Here for You

by Wright, KC Ann

  “When I took Cameron with me to get my ice taken off.”

  “You were pretty sure I wasn’t going to push on going out with the team.”

  He laughs. “No offense, but I was making the decision. I didn’t want you to have to go out tonight. Now, let’s get you in the shower and cleaned up.”

  When we walk into his place, he sets the bag of take-out on the entryway table and grabs my hand. I follow him down the hall to his bedroom. He turns to walk into the master bathroom as I sit down on the edge of the bed to unzip my boots. I pull each one off followed by my socks. I hear the shower turn on, and Cam comes back out smiling.

  “Water is warming up. I’ll get the food ready while you clean up.” He leans down to kiss me before he walks back out the door.

  This whole arrangement we have is strange. Since it helps him to sleep through the night, I have practically moved into his place. Which is odd considering I don’t even know what term to put on our relationship. Everything between us feels completely natural and comfortable. I want to be here with him, and he says he needs me here.

  He doesn’t pressure me for anything more than I’m willing to give. Like right now: he leaves rather than watching me undress. He’s seen me naked—well, in the dark—but he doesn’t press the issue now. I’m not sure how I feel about this because I’m to the point where I want him to touch me. I don’t want to pretend the chemistry between us isn’t there. It’s undeniable. The air around us practically crackles when we’re near each other.

  I slowly remove my jeans and the jersey they gave me after that jerk soaked my shirt and vest. Carrying the clothes into his enormous walk-in closet, I head to the area where my stuff is sitting. This is another slightly awkward situation. Cam has tried to talk me into throwing my dirty clothes with his because his housekeeper will take care of them. I haven’t been able to make myself comfortable with this but now that my jeans smell like stale beer I want to throw them in there.

  I shrug as I toss them in the hamper with his stuff. I throw the hat, jersey and jacket on the marble-topped island in the center of the closet. I grab a thong from a pile of my clean clothes and walk over to one of the shelves. I reach up to pull one of his t-shirts from the shelf. For some reason, I want to wear his shirt tonight rather than my pajamas or one of his jerseys that I often wear.

  I pad to the bathroom where the water has probably turned cold by now. I hold my hand under the spray and find that it’s still warm, but I turn the handle to heat the water a little more.

  I step in and just let the water wash over me. I don’t move for a few minutes, allowing the spray to soothe me. I don’t know why my mood has changed, but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that I want it all, and I don’t know if I will ever get it. When I see how he is with Cameron, it honestly makes my ovaries ache. I want it all with Cam—down to the freaking white picket fence—but I don’t know if I will even get to official girlfriend status.

  It hurts because we’re so perfect together. He knows it and I see the same pain in his eyes at times. Unfortunately, the first time we met was about a month too late.

  I shampoo my hair and wash the beer smell off my skin. Once all the soap is rinsed off, I turn the water off and reach for my towel. Yes, I have my own set of towels in Cam’s bathroom. I dry off and wrap the towel around my dripping hair. After sliding on my thong, I pull his shirt over my towel-wrapped head. I grab my face lotion and squirt a few drops on my finger. I dab it around my face and rub it in.

  My reflection looks sad, and I mentally tell myself to snap out of it. There’s a great guy on the other side of the condo that treats you like a queen every chance he gets. He’s kind, generous and protective. Other than my mom and Quinn, no one has ever taken care of me this much. He may not be able to give me everything, but he gives me all that he can. And for that I should be happy.

  I look closer at my reflection and make the decision that I’m going to take whatever I can get from him. I may get hurt—but then again, I may not. Just because every other man in my life has let me down doesn’t mean Cam will too.

  I pull the towel off my head and hang it on the bar to dry. I quietly make my way down the hall toward the kitchen. Cam is putting food on plates and has a glass of wine poured for me.

  “Hey,” I say quietly as I walk to the edge of the counter.

  Without looking away from the food, he chuckles. “I was beginning to think you fell in.”

  A soft, barely audible sound escapes me, and he looks up from what he’s doing. His expression shifts, and he sets everything down before walking over to me. His large hands engulf my waist as he lifts me onto the counter to put me at eye level with him. One of his hands moves up to my cheek and cups the side of my face. “What’s wrong?”

  I shake my head afraid to speak. Damn these emotions. Not even a hint of my Ice Princess demeanor can be found, and I am reduced to a vulnerable little girl. “I’m fine.”

  “Are you upset about the incident?”

  “No.” I shake my head. “That was no big deal.”

  “Then what’s wrong, baby?”

  I shrug one shoulder up and look away from his intense stare. His hand drops from my face and runs through his hair.

  I don’t want him to feel bad about the demons hiding inside him. It’s not his fault he’s going through this, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting him to be rid of them. All I want is for him to give us a chance. A real chance with no doubt that he will stick by my side. But even if I can’t have that, I’m still taking everything I can get now.

  He drops his forehead to mine and his hands go around my backside pulling me forward until I’m flush with his body. “I’m sorry, Ash.”

  I shake my head once against his. My arms snake around his neck, and my mouth captures his with all the passion I feel at the moment. Apparently stunned by the gesture, his lips don’t respond at first. But less than a second later, he understands.

  I moan when his hands glide under his shirt up to my breasts. His thumbs flick across each taut bud, and my head drops back. My body feels alive with every sensation and there is no way I could stop this even if I wanted to. He pulls his shirt over my head and drops his mouth to my breast, and when I feel the warm caress of his tongue, my hands go to his hair and my fingers latch on. He growls, and the sound hits me all the way to my core.

  In one quick movement, he lifts me and my legs automatically wrap around his waist. He starts walking out of the kitchen.

  “Aren’t you hungry?” I whisper.

  “Famished.”

  The low rumble of the word causes vibrations to flow through me. My hands urgently begin unbuttoning his shirt while he walks us to his room. By the time he gets to the bed, I reach the last button and push his shirt over his shoulders before he gently tosses me on the bed. I laugh at the gesture and he growls again.

  He kicks his shoes off while he unbuckles his belt. His pants and boxers come off in one fluid movement, and I’m caught up in the beauty of the man standing in front of me. My tongue darts out to run over my suddenly dry lips. He groans at the gesture and reaches over to drag my thong down my legs. It lands silently on the pile of clothes next to the bed. His pale blue eyes have darkened so intensely that I shiver in anticipation.

  “Are you sure, Ash?”

  I lick my lips again as I nod my head.

  “That tongue is going to be in trouble.”

  I shiver again at the threat. Or, as my body senses, the promise of what he’s going to do.

  He opens the drawer of the bedside table and pulls out a condom. He quickly sheaths himself and my pulse shoots even higher. My eyes roam his entire body again before he lowers himself over me. His hips nudge my legs open wider and I bend my knees. I close my eyes when I feel the tip of his arousal at my entrance.

  “Open your eyes,” he grits out.

  I know we’re both on the brink of going over the edge and he’s trying to maintain some control. I slowly open them an
d meet his intense gaze.

  “I want to see your eyes the first time I enter you.”

  My body jumps alive at the use of the word first. Knowing there could be many more moments like this is almost enough to make me orgasm instantaneously. Not trusting my voice I nod and hold his stare.

  “This is not going to be a slow seduction, Ash. I need you to be right with me. Can you do that?”

  My breathing has become so quick and shallow that I’m practically panting. “Now, Cam.”

  He slides in with a quick movement, and I gasp as my body stretches to accommodate him. I moan as he pulls back and thrusts into me deeper. My insides are already winding higher, and I know I will go over the edge quickly. He keeps his eyes on me as his lips brush mine. My eyes drift shut as his tongue possessively captures mine and I whimper as he deepens the kiss further.

  I lift my legs and tighten them around his waist. He moans at the movement as he slides deliciously deeper into me. Knowing that my body is about to go over the edge, I tighten my legs and arms around him. He lifts his head from the kiss. “Open your eyes. I want to see you as you fall apart.”

  My eyes fly open and I immediately slide over the edge. My body ripples from head to toe at the most intense orgasm I have ever experienced. Our eyes are still locked, and when the last wave finally passes, Cam thrusts one more time and follows me to his own release.

  Our heavy breathing mingles as he leans forward to give me a quick kiss. “You’re so beautiful when you let go.”

  I feel my cheeks warm at the comment. “Thanks. I think,” I say a little shyly.

  “Definitely a compliment. Let’s get you some food so you can keep up with me all night.”

  I laugh. “Um, don’t you mean you need food? You just pitched a game.”

  “I don’t need food when I have you. I could exist on you alone.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Trust me. I could never get enough of you, Ash. I will always want more.”

  I don’t want to make anything he says more than it is, so I take it at face value. I will take whatever I can get from him even though what happened just realized my biggest fear: no one will ever be able to compare to Cam for as long as I live. I’m sure of it. My body reacts to his touch and every kiss in a way I never imagined. Our chemistry is undeniable, but it’s more than that.

  No words need to be spoken, and it’s unreal to me that I’ve only known Cam for a few weeks. He just gets me and I get him.

  Chapter 25

  Cam

  When I roll over in the morning, I’m surprised that the sheets are cool next to me. Ash is usually up early to go to work when we’re in town, but I either wake up with her or she waits until I get up. I roll out of bed, aware that my body is sore—and not just from pitching last night. To say it was one of the best nights I can remember in a long, long time would not do it justice.

  Ash is responsive to my touch and always welcomes it. But it still did not prepare me for the evening that we enjoyed together. Again, “enjoyed” is not the right word, but I’m a dude and can’t come up with a poetic description for it. I have never had that kind of connection; I don’t think most people are lucky enough to enjoy even one night at that level.

  After I brush my teeth, I head down the hallway to find Ash. I hear her moving around in the kitchen and the scent of breakfast hits me before I get to the room. When I come around the corner, she’s bending over in front of one of the cupboards in search of something, and I can’t control the growl that rumbles from my chest. The woman is hot as hell all the time, but bent over in my kitchen wearing only my shirt and a thong is almost too much for any man to take.

  She stands up and faces me when she hears me come in. She swipes a few stray hairs off her forehead, her face flushed from being bent over. “I can’t find that stupid pan that I like for making omelets.”

  I grin as I walk over to her. “Let me help you.” She looks adorable with pink cheeks and fresh out of bed. I reach in the cabinet and go to the area where I know it will be. I grab it and swing it by the handle in front of her. “Here it is.”

  She swipes at her hair again and then takes the pan. “Thank you.” When she hears me laugh, she turns back to me. “You don’t have to be so smug about it.”

  I walk up behind her and press my lips to her neck behind her ear. As I’ve grown accustomed to, she leans into it even though she’s pretending to be upset about the pan. “I should know my way around the kitchen. I don’t always have your delicious ass in here cooking for me.”

  She turns her head slightly to me, and I see the small smile creep up. Honestly, I don’t know if the girl has a cranky bone in her body, which I love. I’m not used to having someone so easy to get along with, and to say it’s refreshing would be an understatement. “Well, handsome, I guess this is your lucky day.”

  Her tone is low and gravelly and instantly makes me hard. I lean further into her. “Careful, sweetheart. Or we won’t be eating breakfast.”

  She steps out of my hold and walks over to where she has the ingredients for the omelet. “We will be eating because you have a game today. Even if you aren’t playing, you need to be in top form as captain.”

  She smiles as she carries everything over next to the stove. I watch as she pours the eggs into the pan. I’m always impressed watching her move around the kitchen. Not that I wouldn’t expect her to be a good cook, but she’s fantastic. As a man with a healthy appetite, I feel like I’ve had another wish granted.

  I move behind her again. “What are we having?”

  She waves her spatula back at me. “Hands off the chef. If you want your omelet to turn out in one piece, you will let me focus.”

  “You’re so serious this morning.”

  She turns her head and gives me a quick kiss before I back up to go search out coffee.

  “I’m not. I just have to get a few things done this morning for work and you need to get ready to head over to the park.”

  “I have time.” I lift my eyebrows suggestively at her when she glances back my way. “Time for things.” I see her cheeks blush before she turns back to the stove.

  A few minutes later she’s loading my omelet onto a plate and grabs a couple pieces of bacon out of the pan she has it cooking in. She walks over to a bowl she has out on the counter and scoops a generous portion of fruit onto my plate. “Let’s go, young man.” She sets my plate down at the breakfast bar. “What kind of juice do you want?”

  “Orange, Mom.”

  She raises an eyebrow and tilts her head down at me as I sit. “Just because I take care of you that does not make me your mother. Far from it, Mr. Williams.” She opens the fridge, and I smile at her reference to what happened last night. Catching me off guard, she keeps going with the whole breakfast thing. “Whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter?”

  We’ve eaten breakfast together many mornings and she knows exactly what I like to eat, which is why I think she’s perfect right now. “Yes, please.”

  “That’s better.” She smiles before turning to slide the lever down on the toaster.

  “You’re too good to me, Ms. Hughes.”

  “Yes. You’re correct about that. Good thing I like taking care of you, otherwise, you’d be going to the park hungry. I’ve seen you try to cook.”

  I shove a bite of the omelet in my mouth and moan in appreciation. “You’ve outdone yourself yet again.”

  She laughs as she grabs the muffin when it’s done and spreads peanut butter on. She sets the small plate next to my other one. “Can I get you anything else this morning?”

  I smile at her as I drop one lid down. “Just you.” Her cheeks flush again, and I swear I don’t know if I’m going to make it through breakfast without tossing her over my shoulder and carrying her back into my bedroom.

  “You have a game today. You need to focus.”

  “But I don’t want to.” I’m well aware that I’m a grown man whining but I don’t care. I shove another
bite of the omelet in and remember again how lucky I am to have this woman. “Please.”

  “I’m sorry, Cam, but not until tonight. I am not going to get in the way of your routine. That’s the way it’s going to be, so please get it out of your head.”

  I growl at this comment and shove half the muffin in my mouth. She laughs as she puts fruit on her plate and then grabs a yogurt out of the refrigerator. Finally she sits down next to me, and I feel whole again with her near me. “Thank you.” I lean over and she rewards me with a kiss.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  “Ash.” I wait until she gives me her full attention. “I don’t want to embarrass you, but last night has got to be the best night of my life. I just wanted you to know.”

  She ducks her head and doesn’t say anything for a while. “I agree. You’ve officially ruined me.”

  I give her a grunt of satisfaction. “Good.” Her head pops up, and I realize what she’s thinking when I see the look on her face. “One day at a time.”

  Thankfully she drops the subject for now.

  “I’m meeting Monica and Becky for lunch today. Quinn and Lizzy are coming with me too.”

  “I didn’t realize you had made plans with them.”

  “Yeah. We talked about it when you went to get your ice off. Becky has a nanny for her kids, so Cameron is going to hang with them while we have lunch.”

  “That’s nonsense. Cameron can come with me. The whole team knows him and will watch him if I get busy.”

  “Cam.” She places her hand on mine. “Let her do this. She needs to feel like she can live independently. You take care of everything for her, which I think is great. But she needs to feel like she can do this lunch without you taking over.”

  I’m not sure how she figured this out in their brief interaction, but it does make sense to me. “Okay. If you think it’s the right thing to do. I trust you.”

  “Yes. I do. I know you love him to death, but give her this.”

  I will protect Cameron until the day I die, so giving up this control is difficult for me, but I understand the importance. If my brother was still here, I wouldn’t have to worry about him as much, but it’s my job now.