Three hours after Benjamin had called Ella and invited her to dinner, they were sitting together in a VIP corner of an upscale club in Paris.Dinner had gone better than either of them had expected. They had talked, laughed, and shared champagne, and when they finished, Ella had suggested they go clubbing.Benjamin had looked at her as though she had just suggested something completely out of character for him.“Clubbing?”“Yes.”“Tonight?”She laughed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”“Because I didn't expect that suggestion.”“You're in Paris.”“I know.”“And you're young.”Benjamin smiled. “That doesn't mean I have to go clubbing.”Ella had leaned across the table and pouted.“Come on. You'll like it.”“I don't think so.”“There’s a club I always go to at least once whenever I'm in Paris. It's upscale and the crowd is not always so much.He laughed.“I want you to come with me.”Benjamin had considered it for a few seconds before shaking his head again.“No.”Ella's pout deep

He didn’t need to be told twice. His fingers found the other strap and pushed it down, then worked the dress lower, over her shoulders, over the swell of her breasts. The fabric caught for a moment on the damp skin, and then it gave, sliding down to a pool at her waist. She wore a silk bra underneath, pale gray, and through the thin material he could see the dark shadow of her nipples, already tight.He stared. He couldn’t help it. The sight of her like this—half-undressed, flushed, her chest rising and falling with each quick breath—was more than he’d imagined. And he had imagined it. All through dinner, through the club, through the cab ride, he’d been picturing this exact moment, and now it was here, and it was better.“You’re staring,” she said almost shyly, but there was no reproach in her voice. If anything, she sounded pleased.“I know.” His voice came out hoarse. “I’m trying to memorize it.”She laughed, a low, throaty sound that turned into a gasp as he lowered his head and p

For a while, they lay quietly. Benjamin stared toward the window, listening to the faint sounds of the city outside. The room had become peaceful after the intensity of their love making. Ella turned onto her side and looked at him.“Can I tell you something?”Benjamin turned toward her.“Sure.”She hesitated, then looked down briefly.“I just don't want you getting the wrong idea about me.”Benjamin studied her face.“What do you mean?”“I don't sleep with different men.”He was quiet for a moment.Ella gave a small, uncertain laugh.“I know I might seem like that sometimes.”“You don't have to explain yourself.”“I know. I just want you to understand.”Benjamin nodded, giving her his full attention.“When I'm with someone, I'm with that person. One person at a time.”That made sense to him.“Okay.”“I don't jump from one man to another. I never have.”Benjamin watched the change in her expression. She seemed less confident now, almost as if she was worried about how he might judge

Benjamin woke before Ella the next morning.For a few seconds, he remained still, staring at the ceiling as the quiet of the room settled around him. Ella was sleeping peacefully beside him, one arm tucked beneath the pillow. She was wearing the shirt he had given her the previous night, the loose fabric falling comfortably around her.He turned his head toward her and watched her sleep for a moment.There was something unexpectedly peaceful about the morning. No plans demanding his attention yet. Carefully, Benjamin slipped out of bed.He moved slowly, making sure the mattress barely shifted before walking toward the desk. He pulled out the chair, sat down and powered on his laptop.The first thing he did was check his emails.There were several messages waiting for him. Four required personal replies. Benjamin opened them one after another, read each carefully and typed his responses. The rest could be handled by his team, so he forwarded the relevant messages to Ruby and Desmond wi

By five in the afternoon, Benjamin and Ella were on their way back to the hotel in a cab, and Benjamin was still thinking about how much he had enjoyed the day.He had not expected sightseeing to be this much fun.Their first stop had been Montmartre. Ella had led him through the winding streets with the confidence of someone who had visited the area many times before. She showed him the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, took him around Place du Tertre, and pointed out some of the artists working around the square."You've been here several times, haven't you?" Benjamin asked as they walked."More times than I can remember.""And you still enjoy it?"She glanced at him. "Paris doesn't get boring that easily."Benjamin had to admit she had a point.They spent time walking through the neighborhood, stopping occasionally to admire the buildings and the views over Paris. Ella seemed to know where she was going without needing to check her phone every few minutes, and Benjamin enjoyed letting her take