Page 62 of A Smooth Operator

"Kiss me," she whispered.

"How do you want me to?" I asked playfully. "Hard or soft? You want it deep and slow."

"Any way you want."

Her brown eyes were bright with excitement and the previous nervousness was gone.

I bent and first brushed my mouth with hers, and then, when she moaned I let the tip of my tongue stroke hers. She moved closer to me, her mouth seeking mine. I took her lower lip between my teeth and bit her gently, then licked the bite.

I was always in such a rush to taste her, to be inside her, that I'd never indulged in tasting her like this. I coaxed her to open her mouth, and when she did, it felt like a gift. I fit my mouth against hers, touched my tongue to hers, and savored.

As I did, her hips started to move against mine.

Sweet fucking agony!

I pulled away and looked at her. I could watch her beautiful face forever, I thought. And then, because she called to me something fierce, I brushed my lips against hers and, this time, increased the pressure. My fingers eased into her hair; she'd let her soft hair loose, curled delicately, and rubbed her scalp as I tilted her head back so I had more access so I could go deeper inside her.

"Remi," she breathed, and my tongue slid between her teeth again, tasting her.

I wanted to go slow. Take our time. If that's all we'd do tonight, it was enough. I just wanted to feel her close again. Being with her and not touching her had been sheer misery. I missed the easy days when we slid into her bed and stayed there for hours, enjoying each other, being drunk on one another.

I memorized the textures of her mouth with teasing caresses. By the time I lifted my head, she was breathing hard.

"Wow," she sighed, her eyes closed, her lips curved into a smile.

"I love kissing you."

She opened her eyes. "I want you to know that when we were together, we were together. You were loving and caring. I enjoyed the pleasure you gave me and the pleasure you let me give you."

"Sex with you, oh, Echo, it was always mind-blowing. Since that first time. I've never wanted to stay away, never wanted any other woman. It's been just you."

Her eyes filled with tears. "You didn't? No one?"

"No, Doll. I tried. I couldn't. My smart dick only wants you."

"Did you call your penis smart?" she chortled.

"Since it knows my heart better than my brain, yeah." I pushed her hair away from her face. "Come on, let's eat."

I hated the panic that entered her eyes, and she looked toward the house, uncertainty claiming her again.

"No, we won't go in there. Trust me?" I was asking so much of her. I knew that. But I needed something, anything from her to show me that there was hope, that someday, we'd be together.

She gave me a tentative smile. "I'm hungry."

She didn't say she trusted me, but what she did was enough to keep my hopes alive.

Once we reached the gazebo, thanks to Lola, a basket of food was already there, placed discreetly on one side.

Lola had packed mini crab cakes, shrimp cocktails, and chocolate truffles. The cushions and blankets inside looked inviting, a cozy refuge from the grandiosity of the Drake mansion party.

She stared at me in confusion. "How?"

"I have my ways." I winked at her.

Echo exhaled deeply as she stepped into the shelter of the gazebo, her gaze lingering on the calm flow of the Mississippi. She seemed to relax for the first time that evening.

Once we were settled, I handed her a glass of champagne. "You don't have to worry about anything here. It's just us."

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