Rue Toulouse (28 page)

Caterine willed herself not to cry as she threw down the blanket and hurriedly tried to dress. She’d never been so hurt or so angry. Her hands were shaking so badly she could hardly button her blouse.
Take some deep breaths and get yourself under control
, she silently demanded. The thought of Remi touching another woman the way he touched her made her physically ill. S
top it. Remi wouldn’t hurt you like that. He’s going to have a reasonable explanation for why he was with that slut.
First Jonathan and now Remi. This couldn’t be happening.

She froze as she recalled Elaine telling her about Remi and Desiree Delany. Now he was with Laurie.
Oh, God, I’m going to be sick.
She quickly sat back down on the bed, willing her roiling stomach to settle. What could it be about that kind of woman that attracted men? Then her eyes opened wide as the realization hit her.
Sex
. It had to be sex. She put her head in her hands. Remi knew ways to make love she’d never heard of, but she’d bet Desiree and Laurie knew them and probably more.

What a fool she was. What would Remi want with a novice like her when he could have sex with women like Laurie? She swallowed back another wave of nausea
. I knew better than to fall in love with him, and this is what I get.
She stiffened her resolve.
Well, there’s only one thing for me to do. I’ll listen to what he has to say. Then, if I feel he’s lying, tomorrow I’ll go to Elaine’s
.

When Remi entered the living room a short time later, he found Caterine dressed, sitting on the sofa and drinking a rather large glass of wine. He ran his hands through his damp hair and took the glass of Jack she silently handed him, then seated himself in the chair across from her. As he sipped the whiskey, he studied her rigid face, sighed, then began to explain everything that had occurred from the time he and Paul had followed their man to the riverboat, ending with him leaving Laurie passed out on her bed. He decided to put off telling her about Charlotte’s plan to sell Ma Chérie until she had a chance to calm down. “And that’s all that happened.”

As he retold the night’s events, her lack of trust in him not only hurt, it began to piss him off. Didn’t she realize how much he cared about her? Did she really think so little of him that she thought he’d screw around on her the first opportunity he got?

“I would have thought you knew me well enough by now to know I wouldn’t be out messing around on you. For Christ’s sake, Caterine, why would I? It’s not as if I’m not getting all the great poontang I want right here.”

Caterine jumped to her feet. Hands on her hips, eyes blazing, she spat out, “Don’t be crude, Remi. And don’t you dare sit there acting all indignant because I got upset that the man I happen to love came home smelling like he’d been rolling around with a French Quarter whore.”

Color suffused her face. She looked as if she wished the floor would open and swallow her whole. Her words,
the man I happen to love
, seemed to reverberate throughout the silent room.

“Oh, Princess, come here to me.” Remi clasped her in his arms, holding her tight. He brought his mouth down on hers, pouring every ounce of love he felt for her into that one kiss. “You’re so beautiful, Caterine.” He nibbled his way along her neck, nipping her ear. “Do you have any idea how much I love the taste of you?” He placed hot kisses across her cheek. “Do you know how much I love touching you?” His hand slid down her back and caressed her bottom. “I love watching the pleasure on your face when I make love to you.”

He took her in his arms and carried her back to the bed, where he gently laid her on the mattress. With hands that weren’t too steady, he slowly unbuttoned her blouse then slid her jeans down her legs.

“Caterine, you are the sexiest, most desirable woman I’ve ever known, and I don’t want anyone else.” He quickly removed his own clothes and lay next to her.

Remi pulled her close as a warm river breeze blew softly through the open window, caressing their bodies, and the low sultry blues notes of a sax filled the room.

Caterine wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered, “I’m so sorry I doubted you. When I smelled the perfume and saw the lipstick, I lost all reason. I’m sorry I don’t know more about lovemaking, but I want to learn all you want to teach me.”

His brows rose in surprise. “And I’d love to teach you, Princess, but what made you say that?”

“I know you weren’t expecting someone my age to be so naïve, and I’m really not sure how to please you, but . . .”

Clarity dawned in his eyes and he gently turned her face so she had to look at him. “You please me just fine, Princess. I love the fact I’m the only man who’s ever given you pleasure in return. And I have no interest in, or desire for, Laurie Conway or anyone like her.”

“Remi, I love—”

“Hush, Princess.” He stopped her with a long kiss. “Lie there and let me please you. I want to enjoy every inch of you while I remove this lacy thing you’re wearing.”

She smiled tentatively. “I want to touch you, too, but this time I’m going first.”

His chuckle quickly turned into a groan as he felt her hand gently surround his hard erection and squeeze.

She smiled coquettishly into his eyes as she ran her hand slowly along his shaft. “Am I doing this right?”

He gritted his teeth. “
Mais yeah
, Princess, you’re doing just fine.”

A thrill of anticipation shot through him when she boldly pushed him onto his back, sliding down until she lay between his legs. He soon lost all sanity when he felt her mouth close over him. “Christ, Princess, you’re going to kill me.”

She ran her tongue over the length of his shaft. “Do you like this?”

“Oh, yeah.”

She took him deep into her mouth.

As he watched her, Remi balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. “Princess, you have to stop,” he panted through a haze of pleasure. “I can’t take much more.”

She swirled her tongue over the swollen head, and he groaned aloud.

“Caterine, did you hear me? Do you understand what I mean? I can’t hold back much longer.”

“Then don’t.”

“Christ,” he shouted hoarsely with his release.

When he could breathe again and his vision cleared, he pulled Caterine up next to him. He grinned and rolled on top of her. “You’re looking extremely pleased with yourself. Now let’s see what I can do.”

With his teeth he tugged on the ribbon, loosening the tie between her breasts. As the lacy fabric fell away, he ran his tongue between her firm mounds. Her pink-tipped nipples invited him to taste his fill. “I believe I’ll start here.”

“Remi.” She squirmed as he circled each nipple with his tongue.

“Tell me what you want, Princess.”

“Remi.”

“Come on, tell me.”

She moaned deep in her throat. “Suckle me.”

“I’ll be happy to.”

She ran her fingers through his hair as he licked and sucked one breast, then the other, until she squirmed beneath him.

“Remi?” She pushed on his shoulders.

He gazed into her eyes and grinned. “What do you want me to do now?”

She rubbed herself against him. “You know.”

“You’ll have to tell me.” He positioned himself between her legs, running his finger along the damp silk nestled there. “You’re so wet,
cher
, you’ve dampened all the way through.”

She dug her fingers into his shoulders. “Put your mouth on me now.”

His chuckle was low. “I thought you’d never ask.”

She whimpered her pleasure as he slowly undid each snap between her legs. “Come for me, Princess.”

She screamed, raking her nails over his shoulders as his tongue found and teased her swollen bud.

“Yell like that again,
cher
, and they’ll be selling tickets down on the street.” He covered her mouth with his as he slid his shaft deep into her heat.

The next morning, Remi was awakened by the unmistakable aromas of fresh coffee, cinnamon, and frying sausage. Curious, he followed the enticing smells to the kitchen where he found Caterine busily frying French toast and sausage patties.

He stopped behind her, put his arms around her, and nuzzled her neck. “Work up an appetite, did you?”

She grinned. “No, but I thought you probably did.”

He swatted her backside. “That I did.” He poured himself a cup of coffee, then opened the refrigerator for milk and frowned. “Caterine, where did all this stuff come from?”

“That nice little market around the corner.”

He took a deep breath, hoping for patience. “And how did it get here?”

“I wanted to surprise you, so I went and got it this morning. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t have enough money, so I had to take some out of your wallet.”

He closed his eyes and counted. “What if someone had recognized you?”

She turned to him and sadness filled her eyes. “I wore my disguise, but to be honest I ran the entire way there and back.” She swallowed back tears. “Remi, never in my life have I been afraid to walk the streets of the Quarter. I hate that man and my family for doing this to me.”

He reached around her and shut off the stove. “Come here,
cher
.” He held her close as she cried.

“Remi I hate being like this. I want my life back.”

“I know, baby, I know.”

She stepped from his arms and wiped her tears away. “I’m not a violent person, but I’m telling you when I find out who in my family is behind this, God help them.”

She turned back to the stove and in a few minutes slid two slices of golden French toast onto his plate along with three plump sausage patties, then poured him a tall glass of fresh orange juice.

“I appreciate you wanting to surprise me with food, but please don’t go out alone again.”

She placed her own plate on the table and said, “When we were kids, Bobby used to tell me that it was easier to ask forgiveness than permission, so I followed that rule this morning.”

He scowled. “Just don’t push it too far.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, eat your breakfast and tell me what we need to do next. I still can’t believe Charlotte actually has gotten herself hooked on cocaine. Is there some way you can have that man who sold her the stuff arrested?”

“I hope so. I’m meeting Paul at the office today, and we’re going to explain all of this to a buddy of ours on the force.” He smiled and took another bite of toast. “Mmm, this is almost as tasty as you, Princess.”

She rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. “You didn’t say last night if you thought Randal was on dope as well?”

He shook his head. “But I feel he’s somehow involved in all of this.” Remi knew he’d delayed long enough. He had to tell her about Charlotte’s plan to sell Ma Chérie. He laid down his fork and began. “Caterine, there’s something else you need to know.”

Her first reaction to the news was to sit staring at him in stunned silence. Then her face turned red with fury. “That scheming little bitch. Here I was feeling sorry for her for getting hooked on drugs, and all along her only plan was to get the money from the sale of Ma Chérie!” With each word her voice increased in volume. “Well, that will happen over my dead body.” She seemed to realize what she’d said and the high color drained from her face. “Oh my God, Remi, so it was Charlotte who tried to have me kidnapped?”