Dark Chocolate Murder (12 page)

Dressing in a casual top and slipping into an apron, Belinda dashed out of the apartment.  Practically skipping down the street, she breathed in the floral-scented spring air, this morning feeling younger than the season itself.

*****

Belinda was relaxing with a steaming cup of cocoa during the midday lull at the shop.  She looked up in surprise when the bell rang above the door and Crystal walked inside.  It was the first time her sister had been to the shop since the day the lease was signed.

“Well hello there! Come on in!” Belinda set down her cocoa and greeted Crystal at the door.

Was it just her imagination, or did the usually radiant Crystal look a little haggard?  Belinda regarded her sister with soft eyes, realizing that she had missed her.  Thank goodness Belinda had found her own apartment because she shuddered to think what their relationship would have deteriorated into had she remained at the estate.

“Your shop looks amazing! It’s got an old-fashioned
, kind of small town vibe.  I love it!” Crystal gushed, taking a whiff and exclaiming, “And I could get used to smelling chocolate all day long!”

“It’s a bit much sometimes,” Belinda admitted.  “I don’t even know why I was drinking that cup of coc
oa.” She pointed to the half-drunk mug on the counter.

“
Your boutique is pure charm! Yummy!” Crystal beamed.

“Yes,
‘yummy’ would definitely be the operative word.  You know I’ve never been thin.  Thin has nothing to do with
my
life.  Unless we’re talking about Thin Mints Girl Scout Cookies!  I could eat a whole box of those.  How crazy is it that the girl who loves to eat opened a store that sells nothing but fattening food?!” Belinda laughed at herself.

Crystal shook her head in vehement disagreement.  “You look amazing.  Even
more so since Pierre came into your life!”

“
Thanks, sweetie.  So what brings you here?  Is Jean-Jacques still at his meeting?”

Crystal rolled her eyes in disgust.  “No, he’s playing golf.  What else would he be doing?”

“Don’t be so hard on him.  The man spends a lot of time working to keep his businesses afloat,” Belinda said gently, wondering if Crystal had argued with Jean-Pierre before coming here.

“Please! He has a staff that does most of the heavy lifting for him.  He just has to collect the pot of gold every month when rents come in,” Crystal snorted.

“Is everything okay?  You seem really edgy today,” Belinda commented, concerned.

“I’m fine!” Crystal fibbed.  “Aren’t you even going to offer me some chocolate?” She asked incredulously.

“Of course I am!  Here, take your pick.” Belinda motioned towards the endless glass-enclosed cases of candies.

Crystal picked out a Salted Pr
aline truffle and nibbled on it thoughtfully.  Without warning, she burst out, “You think I have the perfect marriage, right?  Wrong! You think because I just stay home all day that I’ve got it made.  Well, Jean-Jacques and I don’t even---we don’t…you know.  Ugh, let me just say it.  He’s impotent!  Why do you think we don’t have any children yet?” Crystal looked as though a huge weight had just been lifted off her, but Belinda felt burdened by the revelation.

“Crystal, why did you tell me that? I’m so embarrassed for Jean-Jacques.  I won’t even be able to look at him now.”

“How do you think I feel?! Oh, Belinda, it’s all a façade.  My husband and I are roommates in a castle!” Crystal said disgustedly.

“But Jean-Jacques seems so romantic with you.
I mean, I’ll never forget our lunch on my first day here when he was feeding you a grape.” Belinda recalled how awkward she had felt that day.

“Please! I don’t need a man to put fruit in my mouth!  I need a ma
n to make the headboard vibrate!” Crystal cried in frustration.

Belinda looked at her sympathetically.  She knew exactly how she felt.  Daniel had not been impotent, but he might as well have been, he was such an inferior lover.  Belinda remembered that cold feeling in bed next to him, how h
e would turn over on his side and sleep by the edge of the bed.  Apparently, he would have preferred rolling onto the floor and cracking his skull open to snuggling with his wife.

“I bet Pierre’s not impotent.  That man has the body of a
prize-winning stallion, and I’ll bet the endurance of one.  Yes, I’ll take that bet to the races!” Crystal laughed wickedly.  “There’s no way a man like Pierre would ever be impotent.”

Belinda furrowed her brow at the saucy way her sister was speaking about Pierre.  Clearly, it had not been her imagination that Crystal was gawking at him last night like a
love-struck teenager.  Carefully, Belinda broached the topic. “You know, I didn’t like how you were looking at Pierre last night.  And I don’t appreciate the comments you just made about him.”

Crystal looked down,
mortified.  “I’m sorry.  I know I was staring at him last night. I didn’t mean any disrespect to you, Belinda, believe me.  It’s just so frustrating being married to a man who’s impotent.”

“Stop saying ‘imp
otent.’  I don’t like that word.” Belinda scrunched up her nose distastefully, although she had already forgiven her baby sister for drooling over Pierre.  It would be hard to blame any woman, especially one with a malfunctioning husband, for being enraptured by the masculine treat that was Pierre Cédaire.

“Neither do I, believe me!” Crystal rolled her eyes dramatically.

“But what about how you’ve always said you’ve got him wrapped around your finger? It certainly seems to be true,” Belinda pointed out.  “There’s nothing you lack for.”

“There’s nothing
material
I lack for, no! Yeah, so he tries extra hard to please me with our big house and fancy gifts and servants.  But it’s not what I want.  I want that slamming headboard…” Crystal trailed off with a feminine growl.

Belinda held up her hand in a clear motion of ‘stop.’  “Say no more.  I understand. 
So would you consider leaving him?”

“
I don’t know.  I mean, I never went to college.  But there are things I could do.  Hey, you know what?” Crystal asked, her face suddenly brightening.

“What?” Belinda looked at her warily.

“I could work in your chocolate shop! You need an assistant, right?  I don’t have to leave Jean-Jacques right now.  Maybe getting out of the house a few days a week will help,” Crystal suggested, already disconcerted by the notion of abandoning her beautiful property and high social status.

Belinda cringed, remembering the marshmallow disaster birthday cake Crystal had baked.  Her sister did not share her culinary gift, that was for sure.  What could
Crystal possibly do in the chocolate shop other than ruin recipes?

Reading her sister’s mind, Crystal burst out, “I’ll be your cashier!  I’ll ring up all your orders, wrap all the gift boxes, order new inventory…you know, all the non-baking stuff,” she said sheepishly.

“You know what? That would actually be a tremendous help! Of course I’ll pay you…”

“I don’t need the money, Belinda.  I need a distraction.  I’ll be your unpaid intern.  And I won’t take no for an answer,” Crystal insisted, and Belinda did not argue.

In reality, Belinda was exhausted from trying to wear so many hats operating her business.  It would be a relief to have someone she could trust to attend to the tedious, but crucial, details of the shop.  That way, she could focus more on creating new confections and perfecting old recipes.  And she might even be able to spend more time with Pierre…

“You’re hired!” Belinda
declared with a grin.

Yes
, Belinda’s Chocolate Boutique was looking sweeter and sweeter every day.

*****

At dusk, Belinda was standing outside her shop locking up for the night.  As she turned the key and tested the doorknob, a vice-like pair of arms grabbed her from behind.  Gasping, Belinda felt warm breath
fanning her cheek and possessive arms encircling her waist.  A low chuckle echoed in her ear as she relaxed and exhaled with relief.

“Pierre!” She scolded.  “What are you doing coming up behind me like that?  You scared me!”

“Yes, but you’re so sexy when you’re surprised.  I’m sorry,” he said lightly.

“No you’re not!”

“No, I’m not.  Are you?” He challenged huskily.

“Not at all.  I’m so glad you’re here.  I didn’t expect to see you again so soon after last night.” Belinda twirled around to face Pierre and greet him appropriately with an open-mouthed kiss.

“It might sound cliché, but I couldn’t stay away,” Pierre whispered against her lips.  “And I want to finish what we started on your counter the other night.”

“I think we did finish it in your bed!” Belinda laughed.

“Yes, but I want to finish it on the counter,” Pierre said wickedly.

“Oh, Pierre Say Dare, are you asking me to reopen my shop just for you?” Belinda purred.

“Is it too much to ask?” He feigned a boyish pout.

“For you, it’s just enough to ask,”
she grinned, already turning the key in the lock.

Chapter Nine

Playfully, he pushed her through the door, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist as he led them to the counter where their first passionate romp had been born.  With newfound confidence, Belinda jumped up onto the counter, parting her legs in a less than subtle invitation.  Pierre instantly accepted her invitation, straddling her even as they were both fully clothed.  Without touching her with his hands, Pierre moved his lips over hers, feeling her breasts crush the muscles of his chest and inhaling the sweet mix of her floral-scented hair and the decadent chocolate that was all around them.  She was invading every one of his senses, but he craved more, and his hands couldn’t stay still for long.

Soon, he was ripping off her
tee-shirt and finding her breasts, round and hard-peaked, inside a delicate lace bra.  She arched upward with abandon, not feeling a modicum of pain when her head banged against the hard countertop.  She was only partially nude, but fully embroiled in the moment with Pierre Say Dare.  He could dare her to do anything right now, and she would.  She was his sweet, sweet prisoner, and she loved it.  All these years, this is what she had been needing.  It was so simple.

Letting her mind go blank, Belinda grazed her teeth against Pierre’s salty shoulder, trailing an exploring hand down his iron chest and moaning as he worked uncommon magic on her breasts.  Spontaneously, he reached for a bottle of vanilla extract and liberally poured some over her bare breasts.  Dipping his head to taste, he licked each bud lazily, going crazy over the taste of her flesh mingled with the vanilla. 
This tantalizing foray of her body was too much for Belinda to handle.  Urgently, she tugged at the zipper of his pants, wanting to feel the satisfaction of having his masterful rod inside her.  Impatiently, she tore down the zipper and pushed the jeans down his narrow hips.

Shedding the remainder of their clothes at lightning speed, Pierre pressed his naked skin full-length against hers.  They both groaned at the exquisite sensation of
burning skin on skin.  She shoved her hands into his wavy black hair, pulling him down to her mouth for a wild kiss that shook them both to their core.  Entering her with one long stroke, Pierre buried his face in her red-gold hair, mumbling something in French that she could not understand.

He ripped her apart, body and soul, as he moved frantically inside her
.  Belinda tossed her hair like the sea, desirous of release but desperate to prolong their union for hours.  She wanted him inside of her until she felt raw and couldn’t take anymore.  She wanted him to spew out his every fantasy, all his pleasure and satisfaction deriving from their coupling.

Moaning in a rich masculine tone, Pierre thrust faster inside of Belinda before forcing himself to slow down.  He also wanted to make the experience last, wanted to stay buried inside her all night if he could.  She arched her back and thrust her breasts imploringly in his face, as Pierre instantly bowed his head to one and took another lingering taste.  Yanking on his hair and rolling her hips upward, she urged him to move faster again, and he could not resist her passion-drenched plea.

“I want this to last,” he said gruffly while denying his own words and moving at her contagious speed.

“Me too,” s
he gasped as his reckless motion carried them both away in a maelstrom of pleasure.

When release poured into her nerve endings, she cried out, gazing up at the scarlet sunset before shutting her eyes and seeing nothing but Pierre’s beautiful face.  Knowing that she had reached a climax, Pierre let himself go and surrendered to the sharpest erotic pinnacle of his life.  He groaned with
a combination of satisfaction and desolation as their bodies slowed but their hearts pounded.

“I really want to hold you now.  But this co
unter is not the place for that,” Pierre whispered, nuzzling against Belinda’s neck.

“Yes, your bed was so much better for that purpose,” Belinda said dreamily.

“But not better for every purpose,” he said naughtily, sprawling across the counter.