Free The One Adored (The One Trilogy Book 3) by Alexandra North

ticket - just send the darned thing and grow a pair!

    To: Sebastian Silver
    Subject: Surprise!
    From: Lucia Myers

    I can’t stand to be apart from you a moment longer.  
    I’ll be on flight LS315 arriving Thursday at Paris CDG airport, 11.00amish until Monday morning. I can make my own way to your place or get a hotel, just let me know, what suits. I’ll fit in with you as I know how busy you are but please keep your evenings free, if possible. 3 whole nights of you and me time.  
    # cityoflove

    All yours,
    Lu x

    Lucia Myers
    Managing Director Elysium Interiors

    I hit send and immediately step away from my desk, too apprehensive to wait around for any response.  
    Why am I so bloody nervous?  
    Because this means so much to you - you need him to want you as much as you do him.  
    “You’ve had a delivery, Lucia.” Jackie throws over her shoulder, en route to the kitchenette. “Another of those black boxes - you know the ones you’ve been receiving from Fresh Water Couture?” She disappears inside and I hear the click of the kettle, before she pops her head back out the door. “It’s been so dull, since you’ve been off work - we’ve missed our weekly floral deliveries.”
    “Hardly weekly.” I grin, excited that Seb had sent me flowers. He was thinking about me.
    “More like daily, Lu Bu. You’re obviously doing something right in the bedroom department - other than decorating.” Colin chips in dryly from his desk. “Me too, Jacks, I thought I was stranded in the dessert here - I’m parched.”
    “Which cup?” Jackie shouts, her head buried in the cupboard.
    “China, darling, with a saucer. I’m not one of Sebastian’s site lackey’s - love to oggle them with all their rippling muscles and manliness but my delicate pallet requires china.” His pursed lips makes me shake my head on a smile, he was such a princess.
    “Would you like a silver tray of cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam too, Count Colin? Perhaps some High Tea?” Jackie’s voice is peppered with sarcasm but Col is oblivious to it.
    “Ooh, sounds delish, doll - fabby.”
    I roll my eyes in unison with our brilliant and patient receptionist and nod as she holds up a mug for me, then make my way towards the black box, which sits temptingly perched on corner of her desk. The last rose I had received had been weeks ago, when I was recovering I think - yes, at the hospital. Its beauty had given me something to focus on in those first hallucinogenic days of recovery after surgery. A single bud, that each day opened up, its petals rich with red hues, velvet and vital - alive. A reminder of our love and a constant talking-point amongst the nursing staff, who all found it so romantic.
    I slip off the purple ribbon, and am instantly hit with the heady perfumed scent of a black baccara single rose - deep plum, almost noir in its colour. This would be my 11 th rose now in total.
    Inhaling deeply, I stroke the luscious petals against my cheek, it could be Sebastian’s touch in his absence and I hold on to that thought as I spy the accompanying envelope and retract the message quickly, keen to see his words. I’ve kept all ten scripted messages to date, plus all his notecards from the larger floral displays and my other gifts. I want to keep them all, as a reminder of our courtship.

    This message couldn’t have come at a better time. Now I’m confident that my visit to Paris will be perfect and is the right thing for us. We both crave contact as much as the other. Taking the rose, I select a slim black vase from the store cupboard and fill it with water, then place it on my desk, to enjoy at work. I won’t be at home after Thursday so I may as well leave it for the guys to appreciate.  
    My Mail window is open and a new email is hi-lighted with his name is bold letters, with the subject ‘not a moment too soon’. Without even clicking on message, any worries are put to rest - all is well and I’m going to