Page 31 of Stay with Me

“Your guess is better than mine,” I lie.

I’m not about to put Rem’s business out there. It’s a sensitive subject. I get it so I’m not going to expose her emotions and fears to anyone.

I lived them with her. I know first-hand how this all happened. My patience comes from that knowledge.

“Good luck with that one,” Jamel chuckles.

I shrug it off, ready to have a good time. With Rem, I have to take the good times before she’s triggered and runs. I never know how much time we’ll have before that happens.

“Our table is ready,” Sunny says as we return.

I lace my fingers with Rem’s, and we all follow the hostess to our table. I give her fingers a squeeze, causing her to look up at me. She has a gorgeous smile on her lips as she does. I dip my head and peck her lips.

I don’t realize we’ve stopped and are just staring at each other until Jamel clears his thought. I pull my gaze away from Reminisce to find Sunny and Jamel watching us as they snicker. Rem pulls her hand from mine, but I place my palm on her back, not ready to let go of the connection.

“You two look so good together. The chemistry is fire. I can feel it just from looking at you,” Sunny sings.

Leaning in, I press my lips to Rem’s temple and then pull out her chair. She looks at me with a sparkle in her eyes before she takes her seat. I have to admit to myself she does have a happy glow about her.

“Should we start with a few shots before dinner?” Jamel asks.

“Sure, why not?” Rem says as I take my seat beside her.

I reach to brush a lock of hair from her face. When I go to pull away, she laces her fingers with mine and rests our joined hands on my thigh. I lean over and tilt my head to kiss her neck.

She squeezes my hand, letting me know I’m brushing her spot. I suck the skin into my mouth for a quick second. Rem squirms in her seat and turns her gaze on me as I pull away.

I grin and wink at her. I’m shocked when she leans in and pulls me to her lips. I groan into her mouth, wishing we were here alone. I’d have her in that bathroom by now.

I’m the one to break the kiss, pulling away and clearing my throat. Rem laughs and returns my wink. Now that she has me all hot and hard, she turns to our friends and acts as if nothing just happened.

I release her hand and place my palm on her thigh. Leaning into her ear, I give her thigh a squeeze. “We’re in a playful mood, are we?”

“Don’t play with fire, Knight. You’re too pretty to get burned.”

I love this side of her. Who am I kidding? I love all sides of Rem.

“Light the match, baby. I’ll let you set me on fire. I’ll make you wet enough to put it out. Promise,” I whisper.

“You two might need to go get a room,” Sunny teases.

“Or we could let them do their thing and you can bring those lips over here,” Jamel says, offering a save.

I ignore them both and nuzzle the tip of my nose against Rem’s. She cups the side of my face and allows me to take her lips for a searing kiss. Then she playfully traps my lower lip between her teeth and tugs.

“Down, boy. I’ll take care of you later,” she says seductively.

That’s what makes her so special, she’s never been one dimensional. Her complexities draw me in and get my blood pumping. When all other women fall at my feet, Reminisce stands back to watch what I’ll do next.

She keeps me on my toes. Her honesty has a grounding quality about it. She makes me want to be the man for her.

Rem may think she needs a man who makes her feel safe, but I know all sides of her. I know she’d be there for me if I need her. I know the tough side no one else knows. Which makes her look so vulnerable when she’s like this.

She’s letting her guard down. This is Reminisce fully opening up to me.

* * *

Reminisce

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