by D. C. Gambel
I shook my head wanting to believe him. “It makes sense.”
“But…”
“But I think we’re missing something and when we finally figure it out it’s going to be too late.”
Chapter 4
The scent of bacon fluttering into my room awoke me from my slumber. Smiling I reached for Cam but found his side empty. We didn’t always share a bed, but I distinctly remembered falling asleep next to him the night before.
“Looking for someone?”
With a grin tugging at my lips, I rolled over to see Cam standing just feet away from my side holding a glass of orange juice and a single strip of bacon.
“Yes,” I eyed him hungrily and not just for the bacon that he held. “My sexy boyfriend, who promised me morning sex any day that wasn’t training day.”
His deep chuckle caused my lady parts to tingle. “I’d be happy to oblige,” he leaned over claiming my lips with a sexy smirk. Just as quickly as it started, he pulled away. “But I made us breakfast.”
“You?” My voice rang with disbelief. I was so shocked by his announcement that I couldn’t even be upset over his teasing kiss. Tyler was the chef in the house. In fact, I didn’t even think Cam knew how to turn on the stove. The one time we’d eaten together over a meal he prepared it had been take out.
Handing me the strip of bacon and the juice, he rolled his eyes at my stunned tone. “Don’t sound so surprised. Now come on.”
I glanced down at my attire. I wore my panties and his t-shirt. Nothing else. “Okay let me change.”
“No need.” He approached throwing back the covers exposing my bare legs. “Tyler took off early.” His blue eyes sparkled taking in my exposed skin. “He gave me his exact ETA in hopes to not catch us half naked this time. So you’re dressed appropriately for it just being us two.”
I smiled feeling giddy that he’d read my insecurities and eased them. Nodding, I took the hand he extended then eyed him in his fully dressed form.
“What?” he asked noticing my inquisitive gaze.
“I think if I’m half dressed then it’s only right that you are too.”
He scoffed but grinned. “You want me to lose my pants too?”
The image of him mirroring my attire had me giggling. “I think losing the shirt will do just fine,” I teased.
With a sexy half smirk, he tugged his shirt over his head tossing it onto the bed. “Better?”
My brown eyes raked over his exposed skin admiring every bulge and ripple of his defined chest. The sight of him shirtless made my cheeks flame. Biting into the bacon so my mouth was busy and couldn’t enact the thoughts fluttering through my head, I nodded. Chuckling like he read my mind, he led me out of the room. He wasn’t ignorant to the effect he had on me.
When we entered the dining room, Cam immediately rushed to the table pulling out my chair.
I smirked at his gentlemanly gesture, but took the seat without comment. Cam disappeared only to return a moment later with two plates in hand. Leaning over he placed mine in front of me. I gasped when his lips claimed my neck before he righted himself.
Taking the seat beside me, the cocky grin across his face was knowing. The delicious tingle he’d just caused hadn’t escaped his attention. I eyed his matching birthmark on his forearm as he grabbed his cup of coffee taking a sip. He licked his lips subconsciously, unaware of the small gestures effect on me before returning the cup to the table. I couldn’t believe how he made such a simple gesture erotic.
Moving my food around my plate with my fork I thought about Tyler’s vacancy this morning and wondered his about reasoning. Giving us alone time wasn’t exactly high on his to do list especially with Derek gone. He’d been pushing for me to tell Cam about what I learned while in Hell. I was curious if this was his subtle way of giving me an opportunity to speak with Cam on the matter. Casually I had told him about almost spilling to Cam until he interrupted. Now there was no chance of him doing that, or anyone else for that matter and it scared me. I worried about Cam’s rebellious nature. Fearing his rejection was the main reason I hadn’t told him. I also didn’t want to be that girl that spouted off about soul mates only to freak her boyfriend out.
“I know there’s something you want to say,” he began breaking the silence as I pondered the situation. I hadn’t been aware that he’d stopped eating and was now diligently watching me. “I’ve waited patiently for you to tell me, but now I’m asking. What could possibly have you worried this much?”
Taking a deep breath attempting to draw strength from it, I set my fork down. Meeting his gaze I pushed away my fear. “While we were in hell, before you showed up, Nyx said something to me.” I averted my eyes, but I could sense him nodding as he patiently waited for me to continue. “I didn’t know if there was any truth to it so I kept it to myself.”
“What’d she say?”
Glancing at him, I saw nothing but patience and curiosity.
Biting my lip I spoke the words I’d been holding back for months. “That we’re soul mates.” I stated. Cam continued watching me like he was waiting for more. When he didn’t respond I added, “She also wanted you for some plans of hers.”
“What plans?”
Knitting my brow, I couldn’t believe that that was what garnered his response. “I don’t know. Something about releasing war on the world.”
“Okay. Thanks for telling me.”
I sat there baffled by his response or rather lack there of. He returned to his meal. When I didn’t, he noticed my puzzlement.
“What?” he asked.
“That’s it? That’s the reaction I get when I tell you we’re soul mates.” Then an idea struck me. His lack of response made sense. “You knew,” I stated.
He shrugged. “I suspected.”
I was reeling. “How? What? Why?” I blinked shaking my head. Dozens of questions flooded my brain until I finally settled on one. “How long? Since hell?”
He shook his head sheepishly. “I’ve suspected for a while longer.”
“Since we first slept together?”
He shrugged. It wasn’t an affirmation nor was it a denial. “When we were stuck overnight in the abandoned house in the woods. That next morning was when I began putting the pieces together.”
“Why?” I didn’t know what could have triggered his suspicion and why he hadn’t told me. I knew I had no right to be upset. After all, I had withheld the same information.
“You used my gift. You tried with the others, but you couldn’t. I thought maybe it was because we had a different connection than you did with them. It was easy to talk myself out of it. I was drawn to you because I needed to complete the team. I was attracted to you because you were gorgeous and didn’t take my shit. I fell in love with you because I couldn’t imagine life without you.”
With that last sentence, my world halted. “You love me?” I breathed.
His brow furrowed. “Of course I love you.”
I shook my head. “You’ve never said,” I spoke barely above a whisper too shocked by his sudden reveal.
He smirked, but it wasn’t his normal smug grin. It was shy and a little timid. “I don’t use the words lightly. I’ve never said it to anyone before, but of course I love you, Evie. How could I not?”
In the next instance, I was out of my chair and in Cam’s lap. I kissed him with a passion that the situation demanded. My fingers were buried in his dark hair as his tongue slipped across the seam of my mouth begging for entrance which I granted. I moaned the moment his tongue flicked against mine.
“Say it again,” I begged.
“Evie,” he groaned, peppering kisses across my jaw and down my neck. “I love you.” His hands slipped under the back of my shirt tracing their way up my spine. “And I want you.”
He didn’t have to tell me. I could feel his arousal as I rolled my hips against him. With everything happening lately, it’d been too long since I had him.
With a growl, he shoved his dishware to the side.
Gripping my hips, he lifted me onto the table. The next instance my shirt was gone then his mouth was against mine claiming me as his. He nipped his way down my body careful to avoid my breasts. When he gripped my panties, I lifted my hips and they were yanked quickly down my legs. Cam placed a gentle pressure against my shoulder and I followed his lead lying back against the table. He threw my legs apart, but then nothing happened. The suspense was killing me. I shifted my hips beckoning for his touch. Curling my toes, I grew impatient. Just when I was about to sit up to see what was taking so long, Cam’s warm tongue swiped against my sensitive sex. I gasped arching off the table. It was hard to believe that I was the only woman he had ever tasted because he was extremely talented at it.
“Cam,” I called out.
“Hmm?” he asked continuing his task.
“I need you… now.” An orgasm wasn’t what I was after, although it was certainly a bonus. I wanted the connection to him—the intimacy. He just said he loved me. I needed to be as close to him as I could get.
With one last flick of his tongue, he was gone. Sitting up on my elbows I watched him strip out of his jeans and boxers. He stood there for a moment letting my eyes take him in. My gaze settled a little longer on his erection. Then he was crawling across me onto the dining room table. Pulling him towards me, I wrapped my arms around his neck hugging his body with my legs. He cupped my face kissing me tenderly. When I felt him brush against my opening, I pulled back staring into his blue eyes struggling not to get lost.
Smiling, I whispered, “I love you too, Cameron. Soul mate or not. War or not, I love you.”
His eyes were brimming with emotion. “I fucking love you too, Evie.”
Then he was buried inside of me. My mouth fell open at the intensity of coming together. It was different this time. There were no more walls between us. No secrets. We knew what we were to the other and what we meant to each other. He moved slowly building up the raw pleasure. My hands shifted to his arms clinging to him. I looked down the length of my body to where we were connected. I could see him gliding effortless in to me. It was lewd but erotic. He groaned feeling the change in my body. His pace quickened and it sent me soaring. I cried out struggling not to dig my nails into him. He continued pounding into me chasing his own pleasure when the sound of the front door opening caused us both to freeze. Wide-eyed I stared at Cam. Ty wasn’t expected back for hours.
“Shit,” he mumbled withdrawing from me. Grabbing my hand he yanked me off the table. I glanced around for my shirt, but when voices grew close, Cam tugged me behind him shielding me with his body. Clattering of dishes drew my attention, and most likely that of our guest, as Cam grabbed a placemat. He used it to shield himself. I couldn’t help but bite my lip when he used it long ways.
Glancing around Cam, I saw a man enter the dining room. He was unknown yet looked oddly familiar. The stranger paused taking in the scene before him.
“Who the fuck are you?” Cam demanded.
The blonde stranger shook his head as if remembering it was our home in which he stood. “Sorry, I’m Christian.” When we both looked at him dumbfounded, he added, “Derek’s brother.”
“The one who was getting married?” I asked peeking around Cam. If he were here did that mean the wedding didn’t happen? Derek had been gone just over a week, but we hadn’t expected him back for a few more days.
“No. That’s our younger brother. I’m the oldest. And you are?” He approached with his hand extended intending to shake my hand.
“Touch her and you’re dead,” Cam demanded brutally. I doubted he meant it in a jealous way, or perhaps not entirely. Christian let his hand fall to his side.
“He means it literally, Christian,” Derek stated walking into the room. I didn’t know if it was possible but my cheeks flamed brighter. Something about Derek seeing us in our precarious situation made it so much worse. “She’s Death.”
“Ah,” Christian mumbled like it made all the sense in the world.
Derek’s blue gaze darted to the sight before him. There was only a flicker of distress before his expression went blank.
“You told him about us?” Cam asked perplexed.
Derek shrugged nonchalantly. “He’s my brother. He needs a place to crash for a few days. I hope you all don’t mind that I invited him here. Since you two basically stay together anyways, maybe Christian can have one of your rooms? We can figure it out when you’re both a little more… decent.” Without waiting for a reply, Derek spun on his heels and left.
“Right,” Christian mumbled turning to follow his brother.
“Uh, Christian?” I called out before he left too. He paused looking back at me. “Can you toss me that t-shirt?” I pointed to the shirt that had somehow landed a decent distance from the table.
Smirking he picked it up. “Do you want the panties too?”
I glanced to where he was pointing feeling my face heat. “The shirt will be enough. Thanks.”
He reached out offering it to me, but Cam grabbed it careful to keep me hidden. When the room was empty, Cam handed me the shirt.
“What the hell is he thinking?” Cam mumbled slipping into his pants. “He knows this is your safe haven. Hell, he’s the one who made it a priority. To bring someone who could be affected by your gift is not only inconsiderate but dangerous.”
“You’re sure this is about Christian and not about your quarrel with Derek?” I asked making my way to my panties.
“Why would you think that?”
I shrugged stepping into them. “Because you use to bring women here, Cam, even after I moved in.”
“Evie,” he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
“It’s not out of jealousy that I bring it up or saying you were inconsiderate at the time. I just mean is it really Christian you’re upset about or are you trying to find a reason to be pissed at Derek. Because holding on to the grudge that he kept us apart or that he kissed me can’t hold out forever.” I leaned in brushing my lips against his chastely. “Just think about it.”
On that note, I disappeared upstairs to dress properly before I ran into anyone else, although I wasn’t entirely sure if my embarrassment would allow me to reemerge for the remainder of the day.
I grinned waking up with Cam’s fingers tracing over my hip.
“Is it training day?” I mumbled refusing to get burned again.
“No,” he growled nipping at my ear. Rolling over, I claimed his lips. It wasn’t long before I found myself on my knees with Cam behind me. He roared giving over to his primal side. It was something that he struggled to not allow to happen. Even though I was the one woman on the planet that could take it, he still worried he’d hurt me. He didn’t understand that I relished when he lost control. I wasn’t a timid little thing that might break. I was made for War. Making noises that would embarrass me if anyone ever heard, anyone but Cam, I clutched the bedding burying my face into it as I cried out before falling to the bed in a heap.
I felt the mattress shift as Cam laid beside me. I sighed as he pulled me against his chest then groaned when I realized I had to leave his bed.
“What?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“My clothes are next door.”
We had decided to let Derek’s brother take my room. Cam’s room was a bit larger, plus I enjoyed the direct access to the bathroom for situations like the current one I found myself in. I needed to clean up after our morning tumble.
“I can grab them for you,” he offered.
Rolling over, I smirked at him. “I appreciate it, but I’ll grab a few days worth if that’s alright with you?”
He shrugged, “Or I could make some room for all your clothes. Maybe all your stuff.”
I sat up eyeing him, unsure what he was saying. “What?”
His blue gaze glinted with amusement. “We’re together every night, Evie. Why not make it easier on both of us in the morning?”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
> He chuckled. “We already live together.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I love you, Evie.”
“I love you too.”
“I like to tell you all the logical reasons for you to move in here, but it really comes down to the fact that I want you here. I don’t want to come home and have to figure out which room you’re in. I want to know. I want you in my bed and in my arms. What do you think? You think you can tolerate sharing a room with me?”
I smiled softly. “I think I could mange.”
It was a few hours later, freshly showered, that I found myself in my now former room. Digging in my dresser for something to wear as I was dressed in Cam’s t-shirt and shorts. I’d worry about moving over my things later. Right now I needed clothes for the day.
“Nice to know you actually wear clothes.” I spun seeing Christian leaning against the doorframe. “I mean after all the noise I heard coming from next door, I figured I’d be treated to another show.”
“Excuse me?” I honestly didn’t think I heard him correctly. Surely no one would be that obnoxiously forward.
“What? You’re the one that was screaming loud enough to wake the whole house. Does he really give it to you that good or do you just howl like a banshee to get under my brother’s skin.”
My mouth fell agape over his audacity. Sure I knew I had been loud this morning. I thought burying my mouth in the mattress, pillow, and Cam’s shoulder that I had muted myself enough to let only Cam hear my cries of pleasure. I should have remembered how thin the walls were and that Christian might hear. After all, I had heard Cam with women before. It wasn’t a time I cared to reminisce about.
“Don’t look so shocked. You led him on and now you torment him with the man you chose over him.”
I flushed, but not with embarrassment, but rage. “Is that what he told you?”