Facing me, p.11
Facing Me, page 11
Walking through the lobby, I hear a man tell ‘Mr. Chesterfield’ his guest is expecting him as requested. After texting Chase, she informed me they were going to catch a show somewhere before meeting us for dinner later. Leaving me free to have my talk with Aiden before letting Luke know I won’t be coming back to Vegas with them. Henry and Hunter disappear into their room across the hall, leaving Aiden and I alone. Taking my hand, he kisses me sweetly. “Come on in, we can talk.”
Aiden swipes the card leading us into the room, and my heart stops dead in my chest. On the couch is a redhead, wearing nothing but a smile. Aiden’s hand tightens around mine, obviously sensing my shock, but not her. She just stands and moves towards us. Suddenly, I can’t breathe. Rage absorbing my vision, my head is spinning and all I see is her touching Aiden in my mind. Visions of them in bed together flood my mind, making me crazy. The words from the man downstairs hitting me in the face with a slap, ‘Mr. Chesterfield, your guest is expecting you, just as requested.’ Son of a bitch! Yanking my hand from Aiden’s, my fist collides with her jaw, sending her clattering to the floor. Choking on sobs, she mumbles something about Henry, which has to be a lie. Why would Henry call for a pussy delivery for Aiden? Ignoring her, I grab a handful of red hair and jerk her to her feet so that our eyes meet. “You groupie whore, did think you can just walk in and take what isn’t yours?” My hand slaps across her face hard making her whimper, “Get the fuck out!”
“Cam, stop it!” Aiden yells, suddenly reminding me that he was standing there. Running over, he scoops up her clothes from the floor, handing them to her. My anger turns full force on him, I’m about to beat the shit out of both of them and walk the hell out. Why the hell is he protecting her? How dare he be worried about this bitch when he says how much he fucking needs me. “She’s telling the truth. Katheryn, this is the wrong room. Henry stays with Hunter; they’re across the hall.” He explains, helping steady her feet.
Chapter Eight
This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.
*Aiden*
“What the hell…” Henry shouts, barreling into the room. “Katheryn, what the hell happened to you, baby?” His tone softening immediately when he reaches her; looking at Cam and me, his eyes harden. “Explain.”
Cam’s shoulders slump, “Oh my God, what have I done? I’m so sorry.” She chokes out, turning and walking down the hall toward the bedrooms, slamming a door behind her.
Henry looks murderous, lifting a silently sobbing Katheryn into his big ass arms. “Man, we walked in and she was naked. When she walked toward us, she didn’t say a word, and Cam decked her.” I say, trying to keep my focus on being concerned for Katheryn, but can’t help the satisfaction knowing Cam claimed me.
“Well, holy shit.” Hunter says, leaning against the open door. “Henry, I got you this bitch. Happy Birthday motherfucker, I already know she’ll fit.” He says with a grin, scratching his chin in concentration. “So, Cam went all primal and beat her ass?” He asks, wiping his forehead. “Damn, I always miss the good shit. Anyone happen to record it? I’ll give my left nut and my wallet for a slow motion replay.”
“You’re an insensitive prick.” Henry bites out, shoving past him out the door with Katheryn still in his arms. “Come on, baby, let me take care of you.”
“I don’t know what the hell he’s talkin’ about. The tip of my prick is very sensitive. Sometimes, I can’t even look him in the eye.” He explains flopping on the couch, patting his crotch. “He needs his ego stroked, he’s a bashful fucker.”
“Whatever.” I say, rolling my eyes. ”You can raid the mini bar, watch television; I couldn’t care less what you do. I gotta talk to Cam.” He just nods when I start down the hall.
Opening the bedroom door, I don’t know exactly what I expect to find, but I’m prepared to fight for us. If she thinks I’m letting her run again, she’s got another thing coming. Cam is curled up protectively on the bed, reminding me too much of the night in Minnesota. Tears streaming down her face, she looks up, not quite meeting my eyes. “I can’t believe I did that. What’s happening to me Aiden? I’m not that person. I don’t just attack people for no reason.” She sighs, defeated and buries her head in her hands.
I can’t stand seeing her like this. After everything, I can’t blame her for lashing out at a naked woman in my room. I mean, shit, who wouldn’t? Given my fuck up last night, about other women, I’m thrilled she even gives a shit. Carefully, I sit on the bed next to her. “Sit up; I want you to look at me Camaron.” I say, in a calm voice, with authority. Knowing that she is emotional and fragile right now, I know exactly what she needs. Anticipation rushes through my entire body at the thought of controlling her, to be able to make her forget what just happened.
Instantly, she sits up, the breath rushing out of her chest in a rush. Tears still sliding down her cheeks, but I plan to stop that shit right now. Walking over to her, I cup her face in my hands, meeting her eyes. “Good girl.” I say, feeling her body tremble at the words I have said to her so many times before. Right now she needs reassurance from me, I can’t deny her anything. Never could. “It was just a misunderstanding.” I add, before kissing her lips gently. Cam’s eyes flutter closed, a clear sign she is avoiding my words. “Give me your damn eyes. Now,” I command, grasping her chin harder.
“I’m sorry.” She whispers sadly, opening her eyes. I don’t know whether she is apologizing for closing her eyes, or hitting Katheryn, but it is bullshit. Either way, I don’t need the words.
“Cam, I don’t need apologies. You own me, body and soul, just as much as I own you. There are a lot of things to figure out between us, but that isn’t one of them. Never apologize for defending or laying claim to what’s yours, I sure as hell won’t.” I clarify, sitting down on the bed beside her. Leaning in, I press my lips to hers, hoping she understands that I’m hers. I could never belong to anyone else; Camaron has had everything since New Orleans that very first night, I just didn’t know it.
Our tongues clash, my hands pulling her closer to me with each passing second. Desperately, I hold her body against mine; she could never know just what kissing her means to me. Just the feel of her lips on mine is more than any cheap fuck would ever get from me. That’s why no groupie would ever be enough. I never wanted to kiss anyone, until Cam. Affection wasn’t part of growing up for Hunter and me. Not until Henry came into our lives, did we even know any sort of encouragement other than from each other. For the first years of my life, Hunter was all I had; he was my protector, my knight. He slayed the dragons, kept all pain from touching me, or so he thought. The only thing that would have hurt worse than the beatings he took, was me watching him take them from my hiding place. Is it sad that I would have traded places with him to just feel something?
I have dreamed of getting a hold of that son of a bitch, just one time, now that I’m not a fucking kid. To give him the beating of his life; it wouldn’t be a fraction of what he gave Hunter, but nothing would ever be enough for that. I used to sit and try to justify why he thought we deserved it.
My kisses slow; my body tightens as the thoughts invade my head again, making Cam pull back.
“Aiden?” She asks, breathlessly. Her lips, still red and swollen from mine, make me want to bite into that bottom lip. Hard. “Is something wrong?”
I shake my head, “No. For the first time in so long, everything is okay.” Kicking off my boots, I pull us both up to the pillows. “Right now, I just wanna lay here with you across my chest. I need to feel you.” I whisper, pulling my fingers through her hair. Her face settles on my chest, making me content to just stay here forever and breathe her in.
After a while, I start to think she’s fallen asleep until she speaks. “I know one day you’ll talk to me about what goes through your mind. One day you’ll let me in.” She murmurs sleepily. I even out my breathing until I’m sure that she’s asleep, knowing I’m a damn coward because I can’t say the words she deserves to hear. My past is no secret; it’s just not something I talk about. Hunter has told Gray and Daisy, but other than that, the only people who know, witnessed it.
Cam’s phone vibrates from the bedside table, but she doesn’t budge. Sliding her to the pillow carefully, I grab it, inching out of the room so I don’t wake her. The moment I click the door closed, I accept the call. “Hello?”
“Hello, I’m trying to reach Camaron Allen. My name is Dustin, assistant to Jackson Reed. He would like to arrange a meeting to discuss pertinent matters.”
The mention of his name makes me squeeze my fingers around the phone. “This is Aiden Chesterfield. Anything he would like to arrange will go through me.” I ground out. What does this bastard want anyway? We never signed anything with him and never will.
Dickwad, on the other end of the line, is ruffling some papers, “As in the drummer for Shaft?” He asks.
“That’s me. What does Jackson want?” I ask, losing my patience.
“Well, we were informed that after the tour was cancelled by Mr. Reed, it was rebooked at near capacity by Daisy Cole and Henry Richardson. According to our updated searches, Camaron Allen was retained as replacement for Tad Johnson. Since Mr. Reed was behind the original tour, he feels that he was under compensated for his efforts. We hope that…”
“Wait just a damn minute.” I shout into the phone, interrupting him. I pace the hall outside the bedroom door, in hopes of calming myself. It doesn’t work. The simple fact that he thinks he is entitled to something he isn’t, sends my blood into a damn power boil. What the hell did he ever do for us that would justify giving him anything other than an ass beating? Taking a breath, I try to be as polite as possible to the lackey doing Jackoff’s dirty work. It’s not his fault his boss is a piece of shit. “You tell Jackson that if he thinks he can ask for one dime, after walking out with no notice, leaving us to pick up the pieces, then he has another thing coming. We should sue him for breach of contract and extortion.” I toss out. “Tell him that and see what he thinks, Dustin. You have yourself a great fuckin’ day.” I add, ending the call.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I jerk around to find Cam watching me from the doorway. “That’s my phone and my job you’re butting into, Aiden.” Stomping over she yanks the phone from my hand. Scrolling through the phone, she growls furiously. Getting up in my face, Camaron jabs two fingers in my chest, making me painfully aware that she is beyond pissed. “Isn’t this what you hired me for? If you’re going to do my damn job for me, Aiden, then why the hell am I even here? The way I choose to handle issues is one thing you don’t get control over.” Swinging her hips, as she walks up the hall to the living area of my suite, Cam adds, “Unless you all vote to fire me, or I turn into a slimy bastard like Tad, it doesn’t involve you guys, until Daisy and I decide it does.” I hear her toss out a goodbye to Hunter, before the door slams loudly behind her.
Grabbing my boots, I walk into the living area where Hunter is flipping through channels on the television. “What the hell just happened?” I ask, confused. Cam has never blown up at me over something as simple as me taking a phone call. I mean, yeah, it was her phone, but she was asleep. I was just trying to help. Then when I heard the issue being thrown at us, I exploded.
“I think the term you’re lookin’ for is ‘topping from the bottom’, brother.” Hunter quips, sarcastically.
Shoving my feet into my boots, I glare at him. “We weren’t in a scene, asshole. Stop researching online, you aren’t a dominant, you lack any sort of control.” I toss out.
“Not what I meant,” Hunter snaps, leaning up on the couch, he watches me carefully. “You were topping from the bottom. We hired Camaron to manage the band’s shit. When you took the call, you were going over her head. That fucks with a bitch’s ego. Now she thinks you find her incompetent of handling her responsibilities, big mistake. Damn, even I know better than that.” Hunter shakes his head with a laugh. “Cam is independent. Especially when she’s workin’ and you, my dear brother, stepped on her pretty painted toes.” Waving his hands toward the door he chuckles, “Now, go fix your shit, admit you screwed up, kiss her ass, or whatever it is you do.”
I can’t believe it, not only is Hunter serious, he’s right. Holy shit, I’m actually going to take advice from my brother about what I should do in my relationship. That’s a first. “Thanks man.” I huff, grabbing my hooded sweatshirt off the chair. “I think Hell may be freezing over if you are giving good advice on women; I think I’ll take this just in case.”
Hunter just sprawls back against the couch, flipping me the middle finger with both hands. “My advice, Aiden, is to do the opposite of what I always do. Maybe then you’ll get the fuckin’ girl. Text Daisy, she has Cam’s room number.” He says calmly, before I close the door behind me. Leaving me wondering what suddenly has Hunter questioning his actions now. The past few days he has been saying the most off the wall things, for him, making me wonder if he hasn’t been holding onto some shit too.
After Henry came into our lives, everything got better. We moved away from everything, starting fresh, but I struggled. I needed to hold onto the control, desperate for structure. Hunter went the opposite way; being thirteen he rebelled, taking nothing seriously. Henry wasn’t exactly a father. Since he is ten years older than Hunter, he was like a big brother. It was the three of us against the world, until I met Grayson in high school. Since then, we’ve added Daisy and I want to add Cam too. Which means letting her in, but can I do that? Can I open up and let her in like she deserves? I hope so, because one thing I know is losing her now will be a fate worse than death. I’m holding out hope that once Camaron knows everything; she will still be there holding my hand when I come out on the other side of facing me and all the shit that goes along with my past.
*Camaron*
“Damn it, Aiden.” I grumble kicking the wall in the elevator. What the hell was he thinking? After calling back the number, I had to have a very uncomfortable conversation with Dustin, Jackson’s assistant. Now I have to smooth over a bunch of unnecessary shit because Aiden, once again, couldn’t keep his cool. Jackson not only wants compensation for the tour dates he had booked, that we re-negotiated after he walked with No Approval Needed; but he wants a meeting with Daisy and me. Thankfully, I bought us some time with the bus leaving tomorrow morning. We will be back here for the Ironsound’s ‘Rock For A Cure’ Festival, and I’ve set up to meet with them then.
Emotionally exhausted, I fling the door open to my hotel room, making Luke and Chase jump from the sofa. “What’s wrong?” Luke asks, nervously.
“Aiden is such an asshole!” I shout on an exhale, slumping onto the couch and begin to explain to tell them both the entire story from the beginning. “I bet we scared the hell outta Hunter, he didn’t have anything to say when I said bye to him before leaving the room.”
Chase’s eyes light up, she shoots off the couch in a sprint. “Hunter’s in Aiden’s suite? I’ll see ya!” She tosses out before flying out the door.
Luke takes my hand. “Listen, he fucked up, sure, but so have you. We all do, more than once. It’s all part of being in love Cammie. We lose our shit, we mess up, but you have to be able to get through it and make up if you want it to go anywhere.” He sighs, “I know you belong with him. Last night, I saw the way you looked at each other. That look is what I ache to have with someone. To feel like you’ll burst at the seams if you can’t hold them, making sure every kiss is better than the last in case you don’t get another. Cammie, that’s what you have with Aiden. It’s so rare, so fucking special. Don’t let it go because of flaws, or bashing heads in passion. I’m not sticking up for him. I’m on your side, always, but that’s why I’m saying this to you now. You two are better together. Passion is something you can’t work on and make with time. You and I, we didn’t have that, but you have it with Aiden.”
A knock on the door, makes Luke chuckle. “Didn’t think it would take him long.” He says standing, then walks over and opens the door. I can’t see him with Luke standing there, but I can feel him. Aiden. “Well, get in there and talk to your girl.” Luke says, turning to me he blows a kiss then disappears into the hall as Aiden steps into the room.
I stand to walk to him, desperate to touch him, but he charges me before I can move my feet. Wrapping me in his arms, Aiden slams his mouth to mine. Our tongues tangle, my fingers sliding along his scalp; the taste of him sending me into a frenzy. The rough stubble of his hair brushing against my hands, reminding me that he is really here. “I’m sorry, baby.” He pants against my lips. The sigh that escapes my mouth, is enough for him to turn and pin me to the wall beside the couch. Aiden wraps my legs around his hips, the heels of my sandals digging into his denim clad ass. His mouth feverishly attacking my neck, my hands slide down to his shoulders where my nails dig into his skin. I tilt my hips up, grinding against him, both of us frantic to get closer to each other. Aiden tilts his hips back away from me, an attempt at retaining control over the situation; but I have bigger plans. I know I am submissive. Never have I felt as satisfied as those times I gave over control to Aiden; but right now, I want to make both of us lose control all over my hotel room. No thoughts, no plans, just us. Here and now, nothing else matters.
Dropping my feet back to the floor, I shove Aiden’s chest. Taking all the power I can muster, and catching him off guard, he staggers back, tumbling onto the couch. “Cam, what the fuck? I thought…” is all he manages before I launch onto the couch on top of him. Attacking his mouth, taking, seizing, controlling…and it feels amazing. Aiden reacts, finally, his hands sliding down, cupping my ass through my skirt. “I know what you’re doing, Camaron.” He scolds.
“Do you?” I pant, fumbling with his jeans. “Then why am I doing it by myself?” I ask with a wicked grin.
“Camaron, if you try to top me, baby, I won’t fuck you.” He warns. “You want me to fuck you, don’t you?”
