It feels good being in his arms, the hard plains of his body are pressed against me, and this all helps to bring my heartbeat slowly down, so I can come back to normal.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
Silence fills the void between us for a couple of moments.
“Me either,” Louis confesses as he pulls me tighter against him.
We stay like that for a little while until Louis tells me his legs have gone dead, which makes me smile. I jump up out of his lap, and he shakes his legs out.
“Sorry about that.”
“Do you want something to drink? Eat?” Louis makes his way over to the refrigerator again, opening the door, and the light fills the darkness. “I’ve got cheese, chocolate, maybe some ice cream in the freezer. Fruit—”
“Actually, I could go for a toasted cheese sandwich.”
“Consider it done. Take a seat.”
I watch as he moves his way around the kitchen, the muscles across his back tensing and moving as he prepares my sandwich. I take in the sight in front of me. He looks magnificent. The women would be swooning if they saw him cooking in next to nothing—an idea springs in my mind.
“Hold on,” I tell him. I rush back to my bedroom and bring down my cell.
He’s still working by the stove when he looks up at me and frowns upon my return.
“I just want to get a photo.” His frown deepens. “The women on your Instagram are going to wet themselves when they see this.” He just shakes his head and ignores my craziness. I snap a couple of pictures which I’ll upload in the morning.
“Are you pimping me out?” Louis asks, placing the sandwich in front of me.
“Yep, totally.” I smile, waiting for my sandwich to cool slightly. “Look at you, the women go crazy for it.”
Louis’ blue eyes hold mine. “You like what you see?” His question surprises me.
“Do you need your ego stroked again?” I sass back, then quickly take a bite of my sandwich, the burning hot cheese hits my mouth and scolds it. His eyes never leave me, and his stare is utterly intense. I feel totally awkward.
“No. I was simply curious, that’s all.”
Is he flirting with me?
“I think that you’re a very beautiful woman.” My cheeks turn an instant shade of red, and I can’t look at him. “Hey…” he steps closer, his hand comes out and lifts my chin, “… do you not like compliments?”
“I’m not used to getting them,” I confess.
Louis’ hand drops away, and he steps back to his sandwich, then takes a bite.
“Did your partner never tell you how beautiful you are?” I shake my head. “How your smile lights up the darkest days.” Nope. Toby never did that. “That your laugh is the best sound in the world.” No, he hated my laugh. “Did he have a big dick?”
I choke on my sandwich at Louis’ question.
“Um, no...”
Louis frowns, and his blue eyes stare at me. “Then why the hell were you with him?”
I shrug. I’ve been asking myself the same question. “I don’t know, honestly. I think we just started dating, got into a routine, and continued until…” I don’t need to say it, we all know what happened next.
“Was there any passion?”
Thinking back, I don’t remember a time when I looked at Toby and wanted to rip his clothes off, so I shake my head.
“I think you’re lucky he cheated. You deserve more.” I look up at him, and he gives me a smile that lights up his face. Damn him, he’s so gorgeous.
“I’m starting to see that now.”
Silence falls between us as we eat our sandwiches.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“You can ask. Whether or not I answer, that’s another thing.”
“How did you meet Elisabeth?” I’m guessing my question wasn’t what he was expecting from the stillness that falls over him.
“I think I’m going to need a drink to tell this story.” We place our plates in the sink, and he takes me through to his bar area. “Tequila okay?”
“Wait.” I stop him, my hand touching his. “What if this starts you on another bender? I don’t want to know, okay?” I’ve just gotten this good version of Louis going, and I want to keep it that way.
“I promise. No bender from me.” He gives me a reassuring smile.
“Okay, then I’ll take a tequila.”
26
Louis
I hand her the tequila shot and take a seat at the opposite end of the sofa. I grab the throw blanket and give it to Emily, which she pulls up high and snuggles into it. We both throw back the shot, and I pour another. If she wants to talk about Elisabeth, and it takes her mind off of what she’s been through, then I’ll take one for the team.
“I met Elisabeth six or seven years ago. She was the mistress of my mentor.” Emily’s eyes widen, and her eyebrows rise significantly. “I know. Karma, right?”
She frowns at my lame joke.
“Anyway… we started off being friends. She was my mentor’s partner, one of five he had at that time.”
“Five?”
I smile at her shock. “Yes. He has his wife, Ellie, and five mistresses, who he changes whenever their time has run out.”
“Men!” She rolls her eyes.
“He’s an artist. We are lovers.” A small smirk forms across her face as she takes a sip of her tequila. “Anyway… we started spending more and more time together as we were closer in age than she was to him.”
“Of course.” She gives me a cheesy grin.
“Stop being judgmental.” I waggle my finger at her.
Emily zips her lips and pretends to throw away the key.
“So, we would spent all our time together like we were in our own little bubble. I know Victor noticed.”
“Victor Kazalausks?” she questions.
“Yes. He was
