Chapter 6 – George V
Time seems to pass in an achingly slow manner, but finally they arrive at the hotel.
The bellhop moves quickly towards their taxi and opens Kem's door as John pays the cab driver.
As Kem exits the car, she notices a faint look of distaste on the bellhop's face. She can just imagine what she must look like, with her hair wet, shirt half buttoned, and her thoroughly soaked bedroom slippers. Certainly, this is not one of her finer fashion moments.
John hurriedly gets out of the taxi, takes Kem's hand, and rushes them inside to the hotel's lobby. He appears to be oblivious to everything except getting them to their room. However, just before they enter the doors to the lobby, John calls back over his shoulder for the bellhop to get his bag out of the taxi's trunk.
She shakes her head and smiles to herself. She loves that about him. His ability to appear entirely focused on one thing, while remaining aware of everything around him. She loves that duality in his character. It makes her feel relaxed and protected whenever she's with him.
They enter the impressively decorated and ornate lobby of the Georges V, where Kem decides to focus her attention exclusively on John in a determined effort to ignore the inquisitive stares of the other guests. Our physical appearance may not disturb John, she thinks, but I am beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable.
John walks them to the Registration Desk where he immediately introduces himself, "Good evening. I'm John Carter. I believe that you have a room for me."
The night manager overhears John's statement and takes over. "Yes, sir. Bonsoir and Bienvenue – we have been expecting you." The night manager is an attractively coiffed middle-age man who exudes confidence and friendliness without seeming too servile.
"Your suite is almost ready", he continues. "In fact, we are in the process of refreshing the flower arrangements in your salon and bedroom. While the staff completes that task, may I see your credit card?" he asks politely.
John hands over his Amex card, and the manager uses it to complete the check-in process.
As the manager finishes this step, another man suddenly appears behind the desk. This man, who could easily pass as a younger carbon copy of the night manager, catches the older man's eye and nods silently.
The manager refocuses his attention on John and says, "Your room is ready. If you will be so kind as to follow me, I will take you to your suite." The manager hands the Amex card back to John and begins to move from behind the Reception Desk.
"That's quite alright", says John good-naturedly. "If you just direct us to the correct hall, I'm sure that we will find our way."
A small smile appears on the manager's face, and he responds politely and patiently. "At the Georges Cinq, it is our custom to personally escort guests of the Royal Suite directly to their rooms."
John nods appreciatively, and then he glances at Kem who simply shrugs her shoulders and looks at him with her own version of his sly smile. They both share a soft laugh and then proceed to follow the manager while still holding hands.
John once again begins playing with her wrist, and she suddenly wishes that the manager would quicken his pace from their current walking speed to an all-out run.
Knowing that the latter is not really an option, she tries to pull her hand from John's grasp. However, he refuses her attempts and instead gently pulls her hand even tighter into his own. She does not need to see his face to know that his boyish good-looks are plastered with a not so innocent smirk even as he pretends to be listening to the manager's spiel about the hotel's wide assortment of activities.
Fine, she says to herself. Two can play at this game, and she decides that the best way to handle the situation is to respond to John's antics with a few of her own.
She remembers that the palms of his hands are especially sensitive to certain movements. So she begins to slowly move the tips of her fingers with a light, featherlike action over the base and center of his right palm, and she alternates that movement with a firm but light scraping of her short fingernails on the tender skin of his hand.
Her actions have the desired effect because John suddenly stands straighter and stops his activity with her wrist.
He decides to glance back at her. Even though his face shows her a look of indigent shock, his warm, brown eyes are filled with a look of mischievous desire.
They finally arrive at the suite's door. The manager opens the door and promptly hands John the keycard.
John and Kem follow him through the long marble foyer, past a stunning arrangement of pink and white roses, until they enter a sumptuous room accented by long drapes, 2 crystal chandeliers, and several pieces of impressive furniture.
The manager starts to describe the room's features in a casual yet professional tone, "You have a full kitchen at your disposal, a separate office with the latest technology including internet, fax and printer, and all decorations are authentic 18th and 19th century antiques."
The manager turns around and faces the young couple. "The…", and as he catches the look in John's eyes he stops speaking. John's expression is unmistakable; the last thing that John and Kem need right now is a guided-tour of their room.
"The hotel's staff is at your service twenty-four hours a day. Merci for selecting the Georges V, and I hope that you enjoy your stay", the manager says quickly and then he walks past the couple to exit the room.
The manager closes the suite's door and smiles. Ah…Paris, he muses silently.
Inside, John and Kem are still holding hands, but neither is looking at the other. Now that they are finally alone together the timing feels awkward and neither of them knows who should make the next move.
"John", says Kem.
He loves the way she says his name. She has a way of saying his name in an accent that he finds somewhat European, and yet uniquely her own - a way that never fails to get his attention and arouse his desire for her touch.
She pulls her hand from his and turns so that she is standing face-to-face with him. She runs her hands over her damp hair as she brings her eyes to look into his.
Then she redirects her gaze from his eyes to his mouth as she takes the thumb of one of her now wet hands and drags it lightly down the center of John's lips making sure to give the lower one a firm tug as she completes the move.
Every nerve in John's body is on fire. He pulls her roughly into his arms and begins to kiss her hard.
"Oh God, it's been too long", she breathlessly stutters out. John groans as his body shudders in agreement with her statement. And each becomes lost in the magic of the other.