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  Maybe Anna was right. Maybe she needed to get laid or something, just to get it out of the way because it was interfering with her sanity. She was in the middle of a confrontation ten years in the making, but couldn’t get her mind off of the way Remi’s slacks seemed to know exactly how to move with his muscled body and how the charcoal-gray material made her mouth water as it was the perfect casing for his perfect rear end.

  When the car arrived Camille heard Remi tell the man to call a number on a card he’d scribbled on. He was arranging for her car to be taken care of. He asked for the ticket and she handed it to him without question.

  He did the gentlemanly thing and opened the door for her. She got in and the seat seemed to form to her body. He entered on the other side and looked straight ahead for the duration of the hour-long drive. The only other time she’d seen him this intense was when his parents died. They’d been on a boating trip and never returned. His parents and two other couples were declared dead after parts of the vessel were found weeks after their disappearance. She hadn’t been his girlfriend at the time but they’d been acquaintances and had attended the same church. It had been a terrible time for Remi and the town.

  When they finally reached their destination Camille entered Remi’s home hesitantly. She wasn’t sure how she should behave right now since she didn’t know what sort of mood Remi was in. He still had not given her a clue as to what was going on and why he was so quiet.

  What I did wasn’t that big of a deal, was it?

  She followed him through a cold-looking foyer with marble flooring and white walls, down a long hall with several large rooms, and into a great room that had a contemporary-style bar at one end and all sorts of other seating in shades of white and gray. A large fish tank was the only color in the room as it glowed a brilliant blue and was teeming with vibrant fish.

  Camille watched as Remi marched across the room. He looked as if he may have wanted to pour a drink but thought better of it. He then turned around just when she thought she’d go crazy if he didn’t say something.

  “Take off your clothes.”

  Not at all what she’d expected him to say.

  Remi still wasn’t showing any emotion and she didn’t make a move to comply with his demand. She stood there and stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. There was no way she was going to...

  Camille’s thought slipped away when Remi started to stalk toward her with purpose. His beautifully sculpted muscles were tense and only now did she see the emotions warring within him. Lust, anger, love and hurt all battled for dominance but determination was the sentiment that seemed to win the war. He was very serious about his request, so she did what any warm-blooded American woman would do when presented with that request from an equally warm-blooded, sexy, virile, charming man who looked at her the way he did.

  She stripped.

  Am I really doing this? Should I tell him that this is my first time? Wasn’t I just telling myself I needed to get laid and get over my little “obstacle”? Should I be remembering this so I can put it in one of my books?

  Camille removed her clothing with the confidence of any character in her novels that had reached the point where the secrets and lies no longer mattered and they were ready to bare their soul, consequences be damned. However, she felt these consequences would be ones she’d thoroughly enjoy.

  God, she was scared...and nervous.

  Camille slowly peeled away the double-sided tape at her breasts, never taking her eyes off Remi. She then bared one smooth shoulder and then another. The stretchy fabric slid off of her, revealing perky, braless D-cup breasts.

  Only looking away so she wouldn’t fall as she stepped out of her dress, Camille pushed the expensive kelly-green fabric to the floor and kicked it aside after stepping out of it. She was the slightest bit afraid, turned on, embarrassed, anxious...but most of all she was completely drenched at the juncture of her thighs. No matter what this was about, Camille couldn’t get past the fact that she was laid bare for him—literally—and completely at his mercy.

  The idea made her stifle a moan of anticipation.

  Remi had not spoken since his demand that she remove her clothing. He still didn’t as he walked over to her. Standing before her, he assessed her, as if trying to figure out her every secret by just looking at her. She didn’t flinch under his gaze even though she wanted to do so. She didn’t know why he needed this, but he did. They both did. It was as if this act would make it official.

  She’d returned to him.

  He stared at her as if he could see the touch of every other man she’d been with, though she’d been with none. And then she remembered something he’d once said. He’d told her he’d lose it if she ever gave herself to another man before him. He’d said that he’d be able to look at her and tell, that it was something he wouldn’t be able to handle because he loved her just that much. At the time, the statement had sounded barbaric and she’d laughed.

  That was why he’d gone quiet. He was trying to figure out who and how many. He was doing what others did, except in a totally new and different way. The few who knew who she was, outside of Charlie and Anna, often looked at her as if they wanted to know if her books were based on reality. They weren’t, but she’d never admit that. And Remi would never find that out by looking at her naked body. Though she was sure he had another mission in mind, as well.

  “You left me, Reese Elaine,” he said, and the name washed over her as if he’d whispered it against her skin. Rolling from his lips the name sounded different than when anyone else said it, and that turned her on more.

  Camille took a deep, cleansing breath and said, “Yes. And I’d do it again if it meant protecting you.”

  “I see.” Camille never thought two such words could free her of some of her guilt, but they had. It was as if he completely understood. Or maybe he had other things on his mind since his eyes now raked over her body, giving her a chill.

  While lost in her brief thought Remi had moved close to her, and their bodies had aligned. Her eyes drifted upward taking in the hard plane of his chest before landing on the most intense brown eyes.

  Forgiving eyes.

  * * *

  Was he upset? Yes. But would he hold it against her? No. She had done what she thought was best for them both. And as much as he wanted to say she was wrong, she wasn’t. Her wanting to be a writer of erotic fiction would not have gone over well with his grandfather, the other members of the board of directors at Krane, or those who associated Krane Foods with a wholesome image. Neither would her career have gone over well in the political arena of such a religious town.

  It pissed Remington off that people were so judgmental. It pissed him off that Camille had been about to give up her dream of being a writer to settle for being a teacher. While teaching was one of the most respectable jobs he could think of, it had not been her true dream.

  The funny thing about it was that, even in her success, she was still protecting everyone. She’d chosen to write under a different name and not receive public accolades, just so she could protect her past, her hometown.

  He could only imagine the kind of stress she’d been under at the time. He had only seen her once after her graduation before she left, and now that he looked back on that conversation, he could see why it had been a strained one. They’d discussed her upcoming plans to go to college in the city—the same one he had been commuting an hour to three days a week as he waited for her to finish high school.

  He remembered she’d not been as enthusiastic as she had been in previous conversations and he thought that maybe she was just nervous about such a big change. But now he knew her mind had been preoccupied with the choice she’d already made.

  Remi had no idea what came over him then. The idea of what she’d done to protect him—to protect them both—made him dizzy with admiration and desire. Her b
ody—that delectably perfect body—called to him and made him want to show his appreciation in the most primitive way.

  There was no point in being angry. She’d been an eighteen-year-old girl who was smart enough to make a sacrifice for them both, but in turn was able to pursue her dream. It had worked out and Remington couldn’t deny that fact.

  Except... He’d yet to tell her about his plans to run for mayor. That little nugget of information might put a wrench in any plan he had for them.

  He actually hadn’t told her much about himself yet, but he was sure they’d figure it out because Remi had already decided he wasn’t letting Camille be the one doing the protecting. She’d returned to him and he wasn’t going to lose her again.

  It was his turn to protect her.

  Which meant he had to come up with a plan to make sure she was committed to staying before she found out about his petition to run for mayor next year.

  “I’m so sorry you had to make that decision,” Remi proclaimed, moving past his thoughts and giving attention to his wants...and needs.

  His lips placed soft kisses along her collarbone, up the column of her neck, and then he pulled back to stare at her beautiful face.

  A soft trail of tears leaked from the corners of Camille’s eyes and rolled down to her cheeks but she didn’t take her eyes away from his. “I’m sorry. But I couldn’t risk you possibly giving up anything for me and resenting me later or me resenting you.”

  Remi’s mouth lowered to hers and he pressed his lips firmly to hers, reveling in the feel of her soft mouth responding to his. He groaned as matching warmth could be felt through the cloth of his pants, where the juncture of her legs rested against his thigh. He didn’t care about the past hurt. All that mattered was that she was here now. She was with him. They’d deal with everything else later, together.

  One hand came up to feel one full luscious breast at the very same time that his tongue sought entrance to her waiting mouth. Camille opened for him, her tongue matching the caresses and swirls of his own as they met in the simplest and most complicated of ways.

  He lifted her up and carried her to his bedroom and laid her gently on the bed like the treasure she was. His heart rate picked up and his groin tightened when she smiled shyly at him as if she didn’t write scenes just like this one for her books.

  “Relax, Ladybug, I have you now.” He had not used that nickname in more than ten years and the familiarity felt good.

  Camille remembered the first time he’d used the variation of her father’s nickname. He’d said she wasn’t just any ordinary “bug.” She was special and beautiful and brought him luck just like a ladybug.

  Remi’s hand crept slowly to her mound and pulled the flimsy thong aside. She was clean-shaven, allowing her moisture to seep unhindered over and between his long, exploring fingers. He had never felt a woman this wet for him, this ready. He briefly wondered if she was like this for any other man she’d been with and he had to push away thoughts of another man’s hands on her because it made him want to break each and every one of their fingers for daring to touch what was his. Despite what he’d said in the past, his little assessment of her had not uncovered any clues as to whether she’d been touched by another man.

  Camille caught his hesitation. “Is there something wrong, Remi?” she asked when he paused as the wayward thought came and went.

  “No, Ladybug, I just... Your books...” He was being a jealous idiot, but she seemed to understand his hesitation.

  “You’re the only person I’ve ever desired—ever wanted to be with. I’ve never... I’m a virgin, Remi.” Her face blushed and he released a sigh of relief. “My books...they are just stories plucked from my fantasies. Fantasies I’ve had about...you.”

  A low growl echoed throughout the bedroom. His erection pressed harder, begging to be released, his heart rate accelerated, and without knowing he was doing it he tore away the material hindering him from getting to her. His body lowered as he kissed his way down her heated skin. He was ravenous and only stopped for a moment to think about her confession before his face was at her mound, tasting her intimately and silently vowing that he’d be the only man to ever touch her this way.

  Chapter 7

  Camille couldn’t believe she’d actually confessed to Remi that she had not had sex before. It was a relief and an embarrassment. But the way he responded had her body answering with excitement as the essence of her core trickled to the soft, fluffy duvet.

  Two fingers taunted her wetness. They teased the aroused, swollen flesh of her nether regions, preparing her for what was to come. She sighed heavily when the two fingers were removed much too soon.

  Remi brought the two moist digits to his mouth and sucked on them hard, not looking away from her. Camille’s entire body shivered. She reached out for his belt and struggled to release it with their bodies so close.

  Knowing she was having a hard time, he separated their bodies completely and stood over her. He removed his shirt, revealing a smooth chest with fine hairs that Camille couldn’t wait to run her hands over to feel their downy softness. His pants were next and with them, he removed his underwear, if he was even wearing any at all.

  There before her was his erection standing proud and twitching anxiously as if it were a piece of living art. She longed to reach out and touch it, taste it, feel it inside her, coax the waiting flow of semen out with the walls of her sex.

  She didn’t know what was happening and why she had these thoughts. She had not experienced such things and didn’t know why she desired them now. It had to be Remington. She’d gone on dates and none of them had made it past first base. She’d never felt an inkling of what she was feeling now and didn’t want to think about what that meant for her.

  “Stand up. Let me look at you. I need to see you again knowing you’re about to be mine,” Remi said when he was naked. She thought that she should be the one saying that to him. The man was walking sin!

  As she stood, what was left of her underwear fell down to the floor. She stood there in only her heels, feeling quite sexy as his gaze raked over her as if making love to her with his eyes.

  Once he’d gotten his fill, he took a step in her direction. His hands drifted up her arms slowly, purposefully and her head lolled back, inviting him in for more. As his hands ascended her arms, her hands moved to his chest. Solid muscle provoked her fingers to further inspection. The tactile sensation of her skin against his was heady to say the least and at the most, it was orgasm-inducing.

  Remi’s lips pressed into her hairline as his hands moved up and into her tousled locks. He was taking his time and she loved it. She felt just like one of the heroines in her books that were first treated tenderly until the hero rode the innocent girl hard, divesting her of innocence.

  “I’m going to make love to you, Camille. And then I’m going to take you...hard. Do you understand?” he asked and she could only nod because his words were like hot lava pouring over her virginal body.

  Remi didn’t waste any time. He barely let her finish nodding before he scooped her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Their mouths met in a frenzy of lips and tongues vying for a place to lick and suck, touch and kiss.

  “Oh, I need you, Remi.” Camille meant it with every fiber of her being. She wanted this man to be the one to end her self-imposed abstinence. She wanted him to be inside her and show her all the things she’d been missing.

  It was all he needed to hear, apparently. Remington moaned her name and attacked her mouth once again. He lowered her to the bed and climbed above her. His tongue darted out and licked its way down her body as if she was the tastiest lollipop in the candy store. His mouth moved to her core and latched on without preamble, sucking and kissing away the never-ending stream of moisture. His fingers dipped into her core when his teeth grazed her pearl, and her hips rose at the delicious fe
eling.

  “Ohhhh, Remi...”

  “Don’t hold back on me, Ladybug. I want to hear you screaming for me.”

  Remi treated the lips of her core just like the lips of her mouth as he kissed her there and swirled his skilled tongue around her hardened nub. The resulting orgasm gradually built up in intensity the longer he laved at her and she rode the soft wave of her release. It was a great start to what she knew would be a memorable night.

  Camille had not gotten over the first orgasm when the sound of foil tearing penetrated her brain. And then Remi was entering her, without any further preparation, only a mumbled warning. She’d expected it to hurt more than it did, but the pain quickly subsided due to his skilled distractions, leaving more a full feeling rather than any sort of pain. It was...glorious, or maybe Remi just knew what he was doing.

  In and out he drove into her, rhythmically and gently, causing her moans to reach a pitch Camille didn’t know she could achieve. When he’d finally coaxed her open fully, he drove himself into the hilt and he sighed. It was as if he’d been holding back for her comfort. He then plunged deep and began to leave gentle behind in exchange for staking a passionate claim on her with his forceful thrusts. And she loved it.

  * * *

  “Mine! You. Are. Mine!”

  Remington Krane had just claimed this woman as if he was some animal. He declared her as his and he did not regret saying it. This woman, whom he was in love with, had not been sullied by the touch of another man and he knew he wouldn’t be too arrogant in saying that she was waiting for this moment. Somewhere inside her she’d known this day would come and she’d waited for him.

  “Yes!” she said in response to his declaration. But he didn’t need her approval. He was letting her know that no man would have her for as long as he had breath in his body. She’d saved her body for him and the thought made him want to ditch the barrier and claim her in a way he shouldn’t.