The Good Sister: Part One (39 page)

“Lord Archer?” a man asked. We both turned to look in his direction. “I say, that is you, Archer. Seeing you kissing the lips off of this enchanting creature, I was not at all sure,” the man said.

“Billings,” Ashton greeted. “I heard you were stationed in the Gulf.”

“Yes, well I am in-between assignments currently,” he said.

“Trinity, this Commodore Robert Billings. We were stationed together in service for Her Majesty’s Royal Navy,” Ashton introduced.

I looked at the tall slender man with angular features, a pointed chin, and thin set lips. I smiled and extended out my hand. “I am pleased to meet you, Commodore.”

The Commodore took my hand, bowed while raising my hand to his lips where he placed a kiss upon the back of it.

“The pleasure, I assure you, is entirely mine,” the Commodore replied before letting go.

“Billings, I am delighted to introduce you to my dove,” Ashton said, taking my hand back into his own. He rubbed his thumb over the place the Commodore kissed. “This is Trinity Winslow.”

“Trinity,” he replied then looked back toward Ashton. “Are you living in Paris now, Archer?”

“No, we are here on a short trip. We shall be heading back to London on Wednesday.”

“And your family? How are they?”

“Very well. Thank you for the inquiry, Billings.”

Commodore Billings smiled but it was without any doubt at seeing a tall dark-haired lady enter. She was dressed in a long dark fur coat. With a quick glance back toward Ashton he said, “I must apologize for my interruption to your dinner, as well for my hasty departure, but I am meeting someone, and I see she has just arrived.”

“Ah…” said Ashton, eying the dark-haired woman then setting his gaze back toward Billings, “you and Jillian are still—”

“Experiencing some difficulties, yes,” Billings interjected quickly. “Archer, it was good seeing you again.” He tilted his head toward me. “And I must say I am delighted to meet you, lady Trinity.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

“It was good seeing you. Enjoy your evening,” Ashton said.

Billings
nodded and turned to greet the dark-haired woman who seemed curious as to whom he had been speaking with. Billings put his arm around her shoulders, and whispered something into her ear as they left in somewhat of a hurry.

“Your friend is leaving,” I observed. “And he just got here.”

“Yes. I am sure he is uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

“I would presume it would have something to do with the fact he is more than likely on leave with a woman who is not his wife.”

“And you know his wife,” I said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yes. Jillian and I were together at one time, but she decided Billings was the better choice.”

I experienced a twisting of heat along with pointed jealousy, as if someone were pinching me. I didn’t like the thought of Ashton with another woman.

“Oh,” I said, glancing down at our intertwined hands. “She made the wrong choice, Ashton.”

Ashton lifted my chin. “Our pizza is becoming cold, and I fear it will also become soggy.”

I pulled myself together. “Cold pizza is always the best.”

Ashton let out a guffaw.

I downed three slices. I was starving, I discovered, but now I felt like I was going to explode. I also doubted I could be any fuller so if I were to explode it should happen any moment. I wondered how Ashton could eat so much yet keep his yummy physique. I studied him for a moment, shaking my head.

“What is it, my dove?”

“Nothing.”

“Tell me. I simply must know.”

“I was just wondering how you stay…” I hesitated searching for the right word.

“What are you wondering about?”

I placed my face into Ashton’s arm as I answered. “You are so beautiful.”

Ashton let out a low laugh in response.

“My sweet, Trinity. Are you asking me how I stay beautiful?”

“Yes, it doesn’t seem fair.”

Ashton’s smile was incandescent.

“I am not following, my dove. What does not seem fair?”

“I mean you look … well, you look so delicious.” Ashton busted out laughing. “It’s just not fair you can eat how you eat, but look how you look.”

“Delicious would be a word I would attach to you my beautiful dove; however, I am flattered you see me as such. As far as your other inquiry I swim, jog, and partake in various other physical pursuits. Does that satisfy your curiosity?”

“Other physical pursuits?”

“Yes. Some of which I would be willing to show you.”

“My lord. Are you unleashing your devil?”

“There is definitely a possibility, my lady.”

He placed his hand on the back of my neck, massaging, pulling my head forward, and kissing me with a passion.

“Did you enjoy the pizza?” Ashton asked as his lips tentatively left mine.

“Yes, it was wonderful.”

“Better than the pizza in California?”

“Yes.”

“Would you desire another Coca-Cola, perhaps to go?”

“Sure,” I said.

Ashton loaded up on Coca-Cola, paid the bill, and walked hand and hand with me back to the car.

“Shall we see some city lights now?” He asked.

“I would very much enjoy it.”

We drove past buildings and monuments that I’d seen in books or on the Internet, but I was seeing the real thing. Like so many things I had experienced since meeting Lord Archer, I would never forget this night.

“That’s the Louvre,” I said.

“Come,” Ashton said. The car came to a stop. Ashton took my hand. “I wish for you to see this up close.”

The pyramid sparkled like a diamond, lit up for the world to see. It was beautiful, probably the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. We stood beneath a lamp light, gazing at the magnificent structures lit brightly, within the cool night air. My breath illuminated out in front of me as it evaporated into the background of extraordinary architecture. I stood in awe, holding on to Ashton’s hand, spinning in a one hundred and eighty degree turn. If this were a dream I never wanted to wake.

“Does this make you happy, my dove?” Ashton asked.

“Yes, Ashton. There are no words,” I said. A tear ran down my cheek.

He leaned down, and with a gentle kiss to my cheek he tasted the salt of my tears. “Yes,” he agreed, “there are none.”

“Ashton, do you hear that?”

“Yes.”

“Where is the music coming from?”

“I am unsure, my dove.”

Floating on the night air the soft tranquil sound of piano music came to us.

“Magic,” I said in a whisper.

“It sounds like Debussy… Yes, it’s Clare De Lune,” Ashton confirmed. “Would you like to dance?”

I bowed my head. “Yes, my lord.” Gave Ashton my hand.

We slow danced to the ghostly sound beneath the lamp light with the pyramid glimmering in the background. When the song ended, fading into the night as though it never existed, Ashton kissed me.

Paris
.

Around midnight Ashton instructed his driver to take us home to his apartment. When we arrived, I looked around the space. It was a modern apartment with modern furnishings. The space was eye catching with sleek lines, a grouping of glass tables, glass fixtures, metal accents along with some contemporary paintings. The apartment was nothing like the chateau. In fact, it was a contrast in opposites.

“Do you spend much time here?” I asked, tracing my hand over a glass sculpture perched in the corner of the room.

“No,” Ashton said, “I would like to spend more time here, but sadly I seem to neglect my apartment.”

“So you like staying at the chateau better?”

“I would not say I prefer one to the other, but my stables, as well my horses are at the chateau so I spend a great deal of my time there or at home in England.”

“But you travel a lot too, right?”

“I do travel, mostly on business for my father or in search of better breading stock,” Ashton answered, coming to place a kiss on my cheek. “It is late, my dove. You should get some sleep. Allow me to show you to your quarters.”

“I’m not staying with you?” I asked.

“I thought you would want your privacy, as well your own bed.”

“I want to stay with you. I would sleep better.”

“Are you frightened?” he asked.

“It takes me a while to feel at home, to feel safe, but if I am with you I’ll be fine.”

“Is this your wish, my dove? To stay with me?”

I nodded.

“Very well,” he said, taking my hand and leading me into his bedroom.

There were large glass doors that lead out onto a balcony. To my right there was a huge bed covered in pillows. The room had light honey toned wood floors, adorned with shaggy area rugs the color of snow. Everything in this room was modern design, decorated with glass, metal, and more artwork, only abstract in origin.

I stood at the glass doors, looking out onto the city. Lights blazed like stars in the clear night sky. Ashton brushed back my hair then softly he placed his mouth to the hollow beneath my ear. My skin danced with goose bumps. He ran his tongue over the fresh chill upon my skin.

“If you desire a bath,” he said, “you will find what you need through those glass doors.” He pointed.

“I need my bag,” I said, turning to see his handsome face.

“There,” he said. He pointed to it, setting on a metal bench.

“My bag is in your room?”

“Yes,” Ashton said, smiling. This smile was definitely leaning toward his wicked side.

“So when you said you would show me to my room—”

“I hoped you would stay with me, but I dared not presume.”

“However, you moved the bags from the door and brought my bags in here.”

“Yes.”

“I see,” I said, going over to my bag, grabbing a few items then heading for the glass doors that concealed Ashton’s bathroom.

“Are you quite upset with me, my dove?”

“Quite.” I headed for the glass doors.

I took my time with the bath, luxuriating, and when I exited the bathroom to the sound of music playing, I glanced around the room. The sleek gas fireplace contained a burning fire. Ashton stood like a tribute to the gods by the balcony doors, drinking wine from a clear glass goblet. He was beyond sexy, wearing gray cotton pajama bottoms, without a shirt. I studied his body.

Ashton turned. My nipples peeked through the ribbed material of my cut off tank top. He stared at me with those piercing iced white eyes. And in this light, they were pure ice, pure white, and perhaps, pure sin.

Ashton placed his glass of wine upon the mantle. “Very nice knickers.”

I glanced down. I was wearing cotton boy shorts. “It’s late. I thought we were going to sleep?”

“Is that your wish, Trinity?”

“No,” I said, walking over to pick up his glass of wine, taking a sip. I set the glass down. He ran the pad of his thumb over the swell of my lips. I opened my mouth and sucked the tip of his thumb. His eyes flashed.

“What are you thinking, my dove?”

“I am still trying to decide if you are an angel or a devil.”

“And what have you decided?”

“I think you are a devil in every place a woman needs a devil, and an angel in every place else.”

“Ah…” he murmured. “And where does a woman need a devil?”

I skimmed my hands over my body, following the curves. “Here,” I said.

Ashton grinned.

“And where does a woman need an angel?”

I picked up Ashton’s hand and placed it against my thumping heart. “Here.”

“And you wish to experience both?”

“Yes.”

“Then we are in agreement, since I wish to give you both.”

“Ashton, will you be honest with me?”

“Always, my dove.”

I needed to hear what he would say, how he would say it, how he felt. I doubted it would be anything close to how Reid explained his thoughts.

“When you look at me.” I turned around in a slow circle, allowing him to see all of my body. “What are you thinking about?”

“I am thinking I am blessed. I am thinking you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I am thinking I would like to worship you, touch you, hold you, put my mouth upon you, give your body great pleasure.”

My heart leapt at his answer.

“And what is your wish right now?” I asked.

“If I tell you, shall you grant it?”

“Tell me.”

“I wish to give you pleasure,” he said.

“How?”

“Do you trust me?” he asked, brushing back my hair and strumming the tip of his fingers along my jaw line.

“Yes.”