CHAPTER TEN
REECE
SMACK. Right across my goddamn face.
Ouch! I jolt awake, eyes snapping open, and immediately get hit with round twoa solid palm to the jaw, followed by a knee to the thigh.
Jesus Christ. Im under attack.
No. Correction.
Cam is in full cling-wrap mode, and once again, Im the unwilling victim of her nighttime assault antics.
Violence shouldnt be this adorable, but here I am getting bitch-slapped at four a.m. by my videographer in her skimpy yellow pajamas. And holy hellher toes are doing this lazy little dance against my dick through the blanket. Her skin is fever-hot even through five layers of protective fabric, and my traitorous body is memorizing every point of contact.
Carefully, I pry her off. Its a painfully delicate process. One arm, then the other. I slowly slide her leg from mine, peeling her away like removing a stubborn twenty percent off sticker from a book cover.
Cam makes a soft hmm noise as I roll her onto her side. My fingers graze warm, bare skin, and the edge of her pink lacy underwear peek out from her tiny-ass yellow shorts.
Fuuuuuccck.
She nuzzles into her pillow, lashes resting against her cheeks. Her lips are plush and relaxed, as if waiting for a kiss. So beautiful. And so completely unaware of the absolute chaos shes wreaking on my self-control.
I pull the blanket up and cover her then roll onto my back, staring at my reflection in the mirrored ceiling. Wont forget those peekaboo panties anytime soon. The ocean murmurs against the shore, each wave rising and falling in perfect harmony with Cams gentle breath.
Its still dark and our alarm is set to buzz any secondready to wake us for our early trek to watch the sunrise at Mount Haleakal. But my mind is elsewhere, lingering on last night and the heat I swore I saw in Cams gaze as we prepared for bed. Did I imagine it? Maybe I wanted to see desire in her after my little strip show for the art class.
There I was, standing naked in front of a bunch of cheering geriatric women, when I caught sight of Camher jaw dropped, her eyes locked on my dick. She stared for a full ten seconds, completely entranced.
And I thoughtnaively thoughtshe was impressed.
Until she didnt say a word. Not one appreciative comment about my body. Shed just painted. And what did she paint? A fucking pencil where my penis should be. A yellow number two pencil, complete with a tiny eraser for the head of my cock.
I present to you: The Littlest Pencil: A Portrait of An Erasable Ego, shed announced with a smirk, her expression nothing but trouble. We can hang it in your office. Itll keep you humble.
Disappointed yes, but unimpressed? Never. I actually love that about her. How she doesnt worship at the altar of Reece Dare like Im YouTube royalty. Shes not afraid to give me shit, to challenge me, to make me grin even when Im grouchy.
Because everyone else? They idolize the brand. They kiss my ass, say whatever they think I want to hear, and treat me as if Im the center of the universe.
Not Cam. She has never once put me on the celebrity pedestal. She knows Im exactly the kind of man who deserves to be dragged.
And it makes me want her so damn much, its ridiculous.
My cock perks up as if its been summoned, and I grip the sheets. Because for the thousandth time, my minds back to that fucking shower incidenthow her full breasts felt in my palms, like slippery velvet pillows. How natural it would be to step into her next shower, let the steam swallow us both, and pick up right where we left off.
Thered be no hesitation. With adrenaline pumping, Id press her against those rocks while water rushed over our bodies, fully immersed in the heat of her skin, dropping to my knees so I can worship her with my mouth and
Dude, get your shit together. You have to stop this obsession. Shes your employee.
We have a working relationship to maintain. And in less than two weeks, we go back to the real world. Where theres no way Camilia Morales wants anything to do with me romantically after the way Ive
MWAAARP! MWAAARP! MWAAARP!
Holy shit! The earth-shattering blare of sirens is terrifying. WTF? I bolt upright, heart hammering, expecting a SWAT team to burst through the balcony windows.
I whip my head toward Cams side of the bed, ready for a full-blown emergency, but
Shes asleep.
Completely unfazed, soft breaths escaping her lips, curled up like a content kitten.
MWAAARP! MWAAARP! MWAAARP!
Cam, I whisper. Hey. Your alarm. Its time to get up.
Nothing.
We have to be in the lobby in forty-five minutes.
She doesnt so much as twitch.
Touching her seems like a death wish, given her history of sleep violence. Instead, I carefully stretch over her to silence the phone, trying to ignore her coconut scent thats a direct hit to my morning wood.
The second my finger hits snooze and the noise stops
MIERDA! IM GONNA BE LATE!
Cam explodes awake as if shes been launched out of a cannon, shooting upright.
CRACK!
Our skulls collide at full force.
A shockwave of pain detonates in my forehead.
I yelp, instinctively jerking backward, still wrapped in my protective blanket burrito. Im a human log rolling off the mattress then hitting the floor face first. THUD . Whats worse, my dick breaks my fall.
Fuck!
Oh shit, Reece!
I roll over on the ground, staring up. Her face appears over the side of the bed, hair wild and eyes wide with concern. Shed be adorable if my skull wasnt busy exploring new dimensions of pain (along with my hopefully not broken dick) .
So were clear, I groan, if we ever film a Morning Routine with Cam video, Im getting hazard pay. Youre a one-woman workplace safety violation.
Do you need help? she asks, rubbing her head and biting back a grin.
No. My balls think youve done enough. I shift, wincing as my two favorite body parts check in with complaints. I need to lie here and try to understand how my life choices got me to this moment.
Dont be a baby, she says with sympathetic eyes, and Ive already forgiven her. Besides, according to my artistic interpretation yesterday, theres not much down there to damage. More golf pencil than a 1-wood driver, if you ask me.
I shoot her my best death glare. Youre way too chipper for someone who just committed assault and battery.
She grins and for a second, my eyes soak up those fantastic gravity-defying breasts spilling out of her top, and all is right with the world.
I look back up and her gaze has changedthe teasing amusement replaced with something smoky and electric. The air goes taut (same, buddy) , my body tensing with the urge to moveto brush my mouth over hers, to swallow whatever breathy moans shed make when I press her back into the mattress and devour her whole.
To tease her with the heavy, aching length of my cock, feel her squirm against me, gasping, needy, desperate for
She licks her lips then quickly sits up, breaking the charged moment.
I gulp, forcing down a groan. Go get dressed, you menace. Before I fire you for attempted murder.
You cant fire me, she sings, bouncing on her feet. Im your girlfriend now, remember?
Fake girlfriend!
Still counts! She disappears into the bathroom.
I exhale, rubbing the back of my neck and willing my body to cool the fuck down.
Im officially losing my goddamn mind.
If this is how the day starts, Im genuinely afraid of what else might happen.
***
If this shuttle takes one more hairpin turn, Im going to hurl all over Kais first-ever fully clothed appearance. The mountain road is a maze of curves and cliffs, barely lit by the headlights, and if the motion sickness doesnt get us, the plummeting to our deaths will.
My sensual seekers, you are about to have a truly religious experience.
Please dont let this be another penis drum situation.
I shift in my seat, adjusting my gray DareWear hoodie, as Cams head bobs beside me, her body swaying with every curve in the road. Shes sporting my merch as wellmatching olive green sweatpants and sweatshirt, with Dare2BU emblazoned on the front. Gordon sent us a mandatory merch kit to help sell our relationship and the product all in one fell swoop.
This is no mere mountain, Kai says, now in storyteller mode. This is Haleakal. A volcano. A place of gods. Of fire and light. Legend says that the great demigod Maui lassoed the sun from the summit of Haleakal, slowing its journey across the sky.
Its too early for one of Kais innuendo-filled speeches. I check my phone, hoping for a successful repeat of yesterdays livestream. Battery life, seventy percent. Should be okay.
Many visitors describe feeling an energy unlike anything theyve ever known. Some may sense a deep, internal shifta shedding of fears, a pull toward their most primal desires.
Its a sunrise, not an orgy, I mutter.
Cam snorts, her shoulder bumping mine in the darkness. Shh! Dont manifest that shit.
As the sun ascends, so will your senses. Its natural to feel physical sensationsgoosebumps, warmth radiating from within, and unexpected tingling in hidden places. Let it flow. Let it ignite your sexual spirit.
Twenty bucks says someone tries to make a sunrise baby, Cam mutters.
Fifty says its the couple that turned the hot tub into an R-rated movie yesterday.
but first, please bundle up. Its quite cold at this elevation, about forty degrees. We have blankets for couples wishing to experience the mountaintop directly, or you may view in the warmth of the visitor center.
The shuttle lurches to a stop, and a whisper of dawn bleeds across the horizon.
It begins, Kai whispers dramatically. Soon your souls will
Dude! Blaze rockets out of his seat so fast youd think his ass is on fire. I got a stiffy just thinking about that kick-ass sun!
Blazey, sit your pervy ass down! Astrid yanks him back by his shirt. Theres no way Im risking my thousand-dollar extensions in that wind. Were watching from the visitor center.
Camilas already got her camera out like its a fifth limb.
Whats your vote, Morales? Heated viewing lounge or mountain goat experience?
Lifes not meant to be lived through windows, she says, grinning. Neither are epic shots.
I love her adventurous spirit.
I grab a blanket from Kai, and we step off the shuttle. The cold hits us like a Will Smith slap to the face.
Mierda! Cam yelps. My nipples disagree. Theyre telling me its negative 13,000 degrees out here.
We can head inside
Hell no. Lets find the money shot.
We pick our way through the crowd, vying for the best viewing area. By the time we find an ideal spot away from the masses, Cam is shivering so hard her teeth are chattering. I hold out the blanket. Here. Youre gonna vibrate off the mountain.
She wraps it around herself, shoulders still shaking. I do my best to ignore the human earthquake, but less than a minute later, I cave.
Cmere, I say before my overthinking kicks in. Body heat is more efficient if we share.
Standing side by side, we try sharing a blanket that was apparently made for hobbits. Every time we get one side covered, the opposite side flaps open like a cape in the wind.
This isnt working, she laughs.
For fucks sake I step behind her, wrapping the blanket around us and pulling her against my chest. Only until our fingers thaw enough to hold the camera.
She doesnt argue, just melts into melike she was made to fit under my chin. And then
Sweet mother of fuck.
The sky cracks open like God himself is putting on a show.
The initial brilliant streaks burst over the horizon, setting the clouds on fire.
Colors Ive never seen in my life, colors that probably dont even have names, explode across the heavens in a symphony of light. Orange bleeds into rose gold, violet weaves through amber, and the clouds below us holy shit, were above the clouds morph into a sea of liquid sunshine. Were literally standing at the edge of heaven, watching the sun ascend into existence like were witnessing the first dawn of time.
Goddammit. Kai was right.
The crowd around us falls into reverent silence, and for once, I have nothing negative to say. Because Im standing here, Cam pressed against me, watching something bigger than all of us.
And then
A realization cracks me on the headblunt, hard, and impossible to ignore.
Yesterday, stripped down and on full display for that art class, I was
Reckless. Dangerous. Irresponsible. And I fucking loved it!
Yesterday wasnt just another stunt for the fansit was for her. But I didnt realize it would stir something up, something I cant shake. Being uncomfortable and pushing boundariesit reignited a fire in my soul.
For the first time in years, I felt free. I felt like me again.
The me who used to come up with the most batshit stunts imaginable and then spend hours pulling them off.
The me who lived for the adrenaline of the unknownthe thrill of testing limits, of knowing something could go horribly wrong but doing it anyway.
I didnt give a shit what people thought because I was too busy having fun.
The fact that it turned into a career, that it paid for Mamas treatments? That was a miracle.
When did I lose that love for filming?
Gordon. All talk, no talent. The king of smoke and mirrors. More sizzle than steak.
He strutted into my life with promises of global dominationso much bullshit, it had its own gravitational pull. You could be bigger than PewDiePie, he said, and like an idiot, Id bought it. Hook, line, and designer sneaker.
And to his credit, he wasnt wrong. For a while there, I was untouchable.
But heres the thing they dont tell you about fameyou never know when youve peaked until your ass is sliding down the other side.
Fame fades.
Trends change.
New creators pop up, doing faster, crazier, dumber shit and grabbing the spotlight you thought was yours. You spend all your time trying to stay relevant, hustling and advancing but then forgetting what made you want to climb.
My original fans? Theyre all moving on with life. Getting married. Making babies. Building careers. They get to grow, to change, to evolve. Meanwhile, Im frozen in time like some kind of perpetual frat boy Peter Pan, doing the same shit I did at twenty-one because Im too terrified to lose what I have.
Losing myself in the billowing sky and seeing the vastness of this beautiful world, Im floating. My heart can feel what my mind already realizes. My life needs to change.
I just dont know what change looks like.
Hell, I almost married Astrid . Things had gotten so fucked up with the business that I actually convinced myself marrying her was the solution to my declining views. Her ditching me at the altar might be the most humiliating thing thats ever happened to me, but honestly? She did me a favor. How many more years would I have wasted on staged couple smiles and stupid pranks?
Yesterdays livestream, that rush of not knowing how it would play out? Thats whats been missing from my life. That spark. That authenticity. Not to mention finally being able to tell Cam how incredible she is. It felt great taking off my asshole armor, being real with her, and telling her how much this channel owes to her talent.
Yesterday, I got to say things Ive wanted to for years.
But Im nowhere near done apologizing. The shit I said to her because I couldnt handle myself wanting her? Grade A dickhead behavior. Premium douchebaggery. The way I made her doubt herself, made her feel as if she wasnt good enough?
Its unforgivable.
I was so fucking wrong.
And her self-esteem paid the price.
I was pushing her away, keeping her at a distance, making sure she never got too close. I was too scared to admit she matters to me. How do I make up for years of being King Asshat?
The reality is, I could spend the rest of my life apologizing, and it still wont be enough.
But Im going to try.
Oh crap. Cam shifts against me. Were not filming.
Lets enjoy this one, I murmur, pulling her closer, needing her warmth like my next breath. She snuggles back against me, and my heart expands, pressing against my ribs as if its trying to make room for new emotions Im not supposed to have.
Because this woman in my arms?
The universe is making it clearshes my first step toward whatevers next.
***
The shuttle door hisses open, pouring us onto a roadside oasis, emerald cliffs and lush greenery towering on all sides. The humid air gives me chills. Its awe-inspiring. Kai walks by, and instead of some godawful body spray, he smells exquisite like pheromones, a double rainbow, karma, and everything good in this world.
Okay, maybe Im still riding high off that mountaintop.
If you seek a gentle communion with nature, go this way. Kai gestures to a path that looks as easy as a shopping mall walkway. And for those prepared to embrace their wilder side He points to a trail marked with a sign featuring a waterfall and skulls and crossbones.
I glance at Cam. Tourist trap or death wish?
You know meI like it rough.
The second those words leave her mouth, her cheeks flame.
She partially turns, eyeing the difficult trail, and her eyes light up with the notion of adventure. Its one of my favorite things about herhow shes always ready to chase the next thrill, camera in hand.
We quickly peel off our sunrise layers and zip them securely into our backpacks. Time to take on this trail! Im in my standard Dare4Adventure mercha blue logo tee with khaki shortsand Cam Christ. Those cutoff shorts and a white tank with the words DareGirl stretched across her boobs.
Death by hotness is looking real likely. Shes got that red string tied around her neck, drawing my eye like a goddamn beacon. Im glad my fans cant see the filthy ways Im fantasizing about her.
Focus, you thirsty idiot.
Uh, hellooo? Astrid says, her voice so shrill it could neuter a dog on a neighboring island. Isnt there, like, a shopping option? Or maybeshe slides closer to Kai, batting her lashes a little one-on-one coaching? Yknow, something more horizontal?
Ah, passionate one. Kais voice drops an octave. Sadly, Hawaii state law requires that the most vigorous activities happen behind closed doors.
Mmm, yeah, thats what I was hoping for, Astrid purrs. Maybe you could stretch me out? I hear youre very hands-on with your instruction.
DUDE! Blaze bounces between them. Are you guys talking about CrossFit? That shits intense!
I grab Cams arm before Im forced to watch any more. Kai says this trail leads to a cliff jumping spot.
Perfect for content.
Speaking of I wave my phone. Lets go live. You do the intro.
Thats gonna be a hard pass, boss.
Counter offer: Ill do the intro, you work the camera for the hike?
Deal.
I study her face, catching anxiety in her features. Why does going live make you nervous?
It doesnt
Morales.
She sighs, twisting the scrunchie on her wrist. No editing. No do-overs. Just me, live, probably saying something stupid while a million people wait to attack me in the chat.
Okay, first of allyoure so wrong that its physically painful, I tell her, resisting the urge to cup her face in my hands. Youre fucking incredible at this. The chat was geared up to start a Cam fan club yesterday.
She rolls her eyes, but I catch the ghost of a smile.
Im going to fix this. Step one was apologizing for being Supreme Overlord of Dickheads. Step two is rebuilding what I helped break. If I can only figure out how to boost her confidence without pushing too hard.
Because watching her doubt herself?
That shit ends today.
I hit Go Live, and my screen explodes with notifications. The viewer count rockets past fifty thousand.
Hey, DareSquad! Its your boy, Reece, coming at you live from the most insane mountain in Maui. I pause, grinning into the camera, and then bring Cam to my side. Her warmth instantly bleeds through my shirt.
And, of course, Im here with my stunning girlfriend, Camila.
Her body stiffens for a split second before she gives the lens a quick, awkward wave.
Guys, lets take a moment here for some girlfriend appreciation. I turn the camera, starting at her face and then tilting downward in a slow, deliberate sweep. I mean, look at this masterpiece. Those eyes, those lips, those
Reece! Cams jaw drops, and she elbows me hard in the ribs.
What?! Im just admiring my lady.
And were done. Thats enough of that.
Well then, Morales, whats your favorite part of your man? I gesture to myself as if Im on a gameshow.
Your unwavering confidence in the face of reality? She smirks then adds, Okay, fine. Your ocean blue eyes are sexy as hell.
Did she just say
What? She catches my surprise. You know youre hot. Am I right, chat?
The comments catch fire with all the flame emojis:
DADDY DARE IS FINE AF.
THOSE EYES ARE A CRIME.
RAIL ME REECE.
HOTTEST COUPLE ON YOUTUBE.
Although, Im shocked hes still got a shirt on, Cam snarks. I swear, he thinks covering those abs is a violation of his civil rights.
Well, damn. Girl came to play!
Shes a goddamn Christmas tree that lights up when she roasts me, when shes meeting my challenge. The sass, the confidence, that playful edge that makes my blood hotit all comes out when Cam is focused on destroying my ego.
Very interesting.
The chat suffers a complete psychological break:
IM CRYING THEYRE SO CUTE.
THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER THO.
THEIR CHEMISTRY IS EVERYTHING.
TodayI pan the camera to showcase the steep inclinewere taking on the craziest hike in Maui. At the top of this trail is? I swing to Cam.
Oh! Um, a waterfall.
Thats right, babe. A secret waterfall.
Her eyes go wide at the pet name. Id love to enjoy her reaction, but
OH. MY. ACTUAL. GOD! Astrid screeches. Do you see this? These are five-thousand-dollar Louboutins! And theyre getting raw-dogged by mud!
Its cool, baby! Blaze calls. Muds just like wet dirt!
Thats NOT the POINT, Blazey! They color-matched my fit for the gram! Its called aesthetic cohesion.
I catch Cams eye, and shes fighting back laughter.
So, Morales I nod at her feet. You worried about your footwear?
No. Unlike some peopleshe models her boots with exaggerated flairI chose hiking boots to go hiking. Crazy concept, I know.
Thats my girl. The words escape before my brain catches up. I recover quickly, fingers finding the red string at her neck. More importantly, what does this connect to? Please say its a bikini.
She smirks, and my whole body ignites. Youll have to wait and find out like everyone else.
My Louboutins did not sign up for this death march through nature! Astrid wails behind us. Like, why are we not taking a helicopter?
Babe, I got you! Blaze flexes. Ill carry you! Im fast. How much do you weigh?
Are you calling me fat?
Thanks to that ridiculous conversation, inspiration strikes.
Hey, DareSquad, new challenge! First one to the top keeps their shirt on!
I shove the selfie stick at Cam and bolt, the ground uneven under my feet. Try to keep up, babe!
Oh HELL no! Her voice rings out behind me. If this clown thinks hes faster than me, hes got another thing coming!
I already hear her footsteps closing in.
I risk a glance over my shoulder.
And there she is, neck and neck with me, breath coming fast, brutal determination on her face.
I push harder. Youre slowing down, babe! Getting tired?
Wow, is this your top speed? Kinda embarrassing for a guy who does stunts for a living.
The trail gets steeper, both of us gasping like asthmatic fish out of water but neither willing to back down.
Didnt know gasp you were so wheeze thirsty to see me shirtless!
I let out a choked laugh, my lungs burning.
Big talk gasp from someone getting lapped!
Cam lets out a growl of sheer determination, pushing forward and matching my pace stride for stride.
The peak of the hill is within reach, the incline a final cruel test of willpower.
And then
Like two exhausted lunatics, we both reach the top. Bent over, hands on knees, sucking in air as if we barely escaped a bear attack.
Cam, still clutching the long selfie rod, wipes the sweat from her brow, panting. She shrugs off her backpack, letting it fall to the ground.
Winner? I gasp.
Dont know.
Ask the fans.
She glares but turns to the chat. Alright, who won? She pauses, reading. Thenher lips curl in wicked delight.
Welp, its a tie. Guess we both win.
My stomach drops.
Rules are rulesshirts off, buddy. She hands me the selfie stick then lifts her tank top over her head.
I have made a tactical error of epic proportions.
Because that red string? Its connected to three meager inches of fabric masquerading as a bikini top. Two tiny triangles that dramatically respond to every breath she takes, threatening (no, promising) to reveal more with each movement. Her seriously hot underboob has my eyes quaking. That swimsuit is working harder than my self-control.
On autopilot, I lose my shirt, barely registering the movement because my eyes are fixated on her.
Cam, seemingly unaffected by my mental collapse, lifts her arms to gather her hair into that always-there scrunchie. The gesture reveals miles of olive skin, toned arms, and delicate collarbones that practically plead for my tongues attention. She returns her backpack to her shoulder.
You coming, Dare? Or did I break you?
I will not stare at her ass. I will not stare at her ass. I absolutely will not
God fucking dammit.
Im pretty sure the chat is having a collective aneurysm over Cams curves. I cant actually tell because Im too busy trying to remember how legs work.
She sets my whole body on fire! How the hell am I supposed to keep my professional distance? Just breathing the same air makes me forget why I should stay away. Theres no way I can keep going on like this.
I know I dont deserve her. Not after the way I treated her. But still, Im running out of strength to deny itshes becoming my obsession.
I want her.