“Ranch and Italian,” she said, placing two bottles of dressing between our dinner plates before taking a seat in the chair beside me.
There was only one Italian I wanted, and I wanted her right now. But since dinner seemed important to her, it would come first.
“This is nice, Cam.” I inhaled deeply. The scents of the garlic, tomato sauce, and herbs made my mouth water in anticipation.
“Just some ziti and store-bought bread.”
“And a really good-looking salad. Is the pasta another of your grandmother’s recipes?” I tore off a piece of bread and popped into my mouth.
“Yes, it’s hers.” Her gaze rose from my lips.
I’d caught her gaze on them several times today. She would have them soon. I’d stamp them to hers first, and then everywhere else I’d imagined shortly after that.
“I can’t wait to taste it.” I stared straight into her eyes. “I wonder if it’s spicy and sweet.”
She suddenly dropped her gaze, grabbed her glass of water, and took a big sip.
“Eat the food,” she said, her voice husky. “Quit trying to make me spontaneously combust.” Sitting back in her chair, she gave me a look while fanning her face with her hand.
I leaned forward, scooped up a pair of tongs, and served her a huge helping of salad and pasta before serving myself.
“I love that,” she said, shaking her head at me as she picked up her fork.
“What, babe?” I asked around a mouthful, already digging in. My taste buds were in garlic, cheese, and tomato sauce nirvana.
“Make me feel like . . . you know. A lady.”
“You are, Cam,” I said after chewing and swallowing. “I look at you and can’t believe that you’re here with me in my house. It feels like here is where you should be.”
“I wish . . .” She closed her eyes. When she reopened them, they were liquid-silver green pools. I didn’t know what she’d wished for, but a tear slipped from her eye.
“I don’t want you to cry.” I reached out and captured the multifaceted crystal with the pad of my thumb. “I want you to be happy.”
“That’s a happy tear,” she said as a couple more slipped free.
Studying her, I frowned. “You don’t look happy.”
“I am.” She shook her head, and her long black hair fanned across her shoulders. Her gaze dipped to my plate. “You want to argue with me or eat your dinner?”
“I could eat.”
“I could too. In fact, I’m starving.” Her eyes darkening promisingly, she picked up her fork, speared a cherry tomato, and popped it in her mouth. “Mmm.” She withdrew the tines slowly while watching me.
My already hard cock throbbing inside my jeans, I growled. “You’d better eat fast.”
“Bossy man. I’ll eat at the pace I please.” Her lips curved. “But when it’s your turn with me, you can set the pace if you wish.”
She leaned forward while I gaped at her, watching her take another bite, but imagining something else entirely.
“Whatever we do, whatever tokens of pleasure you grant me,” I said firmly, wanting her to truly understand. “Fulfilling your desires is going to make me feel like it’s all my pleasure.”
Chapter 40
* * *
Camaro
I wasn’t at all surprised that Brad was an expert at flirting. Everything he did, he did well. Dinner with him was fun and filled with double entendre.
Yet, now that it was over, and it was my turn to slip into something more comfortable, I was paralyzed by indecision, standing immobile in front of the bed where all my lingerie was laid out. What could I wear that would be worthy of such an exceptional man?
My cell lit up beside a tangerine-colored bralette. Jewel calling . . .
Immediately, I scooped it up. “Hello?”
“Hey,” she said, and her sweet voice coming through the speaker did wonders to soothe me. “Rush said you called earlier. Sorry I missed it. I was out with Sierra.”
“Is she okay?”
“Yes, she’s wonderful. Almost as good as Brad at managing this motley crew. But Ben’s driving her crazy.”
“She hit him with the mace yet?”
“No, not yet. But the fireworks between them is certainly something to see.”
“I’ll bet,” I mumbled, losing my focus as dishes suddenly clattered on the floor down below.
I brought my finger to my mouth and gnawed nervously on the side of it. Brad had insisted on cleaning up the kitchen, but he would be done soon. He wasn’t rushing me. He’d given me plenty of time to put on something more comfortable.
Only I wasn’t comfortable at all.
“Is everything okay, Cam?” Jewel asked.
“I’m going to have sex with Brad tonight,” I blurted.
“Oh my. Well.” She sighed. “I can’t say that’s unexpected. You two have been dancing around each other for a while. But are you sure that’s wise?”
“No, I’m not sure. But he wants me, Jewel, and I want him.” In fact, he was all I wanted. “He treats me like I have value. Like I matter.”
“He should, and you do matter, so much to so many people. Brad’s a smart guy. I’m glad he acknowledges it. But your uncertainty about this makes me wonder if it’s truly a good thing.”
“It will be an extraordinary thing,” I whispered, my head turning as I heard his footfalls on the stairs.
“I’m sure. It’s you, honey, and it’s him. But maybe you should take some more time to consider.”
A knock on the door frame made me jump. My eyes were wide as Brad pushed open the door I’d intentionally left ajar. I was nervous, yes, but I didn’t want to have any barriers remaining between us . . . physical or otherwise.
“Hey.” He swept his cobalt-blue gaze over me, and his brow creased. “You’re not ready yet.” His deep voice rumbled some of the uncertainty from me.
“Just talking to Jewel,” I said, glancing at my cell where it lay on the bed. “On speaker.”
“Oh.” His brow crease deepened. “Hey, Jewel. How’s it going? Everything okay?”
“All’s fine here, but—”
“It’s fine here too,” I said quickly. I didn’t need her to run interference for me with Brad. I put up enough static on my own. I pulled back my shoulders. “I just needed to hear your voice, but I have to go now. I love you, Jewel.”
“Love you too, honey,” she said, ending the call.
“I’m not quite ready yet.” Staring at Brad, I pulled the lapels of my robe closer together.
“I can see that. How about I help?” He took a step closer.
“I just need a moment more.” I swallowed. The way he looked at me, stark male hunger and possessiveness at the same time, made my heart flutter. “I’ll come to you in your room, if that’s okay.”
“I’ll be waiting,” he said gruffly before turning and walking away.
My eyes burned as I watched him. I would follow. I would follow wherever he led.
Jewel was right—we’d been doing this dance for a while. I was willing to take this chance with him wherever it went. From him, even a little would be a bounty compared to what I’d previously had.
Decidedly, I returned my attention to the items on the bed. Slipping off my robe, I chose the type of lingerie that was familiar.
A scalloped-lace bra in a blush color that accentuated my bronze skin. The bikini cut clung to my tits, the coverage just the right amount of minimal. The hint of nipples through the transparent fleur-de-lis lace would draw Brad’s gaze, and the steel-blue satin straps and the single band of crystal-beaded trim beneath my breasts made me feel pretty, like the lady he called me, giving me the boost of confidence I needed. The panties were two steel-blue satin adjustable straps with a tiny triangle of blush fleur-de-lis lace in the front, and a mesh back that disappeared between the globes of my ass.
The Avery Rose ensemble was feminine and sexy, but it didn’t make me comfortable. That wasn’t possible. Not when he meant so m
uch, and this meant so much for me to do with him.
With the steel-blue robe back on, just another something to remove as part of my show, I glanced at myself in the dresser mirror. My eyes were wide, the silver-green color nearly eclipsed by the black of my enlarged pupils. I fluffed my unbound hair. It was unlikely he’d notice the trepidation. The others never did. Not with all the other distractions.
Projecting confident thoughts, I straightened my shoulders and slipped from my room to pad softly down the hall. At the threshold of his room, I paused. The door was open. Maybe he didn’t want any more barriers between us either.
He stood beside the bed. No shirt on, he wore only those navy pajama bottoms. I took a moment to enjoy the view, taking in the muscular lines of his back and the tight curve of his ass.
“Brad,” I said softly, and saying his name made everything suddenly feel exactly right. “Can I come in?”
He set his phone on the nightstand and turned around. His eyes widened as he took me in, and mine did too. Although I’d seen him in just his pajama bottoms the night before, this was different. This was all of me for all of him.
“Fuck, you’re amazing.” His gaze dipped, gliding over the entire length of me a second time.
“So are you,” I whispered, so completely dazzled by him, trembling in anticipation like a virginal bride on her wedding night.
“If you say so.” The low and soft timbre of his voice was a delicious tease.
“I do. You take my breath away.” He was incredibly handsome with the lamplight glowing on his tanned skin, and his multihued gold hair tumbling over his heavily hooded cobalt eyes.
“Yours is the only opinion that matters to me.” His expression was compellingly soft, but all the rest of him was hard. Very hard.
He took a step forward.
“That’s close enough.” I licked my dry lips. His gaze dropped to them, and my entire body hummed.
“No, it’s not.” His brows drawing together, he kept coming. “It’s much too far away, I assure you.”
“Stop.” I held up my hand, pulled my shoulders back, and affected a practiced pose. “Stay right there. I can’t think straight if you come any closer.”
“What could you possibly need to think about?” he asked.
“My clothes need to come off in a certain order.” I lifted my arm and skimmed my fingertips along the swells of my breasts, feeling my own featherlight touch and the heat of his gaze as he followed my movements.
“Cam . . .” He groaned my name as the robe glided off my shoulders, leaving me in only the sexy bikini bra and transparent panties.
“Can you see how tight my nipples are through the lace?” My breaths shortened. “Do you have any idea how much I ache for you?”
“Come here, and I’ll make you ache more.” A demand, an authoritative one.
“I owe you a striptease.” Dipping my fingers beneath my bra strap, I glided it slowly down my arm while watching him.
His lips flattened. “You don’t owe me shit.”
“I’m hot.” I mewed, slowly gliding the other bra strap down. “Needy, and so hot for you.”
“Cam, you’re killing me with this.” His expression dark, he stalked closer. “All day, I’ve been wanting you, imagined seeing you like this as you tried on all those clothes. You are a gift, but I want to unwrap you myself. Don’t you want me to?”
“Yes, of course I do.” I stumbled backward. “But this isn’t the way—”
He frowned. “You think I want what the men who paid settled for.”
My eyes burning, and feeling more naked than I actually was, I nodded.
“Don’t you get it? Don’t you see yet, Cam?” His eyes deep sapphire pools, his gaze turned imploring. “I want what you offered at the beginning. That’s what I’ve been trying to show you since I brought you here, but I must’ve done a piss-poor job of it.”
I shook my head, my hair brushing my shoulders. “But you turned me down before.”
“Because I was with Bree. Because I was there for Rush. Because I didn’t know you like I do now.” His brows drew together. “But even so, I wanted you. Just from a single glance through a crack in the door.”
“I can’t believe it.” How could he see me at my lowest point and still desire me?
“Fuck this shit.” He closed the distance between us, reaching for me and framing my face in his capable hands. Carefully, gently, as if I truly were fine crystal, his thumbs swept my skin while his eyes searched mine. “You’re in your head so much, you can’t see what’s right in front of you.”
“And what is right in front of me?” I whispered, then held my breath.
“Me, Cam. A man who wants you. A man who wants something real with you, not make-believe.”
“I want that too.” Tears threatened as I saw the beauty of that truth glimmering in his eyes.
“Don’t cry when I’m holding you like this. The way I’ve always wanted to.”
“Okay.” I pulled in a shaky breath.
“Good girl.”
“You make me feel like one,” I said as his praise made my skin prickle with awareness. “But I can be naughty too.”
“I only want you to do and be exactly how you feel. How you want to be with me. Can you do that?”
I nodded. “I can.”
“I’ll do the same. I want to kiss you, Cam. I need to taste those tempting lips.”
He lowered his head, and I went up on my toes. His warm breath bathed my skin. Our mouths came together by mutual accord, firm to soft. I sighed from the perfection of the fit.
“Brad,” I murmured. “Oh, Brad.”
My face cradled in his capable hands, he brushed his mouth softly back and forth over mine.
“So beautiful,” he said low, his lips as luxurious as satin.
The first light, feathery, seductive touches of his mouth to mine became more fervent urgings. I held on to his rock-solid forearms as his fingers dove into my hair.
“Open more for me, babe,” he demanded, and I willingly obeyed. His wet tongue slipped inside my mouth to explore, the penetrating stroke resonating all the way to my clit.
Clinging to him, I opened wider, eagerly taking what he gave. He continued pouring his heat into my mouth, and I greedily gulped it down.
He moved, and suddenly I found myself walking backward. When the back of my knees hit the mattress, he ripped his mouth from mine.
“Brad.” I stared up at him wide eyed. He was my anchor. I was drowning in desire and gasped for air when he lowered his head, his lips skimming my skin and raining fire along the edge of my jaw.
“Babe. Cam.”
One of his hands gliding into the hair at my nape, he twisted a handful and tugged urgently on it. I arched my neck, giving him the access he demanded, and he rained more fire.
“Your skin’s so creamy soft.”
His firm lips burned me everywhere they touched. I burned in distant, darker places too.
“You taste so good, spicy and sweet.” One hand in my hair, he slid the other along the length of my spine.
“You make me feel so good, Brad.”
My body was on fire, and my mind was a smoky daze. One moment his hand was in my hair, and the next it slid along the length of my spine. He twisted the band of my bra and deftly unclasped it. His insistent fingers glided the satin straps down my arms, and in the next moment, he took the rest away.
Cool air rushed over my heated skin as he stared. “I imagined, but I could never have dreamed you would be this beautiful.”
His eyes were the darkest midnight blue. I didn’t shy away from his perusal. His approving gaze told me all I needed to know. My breasts were heavy, my nipples fine points. I preened for him, a night-blooming flower entranced by the moon.
Lowering his head, he refitted his mouth to mine, kissing me deep and hungrily with his hands on my tits, instead of the lace.
My breasts swelling to fit their new frame, I moaned into his open mouth while he shaped and
molded me. He rubbed his tongue against mine as he swiped his wicked thumbs back and forth across my peaked nipples. He made me throb. He made me ache.
“More,” I begged greedily when he broke the seal between our mouths to reangle and deepen the kiss.
He gave me more. Deeper and darker, his tongue stroked mine. He tugged and twisted my nipples, making them ache more, making me burn hotter, making my swollen, slippery clit wetter.
“Brad . . .” I moaned his name in warning, turning my head to the side, and his lips once again followed the line of my jaw. It had been too long. So long. And I’d never felt like this. So desperate. So hungry. So hot. Stretched taut enough to snap. “You’re so good. I’m so close.”
“Don’t you dare come yet,” he growled.
“Then hurry.” I urged him, arching my tits more fully into his talented hands. “I want you. I need you inside me.”
“I need you too.” Lifting me, he laid me on the bed.
The sheets cool beneath my hot skin, I came up on my elbows to watch him yank down his pajama bottoms. His glorious cock sprang free, purple passion, a rod of hot fire, fully extended.
My eyes burned like my body did as he climbed over me, caging me in with his palms pressed to the mattress by my head, and his sculpted arms taut on either side of me.
Emboldened by his blatant expression of desire, I reached between our straining bodies and grasped him. He was so thick, my fingers nearly didn’t go all the way around him. When I stroked my thumb along his velvety hard length, his cock jumped in my grip.
He groaned as he stared down at me. “That feels so good, babe. But these are in the way.”
Sitting back, he loosened one side strap of my panties and then the other before gliding the scrap of delicate lace down my legs. His fingers trailing along my fevered skin made a sensual shudder roll through me, and I lost my hold on him. He tossed the panties aside, leaving me completely nude in the center of his big bed.
“Fucking perfection,” he murmured, sweeping his heated gaze over me.
My nipples tightened to throbbing points, and more heat spiraled southward to soften and dampen the pulsing center of me.
The Right Wish Page 22