‘Oui,’ he said, his chest heaving.
‘Don’t stop,’ she said. ‘Don’t stop.’
Hattie lay curled in the crook of Luc’s arm, a dreamy smile on her face. The bedside light was on, a first for her, and Luc was idly stroking her shoulder. She felt soft all over and well-loved. Sex with Luc was still a revelation. Who knew that sex could be so much fun? And … the orgasms. Two! That had never happened before. She was rather embarrassed because she might have let out a few too many enthusiastic squeaks of pleasure but seriously he knew what he was doing. He’d taken so much tender care with her, kissing every inch of her – and it really had been every inch. She was getting a little hot just remembering what he’d done to her. Lying in his arms, she could honestly say she felt cossetted but, at the same time, well-used.
‘That was lovely,’ she sighed turning to look at his face.
‘Lovely. You English, the masters of the understatement.’
She laughed. ‘Okay, it was bloody lovely.’
‘Bloody lovely,’ he teased, copying her English accent. ‘Magnifique, I think you’ll find.’ He kissed the soft spot just under her ear, his hand drifting south, to toy with her inner thigh.
‘You can’t … you know … want to do it again.’
‘I can’t?’ His eyes twinkled wickedly. ‘I think I probably can.’ He skimmed his hand higher and she wriggled in his arms, as her nerve endings leapt to attention. ‘I love touching you. You’re so responsive and those little cries you make. You like it when I do this.’ He demonstrated and she sucked in a sharp breath. She and Chris had never talked about sex. Never discussed what they liked. She pushed Chris to the back of her mind. It wasn’t fair to compare.
Her mouth dropped open. She’d wanted to ask if it had been all right. She was so out of practice, although once Luc had gently peeled off her clothes and she’d felt his naked body up against hers, she’d forgotten to be self-conscious. He had a way of making her feel that she was the centre of his attention.
She remembered waking at some point in the night, realising where she was, feeling the weight of Luc’s arm draped across her – and then the next thing it was morning and the sun was streaming in through the long French windows. She stretched, feeling very pleased with herself. Her supine and softened body popped with pleasure.
‘Good morning,’ Luc’s voice drawled from next to her and she turned to find him propped up against his pillows, his tanned skin emphasised by the crisp white cotton.
‘Good morning. What time is it?’
He hauled her up to him and kissed her on the mouth. ‘Time to say good morning properly.’
Her body melted against his and just like that she wanted him all over again.
‘Define properly,’ she said with a giggle.
‘Making sure every last bit of you is wide awake.’
‘And which bits do you propose to wake up first?’
He dropped his head and kissed her breast, his tongue flicking over one nipple, making her gasp. ‘That one.’ He moved onto the other breast and did the same again. ‘That one.’
His hand moved down to her thigh. ‘This one.’
He didn’t need to elaborate and, before long, every last bit of her was wide awake and raring to go.
Half an hour later he rolled onto his side and gave her a guileless, happy smile. ‘That is how you say good morning properly.’
‘You might have to remind me again.’
‘It will be my pleasure to remind you as often as you like. Unfortunately, I have promised Alphonse that I would help him in the vineyard this morning.’ Luc kissed her on the nose and unselfconsciously got out of bed. ‘I must get in the shower.’ Hattie averted her gaze, although not until she’d had an eyeful of long lean legs and a very white, perfect bum.
‘Me too.’ She sat up and, not as comfortable as he was, perched on the edge of the bed looking for her dress. It had been puddled around her ankles the last time she had it.
‘Here.’ Luc tossed her one of his shirts. She pulled on the soft chambray which came down to her thighs. Even though it was a cliché from so many romcoms, she was touched by his understanding.
‘I ought to go.’ She rose and crossed the room picking up her discarded clothes.
‘Are you sure? You could join me in the shower.’
Hattie blushed. Despite last night she wasn’t quite ready for that. Her confidence was evaporating fast. ‘I’ll take a rain check.’
‘Anytime,’ said Luc, crossing to her, still naked, to kiss her softly on the lips. ‘But I hope we can do this again.’ He looked into her eyes, a gentle smile on his face.
