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“More?” I ask.
“Oh, yes.”
This time she moves her hands that had been resting on my shoulders, and cups my cheeks. She holds me still as she tries to take over the kiss. I let her. Soul deep, I realize just how meaningful this is. I know in my heart that I am the second man who has kissed Trenda Avery, and I don’t want to do anything that might spoil this for her.
She arches closer into my hand and I feel her heartbeat, then I lightly brush my thumb over her nipple. She jolts, and I capture her little cry in my mouth. I pull back.
“Okay?”
Her eyes gleam. “More than okay, it’s good. Do it again.”
With her eyes watching mine, I brush harder against her turgid nub and she hisses out a breath.
“Do that some more, while we’re kissing again,” she begs.
“Gladly.”
Her lips are a little swollen from the last gentle kisses, and they draw me forward. I clutch her mass of dark hair and tilt her head just right for my hungry mouth to plunder. This time she doesn’t balk when my tongue touches hers, instead she softly strokes hers against mine. Everywhere our bodies touch, flames race along my nerves, and I feel on fire.
This moment, with Trenda in my arms, I take my first pain-free breath since Lizzie’s death.
Trenda pulls back. “Simon, are you all right?”
Of course, she notices.
“I’m better than I have been for a long time, Baby.”
She twines her arms around my neck and cuddles her face in my neck. Even though our kiss has ended, I don’t think it will calm down my erection. I withdraw my hand from her blouse.
“Do you have to?”
“Yeah, I do. We haven’t gone on a date yet, so we stop at second base,” I tease.
She kisses my neck. “Why?”
“Because I was damn close to taking it to third base and rounding to home. I refuse to do that until I know that’s what you really want.”
She stops kissing my neck. “Thank you,” she whispers. “You’re right. Second base is all I can handle.” She kisses my neck again. “But what exactly do we get to do when we get to third base?”
I bark out a laugh and squeeze her tighter. “After we have a couple of dates, and if you still want to know, I’ll give you a demonstration.”
Dates? Are you sure, Clark?
“Will visiting Violet, Bernie, and Luther count as a date?” Trenda asks.
“If we grab a meal before or after, then yes.”
“I know a great restaurant,” she says right before she kisses my neck again. “You’re going to love it.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Lizzy!”
“Lizzy!”
God! Why can’t I get to her? I need to get to her. My hand hits the nightstand and I feel for my gun. My eyes open and I’m hurled into consciousness.
Goddammit, I haven’t had the dream in three weeks, not since I’d gone to the grocery store. Why tonight?
