Chapter 31 #2
I know what’s coming, and I start moving backward away from the edge, but I immediately freeze in place as Cameron pulls himself out right in front of me.
The water running down his pecs and over each divot in his abs is so fucking hot.
I’m mesmerized. I lick my lips, a move he immediately clocks as his eyes stare heatedly at my mouth, and he continues to advance.
“You ready to get wet?” he asks mischievously with a husky undercurrent in his tone, wrapping his arms around my waist and dragging me toward the pool.
I fight him just long enough to say, “I think I already am,” before letting him tip us over into the water.
When we come up, he’s gaping at me, and his eyes are molten. Yeah, that comment was bold and teasing, and it was said at the entirely wrong time since we aren’t alone. I do the first thing I think of to break the sexual tension. I splash him.
An all-out battle ensues with the girls taking my cue.
They gang up on Cameron and me, using every ounce of their small bodies to pelt us with water.
They climb on us, trying with all their might to dunk us under.
We let them succeed, and when we’re both underwater, I open my eyes to see him staring back at me with a smile that looks a whole lot like adoration.
I smile back before shooting to the surface and launching Paige across the pool.
The night continues with more playfulness, including a rousing game of chicken, before it becomes apparent the girls are slowing down and need to get to bed.
Paige and Addison look pleasantly beat as they drag themselves out of the pool and trudge over to get their towels.
I wrap Paige up and kiss her head just as she lets out a large yawn.
It’s a good thing neither Cameron nor I is working tomorrow because I can tell from the way Paige looks now the typical early morning, get up and go routine would be rough.
“We’ll be home soon, baby. Just stay wrapped in your towel, and we’ll get straight into our pajamas when we get to the house.”
Suddenly realizing Cameron has to drive us home since he picked us up for dinner, I spin to ask if he’s okay with that, only to find him holding Addison, already passed out against his shoulder.
“Hey,” he says, placing his free hand on my back. “What do you think about crashing here in my guest room? It’s a queen bed, so it’s big enough for both of you. Paige can borrow some of Addie’s pajamas to sleep in.”
Addison wakes up just enough to groggily say, “Yes, Daddy, a sleepover.”
I look down at Paige, who looks like she could pass out at any moment, but still, I hesitate.
This would be a big step. Even if we’re just doing it because it makes sense, we’re still going to be sleeping together.
I mean, not in the same bed, or are we? I don’t know if we’re ready for that, but I know I would like it, being wrapped up in Cameron’s arms all night, waking with him in the morning.
No, it’s too soon. We should talk to the girls before…
“Rosalie.” Cameron’s voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts.
“Yeah?” It comes out as a squeak as I look into his concerned eyes.
“If you’re not okay with this, I can take you both home, but there’s more than enough space for you and Paige in the guest room.”
The reminder of the guest bedroom has some tension leaving my body. No major decisions have to be made tonight; it’s just a friendly sleepover.
“Yeah, I think that would be great.”
I follow Cameron into the house and down the hall to Addison’s room where he digs out a pair of pajamas and hands them to me.
“There are extra toothbrushes in the cabinet in the hall bathroom.”
“Great, thanks,” I whisper quietly.
I walk with Paige down the hall and help her get out of her wet swimsuit before she puts on the pajamas. I’m sitting on the edge of the bathtub while Paige brushes her teeth, making sure she does a semi-thorough job, when Cameron appears in the doorway.
“Hey, Addie was wondering if Paige could spend the night in her room like a real sleepover?” he says, putting air quotes around the words “real sleepover.”
Paige’s head whips toward me at his question, tired, yet hopeful eyes penetrating mine as she clasps her hands together and quietly begs, “Please, Mommy, can I?”
I briefly wonder if this will have a bearing on where I sleep tonight before I shake the thought away and answer Paige.
“Yeah, baby, you can, but you both need to go sleep, got it?”
“Got it,” she says earnestly.
When we walk into Addison bedroom, she’s already tucked under the covers, lids heavy, cradling a horse stuffy. But when Paige climbs in beside her, Addison reveals another horse stuffy from under the covers, handing it to Paige.
“Good night, Paige,” she says, before her eyes fall closed.
Pulling her stuffy close to her chest, Paige responds, “Good night, Addie.”
I look up at Cameron, and he softly smiles at me, contentment written all over his handsome face. I know the feeling. My heart feels full as I watch these two girls falling asleep, their bond solidified in these simple actions.
Cameron gently takes my hand and leads me out of Addison’s bedroom.
His grip tightens a bit after we cross the threshold as he quickly pulls me down the hallway.
He passes what I know is the guest bedroom, and my pulse quickens when I realize he’s instead pulling me into his bedroom, closing the door softly behind us.
“Cam.” The nickname slips easily from my mouth. “I can’t sleep in here. Paige thinks I’m sleeping in the guest room. What if she wakes up and needs me?”
“Baby, we aren’t going to be sleeping in here.
And as much as it pains me, I’ll let you go sleep in the guest room.
I know you’ll worry otherwise, but those two are so exhausted they’ll be passed out for quite some time.
Now, I’ve spent all evening watching your perfect body in this sexy swimsuit that leaves fucking nothing to the imagination, and I’m ready to see every inch of you naked. ”
There is nothing sexy about this suit, and I’m about to tell him so, but his words cause my heart to pound rapidly and my breath to come out quicker.
“Camer—” I start, more than a little breathless. However, before I can even get his name out of my mouth, his lips greedily cover mine, and his hands grasp the straps of my swimsuit, tugging them down my shoulders.