“Leave Adalynn alone.” I smiled.
“Anyway, I knew where this place was because it’s been in her family for years and I’d stayed here a few times when I came to Paris. I’ve known Andre for a long time, and I figured you’d be checking out the fruit stand since it was so close, so I sent him your picture, asked him to be on the lookout for you, and asked him to keep an eye on you until I could get here.
“So that’s why he didn’t hit on me.”
“He didn’t hit on you because I threatened him. Believe me, he would have.”
“You arranged to meet me at the Eiffel Tower. That was very romantic.” I smiled.
“I’m trying to be, Rory. I know I said all that shit about romance and stuff, but the truth is, I’ve never wanted to do any of those things until I met you. Oh, that reminds me,” he said as he got up and pulled a box from his pants pocket.
“Here,” he said as he handed me a small box.
He climbed back into bed and I opened the box, revealing my key necklace that he’d given me before. “Thank you, Ian. I’ve missed this.”
“It’s a new one. Your other one is still sitting on the dresser where you left it.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“When I gave that other one to you, I told you that it represented that you’ll always have a place to stay. I wanted to give you a new one that represented something else. This necklace is the key to my heart because you’ve unlocked it and you filled my heart with love. I want you to know that my love for you will always protect you.”
He took the box from my hand and removed the necklace from it. I lifted up my hair as he put it around my neck. “There, it’s right where it’s supposed to be,” he said as he lightly kissed the back of my neck.
I turned around and looked into his eyes. Eyes that were happy and full of life. I placed my hand on his cheek. “I love you so much. I’ve never felt this way before.”
“I’ve never felt this way either. I love you too, Rory,” he said as he kissed the palm of my hand. “Christmas is in a few days and, if you don’t mind, I would like to spend it here, in Paris. No family or friends. Just us. I want to spend Christmas alone with my girlfriend.”
“I would love that. What about your dad? Won’t he be mad?”
“I had a long talk with my dad and I told him how much I loved you and that I was coming to Paris to get you back. He told me to do what I had to do and we’ll talk after the holidays. I also wanted to tell you that I went and visited Stephen before I left.”
“You did? Why?” I asked as I kissed his bare chest.
“Because I wanted to tell him how much I loved you and that I promise to take care of both of you.”
“Ian,” I whispered.
He took my hand and interlaced our fingers. “I’m so sorry for everything, Rory. I really need you to know that.”
I sat up and cupped his face in my hands. “I know you are. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have pushed you the way I did.”
“No, you doing that really opened my eyes. I thought for days about how much I loved you and how I needed to tell you, but I couldn’t. I was too scared. Scared of everything that love represents.”
“Are you still scared?” I asked.
“A little bit. I’m afraid I’m going to f**k up and you’ll end up leaving again.”
“We need to promise each other that we’ll be open and honest about everything. As long as we talk about how we’re feeling and what’s bothering us, we’ll be fine.” I smiled as I kissed his lips. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Me too, sweetheart,” he said as he pulled me into an embrace. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Promise?” I smiled.
“Promise. I need to make love to you again, right now.” He smiled.
“What are you waiting for? I’m more than ready.” I winked as I took his hand and placed it between my legs.
“Damn, I love you!” He smiled as he rolled me on my back and hovered over me.
****
The next morning, after two rounds of making love, we got dressed and walked down the street to the fruit stand. Andre looked at me and winked as he and Ian shook hands.
“You.” I smiled as I pointed my finger at him.
“You deserve to be happy, Rory, and I was happy to make it happen for you. You’re my beautiful American girl.”
“Hey! Watch it,” Ian said.
Andre laughed as he threw him an apple.
“I thought you were leaving today,” I said.
“I’m leaving tonight.”
I gave him a hug and a kiss on both cheeks. “Have a Merry Christmas, Andre,” Ian and I said as we walked away.
“I’ll be coming to Malibu to visit my beautiful American girl,” he yelled.
Ian held his hand up and flipped him off from behind and I heard Andre’s loud laughter throughout the streets.
Ian hailed us a cab and had the driver take us to the Eiffel Tower. “Why are we here again?” I asked.
“We’re here as an official couple. I wanted us to look at it together because it’s something you’ve always wanted to see, and I want to share it with you.”
“You’re an amazing man, Ian Braxton.”
We stood in front of the Eiffel Tower, and I held the hand of the man who was the love of my life. The man who saved my life. The one who took me in, healed me, protected me, and showed me a world that I had only ever dreamed of. I looked up at the tower and then over at him. He looked at me and smiled.
“I love you, Ian.”
“I love you too, sweetheart,” he whispered as he leaned over and kissed my lips.
Ian and Rory’s journey of love continue in the second book of the Millionaire’s Love Series, When I Lie With You (A Millionaire’s Love, #2)
Make sure to read the first chapter of Collin at the end of the book!
Playlist
White Flag -.Dido
Say Something - A Big World featuring Christina Aguilera
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
Raining In Paris - The Maine
Story of My Life - One Direction
Satisfied – Acoustic - Jewel
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls
Everytime - Britney Spears
In her Eyes - Joshua Radin
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - .Jewel
Madness - Muse
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead