Breaking Love (Full Hearts Book 2) (8 page)

“You are ready?” Luc asked

“Yes, Luc, now.”

He gripped her hips with both hands and rolled both of their bodies so that he was lying on his back and she was on top of him. Megan moved herself over him, rubbing ever so slowly along his erection for a few torturous moments before she guided the head of his cock into herself with her hand. She moved her body very deliberately over his, bringing him in all the way, inch by inch. He was almost too much for her and she was grateful that she was on top so she could set the pace.

Luc sat up so his mouth could find hers. Megan wrapped her arms around him as she slowly lifted and lowered herself on his lap. He moaned with the feeling of it; she was so wet and warm and tight. Her skin felt like silk to Luc and as she gazed into his eyes, he found her the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. He watched her as she moved over him harder and more easily with each thrust of her hips. He couldn’t remember being with a woman by whom he was so enthralled.

Their eyes locked as she rocked herself over him in slow drags. It was no longer just their bodies connecting, it was as though their very souls had reached each other. Swirls of complete and transformative passion overtook them as they kissed and touched and moved together. Somehow, what had started out as a one-night stand had become the most intimate experience either had known.

“You are so beautiful like this, Megan. You have no idea.”

There was that accent again and with just the words she needed to hear. She kissed his mouth, then closed her eyes and parted her lips as she let go. Everything about this moment felt magnificent to her as she moved her body back and forth on his. For so long she had forced herself to forget how incredible sex could be, but after this, she would never be able to lie to herself about it again. Luc was so tender, so passionate, and he knew exactly how she wanted him to touch her. He moved his hands up to her breasts, taking each one in his mouth, sucking on her nipples more forcefully now. He ran his hands along her body, wanting to feel every part of her as she lowered and lifted herself over him. Megan grabbed his face with both hands and lifted it up to hers, pressing her forehead to his as her breath caught and she started to come. Her body jolted with the first wave of her orgasm.

“Yes! Oh fuck, yes, Luc!” she breathed, squeezing his cock as she came, bringing him over the edge. She bit his bottom lip and pushed her body down hard, feeling him pulsing inside her.

“
Ah oui! Je suis là! Oui!
” he groaned, as he emptied himself in long, powerful surges.

They collapsed into each other’s arms, kissing and holding each other tightly as they basked in the all-encompassing after-effects of this most intimate act. As she recovered, Megan suddenly felt her eyes stung by tears. She tried to fight them, but they started to pour down her cheeks in spite of her best efforts. Embarrassed, she quickly lifted herself off Luc and stood, turning toward the ensuite. As she started to hurry away, she could feel Luc’s hand on her wrist, holding her in place.

“Excuse me,” she whispered, “I just need to run to the washroom.”

Luc stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her chest and waist, pulling her close to him. “Stop, Megan. Don’t run from me.”

Megan pressed her palms to her cheeks, trying to wipe away the tears. It was as though a dam had burst and now a river of emotions poured from her. A small sob escaped her mouth.

“It’s okay, Megan. It’s okay to cry. I will take care of you.” Luc turned her slowly around to face him and held her firmly to his chest.

Megan let him hold her for a long time as she cried, now feeling overcome with both emotion and humiliation for having this reaction in front of him. She felt suddenly pathetic and weak. He lifted her face to his, trying to kiss away the tears.

“You are upset because I’m the best lover you have ever known, and we agreed it was only for one night. Don’t worry. I will sleep with you again. You don’t have to cry,” he teased.

Megan laughed through her tears, now ready to talk. “I don’t know why I’m crying. I feel so stupid right now. I can’t believe I’m acting like this.”

“You have denied yourself for so long, Megan. The tears are part of the release you just allowed yourself. It’s natural.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve ruined our night. I should go,” she replied quietly, slipping out of his arms and hurrying to the bathroom. She started to pick up her clothes, which had been strewn on the floor. As she straightened up, she felt a warm, soft fabric cover her back. Luc stood behind her, wrapping her in his long white bathrobe.

“You have ruined nothing. Come with me. We will have a drink together and talk.”

When Megan turned to him, he gave her that look that made her feel like she was the only woman on the planet. “Come,” he said, tying the sash of the bathrobe around her waist.

He strode across the room and plucked a pair of black silk pyjama bottoms off a hook on the door, then pulled them on. Taking her hand, he brought her to the living room and over to one of the couches. She sank into it, curling her knees up to her chest and wrapping the robe around her legs as he poured them each a glass of port. He handed her one and sat down beside her, touching her cheek lightly with his fingertips. She had stopped crying now but knew she must look red and blotchy. She didn’t want him to look at her.

“You must think I’m a complete mess,” she said into her glass.

“Why must I think that? You are a complex and very genuine woman, Megan. There is nothing fake about you and I like that.”

“But to start crying after sex? It isn’t exactly sophisticated,” she replied with an unmistakable tone of disdain in her voice.

“It wasn’t what I was expecting, but with you, I don’t know what to expect. You are both powerful and vulnerable at the same time. It’s irresistible to me, actually. Your tears make me want to protect you and take care of you, even if it’s just for a short time.” He pressed his lips to her forehead and held them there for a moment.

“I can’t let you do that, Luc. Not even for one night. I shouldn’t even be here. What good is it for me to allow myself to feel this . . . this . . . much and then go back to my life?”

Luc held her cheek in one hand. “Why can’t you allow yourself to have a full and rich life? You are a sexy, gorgeous young woman. It seems horrible that you sequester yourself like a nun because of your ex-husband’s mistakes. You need to live, Megan.
Really live
. Enjoy life in all of its beauty. Like we just did. You are incredible in bed, and I can tell you love it. Why would you refuse yourself that?”

Megan looked down at her hands, speaking quietly. “I told you. My life is complicated. I have a son who needs me and a business to run. I’ve spent the past five years just holding it all together to give him the best life I can, Luc. I can’t afford to be trying to find a man while I am everything for him.”

Megan looked into his eyes, feeling her strength return and her protective wall rebuilding itself. “And the truth is, I stopped believing in fairy tales years ago. They don’t happen, Luc. They just don’t. There isn’t going to be some perfect man who is going to sweep me off my feet and love me and love my son forever.”

Luc tilted his head. “I agree with you about the fairy tales—they are full of shit. Finding
that
man is not likely. But what if you could find a man to just be with? To just be with but nothing else?”

“Like you, Luc?” Her eyes bored into his.

“I would love for it to be me, but I meant someone who lives near you. Someone you could see more often than almost never.”

“I’m just not interested in that, Luc. It really doesn’t appeal to me. I’m going home in two days, back to my life, and it’s okay. I don’t need all of this to be happy. I have my little boy and my family to love me, and good friends. That’s enough for me.”

“You might believe that, but I don’t. You’re lying to yourself.”

“Don’t tell me what I know and don’t know about myself. You’ve known me for exactly one day.” Megan was feeling angry and suddenly wanted to be alone.

“I do know you. I was just as close to you as two people can be. I saw your face and felt every part of your body while we made love. You are a passionate woman; you should not hide from that. You need to find someone to be with.”

Megan stood up and started walking to Luc’s ensuite to collect her things. “What I need right now is to be alone, Luc. I don’t even know what I’m doing here. I’m going back to the hotel.”

Feeling emotionally and physically exhausted, Megan slowly started picking up her clothes. Jet lag and confusion were clouding her brain now. She heard Luc approaching and turned. He stood leaning against the door jamb, folding his arms across his bare chest as he watched her. Megan couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment—there was no denying that he was unbelievably sexy.

He spoke in a low voice as he gazed back at her. “You’re breaking your word. We agreed to one night together.”

“I’m tired, Luc. I need to go.”

He crossed the room and took her clothes out of her hand, placed them on a stool, then wrapped his arms around her. “You’re tired and you need to stay.”

He lowered his mouth down to hers and kissed her gently. His touch made her knees go weak. Megan was too exhausted to resist his offer. The thought of his warm bed was so much more appealing than going out into the chilly night again. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, setting her down and getting in beside her. He pulled the covers over them both and lay on his side. Wrapping his arm over her, he kissed her on the cheek.

“Let’s just sleep now. Let yourself have one night sleeping in someone’s arms. You can go back to your normal life again soon.”

Megan closed her eyes, feeling warm and safe. Giving in to her exhaustion, she fell immediately asleep.

Luc lay awake, thinking about their day and night together. What was it about her that drew him to her so fiercely? Yes, she was beautiful, but he had been with many beautiful women. There was no doubt that she was strong to have held it together for her son for so long. When she allowed herself to be vulnerable though, she almost broke his heart. She was gorgeous and smart and warm, and if he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall in love with her. He would need to work hard to put a stop to these feelings. Luc wasn’t going to be the man who would rescue her from her loneliness. He wasn’t ever going to be a good father to her son or a husband to her, which was what she needed. He would always be what he was—rich and single and looking for the next challenge, the next adventure.

The next morning when he woke, Luc felt content and well rested. He had finally had a good sleep for the first time in weeks. He reached for Megan but she was no longer in his bed. He got up and made his way to the bathroom. Her clothes were gone. Luc walked through his apartment, hoping to find her in the kitchen. Even though he knew he had to let her go, he wasn’t ready just yet.

His heart sank. A note was waiting for him on the kitchen counter.

Luc,

Thank you for a beautiful day and night. You are a thoughtful and romantic man, and I’m glad to have met you. I will always remember my time with you fondly.

All the best,

Megan

Luc sighed heavily as he read it. The realization of how badly he wanted her to be there hit him hard. He had been counting on one more morning together—to talk, eat and make love again. He had wanted to send her off feeling sexy and alive. But after her reaction last night, he was worried she would go home feeling sad instead.

* * *

Megan had snuck into the hotel room as the sun was coming up. She was glad she hadn’t woken Harper as she walked to her bedroom and carefully shut the door. She couldn’t face her friend just yet. She needed to sleep and get her emotions under control again. For so many years, she had fought to keep her feelings in check, at a distance, even. Within twenty-four hours, Luc had managed to cause those walls she had built around her heart to crumble into dust. She felt like she had been cut wide open, exposed to him, and she couldn’t have that. It simply wouldn’t do for her to be in love. Period.

She crawled back into bed and lay there, trying to fall asleep. A couple of hours later, she heard Harper leave for her meeting. Megan waited until she was gone and then got up and took a long, hot shower, trying to wash away her memories along with the scent of Luc. There would be no evidence of their night together now, other than a slight tenderness in areas of her body that had been long forgotten.

When she got out of the shower, she walked over to her purse to grab her cellphone. She hadn’t checked for messages since the evening before. She dug around frantically for a minute, not finding it.

“Oh no, no, no. Don’t tell me I left it at Luc’s!” Megan muttered to herself as she walked over to check her coat pockets.

Thinking back, she remembered she had had it in his car when they were on the way to his apartment because she had texted Harper. It was either in his car or at his place, which would make her graceful exit from his life impossible. Now Megan would have to go back there right away in case her mom was trying to reach her.

“Shit,” she sighed to herself as she got dressed and ready to leave. She wasn’t sure what time Harper would be back from her meeting, so she decided to take a cab over to Luc’s.

Megan’s heart was in her throat as she paid the driver and got out of the cab in front of Luc’s building. She walked up the steps and buzzed, then waited for a moment. She still wasn’t sure what she was going to say.

“
Âllo
?
” A woman’s voice came over the speaker.

“Oh, um, hi. I’m looking for Luc.”

“He’s not here right now.” The voice now sounded bored.

“Okay. This is Megan, a friend of his. I think I left my cellphone there. Is it possible for me to come up and check?”

“Oh, yes, the American. It is Simone. I found your phone. I will send the elevator down for you,” Simone responded tersely before buzzing her into the building.

When Megan reached Luc’s floor, she found Simone standing in the foyer, lighting a cigarette.

“Come in. Your phone is in the kitchen. I found it earlier on the floor near the couch.”

Megan smiled and followed Simone inside. “Thank you. That’s a relief.”

“Would you like a coffee? Luc’s washing machine broke and I am here waiting for the repairman to finish.” Simone poured two coffees and pointed Megan to a chair.

“Um, I should just get my phone and go, but thank you,” Megan replied, hoping to leave before Luc got back.

“Sit for a minute,” Simone said, bringing the mugs over to the table. “That is an old trick, no? To leave something behind so you can see the man again.” She gave Megan a knowing smile.

“No, it honestly was just a careless mistake. I should go.”

“So, you stayed here last night? His plan worked, then.”

Megan gave her a confused look as she slid into the chair opposite her. “Plan?”

“Luc loves American women. All French men do, actually. Well, mostly the boys love the college girls who come over here. But he hasn’t outgrown it yet,” she said, taking a drag on her cigarette and blowing the smoke out. She continued. “You are known for being, what is that term, an ‘easy thing’?”

“A sure thing,” Megan answered quietly.

“Yes. That’s it. Luc has an expression to describe it—‘they hear the accent and then spread their legs.’ Megan, you seem nice. I only tell you this so you will not expect more from Luc. He is not going to be anyone’s knight in shining armour.”

“Right,” Megan agreed, wishing she were anywhere but here listening to this. Her eyes searched the room for her phone unsuccessfully.

“He took you to the Louvre, then the Eiffel Tower, no?”

“Yes.” Megan flinched in surprise.

“I’m guessing he took you for a private dinner on a yacht, on the Seine?”

“Yes,” Megan replied, suddenly feeling nauseous.

“That is what he does. Always the same. The Louvre, the tower and, if the woman is a real challenge, the yacht. You must have been the toughest of challenges to end up back here. Most women give in on the boat.”

Simone sucked on her cigarette before continuing. “He is both a romantic and a predator—like most men, maybe, but smarter about it. He sees something he wants and knows exactly how to get it. Don’t think too poorly of him, though. He really believes he is doing women a service. Taking them out of their dull lives and into something exciting and romantic for a short time. He likes to send them home feeling sexy.”

Megan felt numb as she listened to Simone talk. Her voice came out as almost a whisper. “I should go, Simone. Where’s my phone?”

“I have upset you. I only tell you this to help you. I hope you can see that?” Simone tried to look concerned as she got up to get Megan’s phone.

“Yes, of course. Thank you,” Megan said, feeling confused and unsure if she should be thanking Simone or slapping her smug face. She stood up and took her phone back.

“I’ll tell him you were here,” Simone said as they walked to the elevator together.

“No, please don’t. I didn’t intend to see him again anyway.” Megan managed a weak smile as she looked at Simone, trying to gage her reaction. She pushed the button to call the elevator.

“I’ll keep it our little secret. No point in him knowing you came back for more. He’s out with another woman today, anyway. She is French, so he’ll have to use a different game.”

Her words dug into Megan like talons. Megan willed the elevator to arrive before she had to hear any more. Finally the doors opened and she could escape. She pushed the button and gave Simone a little nod and a weak smile.

“Enjoy the rest of your trip, Megan. I will be here waiting for the repairman to finish.” She rolled her eyes as the doors closed.

Megan tried to blink back tears as she rode down. Her worst nightmare at that moment would be for Luc to be there when she got to the main floor.
Please don’t be here, please don’t be here
, she begged silently.

As the doors opened onto the main floor, she was filled with a temporary relief at finding the lobby empty. She quickly rushed out of the building and into the cold rain that had started to fall. She walked briskly down the street, not thinking about where she was going.

She had been used, and that awful woman had just delighted in filling her in on what an idiot she was. Simone’s words burned a hole through Megan’s heart:
an easy thing . . . he is a predator . . . most women give in on the boat. . . .

Everything he had said was a lie. This was just a game he played to fuck as many women as he could. He didn’t want to take care of her or show her his city. Her mind raced through the day before and all the time they had spent together at the museum and the Eiffel Tower and dinner. He had seemed so sincere and tender. All that stuff about art and his mother. How could all of that have just been a regular routine for him? How was that possible? Maybe Simone was lying to her. But if that was the case, how could Simone know where Luc had taken her? Was that why he had brought Harper and her back to the hotel two nights earlier? Was it all just to get her into bed? Was it all really that calculated?

She walked for several blocks before realizing she had no idea where she was. Stopping to look around, she tried to find a cab. She was no longer on a main street, so she would have to find her way back to a main road to get a cab. She suddenly felt completely alone. She was lost in Paris, it was freezing and raining, and she had been used. Luc was with another woman before the sheets had even gotten cold.

She found her cellphone and started to send a text to Harper, but her phone died before she could hit Send. “Motherfucker!” she exclaimed under her breath. A passerby clearly understood, giving her a dirty look for her foul language. She shoved her phone back into her purse and continued walking, trying to wipe the tears away with her hands. They were streaming down her cheeks now, mixing with the rain. Megan shivered, feeling chilled right to the bone.

Finding herself back on Luc’s street, Megan’s heart pounded in her chest with rage and, now, urgency. She needed to get out of here before Luc got home and saw her. She would lose all sense of dignity if he saw her here now.

She rushed along away from his building as quickly as her legs could carry her. Suddenly, a sleek black car pulled alongside her. She looked at it out of the corner of her eye, her heart feeling like it had jumped into her throat as she heard his voice.

“Megan!” Luc called, sounding happy to see her.

She refused to look and kept walking quickly.

“Megan? What’s wrong? Get in the car before you freeze,” Luc ordered as he drove slowly beside her.

“Fuck off,” Megan snapped, without looking at him.

“Would you stop walking and tell me what’s wrong?” Luc called firmly.

“Nothing will be wrong as soon as I get away from you. Now seriously, fuck off!” she spat as she turned in the opposite direction.

He couldn’t turn around because of the other cars on the road, but he could pull over. Luc hit the brakes hard, swerving the car to the side of the road. Several cars behind him honked. He grabbed the keys and got out, jogging up the street to catch her.

Megan felt a hand on her arm, pulling her to a stop. She froze in place and tried to shake his arm away. “Let go of me,” she said firmly, through her teeth.

“Not until you tell me what has made you so angry with me,” Luc said, spinning her to face him.

Megan looked up at him. He took no notice of the rain pouring down as he gave her a hard stare.

“I found out about your little game. Simone filled me in. I guess I was just another woman to hear your accent and spread her legs, right?” she shouted.

“What?” Luc’s head snapped back in surprise. “There is no game, Megan. I don’t know what she told you, but I really like you.”

Megan scoffed. “I’m sure you liked all of us, for a few minutes.” She tugged her arm out of his grip and started to move away.

Luc easily matched her pace, staying right beside her. “Megan, stop. Let me give you a ride to the hotel. I want to get you out of the rain so you can warm up and I can find out what Simone said. There must be some misunderstanding.”

Megan quickened her step, ignoring him and craning her neck in search of a cab.

“Megan, stop! This is silly. How can I defend myself if I don’t know what she told you?”

Megan stepped out onto the street to flag down a passing cab, but it continued on. “That’s hardly my problem, Luc. If you want to know what Simone said, go ask her. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just another bad memory. Now fuck off!”

Luc grabbed her arms and pulled her back onto the sidewalk as another car barrelled toward her. The driver of the car let out a long honk as he passed. Luc spun her to him. “Megan, stop this! You are acting like an insane person. Come with me to the car so we can sort this out!”

“Sort what out, exactly?” Megan spat out, her face wrinkling up in disgust. “How you like American women because we’re so easy? You won the game, Luc! You knew exactly what to do and say to get me into bed, just like you’ve done with countless other women! It’s my own damn fault for trusting you in the first place.”

“Megan, there is no game. I really like you and I wanted to be with you.” Luc’s voice was a mixture of annoyance and pleading.

Megan rolled her eyes and sighed. “You know what? It doesn’t fucking matter! We agreed to one night. No more. We had it. Whether or not you’ve done the same routine with a thousand women or not makes no difference. It’s clearly over. Now just get away from me.”

“Megan, I have not done that a thousand times. Just come with me out of this rain. I don’t want to end things like this.” He pushed his now-drenched hair off his forehead with his hand.

“It doesn’t really matter how it ends. It’s done, which is how we both wanted it.”

Luc took hold of her upper arms with both hands. “It
does
matter. I don’t want you to go home so upset. Let me take you to the hotel. Get in the car.”

Megan shook him off. “You don’t get it, do you?! I told you before—I don’t
need
you. I don’t fucking
need
a man! I am
not
getting into your car!”

Seeing a cab, Megan stepped off the sidewalk and held her hand up. The cab stopped and she got in without looking back.