A/N: Ahhh! I'M SO EXCITED! Four people I love very much have already or are getting ready to celebrate birthdays! I'm so lucky to have these girls in my life, and so fail because I couldn't get anything written in time for the first birthday. I swear I started thinking about this at the end of JULY! So fail.
Anyway, I love these girls for many, many reasons, but one of the things we flail over most together is boys who love boys. So I hope they enjoy this... I tried to include special things for each of them!
This chapter is for my sweet, Intricacy. I've known her since I really joined the fandom, and I'm so, so blessed to call her my friend. I love her more than words could ever say, and of course Frenchward was inspired by her. I love you, bb! I hope you have a fabulous birthday. Thank you so much for being my friend. I'm updating early so you wake up to it!
A Cowboy in Paris
Garrett watched as Edward locked up his bookstore and followed obediently when the sassy ginger grabbed his hand and pulled him down the street. They'd spent the past hour and a half making small talk in between Edward helping his customers. Most of them were regulars whom Edward greeted warmly with kisses to each cheek, and he even introduced Garrett to a few as his American cowboy.
Garrett couldn't remember the last time he'd been this charmed by another man. Beaumont, Texas, wasn't exactly a mecca for gay men, and most of the men he met were more reserved anyway. They may be out, but they were not out like Edward. He'd had dinner with men in public, but there was never any touching, and to the unknowing eye, Garrett was just grabbing some food with a buddy. Even after nine months with Eric, today was the first time Garrett had ever held hands with another man in public. He'd just never realized how much it bothered him until that very moment. Walking hand-in-hand down the street with a gorgeous man who kept leaning in to share small insider tidbits with him made Garrett feel freer than he ever would've guessed.
The rain had tapered off into a fine mist—not worrisome enough to make either Garret or Edward grab an umbrella before leaving but enough to keep many people off the streets. Instead of the mass chaos Garrett had experienced earlier in the day as he'd tried his best to sightsee, there was merely a steady stream of foot traffic traveling in both directions. After about three blocks, Edward pulled Garrett into a small, hole-in-the-wall café that wouldn't have even gotten a second glance if he was out on his own but turned out to be exactly what he'd been searching for. The sign on the door read Le Petit Château D'eau, and he quickly referenced his three short years of French lessons to guess the name of the restaurant was somewhere along the lines of The Small House of Water. Maybe. At the very least, he was positive small and water were somewhere in the name of the café.
Edward nudged Garrett before they say and pointed to the special's board. "While most cafés in Paris serve delicious French cuisine, you will never go wrong with the chef's own suggestion!"
Following Edward's advice, Garrett didn't even open his menu, instead pointing to the first item listed on the board, the rosbeef et purée. Edward ordered penne aubergines et mozza and before Garrett knew it, their server had disappeared and Edward was looking at him all innocent-like as his foot slowly slid up and down Garrett's jean-covered shin.
"So, that must've been a very bad heartbreak to bring a cowboy all the way to Paris?" Edward fished.
Garrett sat back in his chair and eyed Edward as he contemplated his answer. Even though they'd been talking almost non-stop for the past two hours, he wasn't quite used to Edward's complete lack of a verbal filter, but he found he quite enjoyed never having to guess what the other man was thinking.
"Not particularly. We weren't even together a year, and while I can't deny I cared about him a great deal and it stung when I found out he'd been with another man, I knew he wasn't the one for me from the get go."
"Ah, non! He is an imbecile!"
Garrett shrugged. "It's better this way. Eric's happier and seeing him out in public holding hands with his new guy gave me the kick in the ass I needed to get out and see the world a bit."
"Well then, it seems his loss is my gain, non?" Edward leaned across the table and very deliberately grabbed Garrett's hand as he quickly changed the subject. "We must go dancing tonight then! You will love Quetzal, and the queens will eat you up!"
"I don't know about that. Cowboy, remember? Closest I ever got to dancing was learning a two-step and a few line dances."
"Ah, mon cher, you have nothing to worry about! I am a fabulous dancer! You will follow my lead, and I'll be batting other men's hands away from you all night! But first we must stop by your hotel and get your hat!" Garrett found himself smiling again at Edward's infectious enthusiasm. He couldn't believe the man had made him smile more in the short time he'd known him than Eric had the entire time they were together.
Their food arrived and Garrett was pleased to see roast beef and mashed potatoes on his plate. He tried to hide his relief, but he was pretty sure Edward knew he hadn't been all that sure of what he was ordering when he snickered before digging into his pasta. He ate slowly while Edward kept him entertained with random stories from his university years. The more excited Edward got, the harder it was to understand him, and Garrett was sure Edward had no idea how often he slipped in a stray French word or phrase. By the time they paid their bill and started toward Garrett's hotel room to grab the hat Edward insisted he wear, Garrett was downright smitten with the Frenchman.
Garrett was surprised, and a little disappointed, when Edward stayed just inside the door as he plucked the hat off his dresser. Not that he'd planned on attacking the man before the second part of their date, but he wouldn't have minded having a taste of Edward's pouty mouth before they left. His disappointment evaporated when Edward promptly took the hat and placed it on his own head before tugging Garrett closer and wrapping an arm around his waist. "Let's go dance, beau gosse!"
Two hours later, Garrett was hot and sweaty and exhausted in the best possible way. When they'd first arrived, Edward had been stopped every few minutes to chat, and true to his word, he'd had to bat several wandering hands off of Garrett. It'd only taken a couple of drinks for Garrett to loosen up enough to dance, and damn if he wasn't shocked to find out that not only was it the most fun he'd ever had but that he was pretty damn good at it, too! He loved that he now had a free pass to put his hands all over Edward's body, and he reveled in the fact that Edward didn't hold back at all when it came to touching him. He'd been rock hard since the first time Edward had oh-so-seductively twisted in his arms and ground his ass against Garrett's cock, and he'd only gotten harder when Edward had turned back around and swiveled his own erection against Garrett's.
Garrett knew he was really in trouble when Edward's arms circled his neck, and Edward slowly licked Garrett from his collarbone up, up, up his neck and finished with a small nibble to his ear. Garrett groaned and bent down to sink his teeth into Edward's exposed flesh before whispering in his ear, "I think I'm ready to get out of here. How about you?"
Garrett's stomach flipped as a sexy smile slid across Edward's face. He leaned over and placed a small kiss in the crook of Garrett's neck before wordlessly entwining their fingers together and turning for the door. Instead of following him this time, Garrett stood his ground, pulling Edward back to him until their chests were flush against one another, and finally, finally, covered Edward's mouth with his own. He closed his eyes and followed his instincts as his tongue delved into Edward's mouth, and his hand cupped the back of his neck. There was nothing gentle about the kiss, and it summed up their night at the club: hot, hard, and sensual. When Garrett realized he was half a thrust away from humping Edward's leg, he slid his arms down, linking his fingers together just above Edward's firm ass. He slowed his kisses until he was just barely nipping the Frenchman's lips with each peck before resting their foreheads together. "Sorry about that," he drawled. "Now I'm ready to get out of here."
A/N: Wheeeee! I wonder what they're gonna do next! No update tomorrow, but this puppy will wrap up no later than the 9th!
Massive thanks to born, les, and chaya who've been so kind as to preread and beta for me and turned these chapters around within hours. All the love, ladies.
Happy birthday, A! Love you!
