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I stop cold when I realize this was probably an artist’s studio at one time. The ceiling is glass and metal, and open to the sky. The light comes from behind a cloud and a beam of sunshine highlights the subtle auburn in her dark hair. It gleams in the room and the whole thing takes my breath away.
She whispers, “This is fucking amazing. I never want to leave this room. This is the reason to have a building like this. Think of what we could create up here. I’ll bet even the dust bunnies have something to say. Do you feel it?”
I kiss her like I need her to fucking sustain me. Her tongue touches mine and I breathe in her scent. I pull back before I bend her over the crimson couch in the corner. The exposed beams are so cool. You can see the other buildings, streets, and the tops of the Paris I’ve always dreamed of.
“Downstairs is like Audrey Hepburn’s apartment in Charade.”
My fingers start tingling and flicking. I want to draw her. She pulls my hand to her mouth and kisses it. “You need a pencil, don’t you?”
“How do you know me this well?”
“Well, we are engaged.”
How I wish that were true. “You and this light are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” I take her hair down and she bows her head towards her feet. I lift her chin. “Take in every moment, every compliment.” We hear a crash and swearing downstairs.
“Ok, we have to get out of here.” She moves towards the staircase. I pull her back to me.
“We belong here somehow. It’s ours. Forget your rules and our families. Tonight, let’s be these people. Artists in love with a shit-ton of money in Paris. Play with me.”
Lizzie’s eyes light up. We can hear the woman ascend the staircase. There’s no closets, only an armoire. We climb in and I crouch and smoosh my body to fit. She holds the door closed and we try not to move as we hear her arrange furniture. Then we hear her texting. We’re holding our breath and I’m going to break through the back of this fucking thing. My whole body is one big fucking cramp. I’m sweating through the pain, then the woman flicks off the lights and goes downstairs. Lizzie opens the armoire then lands on top of me as we fall out. I wrap my arms around her with the sunlight as our only light. This is my Paris. She’s my Paris.
LIZZIE
“Oh. Sorry.” He holds me in places as I try to scramble off of him.
“It’s fine.” He kisses me. I lean to the side, so he’ll let me slide to the ground. We’ve got to get out of here. But instead of getting up and leaving, I sink into his kiss. It’s a mystery why it’s so good. His tongue flicks in and out, and I sigh. He backs away, kissing my jaw and neck. I want him to make me weightless.
“Let me up.” He instantly removes his hands from me. “I want to see this place.”
He laughs, leaps to his feet, and scoops me up. He carries me to the velvet chaise lounge in the corner, and I’m on fire. I keep rubbing my thighs together, desperate for relief. I tingle all the time so I have to tell him somehow.
He walks in a circle and stands in the middle of this stunning room. The sun is starting to set and the orange is lighting up this room filled with glowing light. His loving gaze never leaves me as he explores the space.
“I could paint a million pieces of art in a place like this.”
“You should.” He rolls his eyes at me. I sit up on my knees. “I’m serious. It’s our house, why shouldn’t you make this room into your studio? I’ll write in the corner.”
He laughs. I jump up and say, “We should probably go make sure all the rooms in our house are in order.”
He pulls me close and holds me. “This is our first home. We do need to treat it with care, so it cares for us.”
“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“My ma says it.”
“And how’s that working out? Does your house care for your Mom?” I laugh at my own joke and he gets a little quiet. “Shit. Danny. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I’m so sorry.” I forgot his home isn’t always happy. He’ll never fuck me now. I hate the taste of my foot in my mouth.
“No worries. Let’s go explore our house.”
I follow him as he flicks some switches. The main floor of this apartment is massive and stunning. We’re standing in the kitchen; it’s industrial, yet vintage. I’m sure some of the fixtures are original. It’s so charming and perfect. It opens to the living room. There’s a mix of old and new. I love the exposed brick and the massive windows you could stand in. The arches are grand and decorated with intricate scrolling. But the beams have been covered with galvanized steel in the kitchen.
“What’s for dinner, honey?” he says and hoists me up on the kitchen counter. We attack each other’s lips as I wrap my legs loosely around him. He moans and kisses me deeper. Our teeth are scraping and I could eat him up.
I gasp. “Dinner later. We haven’t explored all the rooms. I’m especially interested in one in particular.”
“REALLY?” He puts his hands on his head and steps back. I lick my lips. I think that might be sexy. I don’t want him to have to jerk off anymore. I want to help. I want to be a part of all of it.
He leans against the sink across the kitchen from me. “Please, for all that’s holy, say it’s the bedroom and not the laundry room.” I laugh and nod.
