by L. P. Dover
“We have a friend in common,” I confessed.
He sighed and closed his eyes. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Mason.” Letting me go, he stepped back and glared at me. “What are you, a cop?”
I nodded. “I wanted to tell you, but I couldn’t. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”
He scoffed. “So this whole time was a lie? You pretended to like me so you could get close to me. It fucking figures.” Again, he stormed away from me, but I kept pace with him.
“That’s not true,” I shouted. “At first, I’ll admit I didn’t want to have anything to do with you, but then we spent time together. I noticed a change in you from the very beginning when we were at the beach. You’re not the same guy you were a few months ago.”
“You were there?” he snapped. “You’ve been watching me this whole time?”
“And also keeping you out of trouble.”
“Because it was your job,” he growled. “Well, don’t worry. You won’t have to put up with me much longer.”
We were finally out of the woods and on the edge of the pond when he pulled out his phone and started to dial. He was going to tell Mason. There was no way in hell I could let him do that. Racing toward him, he only had one second of surprise before I grabbed him around the waist and we went rolling down the muddy bank and into the water. Before surfacing, I latched onto his body and wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. I wasn’t letting him go.
“What the fuck are you doing?”
I didn’t want to let go to wipe the water out of my eyes so I blinked it away as best as I could. “I can’t let you call Mason. I don’t want him knowing I told you.”
“Why? Because you’ll lose your job?”
“No, dumbass. No matter what happens, I’m not going to lose my job.”
“Then what?” His blue eyes searched mine, his lips only a breath away.
“Because I fell for you, Camden. It wasn’t supposed to happen. You may have a damaged past, but I see past all that. I know you want to run back to California and face Scar’s people, but I need you here, safe . . . with me. You have to trust me. What I feel for you is real.”
Tilting his face up to the rain, he sighed and closed his eyes. “I’m going to regret this,” he whispered.
“Regret what?”
In one quick movement, he closed his lips over mine and gripped the back of my neck, holding me in place. I willingly opened my lips and let him taste me, his tongue sweeping the inside of my mouth like a starved animal. My whole body clenched and trembled as his hands glided down my back, landing on my ass. He was hard between my legs and I moaned when he pushed himself against me.
“I want you so fucking bad,” he groaned, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth.
“Let’s go inside.”
His lips trailed down my cheek to my neck and back up. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
I rocked my hips against his cock and bit my lip. “Yes, I’m sure.”
I tried to unlatch my legs, but he shook his head and held them in place. “I got you. I kind of like them where they are.”
Taking one step at a time, he walked up the bank and out of the pond, bending down slightly to pick up his phone that fell just outside the water’s edge. At least his phone was saved. Mine was in my back pocket and spent the last ten minutes submerged in the pond.
“Is someone watching us right now?” he asked as he carried me to the door.
I shook my head. “No. It’s just us.”
A mischievous smile splayed across his lips. “So no one will see me do this?” Slamming me against the door, he ripped off my shirt and buried his face between my breasts. The next thing I knew my bra was gone and his lips were closed over my nipple. I held onto the doorframe as he rocked me against his body, biting and licking my tender flesh.
“Camden,” I cried. “Please, let’s go inside.”
“As you wish.” But instead of going inside my house, he lowered his hand between us and slipped a finger inside, then two. “You’re right, I think I like being inside. You’re so fucking wet.”
“Please,” I pleaded.
He slid his fingers out and opened the door. “I like hearing you beg.”
“Don’t get used to it, Jameson,” I warned with a smile. This time he met me with one of his own. “What is it?”
“I never knew how good it would feel to hear you say my real name.” He kicked the door closed and carried me down the hall, his shoes squeaking and leaving wet footprints along the hardwood floor. “Which way?”
“First door on the left.”
We were both still wet from the pond so he set me down on the floor instead of the bed. He lifted his shirt over his head and dropped his pants to the floor while I lowered my skirt. My heart pounded in my chest, my nerves making me shake. I hadn’t made love to anyone since the accident.
Camden brushed his thumb across my cheek. “You don’t need to be nervous, Brooklyn. I’ve seen all of you. No matter what your skin looks like, you’ll always be beautiful in my eyes.” His fingers glided down my back so tenderly that instead of cringing, I melted. Once on the bed, I buried myself under the covers with Camden between my legs. He kissed the mounds of my breasts and pulled a nipple between his teeth. “Are you protected?”
He sucked it hard and I hissed, “Yes. But what about you?”
Pulling back, he looked into my eyes. “I was tested constantly when fighting. I’m safe, buttercup. I promise.”
He stretched my legs wider as he got into position. Licking his hand, he rubbed himself and then pressed his cock into my opening. Gently, he pushed inside and I gasped as he filled me, stretching me to the point of pain. It’d been so long. Taking my hand, he held it above my head and clasped his fingers with mine as he made love to me while the other caressed my cheek. My body trembled and I could feel my orgasm building. He rocked his hips more vigorously.
“I’m gonna come,” he growled. Digging my nails in his back, I screamed out his name at the same time he released inside me. Still connected, Camden bent down and kissed me, his lips warm and smooth. “You have no idea how amazing that felt.”
Actually I did. It was the first time he’d had sex in months. But I wasn’t going to tell him I was the reason for that.
THE NEXT MORNING I didn’t know what to expect. What I didn’t anticipate was to wake up lying on Camden’s chest with his arm around my waist. There was a small part of me that wondered if he’d even be in my bed when I woke up. Overall, I felt good . . . maybe a little sore.
“I know you’re awake, buttercup. I’m surprised you slept through all the phone calls.”
I gasped and bolted upright so fast my head spun. “Oh my God. What phone calls?”
He lifted his phone and smiled. “Mason and your brother. I’m sure with your phone being fucked up, they can’t get in touch with you.”
I ran my hands through my knotted hair and groaned. “Ugh, I bet my brother rode by here and saw your Jeep. Hopefully, none of the other guys did.”
“Is Jason a cop too?” he asked curiously.
I nodded. “Basically everyone you’ve been around since meeting me are undercover cops. You’ve been well protected.”
“So that’s why Mason wanted me in Charlotte. You were alone with me in Oak Island, weren’t you? Here, you have everyone.”
“He did it for both of us. Since Scar found your last location, he didn’t want us alone. He also wanted me back home to face my problems.”
He laughed. “Mason always has a motive for everything, doesn’t he?”
I got out of bed and fetched my robe. “That he does. I’ve known him for years. He’s the one who trained me in mixed martial arts. My parents were furious I didn’t want to be a professional dancer or some shit like that.”
Camden sat up in bed. “Believe me, I know what it’s like to disappoint the parents. Not so much my father, but I’m pretty sure my mother right now hates me after w
hat I did to Ryley and Ash.”
“Have you thought about calling and apologizing? Or are you going to keep running away from that too?” I asked.
He shrugged, averting his gaze. “I tried when the twins were born. Ryley caught me as I was leaving. He was not happy to see me there.”
“What did you do after that?”
His blue eyes turned to mine. “I ran. I left as fast as I could and didn’t looked back. He’ll never forgive me, and even if he does, I know Ash won’t.”
“How do you know if you don’t try,” I prodded.
“Enough about my fucked up life,” he grumbled. “What I really want to know is, how good of a fighter are you? I never thought I’d be in bed with a girl who could kick my ass.”
I laughed. “Now I wouldn’t go that far. I could do some damage, but you’re twice my size and a UFC fighter. My chances of beating you in the ring are slim to none. Now if we were in a shooting competition, I could beat you hands down.”
“With that, I have no doubt. But in all seriousness, the first night I met you, were you kidding when you said you had a gun strapped to your thigh?”
Fastening my robe, I winked and let out a small chuckle. I started for the door but he stopped me.
“Where are you going?”
“To the kitchen to use my home phone. If we ignore Mason’s calls he’ll start to get pissed. The last thing I want is for him to get one of the guys to drive by here. He needs to know we’re okay.”
Getting out of bed, Camden sauntered over completely naked. It took all I had to keep my attention on his face; especially when he put his hand on my waist, pulling me in tight. “What if Blake knew I was here? How will you explain this to everyone? We can’t keep it a secret forever.”
“How would you want me to explain it? You’re not a commitment type of guy, Camden.”
Lifting his hands to my face, he traced my lips with his thumb. “But I don’t want to be with anyone else. I don’t want to hide what we have.”
“And what is that exactly? What do you think we have?” I asked. “You know this will never work when you go back to California. You’ll go back to being the fighting superstar with women at your beck and call, and I’ll be here.” My heart was getting too attached and I wanted to kick myself in the ass for letting it go so far. There was no way in hell he’d leave everything in California to stay with me.
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ears. “We have more than that and you know it. Can’t we just live in the moment and go from there? I don’t know what’s going to happen once everything’s over, but I don’t want to think about that right now. All I want is to throw you down on your bed and fuck you until you can’t walk.”
He tried to pick me up, but I stepped back and held my arms out. “You can do all of that, after I call Mason. I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry.” I watched him get back in bed and stroke himself, smiling devilishly. It was easy to see why so many women wanted to have sex with him. His level of experience was through the roof. I was a beginner in comparison.
Once downstairs, I grabbed my cordless phone and dialed Mason’s number; he answered on the first ring. “The next time you don’t answer your phone, I’m going to send Blake over. I’m sure that would’ve gone over nicely considering Jameson was at your house all night.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” I countered. “And my phone got ruined after I tackled Camden into the pond.”
Mason groaned. “Do I really want to know?”
“Probably not,” I laughed. “But I’m going to get a new phone today. So for your information, Camden and I are fine.”
“I wish that were true.”
“What do you mean?” I inquired. Something was wrong. I could hear it in his voice.
“I saw Scar yesterday. He asked to see me. When I got there, all he could talk about was New York.”
“O-kay,” I drawled out. “And what does that have to do with Camden?”
“Not Camden . . . you.”
“Me? What does anything in New York have to do with me? I’ve never been there.”
“All he could talk about was the Brooklyn Bridge. Think about it, B. He has to know about your connection to Camden somehow. I don’t think you’re alone out there. And it pisses me the fuck off because I can’t figure this shit out. I don’t understand how he found you.”
“Fuck,” I hissed. “What are we going to do? You can’t tell Camden this. He’ll leave me for sure.”
“But if Scar knows who you are there’s a reason for it. He likes playing games and I can only assume the guy going after Camden does too. They will use you to get to him.”
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I don’t plan on being used. I can handle this, Mason. Whatever Scar has planned, I’ll be ready.”
“I sure hope so, B. I’m coming out there at the end of the week. Do me a favor and don’t tell anyone. I only want you to know.”
“Why? What are you trying to hide?”
“I don’t know yet, but if I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know. Just do me a favor and don’t trust anyone. I think we have a traitor out there.”
I groaned. “You can’t be serious. All of the guys I’ve worked with have been around for years. There’s no way any of them are traitors.”
“I’m sorry, B. I just can’t think of any other options. Just keep away from everyone. Get Camden’s things and let him stay with you. Until I get into town, don’t let any of the guys get near him. You hear me?”
At that moment, Camden’s hand came down on my shoulder and I jumped. “Shit,” I hissed as the phone slipped out of my hand. Camden picked it up and handed it back to me. “Sorry, I dropped the phone,” I said to Mason. “I understand everything. I’ll see you in a few days.”
I hung up quickly and set the phone down on the counter. Mason had seriously lost his mind if he thought one of the guys in our department was a traitor. There was no way in hell.
“What’s going on?” Camden asked.
I laid my head on his chest and sighed when his arms closed in around me. “I’m not exactly sure, but we need to get your things out of the condo.”
He pulled away. “Why?”
“Because you’re going to be staying here with me.”
“Why do you not look happy about it?” Grabbing me around the waist, he pressed his cock against my leg. “Because I’m definitely more than thrilled.”
“Believe me, I am. But Mason told me something that has me worried. It’ll change everything if it’s true.”
“Tell me.”
I turned around and walked over to the window looking out over my pond. “Mason thinks he has narrowed down who’s after you.”
His reflection changed in the window, going from calm and flippant to outright scary. “Who?”
I met his gaze in the window. “It’s someone who’s most likely close to me.” This time I turned to face him. “If what Mason says is true, then I’m pretty sure you’ve already met him over the past week. Now the hard part is finding out who it could be.”
“ARE YOU DOMESTICATED yet?” I asked.
Camden wiped the sweat off his brow and laughed. “I’m getting there. I didn’t realize I was going to have to earn my keep.”
For six days, I kept him busy. We painted my spare bedroom, I taught him how to cook, and with any extra time he made sure to keep me busy. But that time wasn’t now. Mason was going to be here any minute and we had an eventful night ahead of us.
“I figured since I had a young stud like you who can lift heavy boxes, I’d better use more than your dick to my advantage.”
Grabbing my hand, he jerked me to him and pushed me down on the couch. He covered me, his body all hot and slick with sweat. His muscles bulged under my touch and tightened. “Well then, the way I see it, you owe me,” he growled, pressing into me.
His lips covered mine and he started to yank my shorts down my legs. I fumbled with the button on his jeans and freed his cock, pu
mping him hard.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he murmured against my lips.
He bit my nipple through the fabric of my tank top and I moaned. “I know the feeling.” Sadly, no more fun was to be had because the doorbell rang. I let go of his cock and freed my nipple from his teeth.
“If that’s Mason, I’m going kill him,” he grumbled.
“I think I will too. He’s going to be shocked when he finds out you already know the truth.” My nipples ached and my underwear was drenched. Camden straightened my shorts and put his dick away before helping me off the couch. I could see a silhouette through the frosted glass, but I couldn’t tell who it was.
When I opened the door, it was Mason. He greeted me with his usual, devilishly handsome smirk and green eyes. His hair was the same as always, shortly cropped and dark blond. Everyone feared him and I was curious to see how the guys reacted tonight with him around.
“If it isn’t my prodigy,” he teased. “Did I come at a bad time?” The blood rushed to my cheeks and I could feel them flaming. By our disheveled appearances, he knew what he interrupted. “Good.” To Camden he said, “And I see by the not-so-surprised look on your face, you already know what’s going on. I have a strange feeling you’ve known for a while.”
With a smirk on his face, he nodded. “A few days. I wanted to go back to California, but Brooklyn stopped me.”
Mason dropped his bag and chuckled. “And I can only imagine how she convinced you to stay.” He winked and I rolled my eyes. “It’s all good though. I wanted you two to be friends. It looks like it worked out for the best.”
Once inside, we all sat down in the living room with Camden beside me and Mason across from us. It was time to get down to business. “So what’s the plan for tonight? We’re all supposed to go to Second Street. Everyone will be there.”
“That’s what I want. I want to go in there like nothing’s wrong. With seeing us all together they’ll know that Camden is out of the dark. It might shake things up a bit. We’ll be able to see who acts odd around us.”