Temptation

Paris

"So, are you excited?" Anna asked, as she folded one of Cassie's shirts. Cassie smiled widely and told her, "Of course I am. I mean, It's Paris!" She put a shirt in her suitcase, then zipped it up, while Anna sat on her bed. 

She pulled her friend down next to her, then asked, "Have you ever thought about why Ben might really be bringing you to the most romantic city in the world?" Cassie shrugged and said, "He wants to bring me there because he says I need a break. Which, let's face it, I do."

She got up and went into the bathroom to grab her toiletry bag. When she came out, Anna asked, "Have you ever thought that he might...pop the question?" Cassie actually dropped her bag, then looked at Anna with wide eyes. 

"N-No," she stuttered, "he wouldn't do that...why would he? It's too soon! We've only been together for six months, I mean...no!" Anna quickly stood up and quickly said, "Okay, okay! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out. Look, if that does happen, don't act like this. All you have to do is say "no". 

Cassie nodded, but now she had all these thoughts reeling in her head. Is he going to ask her? Why would he? She's nothing. She's not worth being a wife...at least, that's what she thought. Either way, it was too soon...much too soon. 

Anna had left by the time Ben came over to pick Cassie up. He grabbed her luggage and put them in the car while she checked for last minute things. As she was locking up her door, Ben pressed his back against hers and said in her ear, "I can't wait to get you there. I can't wait to give you the holiday you deserve."

She turned in his arms with a nervous smile. "What's wrong?" He asked. "You look nervous." She sighed, then told him, "It's...it's nothing. I'm nervous about meeting your parents. That's all." He chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Nothing to be nervous about, love. Besides, we have a while until then. For now, let's enjoy Paris."

He drove them to the airport, got their luggage checked in, then got them settled in the terminal. "I'm going to head to the bathroom," Ben said, as he got up. Cassie nodded, then decided to go check out the gift shop. 

She wandered around a bit, looking at magazines and junk food she really didn't need. She immediately stopped walking when she came across something she really didn't need. She didn't know why she stopped here, nor why she was staring intently at it...but she couldn't stop. 

The tiny bottle of Jack Daniels was staring her right in the face and she could already taste it on her lips. Same goes for the tiny bottle of Jameson, Vodka, and Captain Morgan. She licked her lips, then gulped loudly. Suddenly, her arm was grabbed and she was jerked away. 

"Cassie, what the hell?" Ben sharply asked. "What are you doing? Where you going to buy those? Tell me!" She jumped a bit, then started to shake her head, rattling it for some kind of explanation. "I...I...I don't know."

He glared a her and repeated, "You don't know. You don't know? Jesus, Cass. Get back to our seats before our things get taken." She nodded, then quickly walked back, while Ben stayed behind and eyed the liquor she was just at. He scoffed, then shook his head and walked away. 

Only hours later did he forget about Cassie practically drooling at a liquor cabinet and focus solely on the fact that he was back in Europe. Nothing compared to the look on Cassie's face, though. Ben has never seen her so in awe of anything, but her jaw almost dropped at the sight of Paris as they drove to the hotel in a cab. 

He reached over and took her hand, making her look at him. He gave her a warm smile and gave her hand a squeeze. He didn't say anything, he didn't have to. He saw she was happy and that's all that mattered. 

When they got to the hotel, Ben got their keys and whisked her into the elevator. "Are you ready to get this started, my love?" He asked as he peppered kisses on her neck. She giggled and tried to playfully push him off, but he just held her closer.