in her glass, trying to regain her composure.
The light blue sweater Jacob wore accented the color of his eyes, and the way it fit over his sculpted muscles was a definite distraction. His hair was a little damp, spiking as if he’d just run his hands through it, and she couldn’t help fantasizing about showering with him.
“Are you all right, Vivienne?”
That was a question that wasn’t so simple to answer. The thrill of the playroom had its effect, and Vivienne wanted more of the same. Yet she was emotionally conflicted. Jacob was out of her league in more than one way. Not only was he wealthy, which would take some getting used to, but he was sexually experienced.
It wasn’t just that he had been with plenty of women. Vivienne didn’t want to think about that. It was his lifestyle that concerned her, which was the only thing to call it. Jacob preferred taking her to a sort of sexual dungeon over making love in his bed.
There was no denying that Vivienne wanted the same, which made the whole experience a bit electrifying. She didn’t know what it all meant, and what exactly Jacob wanted. Since he didn’t have steady relationships, and preferred a life devoid of dating, where did that leave her?
“I don’t know how to answer your question, Jacob.”
“I’d like to know how you feel. If we go further, it must be based on trust,” Jacob said. “If you can’t confide in me, then there is no trust.”
“You make it sound so straightforward, but it’s not.” Vivienne took another sip of wine. “I have so many questions. You need to understand that how I feel about you , about what we do…may not be how you want me to feel.”
“Whatever the truth is, that’s what I need to hear.” Jacob squeezed her hand. “Did you like what we did?”
Vivienne glanced away. “A little too much.”
“Look at me, Vivienne.” And she looked into his deep blue eyes. “You are supposed to like it. That’s the way it works.” Jacob paused. “It’s just new to you, and we need to talk about how we will proceed.”
“You make it sound like a business arrangement.”
“I don’t mean to,” Jacob said. “This is very personal, for both of us.” He lifted her hand to kiss her fingertips. “I want you, Vivienne. And if you enjoyed the playroom, then we need to take the next step.”
Again, it sounded like a business negotiation. Why couldn’t Jacob kiss her like any other guy, and ask her to date him exclusively? “And what is the next step?” Vivienne said.
“I’d like you to stay with me at the villa,” Jacob said.
“I’d already planned to stay overnight. Paris is too far away. I hadn’t considered returning until tomorrow.”
Jacob frowned. “I’d prefer you didn’t. It would be better for us to spend a day or so together. You can return to New York with me. My private jet is more comfortable than a commercial flight, anyway.”
It was a lot to ask. But Vivienne did want to be with him. “I’ll have to let Alfred know. We don’t have any other business engagements, but he is expecting to fly back together.” She had another thought. “What about my clothes?”
Jacob looked pleased with her decision. “I’ll have them brought here. There’s no reason for you to return to Paris.”
Clara entered with a tray laden with food. Jacob looked up and motioned toward the table. “ S’il vous plait venir ,” he said, and she walked up to the table.
The cook served the meal, the aroma of fragrant herbs filling the room. It wasn’t the meat and potatoes bistro fare that Vivienne had had in Paris. The dish was ripened vegetables, which she guessed were from the garden, with seafood.
“ Merci ,” Jacob said, and the cook returned to the kitchen.
“This is a saffron-infused seafood stew, a favorite of mine.” Jacob picked up his spoon. “The combination of freshly caught fish from the Mediterranean in tomato broth with vegetables is quite good, especially the way Clara prepares
The light blue sweater Jacob wore accented the color of his eyes, and the way it fit over his sculpted muscles was a definite distraction. His hair was a little damp, spiking as if he’d just run his hands through it, and she couldn’t help fantasizing about showering with him.
“Are you all right, Vivienne?”
That was a question that wasn’t so simple to answer. The thrill of the playroom had its effect, and Vivienne wanted more of the same. Yet she was emotionally conflicted. Jacob was out of her league in more than one way. Not only was he wealthy, which would take some getting used to, but he was sexually experienced.
It wasn’t just that he had been with plenty of women. Vivienne didn’t want to think about that. It was his lifestyle that concerned her, which was the only thing to call it. Jacob preferred taking her to a sort of sexual dungeon over making love in his bed.
There was no denying that Vivienne wanted the same, which made the whole experience a bit electrifying. She didn’t know what it all meant, and what exactly Jacob wanted. Since he didn’t have steady relationships, and preferred a life devoid of dating, where did that leave her?
“I don’t know how to answer your question, Jacob.”
“I’d like to know how you feel. If we go further, it must be based on trust,” Jacob said. “If you can’t confide in me, then there is no trust.”
“You make it sound so straightforward, but it’s not.” Vivienne took another sip of wine. “I have so many questions. You need to understand that how I feel about you , about what we do…may not be how you want me to feel.”
“Whatever the truth is, that’s what I need to hear.” Jacob squeezed her hand. “Did you like what we did?”
Vivienne glanced away. “A little too much.”
“Look at me, Vivienne.” And she looked into his deep blue eyes. “You are supposed to like it. That’s the way it works.” Jacob paused. “It’s just new to you, and we need to talk about how we will proceed.”
“You make it sound like a business arrangement.”
“I don’t mean to,” Jacob said. “This is very personal, for both of us.” He lifted her hand to kiss her fingertips. “I want you, Vivienne. And if you enjoyed the playroom, then we need to take the next step.”
Again, it sounded like a business negotiation. Why couldn’t Jacob kiss her like any other guy, and ask her to date him exclusively? “And what is the next step?” Vivienne said.
“I’d like you to stay with me at the villa,” Jacob said.
“I’d already planned to stay overnight. Paris is too far away. I hadn’t considered returning until tomorrow.”
Jacob frowned. “I’d prefer you didn’t. It would be better for us to spend a day or so together. You can return to New York with me. My private jet is more comfortable than a commercial flight, anyway.”
It was a lot to ask. But Vivienne did want to be with him. “I’ll have to let Alfred know. We don’t have any other business engagements, but he is expecting to fly back together.” She had another thought. “What about my clothes?”
Jacob looked pleased with her decision. “I’ll have them brought here. There’s no reason for you to return to Paris.”
Clara entered with a tray laden with food. Jacob looked up and motioned toward the table. “ S’il vous plait venir ,” he said, and she walked up to the table.
The cook served the meal, the aroma of fragrant herbs filling the room. It wasn’t the meat and potatoes bistro fare that Vivienne had had in Paris. The dish was ripened vegetables, which she guessed were from the garden, with seafood.
“ Merci ,” Jacob said, and the cook returned to the kitchen.
“This is a saffron-infused seafood stew, a favorite of mine.” Jacob picked up his spoon. “The combination of freshly caught fish from the Mediterranean in tomato broth with vegetables is quite good, especially the way Clara prepares
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