Chapter 6
SIX
Camden
I roll my shoulders, adjusting my grip on the wrench as I tighten a bolt on one of the chopper’s skids. The morning sun is blazing, baking the tarmac under my boots as I finish up the pre-flight maintenance on the bird scheduled to take off in an hour. The scent of jet fuel and pine trees mix in the crisp Wolf Valley air, a familiar combination that has become strangely comforting over the past two months.
“You planning to marry that thing, or are you gonna let it go at some point?” Huxley calls from across the hangar, his voice dripping with amusement.
I grunt, barely looking up. “If I did, at least she wouldn’t argue with me.”
Huxley snickers. “Depends. You’ve got a history of pissing off anything with a pulse.”
That gets a smirk out of me, but I don’t respond. The guys at Semper Fly are a solid crew, mostly ex-military like me. It’s been good working here—keeps my hands busy, keeps my mind from drifting too much. But today, my mind is all over the damn place.
Lymric.
I can’t stop thinking about her. The way she looked in that dress last night. The way she let me hold her hand like she was still fighting with herself about wanting me. The way she kissed me back even though she wasn’t ready to admit it yet.
She’s mine.
Now I just have to make sure she realizes it before she leaves town.
“Camden!” Kip’s voice cuts through my thoughts, and I look up to see him waving me over. “Can you check the tail rotor on the blue chopper? Feels off.”
I nod and wipe the grease from my hands before striding over. Kip and Huxley have been running Semper Fly for a few years now, and they know their stuff. I respect that. It makes working for them easy.
I get to work, losing myself in the mechanics of it. My fingers work with practiced ease, my brain shifting gears to focus on the familiar rhythm of problem-solving. It’s the same focus I used to rely on during my deployments—find the problem, fix the problem, keep moving forward.
By the time I finish, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from my brother.
Kye: Lunch? Mancini’s?
I huff a laugh, shaking my head. My brother has two moods—lone wolf or clingy. Looks like today, I’m getting clingy Kye.
Me: Yeah. Be there in 10.
I let Huxley know I’m heading out for my break and grab my truck keys. The drive to Mancini’s is short, but my mind is still locked on Lymric. She agreed to go out with me again tonight. That’s progress. Now I just need to keep up the momentum.
Kye’s already at a booth when I walk in, sipping a soda and flipping through something on his phone. He looks up when I slide into the seat across from him.
“Busy morning?” he asks.
“Same as usual,” I reply, picking up a menu even though I already know what I’m ordering. “You?”
Kye shrugs. “Finished up a project early, put up an ad for a new assistant, then figured I’d see if my big brother remembered how to be social.”
I snort. “I’m social.”
He arches a brow. “Grunting at people doesn’t count.”
The waitress comes by, and we order the meat lovers pizza before Kye leans back in his seat, eyeing me like he’s debating something.
“What?” I ask.
He smirks. “You’ve been different the last few days.”
“Hmm,” I say noncommittally.
“How’s your girl?”
“She’s good. We’re going out tonight.”
“Good. You still think that she’s the one?” He asks me, and there’s something in his voice, some emotion that I can’t quite name. It’s interest, but also maybe…jealousy? Or longing?
“She is the one. I’m sure of it.”
“When am I going to meet her?” He asks.
“Soon. You should try finding a girl. Then you can have a plus one for the wedding.”
Kye shrugs. “Maybe.”
“So, new assistant?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Yeah, business has been good, and I could use some more help.”
“Maybe your new assistant will be the love of your life,” I suggest and he rolls his eyes.
“I’m not fucking my assistant,” he snaps, and I hold my hands up.
“You never know.”
He shakes his head, and the waitress comes back over to drop off our pizza. We both dig in, and the conversation changes to plans for this upcoming weekend.
We finish eating and I pay the bill.
“So, what’s the plan?” He asks me as we stand.
“I’m headed back to work,” I say, and he shakes his head.
“No. What’s the plan with your girl? Lymric.”
I smirk. “Win her over before she leaves.”
Kye shakes his head. “You don’t do anything halfway, do you?”
“Nope. I’ll see you,” I say, waving as I head over to my truck.
“Good luck.”
I head back to work after lunch, knocking out another few hours at the hangar before checking the time and realizing it’s almost time to pick Lymric up.
I drive straight to Milo’s place, pulling into the driveway and hopping out before she has a chance to second-guess tonight. Before I can knock, the door swings open, and Lymric stands there, looking up at me with those sharp green eyes that I can’t get enough of.
“You’re early,” she says, crossing her arms.
I smirk. “You ready?”
She huffs but grabs her purse and steps outside, locking the door behind her. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
She sighs but doesn’t argue, and I take that as progress.
We drive through town, the tension between us softer now, more playful. She asks about my work, about Semper Fly, and I tell her about the guys, about how I ended up working there. She listens, nodding along, and I like that she wants to know more about me.
“It’s got to be a cool view from way up there,” she says as we pull into the Palmer’s Steakhouse parking lot.
I park and hop out to open her door. She eyes the building, and I take her hand in mine.
“Hungry?” I ask, and she nods.
“Starved. This place looks fancy.”
“Only the best for my girl,” I quip.
She rolls her eyes, but I can see that she’s pleased with my answer.
Inside, we settle into a booth, and I watch her scan the menu. The way she moves, the little expressions she makes when she reads something that interests her—it’s all fascinating to me.
“So,” she says, setting the menu down. “You always this intense?”
I smirk. “You bring it out of me.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.
Dinner is easy, conversation flowing between us like we’ve known each other forever. She tells me more about her job and the places she’s been. I listen, soaking it all in, filing away every little detail.
By the time we finish eating, I’m not ready to let her go yet.
“Come back to my place,” I say as we step outside.
She eyes me warily. “Camden…”
“Just to hang out,” I promise. “I won’t push.”
She hesitates, then nods. “Okay.”
I smirk, opening the truck door for her. “Good choice, baby.”
We drive back to my place, and Gunner greets us at the door, his tail wagging so hard his whole body shakes. Lymric kneels, scratching behind his ears, and I swear Gunner looks smug about it.
She looks up at me, smiling. “Alright, maybe I see why you like it here.”
I grin. “Told you.”
And for the first time, I start to believe she might actually stay. I just have to convince her she belongs here. With me.
The second I shut the door behind us, I know I’m in trouble.
Lymric is standing in the middle of my living room, her dark green eyes flicking around, taking in the space. The dim lighting casts soft shadows over her curves, the oversized sweater she’s wearing doing nothing to hide the shape of her body. She looks…right here. Like she belongs.
And damn, I want her to.
She turns, catching me watching her, and arches an eyebrow. “You’re staring.”
I smirk, stepping closer. “Can you blame me?”
Her breath hitches, but she doesn’t step back. Instead, she tilts her head up, challenging me, teasing me. My girl loves pushing me, seeing how far she can take it before I snap.
I drag my hand along her jaw, tilting her chin up so I can see every little reaction she gives me. The way her lips part, the way her breath quickens, the way she leans in even though she’s pretending she’s unaffected.
“Lymric,” I murmur, running my thumb over her lower lip.
She shivers but tries to play it off. “What?”
I don’t answer. I just close the space between us, my other hand sliding to the small of her back, tugging her closer until she’s flush against me. She lets out a soft gasp, her hands bracing against my chest.
“You feel that?” I ask, my voice low, rough. “Tell me you don’t want this.”
She exhales shakily. “I never said that.”
That’s all I need.
I crush my mouth against hers, swallowing her gasp as I take control of the kiss. She melts into me instantly, her fingers curling into my shirt, holding on like she needs me just as badly as I need her.
I guide us backward, pressing her against the wall, pinning her there with my body. My hands slide into her hair, tilting her head so I can deepen the kiss, tasting every soft sound she makes. She’s addictive—sweet and warm, her lips parting for me like she’s been waiting for this just as much as I have.
Her hands roam, gripping my shoulders, sliding down my arms, then curling around the back of my neck. She’s not just letting me lead—she’s matching me, pushing back, testing me.
Damn, I love that.
I nip at her lower lip, and she moans, pressing her body tighter against mine. My fingers skim down her sides, tracing the curve of her waist before settling on her hips. I squeeze, groaning against her mouth when she arches into me.
“Camden,” she breathes when I move to her jaw, kissing a path down the side of her neck. Her nails dig into my shoulders, and I swear I could lose my damn mind just from hearing my name like that.
I press my lips against her pulse, feeling the rapid thrum of her heartbeat. “Tell me you want me.”
She hesitates for half a second, stubborn as ever.
I drag my lips lower, grazing my teeth along her skin, smirking when she trembles. “Say it, baby.”
She exhales sharply. “I want you.”
A growl rumbles in my chest, and I kiss her again—hard, deep, like I can’t get enough. Because I can’t. She’s mine, and I need her to know it.
She fists her hands in my shirt, pulling me even closer, like she’s finally giving in, finally letting herself feel this the way I do. I lift her, wrapping her legs around my waist, and she gasps against my lips.
“You good?” I murmur.
She nods breathlessly. “Yeah.”
I grin, nipping at her lips. “Then hold on, baby.”
Because I’m not letting her go.
Not now. Not ever.
My hands gripping her thighs as she clings to me, I turn and head for the stairs. Lymric is kissing my neck and doing her best to try to drive me crazy.
It’s working.
I take the stairs two at a time, anxious to get my girl naked and beneath me. I head straight for my bedroom and lay her out on the bed. She gasps as I nip her bottom lip and then watches me with hooded eyes as I stand and start to strip.
Her green eyes devour me as I pull off my shirt and toss it to the floor.
“Your turn,” I say huskily.
She sits up and peels her shirt up and over her head. I expect her to toss it aside, but she clutches it in front of her instead. For a moment, I see a look of doubt pass over her face, and I crouch down in front of her.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I ask her, and she looks up at me.
“Nothing. I just…have never done this before.”
“Me either,” I admit, and she looks shocked.
“How is that possible?” She blurts out.
“I could ask you the same thing,” I murmur, and she blushes.
“I was always more focused on my career,” she admits and I nod.
“Me too. There was never anyone that I wanted to be with or get to know. Not until you.”
She smiles up at me, and I lean forward and kiss her. My lips claim hers, and at some point, her grip on the shirt loosens, and it falls to the ground next to me.
“I want you,” she murmurs against my mouth, and I smile.
“I’m yours.”
I kiss down her neck, and she lays back on the bed while I kneel at her feet. My hands reach for her pants, and she lifts her hips when I start to pull them and her panties down her legs. I toss them aside and then spread her thighs wide enough for me to fit between them.
“Camden,” she breathes, and fuck do I love hearing her say my name like that.
“Let me take care of you,” I whisper a second before I bury my face in her sweet pussy.
She gasps as I lick up her center, and I moan as her juices hit my tongue.
“So good,” I groan as I dive back in for another taste.
My tongue licks through her folds and circles her clit. I repeat the same path over and over again, enjoying her flavor and the breathy sounds that are spilling from her lips.
Her thighs are starting to clamp down around my head and I smile as I suck her clit into my mouth and roll my tongue over it.
“Camden!” She shouts, her fingers tugging at my hair.
I just moan against her drenched flesh as I continue licking her. Her hips are starting to rock against my lips, and I cup her ass, holding her up for me to devour. She cries out, grinding her pussy against my face. Her juices are covering my lips and dripping off my chin, and I love it. I’ve never been harder, and I can’t wait to bury myself inside of her.
I just need to make her come first.
I push one finger inside of her, and she tenses, but her hips don’t stop rocking, taking the digit more and more inside of her.
“God, you’re so hot,” I murmur, and she cries out.
I look up at her body, mesmerized by her jiggling tits, the flush covering her face and chest, and the way her eyes drift shut as she gets closer to her orgasm.
She’s using my finger to get herself off now, her movements starting to get sloppy as she reaches her peak. I suck her clit back into my mouth and roll my tongue over the little bundle of nerves while my finger moves in and out of her.
That’s all it takes and she’s flying over the edge.
“Fuck!” She shouts, and I grin as she comes all over my mouth.
I greedily lick up all of her release and then stand and strip off the last of my clothes.
Lymric watches me as she scoots to the center of the bed, and I grin as I prowl onto the mattress after her. She spreads her legs in invitation, her eyes heated as they lock with mine.
“Are you ready for me?” I ask her, and she nods eagerly.
My cock nudges against her drenched folds, and we both seem to hold our breaths as I start to push into her tight channel. I hit her virginity, and we lock eyes as I thrust forward and pop her cherry.
“Oh!” She gasps as I seat myself fully inside of her.
“Fuck, baby. You feel so good,” I choke out.
She nods, her nails digging into my biceps as I start to move slowly in and out of her. We move together slowly at first, both of us getting used to the rhythm and feeling of moving together.
Lymric moans beneath me, and I grit my teeth. She feels so perfect wrapped around me, and it’s a struggle not to bust right that second. She’s so wet, so hot, so tight, so mine .
Lymric’s leg hooks around my waist, and I sink in even deeper. We both groan, and I kneel and grab her other leg, placing both of her calves on my shoulders as I start to pound into her.
Her pussy seems to tighten around my length with each thrust. She’s driving me wild. I need to get her off before I can come, though.
My hand cups her breast, and she arches into my touch, offering more of herself to me.
“I’m close,” she pants, and I nod.
“Need you to come,” I grit.
I fuck her harder, and she reaches up, her hands bracing against the headboard as we rock together. My fingers find her stiff nipple, and I pinch the sensitive bud as I pound into her. She’s tightening around me and I can tell that she’s close, so close.
“Come for me, baby,” I order, and she cries out as she does just that.
I shout her name as I follow her over the edge and come with her. My hips still slam against hers, wringing out every ounce of pleasure for both of us.
I slow after a minute, and Lymric’s legs slide off of my shoulders and fall with a thud to the mattress. We’re both breathing heavily, and I smile, laughing slightly as I stare down at her.
I’m riding high on my orgasm as I collapse down on the mattress beside her and pull her into my arms.
I want to tell her right then and there that I love her, but I swallow down the words. I need to make sure that she’s ready to hear it and that I won’t scare her off.
I still have time, I remind myself as I hold her in my arms.
She rests her head on my chest, and I smile as I stroke her hair.
She’s here now. She’s mine.
I just need to make sure that I can make it permanent.