Page 5 of One Night in Paris
All I could manage to say was, “Cool.” If my dick had been twitching before, it was practically clawing at my zipper trying to get out now.
Harper held my gaze with that sexy stare for a few moments longer. “What do you do, Logan?”
My name sounded so smooth flowing out of her mouth, like only her tongue should ever be allowed to speak it.
“I’m… a student.” Shrugging, I tapped my bottle a few times, trying to play nonchalant.
“You are?” Her eyebrows arched in surprise. “You seem too old for that.”
Laughing, I played it off. “Oh, I’m plenty old enough. I’m getting my master’s degree at the moment. Took my time getting my bachelor‘s. Now, I’m finally going to grad school. Guess you could just say I’m one of those perpetual students.”
Carefully, I watched her absorb this information. I never told women the truth, that I was the CEO of an international architecture firm. When I did, they smelled money and power. While Harper didn’t seem like the kind of girl who would latch on to something like that, I could never be too careful. Besides, being a successful businesswoman herself, she wouldn’t need my money anyway. Nevertheless, I repeated the same story I always told. In my experience, it was always better if the woman didn’t think I was the type of guy they’d want to date long-term right from the beginning. After all, Harper and I didn’t even live in the same city.
“Where do you go to school?” She took a swallow of her beer before setting it aside and leaning in closer to me. Apparently, my student story wasn’t a deterrent.
“NYU. I’m studying computer tech.” Finishing my beer, I let that set in. She seemed unfazed.
“Cool. Maybe you can invent a program that does something really useful. Like… a computer that folds the laundry and puts it away.” Harper’s laughter was a light rumble, not one of those annoying bell-like giggles so many girls rang out with, but notdeep and manly either. Hearing her laugh had me laughing as well.
“I was actually hoping I’d find a way to invent the next big social media app, something that rivals all the ones so many people waste their time on now but could maybe do something useful as well.” I spoke as if I never found myself staring with my eyes glazed over at the images of other people’s dogs and babies for hours at a time.
“No doubt,” she agreed. “I don’t have a lot of time for social media, but my friends are on there all the time.” Harper gestured over her shoulder at her friends. Even now, two of them had their phones out, scrolling.
We continued to chat for a while, not about anything deep, just day-to-day stuff. Most of what I told her was bullshit because I wasn’t who I said I was. But it seemed like she was telling me the truth when she discussed her lingerie business. The girl was smart, funny, classy—and hot as hell.
When another song that I liked came on, I decided I needed her body pressed against mine again. Standing, I offered her my hand, as I had before. Harper grinned back at me and slipped her fingers in mine.
Pulling her up from the table, I wrapped my other arm around her waist and held her body close to mine, moving my hips back and forth to the music. Our forms fit together so well, like we were meant to be. At least for a little while. Her scent continued to intoxicate me further with every breath I took.
Lowering my head toward her shoulder, I breathed her in as strands of silky dark hair brushed my cheek. The male singer crooned something in French I couldn’t understand, lending a dreamlike quality to the atmosphere around us.
Harper turned her face toward mine just as I lifted up off her shoulder. Our lips almost brushed as our eyes honed in on one another. Her warm breath fanned the side of my face. Thecadence of my heart lost tempo for a moment before the pace increased.
Clearing my throat, I whispered. “I’m staying at the Marignon. It’s nearby.”
Needing no explanation as to why I’d mentioned the name of my hotel, Harper merely nodded and placed her head on my shoulder. Closing my eyes, I let the rest of the world disappear. All that remained was Harper and me, accompanied by the music.
For several moments, I stayed that way, completely lost in a trance, unaware of the world around me. But when the music changed, Harper abruptly lifted her head, breaking the spell. “I’ll be right back.”
Unable to release her completely, I kept my fingers wrapped around her hand as she carefully stepped over to the table where her friends were sitting. She leaned away from me, stretching both of our arms, but never let go.
“I’m going to Logan’s hotel.” Harper grabbed her purse while her friends’ faces contorted in different varieties of amused smiles.
“Call us if you need us,” the one girl who had brought her over to me said in a sing-song voice.
Harper only shook her head and slung her purse across her body, the strap around her neck so it would be more difficult for anyone to take. With her hand still in mine, we headed out of L’Eclair and into the streets of Paris.
“It’s not too far, if you wanna walk.” My eyes focused out on the street for a moment, looking for a cab. I was in a hurry, that was for damn sure, but it might take more time to wait for someone to stop and go through all of that.
“Whatever you want.” Harper’s tone had a shiver going down my spine. Would she say that in the bedroom as well? Withouteven thinking, I raised my free arm and flagged down the closest taxi.
A nearby driver obliged, pulling to the side of the busy road. We hopped in, and I told him the name of the hotel, well aware that Harper’s bare legs were nestled against me now. The urge to reach over and caress her thigh was overwhelming. Surely, I could wait a few more minutes until we got back to the room, couldn’t I?
Her body was practically humming against mine with anticipation. God, why couldn’t this guy drive faster?
Mere moments later, the cabby pulled up outside. I had the money ready to hand over, plus a large tip I hoped Harper didn’t notice since I was supposed to be a student. We headed into the lobby, which was practically deserted. Hastily, I retrieved my keycard, tugging Harper with me to the elevator.
“This is a nice hotel for a student.” Harper’s eyes wandered around the interior of the hotel as the floors ticked off at a snail’s pace.