25. Talia
twenty-five
Talia
I think I’m in shock. Frozen.
If someone told me I was going to have a front-row seat to my brother acting like a complete jackass, I wouldn’t have believed them.
Cam’s hazel eyes lock on mine, and what I see breaks my heart. I want to jump into his arms and hug him. Kiss him. Assure him we can get through this. But I can’t. Not here.
All I can do is mouth, I’m sorry, to the man I love .
My big guy is trying so hard to hide his hurt behind that fake smile on his face. My gut tells me he’s not hurting for himself, but for me. Something that I can’t make out flashes in Cam’s eyes as we stare at each other over my brother’s shoulder.
Is being with me too much trouble? Does he want to walk away before things get more serious? Nausea swirls in my stomach at the thought of Cam breaking up with me before we have a real chance of being together.
He breaks eye contact as his nephew pokes my brother in the stomach. I watch as my mom approaches and squats down to chat with Rhys. The only person brave enough to stand up to my brother is a sweet little boy who looks like his uncle. Cam just stood there while Nico taunted him in front of a group of children—at a family picnic for his team .
I truly thought Nico was going to join in and play too. He’s a sucker for kids. He’s a part of a charity in our hometown that helps pay for underprivileged kids to play baseball. Sure, he’s rough around the edges, but he has a good heart.
The person I witnessed is nothing like the Nico I know. My big brother is kind and sweet. Protective. That guy back there was a … total asshole.
I know Nico hates Cam, but this? This is out of line. What makes me sadder and sicker to my stomach is that what I just saw probably isn’t the worst thing my brother has said to Cam.
The muffled conversation and sounds around me don’t register until Zia Rose puts her arm over my shoulders and pulls me away from the disgusting scene that just played out.
“Oh, Lia. You’ve been a naughty little thing,” she whispers in my ear. “Do you understand what you’ve gotten yourself into?”
My nose tingles as my tears threaten to fall at her question.
Yes. A pain in my chest flairs, threatening to take me down. I fell for the one person my brother would never accept.
I glance up at her and nod. She lets out a loud, resigned sigh as she rubs my shoulder. Tears break free and stream down my cheeks.
“Not here,” she mutters under her breath, tugging me through the crowd of people. She leads me left, away from my mom and brother. “Go wash your face and calm down. I’ll help Cat with Nico.”
“How did you know?” I ask.
Cam and I stood as far away from each other as possible. There was no interaction whatsoever between us. The closest I got to him was right now when I followed Nico.
I took the chance to be near Cam, to watch him play with his nephew. They’re so cute together, playing catch and inviting other kids to take part when they started hitting. My lady bits went into overdrive watching Cam laugh and have fun surrounded by a group of children. I couldn’t help but picture him as a dad, all smiles and jokes as he played with our son in the backyard.
She sighs. “That man has watched your every move since we walked onto the field. He looks at you like you’re precious treasure that he wants to hoard to himself. Only a man in love would watch you like that.”
Her admission has my heart pinching in a mini explosion of happiness.
Has he really been watching me all day? How did I not notice?
“ Fanculo .” Fuck. My aunt throws her hands in the air, muttering in Italian under her breath. “It’s worse than I thought.” She points to the restroom and nudges me forward. “Go. Clean up. I need to check on your mom and brother. He’s going to be in a mood. And I need a drink.”
Nico will be in a bad mood. For once, I couldn’t care less. Even if I didn’t have feelings for Cam, what he did was beyond inappropriate. His unprovoked actions have me seeing my brother in a new light—one I don’t like.
A few women and their children slip past me as I enter the bathroom and make my way out of view to the back side of double sinks in the center of the room. I breathe deep as I stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are red, and my cheeks are flushed. I look like an emotional mess. Turning on the tap, I splash some cool water on my hot cheeks and neck. I need to pull myself together and be the calm, dependable Lia my family needs as we handle what just happened.
I really wanted things to go well today, maybe have a positive interaction with Cam and my family. Get them to see the side I’ve gotten to know—the sweet, kind Cam who adores his family, not the entitled jerk they’ve heard so much about from my brother.
But no. Nico had to ruin that with his immature attitude. He’s probably destroyed any chance I had at making a good impression on Cam’s family. They are going to lump me in by association .
I shove the dark thoughts making my insides ache as far down as I can and dab my face dry with a paper towel. I just have to get through the rest of the day with no more trouble. I don’t know if my heart could take any more disappointment.
Walking out of the bathroom, I’m taken by surprise when a hand covers my mouth and an arm wraps around my waist. My instinct is to kick and scream until the homey scent of bergamot and orange floods my nostrils. I’d know that masculine smell anywhere.
Cameron.
“Hold on, itty bitty.” My fingers dig into Cam’s arm as he lifts me off the ground like I weigh nothing. He pulls me into the men’s restroom and into an empty stall, then spins me around and pushes me up against the door.
My heart does a little hop as I tilt my chin up and stare at my sexy kidnapper. Cam’s hair curls around his ears from under his backwards hat, and his jaw is covered in a day’s worth of scruff. He looks good.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concern lacing his tone. The corners of his worried eyes crinkle as he searches my face.
He came to comfort me. I should be the one consoling him. He’s the one who was hurt and embarrassed in front of his family. But that’s not Cam. He’s a protector at heart. My protector.
He cups my cheek, running his thumb over my lips.
I lean into his hand, absorbing his safe touch. “No, but I will be. I’m sorry. I—”
“Don’t apologize for something you didn’t do.”
“But—”
Cam places his index finger over my mouth, silencing me. “Don’t worry about what you heard. In fact, just forget it. Never happened.”
“It did, though. ”
He shakes his head. “Nope. All I’ve seen today is my girl looking hot as fuck in cutoff shorts and an Evaders’ jersey. The only thing hotter would be you wearing my name on your back.”
His sweet, possessive growl sends butterflies rippling through my stomach.
Focus, Talia.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“I’ve been dying to get my hands on you all day. Now, do you want to waste our time arguing, or can I kiss you already?” he asks, leaning in.
I want to argue with him, but his proposal sounds better. He takes my silence as an answer. My brain short circuits as he presses his mouth to mine.
Cam grabs my ass and lifts me off the ground. I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his shoulders. My lips part for him. He curls his tongue around mine, and fireworks go off in my heart, turning my blood hot and tingly. My clit pulses, and my panties flood with arousal as his body flattens me against the cold metal stall door. His mouth slides down my jaw and neck, licking and nipping.
“Cam,” I whimper, arching my back. My nipples harden to pebbles under my shirt, sensitive and needy for attention.
His cock is a lead pipe in his jeans. I grind my pussy against his hard length. The friction is hot and electric.
“Fuck, baby. Don’t do that.” Cam grips my ass hard, stopping me.
“Please,” I beg. My body screams for release. “You did this. Don’t stop.”
“You know I can’t say no to you.” He lifts my hips, dragging my core over his jean-covered cock. I’m putty in his hands as he moves me up and down, working my body into a frenzy.
“Yes,” I pant. The orgasm builds like wildfire between my legs, whirling and whipping through my veins. My legs shake with anticipation .
“Go on, then. Make that pretty little pussy come for me,” Cam growls, burying his face in my neck. “Let go, Talia.”
He bites the muscle between my neck and shoulder, and I fall over the edge in a freefall of pleasure. Cam covers my mouth with his, swallowing my moans. Our tongues glide. Our lips nip. Our kiss is electric, shooting through my system like rapid fire, all the way to my toes.
Footsteps shuffle close enough that Cam and I break apart. My heart leaps from my chest as I stifle my hard breaths in the crook of his neck. We wait in silence for the person using the restroom to leave. The toilet flushes, the sink runs, and footsteps recede.
What the hell were we thinking? We could easily get caught.
Lifting my head off his shoulder, I look up into his sparkling eyes. Cam is staring at me in awe—just as Zia said—like I’m a precious treasure he wants to hoard. My heart flutters, and my stomach dips at the hungry look staring back at me.
I don’t care about getting caught when this sexy, adoring man looks at me like that.
“I missed you today,” he murmurs, his breath fanning across my lips.
“I missed you too.”
Cam pecks my lips like he can’t help himself. “I hate hiding.”
“Me too.” Guilt floods my chest. I don’t want to hide. “Only for a little longer. I promise.”
All I get is an imperceptible nod from Cam. Even though I know it cuts him, he understands. I’m not happy about staying in the shadows, but after today, I don’t see any other way. At least for now.
The storm headed for us is category five, and my fear is that when things get too hard, he’s going to give up.
Dropping my legs from his waist, I slide down Cam’s hard body and put my feet on the ground. I can feel his heart beating like a drum under my hands.
He pushes a stray hair behind my ear. “I’m not giving up. ”
“Are you a mind reader?”
He runs his finger down the bridge of my nose before booping it. “No. I’m a Talia reader.”
My insides turn to melted chocolate. Why is he so stinking cute sometimes?
“Stop it.”
“Stop what?” He smirks. Playful, flirty Cam is out in full force, reawakening my lady bits.
“Stop being so…”
He lifts a thick brow, waiting for me to finish my sentence.
I pick at an invisible piece of lint before admitting, “So cute. And sexy.”
A wide grin spreads across his handsome face. “You think I’m cute and sexy?”
I roll my eyes at him and give him a little push. He chuckles but doesn’t budge an inch.
“Don’t go getting a big head, now.”
“Too—” I pinch his lips with my fingers and get a muffled, “Late .” He pries my fingers off his lips and bites the pads, making me giggle.
Such a tease.
Cam kisses my neck. I tilt my head to the side, giving him better access.
He shoves his hands into my back pockets and squeezes my ass. “Feel better?”
I’d be better if we could leave. Together. Disappear into each other.
“Yes. Because of you.” Bunching his shirt in my fists, I hop onto my tiptoes and kiss him. It’s tender and sweet, and everything I need. “I better get out there before my family gets suspicious.”
“Yeah, okay.” Cam removes his hands from my ass.
There isn’t much room in the stall, but he maneuvers us around to open the door. He sticks his head out to check if the coast is clear. Satisfied with what he finds, he leads me out into the open restroom and toward the exit.
Cam turns around, blocking me from view. “After opening day, I have two weeks of away games, but then I’ll be home for a week. Stay with me?”
“The entire week?” I would love to stay with him, wake up next to him every morning. We wouldn’t have to hide at his house. “I still have work.” And then there’s the problem of living at home. What excuse can I give my mom without getting caught?
“I know. I will still have practice and home games, but on nights when you don’t work, I want you in my bed with me.” His voice dips dangerously low, and my thighs clench in response.
I run a finger down the middle of his chest before hooking it over the top of his jeans. “When you say you want me in bed with you, does that mean you want me naked?”
“Babe, you better be prepared to leave your clothes by the front door. I’m going to have my way with every inch of your hot body.” Cam growls like a rabid dog, ready to pounce.
He slams his mouth to mine in a rough, hungry kiss and hoists me into the air. I lock my ankles behind his back, clinging to him for dear life. His tongue pillages my mouth, and I meet him stroke for ravenous stroke.
Out of nowhere, Cam gets bumped from behind, breaking us apart.
“Christ, Miller. Get a room.”
My blood runs cold at being caught. At least the vexed voice isn’t my brother’s.
“Fuck,” Cam mutters. He places me on my feet and spins around, hiding me behind his back, away from our intruder. “Sorry, Coach.”
Coach? Oh god no. Of all people, aside from my family, Cam’s coach catching us is a disaster waiting to happen. I met the older gentleman earlier today when Nico introduced him to the group of us. Since my brother was a kid, he’s been a huge fan of Rowan Anson.
“No worries, son.”
Please let the ground swallow me . I cling to the back of Cam’s shirt.
The energy in the air turns awkward and stale as Cam massages the back of his neck, unsure what to do.
“Are you going to introduce me to your lady or not, Miller?” Ansons asks with a chuckle.
“Um, the thing is…” Cam stumbles, unsure what to say. There’s no hiding.
“Cam?” I whisper. My shield turns to face me. “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
He shakes his head. I know he would protect me at all costs, but right now, we don’t have any other choice.
I step aside and face Coach Anson head-on. Head bouncing between the two of us, his smile falls, and his eyes widen with shock. His face turns redder than a tomato, and I fear his head might explode.
Cam threads our fingers together and grasps my hand tight. His voice is strong and proud as he says, “Coach. I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Talia.”
Anson massages his temples with both hands, squeezing his eyes tight. “Miller, when I told you to find a good woman, I didn’t mean to go after Romero’s little sister. Is this some sort of revenge fuck?”
“What the fuck? No. Fuck no.” Cam squeezes my hand almost to the point of pain, but I stay quiet. “I respect the hell out of you, Coach, but if you ever say some stupid shit like that again, I will have no choice but to punch you.”
“Cameron, behave yourself,” I scold. He can’t go around punching his boss. He’s a public figure, and we are going to hear a lot worse than this if we stay together. Especially from my brother .
Cam looks at me, and his features soften. His grip on my hand loosens. “Sorry, itty bitty, but I won’t let anyone disrespect you.” He looks at Anson, face turning hard again. “That includes you, sir. I love this woman, and I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting her. I’m not an idiot. I know what everyone is going to say.”
“That you wanted to get into her pants to piss off Romero?”
Cam snarls. “I told you not to disrespect my woman.”
“Calm down, big guy.” I place a hand on his chest. Cam’s shoulders drop, and he takes a deep breath. “There you go. What I think Anson is trying to do—and not so tactfully, might I add—is test you. Are you not?” I ask the good-looking gentleman watching me and Cam with scrutinizing eyes.
He gives a curt chin lift my way.
“See?” I rub circles over Cam’s racing heart. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“You’re okay,” Cam repeats. He cups my face with his free hand and leans down to kiss me.
“Don’t even think about it,” Anson interjects. “You’re lucky I’m the one who walked in on the two of you. Miss Romero, it was a pleasure meeting you again, but I need to speak to my player for a minute.”
“Yes, sir, but please don’t be mad at him. We didn’t mean for this to happen. We tried to stay away from each other,” I plead.
He can’t fire Cam over this, can he?
“It’s okay, itty bitty. Get back out there. I’ll call you tonight. I love you.” Cam kisses my cheek and places his palm on the small of my back. He nudges me forward. “Go on.”
“I love you too,” I mutter before letting go of Cam’s hand. My heart lurches in my chest with every step I take away from him to rejoin my family.
Can this day get any worse?