Chapter 76

The short walk home from Monique’s parents’ house was quiet, the cool night air wrapping around us as we strolled side by side. Monique slipped her hand into mine, lacing our fingers together, her thumb brushing idly over my skin.

“You’ve been quiet,” she murmured, glancing up at me.

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, offering her a small smile. “Just thinking.”

She smirked. “Dangerous habit.”

I chuckled. “Not when it’s about you.”

She sighed contentedly, squeezing my hand a little tighter. “I still can’t believe all of this. That I get to stay. That you did this for me.”

As we reached my front door, I turned to face her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I did it for us, Monique. You’ll learn more here than you would in Boston, and we’ll get to be together. It was the best option for both of us.”

She studied me for a moment, her expression shifting from gratitude to something deeper, something more vulnerable. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I want to thank you, John. In any way you want. I want to give you—”

I shook my head before she could finish. “You don’t owe me anything, Monique.”

Her brows furrowed slightly.

I cupped her cheek, my thumb stroking softly along her skin. “This wasn’t about getting something in return. I did this because I love you. Because I want us to build something real. I don’t ever want you to feel like you have to give yourself to me just because I helped you.”

Her breath hitched, and for a brief moment, I saw something flicker in her eyes—something unguarded and raw.

Then, a slow smile spread across her lips, and she leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against my jaw. “That’s why I want to give myself to you, John. Because I love you. Because I want this as much as you do.”

I swallowed hard, the depth of her sincerity settling deep in my chest.

She stepped back, her fingers curling around mine, and with a teasing glint in her eye, she pulled me inside the house. “Let me show you.”

The moment the door clicked shut behind us, Monique turned to me, her hands reaching for the buttons of her blouse. She undid them slowly, deliberately, her eyes never leaving mine. The fabric slid from her shoulders, revealing smooth, sun-kissed skin and the delicate lace of her bra.

She let it drop to the floor, then reached for the zipper of her skirt, slipping it down inch by inch until the material pooled at her feet.

“Come here,” I murmured, my voice hoarse with want.

She smirked but obeyed, stepping closer until she was within reach. I let my hands wander, one resting on the curve of her waist while the other traced the line of her jaw.

“You are breathtaking,” I whispered.

Her lips parted slightly, her breathing uneven. “Then take your time with me.”

And I did.

Every kiss was slow, every touch deliberate. I worshiped her body with my hands and mouth, mapping every inch of her with reverence. I took my time, drawing sighs and gasps from her lips, watching the way her body responded to my touch.

She gave as much as she received, her hands exploring, her lips tasting, her body pressing against mine with unspoken urgency. We lost ourselves in each other, in whispered confessions and lingering touches.

When we finally came together, it was unhurried, deep, and all-consuming. We moved in perfect rhythm, our bodies attuned to each other, each sensation heightened by the emotions swirling between us.

Her name was a prayer on my lips, her body a masterpiece beneath my hands. And when we both reached the peak of our pleasure, it was with a shared gasp, our hearts pounding in unison.

Afterward, we lay tangled together beneath the sheets, our bodies still warm, our breathing slowly evening out. Monique rested her head against my chest, her fingers lazily tracing patterns over my skin.

“I never want this to end,” she murmured sleepily.

I kissed the top of her head. “It won’t.”

She sighed, pressing herself closer. “I love you, John.”

“I love you, mon amour,” I whispered against her hair.

As the weight of exhaustion settled over us, I held her close, the steady rhythm of her breathing lulling me toward sleep.

Tomorrow, we would leave for Geneva. But tonight, we simply had each other. And that was all we needed.