Chapter 11
ELEVEN
THE HOUSE WAS a mess. Not crazy, someone had done some kind of clean up, but directing that was probably supposed to be her responsibility. Being occupied with the master upstairs, alone, she’d neglected her duty. After falling into bed last night, neither of them got vertical again.
Waking up with him was… Cam was Cam. Even in sleep he was chilled, approachable, such an incredible example of man. Easy. Appealing. Seductive…
No chance of morning nookie. Alas. They hadn’t nookied last night with alcohol in their systems. The likelihood of breaking that boundary when they were in their right minds was pretty low.
Hmm, maybe she couldn’t be accused of exactly that.
After slipping back into her dress, she went downstairs without her shoes. The guest bedroom doors were closed. Chances were high that the guys slept over. Alone? Cam would be interested in that answer. How did he feel about his friends getting lucky under his roof?
Running her hands through her tousled hair, the coffee machine was her first stop.
As it whirred away, she turned, resting back against the counter, examining the carnage.
The bottles and glasses were gone, that was something, but there were streamers everywhere, and where had the glitter come from?
There were balloons, foil, classy, she’d ordered those.
The bunting, that wasn’t her. Had it been there all night?
Shit, must’ve been some party, she was sorry to have missed it.
On the couch, were those…? Her eyes narrowed as she tilted a little closer. Were those panties? A lot of panties, heaps of them. What the hell had they missed? Apparently, Cam threw a helluva wild party, even when he was otherwise engaged. Mmm…
She took her cup from the coffee machine. The porcelain had just touched her lower lip when his hand slid onto her hip. It curled as his lips sank into her hair.
“Good morning,” he mumbled, his mouth staying right where it was though his hand splayed on her belly. “Don’t creep out of bed on me.”
“If I didn’t creep, the temptation would’ve broken you.”
“You had me at your mercy up there.” His hand snaked higher. “Could’ve had your way while I was asleep.”
She put down the coffee, cheeks bunching.
“Oh, yeah, ‘cause a guy who hasn’t had sex for two years would just sleep right through that. You saying you wouldn’t notice or care if I rode you hard?
” He may have breathed in some of her hair in prelude to a response, she didn’t let him get that far.
Twirling in his embrace, she grabbed his hips to walk him back against the island.
“‘Cause if that’s true, I’m missing a trick. ”
When she popped the buttons on his fly with a tug, he laughed. “I’m just a piece of meat.”
“Maybe you are, Unicorn.”
She rose to her tiptoes to meet his mouth as it descended.
Before he had the chance to strengthen the hand that scooped around the back of her head, she leaped aside, scampering away.
Didn’t put him off, no. He snagged her wrist and swung her into his arms, boosting her onto the edge of the pool table, insinuating himself between her thighs.
What the hell did that mean? Insinuate made it seem like he had to wheedle his way in.
Screw that. She’d open for him any time.
What a fucking hussy, she was ready, more than ready, and didn’t hesitate to squeeze her leg higher when his palm skimmed up her outer thigh.
So much for it being a one-time dalliance.
Had she ever believed they’d be able to leave it as a one-time anything?
“Mm,” she moaned when his tongue delved deeper.
The guys could come downstairs any second, catch them in the act. Hell, she didn’t give a flying fuck. His friends were loyal and they could take the ribbing. Something that felt so good was worth putting up with a little teasing. The interruption would be harder to endure. Just one more minute…
The guys couldn’t have missed the heat of the chemistry that fizzled whenever she and Cam were close.
They never talked about it, not exactly, that didn’t mean it went unnoticed.
If she had to put money on it, she’d say Cam’s three closest friends anticipated this happening in some way at some time.
The heat of his hard body urged her backward, the curl of his fingers in her hair tightened. This was going up a notch. She hadn’t been wrong about temptation.
“I forgot how nice it was to have a willing woman in my kitchen in the morning,” he growled against her.
“Who said I was willing?” she asked, their mouths never parting.
One more shunt and not only was she up there, he had a better angle to—oh, damn, that push, that felt good, the solid pressure rocked just right to fizz her hormones and—ah, yes. This could be a—yes, more and—
“Sex dolls are incredibly lifelike these days.”
That was a female voice. Definitely not one of their guys.
Cam pulled back and there stood a beautiful brunette, six feet away, lollipop in hand. Where had she come from? How did she even get in? Maybe she never went home. Was she a leftover from last night?
“She’s not a sex doll.”
“Really?” the brunette asked Cam. “‘Cause I thought maybe masturbation aids were an exception to your rule. You’ve got to dump it somewhere or you’ll do yourself an injury. A man needs to walk straight.”
Cam eased back, putting unwelcome space between them. “Thanks for the concern.”
“I knew that lifestyle choice thing was bullshit. Don’t think I fell for it. What’s with the panties party? Is losing them the price of admission? Is this you falling off the wagon? Making up for lost time with the poontang? Should I be checking you into rehab?”
“I love our little chats,” Cam said. “Want to tell me why you’re here, RK?”
“Surprised to see me?”
“Not especially.”
No, he didn’t seem surprised at all. He just slid into conversation with the brunette like the woman was exactly where she should be.
The stranger hummed. “No one’s ever surprised when I show up.”
“We’re on constant ROXCON alert.”
“Aww, that makes it sound like you’re not happy to see me.” The brunette gave her lollipop a lick. “Don’t worry, I’m not here for you, Collier. I’m meeting people.”
“People?” Cam asked, opening his hands. “What people? No one’s here.”
“That’s what you think. Your information is outdated. Gotta subscribe to live updates.”
“You think I check the group chats? You women don’t stop for a second, I lost track years ago.”
“Helps you’re distracted by important business…” And the brunette’s attention slunk to her. “Very important business.”
“You’re twelve hours late for the party,” Cam said though the brunette kept admiring her.
“And if you’re looking for your guy, you took the wrong off-ramp.
Last I heard, he was in Manhattan. Though it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s gone into hiding.
You two have barely surfaced since the wedding.
Guy’s probably lame by now. You’re the demanding type, RK.
Do we need to take him out back and shoot him? ”
“My guy’s as virile as ever, thank you very much. And he’s in Toledo.”
“Toledo?” Cam frowned in confusion. “What’s in Toledo?”
The brunette shrugged. “That’s just what I say when people ask ‘cause usually by the time I reply, he’s bounced his way into another city.”
“But Toledo? Why Toledo?”
“Because I like saying it and who goes to Toledo? You ever been there?”
“No.”
“See, point proven. Thank you. We should all go one day. Soon. And now you know my silly secret.” The dance in the brunette’s eyes glittered when they moved to Cam again. Playful, excited, yet deep and mysterious. “It’s fun to be in the know… isn’t it? Mr. Collier?”
Cam didn’t miss the woman’s odd regard either. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m not looking,” the brunette said.
“You’re looking.”
She grinned. “You’re nice to look at, Camden Collier. Nobody ever tell you that, Cutie?”
“Z doesn’t send you enough dick pics.”
“No, probably not. Least his sees the light of day.”
“Oh, yeah? Most guys prefer theirs somewhere deep and dark.”
Most guys.
“Though none of those guys are present,” the woman said, arching a brow. “Tell me when I should stop worrying about you.”
“Stop worrying about me,” Cam said.
The stairs blocked her view of the front door, but a clatter heralded something happening there.
The brunette reversed a step and leaned backward. “You boys need some help?”
And then it happened. The culprits brought a thud of horror that might have stopped her heart. A flash of light. In slow motion, it happened so fast, one guy, two guys, a third, a light, and—shit, camera.
Leaping from the pool table, urgency fueled her haste.
Guarding her face from the light that followed, her hand wasn’t enough to conceal her.
She tucked her head into her neck, but in her dress, what could she—the brunette altered her course, but those guys, the tech the—shit, and a boom. Why was there a camera crew in—
“…it’s all a whirl.”
The exit was blocked by people, two women, with others behind them. She stopped, as did they. If they would just move—
“Elle,” Cam said, approaching from behind with the camera crew and brunette on his heels. Her quick glance was too much. Her other hand came up as a second shield. “Don’t leave, baby. We’ll figure this out and—
“You’re familiar,” said one of the women in the doorway while removing her silk scarf. “Why do I know you?”
The scrutiny grew and the beat of eyes on her prickled her skin. She was trapped. Snared in the cluster of people. This was bad. So bad.
The woman with the scarf lady looked closer. “You think you know everyone, Mimi.”
“I’m old, I’m not blind. Where’s my boy?”
“The sad thing about that is she’s not even talking about her own grandson,” the brunette said.
“Ah! My girl, you beat us here,” Mimi declared, bursting right past her. “Move! Move! Move!”
The tension released in a flash when another guy came up the stairs. Slow, lithe, a gait like that came with an ease that charmed the very molecules around him. At the top of the stairs, he put an arm around the other woman and gave her a long perusal from head to toe and back again.
“You win this one, Mimi,” the guy said. “Ariella Tipton, right?”
Reality crashed as every emotion rushed her. What the hell? How had he recognized her so fast? And in front of a camera crew. Had saying her real name been absolutely necessary?
Shit.