Love Beyond Words

Emily fumbled with the key in the lock of her rented Parisian flat, her hands shaking with anticipation. Behind her stood Laurent, the charming French man she'd met just a week ago. Their conversations had been halting and pieced together—her high school French and his tentative English—but the attraction between them needed no translation. Tonight, they had shared a bottle of wine by the Seine, and now they’d wordlessly agreed to come back to her place. The door finally clicked open and they stepped inside. Emily turned to Laurent, heart racing. He tucked a curl of her hair behind her ear, a gesture that made her knees weak. "Tu es belle," he said softly. She understood that—you are beautiful. Smiling, she replied in English, "You make me feel beautiful." He didn't know all the words, but the meaning was clear in her eyes. Their lips met in a slow, searching kiss. Laurent’s hands gently encircled her waist, pulling her close against his broad chest. Emily sighed into the kiss, letting her hands explore the muscles of his back beneath his shirt. They shed their clothes gradually, pausing often to let their hands and mouths wander over newly exposed skin. "Tellement doux," Laurent whispered as he trailed kisses along her collarbone—so sweet. Soon, Emily found herself on her bed, with Laurent above her. His dark eyes silently asked for permission, and she answered by guiding him to her entrance. Their fingers entwined as he pushed inside her, both of them gasping at the sensation. He murmured something beautiful and incomprehensible in French, and Emily only responded by wrapping her legs around him, urging him deeper. Their bodies moved in perfect harmony despite the newness, slow and sensuous. With each thrust, Emily felt pleasure blooming. She arched her back, soft moans spilling from her lips—wordless expressions of ecstasy that Laurent seemed to understand perfectly. He responded with gentle groans of his own, the rhythm of his hips steady and tender. As the tension built, Emily opened her eyes to find Laurent watching her, his gaze full of adoration and desire. No words were needed; everything she felt was mirrored right there in his expression. Her climax arrived in a wave of warmth that left her crying out his name—one word neither of them misunderstood. Laurent followed moments later, shuddering and whispering "Mon amour" as he released, collapsing gently beside her. They lay tangled together, bodies glistening with a fine sheen of sweat. After a long moment, Laurent pressed a kiss to the back of Emily’s hand. She touched his face and whispered, "Stay." He nodded, understanding her completely without needing a dictionary. In the quiet midnight, Emily rested her head on Laurent’s chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. They spoke softly in a mix of languages, laughing at the missteps and kissing to fill the gaps. In that little apartment in Paris, Emily realized that even without perfect words, they had found a perfect understanding in each other’s arms.

by Emily