“It’ll get crinkled in the ponytail holders anyway.” He nipped at the sensitive place just beneath her ear.
She sucked a breath between her teeth. “Cam, Casper is my responsibility. You said you understood.”
And he’d never regretted a promise more than he did at this moment.
They heard scratching sounds and looked through the connecting door to see Casper pawing at the pillows on the bed in Cam’s room before turning around a couple of times and collapsing. He gave a great sigh and was still.
“He seems very comfortable on that bed,” Cam said, and felt Zoey relax in his arms.
“Yes.” She smiled and his blood heated. “Isn’t it great that we’ve got a spare?”
She popped the button on his jeans and eased down the zipper. “You dressed quickly.”
“Not as fast as I can undress.” Cam shoved at his jeans and kicked them off. Then he ran his fingers along Zoey’s ribcage and kissed her until she sighed and raised her arms.
Cam pulled off the tank and tossed it over his shoulder. Gazing at her, he said, “You’re so beautiful, I can’t think.”
“Did you think to bring a condom?”
He nodded.
Zoey freed her hair and shook it over her shoulders. “Get it.”
10
CAM RETURNED QUICKLY, in time to help Zoey pull down the comforter. She straightened and started to wiggle out of her panties.
“Wait.”
She raised her eyebrows and he grinned. “Leave ’em on.”
“They’re still damp.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m kind of digging the turquoise.”
Zoey glanced down at herself and then moved her hand under the waistband. “Oh, you are, are you?”
“Yeah.” He loved the way her underwear was supposed to conceal but didn’t hide a thing.
Cam held out his arms and she walked into them. “You’re beautiful, Zoey.” He threaded strands of her hair between his fingers. “You know the difference between pretty and beautiful?”
“Tell me.”
“Beauty is deeper and richer. More complex and longer lasting. Pretty makes you happy. You enjoy pretty as long as it’s around. Then you forget about it until you find the next pretty thing. But beauty haunts you. It’s compelling and unforgettable. It gets under your skin and in your head and draws you to it. Pretty fades. Beauty ripens. With it, your life is richer. Without it, you’re existing, not living. You need it. You want it. And when you find it, you hold on.” He looked deep into her eyes so she could see he meant what he said. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, Zoey.”
“Cam...” She blinked rapidly and fanned her eyes. “That was...no one has ever...” She sniffed. “Wow.”
She fanned at her eyes again and gave him a wobbly smile. “You,” she began, sticking her finger in the middle of his chest, “are a master seducer.” She pushed until he fell onto the bed, taking her with him.
She kissed her way down his stomach. “Your beauty speech was inspirational.” She rolled him onto his back and straddled him. “And I am inspired.”
He cupped her face and held her still. “I meant every word.”
She grasped his wrists, pulled his hands away from her face and pinned them above his head. “That’s what’s so inspirational.”
He gazed up at her breasts. “The view from here is inspirational, too.” He tried to lever himself within kissing distance and managed to swipe a nipple with his tongue before she stretched out of reach.
“No, no,” she said. “You’ve been taking care of me for days, so now I’m going to take care of you.”
Cam was no longer flexible. And because Zoey and her turquoise bikini panties were sitting on his most inflexible part, she knew it, too. “That’s right.” She rubbed against him and spoke in a sultry voice. “This is all about you.”
“What about your breasts?” Cam asked, eyeing them. “Can they be about me, too?”
She drew closer but stayed out of touching range.
He tugged his arm experimentally, but she held his wrist in place. “Relax. I’m in charge. You don’t have to do anything but feel.” She shimmied her shoulders suggestively and lowered herself until she brushed her chest against his.
Cam was both hot and cold at the same time. Or maybe he was so hot it felt like cold. He pulsed his groin against her turquoise warmth but she lifted herself away. Now the only parts of her body touching him were her hands on his wrists.
Unacceptable.
He licked his lips, dry because he’d been practically panting. “Is this one of those you’ve-been-a-bad-boy things?”
“No.” Zoey shook her head. “Because you’ve been a very good boy.” Her hair rippled over her shoulders and got in the way of Cam’s view of her breasts.
She had great breasts. He tried to remember what they’d felt like that night in the terminal; the memory seemed to be the only thing he was going to get for a while. He blew her hair out of the way, exposing her nipples again, and he was gratified when they tightened. Glad to know he had some effect on her.
“Oh,” she said softly.
He was pretty sure it was a good “oh.”
“You’re very resourceful.”
He was very desperate. He understood why she wanted to take the lead, but he’d been holding himself back since she’d unzipped his pants in the car.
Zoey bent over him, her hair falling around him exactly the way he’d fantasized. Since running his hands over her bare skin had also been part of the fantasy, he reached for her, forgetting that she’d pinned his arms over his head.
“Uh-uh.” To keep his arms down, she had to lean forward, which happily brought her breasts within a tongue’s length of his mouth.
He swiped at one hard tip and heard her inhale sharply, so he did it again. And again.
“Mmm.” It was a purr and she stretched like a cat before lowering herself to give him free access at last.
Cam drew as much of her into his mouth as he could, entirely focused on using his tongue to drive her mindless with pleasure so she’d let go of his arms and they could both become mindless with pleasure. Because so far, Cam had only been mindless with anticipation and need. He needed to touch her. He needed to see her wild for him. He needed to bury himself within her and feel her throbbing around him.
And he needed release.
With a groan, she pulled away, her cheeks flushed and her eyelids heavy. “You’re very distracting.”
“I can be a lot more than distracting.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” She bit her bottom lip and sat up.
One breast was rosy and wet from his mouth and the other looked sadly neglected. “Come here.”
She shook her head, hair rippling.
“Ah, Zoey.”
She inched backward as far as she could before lowering her head and kissing his throat, continuing to kiss a slow trail down his chest—too slow for Cam. His muscles clenched and he brought his knees up, intending to capture her between them, but Zoey stopped. “No touching,” she warned.
Slowly, Cam let his legs fall and Zoey gave him another of her maddeningly slow kisses, watching him as she did so. The lower she went, the more of her turquoise-covered rear popped up behind her. She paused, watching him watch her, and wiggled it suggestively.
He was going to explode like some teenager.
“I have a problem,” she said and Cam’s heart stopped.
“This is as far as I can reach and still hold your wrists.”
“Then let them go.”
She sat up. “Still no touching. Promise?”
“No! I appreciate the games, but you’re killing me! Enough.”
She shook her head. “Not until you promise.”
<
br /> “Zoey!” He reached for her but dropped his arm as she levered herself off him. He fully expected her to climb out of the bed.
“Zoey, I’m—” His breath hissed between his teeth as she took him into her mouth. He hadn’t been expecting that, at least not right then.
She caressed him and swirled her tongue around him as though he were a human ice-cream cone. No ice-cream cone could keep from melting under that tongue, and neither could he.
“Ahh, Zoey.” He dropped his head back onto the pillow and abandoned himself to the sensations.
She tightened and loosened her grip and varied the rhythm of her tongue and lips, heating him up and cooling him off until her tongue flicked lightly on a spot that almost had him levitating off the bed. As it was, he fisted his hands in the sheets and gasped. He felt a tremor and knew he was close. Forcing his eyes open, he locked on hers. “I want the first time to be inside you.” As she nodded and slipped off the turquoise panties, he grabbed for the condom but Zoey gracefully retrieved it and ripped it open, clearly not trusting his shaking fingers.
Smart thinking on her part.
“I’m not usually so...” He gestured vaguely as she sheathed him.
“It’s a heck of a compliment and a pretty effective turn-on.” She straddled him. “Oh—we’re finished with the no-touching part.”
Immediately, Cam’s hands latched onto her hips and eased her down. Slowly her warmth surrounded him until he was all the way inside her body. They stilled, looking into each other’s eyes. Keeping his gaze locked on hers, Cam began a slow, rhythmic pulsing, watching as her eyes went a little glassy. She may believe this was all about him, but he wanted to give her pleasure, too. With unexpected insight, he realized his own enjoyment depended on it.
Increasing the pace, he thrust up to meet her downward strokes. Zoey’s hands covered his where he gripped her hips. He loosened his fingers in case they were digging into her too much, but she pressed against them and shifted slightly.
“Oh!” Her eyes widened and she paused before tentatively moving again. “Ohh.” She smiled a dreamy smile and moved faster.
That dreamy smile made Cam sweat. He lifted her higher and brought her down harder as he drove into her.
“Oh, yes. That’s the spot.”
So he did it again. Harder.
“Mmm.” She closed her eyes.
Her thigh muscles bunched and her breasts bounced as she took over the rhythm.
Her breasts. He was free to touch them now. Cam slid his hands from beneath hers and covered them.
The breath hissed between Zoey’s teeth as she arched, pressing into his palms. Her nipples were hard and when he rubbed them, she moaned and dropped her head back.
Cam’s pulse pounded in his ears and he had to slow down to keep from going over the edge. Moments ago, he’d wanted things to move faster; now he wanted to savor these moments with Zoey naked on top of him, fiercely concentrating on her own pleasure. Every moan, every time she bit her lip, every panting breath fueled his passion, too. He wanted to see her climb higher and higher until she peaked. He wanted to watch her face as she was suspended in that everlasting instant before pleasure rippled through her.
Sweat slicked their bodies and their breaths came in short gasps. Just before his control slipped away, Cam clutched Zoey’s hips and ground her against him as he gave two quick hard thrusts.
“Cam!” Her eyes opened in surprise. “Oh! Ohh...” They drifted shut again as her muscles clenched around him.
He held himself still until the pulses faded away and she opened her eyes once more. Smiling she rocked against him, and with another thrust, he exploded. The intensity caught him by surprise, although it shouldn’t have. He rode wave after pounding wave until he could breathe again. Until he could speak again. And when he could, all he said was, “Zoey,” and hoped it was enough.
“I know.” She climbed off and curled up next to him. “Epic, huh?”
He draped an arm around her. “Beyond epic.”
“That sounds like a good name for a sequel.”
There was going to be a sequel. Cam smiled.
They dozed but not for long before a sound woke Cam.
“Did you hear something?” Zoey asked beside him.
“Paper?”
They listened, and then Cam suddenly remembered. “The Chinese food!” He bolted from the bed, Zoey right behind him.
They found Casper attacking one of the bags. He’d pulled it off the counter and onto the floor. It was the last of the bags he’d pulled off the counter and onto the floor.
“Casper!” Zoey squealed and dashed over to him.
Guilt and a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach kept Cam from appreciating the fact that Zoey was naked. She was going to blame herself for becoming distracted. And blame Cam for distracting her.
Casper ducked his head and didn’t resist when Zoey snatched the bag and plastic dish away from him. He was probably full anyway. Cam started picking up the remains of the food. Casper had even chewed on the packets of soy sauce, which accounted for the dark brown splotches on the carpet.
“I’m going to have to call Kate,” Zoey told him with a worried glance at the dog.
“I’m sorry,” Cam said. “I didn’t think he could reach stuff on the counter.”
“I didn’t, either.”
They surveyed the kitchenette, where one of the two plastic chairs had been pulled or, more likely, nosed away from the table just enough for a large dog to hop from it to the table on his way to the counter. Cam almost admired Casper’s cleverness. Almost.
“I’ll clean off his face and then call my sister.” Zoey’s shoulders slumped.
“Do not—” Cam took her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “Do not blame yourself for sleeping with me.” If she did, there’d never be an epic sequel.
She smiled. “Okay.”
“Good.” But he wasn’t entirely convinced. “I didn’t get any dishes that would have had bones, and most of the packaging is still intact. Mangled, but intact.” He tilted up her chin. “And there are sandwiches in the fridge.”
“Thanks.” She dropped a quick kiss on his knuckles before scolding Casper for licking at the carpet.
“I’ll clean that up while you deal with him.” And then Cam was treated to the view of Zoey’s backside as she walked away from him. He watched her usher the dog through the connecting door. Just before she walked through herself, she looked over her shoulder, gave him a smoldering stare and wiggled her butt.
Cam drew in a deep breath. He was so ready for Beyond Epic.
11
RARELY DID A sequel surpass the original, but Beyond Epic was truly beyond epic.
Cam had been determined that Zoey wouldn’t blame herself for having sex when she should have been watching Casper. Of course, she still blamed herself, but she didn’t regret it. Cam had been so passionately giving and tender... Remembering it now, while walking Casper around the motel parking lot, tears came to her eyes. He’d made love to her—all of her, but especially her heart. All this time, Zoey had been having sex. Oh, she’d thought she’d been making love. On her part it had been love, or what she assumed was love, but maybe it had just been hope. Now she understood the difference. Over the years, she’d settled because she didn’t know there could be more. If it weren’t for Cam, she might never have known. She tried to explain to him how she felt, but she only got all emotional. He didn’t seem upset. He’d just given her a meltingly gentle look, gathered her in his arms and let her blubber all over his chest.
Maybe he was used to having women get all emotional. Because, maybe, he was just that good.
Immediately, Zoey was struck by an almost insane amount of jealousy at the idea of Cam making any other woman as happy and sated as he’d made her. And
she sure didn’t want to feel that way with any other man. She gave a harsh laugh that sent a white cloud into the cold Nebraska morning. As if she would ever feel that way with anyone but Cam.
She knew him better than she’d known any other man, even the J boyfriend she’d lived with. The Js hadn’t truly known her, either, she admitted. She’d held back part of herself, waiting to experience the deep, emotional connection they’d need to build a life together.
Well, that hadn’t happened. And she’d wasted a whole lot of years trying to make it happen.
“How are you doing, Casper?” She idly scratched his head. “Up to a jog?”
Zoey took off, the cold air filling her lungs and clearing her head.
Cam was different. But she could end up exactly the same way—abandoning Skin Garden in order to make a relationship work. He had a busy life. Too busy.
Case in point: his cousin Gus had called this morning in a panic about the regular Saturday brewery tour and beer tasting.
Cam had the phone on speaker while he’d done crunches on the floor—and hadn’t that been a lovely breakfast treat—so Zoey had overheard their conversation as she got Casper ready to go outside. And she’d been a little shocked at hearing everything Cam was usually responsible for.
Over and over Gus had asked a variation of, “And who’s to be doing that, I’d like to know?”
And over and over Cam had answered, “I usually do it, but since I’m not there, you’ll have to.”
“I can’t do everything by myself! Who’ll greet the customers and conduct the tour?”
“Plenty of MacNeils show up on Saturdays to help. It’ll all work out, Gus.”
Cam had been grinning—and sweaty—when he ended the call.
Zoey had paused on her way out the door. “You enjoyed that.”
“I did.”
“But, Cam, you’re not an it’ll-all-work-out kind of person.”
“I am not. Gus is, though. And I have been dying to say that to him. It should be an interesting Saturday.” He stretched his arms over his head and sprawled in the desk chair.
Taken by Storm Page 14