Je t’aime

“You never know when you might need one to give a friend. Keep it, you might need it in the future.” Throwing her arm around Kendra’s shoulders, she led her out of the bathroom. “Now let’s go find you a Paris romance.”

*****

The rest of the night was fun, Kendra danced with Remy several more times, but only songs that didn’t force her to touch him. She still hadn’t made up her mind about a fling, but admitted that if she was going to have one, she couldn’t ask for a more exciting man to have one with.

She felt fairly sure that by the end of the evening Remy would ask her out. She hadn’t decided how she was going to answer, when the choice was upon her. As he led her to the dance floor for what she thought would be their last dance, he pulled her to a secluded corner instead.

“I really enjoyed meeting you tonight.” Remy said, taking her hands.

“Thank you for dancing with me, I enjoyed it a lot.” She replied.

“I was wondering if maybe we could see each other again. I would like to get to know you better. I’ve spent too much time with women who don’t have half the brains you have.” Remy said.

“Well, I don’t know. I’m really not looking for…” Kendra wasn’t sure what to call this thing that they were speaking of. Knowing his reputation, she could hardly say relationship.

“No strings, just dinner or something.” He said, looking at her with longing in his blue eyes.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt. It’s just…” Kendra couldn’t bring herself to say what she was thinking.

Stepping closer, he cupped her face in his hands, sending shivers down her spine. Leaning down he kissed her lightly on the lips. She could feel his breath filling her mouth as he slowly broke the kiss. Wanting more she stood on her toes and kissed him back, this time however, his tongue darted quickly into her mouth for a short exploration.

Breathless, she pulled back, and slipped him her business card. Rattled by the experience she returned to the table, blushing and slightly out of breath. Seeing her friend rattled, Margot just smiled thinking that romance was definitely in Kendra’s future.

Remy too, was enjoying Kendra’s discomfort. It meant that he had gotten to her. From the moment she had gotten out of the cab, Remy had been wanting to kiss that beautiful mouth. He didn’t care that she was African American, obviously from a poor background, and older than he was. He had become infatuated, he had found himself instantly aroused as she walked into the club in front of him.

In some ways this was nothing new, instant attraction to a beautiful woman was part of being a man. But this had gone deeper than just animal attraction. He had to admit that being celibate for the last year might have had something to do with the magnitude of the desire he felt. But still, he mused, never had he been this attracted to a woman.

Her obvious innocence could be seen from a mile away. Her dress, while stunning, was simple and elegant. The only time he had seen her drink more than a sip, had been after that first dance when she had been rattled by the attraction. For the first time since Bridget, he wanted to get to know a woman. Not just in bed, although he hoped that might be in the future, but deeper. Her thoughts, feelings, and aspirations.

There was no doubt in his mind that he would be calling her tomorrow. This was one woman he planned to get to know better. He might have to take it slow, but he was ready for that. The last year had taught him much about himself and his place in the world. He looked at things differently now, planned to live his life differently. There was still much he hadn’t decided, but getting to know Kendra better would be a good start to becoming the man he wanted to be.

*****

Remy, did call the next morning to arrange for them to meet for coffee. He was genuine in his desire to take things slow and coffee was safe. They decided to meet at her café since he was familiar with it and would have no problem finding it. Kendra was still learning her way around and was hesitant to venture too far from her neighborhood.

Kendra had spent the night thinking about Remy and the attraction she felt for him. It was more intense than anything she had ever felt before. In the end she had decided that rarely in life did a man like Remy come into one’s life. He was unbelievably handsome in that dark French way, and when his blue eyes shone with desire she couldn’t help but want to give into that desire.

She was fairly sure that her heart was about to be broken, but life was too short not to take a risk now and then. There was no doubt that she would have a great time on the way to that broken heart. On their own, her thoughts turned to what Remy was doing now. She pictured him in his bed. Naked from the waist up, his dark skin would be glistening in the lamplight.

Feeling the desire beginning to build, she redirected her thoughts she tried to get some sleep. She fell into a restless sleep toward dawn, but awoke a few hours later after a very erotic dream about Remy. At this rate she would jump him before he even had a chance to ask her out.

Just that thought had her blood racing once again. When the phone rang, her voice was breathless as if she had been jogging.

“Kendra, hey it’s Remy. You sound like you’re working out. Should I call back?” He said.

“No, no it’s okay.” She said, feeling the blush creeping up her cheeks.

“Sorry to call so early, but I wondered if you wanted to meet for coffee.”

“That sounds great. I don’t know Paris very well though.” She said.

They decided to meet at her corner café, in an hour. Kendra’s reaction when she saw Remy was just as before. The instant attraction and shiver of desire were easier to control today, but if anything they were stronger.

Over coffee they made small talk, Kendra telling him about growing up in poor neighborhoods in the city. Remy, about having a nanny and being shipped off to boarding school. Each was trying to find common ground, but here they were definitely worlds apart. All too soon Kendra needed to leave for work.

“I better get going, I have to work the lunch shift today. I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I always get there early to help with the prep.” Kendra said.

“Well, how about dinner tomorrow night?” Remy asked.

“I guess that would be okay.” Kendra said, getting up to leave. She still wasn’t sure she could go through with this, a broken heart took time to repair.

“Let me walk you out.” Remy said, taking her arm.

At his touch, she felt a flare of desire begin in her stomach, when he put his arm across her back to guide her through the restaurant, she wanted to snuggle closer. Remy must have sensed her longing and pulled her closer. Once outside he guided her down the block to a little park. There he pulled her under the shelter of a tree and backed her up against the trunk.

“Do I sense some reluctance about our date?” He said, leaning against the tree with one hand on either side of her head.

“I’m not very good at this…”