“Rome? Okay.”  He smiled.  “I was there once.  It was just a layover for a few hours on the flight back from Turkey.”  He mock sulked.  “We got diverted from Paris because we lost an engine.  So much for the chocolate cokes that were waiting for us there.  When we go to Paris I am having a chocolate coke.”  He laughed a little.

++++++

Aliyah could feel him trembling once again.  Hormones.  His inexperience made him anticipate just about everything and anything.  But being alone - finally - made him a little bolder than he had been with Gary or the butler around.  This time when she kissed him he placed his hands a little below her hips and lifted her effortlessly so that their faces were even and pulled her in.  A faint smirk crossed his lips.  “Yeah … maybe you should.  I would hate to think you could be outdone by a little bubbling hot water in an oversized bathtub and a shaky chair.”

He drew her in and kissed her, initiating contact for the first time.  He really didn’t know how to kiss, but he had good instincts.  He didn’t try to copy Hollywood.  And he clearly hadn’t seen any porn to get the wrong ideas from.  When he drew back again he spoke softly.

“I wish you didn’t have to work tomorrow or we had more time.  I’ve enjoyed just being with you.”  Truth was he didn’t want her to go.  He kissed her forehead and looked back at her lips.