“Home,” he repeated. “I like the sound of that.” Cameron turned away and got into his car.
As I gripped the cold, passenger handle on Maddie’s car door, Edwin startled me.
"Hey," he said.
I pulled on the door and Edwin held it open. I didn’t want to allow him to be all chivalrous toward me but, when he leaned closer, I had no other option but to drop down onto the seat.
Edwin stuck his head inside the car. "Do you mind if I ride with you guys?"
Maddie glanced over her shoulder. "That's up to Abby."
I brought my left hand to my chin, as though I was thinking about it, my only intention to flash him my ring. It didn’t seem to scare him off. "I don’t care," I said. Then I slid my butt to the far end of the bench seat, while my heart screamed: Nooooo!
I flashed my eyes out the windshield, worried to see Cameron's reaction. His eyes were locked on Edwin as he got into the seat next to me. I rested my left hand on the arm rest and spread my fingers to display my ring, as Edwin snapped on his seatbelt.
"Abby?" Edwin asked.
I brought my hand back to my chin, so he couldn't look at me without seeing it and turned toward him. “Yes?”
Edwin winced at the sight, and it took him a minute to right himself after having been electrocuted, but it gave me the peace of mind I was so desperately clinging to. "I guess it can wait," he said, then glanced out his window as we sped away.
The ride wasn't nearly as uncomfortable for me as I expected it would be. My ring seemed to barricade the gap between us, until Edwin started to fidget.
"Abs, you really need to rethink what your priorities are in life," he blurted.
I looked at him, with anger swelling in my eyes, wondering where the hell that had come from. I quickly realized that he wasn't looking for a response. I wanted to scream at him, but instead I took a deep breath and cleared my head. My priorities are in order.
Edwin was staring out the window again, but that wasn’t going to stop me from standing my ground.
"I’m sorry my priorities aren't what you want, Eddie. But that isn't my problem, is it?"
His eyes scanned over me then dropped to the floor. "Nope, I suppose that would make it my problem."
Great. Sitting with Aliah was bad enough. Now, I was sure to self-combust if I had to spend another hour next to Edwin. I clenched my fists and closed my eyes, hoping I could garner enough control to last the entire ride. Not a half hour later, I could feel Edwin's eyes reaching me again.
I didn't want to start another argument, but I couldn't take it anymore. "What?"
"I can't look at you?"
"No, Edwin. You can't. Not like that." My heart began to race.
"You're too good for me now that you're dropping anchor with Cam; is that it?"
"It's not like they're getting married," Jessica said, then slapped her hand over her big mouth.
"I knew it."
I shook my head. He didn’t know. "Don't even. You don't get it."
"No, I think I do," he retorted, evidently convinced of his own smug delusions.
I nearly lost it. "Maddie. Pull over please.” I narrowed blame-filled eyes at Edwin. “I need some air."
"What are you doing?" Edwin asked.
“You deaf? I need some air." I didn’t want him to see me cry.
Maddie brought the car to slow stop and I stormed out into the snow, slamming the door shut on Edwin as he tried to follow me, nearly taking off his leg. I tromped down the desolate, snow-covered road and the silence swallowed me whole.
I stopped and zipped my jacket up to my chin to shake the chill that instantly overcame me; then I stuffed my trembling hands into my coat pockets to hide them from the frigid air. I took a deep breath and it misted before me on an exhale.
The crisp air helped to clear my head, to the point where I started to feel guilty for being so inconsiderate to Edwin. He was entitled to his opinion. I tugged my hood over my head and buried my tear-stained cheeks into the neck of my coat.
Edwin fled the car and followed the trail of small, boot prints, demolishing them with his own. I heard the snow crunching behind me. I would recognize that casual, masculine approach anywhere.
My cheeks were already frozen, and the north wind wasn’t letting up. For that reason alone, I hoped Edwin would be short with me.
"I take it you got the nastiness off your chest. You didn't run away from me," Edwin harassed, stopping just behind my cold shoulder.
I peeked over at him, but kept my feet planted firmly in the snow bank. Damn. Why did he have to look so attractive? I stole my eyes back and stared down at the sparkling snow, his body language charming the boots off of me. "I'm sorry for being so mean," I said, with a whisper. “It’s not entirely your fault.”
The brisk wind whistled and I wondered if he had even heard me. That was until I realized that he was now standing at my heels.
"Not entirely?" he said. "Can't you just…"
"The answer is no," I snapped, afraid to hear what he had to say.
"You don’t mean that," he said, resting his large, warm hand on my shoulder.
I spun around, knocking his hand off of me. My lashes fluttered and my eyes were met with his warm, flowing gaze. "All you have to say is: I accept your apology."
"Oh, is that it?” Edwin said. He smirked, loving the way I wriggled beneath his gaze. “That easy, huh? You don’t want to hear how I set up this whole master plan to ruin your relationship with Cam, so I could swoop in and steal you up for myself?"
My jaw dropped and my eyes filled with panic. It couldn’t be true.
"Yep. I helped that blonde girl with her boyfriend troubles and she was going to help me with mine. I guess I didn't work my angle hard enough."
I became disoriented from the rate of speed the conversation had turned on me. "The blonde girl was in on it? You did that?”
"It doesn’t matter now. You're wearing his ring." His words were woeful, as he stared at the rock plastered to my forehead.
I shook my head, trying to put the pieces together. "You tricked me."
"Oh, come on; it was just some harmless fun." When he smiled and ran his tongue over his full, bottom lip, I knew he was recalling our long, drawn out kiss. "You didn't seem to mind it at the time." His pale lips curved into a deviously sexy smirk.
"Harmless fun? Where do you draw the line? This is my life you're toying with, Eddie."
His smile didn't budge. "How was I supposed to know you were going to plant one on me? The plan was ingenious and that part actually couldn't have worked out any better."
My lips parted, frustration feeding my anger. "I cannot believe you made a game of this, planting all these ridiculous feelings in my heart and ideas in my head. You've had it out for Cam since day one. And for what?" I looked to Edwin, demanding an explanation.
He just stood there, smiling.
Is he even listening to me? "You're just letting me harp, aren’t you?"
"Yeah, you really need to get it out of your system. That's not healthy at all."
"Ugh!" I screamed.
"You can be frustrated with me all you want, but I can see there's more to it than that."
I felt like my world was being stomped on and I needed a distraction before I fell to pieces. I squeezed my eyes shut, but I couldn’t close out the world. My head was on fire, though the rest of my body was numb from the cold. I wished I could numb the warm feelings I had for Edwin.
Out of nowhere, Edwin spoke; and it was as if he had plucked the thought straight from my brain. "You liked it."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I stammered.
"The kiss. You enjoyed it as much as I did."
I glared at him, vowing never to admit it.
He smirked, his confidence annoying me. "I knew it."
Maddie blasted on her horn, as her car slowly crept up next to us. I yanked the door open and slipped inside.
“Get over yourself,” I snapped, as I squished as
close to my door as humanly possible.
The rest of the ride passed rather quickly without any more arguments. Maddie dropped me off at Cam's house first and Edwin didn’t ask any questions. He'd figure it out when I didn't come home tonight.
I pulled my bags to the front door and stood outside of it anxiously. Do I knock? It just didn’t feel right letting myself in. Embarrassed that my friends got to witness my indecision, I knocked three times, turned the knob and pushed inside.
Cam rushed to the door, his bags already cleared from the entrance. "I didn't hear you pull up." He reached his arms out for a hug. "Everything okay?" he asked, noticing how I held on to him extra long.
I smiled and kissed him. "It is now."
CHAPTER FIVE
THE FIRST DAY BACK to work came and went without any natural disasters, but it was only a matter of time. I could sense it. Most of the staff had already gone home, when I finished talking to Maddie.
"Don't worry about Edwin. He's resilient. He'll bounce back," she told me. "He always does."
It surprisingly relieved some of my worry. "Thanks, Maddie. Have a good night."
"I will, once this little stinker stops kicking the crap out of me.” She rubbed her round, baby belly and walked away smiling. “Night, Abby.”
The rest of the office was dark, except for the light beaming from Cameron's office. I crept over to his room and peered around the corner to see if he was still busy. I watched him for a minute or so, admiring his unconditional effort and handsome features as he concentrated on whatever it was he was doing.
He had already done away with his constricting suit jacket and had rolled up his crisp white sleeves. I loved the way they bunched just above his elbows, slightly exposing his incredible arms. He continued to squint at the page, his forehead wrinkled in thought, his thumb pressed against those full lips. I debated stealing him from his work, because I had other less productive things in mind.
Then his chair squeaked. "Abby? Is that you?"
I froze in place, hoping that he hadn't actually seen me, but he swiftly dashed to his door and caught me in the act of spying.
"Hey. I was hoping it was you. Do you have a minute?"
"Sure," I muttered, worried that he was ready for that talk I’d been avoiding.
I pulled the door partly closed and followed him inside. He stood behind one of the arm chairs and held the back of it, hinting for me to sit. After I did, he returned behind his desk and leaned back in his chair. Despite seeing him sitting behind his thick, wooden desk, in a position of power, I suddenly felt like the one in control. Why was I so turned on by that?
He knew exactly what I was thinking and I held his restless stare as I stood up and rounded his desk. He didn’t even flinch when I eased myself on top of him and straddled his lap, full mount. His baby blues electrified me, as he devoured my body with his devious gaze and erotic grin. I settled against his lap and could feel him launching beneath me.
He wove his fingers into my hair, goose bumps spreading across his arms, as I provocatively leaned into him. I drew my parted lips across his neck, my tongue wetting his heated skin until my teeth found his ear lobe and he let out a growl of masculine arousal.
My eyes flashed to the door, still held a crack open. I clutched on top of the hand that he had gripping his chair and lifted myself to my feet. “I’ll be right back,” I said, with a breath of seduction.
I swaggered toward the door to close it and gave it a little kick with my heeled shoe for visual effect. When the door slammed shut, I let out a devious giggle and then spun around to face him. I locked the door behind me, all the while flashing him a devilish smirk.
When I approached him, my heels clicked across his hard floor, until I was standing right in front of him. He watched with fascinated interest, as I wiggled out of my panties and kicked them aside. His gaze never left mine. I then gave him the look, his invitation to touch, but he didn't move. I spread my legs farther apart, as far as my skirt would allow, and I knew then that Cameron wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.
When he raised his eyebrows, an electrifying shock surged through my body. Then he stood up from behind his desk and tossed his phone on top of it. I couldn't contain the sensations swirling around me. Before he could straighten himself, I was already pouncing on him like a wild animal.
I crashed against him, my mouth hot and heavy on his. The heat raging from his body was outrageous, so I ripped open his shirt to free the flames and yanked it over his shoulders and down his arms, pinning them to his sides.
He groaned, as I smoothed my hands up and down his chest and licked my tongue across it. While I devoured his rock-hard body, Cam managed to slip free of his shirt and lifted mine up and off me. I deftly unbuttoned his black slacks, ripped the zipper open and dropped them to his ankles together with his boxers.
I looked up at him with a ravenous need, as great as the sight right before my eyes. He answered to my urgency by hiking my long pencil skirt high on my thighs, lifting me into his strong arms and dropping me on top of him. My feminine gasp encouraged him, as he forced his pelvis forward, slamming into me. When I wrapped my legs around his waist, he sank deeper yet and growled as he moved inside of me.
Cameron’s muscles were held taut and glimmered with perspiration, him being the only thing keeping us grounded in the middle of the room. With every flex of his hips, a jolt of pleasure streamed through me, until he had me bouncing on top of him with his hands on my hips, driving himself into me with a monstrous force.
Unable to stave off the mounting wave, Cam plowed on until he was stifling my squeals with an open mouth covering mine. Far from finished, still planted deep within me, he carried me to his firm, leather couch, as my insides continued to clench around his hardness. Cameron gently dropped me onto the smooth, leather seat and hovered mere inches over me, assessing my desire.
Still clutched to his shoulders, my eyes pleaded with him to come back, but I wasn’t expecting him to rush deep inside of me the second he had covered himself with a condom. He drove so hard and deep that it jump started my senses and sent me into a flurry of awakened arousal. I couldn't restrain my pleasure, as rainbows meandered around us and fireworks splashed across my eyelids.
The louder I moaned, the harder he worked to please me, more and again. My next orgasm launched me into full-on dreamland and my eyes rolled into the back of my head as he found his release and exploded inside of me. His mouth found mine, his sweat-streaked chest pressed against me as he took what was his.
Watching him exhale so deeply, exhausted from our brisk lovemaking, only made me love him more. He made me feel so special. Wanted. Needed.
Cameron chuckled, breaking me out of my fantasy. "So much for that talk."
He dropped a wet, consuming kiss on my lips, then stood up from me. A cold breeze tingled across my moist, exposed skin. Not wasting any time, I pulled my skirt down, refastened my bra and slipped on my blouse. As I did up the top button, Cam pulled me back into his arms.
"We work well together."
"You call this work?" I teased, though he looked like he had just finished a very intense workout.
His hair was all sweaty and sexy. "I mean us, Abby. We work. I thought I had been in love before, but it felt nothing like this."
All I could do was sit there smiling and I couldn't knock the feeling of how fortunate I was to have this amazing man professing his love to me. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, as Cam lifted my hand and straightened my ring. In that moment, when my heart twitched with guilt, I knew that there were unresolved feelings for another man that I would have to unravel before we could spend the rest of our lives together.
Cam glanced at his watch, instantly breaking the intimacy of the moment. He dashed to his jacket, yanked it off the hanger and shrugged it on. Cam looked at his watch again. "Shit!"
“What’s wrong?”
"My 6:00 is probably waiting in the lobby. I didn’t realize the time.” Cam straightened his
tie and delivered a chaste peck to my lips. "We'll have to finish this later."
As I slipped out of his office discreetly, my legs trembled. The trembling would only get worse. I knew what the night had in store for me. I had to tell Edwin I was moving out.
Cameron stopped me before I made it to the lobby. “Hey,” he called, from the boardroom door. “You’ll need a key.” He dangled one out to me. “I had it made this morning.”
I smiled, softly. "I was just going to head over to my place to get some things and maybe grab a bite to eat."
"I can come with you," he said. "I shouldn’t be too much longer here.”
I peered over his shoulder, where the clients were waiting patiently for him to resume their meeting. "Take your time," I said. "I'll be fine. I can handle Edwin."
"I'd really like to come with you." He wasn't asking.
"Cam, we've discussed this before. Nothing’s going to happen between me and Edwin. You have to trust me on this one."
Hesitant, he sighed. "I do trust you. It's him I don't trust." After a second of reluctance, he nodded at me. “Okay, but I'm only a phone call away if you need me."
I smirked as he struggled with his internal battle to order me to wait. "Thank you." After a chaste kiss, I rushed outside into the blizzard.
My emotions hooked me, just like the wind, and an unexpected gasp escaped my mouth as the first tear dripped from my eye. What is wrong with me? As I backed out of my parking spot, my tears streamed harder and I couldn't control the outrageous sobbing. Cam had let me go. So why was I such a blubbering mess? He trusts me.
But could I trust myself?
The icy road had a fresh coat of wet snow on top of it and I had to clasp both hands on the wheel just to keep it on the road. As I pulled down my street, I thought I was in the clear, but when I pressed on my brake to slow down for my driveway, the tires skidded against the slick road and my car slid out of control.
I slammed the brakes and jerked the wheel to avoid the oncoming hydro pole. After missing it by mere inches, the car stalled and skidded to a stop on the edge of road a few houses past mine. Unable to contain the agony bearing down on me, just thinking about asking for Edwin’s approval of my new sleeping situation, I broke down. I hugged the steering wheel and rested my head against it. The cool leather felt nice against the boiling heat radiating from my forehead.
A Twist of Fate (The Twisted Trilogy) Page 7