Chapter 7
SEVEN
Lymric
The first thing I notice when I wake up is warmth.
It’s everywhere—wrapped around me, under me, pressed into every inch of my skin. It’s heavy and solid, and the steady rise and fall of his breathing tells me exactly where it’s coming from.
Camden.
I blink against the morning light, my head still hazy with sleep, my body relaxed in a way that only comes from a night spent tangled up with him. My cheek is resting against his bare chest, his arm is slung low around my waist, holding me tight, like even in sleep, he refuses to let me go.
Like I belong here.
And damn, I wish I did.
I exhale slowly, shifting slightly, and that’s when I feel it—his grip tightening, his fingers digging into my hip like my movement stirred something inside him. His breathing changes, deepens, and before I can say anything, his voice rumbles through the silence.
“You trying to sneak away, baby?”
I freeze, my heart kicking up at the sound of his voice—low, rough, still laced with sleep.
“I wasn’t sneaking,” I murmur, tilting my chin up to look at him. His dark blue eyes are already open, locked on me, heat simmering beneath the surface.
His lips curl into a slow, lazy smirk. “Good. Because I wasn’t done with you yet.”
Before I can react, he moves, flipping us so fast that I barely have time to let out a surprised gasp before I’m pinned beneath him.
“Camden—”
I don’t get the chance to finish. His mouth is on mine, stealing my words, stealing my breath, kissing me like he’s been waiting for this all night. Maybe he has.
I moan against his lips, and that’s all it takes for him to deepen the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine, his hands roaming down my sides, gripping, exploring, making it impossible to focus on anything but him.
God, he’s good at this.
The way he kisses—possessive, slow, like he’s savoring every second—makes my head spin. Makes my body press up against him, desperate for more.
His lips leave mine, trailing down my jaw, along the curve of my neck, and I arch into him, my fingers threading through his messy hair. He groans when I tug, his breath hot against my skin.
“Baby,” he murmurs, nipping at my pulse, making me gasp.
I want to say something, want to tell him that he’s driving me insane, that I don’t know what the hell to do with all these feelings he’s stirring up inside me, but I can’t. My body reacts before my brain can catch up.
I hook a leg around his waist, pulling him closer, and his answering growl sends shivers racing down my spine.
“You always wake up this needy?” he teases, his lips brushing against my collarbone.
I bite back a whimper, knowing he’ll use it against me. “You started it.”
His laugh is low, dark. “Yeah?” His fingers slide beneath the hem of my shirt, skimming over bare skin. “You want me to stop?”
I should say yes. I should stop this before I get in too deep.
But I don’t.
Instead, I drag my nails down his back, arching up so our bodies fit together like they were made for this, and whisper, “Don’t you dare.”
His smirk disappears. His grip tightens.
And then he kisses me again—slow and deep, like a promise.
Like he’s never letting me go, and in this moment, I hope that he never does.
His lips trail lower, moving down my neck and over my chest. I arch under him, offering him all of me.
His mouth finds one nipple, and he wraps his lips around it. His teeth graze over the sensitive peak, and I gasp at the sensations. It’s like a direct line from my breasts to my center. My core clenches as his mouth continues to worship my breasts.
“Need you,” I murmur, and he nods, moving between my legs.
His thick length nudges at my opening, and I spread my legs wider as he starts to sink into me. I moan as he bottoms out inside of me, and we lock eyes. There’s something in their dark depths, some emotion that looks so much like love. I swallow hard, and he smiles down at me as he starts to move.
Our bodies move together in perfect sync, and I cling to him as we both strive to reach our peaks.
“You’re perfect, baby,” he groans, and I grin, pushing on his shoulder.
He looks confused for a moment before he understands what I want and rolls us until I’m straddling his waist, looking down at him.
“Goddamn,” he groans as I start to ride him.
His hands find my breasts, and he cups them in his hands as I move on top of him. He feels so much bigger with me on top, and I moan as I slam down on his length over and over again.
“That’s it, baby. Just like that,” Camden urges me, and I choke back a sob as I feel myself starting to splinter apart around him.
His fingers pinch my nipples, and I shout his name, my movements growing sloppy and uneven.
“Are you going to come for me?” He asks. “You going to make a mess all over my cock?”
“Oh god,” I choke out, and he grins at me.
“Be a good girl and come all over my dick. Now,” he orders, and I scream as I give him what he wants.
I collapse forward, and he rolls us once again, his hips slamming against mine as he pounds into me, groaning my name as he comes.
“Fuck,” he pants as I nod, my dark hair a tangled mess in my eyes.
He brushes the strands away and grins down at me.
“We could stay in bed all day,” he offers, and I smile.
“I have to meet Lilou soon, and you have work,” I remind him.
He sighs, burying his face in my neck, and I giggle as his stubble tickles the sensitive skin there.
“Fine. But tonight, you’re mine,” he whispers against my skin.
He kisses me once more before he climbs out of bed and heads into the bathroom. I hear the shower kick on a second later, and I stretch in bed, debating on joining him or getting half an hour more sleep.
I must doze off because when I wake again, Camden is dressed and kissing me goodbye.
“I went and got your car from Milo’s, so you won’t be stranded,” he whispers, and I smile.
“Thanks, I didn’t even think about that, and I have to meet Lilou soon.”
“Have fun with your friend. I’ll see you soon,” he says, and I nod, kissing him back.
Once he’s gone, I roll over and check my phone. Lilou has texted, saying that she’s getting ready to meet me, and I know that I need to hurry.
Sighing, I push back the covers and get up, stretching. I promised Lilou we’d meet for breakfast this morning, and I could use the girl talk. If anyone can help me figure out what’s going on in my head, it’s her.
After getting ready, I grab my purse and head out, driving back to Milo’s house to change and then to the little café we agreed on. The town is still waking up, and I can’t help but smile at how charming Wolf Valley is. It’s nothing like Los Angeles. It’s slower, quieter, filled with people who actually acknowledge each other instead of rushing past.
I spot Lilou as soon as I step inside the café, waving at me from a booth by the window. She’s already got a coffee in front of her and is flipping through a magazine. When she looks up and sees me, she grins.
“Well, well, well,” she teases as I slide into the seat across from her. “Look who finally made it out of Camden’s clutches.”
I groan. “Don’t start.”
She laughs, setting the magazine aside. “Oh, I’m absolutely starting. Spill. How was your date?”
The waitress comes over, and I take a second to order a latte and some pancakes before turning back to Lilou. “It was…good.”
Her eyes gleam with interest. “Just good?”
I sigh, knowing she’s not going to let this go. “It was really good. He took me to dinner at this steakhouse, and then we went back to his place.”
Lilou’s brows shoot up. “Ooooh. And?”
“And nothing! We talked, hung out, kissed a little. Did a little more…” I admit with a grin, and she squeals.
“I knew it. You like him.”
I bite my lip, not sure what to say. Do I like Camden? Yeah. A little too much. More than I should for someone I just met.
“I’m having fun,” I say instead.
Lilou tilts her head. “And that’s it?”
“What else is there?” I ask, a little defensive. “I’m here for two weeks. That’s all this can be.”
She gives me a knowing look. “Is it?”
I sigh, rubbing my temples. “Lil, my job keeps me traveling constantly. I love it. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I can’t just…drop everything and stay here.”
Lilou takes a sip of her coffee before setting the cup down carefully. “No one’s saying you have to drop everything. But would it be so bad to slow down a little?”
I frown. “I don’t know. Maybe? I love what I do.”
“But you also love being with Camden,” she points out, watching me closely. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you light up when you talk about him.”
I hesitate, because she’s not wrong. Being with Camden is exhilarating, but in a way that feels…stable. Safe. Like he’s my anchor in the middle of the whirlwind that is my life.
Still, it’s crazy, right? We barely know each other.
“I just don’t see how it could work,” I admit. “Even if I did stay here, what then? We barely know each other.”
Lilou shrugs. “So get to know each other. Figure it out together.”
I sigh, looking down at my coffee. It’s not that simple. But at the same time…maybe it is.
“I don’t know, Lil. I just don’t know.”
She smiles softly. “Well, you’ve got time to figure it out. And something tells me Camden’s not going to let you slip away so easily.”
I roll my eyes, but deep down, I know she’s right. And that thought alone is terrifying—and thrilling—all at once.