Chapter 16

Sylvain

T wo weeks dragged on interminably. No matter how many calls I made or how many photos I sent to Vince, I didn't miss him any less.

Thankfully, he'd got the Friday and Monday off work so we could spend even longer together. I'd been counting down the days until I could hop on the plane and fly to him.

The night before the flight, I packed and unpacked my case so many times I'd be surprised if I had a decent outfit in there. I wanted to make an impression and not just on Vince but Theo and his fiancé too.

No way was I letting Vince down.

"Papa, just stop. You have everything. No need to check it again. Now come get some dinner. I got pizza."

"Let me just double-check." I went through the pile of clothes again.

"No, Papa. You're done. Pizza's getting cold."

Not many places did good takeaway pizza, but we were fortunate to have a restaurant right on our doorstep. It was cheap and delicious and just what the doctor ordered.

"So," Giselle asked. "What's the plan for this weekend?"

"I'm meeting Vince at the hotel tomorrow afternoon. I've booked us a table at a local restaurant. Then we have the wedding on Saturday. I'll be staying over Sunday night too, but I've planned nothing else."

"It might be nice to chill and catch up with Vince."

"Yeah, the hotel has a pool and spa, so we could laze around. I'll play it by ear. I'm flying home on Monday afternoon, so I hope we can spend a lot of time together."

"You really like him, don't you? I've never seen you like this with anyone. Calling every day, and don't think I've missed the smile when he messages you."

For two weeks, we'd exchanged phone calls, sometimes late into the night. He'd told me about his day, what he'd been up to, and the excellent news that his friend Lexi was pregnant. I'd shared stories about funny things that had happened at the resort, but I didn't want to push it with him. He was already wary, and I knew he'd expected me to call it off and not go. Not until I'd told him I'd booked the hotel did he believe me I wouldn't back out.

I'd made a promise and would keep my word, but it wasn't just that. I wanted to be there with him.

I'd wondered if not seeing him would lessen my feelings for him. That hadn't been the case. Not even close. It seemed that the longer I was away from him, the more I missed him. I was eagerly looking forward to our reunion tomorrow.

"We could have something together. I'm not saying he's the one, nor am I saying it's love. At least not yet. But I think we'd both be foolish if we didn't explore our connection."

"Why are you going to the wedding?"

How could I explain my rash offer? Even I wasn't sure how it'd come about.

"He told me of his friend and how he'd upset him. I don't know why I offered. All I know is I didn't want him going alone. I'll pretend I'm his boyfriend, make a show of it, and prove to his friend that Vince's more than he thinks he is."

"And what's that?"

"A nobody, I think. A friend who'll always be there for him, but not in a good way. That Theo has taken him for granted and said some hurtful things that Vince didn't deserve."

"You've always been a knight in shining armour."

"Funny, but Vince said he was looking for Prince Charming. I'm hardly that, but I want to help him. If we fall into a relationship, I won't complain. Does that answer your questions?"

She took my hand and gave it a little squeeze.

"Don't throw yourself into something that'll hurt you, Papa. You've been burnt in the past. Look at Raphael."

"Vince is nothing like Raphael. He wouldn't cheat." I threw the half-eaten slice of pizza back into the box. Why would Giselle suggest that Vince was anything like that dirtbag?

"I'm not saying that. I just don't want you to throw yourself into something and get nothing in return. I don't know Vince. He seemed like a nice guy, but what do you see in him?"

"Just because he doesn't fit in with your ideals doesn't mean he's not a great person. Looks aren't everything. I didn't bring you up to be so shallow."

"This is all coming out wrong. I love you, Papa, and you deserve to be happy. I'm just worried you're jumping into this feet first without giving it any thought."

"I'm a grown man. Let me worry about that."

We finished the rest of the meal in relative silence. We discussed the resort but avoided the topic of Vince. I'd left instructions on what needed to be done while I was away, and as soon as we'd finished dinner, I said goodnight and retired to my room.

With my bags packed and standing by the door, I climbed into bed and turned off the light.

As tired as I was, sleep refused to come.

Was I rushing in headlong without thinking about the consequences? Had I been taken in by his na?vety? Had he played me for a fool, and this was a huge ruse to get a weekend away from me?

No. I didn't believe that. Vince seemed genuine and, yes, na?ve, but I refused to think he could continue that for so long if it was all an act.

Tomorrow I'd know if it was all a game to him.

After an uneventful flight, I jumped into the hire car and programmed the satnav. One more hour and I'd be at the hotel. Vince had said he'd arrive about three, which gave me plenty of time to get booked in and the room ready.

I'd planned a few surprises. I wanted this weekend to be memorable for all the right reasons.

I'd bought flowers and chocolates, even though they were cliché. But they were cliché for a reason—they worked. He needed to be romanced and shown how worthy of attention he was.

My hands shook as I placed the flowers in the vases kindly supplied by the hotel. Was it too much?

Well, it was too late now. He'd be here any moment. A bottle of champagne was chilling in an ice bucket next to a box of delicious truffles I'd brought with me from a little French shop.

He'd either love it or freak and walk right back out the door.

I hoped for the first option.

Every few minutes, I glanced out the window, my heart racing. It'd been three weeks since I'd seen him, and not a day had passed that I hadn't thought about him.

I'd called, sent silly pictures, but his responses had been mixed, sometimes lukewarm, other times full of enthusiasm. Had I read more into it than there was?

Less than a week was hardly a basis for a lasting relationship.

Why was I so nervous? My stomach was in knots, and I couldn't settle, pacing the floor of the large room, my footsteps muffled by the thick carpet.

What was taking him so long? The suspense was killing me.

I grabbed the room key and hurried downstairs to the lobby to wait for him and I stopped in my tracks. A familiar figure stood in the queue for reception.

"Vince."

He turned and waved, a bright smile lighting up his eyes. My heart skipped a beat but then resumed, hammering in my chest. His dark wavy hair was messy, his glasses slightly askew, but he looked as good as the day he'd left me at the airport.

Except something was different, and at first, I struggled to pinpoint exactly what that was.

Had he lost weight?

He spoke to the receptionist, pointed in my direction, picked up his bags, and walked over to me.

"Hey, Sylvain. Lovely to see you again." He stuck his hand out, but I was having none of that and pulled him in for a hug.

Yep, he'd definitely lost some weight, but not so much he'd become too skinny.

"It's so good to see you again. How are you?" I stood back and studied him. The relaxed Vince I'd seen in France had disappeared. Instead, before me stood a tired one with dark circles beneath his eyes.

"Excited for the weekend, but the journey here was brutal. The train was packed, and I almost lost my suit bag. That could have been a disaster. I'm dying for a drink, though."

"Let's go put your things in the room, and we can grab something." I picked up one of his bags and set off towards the lifts. "Come on, this way."

I took his hand, and my heart did a happy dance when he didn't pull away but squeezed it tightly.

Maybe it was going to be okay after all.

As the lift ascended, we said nothing, standing side by side, neither of us looking at the other. Mon Dieu, could it be any more awkward?

The lift stopped at the top floor, opening onto a private corridor, the door to our room at the end.

"You said we had a room. Not the fucking penthouse." Vince stepped out, his mouth open. "This must have cost an arm and a leg."

Huge floral arrangements on side tables brightened the wide corridor. Light oak panelling covered the walls leading to light oak double doors with gold handles.

It wasn't the honeymoon suite, but it was the closest I could get to it.

I unlocked the door and stood back, allowing him to enter first.

God, hopefully, I hadn't gone over the top.

"What did you do?" He dropped his bag to the floor with a thud.

Arms wide, he turned in a circle, his eyes as big as saucers.

"All these flowers." He stepped towards a lovely bouquet of roses on the coffee table and breathed in the sweet scent.

"I thought you might like them." How could I forget that the last thing I'd given him was a single white rose?

"Like them? I fucking love them. You did all this for me?"

I nodded. Maybe I had gone a little over the top.

"Come 'ere, you old romantic, you."

I dipped my head, suddenly feeling shy.

A finger lifted my chin until I was looking in his bright eyes.

"No one has ever done anything like this for me. Ever. I'm blown away and don't know what to say."

"Then don't say anything."

His lips met mine, and all the worry and anxiety I'd carried for the past few days melted away, leaving an overwhelming joy in my heart.

His lukewarm reactions to my messages and photos were forgotten as we kissed slowly and sweetly. His lips tasted like cherries, my favourite fruit. Surely, it was meant to be.

I wound my arms around him and brought him close until there wasn't an inch of space between us.

His moan sent a pulse of lust directly to my cock, intensifying my need for him. I nipped on his bottom lip, eliciting a sharp intake of breath. It was all the encouragement I needed.

I walked him farther into the room until the back of his knees hit the enormous double in the centre. He fell back, and I followed, pressing my body into his.

Before I could move, my once shy and self-conscious Vince took the lead and pushed his tongue into my mouth, his hard cock pressing into my leg.

He ground up, rubbing himself against me. I did the same, searching for any friction I could get to ease the ache in my balls.

"What do you want, Vince?" I asked.

"I don't know. Something. Anything. You." He let his head fall back on the bed, exposing his neck.

I latched on, sucking and kissing the tender skin, licking a trail to his ear, sucking his soft lobe into my mouth, and biting gently.

"Fuck. Do that again. No…no…no…don't."

"Did I hurt you? Mon Dieu, I'm so sorry, Vince."

"You didn't hurt me. I didn't think you biting me like that would almost make me come. Sorry if that's too much information. I've never done anything like that. You must think I'm terrible."

He pushed me away. Of course, this was all new to him. He had to be overtaken by sensations he'd never felt.

God, I'd been stupid, taking advantage like that.

I climbed off him and perched on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands. I'd allowed my emotions to get the better of me, not giving his a second thought.

"What must you think of me?"

He placed a hand on my shoulder and sat next to me.

"I think you're the sexiest man I know. These past three weeks, I've thought of nothing but you. You've filled every moment of every day, and I'm so happy you're here. I can't tell you how good it feels to be in your arms again."

That was the most he'd ever said to me about how he felt.

Dread I'd done something wrong had sat heavily with me, but with those words, all my fears I'd blown it melted away.

"Would you mind if we slowed it down a little? We have all weekend, right?"

"We do, yes, and I have champagne and truffles. I wanted to woo you."

"Woo? Do people still do that?"

"That or seduce you. I'm happy with both."

He grinned. "Me too."

I poured us both a glass of champagne, handed one to him, and raised mine for a toast.

"To new beginnings and a fantastic weekend."

We clinked glasses, never breaking eye contact.

"To new beginnings and us."

He finished his glass and held it up for a refill.

"No, you've had enough. We don't want a repeat of earlier, do we?" He ducked his head. "Here, have a truffle instead."

"Have you had these before?" he asked.

"A couple of times. We buy them for our exclusive guests."

"Oh my god. These are heavenly." He took another bite, holding his hand to his mouth. "I've never tasted anything like this. They're so rich."

"Well, don't eat too much. We will have dinner later."

"How can you afford all this? Please let me pay towards it. I can't let you pay for everything. That's so unfair."

Now was the moment to tell him. I hated keeping secrets, and this was my biggest one. Time to come clean.