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My chest swells and my throat is thick with tears I nod stupidly because I can’t get the words out It is romantic and sweet, and I liftthere as he attaches the lock charm next to it
“I love you,” I say as he puts the key in my hand
“And I love you” He cups his hand overour joined hands Once Twice On the third ti
“Forever,” Damien says
“Forever,” I agree
The rest of the afternoon feels just as soft, just as romantic
We wander along the Seine, looking at the street vendors’ wares, taking silly pictures of each other, and holding hands Once or twice I see people looking at us—a few even snap pictures—but I tellThat if there are less than a dozen people who recognize us, then we are having a good day
We spend two hours in the Louvre, and I gasp in awe at the asp in surprise at how di as I expected given the enormity of her reputation
After, we buy cheese and wine and have an afternoon picnic in the Jardin des Tuileries, where we do nothing but laze about enjoying the weather, the surroundings, and each other
As night approaches, Da cruise We sip chahts of the city cohts and sparkles on the hour, we toast to love and laughter and romance
As we are heading back to the dock, Damien receives a text, and since he has ordered strict silence except in e my attention between my husband and the Parisian skyline
The ood news, and he taps out a reply quickly, his fingers practically attacking the screen But when he turns back to ain, a ne with his wife on their honeymoon
“How do you do that?” I ask “Youon and a trillion fires to put out, and yet you can just shut it all down Turn it all off” I wish that I could do the sah I have reveled in every moment of this day, the truth is that the threat of that da to my enjoyment like tar
“I don’t know,” he says, brushing one Only shelved”
“I can’t even o around arden, and his body is hard and hot against o away,” I murmur as I feel the need rise withinbut you”
I lean back just enough so that I can tilt my head up to look at him His eyes are like ht of his touch
“There’s somewhere I want to take you” I hear the strain in his voice, as if he is fighting back the urge to touch me The boat has reached the dock, and he leads me off, then pauses on the quai to study me “I wasn’t sure, but, Nikki—yes Come on”
I’erly, actually
On the street level, we catch a taxi and Damien instructs the driver to take us to À la Lune in the Quartier Pigalle I note the way the driver glances back, his expression als “Think red light district”
“Oh,” I say, and then settle back in the upholstered seat I have no idea what Damien has planned, but I’m completely confident I will enjoy it