Covering his heart with his hand, he says, “Let me make it up to you.”
Back to being a sucker for an accent and blue eyes, I’m weak so I give him another chance.“Okay.”
He kisses me.The kiss is full of the need his words expressed only a minute earlier.But then he stops.“We should go.It’s started.”
“What’s started?”
“You’ll see.Are you ready to see something that the guides can’t tell you about?”
“Are you sure?That’s so...crazy veering off the beaten path.”
“Step out of your box and live a little.Don’t just exist.Live.”
Excitement surges, and I say, “More than ready.”
The moped is parkedand I slip off the back.“I didn’t even know you had a scooter.”
“I don’t use it much because I have a lot of tickets.”
“I didn’t know they cared here by all the crazy driving.”
“Mine are more parking tickets.They won’t ticket me next time.They’ll just put a boot on my tire, so I keep it parked in a friend’s garage nearby.Tonight is different.It’s a beautiful night and I’m with an even more beautiful woman.”
Taking my helmet off, I stand on the curb with him still on the scooter and kiss him.Wanting to forget about the past and live in the present.“So where are we?”
“Avenue d’Richolet.It’s an artist’s squat.France has a long history of squats, but this one is my friends.He shares it with twenty other artists and tonight they’re having an exhibit.”
I might be swooning.“You brought me to see art?”
Taking his helmet off, he smiles and it’s slightly crooked, but completely adorable.“Oui.”We start walking and he says, “Some of the people from the club will be here.”
I’m not sure how I feel about seeing some of them again.I just hope things will be different since I’m with Olivier as more than a friend.
The area doesn’t look safe and I stand nervously by his side as he knocks on a rusted door.The knock has a rhythm that he repeats twice.It’s catchy and unique.The door opens and a man pokes his head out.When he sees Olivier, he laughs.“Entrez.Entrez.”He opens the door wide for us.
Olivier says, “Comment ça va?”
“Bien, mon ami Américain.”
Taking that as my cue, I walk in and through an opening in some large, dark blue velvet curtains.My mouth drops open.The space is huge, the size of a warehouse.The walls are bright white with graffiti all over.Paintings, photographs, and sculptures are throughout and people fill the space.When I look up, I see rusted beams and air ducts of the warehouse is exposed.It’s a juxtaposition of modern art versus old reality, and I love it.
Olivier passes me, and turns to walk backwards.Summoning me with a sexy grin and hands that call me to him, I quickly catch up, taking him by the arm.We cut through a group of very serious looking people.Maybe they’re the critics for the exhibition tonight.Maybe they’re just guests.My attention is drawn away when I see a huge photograph of a penis on the wall.I gasp just as Olivier turns me around.“Bonjour ma toute belle.”His lips crash into mine and my lips part just for him.
My arm weaves around his neck as the other holds his body to mine.His fingers tickle through my hair, keeping me in place, wanting me just as much as I want him.When we part, my breath is jagged, my lips tingling, and my body and mind worked up and turned on.He leans his forehead against mine and says, “You will be the death of me if I’m not careful.”
“I’m only here one more day, so I think you’ll survive,” I tease.
“That’s what’s going to kill me.”He’snotteasing.
Standing back to look into his eyes, I see how serious he is.“But you barely know me.”
“I know you enough.You’re different and I’m already wishing you could stay longer.Is there a chance?”
I shake my head, a sadness coming over me.“I have to get back.This is only a week long break from classes.It was just the only time I could take the trip before graduation.”
“Take a semester off.Stay here with me.”He pushes my hair to the side and holds my cheek, his thumb rubbing gently back and forth.“I’ll show you the real Paris.I’ll make love to you every day.I’ll make you fall in love and never leave.Joie d'vivre”
I smile gently.Holding his hands in mine, I say, “It sounds so tempting to throw caution to the wind.”Looking down, I sigh.“But I can’t.This is my last year.I have too many commitments, too many expectations, too much of everything.I can’t disappoint everyone.”
