Shifting Perspectives

“Too bad for her!” Louise grinned as she squeezed his hand.

Kyle nodded. “I’m still working out what I want to do with my life and who I want to be.”

“What progress have you made?” she asked.

He chuckled as he rested his head back and closed his eyes. “Progress… let’s see. Hmm…” He opened his eyes and rolled his head to look at her. “It doesn’t really feel like I’ve made any. The only thing I’ve learned is that I enjoy meeting people, talking with them, learning about their lives, and sharing time with them. That’s brought me the most fulfillment so far. I met some great people in Santa Barbara. I hope to visit them again next summer. The nomad thing is really working out for me so far.”

“Don’t you have an address you call home, a place to hold your treasures and collectibles, and where your mail is delivered?” she asked curiously.

He shook his head slightly. “My only treasure is my motorcycle, and it’s in a storage locker in Montreal for the winter. I had an apartment in Vancouver, but I gave that up. I’m almost completely free of worldly possessions and have no fixed address. I am… a leaf on the wind,” he said with a grin.

She turned to him with an odd expression. “The thought of having no place to call home makes me nervous.”

Kyle nodded. “Says the woman with… how many homes?”

Louise nodded with a little smile as she acknowledged his point. She looked into his eyes. “If you don’t mind, you could stay at my apartment while you’re there. I’d love the company.”

He paused, then his eyes dropped to her hand on his. An elegant wedding band snuggled up again, a truly enormous diamond on her engagement ring. His eyes returned to hers. He’d forgotten to ask Helen this, but no time like the present. “Is there a Mr. Cantington who might object to your inviting me?”

She glanced at her hand in surprise then her smile returned. “He would definitely object as he was a very jealous man, but that’s no longer an issue. Aubry died fifteen years ago. His yacht was raided by pirates off the coast of Somalia as he tried to circumnavigate Africa.

“I’m sorry,” Kyle said.

“Don’t be. It was the exciting ending he was hoping for. Perishing in a hail of bullets as he battled pirates was a far more exciting finale than wasting away in a hospital. Six months earlier, he’d learned that he had inoperable cancer. He immediately began working on his bucket list. Circling Africa in his yacht was one of those items.” She smiled fondly, then shook her head and looked at Kyle. “So, will you take me up on my offer?”

Kyle nodded, and her smile widened. He gave her a curious look. “That happened fifteen years ago?” She nodded. “I can’t think of a way to ask this so it doesn’t sound like a cheesy come on.” She giggled as she watched him struggle with his words, so he just said what was on his tongue. “You’re a beautiful woman with a brain in your head. Why hasn’t someone pursued you and caught your interest in those years?”

She grinned and squeezed his hand again at the compliment. “I’ve had suitors, but some were more interested in my wealth than me. Aubrey had a significant insurance policy that paid out after he died. I was also the sole heir to his estate. He was an extraordinarily smart businessman, if not a terribly attentive husband or father. He left us with enough money for several lifetimes.

While he left us financially secure, ours wasn’t a happy marriage, so I wasn’t eager to jump into another. Instead, I concentrated on Byron, who’d lost his father. It took some time for him to forgive me for not allowing him to go with his father past Malta. I met them there and brought Byron home with me as his father continued on. Not long after that, we received word of the attack and Aubry’s subsequent death.

Byron and I went through a very rough time, but I never gave up on him, and he eventually came around.”

Kyle wondered if his mother had ever considered leaving his father during those hard times when he was off doing his own thing. He wanted to believe he would have been okay with his mother finding someone to love. He tried to cast his mind back to when he was only ten to recall how he felt then about his parents. He knew he loved his mother throughout his entire life. She’d always been consistent with her love for him, even when she had to play mother and father.

“Where did you go?” Louise asked him gently.

“Hmm? Oh! Sorry. What you said just made me reflect on my relationship with my parents. My mother was amazing, very empathetic, in tune with everyone’s feelings, which kind of balanced my father’s inability to connect emotionally to anyone.” He frowned as he recalled how he’d done the same to Juliette in Montreal. “I’m trying to be vigilant about my behavior as I sometimes slip and behave like him.” He gave Louise a shaky smile. “I mean, not everything he taught me was bad. We had some good memories… when he was with us, but he had trouble connecting.”

Louise smiled gently. “I suppose I haven’t seen that side of you yet. You’ve been very considerate of others’ feelings in the short time I’ve known you. I find it difficult to imagine you being otherwise.”

Kyle chuckled. “Thank you. That tells me my vigilance is working.”

“We’ll be arriving in time for lunch. Can I take you to a lovely traditional French café?” she asked excitedly.

“Uh, sure,” he said, enjoying her delighted smile. It just kept getting brighter.

-=-

The quaint restaurant was everything Louise said it would be. Kyle was enjoying the feeling of being immersed in French culture. The historic nature of the architecture, the language, the mannerisms, and the attitudes all contributed to this.

The manager knew Louise and came out to enthusiastically press cheeks with the woman as he expressed his joy at seeing her. He gave Kyle the smallest amount of attention without being overtly rude. That was fine with Kyle as he was enjoying Louise’s enjoyment.

Once they were seated at one of the coveted window seats, Kyle looked out the window at the extensive outdoor seating and realized he’d have to visit Paris again during the warmer months to enjoy sitting along the sidewalk for people watching.

“Late spring.”

Kyle turned his attention back to Louise to see her watching him. “Sorry?” he said.

“You should return in late spring to enjoy the sidewalk cafés in the afternoons and evenings,” she said with a smile.

He grinned at the accuracy of her mind-reading. “Is that when you’re normally here?” he asked as he held her eyes.

Louise paused as she wondered at his phrasing. “Normally here?”

He nodded. “When we dropped off our bags at your lovely apartment, I couldn’t help but notice the covers over the furniture as if it was closed up for the season. You also seemed to have some tense words with the superintendent before we left the building. Then, when we arrived here, the manager seemed surprised and delighted to see you. This suggests you don’t normally visit your Paris property this time of year.”

This brought a sly smile to Louise’s face. “I didn’t know you were a detective, Kyle.”

He shook his head slightly as he smiled. “Merely observant. Am I right?” She nodded to him slowly. “Where would you normally be this time of year?” he asked.

“I’d be at a resort in the Seychelles,” she replied, watching him.

His eyebrows went up. “You aren’t missing out on a tropical vacation for this, are you?”

She examined his expression for a bit then answered the question. “I typically spend two months at the resort after visiting my brother and my son for Christmas. Most often, I’m at the resort alone… as I would have been this year as well. Meeting you at Reggie’s was a treat. You seemed far more interesting than sitting next to a pool drinking frosty beverages by myself. The resort is keeping my reservation open as it’s paid for.”

Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know if I’m that interesting. We’re certainly at opposite ends of the economic and social spectrums. You have seven homes in seven countries, and I have none in any. Though I’m not poor, I live on a modest budget and enjoy the minimalism required for a nomadic lifestyle. I manage my investments to maintain an income that will allow me to live this way indefinitely. You seem to be set financially for multiple lifetimes filled with luxury.”

She nodded with a smile. “And that disparity between our lifestyles is fascinating! I agree with you that meeting people can be a most enriching experience. It can open your horizons by exposing you to a new outlook on life, like your minimalist nomadism. It’s also true that some people you meet won’t be interested in helping you grow intellectually or spiritually. Many aren’t much more than leeches. I’ve had more of those experiences than I care to admit. I have a poor track record of being hurt by them,” she sighed.

“You barely know me. Maybe I’m one of those leeches. I seem to find myself in situation after situation where the people I meet bring me into their world and have to pay my way for me to be there!”

“Have they all been that way?” Louise asked, and Kyle paused as his thoughts focused on his days with Phoebe when she saved him after his little self-destructive meltdown.

Then he recalled the days he spent with Charlize and Chloe. This brought a wistful smile to his face as these memories filled him with genuine warmth. He missed these wonderful women.

Louise was watching his expression, and a satisfied smile slid onto her features. “Your smile tells me you aren’t a leech. You met some people and had a more balanced interaction with them.”

The waiter arrived to interrupt them and took their order. Then they were alone again.

“Yes, but they weren’t that much higher up the economic scale than I am. They allowed me to pay my fair share,” he insisted.

“They shared their time with you, and as their lifestyle more closely aligned with yours, you were as comfortable as they were. It’s natural to feel that way,” she said, and Kyle nodded his agreement. “Then you have people like Helen, Fiona, and me. We come from higher income brackets, and we’re accustomed to… more ease and luxury in our lives. We would be less comfortable outside this environment.” She gave Kyle a questioning look, and he nodded as he could see this being true as well. “We find you as fascinating as we hope you find us, so we invite you into our environment. As the cost of this matters less to us, we get to remain comfortable in our luxuries, and we get to enjoy your company. Has anyone ever expressed an expectation of… physical compensation?” she asked curiously.

Kyle’s face reddened. “No! Of course not! I wouldn’t remain with them if they had.”

“So, we’re on the same page morally,” she said, her satisfied smile firmly in place.

He thought about that as he examined his discomfort. He understood her point. He was being invited into her environment as she had no desire to leave it. It wasn’t a place he could afford to be, so she covered his expenses.

Then he felt a twinge.

That’s where his problem was.

“Maybe… maybe it’s my work ethic that’s causing my uneasiness? Being compensated for companionship that I’m willing to give for free feels wrong,” he said hesitantly.

She smiled at him as she patted his hand. “You’re in a catch twenty-two situation.”

He sighed and nodded.

She gave him a critical look. “While I haven’t yet resorted to this personally, many in my circumstance hire people to hover around them, handling every little detail in their lives. They provide services like security, beauty treatments, massages, financial advice, or just running errands. More often than not, these personal assistants are unofficial paid companions and untrained therapists sometimes. I know of three women whose lives would fall apart without their assistants. It’s their example that keeps me from going down that path.”

Kyle frowned as he understood. “When I gave myself over to Gwen’s control, she ended up making every decision for me. I lost myself, and it wasn’t until she left me that I realized how wrong that was. It was my fault for allowing it. Now, that version of me is gone. I’ll never let myself become a passenger in my own life. That’s no one’s job but mine.”

“Exactly so,” she said with another satisfied smile.

He focused on her and saw she was watching him. He needed to get a better idea of what her expectations were. He belatedly realized he should have addressed this when she first offered to join him in Paris.

“I haven’t really made any plan for what I’m going to do in Paris. I want to check on Fiona to make sure she’s okay, but I don’t even know if she’ll have time for me,” he said.

“You’ll just have to remain flexible. I can’t imagine Fiona wouldn’t set aside some time for you as you mentioned you were close friends.” As she said this, her smile remained innocent, but Kyle heard her emphasis and suspected Helen must have disclosed more than she should have.

“Helen is also expecting me to return on the thirtieth for her New Year’s party,” he said.

Louise nodded. “That gives you two full days in Paris. You’ll visit Fiona tomorrow?” she asked, and he nodded. “Then you have two days to spend with Fiona before you fly back to London. While that’s not enough time to truly experience Paris, you’ll get a taste of it. Maybe enough to make you want to come back when the weather’s better?”

Kyle nodded with a smile and raised an eyebrow. “Late spring?”

“Exactly so,” she replied.

-=-

After they enjoyed their exquisitely prepared meal, Louise took Kyle to the Louvre, where they spent hours strolling through the galleries, taking in the masterpieces. Louise enjoyed herself immensely, explaining the history behind her favorite paintings as she led him on a circuitous route through the museum. Kyle knew he was getting a sampling of what this magnificent building had to offer. Along the way, he was getting a crash course in the economics of art as an investment. He found this history more interesting than most of the paintings.

They glanced out a window when they entered one of the outer galleries and saw how dark it was becoming outside. Louise glanced at her watch in surprise. “Oh! I hadn’t realized how long we’ve been here! I hope I haven’t bored you too much.”

“Not at all! It’s been fascinating!” Kyle insisted.

Louise grinned happily. “Shall we go for dinner?”

“I could eat,” he agreed.

She chuckled as she led him towards the exit. She spoke quietly into her cell as they moved through the museum, then hung up with a small, pleased smile on her lips.

Kyle got their coats from the coat check and helped Louise on with hers. Once more wrapped in her faux fur, she led them outside and into a taxi, giving the driver an address. She snuggled up against Kyle’s side as the air outside had become quite chilly. He just wrapped an arm around her and held her close. She rested a gloved hand on Kyle’s leg with another pleased smile on her lips.

When the taxi stopped, she seemed reluctant to move away from his side. This allowed Kyle to pay for their ride to dinner. She grinned, then accepted his help exiting the vehicle.

They went inside and took the elevator up to the restaurant. An owner once more made an appearance to press cheeks with Louise at the maître d’ station. He gave Kyle a polite smile. He wished them a lovely evening.

They were led to a lovely table next to the window where they had an amazing view of Paris laid out before them with the Eiffel Tower front and center. Its festive lights were glowing, and the scene took Kyle’s breath away.

“It’s beautiful,” he sighed. His mind flashed to a time not so long ago when he’d planned to share views like this with Gwen for her enjoyment. His smile dimmed, and he realized he’d just have to enjoy them for himself… for now. Louise was familiar with such glorious sites as she owned homes in some of the most scenic places.

He looked her way and saw she was watching him. “What?”

“I was just wondering what might be going on in that mind of yours. You seemed a little sad,” she said curiously.

He shook his head self-consciously and forced a smile back onto his lips. “Just admiring the scenery. That’s the point of this restaurant, yes?”

“There’s the food as well,” she responded with a teasing smile.

They picked up their menus, and Kyle realized he wasn’t really hungry. The waiter arrived, so he chose a pasta dish he’d spotted another guest enjoying. It looked like it was the size of a small apple, artistically surrounded by streaks of sauce and a few garnishes. Appeasing hunger wasn’t the point of a restaurant like this; savoring unique flavors was.

Kyle asked Louise what it was like to live in the countries she owned homes in, and she happily explained. Then it was her turn, and she asked him about Vancouver and his hobbies, especially cycling. By the end of the meal, she had him describing the tour he’d done in France. Kyle refrained from divulging the more intimate details, but her eyes were twinkling with delight as they finished their desserts.

She paid the hefty bill for their light dinners, and they took the elevator back to the ground level to catch a taxi back to her apartment.

Kyle wasn’t terribly surprised to see the dust covers removed from the furniture, and it looked ready for use again. He smiled at Louise with a raised eyebrow, and she did her best to ignore it, though her cheeks pinked up nicely.

Once they’d removed their coats and walked into her living room, Kyle took in the feminine décor and smiled at his host. “Your home is lovely.”

“Thank you,” she said with a nervous smile. “W-would you care for a drink?”

He caught her sudden tension and looked at her closely. He was fairly certain what she was after, and he realized he wasn’t opposed to the idea as he liked her.

“Do you have scotch?” he asked.

She smiled and walked to a small antique service table with many bottles on it. She poured him a drink and pulled a bottle of wine from a chiller someone had prepared for her when they removed the furniture covers. He was impressed with the service they provided for her.

Louise walked back to him and handed him the tumbler as she looked up into his eyes.

Kyle smiled and took a sip. Thankfully, a small one.

After the exquisite examples he’d been having recently, the harsh bite caught him by surprise. He barely suppressed a cough.

His host caught his momentary twitch and looked at him. “Is it bad? I don’t drink scotch, and this was my husband’s favorite kind,” she asked with concern.

He grinned. “Well, in contrast with what Reginald drinks, it’s not as smooth. I think I’ve become spoiled.”

Her look of embarrassment increased, so he held up his hand. “It’s fine. I’m not that thirsty.” He walked back over to the cart and set his glass down. Then he returned to her side. She took a sip of her wine as her eyes went to his mouth.

“It seems you, Helen, and Francis had quite a friendly chat while I was occupied with your brother and his friends,” he said with a slight smile.

He caught a brief widening of her eyes, and she almost hid the flash of excitement. “It was so much fun to catch up with Francis, and Helen is quite the storyteller.”

“Would I know any of these tales she shared?” he asked, taking Louise’s free hand in his and gently massaging it with his fingers.

Her eyes locked onto their hands and her wine glass wobbled slightly, so she set it down. “You might. She quite enjoyed her cycling vacation in France. After the ordeal her ex-husband put her through, it was just what she needed.”

Kyle smiled and nodded. “She was there for me after my ordeal as well. Well, her and Skye.”

“So, it’s true!” Louise gasped quietly as she gazed into his eyes.

He looked back in question. “Yes, they were both superb listeners and offered me excellent advice.”

Louise’s face flushed with embarrassment, and Kyle quickly clued in. “Ah, yes. You meant the other way they helped.”

She burst into nervous giggles as her eyes flicked up to his.

“Could it be that you had less than innocent intentions for inviting me here?” he asked as he took her other hand in his and pulled her closer.

“I-I… perhaps?” she sighed.

Kyle dipped his face down to hers and kissed her trembling lips. Her breath gasped out, then she was kissing him in return as her arms went around him.

When his hands touched her back, she moaned into their kiss, and her tongue became demanding. He pulled back slightly to slow her down, and she trembled once more.

Her eyes searched his, and when she saw the heat in his gaze, the worry disappeared in hers. She rested her forehead against his. “It-it’s been some time since I’ve been intimate.”

“That’s a damn shame.” He slid his hands down to squeeze her ass, and she gasped as her eyes widened. He growled deep in his chest. “You’re too sexy to keep all this to yourself.”

Before she could respond, he kissed her passionately, and she melted in his arms. She was thrilled by his rough need and dominance.

He got the impression that she was enjoying the fantasy of being the Lady to his Tramp. Truthfully, he couldn’t see her in any other role. His belief was she’d had a very privileged and gentle life. Yes, she’d had to deal with the death of her husband and the struggles that caused between her and her son, but she was strong enough to work that out.

On the other hand, Kyle had come from much humbler beginnings and had undergone culture lessons from Gwen to help him fit into this world. It was much easier for him to revert to a rougher persona as he’d lived it, and Louise seemed to know this and craved it.

Kyle suddenly unzipped her dress and let it fall to her feet. He then hoisted her over his shoulder and headed toward the bedroom. He heard her squeak and gasp excitedly, but he didn’t stop until he was next to her overstuffed mattress. He yanked the comforter down and took a second to stare at how fluffy the bed was. It was a freaking cloud!

He didn’t throw her down on the bed, though the mattress looked like that would cause her no damage at all. Instead, he launched her off his shoulder but guided her down. She still gasped in surprise as it felt like being thrown. Before she could recover, his hands were sliding up the outer surfaces of her legs and quickly sliding her panties down. She watched him in surprise, then excitement as he lifted her ankles and began to alternate kisses up the inside of both legs.

Louise whimpered with anticipation. Kyle realized she might not have ever experienced what he was about to do for her.

When he reached the apex of his kissing path, her cries confirmed this was a novel experience for her, and she found it very agreeable. Her hands tangling in his hair, pulling his mouth firmly against her pussy, was another clue.

“KYLE! YES! Oh my GOD! Yes! Please… please… do that! So good!” she pleaded as her body rocked through her pleasure.

When he introduced two fingers into her channel to stroke and rub as his tongue danced across her lower lips and her clit, her cries became incoherent but no less passionate.

Louise’s first release was powerful and sudden, accompanied by a whole-body stiffening and trembles. Her voice went quiet as she sucked in sharp gasps. Kyle was a little concerned she might begin hyperventilating, but she let out a long sigh as she crested. He eased himself back and looked up at her flushed face.

Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing hard, so he eased himself off the bed and quickly freshened up for her in the washroom, stripping his clothes off. When he entered the bedroom once more, her breathing was slower, and her eyes were open. She rolled her head to watch him approach, and her eyes widened in appreciation.

“Mmm! Don’t you look delicious!” she purred.

“I hope you think so,” he said, continuing his dominance game with her.

He slid a hand under her back and snapped the clasp of her bra loose with practiced ease. Her eyes widened as his hands went to her shoulders. She let him tug the lacey lingerie down her arms, and her large breasts were now on display. He took them in his hands and squeezed them, gently pulling on her nipples.

“Ahhh! Kyle!” she gasped, then he dipped down to take her mouth with his once more.

“Mmmmph! Mmmmm!” she moaned into his mouth as he continued to knead her soft, natural breasts with his fingers.

He pulled back from the kiss as he knelt and threw a leg over Louise’s chest. He leaned over her, and she saw his cock bobbing before her face. Her eyes lifted to his, and she saw he was watching her hungrily. A tremor ran through her body, and she lifted her head slightly to stroke her tongue along the underside of his hot cock. Kyle hissed with pleasure, and she licked at him more aggressively. She brought a hand in under him and pulled his stiff member down to take the head into her mouth.

Kyle moved his hands to the bed’s headboard and leaned over her body, relieving some of the pressure on his erection. Then his hips moved, and he slid the first three inches of his cock into Louise’s mouth.

“Mmmph!” she squeaked, gripping his thighs, but he’d already stopped. He pulled back and thrust forward again, once more stopping at three inches. He began to slowly fuck her mouth like this, and her eyes rolled up at the hedonistic sensation of giving in to his control. When he saw she was comfortable again, he dipped forward a little more, giving her four inches on each thrust.

She squeaked again, grabbing the rock-hard muscles of his thighs to stop him, but she realized he was so much stronger than her. If he wanted, he could take what he wanted. Her eyes fluttered closed as her pussy tingled madly. She’d never been so turned on.

When he suddenly slid five inches into her mouth, she almost choked as it came as a surprise and almost hit the back of her throat.

He pulled his cock from her mouth and slid his hands under her back to pull her up the mattress. Then he was lifting her legs as he moved between them.

She jolted as the hot tip of his cock slapped against her wet opening. Then he was forcing himself into her, slowly.

“OH! OH! Oh, Kyle! Yes!” she cried.

He had to reverse out and thrust forward several times before she could accommodate his girth and length. When his pelvis came to rest on hers, she was moaning and clinging to him. He couldn’t get over how snug a fit he was.

Kyle watched her face, and when she seemed to come down from the initial rush, he set up a slow pattern of thrusts. He took his time and ensured he gave her a minor bump and grind at the end of each thrust. Each time, she would gasp and cling to him tighter. Her eyes were becoming glassy as she rushed up to her next orgasm.

Finally, Kyle began to long-stroke Louise faster and faster, continuing the bump and grind.

“AAAAHHHH! YYYEEESSSS!!!! OOOHHHH!” the woman wailed as he pushed her over the top once more. It took him another dozen strokes to reach his peak. He held himself deep inside and fired streams of hot cum into her as she squeezed him tight against her breasts.

“Yes! Oh, Kyle! So good!” she purred, then he stroked his lips across hers, and she trembled violently as another crest struck, surprising her.

They were both left panting, and when they looked into each other’s eyes, they couldn’t help but grin and chuckle.

Kyle finally lifted himself and laid down beside her.

“This is a remarkably soft bed. Or is it a cloud?” he asked.

She snorted and glanced over at him. “For years, I suffered on the extra-firm mattress my husband preferred. Once he was gone, the first thing I did was replace it with the softest mattress I could find. I’m in no hurry to sleep on a slab of marble,” she insisted, drawing more chuckles from Kyle.

He could only nod as he agreed there was still much to enjoy in life, as tonight had proven to them both.

Chapter 9

Louise couldn’t keep a smile off her lips the following morning. Kyle caught her looking at him from time to time as they enjoyed a simple breakfast Kyle prepared for them with the fresh ingredients he found in the fridge.

He realized the building manager had pulled off a minor miracle with reopening her apartment for her so quickly.

“Okay, tell me what the smile is for,” he finally sighed.

“Am I smiling?” she asked, her coy smile partially hidden behind her teacup.

He nodded. “And you’re peeking at me when you think I’m not looking.”

“My, aren’t we full of ourselves this morning!” she retorted playfully.

He smiled and fixed an eye on her.

She pouted, then burst into a grin. “All right! I admit I’m happy! I had a truly delightful time yesterday. Last night was magical! I’m still tingling!”

He chuckled and gave her hand a squeeze. “I really enjoyed yesterday and last night, too.”

“Your fiancé was an utter fool for dumping you!” Louise sighed.

“I believe she said something similar, but by then, it was too late,” Kyle mentioned with a small shrug. “I consider myself to be a work in progress. She taught me some useful things, but as a person, I need to be better.”

Louise looked at him in surprise, but he just waved a hand to dismiss it as he released her hand and leaned back in his chair. “It’s just something I’m working on. Are you going to be heading off to the Seychelles today?” he said, directing the conversation to a more comfortable topic.

“What-oh! Yes, I suppose I will. I’d really like to spend more time with you, but you’re going to be rather occupied in the next couple of days,” Louise said with a little pout.

“Yes, I’ll visit Fiona, but I don’t know how long a visit that’ll be. Then there’s Helen’s New Year’s party.”

Louise’s eyes lit up. “What plans do you have for after that?”

He smiled at her as he shook his head. “That’s the extent of my planning for the visit. Helen is starting a new job, and Skye is going back to school, so…” He frowned. “I didn’t really plan anything beyond visiting Helen. I see now I should have.”

Louise grinned and leaned forward to take his hand in hers once more. “Join me on my vacation! It would be so much more fun sharing it with you! I have a lovely cottage all to myself. Please say you’ll come!”

Kyle looked at her in surprise. “The Seychelles? That’s going to be an expensive–”

“No! We talked about this! The money isn’t important. Enjoying life is! It would be so incredible to enjoy this year’s visit with you!” she insisted.

Kyle was caught flat-footed as he really didn’t have any pressing timelines after the New Year’s party. He also had no true reason for not accepting her offer. He enjoyed spending time with her. She was articulate and interesting and had a genuine joy for life. They got along really well, and the Seychelles sounded like as good a place to visit as anywhere. Recalling how cold Montreal was, he wasn’t in a hurry to return just yet.

“I-I guess I could,” he said hesitantly.

She restrained her exclamation of joy as she looked him in the eye. “You’re still having misgivings about being invited into my world?”

He sighed and nodded. “I guess I’m still uncomfortable about being supported financially like this–Yes! I get your point,” he quickly added, stopping her from repeating her argument. He looked into her hopeful eyes and sighed. “Sure, I’d love to join you.”

Now Louise allowed herself a squeal of happiness and hurried to sit on his lap.

He chuckled until her mouth found his, and they enjoyed another sensual kiss.

When she pulled back, her eyes were sparkling. “This year’s trip is going to be so much better than any of the others!”

He smiled at her joyful expression. “There is still the question of logistics. How do I follow you there and find you at the… resort?”

“When will you be able to leave?” she asked quickly.

Kyle checked his cell’s calendar app. “Umm, I assume I’ll be done my visit with Helen on New Year’s Day, and they’ll be going back to their lives the next day.”

“I’ll book you a flight ticket from Heathrow to Mahé now. You just go to the British Airways counter at the airport and show them your passport. They’ll give you the ticket. I’ll have you picked up at the airport and driven to the resort. The front desk people will direct you to the room.”

She stood, then rushed to get her tablet to book the ticket before he changed his mind. Kyle got up and collected his passport for her. While she bought his ticket, he cleaned up their breakfast dishes.

When she returned to the kitchen with a wide smile on her face, he knew she’d been successful. She handed his passport back, then gave him a hug.

“I’m so looking forward to enjoying the frozen drinks by the pool with you. I won’t be harassed by the resort Lotharios this year,” she sighed happily.

He chuckled. “I’ll be seducing you instead.”

She turned her face up to him with a brilliant smile on her face. “That sounds wonderful!”

He gave her a kiss, then she pulled back with a sigh. “I need to get moving if I’m going to catch my flight.”

Kyle frowned suddenly, and she looked at him curiously. “I don’t have a swimsuit with me. The one I own is packed in my motorcycle’s saddlebag in a Montreal storage locker.”

“I’ll pick one out for you at the resort,” Louise purred.

He smiled and shook his head as he suspected what he might choose. He didn’t have any choice at this point unless he could find one today before he saw Fiona.

Louise handed Kyle a slip of paper.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“It’s the address of the hotel Fiona is managing. Just hand that to the taxi driver,” she explained.

“Ah, perfect! Thanks!” he said with a smile.

They shared the shower, which was a unique experience for Louise, but they refrained from playing too much as they didn’t have time.

They dressed, and Kyle ensured he had everything packed away and his passport was secured in his jacket pocket once more.

They left the apartment after Louise made a few calls. Kyle realized she was speaking to the building manager to arrange for the apartment to be closed once more.

Out in front of the building, two cabs were waiting for them. With a quick kiss and a wide, excited smile, Louise waved at Kyle, then hopped into the back of the first taxi, and it drove away.

He climbed into the back of the second one and handed the driver the slip of paper. The man nodded and got them underway. Kyle enjoyed the scenery on the way to the hotel, but the trip was pretty short. He gave the man a good tip and climbed out in front of a very posh hotel. It seemed to blend the luxury of classic Parisienne architecture with a modern accent. Not exactly his taste, but what did he know about French Style?

Kyle stepped into an artistically appointed lobby and looked for the reception counter. Wandering to the left, he finally caught sight of the desk. He walked up to it, and a lovely woman with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail was standing behind the counter. She had a warm complexion, high cheekbones, and almond-shaped eyes, giving her a delightfully exotic appearance. She greeted him in French. He was still rusty, but he made an attempt.

“Bonjour! Uh, puis-je… um… parler avec le directeur?”

“Is there a problem, sir? Maybe I could assist you with it?” the woman said in flawless English, but with her delightful French accent.

“Ah, no, thank you. There’s no problem at all. I’m a friend of Fiona’s. I’m Kyle MacDenny… from Canada. I was hoping she might be available so I could say hello.”

The woman looked uncomfortable about something, and a slim, balding, and pale man stepped out of an office behind the desk to look her way. Cold green eyes scanned Kyle and found him lacking. The desk clerk turned to the man as he approached, and she spoke softly to him.

Then it was the Pale Eye’s turn to address Kyle.

“I’m afraid the Directeur is very busy today and does not have time for… social visits. Perhaps if you had called ahead to arrange a meeting, something might have been arranged,” he said with only the slightest hint of condescension in his voice as his eyes took in Kyle’s leather jacket and jeans.

Kyle set his jaw. He didn’t like Mr. Pompous, but he could deal with his type.

“I see, and you’re her personal secretary?” he innocently asked the man who Kyle assumed was the assistant manager. He saw the man’s nostrils flare with hostility, but his eyes remained cold.

“I am Loïs De La Fontaine. I am the Assistant Manager for this establishment,” he asserted.

“Ah, you’re Fiona’s assistant then,” Kyle helpfully clarified with a wide smile.

Loïs sputtered indignantly as he gaped at Kyle.

“Lois, I’m pretty sure Fiona would be very upset if she didn’t at least get to say hello to a friend who traveled all the way to Paris, France, to see how she’s doing. I get that she’s a busy lady, and I won’t take her entire day, but I think you should assist her by letting her know I’m here,” Kyle said in his most reasonable tone.

“I-I don’t have to take orders from you–” Loïs snapped loudly as his pale face flushed red, his temper exploding.

A door opened behind the man, and Kyle looked past the skinny man’s tirade to lock onto lovely blue eyes, which were wide with shock. Her white-blonde hair flowed down to her shoulders, and Kyle’s fingers ached to slide into the silky mass.

“You do take them from her, though, right?” Kyle interrupted him to say, never looking away from Fiona.

“Kyle?” she gasped.

“Hi, beautiful! I was in the neighborhood….”

Then she was rushing past Loïs and the clerk to leap into Kyle’s arms. He caught her easily and held her tight as she kissed him passionately, her legs wrapped around his hips.

Kyle heard the clerk gasp excitedly, and another indignant sputter was ejected from Loïs.

“Ms. Hollings! This behavior is not–”

“Unexpected, as we haven’t seen each other for a long time,” Kyle interrupted him again, after pulling back from the kiss. He looked at Fiona. “Is there somewhere private we could go to catch up?”

She seemed to come back to herself and nodded as she lowered her legs to the ground. He held her until she appeared stable on her feet. “Yes, come with me.” She looked back at the desk and locked eyes with her assistant manager. “I’m not to be disturbed while I speak with Kyle.”

“Your parents–” Loïs began angrily.

“Not even by them. If I hear you went behind my back once more to complain to them, you will find yourself no longer employed by this establishment. Do I make myself clear?” Fiona snapped as she scowled at the little man.

Loïs looked like he had a mouthful of shit and was being told to pretend it was delicious.

Fiona took Kyle’s hand and marched him to the elevators as he carried his duffle in his other hand. She took him up one floor and pulled him down the hall to the last door. She opened it and pulled him inside. Pushing him back against the closing door, she pressed her body against his and pulled his face down to hers to kiss him. Kyle dropped his duffle on the floor and pulled her against him. She moaned into the kiss.

When she finally came up for air, she looked into his eyes with concern. “Why didn’t you respond to my emails? Were you mad at me for not rejecting Monique back then?”

Kyle’s eyebrows went up. “I’m not mad at you for anything. I didn’t get any emails from you. I sent you some, but I never got a response. Did you get them?”

She looked at him in confusion. “I didn’t.” She scowled. “I don’t understand. What could be stopping our messages from getting through–” Her expression froze.

Kyle watched emotions race across her face and settle on rage.

“Those BASTARDS!” she screamed, then burst into tears.

Kyle pulled her into a hug, and she clung to him desperately as the tears flowed. She was gasping for breath as her body shook. He looked at the room they’d come to and saw it was the living room of a small apartment. He saw photos here and there of her friends back in California and even one of himself, so he assumed this was where she lived.

When her tremors calmed, he guided her over to the couch, and they sat. He took her hands between his and looked into her teary eyes. “What happened?” he asked gently.

“M-my parents… they d-disapproved of my f-friends. They wanted me to c-concentrate on the new hotel. They m-must have hijacked my account.” She took some deep breaths, and Kyle could see her getting control back once more. “My cell went missing a week after I arrived in Paris. They purchased a new one for me as I was so busy. I had to remember my contact details, and I never got responses to messages I sent when I had time to send them. Why didn’t I see their hand in this? They probably stole my old cell.”

“I’m sorry you became so isolated. It certainly wasn’t my intent. I made some assumptions of my own when you failed to respond to my messages. I mean, I knew you’d be busy with the hotel, but when I got nothing back, I thought maybe you were resentful of how I acted about Monique and chose her side. I wasn’t mad at you, just sad.”

“NO! I never felt that way about you! I’m so sorry–”

Kyle smiled and cupped her cheek with his palm. “Shhh, it’s not your fault, and I feel so much better seeing you.”

She jumped on him again, and her soft lips were pressed against his as her tongue slipped into his mouth. He returned her kiss but gasped when she accidentally squeezed his sore ribs.

Fiona pulled back and looked down in concern. Then her eyes finally recognized the discoloration on his chin and cheek. “You’re hurt? Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” She frantically sat up and helped him up as well.

He shook his head. “It’s not too bad now. My ribs are still a little tender.” Seeing her eyes widen, he sighed. “I was visiting Helen and Skye in England. We were hanging out with some friends of theirs, and a group of thugs attacked us. I dealt with them, but I took some hits too.”

“Right! You said you’d be visiting them for Christmas. I spent mine with my parents. It was so dull!” Fiona pouted. “I miss my friends.” Her expression clouded with anger once more, and it looked like she might flare up again.

“Hey. Now that you know they might be interfering, you can take steps to fix that. The first one is to get yourself a new cellphone and a new email account. Don’t use the hotel’s WiFi until you can prove the hotel isn’t interfering with email sent to your friends. I’m not sure how that works, but until you can prove otherwise, I wouldn’t trust anything they have control over.”

Fiona took a deep breath and noticed Kyle’s eyes automatically dipping to appreciate how her ample bosom rose and strained her blouse with her inhalation. Her sexy smile came back with a vengeance. “God, I missed you!”

He smiled guiltily at her catching his stare. “I’ve missed you, too.”

Fiona ran a finger along the tight fabric of his jeans and looked at Kyle through her lashes. “You aren’t too bruised for a more intimate reunion, are you?”

“Point me to your bedroom,” Kyle said with a grin.

Fiona hopped to her feet and tugged Kyle’s hand to draw him down a short hallway to a small bedroom that contained a wardrobe, a bureau with a mirror, one bedside table, and a double bed. Very practical, but it would do.

They stripped out of their clothes in seconds, eager to touch each other. Fiona guided Kyle to lie down on the bed and carefully stretched herself out over his naked body.

“I’m not pressing on any sore spots, am I?” she asked breathily as she thrilled to the feel of his hard muscles under her softness.

Kyle’s eyes were almost rolling back as she felt so damn good. “No, it’s all so very perfect!”

She grinned happily, then gasped as his powerful hands took a grip on her body. His right was on her ass, pulling her tighter against his thickening cock as his left hand slipped into her hair, guiding her mouth to his. She whimpered with joy as her body woke up to the sexy tingles she hadn’t experienced since she’d last been with him.

The kiss was deep and hot as she couldn’t get enough. When his fingers stroked across her wet pussy, she pulled back from the kiss to gasp aloud. “FUCK, YESSS!”

Kyle nudged her legs apart with his, then his stiff cock slapped up against her wet lips.

“AAAAHHHH!!! FUCK ME!” she cried.

He adjusted the angle of his hips and used his fingers to guide the head into her pussy. Then he pushed himself into her eager depths.

“OH! OH GOD! YES! DEEPER! SO FUCKING GOOD!” she wailed as she threw her head back in ecstasy.

Kyle suppressed his chuckles as he picked up the pace of his thrusts. Fiona was just as vocal as she’d been back in California. He wondered how soundproof her apartment was, but he wouldn’t try to quiet her enjoyment. He squeezed her ass cheeks in both hands as he slammed his cock deep inside her hot pussy. He could feel her juices running down his balls. He began a rhythm of stroking in and out, which she quickly tried to speed up.

“KYLE! KYLE! SO GOOD! GRAB MY ASS! FUCK! I’M GONNA COME!” she cried out, and he looked at her in surprise. That was far faster than he expected. He was maybe halfway to his own release.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. He sped up his thrusts, slapping her pussy with his body.

“FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKK!!!!!” she screamed as her orgasm struck. Her entire body vibrated with the shock waves coursing through her as she clung to him.

Kyle felt her internal muscles sucking at his hard cock as he held himself still, deep inside her.

After a few minutes, Kyle eased himself out and gently rolled to let Fiona sag to the mattress, where she lay panting.

“Oh my god, Kyle… that was… so good!” she sighed. “Now… I need you… in my ass.”

He looked into her eyes, which were rolling a little, but he wouldn’t refuse her when she smiled so sweetly at him.

Kyle moved to lift Fiona to the middle of the bed, then spread her legs once more as she gasped and moaned.

He positioned himself over her and guided his slick cock to her puckered rosebud. She whimpered softly as he pressed the thick head of his cock against the opening.

“Relax for me, Fiona,” he whispered, and she sighed.

He felt her resistance ease, and the head squeezed into her hot ass. She squeaked, and he felt her squeezing him tight. He held still as he whispered soothingly to her.

Soon he felt the grip ease, and another inch slid inside, followed by a second. He paused to allow her to get used to the sensations.

“Oh Kyle, that’s so good,” she sighed as her hand slipped under her body. “More.”

He pulled out an inch, then thrust forward for three.

“UUUHHHHNN… more.”

Kyle drew himself out four inches and immediately pushed in until his body came to rest on her ass.

“FFFFAAAAAAHHHH! MY ASS! FUCK YOUR COCK IS SO FAT IN MY ASS!” she screamed as she thrust back.

He couldn’t help but release a snort of amusement at how quickly she returned to her vocal outbursts.

Kyle set up a pattern of long strokes pounding her against the bed and reveled at how silky soft, and hot her ass felt around his cock.

“AAAAHHHH! AHHHHH! FFFUUCCKKK! YES! FUCK MY ASS! I LOVE YOUR FUCKING COCK IN MY ASS!”

He was quickly getting closer to his orgasm, and his thrusts got faster and harder.

“UUUUUHHHHHH! UUUUHHH! FFFUCK! COMING! AAAAIIIEEEEEE!!!!”

Her ass squeezed his cock like a hot fist, and that was too much for him. Thick ropes of cum fired deep inside her again and again. He ground his body against her ass as her screams became silent.

Finally, he sagged over her curvy body and felt himself slowly shrinking inside her. He pulled himself free, and Fiona gasped once more.

They lay beside each other, gasping for breath as their heart rates returned to normal.

Fiona watched Kyle with a blissful smile on her face. “Now THAT was a reunion!”

Kyle chuckled as he enjoyed the happiness in her blue eyes. “Hello, beautiful!”

Her smile widened. “I’m so grateful you came to visit me. Especially after it seemed like I’d abandoned you.”

“It just seemed so out of character I had to see for myself. That said, I didn’t know it was so simple to get from London to Paris. It was Helen’s friends who convinced me I could just pop over and visit you. The distances between countries here are so small compared to home. It was her new friend, Louise Cantington’s, idea that I should just show up on your doorstep without calling first.”

“Then I am eternally grateful to them, and especially Louise!” Fiona said. “Now that I know I’ve been blocked, I’m going to make an effort to reconnect with all of my friends back home,” Fiona said in a determined tone.

He nodded. “I’ll let them know what happened and to expect you to reach out to them.” He grinned. “I promised I’d ride my motorcycle back to Santa Barbara next summer to visit Phoebe, Charlize, and Chloe again. Hopefully, I can avoid bumping into Monique.”

Fiona gave him a compassionate look. “You won’t need to worry about that. She moved to Hollywood.”

Kyle paused, then nodded to himself. “Yes, that’s a natural location for her. Thanks for letting me know. Now I’m looking forward to the visit even more.”

“How long are you able to stay in Paris?” Fiona asked hesitantly.

He gave her a sad look. “I need to head back to London the day after tomorrow. I told Helen I’d attend her New Year’s celebration with her. Her ex-husband will be there with his new younger wife.”

Fiona nodded. “Yes, you definitely have to be there for her.” She smiled wistfully. “That means I get you for today and tomorrow, right?”

Kyle smiled and nodded to her. “Unless you’re too busy. Lois informed me that the directeur is too busy for social visits,” he said with a grin.

“That slimy prick! My patents insisted I hire him. I’m certain he’s been spying on me for them. He may have been the one who stole my phone!” she gasped as the thought occurred to her.

“It’s possible. Do you have proof?” Kyle asked.

She frowned. “No.”

“If you don’t trust him, find a way to fire him with justification. You don’t want this backfiring on you,” Kyle suggested. Fiona nodded, then she shook her head and smiled at him. “I don’t want to waste any of my Kyle-time thinking about that weasel. Let’s get cleaned up, and I’ll take you out.”

Kyle nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

They crawled out of bed, and he helped her to the washroom as her legs were just a little wobbly. After she’s done her business, he rejoined her, and they stepped into the small shower stall.

“This seems like a step down from your usual accommodations,” Kyle said, glancing around.

She shrugged. “It’s Paris. Most of Europe has space issues. Real estate is stupidly expensive here.”

Kyle pretended to be cramped by the small shower stall and made adjustments to fit.

“I’m just going to turn and squeeze myself in a bit–no, that’s the wrong way.” He brushed against her nipples, and she gasped. “Maybe if I moved lower?” He crouched and brushed his lips by her tits, kissing them, her belly, then his tongue dipped into her belly button playfully. Fiona squeaked and giggled. Then she gasped loudly as Kyle’s mouth found her pussy, and his strong hands cupped her ass.

She grabbed his head and moaned loudly as he caressed and sucked on her sensitive flesh. His tongue danced across her clit, and her cries got louder but less articulate.

“FFFFUUUHHHHH! UHHHHHHNNN… MMMYYYYYGGGODDDD!”

Kyle kneaded her ass in his hands as he brought Fiona to a powerful crest.

“AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!! FFUUCCKK! COMMMMING!”

As she blinked and floated along on a cloud of sparks, she returned to the present and wrapped in Kyle’s muscular arms, her face tucked in against his neck as the hot water poured over her back, relaxing her trembling muscles. She felt completely at peace.

“Thank you, Kyle.”

“You’re welcome?” he replied softly, with a smile in his voice.

“For accepting me back into your life so quickly,” she explained.

He cupped her face in his hands and tilted her back so she was looking into his eyes. “Silly girl. You never left my life, and we’ll always be the best of friends.”

“With benefits,” she said cheekily.

He chuckled. “With excellent benefits.”

They grinned at each other and washed themselves, refraining from the temptation of playing.

Once they were dressed again, she let Kyle know his bag would be safe in her room as she’d added an old school deadbolt lock to her room’s door, and no one else had a key.

Kyle gazed at the tough-looking metal lock on the modern hotel door with its electronic card lock and turned to face Fiona.

“So, you already felt insecure enough to augment the existing security,” he said.

She nodded. “As I said, I don’t trust Loïs. I needed a secure sanctuary away from him and my parents.”

“Let’s go get you a new cell phone. I’ll help you set up a new email account, and we’ll start reconnecting you with your friends,” Kyle said, and she nodded with a smile.

She locked up, and they headed back downstairs to the lobby. The young woman was behind the desk and came to attention and looked at Fiona nervously.

“Gabrielle, we are stepping out for the rest of the afternoon. Before we go, I’d like to introduce you to my excellent friend Kyle MacDenny. He’ll be staying with me until the day after tomorrow. During his stay, please treat him like one of our most special guests,” Fiona said while beaming a smile at the woman.

The clerk blinked at Fiona in surprise, then quickly nodded. “Oui, Madam! Will Monsieur MacDenny require a room?”

Fiona smiled like the cat that got the cream. “No, he’ll be staying with me.”

“Ah! Welcome, Monsieur MacDenny,” the woman said to him as she barely kept a knowing smile from her lips. He could see it in her eyes, though.

“Kyle is fine.”

“Perhaps better than fine?” Gabrielle suggested coyly, and Fiona burst into happy giggles as she nodded to the clerk.

The blonde turned toward the front door, and Gabrielle caught Kyle’s eye.

“Thank you,” she mouthed silently to him.

He smiled and nodded before following Fiona. He wondered what her gratitude was for. He thought about what he’d seen of her. She’d been nervous with Fiona before their little conversation, but she seemed far more comfortable after. Maybe Fiona had been taking her stress out on the staff? It seemed like a pretty nasty environment for Fiona, with her parents doing their best to control their daughter beyond reasonable levels. Their spy was a major source of grief as well. He hoped she’d be able to get rid of Lois.

Fiona flagged a cab, and they headed over to one of the shopping districts, where they found a major telecom shop. A short time later, they walked out with a sleek new cell with an excellent call and data plan. Kyle entered her new number into his cell, and they found a nice café to sit, talk, and work. Fiona set up her new email account with Google’s free email service, and Kyle got her account configured and the app installed on her phone. They spent the next two hours setting up her contacts on the new phone, and Kyle sent each of their shared friends a text to let them know he was in Paris, Fiona’s old accounts had been tampered with, her messages blocked, and they should expect a contact request from her new account and number.

As they finished up their drinks, they were both surprised to receive a text response from Charlize.

“Isn’t it…” Kyle did some time zone math in his head. “eight in the morning in Santa Barbara?” Kyle said to Fiona, who nodded.

Kyle read his copy of the text aloud. “Knew my friend wouldn’t intentionally ghost us! Welcome back, Fiona! Looking forward to reading all the juicy details of Kyle’s visit, you lucky bitch! We love you!”

Fiona’s eyes were glassy as she read the message again. She responded with hearts, hugs, and kisses emojis, then looked at Kyle, and her bottom lip was trembling. “I miss them so much!”

Kyle smiled compassionately at her. He knew what he wanted to say to her, but she had to reach the lifestyle priority epiphany on her own. “They miss you, too.”

When they got to Monique’s contact details, Kyle shook his head. “I’m sorry. I won’t be sending her a message. The last thing I want is to be harassed by her in text and email. Maybe you could ask one of the others to contact her for you.”

“The only one who keeps in touch with her is Marion as the others chose your side and demanded Monique apologize, which she refused to do. The night I left for Paris, they told her they were done with her until she did the right thing. Marion sided with her, of course. I have no desire to bring Marion back into my life. Too many negative experiences,” Fiona sighed. She suddenly looked at Kyle as she realized he felt the same way about Monique. “I-I didn’t take sides as didn’t want to lose my friends, but–”

“It’s okay, Fiona. I’m not hurt or angry by your decision. I know you and Monique go way back. You’re friends, and sometimes you give friends a little leeway for… the shit they do. Monique isn’t my friend, so I choose to avoid her, but I never expected you to abandon her.”

“Thank you, Kyle.”

He held her hand and smiled at her. She glanced at the time.

“Are you hungry? I know of a great steakhouse. Casual atmosphere and good food,” Fiona suggested.

“You had me at steak,” he said with a grin.

They caught another cab and just squeezed in the restaurant’s front door before a group of four and got the last table.

The meal was excellent comfort food for Kyle, and Fiona enjoyed his happiness.

A question was buzzing around in the back of his mind. “You don’t need to answer this, but do you have anyone on the hotel staff you feel comfortable talking to on a peer level?”

She blinked in surprise at the question, but she thought about it. “No, not really.”

“What about that clerk, Gabrielle?”

Fiona smiled and shook her head. “She’s new. Been with us for about two months. We’ve had some significant turnover since we opened.”

“She seemed intimidated by you,” Kyle suggested.

She looked at him in surprise. “Really?”

“I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure, and feeling isolated probably didn’t help. Maybe you’ve been less than your usual ray of sunshine at work?” Kyle asked.

She sighed. “That’s very likely. I can see where this is leading, and it’s true. I have been short-tempered with them.”

“Now that you are taking control back, I think you can show some of them the real you. They’ll love you for it,” Kyle suggested.

“Not Loïs,” she said with a smirk.

Kyle grinned. “Right. Not Lois.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “You know, it’s pronounced low-ees. It’s a man’s name here.”

“Oh, I know,” Kyle replied with an innocent look.

“So, you don’t like him either.”

“Can’t say that I do.” Kyle stretched and rested back in his chair.

Fiona studied him. “Are you in pain from your injuries?”

Kyle grimaced as he gently pressed on his tender ribs. “It isn’t too bad. I’m aware of the sore spots, but they’re gradually healing, so I can put that aside.” He sighed. “What’s really bothering me is how absolutely sedentary I’ve been recently. I have to get back into a daily workout routine.”

Fiona snorted as she gaped at Kyle. He frowned. “What? It’s true!”

“I saw you naked just a few hours ago, and I can honestly say I saw nothing that looked flabby or out of shape! I’m a marshmallow in comparison!”

“Mmmm, but your soft bits are spectacular!” Kyle growled sexily.

Fiona bit her lip as a tingle ran through her. “Stop changing the subject,” she scolded softly.

He shrugged. “Well… thank you for the compliment, but those muscles you ogled feel weaker to me. Does your hotel have a gym? If so, could I use it tomorrow morning?”

“We have a very extensive gym in the basement, and of course, you may use it!” she insisted.

“Thank you.” He flagged the waiter down and asked for the check.

He paid the bill, much to Fiona’s annoyance, then they made their way back to the hotel.

Fiona introduced him to a thick-bodied man named Richard, the night manager who also worked the reception desk overnight. She then led him to her apartment, and she let them inside, locking the deadbolt once they were in.

“The bed is a bit on the small side, but you’re welcome to share it with me,” she said with a hopeful smile.

“Sounds like paradise,” he grinned.

“Play your cards right, and it could be,” she giggled.

They dropped their clothes where they stood, and Kyle chased the delighted woman into the bedroom to show her his idea of paradise.

That took them into the wee hours of the morning when they slipped into a satisfied slumber.

Paradise found.

Chapter 10

Kyle made his way down into the hotel’s basement to find the gym. He’d gotten quite a workout the evening before, but he was sure a few muscles hadn’t received the proper attention, so he planned to do a medium-intensity routine to give all his muscles a gentle burn.

He used Fiona’s pass card to get into the room and smiled as he saw how well equipped the gym was.

He had the place to himself, so he picked a spot on the floor and went through his warm-up stretches. Once he was ready, he grabbed a towel and began working through the machines, targeting each muscle group.

It took almost an hour to complete the circuit. Two other men had joined him in the gym roughly twenty minutes earlier, but he could tell they were just going through the motions. One was alternating between two machines to the right of the entrance while his partner spent too much time with the free weights to the left of the door.

Not suspicious at all.

He kept them in the corner of his eye, but they made no move to interfere with him. When Loïs arrived and glanced at the two men, they nodded in return, telling Kyle everything he needed to know. He moved his towel to his lap as he rested on the bench after his last set.

“Monsieur MacDenny. It’s time for you to leave,” Loïs said with a smug little smile.

“I just finished my workout, so, yes, you’re correct, Lois,” he replied with a bright smile.

The smile immediately disappeared from the man’s face. “Leave the hotel. Now, before it becomes unhealthy for you to remain.”

Kyle remained seated on the machine’s bench, twisting his towel between his hands as he watched the slim man.

“That sounded very much like a threat, Lois. I’m a guest at your hotel, and you threaten me with physical violence? Is that how you run a business?” Kyle asked.

“You are not welcome in this hotel or in Fiona’s life. If you truly understand the situation, you should know how much danger you are in and wipe that idiotic smile from your face.” The two men took a step closer.

“You do understand that the gym has surveillance cameras,” Kyle said calmly.

“I disabled them!” Loïs snapped.

“And yet they still appear to be on,” Kyle nodded towards the cameras mounted in the upper corners of the room where their little red lights were glowing steadily.

Loïs froze, and the two men looked at him with frowns.

“Yes, Lois isn’t the only employee who has access to the security cameras. Being recorded probably wasn’t part of your deal with Lois, so leaving now is in your best interests,” Kyle said to the two men. They looked at him, then turned and left the gym. They said something sharp to the assistant manager, and he stiffened in rage.

Kyle waited until they were alone, then gave the man a stern look. “This little game you’ve been playing, being Fiona’s leash for her parents, is over. She’s aware of the shit you’ve done, and it’s in your best interests to submit your resignation. Then you can crawl back under the slimy rock you came from.”

Loïs suddenly had a blade in his hand and lunged forward at Kyle with a look of rage in his eye.

Kyle stood, snapped his towel at Loïs, and caught the man directly on his eye. The man screamed, dropped his switchblade, and slapped his hands over his abused eye. He dropped to his knees as he wailed in pain, Kyle watching him in surprise.

He hadn’t expected his towel snap to be this accurate or effective. It was just meant to distract his opponent as Kyle dodged.

Loïs managed to open his uninjured eye and glared painfully at him. Then he looked for his switchblade and froze as he saw it on the floor a few feet from him.

Kyle channeled his best Dirty Harry. “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?” Menace dripped from the words.

Loïs stiffened and looked at Kyle in genuine fear, and it was all Kyle could do to maintain the squint and curled lip. The man finally dropped his head and sank back against his heels in defeat.

Kyle moved closer and kicked the knife further away from Loïs. Stepping back, he looked at one of the cameras and grinned as he shook his head.

Just then, two police officers entered the gym, and Kyle looked at them in surprise. Directly behind them was Fiona.

“Arrest him!” the blonde shouted, pointing at Loïs. The officers looked a little confused. “He attacked a guest, and it was recorded!”

“I think he’ll need to see a doctor for his eye,” Kyle offered. “That’s the knife he tried to use on me.”

The police collected the man and the weapon and turned to the door.

Fiona stepped close and removed the ring of keys from Loïs’ belt. “These belong to the hotel.” She looked at the police officers. “I’ll get you the recording in a moment.” They nodded and left with the grim ex-assistant manager.

Kyle looked at Fiona with admiration. “He behaved exactly as you said he would. You’re brilliant, and he’s such an idiot!”

She smiled and did a little bow.

“Come on. I have to thank Gabrielle for her help,” Fiona said.

They went up to the lobby, where they saw Gabrielle finishing up with a guest. Once she was done, they approached the desk.

“Thank you so much for your help with catching Loïs in the act,” Fiona said.

The pretty brunette smiled widely. “It was my pleasure. He was such an unpleasant man! He would also stand too close and would touch my hand, shoulder, and hip.”

“If I’d known, I would have used that to fire him,” Fiona scowled.

“Maybe you were equally intimidating?” Kyle suggested, and Gabrielle watched her cautiously.

Fiona took a deep breath, looked at Kyle, then turned to Gabrielle with a guilty expression. “I’m so sorry if I treated you unfairly or unprofessionally. Loïs and my parents have been a terrible burden on me, and this made me act poorly. I hope you will accept my apology and my promise to do better.”

Gabrielle’s expression relaxed completely, and her smile was dazzling. “Yes, of course!”

“Thank you. It seems there is an opening for an assistant manager. Would you be interested? I could show you the ropes myself,” Fiona offered.

The woman’s excitement was infectious. “Yes! Yes! I went to business school to get my certificate in hospitality management, but my experience here made me wonder if I would ever achieve such a position! Working with Loïs made me doubt I wanted to work in this industry,” the brunette gushed.

Fiona wore the happiest of smiles. “I think things are going to be much better now that he’s gone. I’m going to search his office for evidence to link him to my parent’s interference.” She kissed Kyle’s cheek and rushed through a door behind the reception desk. Moments later, she returned with a memory stick and handed it to one of the officers.

“If you want the audio to go with that video, I recorded the conversation on my cellphone. I can send it to you,” Kyle offered.

The officer nodded and showed Kyle the address to send the file to.

Fiona grinned at him and rushed back through the door once more.

Then it was just Gabrielle and Kyle.

“I cannot thank you enough for whatever magic you worked to bring Fiona back from the dark place she was in. She was not the happy, friendly woman she is now.”

Kyle nodded to her with a smile. “This is the real Fiona. She’s fun, happy, helpful, and so very smart. She’s a great and loyal friend.”

Fiona suddenly burst out of the back room with a cell phone held up in her hand. “It was Loïs! He had my cell phone the entire time! It was in his office safe! He also has recordings of the calls he made with my parents. Obviously covering his ass! I need to call my lawyer and give him the news. I am so going to nail my parent’s asses to the wall for this!”

“There’s my little spitfire!” Kyle said with a grin.

Fiona blinked at him, then grinned wickedly. “I’m back!”

“Yes, you are,” Kyle agreed with a nod.

She hugged Gabrielle, then Kyle, and rushed away again. The brunette flashed another grateful smile at Kyle.

Guests were arriving, and another clerk came to begin her shift. She was a petite blonde with a pixie cut, and she sent a questioning look at Gabrielle. She nodded to Kyle, then greeted the new guest.

“I’m going to head upstairs to get cleaned up. Please let Fiona know,” he asked, and Gabrielle nodded.

Kyle went up to Fiona’s room and let himself in. She’d left the deadbolt open this time as she knew he might need to get in by himself.

A quick shower and a change of clothes, and he was ready for whatever the day might bring.

Before he forgot, he sent the audio recording to the address the officer had given him. Hopefully, it would prove useful for the police.

When he returned to the lobby, he saw Fiona having a quick huddle with Gabrielle and the blonde clerk behind the counter. He held back to keep from interrupting them. Fiona was speaking, and the other two women were smiling. She gave them hugs when she was done then walked over to Kyle.

“Is there anything you wanted to do in your one day in Paris?” she asked.

Kyle frowned. “I don’t think one day is enough time to really see the city. Besides, I’ve been told to visit in late spring to truly experience Paris at its best,” he said.

“Very true! You must come back in the spring!” Fiona said with a cheeky grin. She tipped her face up, and he caressed her plump lips as she clung to him.

He caught Gabrielle and the blonde watching them with smiles on their faces, so he pulled back from the kiss to watch Fiona’s eyelashes flutter open.

“God, you are so good at that!” she sighed, and he smiled at her.

“Your lips were made for kissing!” he returned.

“And sucking,” she said mischievously, and he felt a tightening in his pants.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Sexy girl, are you trying to give me a hard-on in your lobby?”

Her eyes went dreamy as she bit her lower lip.

“Okay, we’d better make a plan to get out of here, or I’m going to end up stuffing that lovely mouth of yours full of hard cock right in front of your desk clerks,” he whispered to her.

“Oh my god, I want that!” she moaned softly.

“Naughty girl,” he chuckled. She was looking up at him hungrily. “There is plenty of time for play later. I do need to pick something up today if the shops are open.”

She pouted a little, then curiosity got the better of her. “What is it?”

“A swimsuit.”

Fiona’s eyebrows rose. “In December?”

Kyle winced. “Yes, I know, but Louise has invited me to the Seychelles after New Year’s. I don’t have swim trunks, and she said she’d get me some at the resort. I’m concerned she might choose something too revealing.”

Fiona raised an eyebrow at him. “Oh, so she’s that close of a friend?”

Kyle’s face reddened much to her delight. “She’s a lovely woman, and we get along very well. She mentioned she’d be spending two months at this resort by herself and asked if I could spend some time there with her.” He frowned slightly. “I-I find myself in the strange situation of not having any distinct plan of what to do next with my life. After visiting you in Santa Barbara, I drove back to Canada and just… went into a holding pattern until it was time to visit Helen. I made no progress on my goal of finding happiness during those months. I’d had a wonderful time with you and your friends in California, with one notable exception, and spending with Helen, Skye, and her friends has been great, but I’m nowhere near finding a direction for my life.”

“So, Louise invited you to soak up some sun on the beaches with her, and you drifted that way?” Fiona asked.

Kyle nodded.

“Let’s go shopping, and we can discuss ambitions and life planning on the way. I know of a lovely shop that has some beachwear. We’ll see if we can find something to help you maintain your dignity,” she teased.

She took his arm, waved at the ladies behind the desk, and away they went.

-=-

Hours later, Kyle followed Fiona back into the hotel lobby as the woman was speaking with her parents on the replacement phone their spy had arranged for her. She hadn’t yet given them the number for her new personal phone. Kyle was proud of how calm and collected Fiona was as she read them the riot act for their gross interference with her life. She indicated for him to wait as she moved behind the counter to make her way into her office to complete the call in private.

Gabrielle and the other woman were standing at the counter chatting as Kyle set down his shopping bag. The brunette smiled at Kyle with a bit of concern on her face. “She’s speaking with her parents?” she asked, and he nodded. “Is my new position in danger?”

Kyle smiled reassuringly. “Not at all. Fiona said she insisted on a contract with her parents before accepting the responsibility of running their hotel chain. They breached a major clause with what they had their spy do. Fiona is in a much stronger position now, so the working conditions here should be much better.”

Gabrielle looked so relieved. She smiled at her petite companion, who moved closer and held out her hand to Kyle.

“Hello! I’m Suzanne,” she said as he shook it.

“I’m Kyle. Nice to meet you.”

“I must thank you for helping Fiona get rid of that wicked man. He made my skin shiver terribly when he touched me,” Suzanne said with a grimace.

Kyle scowled. “Now I wish I’d hit him with something harder than a towel. What a creep!”

“Yes, he was very creepy, but he is gone, and that makes me very happy!” Suzanne said, and Gabrielle nodded emphatically.

“What do you do, Kyle?” Gabrielle asked curiously.

He smiled self-consciously. “Currently, I’m traveling and living off my investments. I used to be an investment manager.”

“Where have you traveled?” Suzanne asked excitedly.

Again, Kyle felt a little awkward as he hadn’t really traveled extensively yet. “I’ve been on a cycling vacation in France. Then I rode my motorcycle from Vancouver, British Columbia to Santa Barbara, California to visit Fiona. I rode through the states back to Canada and spent the first part of the winter in Montreal. For Christmas, I flew to England to spend time with some friends. I got to ride some vintage motorcycles–”

Suzanne’s expression froze. “Wait! What is your last name?”

He looked at her curiously. “Uh, MacDenny.”

Suzanne squealed excitedly as Kyle and Gabrielle looked at her in surprise. “You! You’re the one who fought the men at the car show!” Kyle frowned as Gabrielle looked confused. Suzanne pulled out her cell and frantically searched for the video online. She nodded and turned her cell to them as she played a video of Kyle’s fight with the goons at the old airport.

Kyle nodded. “Yes, that’s me, but I wasn’t aware the video was available outside of the news broadcast,” he admitted.

Gabrielle looked more closely at his chin and cheek and saw the faint bruising. “So, you could have fought off the men who threatened you in the gym this morning?”

Kyle grinned at her. “I’m grateful I didn’t have to find out. Convincing them to leave without violence was all the victory I needed.”

“Are you some kind of hero, riding into town on your motorcycle, bringing justice to damsels in distress?” Gabrielle asked, and Kyle laughed.

Grinning, he shook his head and held up his hands. “No! That’s not me at all. I just like hanging out with great people, learning about their lives, and sharing some wonderful moments with them. There are a lot of amazing people out there just waiting to share a little of their time. I think I began learning that on my cycling vacation here in France.”

He looked them in the eye. “What about you two? What are your stories?”

The brunette shared a smile with the blonde and nodded to Kyle.

“Suzanne and I attended the same school and share a small apartment. We were very fortunate to get work in this hotel. Now it feels like we were very fortunate you came to visit Fiona!”

The night manager, Richard, arrived, and the ladies smiled at the older man.

“There has been a big change, Richard!” Gabrielle exclaimed.

The man stroked the greying goatee and nodded. “As you are both smiling. I am going to guess that Loïs De La Fontaine no longer works here.”

“You spoiled our surprise! You guessed!” Suzanne pouted.

“Those lovely smiles could only mean the evil troll was finally fired. Was there just cause so he cannot come back?” Richard asked hopefully.

“Loïs threatened Kyle this morning in the gym to get him to leave Fiona and the hotel. He turned off the security cameras and brought two brutes with him to frighten Kyle away. I called Fiona to let her know they went in, and she came down to turn the cameras back on and called the police. Kyle convinced the men to leave, then Loïs attacked Kyle with a knife, but Kyle….” Gabrielle looked at the man in question. “What did you do to him?”

“I snapped my towel against his eye. That really hurts, so he dropped his knife,” Kyle explained.

Richard looked at Kyle. “Did you fight him?”

Kyle smiled. “Unfortunately, no.”

“Fiona is making me the Assistant Manager!” Gabrielle sighed happily.

“Congratulations, Gabrielle!” Richard gushed.

Fiona left the back and smiled at the new arrival. “Good evening, Richard!”

The man smiled at Fiona. “Good evening, Fiona! I’ve heard some exceptionally welcome news.”

“Yes! Things are going to be much more relaxed around here from now on!” she sighed.

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Your conversation went well with your parents?”

“With my parents and my lawyer. Yes, it went very well,” she replied with a sweet smile.

Kyle smiled at her satisfied expression. “Good for you!”

She beamed him a thrilled smile.

“We should celebrate!” he suggested.

“I have the desk. Go out and enjoy!” Richard said.

Fiona patted Richard’s arm in thanks and looked at Gabrielle and Suzanne. “Dinner and dancing?” she suggested.

The two ladies hadn’t expected to be included, so both were surprised then thrilled. “Yes!” they answered in unison.

“We need to change!” Suzanne said in dismay.

“Give us a moment to slip into something suitable, and we’ll share a taxi to your place for you to change, then we’ll go out,” Fiona suggested.

The women nodded, and Fiona grabbed Kyle’s hand to drag him to the elevators. They went upstairs and quickly switched into outfits more suitable for a night out at the nightclubs. They rushed back downstairs and collected the ladies. Waving at Richard, the group went outside and hopped into a taxi.

The ride to the apartment took some time as they weren’t close to the city center. The two clerks rushed upstairs as the taxi waited, and fifteen minutes later, they returned in their party dresses, under winter jackets, of course.

Fiona chose their destination for dining at a funky new restaurant she’d read about. The food was good, and the conversation at the table was lively. Gabrielle and Suzanne were both in high spirits as the future looked much brighter for them. Fiona ensured they would both pass the word along to the rest of the staff that wonderful changes were coming.

Once they were done, Fiona got them into a hot nightspot neither of the ladies had been to. Fiona’s position as the owner of Paris’ most fashionable hotel opened the way for them.

Kyle was suitably impressed with the club and dragged the three women out onto the floor immediately. The music was driving the crowd, and they joined in, giving themselves over to the music.

They took turns relaxing at a table, but the three women kept Kyle on the dancefloor for most of the evening. By the time they were ready to head home, Kyle’s muscles were burning.

Once more, they shared a cab and went to Gabrielle’s apartment first.

She and Suzanne kissed Kyle goodnight, the latter cheekily slipping him a little tongue, then it was Fiona and Kyle resting back against the seat as they headed back to her hotel.

“I had an amazing time tonight,” Fiona sighed. “I haven’t felt this good since you visited me in Santa Barbara.”

Kyle squeezed her hand and smiled at her. “I’m so glad you’re feeling better! You seem like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.”

“My parents,” she snorted quietly. “I’m no longer under their thumb.”

Kyle shook his head. “How did you manage that?”

“Their greatest sin is arrogance. Pure and simple. On the day I graduated from college, they promised me I’d eventually be given majority shares and total control over their hotel chain. They dangled that carrot before me for years until I’d almost lost hope that it would ever happen. When I made our Santa Barbara hotel a success, they told me they were preparing for retirement. They said they were almost ready to transition the shares and transfer control to me. Then came the announcement of the Paris hotel and the blow-out at the end of your visit to Santa Barbara. At that time, I had my lawyer write up a contract, incorporating their promises into an agreement. I added a clause that would trigger the agreement if they interfered with my personal life again. They willingly signed it because neither of them believed I would actually have the audacity to invoke the clause against them. Arrogance.”

“I’m sorry you were treated like that,” Kyle said gently.

She shook her head with a small smile. “We can’t choose our parents. We just have to make the best of the ones we have and hope they don’t instill poor values in us.”

Kyle locked eyes with the gorgeous blond and saw the sympathy in her gaze. He smiled, acknowledging her point and his own personal struggle.

“Since I’ve been in Paris, my parents, through their spy Loïs, have been working to isolate me from the people I love. Losing my cell phone soon after my arrival was a terrible blow to my confidence. I thought the silence might have been because of the rift caused by Monique, the distances involved, or the time zone differences. I admit I made poor assumptions that caused me to accept this state. I was blind to their manipulations. Your arrival shed light on my mistake. Then you helped me find proof. My lawyer was delighted when I let him know I had the recordings Loïs made. He notified my parents that the clause has been invoked and the papers will be filed tomorrow. I’m going to be the majority shareholder in the hotel chain with absolute control, and my parents will be forced into retirement.”

Kyle chuckled at Fiona’s delighted grin. “I’m sure they took that news graciously.”

Fiona giggled with joy. “They were outraged and did a lot of yelling, but the contract is iron clad. I don’t imagine they’ll speak to me for years, if ever again.” She shrugged and paused for a moment before sighing. “I’m okay with that.”

Kyle raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers. Her eyes flared with need, and she smiled wickedly.

“We need to continue our celebrations when we get back to my room,” she said, biting her lip.

Kyle smiled and ran the pad of her finger across his lower lip. “Lady, I’m going to celebrate you all… night… long.”

Fiona’s eyes widened as her mouth dropped open. Then she leaned forward.

“DRIVER! GO FASTER!”

Chapter 11

“KYLE! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!”

A soft body slammed into him, and he chuckled as Skye gave him a sound squeezing in the arrivals area of Heathrow Airport. The lack of a deep kiss to go with the hug was easily explained by Byron. Her boyfriend was standing just ten feet away, and his expression wobbling between a friendly smile and nervous possessiveness.

Kyle returned Skye’s hug then gently peeled her from his chest to guide her back to Byron’s side. He shook the man’s hand.

“Hi, Kyle! How was Paris?” he said as he put his arm around the grinning woman, staking his claim once more.

“It was beautiful. I really do have to go back in spring,” Kyle answered.

Byron grinned. “Yes, that’s mother’s favorite time to be there.”

Kyle nodded and saw Byron twitch as the sudden realization came to him that Kyle was in Paris… with his mother. His mouth dropped open as questions surged into his mind.

“How is Fiona?” Skye blurted, interrupting Byron’s train of thought.

“She’s so good! She didn’t respond to my messages because the hotel’s assistant manager stole her cell then blocked her access to the addresses of her friends. She thought we’d abandoned her because she couldn’t reach any of us. When I showed up and asked her why she didn’t respond to my messages, she figured it out.”

“What a bastard!” Skye exclaimed loudly, and eyes turned in their direction.

Byron got them moving toward the exit as Kyle continued.

“It’s actually a happy ending as we got her a new cell with new accounts, and she’s back in touch with her friends. Her parents breeched the contract they signed with her, so the hotel chain will move into Fiona’s possession and her parents are out!”

Skye laughed and cheered. “Good on Fiona!”

Kyle nodded as he followed them to the parking. They got into Byron’s Range Rover, Kyle slipping into the backseat as he directed Skye to take the front passenger seat. He caught Byron’s relieved look.

“How were things here?” Kyle asked.

Skye’s smile lit up her face as she glanced over at Byron. “Great! We’re really enjoying the Christmas Break.”

Kyle nodded and enjoyed Byron’s reddening face.

“This afternoon, you need to visit the formalwear shop again,” Skye said with a mischievous grin. “Priya will get you all fixed up. She said you’ll be smashing.”

Kyle looked at Skye carefully and realized what she meant by the play on words. So, Priya was hoping to play again.

He glanced at Byron and saw the man was glancing back at him in the rearview mirror. The uneasiness was back. There wasn’t much Kyle could do about that.

“May I assume you’re Skye’s date for the New Year’s Party?” he asked.

“Yes, I’ve been invited,” he said, and Skye patted his leg affectionately.

Byron glanced at him again. “You’re going as Helen’s date?”

Kyle heard the tension again and glanced at Skye, who was grinning at her boyfriend’s discomfort. He scowled at the woman then cleared the expression to address the question.

“Yes, I’m going as Helen’s date. Her ex-husband will be in attendance, and it’s not pleasant for Helen to meet him or his new young wife. I’ll be there for Helen in whatever capacity she needs to enjoy the evening.” He looked at Skye. “I’ll try my best not to punch your dad in the nose.”

Skye laughed and nodded.

They drove back to Skye’s place, and Byron parked in the visitor lot. They went inside and stepped into the elevator. Three other tenants joined them then someone called out to hold the door.

Kyle saw it was Margaret Hillsbury, and she looked a little strained. She squeezed on, and Kyle found himself facing Byron over Skye’s head. She was pressing her chest against her boyfriend and her ass against Kyle.

“Mmmm! This is a fantasy come true!” she purred.

“Don’t be naughty, Skye. It’s not a fantasy for everyone,” Kyle scolded her gently, and Byron flashed him a quick, relieved expression. That answered the question for Kyle.

Skye’s lustiness refused to be denied. She began to rub against both men, and her eyes became glassy.

“Stop it, Skye,” Byron said, and his tone was far firmer than Kyle’s had been.

Her actions affected Kyle, so he turned his body a quarter turn and faced Margaret. Her eyes were on his, and he suddenly felt her hand pressing against his pants, squeezing him through the fabric. He grabbed her wrist and shook his head.

“No unsolicited touches, Margaret,” he said quietly, but the other passengers in the silent elevator overheard and looked at her in shock.

The elevator stopped on the second floor, and three passengers stepped off, glancing back at Margaret with scandalized expressions. When the doors closed, Kyle moved away from Skye and Margaret to glare at both.

“Control! Show some restraint in public!” he snapped.

Skye looked contrite and nodded to him. “Sorry, Kyle.”

Margaret was less apologetic.

“You and Helen exposed yourself at her window! How is that showing restraint?” she cried.

“I’m not admitting to doing that, but had it happened, where are Helen’s windows?” Kyle asked as he guided them out of the elevator onto their floor. He pointed to the first number on the apartment door across the hall.

She glanced at what he was indicating. “The fourth floor?”

“Exactly! The top floor. Not easily visible from the ground,” Kyle asserted.

“I could see you clearly!” Margaret snapped.

“How?” Kyle asked.

“With my binoculars!” Margaret shouted.

Kyle remained quiet as Byron stared at her in shock. Margaret realized why the tall, handsome man was staring at her like that, and her mouth moved without sound.

Doors opened as condo owners peeked out to see who was shouting.

“Margaret, you need to get some help for this. If you start pawing strangers in public, you’re going to be arrested, and you will go to jail. Get some perspective and control over yourself,” Kyle said gently.

Helen was waiting down the hall by her open door. Byron guided Skye down the corridor without looking at Margaret.

The woman looked shattered. As Kyle turned to leave, her voice was quiet, but she asked him a question.

“Why Helen?”

Kyle looked back at her in surprise, then sighed. “Helen is a genuinely nice person. She’s kind, giving, and thoughtful of others. I really like her.”

He left Margaret in the hallway as he joined the others at the condo door. They shared looks then went inside.

Kyle immediately picked up the scent of fresh-baked cookies. He grinned at Helen, who held one up for him. He opened his mouth, and she tucked it inside. She was a little slow to remove her fingers, so he had them between his lips for a second. She had a little twinkle in her eyes as she smiled at him.

He looked at the embarrassment on Byron’s face. He sighed. “Like mother, like daughter.”

Skye giggled.

Helen sent a questioning look to her daughter.

“I was squeezed between Byron and Kyle on the elevator. It was so hot!” Skye moaned as she rubbed her thighs together.

“Oh!” Helen squeaked.

Kyle rolled his eyes as he slipped off his boots. “I have to call the formalwear shop to see if Priya can get me the suit.”

“The shop’s card is on the fridge. You can call from the kitchen,” Helen suggested.

He nodded and walked into the room to make the call. He felt Helen slip up behind him and wrap her arms around him as he was on the phone.

“Graham’s Formalwear. How many I help you?” Priya asked professionally.

“Hi Priya, this is Kyle MacDenny,” he said.

“Kyle! So good to hear from you! Are you ready to come in to try on the suit for the New Year’s party?” she asked excitedly.

“Uh, yes. I was wondering if now was a good time to come in?” he asked. He heard a little squeak.

“It’s perfect. If you haven’t eaten, we could grab some lunch as it’s my lunch hour, then you can get the suit. Would that work for you?”

“I think thAAA–” Helen’s hands slipped into his pockets to lovingly cup his cock and balls.

“Ha-hang on one second, please,” Kyles gasped into the phone. He put his hand over the mouthpiece. “I’m trying to make a call. She wants me to go out to lunch with her before I get the suit.”

Giving him one more squeeze and stroke, Helen pulled her hands from his pockets and nodded to him. “Sure. I’ll have you tonight?” She gave him a hungry look.

“Yes!” he said with a grin, turning back to the phone. “Sorry, yes, lunch would be good,” Kyle said to Priya.

“Great! See you soon!”

“I’ll be right there,” Kyle said.

Helen leaned back against the counter with a pleased look on her face as Kyle hung up the handset. Glancing at the living area, he saw no sign of Byron or Skye, so he moved up to Helen and pinned her to the counter, grinding himself against her. She gasped and flung her arms around him as tingles shot through her.

He gave her a passionate kiss, then stepped back as she struggled to recover from the spike of pleasure.

“I’ll see you later tonight, naughty girl,” he said, his voice deep and rough with need.

She bit her lip and nodded then a brilliant smile burst across her face.

Kyle turned to leave the kitchen and came face to face with Byron.

“What the HELL?” the man snapped, his confusion and patience finally reaching their limit.

“Sorry, I need to leave, but maybe Helen can explain,” he began.

Byron didn’t move from his path. “My mother–”

“Is a wonderful woman. She showed me the Louvre and explained so much about the investment potential of art. We had a lovely time. I have to go. Please.”

Byron stepped back as he absorbed Kyle’s innocent description of their day. He knew how interested his mother was in tracking the trading of art. Maybe that’s where it ended.

Kyle slipped his boots on and exited the condo before Byron asked any more questions. It was none of his business what his mother did, but Kyle didn’t want to be the one to tell him that.

Margaret was no longer in the hallway, thankfully. He rushed to the elevator and left the building. The walk to the formalwear shop didn’t take long, and he smiled at Priya as he entered it.

“Hold on. We’re heading out right now,” Priya said as she put on her coat and joined him at the door. She put a sign in the door showing when the shop would be open again, and they stepped outside for her the lock the door.

She slipped her arm through his and smiled up at him. “Fancy a visit to a local pub?”

“Sure. My treat?” he suggested.

“Aren’t you the gentleman!” she said with a grin.

The pub was only a few streets over, and they got a small two-seater table in the busy place. They draped their jackets over the backs of their chairs.

At Priya’s suggestion, Kyle ordered them a couple of pints as they checked the menu. While not a beer drinker, it was the thing to do when in an authentic British pub.

The restaurant was busy, and the patrons were happy, so it was impossible to have a quiet conversation. Laughter boomed out from time to time, drowning out everything else.

Kyle saw Priya’s head turn in recognition. “One of your friends?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Not really. I could be wrong, but that sounded like Terry, one of the blokes from Owen’s gang. With Owen gone, the group broke up.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Should I be concerned?”

She made a rude sound. “Nah, none of them were half as dangerous as Owen, and you proved you’re twice as dangerous as him.” She eyed him hungrily.

Kyle could see there was no point in trying to argue with her, so he just shook his head wearily and changed the topic.

“So, what’s in the future for Priya Singh? West End Theatre? Broadway? Television or maybe Hollywood?” he asked.

It was her turn to shake her head. “I’m not likely to land a part in Bollywood, much less Hollywood. The acting class is fun, but I don’t see myself being discovered and whisked off to a life of fame and fortune. I’ll probably switch to business admin, investment management, or something equally tedious.”

Kyle snorted, and she looked at him with a teasing grin. “When did I mention to you I was an investment manager?”

“You told the police the night you stopped Owen,” she admitted.

He nodded as he recalled the moment. Then he raised an eyebrow at her. “I’d take offense, except I found it wasn’t fulfilling for me either. Not to say I’m not good at it.”

“You’re good at many things,” she purred as the harried waitress arrived next to their table. She eyed Kyle with interest as she leaned closer, the tops of her breasts heaving upwards in her low-cut outfit. “What’ll ya have?” she asked with a coy smile.

Kyle did his best to be cool, but there was just so much delectable cleavage on display.

Priya pouted. “Maggie! No fair! I can hardly compete with that!”

The waitress chuckled and tilted her head. Priya sighed and gave her order. “The garden salad.”

The smiling waitress looked at Kyle. “The club sandwich,” he said, holding her eyes with his.

“With chips or a salad?” she asked, subtly squeezing her arms together to present the girls to maximum advantage.

“No, just the sandwich, please,” Kyle countered with a smile.

“The willpower on this one, ay?” Maggie said with a cheeky smile for Priya.

Priya’s smile returned as she watched Kyle withstand Maggie’s cleavage play. “He’s full of delightful surprises.”

“And you’re keeping him all to yourself? Greedy!” Maggie pouted playfully.

Priya put a possessive hand over Kyle’s. “I’m just borrowing him for the day as he’s a guest of Skye’s. Of course, she’s got a new boyfriend now, so….”

Maggie’s smile was quickly replaced by a look of shock! “You’re the one who took down Mad Owen!” she exclaimed.

Heads turned to look in interest, and Kyle did his best to ignore them.

“Maggie!”

The sharp voice came from the direction of the kitchen, and Maggie jumped, then rushed away with another glance back at Kyle.

The squeal of a chair being pushed back roughly was followed by the rapid thump of boots on floorboards. Kyle just had time to stand and face the angry young man whose fist was already coming for Kyle’s chin. It was a very telegraphed punch. He wasn’t very good.

Yanking his head and shoulders back, Kyle felt the breeze of the fist passing his face.

He grabbed the wrist to keep the man turning, then thumped his left fist into the man’s kidney, hard but careful not to cripple the inept fighter. The man crumpled to the floor with a pained whimper.

Priya came out of her paralysis to look down. “For fuck’s sake, Terry! What were you thinking?”

Terry wasn’t feeling too good, lying on the floor moaning. “I-I thought… I could… get the… gang back.”

Priya looked at Kyle in confusion, and he just nodded his head and sighed. “Being the guy who took out the guy who took out the old leader makes you the new leader.” Priya’s jaw dropped in disgust. “I know. Really dumb, but Terry seems to be a shoot-first-never-ask-questions kind of man.”

“He’s an ass!” Priya snorted.

More heavy footsteps approached, and Kyle cautiously watched a short, older man coming to their table.

“What’s this?” the man asked gruffly. He wiped his hands on his stained apron. So, he was the cook and perhaps the owner?

Kyle gestured to Terry. “He thought it might bring his old gang back if word got out that he beat me up in your pub.”

“Yet you’re standing, and he’d moaning on my floor,” the cook said with a frown.

Kyle nodded. “Terry took the initiative by trying to attack me while I was facing away, but he had more ambition than skill.”