Seventeen Days (22 page)

What was I going to say?
Oh, yeah.
“Don’t stop. That’s what I was trying to say. Please don’t stop, Harrison.” 

And he doesn’t stop. Nope. Not even for me to catch my next breath. Before I know it, I’m coming again. Hearing the familiar sound of a zipper and foil being ripped, it takes me a moment to process what is happening. He’s entering me while I’m still coming from his tongue. It’s too much. It only takes him one thrust home, and I’m cresting again. I’ve never had more than one orgasm. Ever. I was lucky enough to have one. This feeling is too much for me to handle, and I start crying. It's all consuming. 

Not stopping, he wipes my tears away. With each thrust, he places a quick kiss on my lips. These emotions are more than I’ve ever felt before, more than I can handle. It’s like I’ve thrown myself into the eye of the storm.

It’s everything.
 

Last night was beyond amazing. I’ve never known such love could exist between two people. 

After the first time, Harrison gathered me up in his arms and carried me into the bathroom where he started a bath and we got in together. Every touch made me feel cherished, loved, desired. 

We made love three times before exhaustion took over. When my alarm went off, I woke up all tangled in his arms. Best. Feeling. Ever. Not wanting to move, I snuggled closer to Harrison and hit snooze. Julian could wait—snuggle time with Harrison seemed more important at the time. 

“You’ve got to move, babe. Julian will be here in less than an hour. I’ll check out the area while you’re away. Maybe I’ll hit up the cafe around the corner for lunch and pick up a few souvenirs from one of the shops nearby. Savannah might like a token or two from Paris. I could always pick her up a little something special from the two of us.” 

Is it already after ten? I could swear my alarm was set for nine. Good thing we took a shower after round three. Now I don’t have to take one before meeting Julian for lunch. 

“How do I have less than an hour? Did I hit snooze more than once without realizing it?” 

His fingers pause in their comb through my hair. “No. I reset the alarm before we fell asleep, figured we could use the extra sleep.” 

Now that he mentions it, I do vaguely recall him grabbing my phone, but I was too sleepy to question it.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll quickly pull my clothes on, do my hair, and add a touch of makeup. No biggie.” And it’s not. Unlike Sienna, I don’t need hours to make myself presentable. A touch of this, a smidge of that, and I’m good to go. No muss, no fuss. 

“Are you nervous about today? About spending time alone with Julian?” 

Placing a kiss on his chest—near his heart—I get up from the bed. 

“Nope. Not one bit. I’m feeling good about having a somewhat normal father/daughter relationship with him.” 

He may have missed the first eighteen years of my life, but I’ll be damned if he was going to miss out on another day. Julian is a fantastic guy, and I’m sure with time he’ll be a kick-ass father. But I have to let him be one. This lunch today is only the beginning of it. As much as I want Harrison to be there with me, I want him as far away as possible. It’s a tug of war with my heart but my head won. Alone time with Julian is needed in order for us to move forward. 

“You’ll have a great time, I’m sure. Everything Julian did with us yesterday is proof of that. He wasn’t trying to impress me; he was trying to impress
you.
His daughter.” 

Shit, I know. But he didn’t need to impress me. His being alive, and in my life now, is all that matters. 

“His presence impresses me. I should probably tell him he doesn’t need to work so hard, huh?” 

“Unless you want him to keep on tossing his money away, I’d tell him.” Laughing gently, he climbs from the bed and starts making his way toward me. 

“Nope. No hanky panky for you this morning. I have places to go, people to see. Slowly back away, mister.” 

“Call him and tell him to be here at noon, you have something more urgent to attend to.” Reaching for me, I don’t put up any fight and fall willingly into his arms. Noticing we’re both naked and he’s
very
much awake, if you get what I mean. Shit … I’m going to be late for lunch. 

Sitting on a blanket on the greenest grass I’ve ever seen, I lie back and take in the beauty surrounding me. Paris truly is a magnificent city. I never cared much to take it all in before. 

“Thank you for asking me to do this today, Morgan. It’s been an honor to spend this time with you.” 

Watching a butterfly flitter on by, I tell him, “My pleasure, Julian. We needed this bonding time. Plus, I needed to let you know about Columbia and what steps I need to take next. I’ve yet to discuss those things with Savannah or Harrison. I’m betting it won’t be a pretty conversation. But I’m not leaving them forever, only for a few months.” Something only now has occurred to me: I should spend the holidays here in Paris with Julian. Invite my aunt and Harrison along too. 

“Hey, would you like to spend Christmas and New Year’s together?” 

It’ll be pricey, but I’m sure Julian would pay at least for my way here. Harrison should be able to get away. After all, I don’t see winter as being his busy season. Aunt Savannah probably won’t want to spend time with Julian, but if we were all here, would she agree to it? Maybe. Probably.
More than likely.
 

“That would be wonderful! We could make arrangements over the next couple of weeks. Would you want to stay with me, or in a hotel? Would it be you alone or others as well? I don’t mind opening up my apartment for everyone to stay, I have plenty of room.” 

Shit. Maybe I should have cleared this with everyone else before I blurted it out to Julian. Oh well, if they don’t want to come, they don’t need to come. I’d love to spend Christmas in Paris with my father. If my heart comes along too, it’s fine with me. My aunt would be the icing on the cake. 

“Um. I’d plan on there being at least three of us. If it’s okay?” 

Better let the others know ASAP that I basically made plans for them for the holidays. Oops. 

“That’d be okay, my dear. I’m already looking forward to it. Normally, I try to get back to the States to see my family but this year should be all about you. And it should be here, in Paris. It’s absolutely beautiful in the winter. And don’t worry about a thing, everyone is welcome to stay with me. Like I said, I have plenty of room.” 

Not only did I make plans for everyone, it sounds like I’m making him cancel his plans with his family. 

“Oh, no. You go spend the time with your family. It’s okay, I can spend the holiday with Savannah in Alabama. Who knows, I could be changing schools around that time, and it may all work out for the best. Maybe next Christmas I can come here to visit. Or spend next summer here.” 

“I’m going to only say this once, so listen up. You’re more than welcome here, Morgan. You asked, and I agreed. You’re not stopping me from making other plans, I
want
to spend the holiday with you. So it’s settled then. You’ll come here. I’m assuming Harrison and Savannah will be with you?” 

He settled that, didn’t he? 

“Okay, it’s settled. And yes, that’s who I plan on traveling with me. You can count on having company come December.” 

Now I only need to get everyone else to agree. 

We’re in the car on the way to the airport before Harrison asks how my lunch with Julian went. We didn’t have much time to chat before we left to meet our flight. 

Julian stayed with us while we packed and checked out of the hotel, surprising me by giving me a huge teddy bear hug and kissing my cheek. I’m going to miss him, and I barely know him. I’m looking forward to getting to know my father. Maybe someday I’ll even call him Dad. Maybe. It’s a pretty big step for me. 

“It went pretty good, actually. We made plans for Christmas. Um. I may have included you in those plans as well.” It’s not exactly how I planned on bringing it up.
Smooth, Morgan.
 

“What kind of plans are we talking about? Is he coming to Alabama?” 

I bite my lip.
Fuck, I’m nervous
. “Not exactly …”

“Well, what is it? What are these plans I’m a part of? I got to admit it, I love you making plans with me.
Future
plans.” 

Okay, so maybe he’s not pissed. Yet. I should spit it all out and get it in the open. If he’s on my side, he can help me convince my aunt to come; I’m positive I’ll need his help on that. 

“Well, I sort of made plans for us all to spend the holidays here. With him. In Paris. Staying in his apartment.” 

There. That was painless, right? 

The car picks up speed, and his hands are gripping the steering wheel a bit too tightly for my liking. Shit. He’s pissed off. He hasn’t commented yet. He’s completely silent. There’s no comfort in this silence. 

His lack of reply causes me to question everything. Did I overstep by making these plans? Maybe he had his own plans made and doesn’t want to cancel them. But obviously they wouldn’t have included me. Maybe I should be pissed. He talks big game about my being his, but now he seems upset I made actual plans in the actual fucking future with him. After he said he was happy I made future plans with him! Ugh! 

“You know what? You don’t have to come. Fucking forget I made plans that included you. Go about your life as if you’ve never met me. Spend your Christmas with
Dog
and the guys for all I care. I’ll be here in Paris. Maybe I’ll go one step further and move here. Since the thought of spending the holiday with me causes you to speed like an idiot and go mute not answer.” Guess last night wasn’t as earth-shattering to him as it was to me. 

“Know what else? Fuck you. Fuck you, Harrison. Pull over and drop me off, please. I’ll call Julian to come and get me. Let me out of this damn car.
Now
.” 

He’s still speeding, but I don’t care. Unlocking my door, I attempt to open it. I’ll get out while it’s moving, I couldn’t care less. I’ve gotten out of a moving car before, I can do it again. 

“Stay the fuck in this car, Morgan!” Squealing the tires, the car comes to a screeching halt. “You’re not going anywhere. You got me? No. Fucking. Where.” Grabbing my shoulder, he pulls me back and pushes me into my seat. “Stay the fuck here, and let me have my say. Quit putting damn words in my mouth and assuming the worst. Jesus, woman, give a man a second to think before he speaks!”