A Tangled Web (A Books We Love Erotic Romance) by Summer Jordan Page B

masculine, it looked odd to see him arrange posies, and she chuckled. "I could fetch a vase."
    "I know I'm acting anal. But no vase. I'll get these right."
    He had forgotten the cheese knife, so Erin fetched one from her kitchen and when she returned, chose to drink the champagne she deemed perfect to accompany the romantic feast. Derek took some too but soon changed to the heavier-bodied Merlot.
    "You are anal," she said, pointing to his carefully arranged plate.
    He laughed and grabbed her finger. "I like things balanced. Anything wrong with that?"
    She shook her head. She wasn't really hungry. How could she be when she was busy feasting her eyes on Derek? He was the most delicious looking man she'd ever wanted to lay more than her eyes on.
    "Why are you looking at me that way?" he asked.
    "What way?" She smiled
    "The same as you looked at that prime rib the other night—like you couldn't wait for a taste." Sucking the pimiento out of an olive, he held her gaze with his.
    There was no doubting his meaning, and she shivered with desire as she watched the erotic movements of his mouth. This was reminiscent of the cherry episode at Rendezvous the first night they'd seen one another. Erin hated to spoil the mood but she wanted to set Derek straight.
    "I'd been mostly abstinent following my divorce until I met Mitch…again. We'd dated in high school."
    "Relighting a flame that's gone out doesn't usually work." Derek's eyes grew darker.
    Was he speaking from experience? Erin continued without asking. "This time around, we seemed to click and I thought we had a permanent relationship going. We'd been dating for months, and the same night I came to the club with him, I learned he never wanted to marry again. That wasn't what I expected. So I suggested we part ways." She plucked a purple grape from the bunch on the table.
    "You wanted him to propose and waltz you down the aisle?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.
    Erin didn't like Derek's tone but she didn't want to mislead him either. "I'm not desperate, but if I'm seeing someone, I like to keep the options open. It's foolish to enter a dead-end street thinking you might end up somewhere."
    "No outlet. That's how they mark those kinds of roads nowadays." Frowning, Derek ran a hand through his hair.
    What was he thinking? He tousled his hair, and unconsciously she put out a hand to push back an errant wave. She couldn't reach across the round patio table though, and before she could drop her arm back, he touched her fingertips with his. Electricity seemed to pass between them, igniting sparks all along her spine, in her breasts, in her clit and deep inside her pussy.
    He rose and came around to her side, holding out his hands to her. She stood and moved into his arms. A silent dance of love? Mesmerised, she laid her head against his chest. With both hands on her back, he drew her close.
    His chest was solid and she felt like she'd moved into a safe harbour. She could feel the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear and hear the rhythm of his breathing. He dropped a kiss on her hair and she felt treasured. It was a strange sensation. Erin expected hot passion, not this warmth and love . Love? It couldn't be. Yet that was the word that tickled her senses.
    However, since he didn't speak favourably of marriage, she supposed he wasn't likely to take Mitch's place at the wedding.
    "Look at me," Derek said.
    Leaning her head back, she did, and he lowered his mouth to hers. His lips were hot and his kiss gentle, but as she moved her mouth under his, his fervour deepened and he pushed his tongue against her lips to open them. His kiss grew hungry and so did Erin 's. Heat seared her senses. He put a hand on her buttocks and pressed her hard against himself. As she felt his engorged cock thrusting against her stomach, she gasped. Taking advantage of her open mouth, Derek delved his tongue deeper and she closed her lips around it and sucked. He moaned, and trembling, withdrew to press his cheek