Wait for you

“Are you sure?” A brow arched up. “Because I’m here at your service and taking your jeans off is something I feel I’d be exceptionally wonderful at.”

“I’m sure you would be. Put your hoodie back on.”

He took a step back and leaned against the sink. All that male flesh completely on display. “I like when you look.”

“I remember,” I grumbled, turning away. It was like my bracelet hadn’t even come off, but I felt more naked without it on than I would if I wore no clothes at all. With a little shimmy, I stepped out of my jeans. When I faced him, he was still all kinds of half-naked.

Cam swiped his hoodie off the floor and then took my hand. “You think you’ll be good out of the bathroom?”

“I hope so.”

We headed back into the living room, and I thought he was going to leave then, as it was well after two a.m., but he found me some aspirins, made me drink a bottle of water, and then sat on my couch. He gave my arm a little tug. “Sit with me.”

I started to move around his legs, but he stopped me.

“No. Sit with me.”

Having no idea where he was going with this, I shook my head. Cam leaned back and then tugged on my arm a little harder. I went with it, letting him pull me into his lap. My side against his front, legs stretched out on the cushions beside us. He yanked the quilt up over my legs and once he had me situated the way he wanted, he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“You should try to go to sleep,” he said, his voice barely audible over the hum of the TV. “It’ll help in the morning.”

I relaxed against him, faster than I thought possible. Snuggling closer, I rested my head against his chest. “You’re not leaving?”

“Nope.”

“At all?” I closed my eyes.

His chin grazed the top of my head and then his lips brushed across my forehead. A sigh leaked out from between my lips. “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I’ll be right here when you wake up, sweetheart. I promise.”

#

It took a couple of moments to realize the blinding light was from the sun shining through my living room window and that I was still in Cam’s lap.  My head was against his shoulder and his chin was resting atop mine. His arms were secured around me like he thought I’d wake up and run off.

In my chest, my heart got a little workout.

Memories from last night were a little disjointed at first, but when they started to make sense, I alternated between being thrilled, embarrassed, shocked, and then thrilled again.

Cam was still here and last night he’d said that he wanted me, that we would be together, even after he knew what I had done to myself and after I’d been a total bitch to him.

I almost couldn’t believe it. Maybe I was dreaming, because I didn’t feel like I deserved this.

Placing my hand on his chest, I felt his heart beat steady and strong under my palm. His skin was bare, warm, and real. I needed to see his face to fully believe that this was happening.  I shifted in his lap.

Cam groaned a deep, rich sound.

Eyes going wide, I stilled. Holy moley, I could feel his arousal against my hip. His arms tightened around my waist and I felt his heart kick around the same time mine did.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice thick and gruff. “It’s morning and you’re sitting on me. That’s a combination meant to bring any man down.”

Warmth swamped my cheeks, but heat raced through my veins and I was reminded of how he felt when he had rocked against me before. Not the best thought to be having right now. His grip on my waist loosened and his hand dropped to my hip. Through the thin shirt— hisshirt—my skin tingled.

Okay. Maybe it was the perfect thought to be having right now.

“Do you want me to get off you?” I asked.

“Hell no.” His other hand traveled up my back, his fingers tangling in the ends of my hair.  “Absolutely fucking not.”

My lips cracked a grin. “Okay.”

“Finally, I think we’re actually agreeing on something.”

I leaned back a little, so I could see him.  Disheveled from sleep and with the faint trace of stubble on his jaw, he looked absolutely stu

One side of his lips tipped up, and my chest swelled. I’d missed that smile. “Depends on what you think happened.”

“I took my shirt off for you?”

His eyes deepened. “Yes. Lovely moment.”

“And you turned me down?”

The hand on my hip slid lower. “Only because our first time together isn’t going to be when you’re drunk.”

“Our first time together?”

“Uh-huh.”

Muscles in my stomach tightened. “You’re really confident about there being a first between us.”

“I am.” He tipped back against the cushion.

I needed to focus. “We talked, right?” My gaze fell to my bare left wrist. “I told you when I did this?”

“Yes.”

I peeked at him. “And you don’t think I’m a raving bitch?”

“Well…”

Cocking my head to the side, I pi

Cam’s grin spread as his hand slid further up my back, reaching the nape of my neck. “You want to know what I think?”

“Depends.”

He guided my head down so that our mouths were inches apart. “I think we need to talk.”

“We do.”  I agreed even though it made me nervous, of course, but resolve replaced my apprehension.

Cam suddenly gripped my hips and lifted me off him, placing me on the couch beside him. I missed his warmth immediately. Confusion rose as he stood. “I thought we needed to talk,” I said.

“We do. I’ll be right back.”

I had no clue what he was up to.

“Just stay there, okay?” he said, backing toward the door. “Don’t move from that spot. Don’t think about anything. Just sit there and I’ll be right back.”

I watched him curiously. “Okay.”

A lopsided grin appeared. “I mean it, don’t think about anything. Not the last couple of minutes or last night. Not the last month. Or what’s coming next. Just sit there.”

“Alright,” I whispered. “I promise.”

His eyes met mine for a second longer, and then he left, and of course I thought about everything in those five minutes he was gone. By the time he returned, I’d almost been convinced that he wasn’t coming back.

Except he did.

I twisted around, peering over the back of the couch and once I saw what he had in his hands, I smiled widely. “Eggs—you brought eggs.”

“And my skillet.” He nudged the door shut with his hip. “And I brushed my teeth.”

“You didn’t put a shirt on.”

He cast me a look as he headed into my kitchen. “I know it would break your heart not to be able to see me shirtless.”

As he disappeared through the door, I dropped my head to the back of the couch and let out a girlie sound that I hoped was muffled.

“Avery, what in the hell are you doing?”

I lifted my head. “Nothing.”

“Then get your ass in here.”

Gri

“And don’t you dare change.”

I stopped, making a face.

“Because I really like seeing you in my clothes,” he added.

“Well, when you put it like that…” I turned around and made my way back to the kitchen. Lingering in the doorway, I watched him do something I seen him do at least a dozen times.

He looked over his shoulder at me. “What? You missed my eggs that badly?”

I blinked my misty eyes clear. “I didn’t think I’d have you in my kitchen making eggs again.”

The thick bands of muscle across his shoulders flexed, and I couldn’t help but admire the sensual valley. They curved deep into his skin as he leaned forward, adjusting the controls on the stove.  “You missed methat much?”

For once I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Cam faced me. “I’ve missed you.”

I took a deep breath. “I want to say I’m sorry for how I acted when you… well, when you saw my scar. I’ve never let anyone see it.” I sucked my lower lip in and took a step forward. “I know that’s not an excuse, because I was a terrible bitch, but…”