“Are you jetlagged?” His eyes danced as he mocked me and reached over and touched my forehead.
“Funny.” I glared at him. “We were only flying for about two hours.”
“I suppose you’re still tired from Paris.”
“Yeah, perhaps.” I looked out of the window and stared at the city we were passing through quickly. “It’s so quaint here.”
“Don’t let looks fool you. There’s nothing quaint about Romerius.” Xavier licked his lips slowly. “I’ll be happy to —”
“Xavier, I hope you didn’t tell her that Romerius is like London or even Berlin.” Tarquin grinned. “She’ll leave from boredom.” He looked at me. “Not much goes on here. Everyone knows everyone and let’s just say everyone is excited to meet the famous Lola Franklin.”
“Famous?” I grimaced.
“Oh yes.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ve had texts from all my friends asking about you. If you’re as pretty as your photograph. If you’re nice. If I think you’re a gold-digger.”
“It wasn’t me that said it.” Xavier interjected loudly and put his hands up. “Please say I’m safe.”
“For now.” I gave him a look and tried not to smile.
“What are you two talking about?” Tarquin looked confused and I shook my head.
“Don’t worry about it.” I laughed. “I can’t believe people thought I was pretty.” I smiled happily. “I’ve never thought I photographed particularly well. So that’s nice to hear.”
“Are you joking?” Tarquin looked shocked and then looked at Xavier with a curious expression. “Is she joking?”
“Joking about what?” I frowned and gasped as I saw a huge palace in the distance. “Oh my God, that’s not where you live? That looks bigger than Buckingham Palace.” I stared at the huge building as we passed through the ornate gold gates.
“Yes, that’s my home.” Xavier said dryly. “And Tarquin is shocked that you would inquire if you are pretty or not. We’re not used to modesty in Romerius. Mostly every pretty girl knows she is pretty. So for him to meet a beautiful girl like you and for you to be shocked that others can see your beauty, well it astounds him.”
“I’m not beautiful though.” My face burned a deep red as I played with my hair and stared at them both. What was he talking about? As far as I was concerned I was fairly average. There was nothing that screamed beautiful to me when I looked in the mirror. Granted there were days that I felt more pretty than others, but I’d never felt beautiful.
“Is she for real?” Tarquin spoke to Xavier, but stared at me. “You’re gorgeous, Lola.”
“You think so?” I looked down, feeling embarrassed.
“Of course you are.” Xavier frowned. “Your hair is silky and a deep rich chestnut brown. Your eyes are warm and open. Your skin is smooth and your complexion resembles that of a juicy peach. Your body is curved like a sexy statue. You, my dear, are as close to a work of art as a woman can get.”
“You’re joking.” I bit my lower lip and stared at him in confusion. “Right?”
“Why do you not believe?” Xavier’s eyes narrowed.
“Most guys like girls with blonde hair, blue eyes, skinny waists...” My voice trailed off.
“That’s a vision of beauty in America, to some people.” Xavier shrugged. “Yes, there are beautiful blondes and beautiful skinny women. However, no woman should think that they have to fit those three characteristics to be seen as beautiful. You my dear are a natural beauty.” He picked up my hand and ran his fingers up my arm and then to my neck. “Here in Romerius, we value the beauty in every woman. And I’m a man that likes a bit of flesh on my woman’s bones.” His fingers went to my waist and then to my leg, where he rubbed my thigh. My body was on high alert as he touched me and I could feel a fire burning up in my legs.
“I’m not sure any woman likes to be told she has a bit of flesh on her bones as their stomach is being rubbed.” I laughed. “But I’ll let it slide.”
“Xavier can be a bit of an ass, sometimes.” Tarquin grinned at me again. “Don’t mind him.”
“Haha, I try not to anymore.”
“Really?” Xavier moved closer to me. “Is that so, Lola?” His hand moved back up my thigh and slipped inside of my leg. The movement made me jump and he laughed. “Are you okay, my dear?”
“Stop calling me that.” I hissed at him and I saw Tarquin looking away with a smile.
“What else did my mother say, Tarq?” Xavier ignored me and put his arm around my shoulder. “And did father say anything?”
“Uncle James just laughed.” Tarquin grinned. “That didn’t make Aunt Henrietta very happy.”
“She’s still in shock I suppose.”
“I thought you were never getting married.”
“I’m not.” Xavier snapped at his cousin and then realized his mistake. “I mean I never thought I was going to, until I met Lola. She took my breath away when I saw her. It was only when I saw her that I realized what I was missing out on.”
I watched him talking and for a few seconds, I almost believed it was real. For a few seconds, I stared at his profile and thought all my dreams had really come true. Maybe he really did love me. Maybe I was the one he’d always wanted. Yeah, Lola and maybe pigs fly. I chided myself silently.
“Once he saw me, he knew he had to have me.” I spoke up and smiled sweetly at Xavier. “He knew that I was the one he wanted to marry.” I reached over and grabbed his arm. “And we’re going to go and get me a nice big ring tomorrow aren’t we?” I almost burst out laughing as his eyes narrowed at me. Take that, Xavier. Two can play your game.
“Sure, right after we get the toys.”
“What toys?” Was he seriously going to talk about board games now?
“Oh you know, the toys that will make your orgasms even more powerful.” He grinned and grabbed my hand so that I couldn’t remove it. “And maybe something that will make that other thing more attractive to you.”
“What other thing?” I whispered, embarrassed that Tarquin was listening to us talk about sex. Had Xavier no shame?
“You know, the back—”
“Xavier.” I cried out loudly. “Enough.” I looked at Tarquin surreptitiously to see if he had figured out what Xavier had been about to say. My face was burning a bright red. I was pretty sure that if cars could see it, they would think it was a stop sign.