TEMPTRESS

II.

ANGÈLE JOSÉPHINE MONET LAURENT CHASTIN - PARIS, FRANCE 1968

She soon came back into the dining area with a rectangular box that seemed slightly heavy, he quickly freed her hands up which she thanked him for. "How did you manage to hide this?" He laughed and set it down on the table.

She shrugged in response. "You'll never find out." She smirked and flipped her hair.

"Right, right. Thank you, Ange." He kissed her cheek softly before squishing it playfully, making her push him off in response. "Here. Should we eat first or open these? Frankly, I'm kind of curious." He said and tapped on his box, wondering what would be hiding behind the box of his. He didn't have a clue.

"Later. Let's eat first." She smiled and moved the two gifts away, carefully setting them on top of a dining table chair.

"Parfait!" Julien waltzed over to the kitchen grabbing two plates of pasta. "I made you your favourite." He announced setting the plate in front of her.

She looked up at him with a grin on her face. "Your famous pasta! Aw! Thank you!" She smiled with a tiny clap. Julien's famous freshly made pasta. He made it with salmon bits and cheese from the wheel itself. His favourite thing to do for her was cook. He would do it all day if he could. Just to see her smile and enjoy his food at the end of the day.

They ate with laughter and anecdotes filling the air, their mouths devouring the food. The mixture of pasta, cheese, fresh greens, the sweet yet salty salmon hitting their tongue just right. That was ravishingly delicious.

"This was perfect. Thank you." She grinned as she leaned forward placing a long kiss on his lip as they sat on the floor, leaning their back against their white couch. Their unwrapped, unopened presents sat by their side, waiting to be opened. "Open your gifts. I'm sure you love it." She bit her lip carefully, reaching over him to tap at his box.

He leaned forward and placed the box on top of his legs. He carefully unwrapped it making sure not to tear away the wrapping paper on top of it. The one he knew she so carefully made sure there was no pleats and wrong folds. The opened the box revealing a new matte cannon flex. His eyes widening as he saw the gift. "This is... This is amazing. My love, my love. Thank you." He saw his passion, his hobby right in front of him.

"I figured; you could use one after the other broke. I'm sorry. And now, you can take beautiful pictures during your trip." His ancient beloved camera broke after a freak accident during one of their passionate and hefty night of copulating. He was livid but wasn't even able to stop in the moment.

Her gift on the other hand was a beautiful golden peal pendant necklace. Julien was walking down the street a month ago and spotted a necklace he knew she would love. She would adore. A necklace that would just elevate her beauty. "This is beautiful, Jules." She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him warmly.

"Shall I put it on?" He asked, lifting up the velvet box once she let him go.

"Wait. Not just yet." She smirked, having other ideas in mind. "Reste la." She ordered and stood up, walking out of the living room and into her bedroom. Shutting the door behind her. Julien waited patiently, admiring his new camera as she slipped into a delicate white silver slip dress, the same slip dress she knew Julien loved to see and then tear down.