He gazed at me. “I love that sound you just made. I’m addicted to that sound. And that look you get on your face. You are intoxicating, Joséphine.”

My hand shook slightly as I took another small sip of wine in an attempt to not look as though I’d just been blown sideways. “You should give a girl warning before you make love to her from three feet away.”

He inhaled through his nose. “Is that what I’m doing?”

I set my wine down, licking my lips. Uncrossing and crossing my legs, I shifted in my seat. A move that didn’t go unnoticed by Xavier. “It’s definitely what it feels like,” I admitted. Just the way he said my name sometimes made my stomach free fall.

Cristo took that moment to materialize, and quietly, as if he could sense the change in atmosphere, cleared up our dishes. He whispered to Xavier.

“Dessert?” Xavier asked me.

I shook my head. I was full and was sure it would be delicious, but I just wanted to be alone with Xavier.

As soon as Cristo left and the dumbwaiter rattled its way down below, we were left in candlelit silence. The strains of soft classical guitar had faded between pieces and now slowly came back to life.

“There’s so much I still want to know about you,” I said. “Two days doesn’t feel like enough.”

“Maybe it will be. We are still at the beginning.”

I didn’t bother to disagree. Instead I nodded, shoving down the odd feeling of sadness that bubbled through my happiness.

“We won’t be disturbed again.” He slid his chair back and lifted a beckoning hand. “Viens ici?”

Come here?

As if I could resist.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Back at the boat, all was dark. Only Paco was apparently on board, and even he had retired for the night.

After Xavier had beckoned me over to his side of the table, I’d ended up on his lap, our arms wrapped around each other, talking for ages and making out like teenagers. We’d stopped short of getting to any indecent behavior out of respect for Cristo and his establishment, but before long it was clear that not even our surroundings might stop us if we didn’t get out of there. We stumbled giddily down the stairs, saying swift and jovial goodbyes. In the cobbled streets, Xavier held me close, tucked under his arm, pausing occasionally in darkened doorways to kiss my neck and whisper French things in my ear. My skin was a conduit for his desire, every cell lit up with electrical fire.

I was giddy, breathless, and utterly seduced.