Chapter 36 - Paris was supposed to be a trip, but Damon made it an adventure.

**Lisa**

My first morning in Paris ushered in golden streaks of sunlight that traveled through the curtains right over my face. 

I blinked slowly against the brightness, reluctant to open my eyes. I hid my face under the blanket. My elbow hit something hard and I froze in motion.

Turning my head slowly, I found someone in my bed.

Damon.

He was sleeping peacefully, unperturbed by the rays of sunlight. I turned around to watch him. He must have come into my room at some point in the night. But when? I wondered as I drifted off to sleep again.

“Lisa”? Damon whispered but I only stirred. I wasn't ready to leave this soft bed just yet.

But when the scent of freshly brewed coffee hit my nostrils, my heart fluttered open and my brain was alert.

Still stretching out my muscles and bones, I lifted my head to see Damon fully dressed with a mug of coffee in his hand.

I snatched it from him and took a large gulp.

“Why are you up so early?” I murmured, returning his drink to him. 

“You shouldn't drink coffee on an empty stomach especially when you're pregnant with my child.” 

“Your child?” I scoffed, running my hands through my tousled hair.

Click. Damon took a picture of my horrible looking bed hair and swollen face and smirked. 

“Did you just take a picture of me?” I asked. 

He turned away continuing with whatever he was doing on his laptop.

“Well, morning to you too.” I shouted leaving him for the bathroom. 

I walked out of the bathroom looking more presentable. Thankfully, Damon had left my room so I could dress up in peace. I went for a crop top and plaid shorts.

I walked into the living room to see Damon growing at his laptop. I ignored him and took a seat on the other end of the room, turning the TV on.

“You sleep okay?” he asked.

When I turned to face him, he seemed to be studying me as if accessing to check if I actually sleep well.

“Yeah “ I nodded. “Why?”

“Just checking to see how well my excellent buddy best distributes your beauty sleep,” he said, changing his tone from serious to playful in a millisecond.

That was fast.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help my smile, “It was exhaustion. That has nothing to do with you.

“Oh, darling. Whatever makes you sleep at night.” 

“Why were you in my bed this morning?” I asked the lingering question on my mind.

He gave me a confused look as if he was surprised that I was asking that question.

“You don't know?” He asked.

“Know what?”

“You don't remember last night?”

“What about last night?” I asked.

“Never mind,” he said, brushing it off, which only made me more suspicious. “You hungry?” He asked, standing from his seat and stretching. 

“Ravenous.” I retorted, rubbing my hands on my belly for effect. 

“Perfect, “ he said, shutting down his laptop. 

“Are we going somewhere?”

“Oh yes, I have the day fully booked for us both. And our mini-vacation schedule starts with you sampling the best croissants in Paris. So, I was checking to be sure that you have more than enough space.”

“Wow. I'm game.”

“You can go in and get dressed.” He said, his eyes crawling up with bare legs.

“I'm fully dressed, Damon. Let's go.”

He had a disapproving scowl on but he didn't push further. He pulled on an overcoat and said,

“Don't say I made you freeze in Paris. That is all you.” 

“I won't freeze.” I said stubbornly.

We left the apartment and basked in the warm morning sun while waiting for our ride. 

When Damon said we were going to try the best croissant in Paris, he forgot to add that we would be visiting a cookie tower/oven/bakery/restaurant, I'm not sure how to describe it but this place feels like a pastry Disney world with all the milky flour aroma as if we were right inside an oven.

Our order hadn't arrived yet but my mouth was already watering. We went into a private lounge which I was thankful for. At least now, the only person who’d witness my food-gasm would be Damon.

One bite of the croissant and everything melted down my throat.

“Hmmm, this is so nice. I'm tripping.

“Are you sure? Because we've barely started. I know it's your first time in Paris. But by the end of our trip, I intend to make you fall head over heels in love with it.

He wanted me to fall in love with Paris, not with him.

I sat up trying to pull myself together. These pastries had me on cloud nine. “What exactly do you have planned for today? And why are you making plans for me without me? I scowled.

Damon chuckled.

“Is this funny to you?”

He kept laughing which was even more infuriating, “There's chocolate on your upper lip. That's what's funny.

“Hold on, let me help.” He said, setting his cup down.

I swatted his arms away and wiped it off myself which only made him laugh even harder.

“What is it this time?” I said with an eye roll.

“It's far worse now.” 

I pulled out my phone from my purse and checked my face with my camera but I couldn't see anything.

“There's nothing here.” I said, my tone clearly annoyed but he only laughed harder.

“Fine.” Help me wipe it off I said, scotting closer to him and pouting my lips a little to give him more access.

He pulled my cheeks to the sides with his hands and shook my face with an amused look, “Awwn, you look so cute. My cute little bunny.”

Wildly irritated, I pulled away. There was obviously nothing on my face. Damon was just messing with me and I'd fallen for his dump joke.

Before I could blink, he pulled me back to him, holding me by my neck, his breath gracing my jugular, informing my heart to race,

“Not so fast, princess.” He said before his lips melted into mine.