revealed to seriously damage her, but she couldn’t expect Dallas to open up to her if she wasn’t willing to do the same. She hadn’t expected Dallas to answer her phone and clam up immediately afterward, though. She’d tried asking if she could help, but after their kiss Dallas had simply lowered her head and closed the door.
“Patience,” Remi said softly to her reflection on the glass, “that’s what Emma keeps preaching.” From the pocket of her robe she retrieved her cigar clipper, opened the humidor sitting on the nearby table, and pulled out one of her favorite brands, ritualistically getting it ready to smoke.
For an instant, the darkness was broken by the powerful cigar lighter her father had given her, then blue smoke outlined in moonlight billowed over her head. She watched it rise and thought about Dallas and everything Cain had told her. Could she live with the truth of Dallas’s choices? But who the hell was she to even consider judging her? Remi knew all about making difficult choices for the sake of taking care of her family.
The door of the guest bedroom opened quietly, and Dallas stepped out in bare feet, stopping at the end of the hallway, content to watch Remi smoke. She’d fallen asleep almost instantly when she lay down, wanting to escape the fear that had blossomed after she hung up with Kristen, but when her eyes opened again, something had energized her. The way Remi had so methodically laid out the truth meant they’d crossed some barrier Remi had mentally erected to keep her from getting too close. Dallas could imagine how her silence and sudden withdrawal had affected Remi. Most people interpreted silence as rejection, which was the last thing Dallas wanted.
As the smoke rings drifted slowly toward the ceiling she caught the slightest hint of the cigar, and while she’d never really cared for smoking, the aroma from the brand Remi was partial to wasn’t unpleasant. The humidor’s nearness to Remi told Dallas she sat here and smoked frequently. Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, she walked until she stood in front of Remi, blocking her view. Remi’s eyes roved slowly up and down, making Dallas feel like she’d been caressed.
That was exactly what Remi wanted to do—touch Dallas until she’d memorized every curve and inch of skin. Instead, she curled the fingers of her free hand until they pressed against her palm.
Dallas stepped closer, making Remi concentrate on the sway of her hips and how mesmerizing the movement was because of the long white silk nightgown.
“I thought I told you my feelings about smoking inside?” Dallas asked, placing her hands on the arms of Remi’s chair. When she leaned forward in challenge, Remi had a delightful view down the low scoop neck.
Smiling up at Dallas she said, “I thought you meant inside your house.”
As Remi began to take another drag, Dallas plucked the cigar from Remi’s fingers and ground it out in the ashtray next to the chair. “Inside means inside anywhere.”
Dallas leaned in the final inches and kissed her until Remi was aware only of Dallas’s lips against hers and her tongue pushing insistently against her own. The kiss ended when Dallas stood, and Remi froze as Dallas lifted the soft silk enough so she could straddle her lap. When she got comfortable Dallas placed her palms under Remi’s soft T-shirt and touched as much skin as she could reach, making Remi surmise she was trying to prove to herself this was real.
“I don’t want you to give up something you love, but I want to take care of you, keep you healthy and happy so you’ll be around for years to come. That’s really important to me,” Dallas said as Remi’s hands slid up and under the pooled gown.
“What else do you want, besides limited smoking?” Remi asked.
“I want you.” Dallas placed her hands on Remi’s shoulders just under the neck of her T-shirt. “I’m sorry about how I handled tonight, but it had nothing to do with what you told me. What you said doesn’t change how much I want to be with you. The truth of who you are is safe with me.”
“I know that,” Remi said, continuing upward under the silk gown, exposing more and more skin. She kept her eyes on Dallas’s face until she raised the sleepwear over her head and dropped it to the floor. When Dallas was naked she gazed at her. She lifted her hand again to touch her, but stopped before she made contact. “You’re so beautiful. Is it okay to touch you?” she asked out of respect for Dallas and their agreement to go slow.
“Please,” Dallas said, and took a short breath when Remi circled her breasts, then drew an invisible line down her middle.
“Let’s go somewhere more comfortable,” Remi said as she helped Dallas to her feet.
Remi bent to get Dallas’s nightgown and threw it over her shoulder. As she straightened, her robe opened further and Dallas tugged it off, dropping it and the nightgown.
“Leave it,” she said.
The command made Remi forget about picking anything up except Dallas. They didn’t exchange a word as she carried Dallas into the master suite and set her gently on her feet. Despite the room’s fabulous view of the river and west bank because of the two walls of glass, Dallas’s eyes never wavered from hers.
When Remi began to take off her T-shirt, she noticed Dallas finally glance around. She considered the room utilitarian, but she’d wanted to keep it simple, thinking the view was enough. When the shirt cleared her head, she saw Dallas looking at one of the two pieces of furniture. The antique four-poster bed faced the windows and was a place she’d never shared with anyone until now.
“This room is a good reflection of you,” Dallas said, and stepped right in front of her. “It’s open,” she whispered and stretched to reach Remi’s neck with her lips while her hands stopped at the elastic of her boxers. With a good tug they fell to her ankles.
“You’re incredible,” Dallas said as she stood and stared.
Remi took advantage of Dallas’s unfocused state to pick her up again and lay her on the bed. She lay next to her and wanted more than anything to touch Dallas but wanted to go slow, not because of their agreement, but because she wanted to savor their first time together.
Like a blind woman learning braille, Remi started at the crown of Dallas’s head and moved her hand across her forehead to her cheek. Dallas closed her eyes when she reached her neck and pulled on the back of Remi’s hair as she circled but didn’t touch her nipples. When she continued southward, Remi flattened her hand on her stomach, inching down her legs until she reached the knee closest to her. That she lifted until Dallas draped her leg over her body, leaving her open to her touch.
She dipped her fingers past the hair that was more red than blond and found the evidence of Dallas’s desire for her. “You are so wet,” she said, making Dallas nod slowly as if she’d lost the ability to speak. “I’m glad we waited, but imagining you like this has made all that time difficult,” Remi said as her middle and index finger caressed from
