From Pemberley to Manhattan Read online

  “Higher? Where, in God’s name, can it go?”

  “Into the space, Darcy.” This time, I did the whispering, and he gaped.

  “Impressive”, he admitted, after a while of complete shock.

  “Hi!” A blond girl with an orange jumpsuit that I instantly recognized as the uniform for Rebellion pilots approached us holding clothes. “The handsome guy will be our Luke Skywalker”, she informed Darcy with a wink, which made him blush deeply, “and you’ll be dressed as Princess Leia in her slave outfit.” She gave each of us our costumes and walked to the buffet table.

  “Just get dressed, Darcy”, I instructed him as he looked, dumbfounded, at the mass of white clothing in his big hands. “I’ll clarify everything in a moment.”

  As I saw the sexy metal bikini I was about to wear, I couldn’t resist messing with his head a little further before I got changed. “If you thought that story about intergalactic war was impressive, I can’t imagine what you’ll think after I dress like Princess Leia.”

  I left him with a devilish grin on my face. Oh, you’re so in the palm of my hand, Mr. Darcy.

  ♥

  Nat

  I saw him before his sea-blue eyes found me. The scene I was observing was, at the same time, sweet and comical. Somehow, he looked quite like a gentleman with his Luke Skywalker outfit, holding a green lightsaber as if it were the most powerful sword ever made, and he, the last Jedi of the galaxy.

  He was talking animatedly with our host, Michael-slash-Darth Vader. When his gaze shifted in my direction his lips parted automatically, his face turned a deep tone of pink and his pupils dilated, making the blue in his eyes practically disappear. His lightsaber now rested limply by his side, no longer an object of his interest.

  Michael-slash-Vader giggled, the sound bizarre behind the helmet, kind of robotic, and utterly funny. “You’re a lucky man, Darcy. Oh, sorry. Luke.” Michael gave him a friendly pat on the back.

  “The luckiest in the galaxy”, Darcy agreed, his eyes never leaving me, his words and expressions making his new friend laugh.

  If there was something I admired in my time-travelling man (besides his gentleman manners, his sea-blue eyes, his perfect lips, baritone voice and thick accent) it was his capacity to adapt elegantly, no matter the circumstance, and enter the character the situation required he became. Wait a sec. Did I just say he was my man?

  “Nat, baby”, a familiar voice called me, making me break eye contact with Darcy. “We need to talk.”

  ♥

  Nat

  Doug. Flocking. Brooks. In France. At the Star Wars party. Dressed as a Stormtrooper. “What the fuck are you doing here?!” I know, I know. I broke my no-cussing rule. Yet again. Because of Doug. Yet again. But everyone could agree that moment deserved an F-word! Yet again. Then I comprehended something, “Were you the one following us?”

  “We need to talk, baby.” His voice was muffled by the white helmet, but, unfortunately, I could still hear the jerk loud and clear.

  “Don’t you dare call me baby, Doug. And we have nothing to talk about.”

  I took a step away, but Doug stopped me from taking additional steps by grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him. “All I ask is for a chance, Nat”, his grip tightened. “After all, I came all this way just so you could hear me out.”

  “Get your cheating hands off me!” I tried to pull away, but he was far stronger. I couldn’t believe he was hurting my arm. He had taught me and hundreds of other women how to protect ourselves from guys that pulled the kind of sheet he was pulling now! What a jackash!

  “You heard the lady.” A thunderous voice said by my side, his huge hand covering Doug’s right arm, forcing him to let go of me.

  “Stay out of it, asshole,” Doug, always the charmer. “This is between my girl and me.”

  “And I”, Darcy corrected, making half the party laugh. “Besides, the lady is most definitely not yours.” Thank you very much, Mr. Darcy, but I can speak up for myself.

  “Oh, really? Who does she belong to, then? You?”

  “Miss Nathalie belongs to no one but herself.” Awww… That was adorable. Still, completely unnecessary. Again, I could defend myself. At the same time, it was nice to know I could count on Darcy for that. Not that I needed him, of course. “I, however, do belong to her, heart and soul, and will duel you if you insist on forcing your most unwelcome presence upon us.”

  Now every female at the party Awwwed in unison. Wow, his speech just made my insides melt and that special spot between my thighs wake up and yell “Get in here, Mister!” to Darcy.

  “Are you threatening me?” Doug and Darcy were barely an inch apart now, both refusing to back off. No matter their age, the century they were from, or their upbringing, men would always behave like machos when women were involved.

  In that particular case, that woman was me. Cough, cough, cough. I was feeling hotter than Megan Hottie Fox.

  “Mr. Vader”, Darcy said to our host, “Would you do me the favor of lending this gentleman”, he said that last word through his teeth, “your sword?”

  “Sure, Darcy! Oh, I meant Luke!”, Michael offered Doug (who was still in his Stormtrooper costume) his red lightsaber.

  “Shall we?” Darcy wasn’t even speaking anymore, he was actually growling at Doug. Wow, this Brit was so sexy. I wish we were alone in the Parisian apartment’s bathtub, me in my sexy kitten Princess Leia bikini, him in… Well, nothing.

  They started fencing with the lightsabers, Doug with rude, imprecise movements, Darcy moving with meticulousness and elegance. The entire party became quiet, except for a few claps when Darcy managed to hit Doug with the plastic saber, or when the women wowed him. Yes, he was a wow man.

  Eyes off my man, ladies!

  I’d just become a possessive bitch. Maybe it was the tight outfit I was wearing, which was beginning to itch. Maybe, it was Darcy’s tight pants, which showed the perfect curvature of his perfect butt. Holy crab! Darcy stroke Doug’s helmet with his saber, throwing my ex on his back on the grass. Just what he deserved.

  “That’s enough, dude! You’ve lost it, accept it!” Michael held Doug’s shoulder as he stood up and charged against Darcy again. Since he’d been stopped, Doug took off his helmet, and there was a murderous look in his eyes. Luckily, Michael was larger, heavier and stronger than Doug, and obviously didn’t feel threatened by my pathetic ex. “You should get out now. As Darcy previously stated, you’re not welcome here.”

  “I’m not leaving without her”, Doug pointed a finger at me.

  “She made it clear she wants nothing to do with you, dude”, Michael calmly replied before Darcy could attack Doug again with his toy saber. To protect me. So macho man, yet so cute!

  “I’ve already called the French police, dear!” Sarah, Michael’s wife, the one dressed in well-behaved Princess Leia (with the classic hairstyle and white dress), informed her husband.

  Looking like he was about to spit fire, Doug left the party, taking off his costume in the process.

  Darcy didn’t look like Buddha or anything, but at least his expression had softened a bit when he asked, “Are you okay, Nathalie?”

  “I’m about to be”, I told him, grabbing the back of his neck to pull him into a deep, hot and wet kiss.

  Again, there was an OWN unison, and Michael mentioned “That’s disgusting, Leia! You’re kissing your brother!”

  I showed him my middle finger, my mouth still connected to Darcy’s.

  My Darcy.

  ♥

  THAT SAME MOMENT

  NEW YORK

  CONVERSATION BETWEEN FANNY AND TERRY

  TERRY: Now I can tell you for sure Doug went to Barcelona.

  FANNY: Great! I can get a ticket now and–

  TERRY: I don’t think Nat’s in Barcelona, Fanny.

  FANNY: I thought you just said Dou
g the Cheater went there.

  TERRY: Yes, his flight went to Barcelona. But he could be anywhere in Europe by now. He could have taken a train to Paris, or a bus to Lisbon, or he could have rented a car to go anywhere.

  FANNY: So, you’re telling me we still have got no idea where my best friend is?

  TERRY: I’m really sorry, Fanny. Trust me, I’m doing everything I can and–

  FANNY: I never got to ask you: did you like my leather dress?

  TERRY: Yes, you looked great, you always–

  FANNY: What about the metal balls? Do you dig that kind of thing?

  TERRY: Actually, Fanny, I wanted to know what you were planning to do with those balls.

  FANNY: Really?

  TERRY: Yes.

  FANNY: You want to play with the balls?

  TERRY: Fanny…

  FANNY: Do you want to play with them inside Fanny?

  TERRY: Fanny… Why do you say these things to me?

  FANNY: Because I have many dirty plans for us, Terry. All you’ve got to do is find Nathalie.

  ♥

  Chapter 23

  14 DAYS IN PARIS

  PART II

  Under normal circumstances, Mr. Darcy would have been deeply shocked that a lady not engaged to him kissed him on the mouth, especially in front of a large public. Yet, he had learned by now, he wasn’t his normal self in any matter involving Miss Nathalie Estevez Brown.

  Or, perhaps, that was his true nature. If that were the case, he’d have to consider his position as a gentleman, for right now he was doing ungentlemanlike things, and having ungentlemanlike thoughts, something that was becoming alarmingly common around Nathalie.

  Only as he felt an important member of his waking up did he have the decency to break the scandalous kiss. His resolution did not last long, though. The more he drank his hosts’ beer, the closer he got to ruining the lady’s reputation completely. As they arrived at the Parisian apartment, he and Miss Nathalie had acted in an inappropriate manner eleven times already! And he could not even blame only himself for the immoral kisses and depraved behavior.

  Miss Nathalie had been most willing, making his inappropriate needs even worse by kissing him deeper every time their lips touched, making the most beautiful sounds whenever he touched her in a different part of her silky skin, tightening her grip on him if he dared move away from her. Her garments (or lack of) were not doing his good intentions any favors either.

  After their eleventh kiss, when they were in their Parisian apartment (without a proper chaperone, he reminded himself), Miss Nathalie decided touching Darcy’s lips with her own was not enough any longer. She began nibbling his earlobe, then licked the sensitive spot where his ear met his neck, making his hairs go up. By the time she reached his throat, Darcy was groaning like a wild animal.

  Then she did something that his good manners could not surpass, nor ignore. She took off the top part of her barely existent garments.

  ♥

  Nat

  The Star Wars Duel Day was going amazing. Yes, I’d been pretty pissed off when I found out Doug had been shadowing us. But, at the end, it had been worth it. Watching Darcy fencing valiantly for my honor (or whatever gentlemen fought over in his days) had been a major turn on, and we’d left the costume party doing some party of our own, with our mouths, hands and – Thank God for French kisses – tongues.

  We made out all the way to our Parisian apartment slash about-to-become-love-nest. As soon as we got there, I began undressing; a quick job, considering I wasn’t wearing much to take off. Besides my Princess Leia slave metal bikini and cool accessories, I had my light coat on.

  I made sure Darcy was paying attention as I performed the miracle of hotness by showing off my curves, some of which were hated by twenty-first century girls, but very appreciated in regency times. What can I say? People from then had much better taste.

  His mouth was literally watering – naturally – when I took off the top part of the bikini. His reaction after that was totally unexpected, and somewhat offending; instead of admiring the twins and properly worshipping them with his aristocratic fingers and lips (some light teeth might have been welcomed as well), the son of a bleach turned his back on me!

  “Miss Nathalie!” The jerk had the nerve of sounding insulted by my action. Pfff! “What on earth do you suppose you are doing, madam?” What the shell did it look I was doing? I was getting ready for my fifty shades of Darcy, of course! I demanded my fifty shades of Darcy! Nevertheless, as I’ve previously informed you, we never got that far…

  “Well, I was giving you the honor of meeting my twins. A privilege only a very few human beings have ever had, I must add.”

  “Your twins, Madam?” There was no way I’d give him another free pass for going madam on me again.

  “Yes, Darcy. My twins. Also known as breasts, boobs, tits–”

  “Madam, I beg you to stop!” His rejection hurt. A lot. Which meant there was no way I’d stop. Not before I gave him some of his own poison. Or whatever poison I got. As long as he called me madam, I wouldn’t stop. He’d better be prepared. I could see his neck and ears flushing. His cheeks must have been pinkish as well. If only I could see his face!

  “Darcy, darling, I’m quite familiar with your century’s customs, and I’m aware of the fact that, back in your time, people used a chemise to do the kind of thing we’re about to. But I really thought you’d appreciate the view”, I gathered as much velvet into my tone as I could.

  “What kind of thing are we about to do, Miss Nathalie?” He disregarded my last remark and focused on that specific part. It sounded like he was shocked I was even considering having some good and old dot-dot-dot time with him. That didn’t make sense. Even in his century, it was the thing that followed a make out session, right? Otherwise he’d be like a… monk! And not the dirty kind, either. Or even worse: could Fitzwilliam Darcy be a… virgin? Oh, I decided I’d find that out. Even if I had to play nasty with him.

  “I believe you know exactly what thing that is. But if you need me to translate that to English… Your English… I was referring to fornication.” I pronounced the last word slowly, tasting it. That time, he was so surprised by my shocking wording he actually turned to face me. Smart – and horny – as I was, I rolled my shoulders back, reminding him of all the deliciousness he was wasting to needless conversation.

  “Miss Nathalie”, he stated as if the two words said worlds, after many seconds of his eyes attempting to leave my chest, only to fail miserably. Got milk, Darcy? His eyes slowly went to mine. “I would never do you the dishonor of laying with you without… Well, without marrying you first!” Awwww… That was kind of cute. Kind of sexist, but still… For a man from his century, it was a nice gesture. If only we could be having this nice gesture naked and on top of each other, I was totally fine with it. He could do all his showing respect out of time thing.

  “Don’t worry about that, Darcy. Things are different now. One doesn’t need to be wed to “dishonor” a lady. As long as a lady agrees, one can do all the dishonoring he wants”, I took a few steps his way, until the twins were touching the fabric of his Skywalker tunic. He inhaled sharply and held his breath. “Besides, I’ve been dishonored before, so you’d be doing no harm.”

  “What?!” His tone had changed from ragged to furious in a sec. “By whom?”

  “Well, some.” When I saw the expression on his face, I thought it best to clarify. “Not many. And you’ve met one of them.”

  “The Detective? Mr. Doug Brooks?” He was angry. Like, I’m-turning-werewolf-in-the-full-moon angry. I couldn’t help nodding. “I knew I should have dueled him to death!”

  “No, you shouldn’t. Otherwise, you’d go to jail for a long time,” I told him, seriously worrying about this dark mood of his. “Darcy, I promise you it’s fine. I want you. Like, now.”

  Considering the b
est strategy to make him forget about the whole fighting-to-death scheme, I moved away from him and resumed my so-sexy-I-forgot-all-about-your-ex-and-dueling stripping. It worked. For a few seconds, at least. Once he realized I was going fully naked, he shut his eyes tight, like a five-year-old watching a horror movie.

  Great. Back at being offensive to my hotness again.

  “Miss Nathalie, I beg you to stop what you are doing this instant!”

  “Why?” I was beginning to get confused now, he was truly hurting my feelings. “I’ve already explained why you wouldn’t be dishonoring me, Darcy.”

  “It is not only with your honor I am concerned, madam”, he answered shyly. “I promised myself I would only share this profound intimacy with my wife.”

  So he was a virgin! No. Flocking. Way. How hot would it be to deflower the sexiest aristocratic gentleman on the planet? Scorching hot, I’d guess! I should have behaved in a gentle manner, as I always demanded men be with women when they were in this type of situation, but instead I proved to be a little hypocrite. Well, one must forgive my lack of tenderness, since finding a hot, nice, virgin man his age was a miracle in my century. “Are you a virgin?”, I asked the obvious.

  “Yes, madam. And I would much appreciate if Paris didn’t learn about it”, he was deeply flushed, which was, as usual, very hot. “So, I beg you to wait until you decide if you wish to become my wife. I certainly hope you will.”

  Okay, so our situation had reversed. I would have to wait and be patient, and make sure he’d be Nathalied away. He was the one getting fifty shades of Nathalie. He was the prey. Right, you’ve already understood the metaphors. The point was, I’d have to convince him, one way or the other, we could play the oldest game in humanity without marriage.

  “This isn’t over, Darcy. We’re still going to talk about it.”

  “Please, shall we do it tomorrow?”, he pleaded. Oh, I could give him a night off to dream things over. Then, we’d have The Talk.

  ♥

  15 DAYS IN PARIS