Twist and turn, p.25
Twist & Turn, page 25
I was overcome with emotion, revelling in the festive mood. Although we didn't say a single word as we swayed slowly in each other's arms, our chemistry was magnetic and no one dared interrupt us. It felt like we were surrounded by a sensual bubble that no one could burst, even if they wanted to.
His loving eyes drew me into a dream-like trance, his body guiding my motion. I couldn't even tell if my feet were moving anymore because he had certainly swept me off of them.
As the song neared the end, he broke our piercing gaze to look toward the door. I forcefully turned his chin so he was looking back into my eyes. When he lifted his eyes to explain himself, I recognized the desire burning in them.
His mouth covered mine, sending my emotions raging. Our lips fused together and his warm, soft tongue gently stroked along my teeth. He delivered another soft, passionate kiss that lasted only a few short seconds, but left me aching for so much more.
I didn't open my eyes, my body pleading with him to continue, and I smiled as his smooth lips brushed along mine again. He parted his mouth and our lips interlaced, again and again. I was under his control, putty in his hands, silk beneath his touch.
His hand cupped my chin and with one final kiss, gentle and romantic, he pulled away from me. It took me a moment to revive myself from the heart-stopping trance I was under, until I understood his apprehension. The once preoccupied bunch was now a truly captivated audience. Everyone had witnessed our exchange of love and Cameron didn't seem startled in the slightest.
My eyes darted over the growing crowd, and I found Edwin glaring at me from across the room.
I turned back to the hunk before me, still mesmerized by his romancing, and slowly stepped back into his embrace. I rested my head on his shoulder, my breath on his neck, my arms hooked around him. With a deep sigh, I closed my eyes and reveled in the moment.
"I'm glad you made that decision," Cam whispered. He squeezed me tight against him and we continued to dance, slow, even though the song was much more merry than that.
At that very moment, I realized how very serious things had gotten between us.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
THE OVERWHELMING ATTRACTION I felt for Cameron in that moment, made me want to climb his leg and lick his face.
"Get a room!" Hunter hollered.
That was the second time tonight someone had made that recommendation and I thought it was about time to make that happen. Cameron's eyes indicated to me that he felt the same.
My eyes shot for the door. "Do you think we could make a dash for it, without anybody noticing?" I asked.
"No," he said, smiling.
"To hell with it." I yanked him urgently toward the door. "Goodnight," I called out to everyone. "Merry Christmas."
Cameron was amused and waved a hand at the other guests, as I tugged him to the exit.
After we slipped into the stairwell, Cameron pressed me against the wall, unable to contain his own arousal. He pinned me hard against the cold cement wall and brushed my hair out of my face, but it fell right back into my eyes. He kissed me with such urgency, while feeling every inch of my thighs. I felt every touch like he was electrocuting me.
Tipsy, and a little legless, I let Cameron draw me back into his arms. I smoothed my hands over his chest, reveling in the feel of the smooth fabric clinging to his muscles and the cool leather of his jacket.
When his hand scooped inside my shirt and his thumb swiped over my aroused nipple, I moaned into his mouth. We both knew it was time to take it upstairs. With a smile, I pulled away from him. He stole my hand and dragged me up to the next floor. I let out a giggle as we hunted down our room.
Finding it rather quickly, Cameron opened it up. After he delivered me inside, he slung the do not disturb sign on the door.
I GLANCED IN THE mirror at my muddled appearance. Cameron hadn't said a word when I left the bed after our heated encounter but I looked a mess. My hair was a total wreck and my mascara had run off, but I was content. Cameron had made me feel like a goddess, again and again with every life-affirming climax. I didn’t think I would ever get enough of him.
I decided a quick shower might be in order. I opened the door a crack before I cranked on the water, hoping Cameron would accept the silent invitation. A moment after slipping into the steamy hot shower, water rushing over my overexerted body, I felt a cool gust of air breezing behind me. Cam had taken the bait.
Peeking in the curtain at me, staring at my naked behind, he smiled. He looked very pleased. "Mind if I join you?" He opened the curtain a little more, just enough for me to see that he was still beautifully naked.
"Absolutely," I answered. I pulled him into the tub and spun around so he was under the spray of water with me.
My touch was like a whisper, as I slid my soapy body all over his. My breasts slipped across his smooth chest and my nipples teased his warm, wet flesh. I thought Cam had entirely exhausted my desire, from taking me quick and wild against the wall, then slow and sensual in the massive bed, but my arousal returned with a vengeance when I saw him standing at attention yet again.
His body screamed with sex appeal, his spiky, wet hair a hot mess, his amazing muscled body even more defined than usual after our vigorous workout between the sheets. He kissed me with desperation, his mouth hot with need, his soft, sexy stubble gently teasing my aroused flesh.
My hands slipped over his wet, sleek muscles and the water poured over me, stimulating every sense in my body. Cameron spread my feet with his own, his erection hard on my hip. He lifted me up and pressed me into the shower wall, giving in to his guttural urges. He held my thighs, rough and possessive, as he hiked me higher only to lower me on top of him.
When I instinctively wrapped my legs around him, it tightened our connection with a delicious clench. Cameron’s mouth covered mine again, and he deepened our tongue-filled kiss. We quickly found a hypnotic escape, wet and hot and fervent. We were linked together like a puzzle, challenging and complete.
Cameron propped me against the wall and drove into me with long, steady strokes. Water slipped between us, as I leaned back and held the shower bar with both my hands for support. He continued on determinedly, until I was screaming out in release, with my heels dug into his back.
Then I felt him come undone inside me and I squealed again with the knowledge that the man I loved had just shared with me his everything.
The morning after, I found the room still dark, the blinds shut tight. I squinted at the alarm clock, it read 8:59. A smile crept onto my face to know that my man was still lying next to me, not that he could have escaped with my one thigh hiked over his clean, satiated body.
Curled up in the rumpled, white sheets together, we laid silent and replete. I cuddled him with closed eyes and a hand on his firm chest. With only a thin sheet draped over us, I relied on his body for warmth and it was like heaven.
Cameron sighed with contentment and kissed me on my temple. "I love you."
I could get used to waking up to that. "Love you too," I replied, in a daze of sleepiness and dedication. I tried to open my eyes, to take another look at his remarkably fit body, but they fluttered shut from exhaustion. I fell fast asleep in his warm, strong embrace, with my smile still intact.
WHEN CAMERON DROVE ME home from the hotel, I stared out my window wondering how I would function without him. A glimmer of disappointment twinged in my gut. I didn't even want to imagine not having him around, but sadness rushed me like a football player.
Cameron watched me with idle curiosity, but he didn’t say anything. Feeling his warm stare, I finally fluttered my lashes to connect with him and we shared a soft smile. Selfish and needy, I pulled Cameron's hand over to my side of the car and linked our fingers together.
When we reached my house, Cameron carried my bag and walked me to the front door. The wind whipped, nasty and cold, but we kissed on my front porch like it was the middle of summer.
Despite my zeal, discouraging thoughts ate away at my heart. The way his lips tasted mine, with such intensity, it felt like we were never going to share a kiss again. My stomach plummeted at the thought.
"I love you," I whispered, near tears.
"I love you too," he said, then pressed a kiss to my temple. His hands rubbed up and down my arms, then slid up to my shoulders to hold me in place as his eyes searched mine. "I don't know what's got you so worried, but I guarantee there's nothing that will stop us from being together," he said, with such certainty.
I wanted to believe him. "I know, but…"
"But nothing," he interrupted. "I love you and I think you love me too. That's enough for me. Nothing and no one else matters. Except for Pheobe of course," he added, with a dangerously sexy smirk.
I nodded, a soft smile pressed on my lips, surprised to find any form of relief.
Cam cupped his hand over my cheek and dropped to kiss me, long and deep. "I'll call you later?"
"Kay," I replied, tugging on his leather jacket, wishing he didn’t have to go.
"God, I hate leaving you like this." He pulled me back in his arms for a tight squeeze, his arms wrapping right around me, holding me like a love he never wanted to let go. "Now get in there before you catch a cold.”
My mouth turned up into a real smile, as I let myself inside. Tugging aside the curtain in the front room, I peered out the window and watched my man walk back to his car, cool and swift. I breathed a sigh of happiness as it sunk in just how good I had it. That man was mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
WITH ONLY A COUPLE of days before Christmas, I was getting a little anxious, since Cam and I really hadn't settled our plans for the holidays just yet. We had been inseparable since the night of the Christmas party. I was addicted to the high of being with Cameron and all of the love that came with that.
It was seriously getting to the point where I couldn't bear to leave him at night. It was past the point where I’d spend most of my nights in his bed. Nights spent at my place had become few and far between.
Cameron had a late appointment that night, so I headed home from work down snow filled roads. I trudged through the fresh pile of snow on my front porch and kicked a good heap of it aside with my tall boots, before heading inside.
Before I could even put down my keys, the phone started ringing. My heart dropped as fast as my coat. Ever since Pheobe’s accident, panic struck me with every ring of the phone.
"Hello," I answered, breathless.
"Hey, it's me," Cam said. He sounded fine.
"Miss me already?" I teased, a swift smile reaching my lips.
"Yeah. You got a problem with that?"
My smile grew three sizes. "Yeah. Maybe you should come over and do something about it."
Cameron’s voice turned serious, startling me from my playful attitude. "Actually, I'm calling for another reason."
My body froze and a clump formed in the back of my throat, nearly suffocating me. I could tell it was important. I swallowed the dryness from my throat and tried to lighten the mood back up. "And here I thought you were making a booty call."
As the words left my lips, the door clicked shut and Edwin knocked his boots together. His jaw was slack, his eyes wide, and that’s when I knew he had heard me. Feeling uneasy, I turned away, but he wasn’t going to let me ignore him.
"Hey, Abs," Edwin whispered.
I flashed him an uninterested look and took in the gorgeous smile plastered on his face. His thumb was pointing eagerly to his chest. “You owe me!” he whispered.
I shook my head vigorously to say ‘no way in hell’ and scowled at him before moving to the kitchen for a little bit of privacy.
Edwin’s feisty chuckle haunted my path.
"I've actually been meaning to talk to you about this,” Cam said. "I figure now is as good as ever."
Terrified, slowly, I said, "Okay." My anxiety trembled in my voice.
"Stop worrying, it's nothing bad. At least I hope you don't think so," Cam said, with a touch of sunshine in his words.
“Phew. Don’t do that to me.” The knot in my stomach loosened ever so slightly.
"You know how we both have two weeks off for holidays, since the firm’s shut down between Christmas and New Year’s, right?"
"Right."
Cam cleared his throat. "Pheobe and I were wondering if you would like to spend the holidays with us."
"Umm, no," I replied, without a second of thought.
"What?" Cam sounded incredibly confused. It hurt me to know that he took me so seriously.
"I would love to Cam. I was only teasing. Of course I will," I said. "Anything to spend more time with you."
Cam was silent on the other end. Had he already hung up on me?
"Cam?"
Edwin was having a laughing fit behind me, having listened in on my conversation.
I waved an angry hand at him and scowled. He was being so annoying. "Screw off," I snapped, then rushed up the stairs to my room.
"Are you talking to me?" Cam asked, stunned.
"No. Edwin's being a tool. He’s gone now. Did you hear me?"
"Yeah, it just took me a second to restart my heart there," he admitted.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself. But I love you and I’d like nothing more.”
His sigh of relief was like a breath of fresh air. "Pack your bags then. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning. How’s 11:00 work for you?"
"I can't wait," I replied, softly. "I'll be thinking about you."
"Me too," he said.
When I hung up the phone, I was so giddy I danced around my room with a squeal, absolutely overjoyed, until it hit me. How was I going to tell Edwin the news? I paced in circles and then sat on the floor in a pile, worry slamming me. We had always spent the Christmas holidays together regardless of our relationship status. He would be beyond pissed.
When the front door slammed shut, I snapped out of my trance. When my eyes focused from my blank stare, I found a heaping pile of laundry staring back at me. I welcomed the task to avoid my troubles.
I dutifully separated my clothes, tossed them into the washer and set out to tidy up the house. I swiped the dust away, but I couldn’t seem to get Edwin out of my brain. I wiped a little faster and scrubbed a little harder, but he was still there. Worrying about Edwin was certainly helping me catch up on my house work, but the dread alone was killing my mood.
Why couldn’t he just get home already?
The house was dusted, carpets vacuumed, toilet scrubbed, and kitchen spic and span. By the time I was done dancing with the mop to Christmas carols, the house looked great, but Edwin was still gone.
Exhausted, I finished folding my laundry and packed most of it into my bag. That’s when I heard the front door quietly click shut. Finally!
When a woman’s voice called from the front foyer, my eyes popped open. Shit! I ran to my stereo, turned the music way down and leaned against my dresser for stability. My chest heaved and my hands trembled. What was wrong with me?
"Edwin's not home,” I choked. “I'll be right down."
I struggled to zip up my heaping bag and then lugged it downstairs to greet our guest. It was Edwin's mother. Her long, dark hair was as glossy as ever, her full, wide-mouthed smile waiting for me.
"Abigail! So nice to see you." She reached her arms out for a hug. "It's been too long." She planted a kiss on each of my cheeks.
That family and their loving. Every one of them huggers. I gave her a quick squeeze. "It certainly has. Great to see you too, Vera. Please come in." I took her jacket and swiftly retrieved a hanger from the closet. "Where's Jason?" I asked curiously, wondering why Edwin’s father wasn’t with her.
"Oh, Jason's with the boys." She flashed me a look of concern. "The whole clan is coming down this year. Didn't Edwin tell you?"
I tried to hide my annoyance, but the expression on my face said it all. “No.”
Vera pressed her lips together in apology. "Jason’s driving up with the others. I have all the luggage in my car. But we’ll let the men take care of that,” she said, trying to cheer me up.
"That must have been a quiet ride for you, for a change,” I said, smiling through my guilt.
"And what a nice change it was. We switched up cars at the last stop and I decided to go ahead alone. Payton was talking my ear off." She flashed me a sweet smile.
“Smart woman," I said. Edwin’s older brother, Payton, did like to hear himself talk, but he was a total sweetheart. “Are they here now?" I asked. Please say no. I needed a few minutes to collect my sanity. I was not prepared for this; thanks to Edwin.
"They shouldn't be too far behind. They must have made another pit stop. Those boys are always eating. They’re just like their father."
“That must be where Edwin gets it from,” I said, making Vera smirk. "Please make yourself at home. The guest room is all yours. If you'll excuse me for a minute, I was just finishing up some laundry."
"Oh, of course. Don't let me keep you," she said.
Vera disappeared down the hall. I took the stairs, two at a time, relieved to wind up the holiday rush. What was she doing here anyway? Edwin didn't say he invited his family over. I guess he didn't plan to include me in the festivities this year. It was only a tradition we had kept every year for the past six. So was it bad that I was sort of happy I didn't have to entertain them this year?
Just the thought of having to face the rest of his brothers, the whole handsome lot of them, made my stomach roil. I've got to bolt. Now.
I lifted my second suitcase, carried it downstairs and dropped it right next to the door. I hurried to the closet to retrieve my jacket, when the front door started to open. No!
It was only Edwin. Oh, no! I’d been worrying about this part all night. Vera returned to the foyer.
"Hey, mom, you made it! Wow the house looks good," he said, flashing me an appreciative glance.
Edwin put down the bags of groceries, gave his mother a huge bear hug and then picked up my luggage. "Here, let me help you with your bags."
I chewed on my bottom lip. "Actually, Eddie, those bags are mine."
