Chapter 20
20
C am woke the next morning, his mind instantly alert and focused on the woman sharing his bed. Her long, dark hair lay across his pillow and her face was relaxed in slumber. He recalled the night’s events that resulted in Miriam in his bed…where he wanted her but had been afraid would never happen.
As soon as Cam got her in his SUV, he called Jobe. “Bro, It’s Cam. Keep your shit, but I’ve got Miriam. She got a threatening phone call and contacted me. I alerted Tony to keep an eye on your cameras and I was there in fifteen minutes.” Cam heard Jobe immediately go into protective brother mode, and he interjected, “Nope, not happening. She called me. She’s coming to my place, not some lockdown at Alvarez.” Pause. “This is a courtesy call, man, ‘cause I know you’re tight with your sister, but she’s already decided she’s not bringing this shit to your doorstep with you having a pregnant wife.”
It took a couple of more minutes to get Jobe under control, but Cam finally convinced him that it was for the best. They agreed to meet at Jack’s compound the next morning. Disconnecting, Cam looked over at Miriam, seeing the concern on her face.
“He lost his shit, didn’t he?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he nodded. “But if it was one of my sisters, I’d be losing my shit too.”
They drove in silence for a couple of minutes, Miriam staring out of the window into the darkness. She lived on the western side of Richmond in an apartment complex that was close to the hospital where she worked. They passed several neighborhoods before he turned the SUV onto one of the highways that took them farther west outside of the city. About five minutes later they exited, and she saw that they were already in a less populated area. A few more twists and turns took them to a street with fewer houses on it, each with several acres.
“You live out here? There’s so much land around and you’re not that far from the city,” she said with surprise in her voice.
“I consider it to be the best kept secret around. The neighborhood is old and small with only about twenty houses, but we all have some land around so there’s still a sense of privacy. I’m twenty minutes away from the city and about thirty minutes away on the other side from Jack’s place.” Chuckling, he added, “And just about ten minutes away from a grocery store.”
They pulled into a long driveway lined by trees and then she got a glimpse of a small, two-story house. The garage door opened, and they drove inside.
Cam led her into the laundry room from the garage and then into the kitchen. While not large, it was updated with new appliances. An arched doorway led into the combination dining and living room. Having only seen him in the wild s , she could not help but look around in curiosity at what his home represented.
She saw old, comfortable furniture that appeared to be second hand while clean and neat. The table could seat eight, which seemed strange before she remembered that he also had a large family. The informal living room was filled with an overstuffed sofa and chair angled to face the brick fireplace and large screen TV mounted over the mantle. The space was definitely male—no nicknacks, no frills, but warm and inviting all the same.
Cam placed her suitcase in the hall that led toward the stairs and turned to see her looking around. “It’s not much, but it’s home…and it’s wired for security as well as anything Jobe could offer you.”
She offered him a small smile, saying, “I’m sure it is. I feel…completely safe here with you.”
As he watched, he saw a shadow pass over her face, and he decided that talking was the first thing on his list of what they needed to get out of the way. He walked past her, taking her hand in the process, and led her over to his sofa. Sitting down, he twisted his body so that as he pulled her down next to him, he was facing her .
“You want to talk about the phone call?” she asked.
“Nope,” he declared. “I want to talk about us.”
Her head cocked to the side as her brow creased in question. “Us? Um…I don’t know what you mean,” she said nervously.
“Look at me, carina ”,” he ordered gently, and her eyes immediately sought his. “I’m a simple man, Miriam, so I’m going to lay it out as plain as I know how. I don’t see the reason to drag this out or have either of us unsure of what we are or what we have.”
He watched carefully, seeing her gaze remaining on his although the questioning expression was still on her face.
“Okay,” she said, dragging out the word in hesitation.
“We met under strange, intense circumstances and sometimes people get so caught up in that kind of world that they act in ways that lets them know they’re alive and then the emotions get all tangled up in that as well.”
She sucked in her lips, listening to him sound so dispassionate about what their relationship had been.
“But that was not us, babe,” he declared, seeing the surprise on her face.
“What we had down there was real. What we learned about each other. What we did. And especially when we made love…it was not fucking. It was not just getting off on each other because of an intense situation. I felt it. I knew it. And I fuckin’ want to keep exploring where it’s going to go now.”
“But…but you seemed so distant when we said goodbye,” she said, confusion warring with hurt .
“I screwed up, babe, and I see that now. The last thing I wanted to do was interfere with your family reunion. They needed that and so did you. And I knew you needed time to get back into your life. And I admit that I wondered if there was any place for me in your real world.”
“My real world?”
“Yeah, the world where you live, work, meet with friends…you know? This world that doesn’t involve running through woods and over cliffs and down rivers.”
Silence descended on the room for a moment—not uncomfortable, just each to their own thoughts.
“But I need to know what your thoughts are,” he admitted.
“Cam, I assumed that when we returned, we’d see each other. Um…like date…or something.” Her voice was a mixture of strength and hesitancy and he realized that he had a shot, but before he could speak, she continued.
“But when we got back, you seemed so distant. I thought maybe you were embarrassed in front of your friends or when my family showed up, that you didn’t want to be seen with me.”
“Looks like we both made wrong assumptions,” he said, with a smile.
“So, what exactly does it mean when you say you want to see where we go?”
He shifted her body so that she was straddling his lap, one hand resting on her ass and the other hand drifting under her hair. His thumb rubbed her neck as his hand pulled her forward slightly until their lips were a whisper apart.
“It means that as of right now, no more misunderstandings. No more giving you space. No more stepping back. You want me, you tell me now and then I’m claiming you, carina . Publicly, to our families, to our friends, to the world.”
He watched her eyes drop to his lips, but he continued to hold them apart until he got the answer he was looking for. “What’s it gonna be?” he prodded.
“Yes,” she breathed into his mouth. “I want you.”
With that he pulled her in, capturing her lips, immediately diving into her warmth. His tongue thrust inside, exploring, and claiming. She met him, sucking on his tongue, drowning in the intensity of the feeling.
The hand that held her neck drifted down her back, pulling her body flush against his. Her breasts were pressed into his massive chest and his erection was plainly nudging against her core.
He moved his hand back to her neck and gently pulled her away, something his body did not like, and he could tell from her mewl, she did not either. “Hate to do this, but now that we got us squared away and we take this further, which I gotta tell you involves you being naked in my bed, me having a condom so I can come while buried deep inside you, and then you sleeping beside me...we need to talk about the phone call.”
Her face scrunched in displeasure, but he soldiered on. “Tomorrow morning, we go to Jack’s place where the others will meet us. We’ll get some info from you, but mostly you’ll be hanging with Jack’s woman, Bethany. I’ll get your phone to Luke, but he’s already going to be working on it, probably before we get there.” He watched her eyes carefully, keeping a check on her emotions, but she seemed to be holding it together. That’s my girl. And now, I can fuckin’ say My Girl!
Continuing, he said, “And until we get things figured out, you’re staying with me. We’ll use the Saints and Alvarez Security to make sure you’re good at the hospital.”
Miriam nodded slowly and then said, “Um, I guess you should know that I turned in my notice to the hospital.”
Eyes wide, he did not even have to ask before she jumped into her explanation. “One of the reasons I took the Red Cross offer was because I was no longer happy at the ER. Too much red-tape, not getting to know my patients, and the crazy hours. I felt so burned out. And now that I’m back? Lots of curiosity seekers on top of the same problems as before. I can’t handle the stress,” she admitted.
“I think that’s a smart move, babe.”
“Yes, but now I’m unemployed.”
“You take the time to find the job that you really want and, in the meantime, you’re safer here anyway.”
Her teeth worried her bottom lip and he moved his rough thumb pad over the plump redness. “What’s got that look on your face now?”
Sucking in a deep breath through her nose before letting it out slowly, she admitted, “My family’s going to have a fit if I’m living here. Jobe will lose his mind again and that doesn’t even begin to explain my parents’ reaction. They blew a gasket when Jobe and Mackenna moved in together before getting married and again when Rebecca and Thomas did. But at least they were all engaged.”
“I told you that I’d take care of it, and I will. The most important thing is your safety, and they feel that too. My job will be to explain just how safe you’ll be here. And then to keep you that safe.” He squeezed her hips slightly, keeping her attention on him and not whoever the fuck was out there scaring her. “Do you agree, carina ?”
Her answer was leaning forward and licking his lips. Surprised, he instantly dove in for another kiss, this one more than claiming. It was complete mastering.
Quickly standing, her in his arms and her legs wrapped around his waist, he walked up the stairs to his bedroom, trying to decide if he wanted her to slide slowly down the front of his body or toss her onto the bed, pouncing after her.
She tightened her grip on his hips with her legs, bringing her core in direct contact with his swollen cock. Making his decision, he tossed her backward onto the bed but, before she could bounce, he was on top of her with his weight held up by his forearms.
Her eyes lit with the promise of what was to come, and he battled to take things slow. First time in my bed…this is all about her.
He lifted one hand to her breast, kneading the mound and flicking the nipple through the material. Seemingly in a hurry, her hands moved to the blouse, but he pushed hers out of the way. Slowly undoing each button, he eyed the prize as it was slowly unveiled. Once he could pull the material away from her breasts, he allowed her to shift forward so that he could strip it off her body, leaving the light blue, lacy bra all that lay between him and the luscious mounds. He moved her hands above her head and held them there with only one of his while shifting his weight partially to the side. With her arms trapped above her, he slowly licked her breasts, tracing the blue lace.
With a quick tug on the cups he freed her breasts, pulling a rosy nipple into his mouth, sucking deeply, eliciting a moan from deep within her. She began to writhe on the bed as he slid one hand down, unzipping her jeans and slipping his fingers in, finding her folds slick and ready.
Releasing her nipple with a pop, he moved back to her swollen lips, his tongue thrusting in rhythm to his fingers embedded in her core.
Once he released her hands, she found the bottom of his T-shirt, maneuvering it up toward his head. Desperate to feel his solid chest muscles against her naked breasts, she wrestled with the material.
Chuckling, he broke the kiss, sitting up on his knees as he jerked the shirt over his head. “What’s the rush, babe?”
Unsnapping her bra was her only response and as she tossed it to the side, he watched her full breasts bounce as she lay back down.
Her hands moved to the button on his jeans but getting them unzipped over his impressive cock was proving difficult so, he rolled over to quickly divest himself of them as well. Shucking his boxers, his dick was standing at attention as he turned his gaze back to the gorgeous woman lying in his bed. His bed. Just where he imagined she would be.
If he were honest, he imagined her there since he first saw her picture. But this was so much more than the lusty thoughts about just any gorgeous woman. Determined to make love to Miriam, he moved slowly, licking, and sucking from her lips to her neck to her breasts once again. His fingers found their refuge deep inside as she felt herself climbing higher and higher.
The taste of her was intoxicating as the kiss went deeper. Giving each breast attention, he elicited moans from her as her hips began to press against his body.
“Patience,” he chuckled, his mouth moving lower. Leaning up on the bed, he pulled her jeans down, snagging her matching blue panties as he went. Tossing the clothes onto the floor, he spread her legs wide as he completely exposed her pink folds to his eyes. With a growl rumbling deep in his chest, he dove in, licking her wetness before sucking her clit into his mouth.
“Aughh,” she moaned again, her hips rising. He moved one of his hands up to her stomach and gently pressed her back down.
Plunging his tongue inside, he continued to lap her juices, loving the taste of her. His hand on her stomach rose higher until it palmed her breast, pinching the nipple lightly.
“I need…” she panted, feeling the coil of tension deep inside her core ready to spring. “I…” was all she managed to say as he gave each nipple a tug as he suck ed her clit deeply with his mouth. Her inner walls clenched, and her orgasm raced through her, sending all her nerves tingling outwards. Throwing her head back, she screamed his name once again.
He finished licking her glistening sex before kissing his way back up her boneless body until he plunged his tongue back into her mouth.
“Please…I need you inside of me,” she begged, tasting herself.
Growling, he grabbed a condom and rolled on top of her, stilling his cock just at her entrance. Holding her legs apart, he looked down at all her beauty. Pale skin gleaming in the moonlight. Dark eyes looking into his. Mine. She’s truly mine. A sexy smile lit her face, and he swore his heart stopped as her arms rose up to him.
Plunging to the hilt, his dick reveled in the soft warmth of her body, remembering the feel of her on the beach. Leaning over, his hands on either side of her head, he pounded deeply, trying to reach the innermost part of her soul. Hanging on to his self-discipline by a thread, he was determined for her to come again.
“Close, baby?” he panted.
“Yes, yes.” She grabbed his shoulders, holding on for all she was worth. The sparks shot from her womb out through her limbs as her orgasm rocketed. Digging her fingers into his arms, she cried out once again.
He followed her, his neck thrown back as the cords of muscles strained. Continuing to thrust until every last drop was drained, he fell to the side taking her with him. Holding her close, he wrapped his arms around her trembling form, pulling her tight into his chest. Legs tangled. Arms wrapped. Breaths mingled. Heartbeats pounding in unison.
Slowly awareness crept in, and he looked back into her face, seeing her smiling at him.
“Are you okay, baby?” he asked.
“Oh yeah. I couldn’t be happier,” she whispered back.
Pulling her back tightly to him, he threw his leg over hers as his arm wrapped around her waist. Tucking her sated body next to his, he allowed the sound of her deep breathing to lull him to sleep.
Now it was the next morning and Cam watched her slow, even breathing as she slept. He glanced at the clock, noting the time, and wondering how long it took her to get ready in the mornings, his thoughts were interrupted by a loud knocking on the door. Who the fuck was here that early?
Sliding from the bed, tucking the covers back around her, he pulled on his jeans and padded out to the front door. Looking through the peephole, he saw Jobe standing on his front porch.