“You made a reservation, right, Lola?” Xavier questioned me and I nodded indignantly.
“Yes, for two rooms.” I handed him the paper I had printed out. He then read it and handed it to the front desk clerk, who nodded. They then spoke rapidly in French, and I didn’t understand the conversation until Xavier said ‘merci.’ I knew that meant ‘thank you.’
“Merci beaucoup.” I beamed at the front desk clerk as Xavier and I left the lobby. I felt proud of my accent, even though that was one of only a couple of phrases I knew in the language.
“Did we get a suite then?” I frowned as I followed Xavier to the elevator.
“No.”
“Why do we have one key for two bedrooms?” I stared at the card in his hands.
“Because we have one bedroom.”
“Oh no, did I get one room with two beds instead of two bedrooms?”
“No.” He stopped outside of the door and looked at me.
“What do you mean no?” I frowned at him as he opened the bedroom door and my jaw dropped as I looked in the room and saw the single bed. And it wasn’t even a king. “You need to go and tell them that we need another room.” I gasped.
“They’re booked for the weekend.”
“They don’t have one extra room?” I looked at him and frowned.
“No.”
“What about another hotel?”
“The whole town is booked this weekend. There is some event.”
“Oh.” I bit my lower lip and looked at the bed again. “What are we going to do?”
“We’ve shared a bed before, Lola. Tell me you’re not scared of me?”
“Well, it’s not like you’re innocent.”
“I’m the big bad wolf?” He grinned, his teeth showing and making me shiver.
“You could be.”
“Are you a piggy or a girl in a red hood?”
“Which one would be safer with you?” I whispered.
“Neither.” His eyes laughed at me and he put his bag down. “Come now, Lola. We’re here to work. I shall not touch you, if you do not wish me to.”
“I don’t wish or want you to touch me.”
“That’s fine then.” He bowed his head. “Shall we go and look for some food? I’m feeling quite hungry.”
“Sounds good to me.” I replied as my stomach growled. “I’m really hungry.”
“What would you like? Escargot? Frog legs? Caviar?”
“Um, a steak would do fine.” I paused as I tried to think of my French. “Le beouf?”
“Boeuf?” He smiled at me and I rolled my eyes.
“You know what I mean. A big fat juicy steak.” I grabbed the door handle and opened it. “With pomme frites.”
“Yes, Lola. I’ll find you a nice piece of meat to chew on.” His voice was light as he followed me and I looked at him to see if he was teasing me. I tried to ignore the excitement roaring in my stomach at the thought of sleeping in the same bed as him. It would be delicious and it would be hard to keep my hands off of him. I really hoped that he didn’t sleep naked. Oh my God! What would I do if he slept in the nude? What if I felt him next to me? Would I be able to say no? I could still remember that it had felt like the first time we’d made love. It had been so passionate and intense. I could still remember what he felt like inside if me if I closed my eyes and concentrated hard. I let out a small sigh as I realized that I was in trouble.
“What’s wrong?” Xavier’s hands caressed my back and I froze.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You look troubled.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good, good.” He grabbed my hand and escorted me through the lobby of the hotel. “Tonight we shall eat and drink, and then tomorrow we shall go to Monet’s gardens.”
“Then what?”
“Then we can go to Mont St. Michel.”
“What’s that?”
“An old abbey.” He grinned. “I think you would like it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you seem to be a girl that appreciates history and things of beauty.”
“Oh, thanks.” I answered slightly breathlessly, touched by his seemingly kind comments.
“Now let’s eat.”
“Mange.” I grinned at him and he laughed.
***
“Dinner was so delicious.” I grinned at him as we made our way back to the hotel.
“You seemed to enjoy the wine as well.” He held onto my arm tightly.
“It was superb.” I giggled, feeling slightly drunk in the night air.
“You should not have drunk so much.” He frowned as he escorted me to the hotel.
“Why?” I hiccupped. “I feel good.”
“I just don’t think—” His words were cut off by a crowd of photographers who started screaming as soon as we made our way to the entrance of the hotel. I looked up in a daze as lights started flashing in my face.
“Crown Prince Van Romerius, who is your companion?”
“Xavier, are you now engaged?”
“Prince, does your mother know you are dating a commoner?”
“Xavier, what are your intentions with this lady?”
The men kept shouting and flashing bright lights at us and I clung into Xavier’s arm as tightly as I could.
“What’s going on?” I whispered into his ear.
He looked back at me and frowned as I stumbled alongside him. Before I knew what was happening he’d grabbed me up into his arms and hurried into the hotel, muttering something under his breath.
“What’s going on?” I giggled as he carried me into the bedroom and placed me down on the ground.
“Did you not see the photographers, Lola?” He stood there staring at me with narrowed eyes.
“I see you in front of me.” I reached out to grab his shirt. “But I only see you.” I touched his chest and ran my fingers all the way to his waist. “I see a very hot you, but no photographers.”
“Lola, I think it’s time for you to go to bed.”
“You want to take me to bed?” I wiggled an eyebrow at him and then sighed as he took a step away from me.
“Don’t try and seduce me,” I giggled as I attempted to pull my shirt off.
“Dios mio, Lola.” Xavier sighed as he sat on the bed and stared at me. “You’re really drunk.”
“That’s not French,” I stumbled as I pointed at him.