"Oh!" I cry out when he catches me before I hit the bed.
He eases me down the rest of the way, careful of the stitches that run halfway across my back. The bullet came close to hitting my lung, but somehow, it missed. I'm pretty sure that's the only thing that saved my life. That, and the fact that Erin let Cam call an ambulance after I passed out. Luckily, they were already on the way, thanks to a neighbor who heard everything. They rushed me into surgery as soon as they got me to the hospital and removed the bullet. I had to have a lot of blood, too. More than I want to think about.
"You okay?" he asks, looking down at me with hungry eyes. Worry glints in the depths of the stormy gray.
"I'm fine," I promise him, meaning it. He's been worried about me, and I can't say I blame him. I've been a mess, alternating between crying a lot and staring off into space. Picking up the pieces and coming to terms with the fact that Erin was behind all of this is going to take a long time, but I have Cam to help me, so I will be okay. We both will. We’ve lost too much time already to waste any more.
"Good." He smirks, showing me that dimple of his, and then he yanks his boxers off, kicking them free. He wraps his hand around his cock, stroking himself.
Heat immediately races through me, wetness pooling between my thighs. I squirm beneath him, trying to relieve the pressure already building inside.
"You've been fucking with me for a week, pissing me off because you knew I couldn't do anything about it," he says, his eyes smoldering.
He's not lying. I have been extra mouthy, hoping to push him over the edge and make him lose control. He didn't take the bait, but I'm pretty sure the cocky bastard has been intentionally torturing me every night as retribution.
He prowls up my body, straddling my chest. He's careful not to put any weight on me, bracing himself against the headboard with one hand while he continues stroking his cock with the other. "Let me have that smart mouth, kitten."
Oh god, yes.
I open instantly, moaning when he passes the head across my lips, teasing me. I flick my tongue out, tasting the pre-cum already gathering on the head of his cock. Another low moan filters from my mouth at his taste. It's been too long since I've had him in my mouth. I need it almost as badly as he does. More, perhaps.
"Yes," he hisses when I wrap my lips around the head of his cock and suck him into my mouth.
He tips his head back, moaning my name.
I love his sounds and how willingly he gives them to me. He never makes me wonder if I'm pleasing him. From day one, he's always given me every piece of him, not holding anything back.
He doesn't hold back this time, either.
"Fuck, kitten," he groans, flexing his hips to slide deeper. He dips his head, watching his cock disappear between my lips. His eyes are my favorite stormy gray color, his cheeks flushed with arousal as he fucks my mouth slowly. "Love this smart mouth."
I moan around him again, running my tongue across the underside of his cock before flicking it across the slit when he pulls back. He growls and thrusts forward again, going deeper this time. He keeps his eyes locked on my face the entire time, his gaze riveted to the sight of his length disappearing into my mouth.
When I reach up and cup his balls, rolling them gently in my hands, he growls again and pulls away.
"Hey!" I frown at him. "I wasn't done."
"Too bad," he grunts and then he's pulling my shirt off over my head before tossing it over his shoulder. He strips my shorts and panties off just as quickly, not even looking as he throws them across the room. "God. Look at you, kitten," he groans, his tongue running across his bottom lip as he devours me with his gaze. He kisses his way down my body, leaving a fresh trail of marks across my skin.
"Cam, I need you in me," I whine, arching my hips upward.
"Nu-uh," he mumbles before biting down on my nipple. His hand slips between our bodies, causing my stomach muscles to contract. "Want you to come on my tongue, first."
"Yes!" I cry out when his fingers roll over my clit.
A low growl rumbles in his chest. "You're soaked, kitten."
I know I am. I can feel the wetness against my thighs.
He works his way down my body, his lips never leaving my skin until he's between my legs, lifting them over his shoulders to spread me open to him. He's gentle with me, careful to keep as much pressure off my back as possible.
"Eyes on me," he commands softly, lowering his head.
I watch through heavy lids as he bumps his nose against my clit and inhales deeply, holding my scent in his lungs for a heartbeat before he spreads me open with his thumbs and then licks me. His eyes flutter, another moan vibrating against his lips.
My head falls back as pleasure rolls through me, and then I remember I'm supposed to be watching him. I lift my head again, my gaze tangling with his. He hums against my pussy, sending electric shockwaves through my body.
"Goddamn, kitten. I could eat this cunt all day."
That mouth…that fucking mouth.
He feasts on me, licking and sucking until the room is full of the sound of my cries. His tongue is everywhere, running across my clit before slipping inside of me, only to retreat and do the same thing again. He's torturing me again, intentionally driving me crazy without letting me come. He keeps his eyes locked on mine, focusing completely on me in that way of his, like he's trying to memorize every flicker of emotion that crosses my face.
"Please," I plead shamelessly when beads of sweat slip down my body. "Please let me come, Cam."
He loses it when I beg him, and sucks my clit between his lips while thrusting two fingers inside me. He growls against my pussy, the sound savage, primal.
I explode apart instantly, his name on my lips. Waves roll over me, pleasure burning through me like an inferno. It's so good, I don't want it to end. I writhe and moan my way through, gasping for breath.
"Begging," he growls when I fall limp. He's hovering over me, staring at me with so much heat in his eyes, they scorch me. "Can't take it when you beg me, kitten. Makes me crazy." He flips us over, helping me to straddle him. His hands are gentle against my skin, but his eyes are wild.
"Why?" I ask through a moan when he captures my nipple between his lips.
"Ride me," he demands instead of answering me, grinding his pelvis against mine so his cock rubs against my clit.
I gasp and lift up, positioning him at my entrance, but I don't drop myself down on him. Not yet.
"Cam," I whisper instead, holding still until he meets my gaze again. When he does, I slide down onto him, taking him inside slowly. My breath stalls, everything falling still for a moment as he fills me. He's so deep like this, it's insane. I love it. God, I never want to stop feeling him inside me like this. "I love you."
"Kitten," he moans, his hands flexing against my hips. A shudder goes through him, devotion flaring in his gaze. Emotion brims in his eyes, spilling over. He looks awed, humbled, as I sink down, taking him all the way before I rock against him, moaning his name. His fingers dig into my hips and then relax before he flexes them again, like he isn't sure what to do. The desire to fuck me hard is plain on his face, and so is the need to love me slowly.
"God, sweetheart. What are you doing to me?" he asks, reaching up to push my hair out of my face.
"Giving you what's yours," I whisper, leaning down to kiss him. "Make love to me, Cam. Please."
Our tastes mingle on his lips as he opens to me, allowing me to kiss him. He makes love to me slowly, gently, running his hands all over my body. Our mouths never drift far from the other, our bodies twined together as he lifts me and eases me back down, controlling my pace. I gasp his name, and he whispers mine against my lips, breathing his air into my lungs.
"I love you," he murmurs over and over, pressing the words into my skin.
"I love you," I whisper back and then moan when the head of his cock drags against my g-spot. I dig my nails into his shoulders, holding on tightly as a cry rumbles in his throat, like my words have u
ndone him.
He thrusts upward harder than before, another of those unintelligible sounds rumbling in his throat.
I love that I do that to him. That I can unravel him with nothing more than a simple whispered truth.
He holds me down, grinding his pelvis into mine before he lifts me up and drops me again. Harder and then faster, until I'm rocking against him at a wicked pace, breathless.
He pants beneath me, moaning before he lifts up and claim my nipple again.
I throw my head back and cry out when he bites down, the pain instantly transforming to pleasure that spirals out, rippling through me. "I'm going to come," I gasp, my body trembling.
"Not until I say, kitten."
I whimper, scoring him with my nails in an attempt to hold my orgasm at bay and wait for him to come with me. It's impossible though. He feels so good stroking inside of me. I can't stop it. It's too big this time.
He sits up suddenly, crashing his lips against mine to swallow my cries. His hands dig into my hips as he rocks me against him, each shift causing him to rub against my clit. "Give it to me, sweetheart. Now."
"Cam!" I cry out against his lips, letting go. My orgasm detonates inside me like a bomb going off. Heat races through me in waves, knocking me breathless. My inner walls convulse around him, pulling him deeper as he lifts and then drops me, taking me hard.
"Kitten," he moans, slamming me down onto his cock a final time and then stilling. "God, kitten." His body trembles against mine as he growls loudly, erupting inside of me. He runs his hands all across my body, touching me everywhere as we come together, riding out the waves in each other's arms.
"Love you," I mumble, falling limply against his chest when the last wave recedes.
He cuddles me close, opening his mouth over my heart and placing a kiss there. "Love you too, kitten," he says before easing us down in the bed.
I sprawl out across his big body, my head on his chest and my legs around his hips as I listen to his heart begin to slow. He rubs my back, soothing the little shards of pain. Every few seconds, he presses his lips to my skin, raining sweet kisses across my face.
I'm almost asleep when I hear him whisper.
"Addicted," he says in my ear.
"Me too," I mumble sleepily, burrowing my face into his throat.
"Wake up, sweetheart," he murmurs hours later, rolling me over onto my back. His body hovers over mine in the murky light of dawn as he hitches my leg around his hip, sliding back inside of me. He strokes slowly, running his lips across my cheek.
"Mm," I moan, wrapping my arms around his torso and holding him to me.
He makes love to me gently, whispering sweet words in my ear, until I'm writhing beneath him and scoring my nails into his back. And then he tips me over the edge, but I don't fall alone. He comes with me, moaning my name against my throat.
When we're finished, he leans down to capture my lips, kissing me like it's the first time all over again.
"Marry me, kitten," he whispers into my mouth.
"What?" I pull back, not sure I heard him correctly.
"Marry me," he says again, holding his body off of mine with his hands on the bed on each side of my head. He meets my gaze, nothing but sincerity in his eyes. "Can't stop thinking about you being my wife. Say yes, kitten."
"But―"
Am I seriously about to object to this?
I snap my mouth closed.
Cam stares at me, not saying anything.
"You really want to marry me?" I ask him, not sure why I'm surprised. He's mentioned it more than once. I guess I just thought he meant eventually. But he doesn't. I can see it on his face. He wants me to marry him now, not later. I think he needs it.
"Hell yes, I do," he says, rolling off of me. He reaches into the table beside the bed and grabs something before sitting up against the headboard. He plucks me up and settles me in his lap so that I'm straddling him, my legs around his waist. A small smile plays at his lips as he tucks a piece of hair behind my ear and then holds his hand out.
"Oh," I whisper when I see the ring from Shae's. The one I looked at what feels like ages ago, before I ran off to L.A. and he followed me. "How did you―?"
"I went there the day after you confessed," he says quietly. "You wouldn't see me, and I was mad as hell, kitten. I was determined to get you out of jail, just so I could spank your ass for pulling that stunt." He pegs me with a hard look, like he's still a little pissed about what I did. "The saleslady remembered you looking at this ring when you were there. I bought it right then and there."
"Why?" I whisper, reaching out to stroke my finger across the infinity band.
"Because I had to," he says, expelling a breath. "Because you were willing to go to prison to save my career."
"I was," I whisper with a nod, my voice thick with unshed tears. "I would have done anything to save you, Cam. You're a good cop, and you care what happens to people. San Francisco needs you."
"That's why I bought it, kitten." He tilts my chin up until I'm looking into his eyes. "You're mine. I knew it the minute I saw you, and nothing that's happened since has changed that for me." He presses his forehead to mine and swallows hard. "I had to get that ring, because I had to believe you knew you were mine, too. You wouldn't have done what you did if you didn't know it."
"I am yours, Cam," I whisper, my tears spilling over. "All I wanted was to be with you, but I was so scared. You'd already given me so much. I couldn't let them fire you."
"I know you were scared, sweetheart. I could see it in your eyes the day you lied to me. You were breaking because of me, and I couldn't do anything to stop it." He shudders at the memory, exhaling a pained groan. "Fuck, kitten. That killed me. I need you to know that will never happen again. Nothing will ever take me away from you again."
"I do know that," I whisper, tears falling freely down my face now.
"Then marry me," he pleads softly, the words thick with emotion. The ring shakes in his palm where his hand trembles. "I've never needed much before, but I need you, sweetheart, and I need my ring on your finger. Giving you my last name is all I can think about, kitten. I can't fucking sleep until I know you're tied to me permanently. Don't make me wait, kitten. Please say yes."
"Yes," I say immediately, meaning that word with everything in me. I don't care if it's too soon or if everyone we know will call us crazy. I need his ring on my finger as much as he needs it. I belong to him. I know that with everything in me. I think I've always known that. And that doesn't scare me anymore. We've already been through the worst I can imagine, and we're still here, with him pleading for me to marry him.
"Yeah?" he asks, the word full of hope.
"Yes," I say, laughing through my tears. "Yes, I'll marry you."
He exhales shakily and then grins, giving me that devastating dimple. His hands tremble when he slips his ring onto my finger and then stares at it, his eyes shining with emotion. "Fuck, kitten," he whispers, lifting my hand to press his lips to my ring before he leans forward to kiss me. "You're really marrying me."
"I am."
He kisses me hard, tangling his hands in my hair to hold me still. His tongue dances along mine, teasing a moan from my lips. When he breaks away, he's panting, smirking at me like he just won the lottery.
I get to see that look on his face for the rest of my life, I think, grinning at him.
As he stares at me, his eyes heating, I can't think of anything I want more.
epilogue
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Six Months Later
"Are you sure about this, kitten?" Cam asks, coming up behind me as I stand in our bedroom. He wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to the side of my neck, kissing me.
"Yes," I say, leaning back into him and closing my eyes for a moment, letting him steady me like he always does. "I'm just nervous."
"We can go another day," he murmurs, rocking me in his arms. "You don't have to do this now."
He's wrong though. I do have to do this now.
I've been putting it off for six months already, and I think I'm finally ready to see her again. I'm ready to put the entire nightmare behind me once and for all, but I can't until I see her and say all the things I never got a chance to say.
The D.A. asked me if I wanted to make a statement when she was sentenced after pleading guilty, but I couldn't do it. I didn't want to sit in a room full of strangers and tell my former best friend how much she hurt me. The memories were still too fresh.
Sometimes, they still are, but my life is nothing like it used to be.
In some ways, it's better. Being with Cam makes me so happy, I feel like I'm dreaming most of the time. He's bossy and he drives me insane, but he's so amazing. Almost every night, he's inside of me. I wear his marks all over my body still, and I'm not sure which one of us likes that more.
He didn't lose his job. They reinstated him the same day Erin was sentenced to prison. In fact, his Captain actually called me to apologize for everything I went through. I guess Ventura told him why I confessed, and he felt badly about it. I'm honestly not sure. All I know is that Cam is still doing what he loves, and he's never been happier.
I didn't lose my job, either. But I did resign from Trenton P. Hall over the summer. Seeing Bryan every day was too awkward after everything that happened. He says he didn't have a clue about Erin, and I believe him. We're still friends, but I needed a fresh start, and I couldn't find that at Trenton. There were just too many memories there.
In that way, my life is a lot harder now. Everywhere I look, there are reminders of Erin and our friendship. She was a part of every important moment in my life for so many years. When something exciting happens, I still find myself reaching for the phone to call her to share the news, and then I remember what she did to me. I break down and cry every single time, both because I'm still devastated that she did it, and because I managed to forget, for even a moment, that my best friend is in prison.
"I need closure," I whisper to Cam. I still don't understand why she did what she did, and I don't think I ever will. There's nothing she can say to me that will make it hurt any less, but I'm ready to forgive her. Cam and I deserve to be able to move on, and I can't do that until I see her.
All Over You (All Falls Down #3) Page 26