“Give me back my watch.” She thinned her lips.

“I don’t think so!” he threatened. “Answer me.”

“I don’t discuss my husband. Not with you, not with anyone. I don’t feel like it. It’s a part of my life that has ended.” God! The man is more than just jealous. “Give me my watch back. My husband is dead. Six feet under. Cold and alone.” Her voice choked and she snatched the watch from his hand. “I’m here with you, aren’t I?” I wish I weren’t; I wish I were buried with Gabriel. “Why are you spoiling for a fight? Do you want me to leave?” Her low, sorrowful voice and withheld tears cut deep within him. They were worse than shouts.

“No,” he stared at her, surprised, “no.” His thumbs dried the wetness on her eyes. “Please, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’ve told you I don’t like you using things other men gave you.”

She pleaded with a susurrus, “Let’s not argue about this, please.” God! Gabriel gave me everything! I was married for almost seven years!

The woman knocked on the door, bringing two crystal glasses of water on a small silver salver. She put the glasses on the table and hastily exited the room, returning with Mr. Arkade and trays plus trays loaded with jewels.

“Mr. Ashford, it’s an honor to receive you again.” He shook hands with Ethan and nodded at Sophia. “Mademoiselle, it’s a pleasure.”

Sophia acknowledged the little man. What am I doing there? I’m no frivolous woman to accept jewels from a man I barely know. More jewels, Sophia, remember. More jewels.

“So, Mr. Ashford, do you have something specific in mind?”

“It’s up to the lady. But I thought about Van Cleef.” He turned to Sophia. “You like Van Cleef, don’t you? Perhaps you prefer something different?”

“Anything you feel like. I love Van Cleef.”

Mr. Arkade motioned for his assistant to put the trays on the table and started sorting through them. “I have some beautiful butterfly diamond clips and necklaces.”

“Ah… Nothing with butterflies, please.”

“Why not?” Ethan asked her.

She grimaced. “I-I’ll explain later,” she stammered.

“Any preference of color or gem?”

“Sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and diamonds.” Ethan enumerated the gems as if they were buttons. “Do you have the new catalogue?”

“Louise, could you please…” Mr. Arkade asked.

Louise handed Ethan a leather covered book. “This is the latest one, sir. Of course, we have the others. As you know Van Cleef is timeless.”

He waved her to put the other catalogues on the table as he peered through the first book. “Hmm… I’d like to see this,” he showed something to the woman, “and the matching complements.” He turned over two more pages. “Also this set with the matching ring.” He passed some more pages and leafed back, “and this one. Come on, Sophia, take a look at the others.”

“Ethan, I’m sure I’m going to like what you have chosen,” she murmured and drank her water, licking her lips.

He leaned in her direction and breathed in her ear. “Do that again and I will buy you the entire shop!”

She bit her bottom lip.

He tsked and his eyes flamed, sparkling blue fire.

Louise returned with big black velvet trays. The first displayed an exquisite set of beaded sapphires and diamonds: a remarkable necklace, earrings, and two rings. “This is the Medusa set.” She looked at Sophia. “You can detach the clip,” she demonstrated, “and the necklace becomes all diamond. Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sophia nodded, so uncomfortable she became speechless. “I brought both rings so you could choose.”

She gave the other tray to Ethan. “The Makis set, sir.” A stunning bracelet with flowers, leaves, and a tiny lemur with matching earrings, an extraordinary clip, and a wondrous necklace. Beaded emeralds, carved rubellites, black spinel, and diamonds. Cute tiny lemurs appeared everywhere. “Mr. Ashford, this clip turns into a pendant.” She showed Ethan the back of the clip.

Louise is going to sell him everything.

“That’s it! Perfect.” He showed it to Sophia. “Do you like them?”

She picked up the bracelet in awe. “It’s a timepiece, isn’t it?” she asked Mr. Arkade and he bobbed his head at her with a big grin on his odd face. “It’s… exquisite.” She fingered the tiny lemur and opened the flower that covered the watch.

“Put the necklace on, Sophia,” Ethan coached.

I’m not selling my soul. She put the bracelet back on the tray. “These are fit for a queen.”

“You are my queen,” he whispered in her ear. “Please.”

Please? This is smothering. She frowned, uncertain, she bit her lip and tried the less grand of the rings. If only there was something less expensive on these two trays.

“Now,” he breathed and his hand cupped her chin, his thumb caressing her lip. “You like the sapphire set?”

God… What should I do? “I cannot accept, Ethan.”

“Choose something different, then.” His disappointment visible on his face.

Can’t he understand? This is too much and too soon. I’m not his mistress. Nor I am his wife.

He motioned his hand to the other trays.

“You didn’t like it, ma’am?” Mr. Arkade’s smile waned.

Sophia looked at his face and took pity. “It’s not that I didn’t like them, sir. Far from it,” she murmured and looked at Ethan. “They’re dazzling, but it’s too much.” She put her hand over his. “Really, there is no need. Choose something simpler.”

“You liked it?” Ethan asked again; she bit her lip and nodded. “We’re taking both.” He leaned toward her and murmured. “You’re doing it again.” He turned to the little man. “Mr. Arkade, my driver is going to come by to pick up both sets in half an hour. I expect you at my office tomorrow by ten.” He rose, concluding the purchase. “Louise?” He bestowed a smile on the woman. “I see that you have exceptional good taste.” Louise liquefied into a puddle at his feet. “Please, add a diamond necklace for the Makis clip.”

“Of course, Mr. Ashford.” Louise ran to get their coats and helped Sophia put hers on her shoulders.

Sophia rose on her tiptoes and kissed Ethan on the lips, “Thank you. I loved both.” She put on her gloves.

“I’m glad. Now you’re only missing some watches.”

She shook her head, smiling.

Wilkins appeared less than two minutes after Ethan called him.

Ethan entered the car after her, ordering on the intercom, “Home, please, Wilkins.”

She took off her gloves and caressed his jaw, his beard softly tinkling the palm of her hand. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but I’d rather you refrained from your purchase impulses. I don’t feel altogether at ease with so many gifts. It’s smothering me.” And I like what I have at home. This is completely wrong, Sophia. Completely wrong.

He caged her face in his hands and gave her a long, overwhelming kiss distracting her from her musings. “Baby, you’ll have to learn,” he said huskily. “So, what am I bound to discover under this dress of yours?” His hand wandered up her thigh and his smile turned naughty.

The desire on his face awakened Sophia’s. “Aren’t we impatient today, Mr. Ashford?”

“Jesus, Sophia,” he breathed when his fingers touched her skin, “you turn me on like no woman has ever done. I want you. Here, now.”

She froze. She opened and shut her mouth twice before she could speak, “Here?”

“It’s big enough,” he said trailing kisses along her jaw and neck, “I have been giving this idea some thought. Why not try it?” He raised his head to look at her and spoke on her lips, “To start with.” The rich tone of his baritone voice washed over her and he kissed her, his tongue traced her lips and dipped in her mouth, coaching, caressing, yearning.

Why not? Because it is fifteen minutes max to his apartment, you idiot. But… Yeah. No. No, definitively, no. “Ethan, it’s too near.” She looked out at the window. “We’re almost there.”

“I can order Wilkins to drive until I say so,” his hand stretched to touch the intercom and she gripped his wrist.

“No. Absolutely not,” she stood her ground. “We can kiss, we can fondle, but we aren’t doing it in the car. At least, not today.”

“Okay, okay,” he put his palms up, in a peaceful gesture and then picked her up in his arms and settled her on his lap. “So, Ms. Santo,” he said with a wicked smile, “let me fondle you until the garage.”

Sophia! You and your big mouth. She started to scold herself but her thoughts scattered away as his fingers brushed aside her panties and gently touched her. “Oh, Ethan,” she breathed and let her head fall back on the car window.

He shifted angling his head to kiss her and her fingers threaded through his silky hair, clenching it and pulling him down for a hard kiss.

She felt his arousal against her thigh as she wiggled under his expert ministrations.

He kissed her neck, her shoulder, and pushed aside the top of the sleeve with his mouth and kissed the place he’d bared. He lifted his head and she thought he’d given up, but then he inhaled deeply and put the fingers he fondled her with in his mouth. And sucked.

Sophia gasped at the erotic scene and threw away reason, “Dammit,” she exclaimed and straddled him, her hands fumbling impatiently with his belt and the zipper of his trousers.

She reached down and placed her hand over his tented underwear where his erection pushed against the cloth.

His warm and deep chuckle filled the car as he raised his hips to push down his clothes and his mouth descended on her neck, scattering kisses along the neckline. He brushed her dress aside, his tongue dipping under the lace edging the bodice’s neckline.