very unlady-like in the small, badly cushioned airport chair. She was looking out at the ground watching planes take off. She was slumped down in the chair with her legs open, her hands over her stomach playing as her fingers fumbled together. “Hey," Candice sat behind her quietly, her voice soft. "Hey," Toni answered even less enthusiastically. "Listen, I'm sorry about butting into your business earlier. That was pretty dumb and rude of me." Candice claiming to be dumb and rude? This was a first. "Don't worry about it." Toni's eyes were still on the planes landing and departing outside. "Hey, whatever you did is your own business." Couldn't just leave it at the apology, could you? “You wanna get a coffee?" Toni shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to be up on a caffeine high during this long flight. "Croissant then? There's this great bakery over there." "No, I'm all right." "Oh." Candice regarded her quietly. She began to rummage through the large purse she carried with her everywhere like a third arm. "I got just the thing to cheer you up." Toni could have sworn that through the clangs and whacks of various items clanging together, she heard glass break in the woman’s bag. Toni was startled when the woman reached her arm over the seat to hold a three-inch figurine just in front of her nose. "Like it?" she smiled, "It's the Eiffel Tower." Toni stared at it as Candice continued talking, "I got a ton of these things for my mom and girlfriends." Toni reached up and took it from her hand. "It's kinda cheesy I know but, you should bring home some kind of souvenir, right?" Toni gave a genuine but small smile as she held and looked down at the small replica. "Thanks Candice." "Welcome," she quipped. "I'm gonna go find some kind of French pastry to devour before we head home." *** By the time Toni was in her

seat on the plane she felt worse and more confused than ever. She tried to read a book but realized after fifteen pages that she hadn't comprehended a single word. This was wrong. This just wasn't like her at all. What was she feeling? Would she dare even put a name on it? Sadness. Regret. She's had a one night–two-night stand—with a man she hardly knew. They were separated by an ocean. She was sure that soon, he wouldn't even remember her name. Such events were probably commonplace with him. Just to look at him she supposed she could understand why. Woman probably flew to him like moths to a flame. She really couldn’t believe she did this. It was so unlike her to be so irresponsible. Maybe it was for the best he was so far. They had no future together. Did she want one? She groaned aloud. This was insane. Once she got to L.A. she would just put this all behind her. It would be as if it never happened. The short, stocky man that had the aisle seat next to her said his goodbye as he got off the phone. She couldn't help but notice his dialect. He saw her looking at him and smiled, showing white teeth; one was slightly crooked on the side. "Hello." He said pulling out his laptop. "Hi,” Toni answered, watching his movements. He busied himself continuing with what she guessed was work when she felt compelled to interrupt him. “Excuse me?" He turned to her. "Yes?" "You're Russian, right?" "Who told?" He laughed good-naturedly. Toni wasn't very amused but gave a slight chuckle anyway. "Um, if you don't mind my asking, what does—" she racked her brain trying to remember what Zenya had said," do novyh- do novyh vstretch mean?" "Ah,” the man smiled, "Till we meet again." Her eyes widened, "Oh. Thank you." Desire is a strange thing isn't it? Yes. About the Author Rachel Cade enjoys writing and reading in her spare time. She’s also starting her own business and designs fashion sketches in her spare time. She always enjoys hearing feedback about her work so never b afraid to drop her a line.