Chapter 46
forty-six
Cameron
I’m about to leave the girls in the bedroom to continue playing when I hear two voices I recognize coming from down the hall. Their conversation seems intense, but their tones are hushed and kind, so I’m unsure if I need to intervene.
Peering carefully around the corner, I see the women with their hands clasped together. Rosalie is talking intently with a softness I know is reserved for when she’s really speaking from the heart.
I don’t intend to listen for long, but I find myself in awe of the tender reassurance Rosalie is giving Julianne’s mother and the way she’s speaking about Addison with so much love.
Lauren and Brant have been nothing but supportive of my relationship with Rosalie when I’ve spoken to them over the past few months, but I think it truly hit them when they saw us all together tonight.
Not only is there another woman in my life, but Addison’s, too.
I honestly think it’s probably more difficult for them to think of Julianne being replaced as Addison’s mother than being replaced as my wife.
Regardless, Rosalie and I never use the term replaced because there is no replacing someone you love, there is only building upon that love with the addition of someone new.
Eventually, Lauren and Rosalie embrace, and Lauren walks toward the opposite end of the house. I watch Rosalie take a moment to gather herself before she continues to make her way to Addie’s bedroom. When she lifts her eyes and they catch on mine, she halts in her tracks.
I don’t even try to hide that I was listening in on their conversation, and I definitely don’t hold back the way I feel about all the things she said as I stalk toward her with an intensity that could be concerning before taking her mouth in a searing kiss.
I pour every ounce of gratitude and love I have for this woman into our connection. I hold her so tight to my body, I should be more concerned she might break in half, but her arms are wrapped around my neck just as tight, and the grip she has on the hair at the nape of my neck is almost painful.
We pull away, both breathless, and I want nothing more than to be alone with her, the desire to be even closer is almost overwhelming.
“Wow! What was that for?”
“For being the most beautiful, incredible, kindhearted woman I’ve ever known.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Lauren, but I couldn’t help but listen to the way you eased her mind with your thoughtfulness and love.
You’re truly something special, and I’m incredibly grateful to call you mine. ”
Her cheeks are pink, and I know I’ve embarrassed her with my words, but I want her to know she’s an exceptional, resilient woman with a heart of gold that I’ll protect and love for many years, if she’ll let me.
My mind drifts to what those years will look like together if Rosalie will do me the honor of becoming my wife one day, and the thought makes me giddy.
Her eyes sparkle as her mouth forms a smile that matches my own.
“What?”
“Oh, I’m just picturing what my future will look like waking up to your gorgeous smile every day for the rest of my life, hearing your laugh, kissing your lips—”
Said lips cut off my musings as Rosalie pulls my mouth back to hers.
A throat clears at the other end of the hall, and we break apart to see Beck.
He has what can only be described as a forced smile pasted on his lips, and dark circles are under his eyes. It’s concerning.
“Is it on your relationship bucket list to make out with your girlfriend in your childhood bedroom? If so, you stopped about a door too short,” he says, motioning toward the door to our right.
Rosalie’s eyes go wide with a mischievous grin on her face as she shifts to open the door.
“Oh no, you don’t!” I say, snatching her around the waist and causing her to giggle.
It’s not that my room is even the same; my parents have redone the whole house to accommodate Addison and other guests, but Beck’s not wrong. If I get Rosalie in there, I won’t want to bring her back out.
“Uncle Beck, where have you been?”
Addie’s sweet voice interrupts the grown-up conversation that was going nowhere good.
“Hey, munchkin!” he says, scooping her up to plant a kiss on her cheek. “I’ve been super busy at work, but I have missed you so much!”
There is something off about his delivery as he puts Addie back down on the ground.
Usually, he’d take this opportunity to throw her on his shoulders and parade her around for everyone to see, or chase her around the house, promising endless tickles.
Maybe he’s hesitant because of her arm, and I’m instantly grateful for his restraint, but there’s just something about his demeanor I can’t put my finger on.
“Uncle Beck, I saved you this space to sign my cast!” Addie exclaims as Paige comes out of the bedroom to join us.
“I signed it right here and drew her the perfect pony,” Paige says proudly.
In truth, the pony she’s referring to looks like a mixture of an anteater and a dog, but I won’t be telling Paige that, and Addie loves it so much, who am I to judge?
“I’d love to sign your cast, and I will right after dinner. Grandma B sent me back here to tell you all dinner is ready.”
The girls shriek and make a beeline for the backyard, obviously hungry, while the adults follow.
I catch Beck’s shoulder just before we near the end of the hallway and squeeze Rosalie’s hand before letting it go. She looks back questioningly before understanding dawns.
“I’ll head out and start making the girls a plate.”
“Thank you,” I say, kissing her temple before watching her walk away.
I turn to Beck, whose gaze has clouded slightly.
“Smooth, Cam, real smooth.”
“I wasn’t trying to be smooth. I was trying to get you alone to see if you are okay. Other than short texts, we haven’t seen or talked to you since that day in the ER, and I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
The fake smile is back as Beck pats me hard on the shoulder. “Yeah, man, everything’s good. I’m just swamped at work.”
I can’t force him to tell me, but my concern only intensifies with his avoidance. We’ve always been close, and I can only remember one other time when he was this evasive, and that worries me.
“All right, well, when you finally get a free moment, you should call. We’d love to see you.”
Beck brings me in for a quick hug that feels more like a formality than anything else.
“Sounds good. Will do.”
My mom chooses this moment to poke her head in the sliding back door.
“Are you boys ready for some dinner?”
“Yes,” I say at the same time Beck says, “I sure am.” And we both head out to the yard.
***
The rest of the meal is uneventful, but it’s late by the time we drive back to Winhaven. We decide not to make it an even later night for the girls and stay at Rosalie’s house for the night.
It’s nice that the girls always want to sleep over with each other because I know under normal circumstances, I’d never be able to sleep over at my girlfriend’s house so frequently.
It’s well worth the crazy bedtime routine they put us through to be able to sneak in and sleep next to one another more often than not, so I’m not complaining.
Tonight, as we get ready for bed, there’s a natural rhythm to it.
The girls have a set of extra clothes, pajamas, and toothbrushes at both houses, which makes me think of how easy it would be if we all lived in one place.
I know, logically, it’s too soon, but the thought has me wrapping my arms around Rosalie’s middle and setting my chin on her shoulder.
She turns and plants a kiss on my cheek. “I love you.”
I turn her so she’s enveloped in my arms and lean down to kiss her, whispering, “I love you, too,” just before our lips meet.
Our kiss turns heated quickly, and I reach down to grab right below her ass, hauling her into my arms. Her legs immediately wrap around my waist as I walk her toward the bed.
Once I hit the edge, I put one arm behind her back, cradling her, as I crawl up the bed with her still wrapped around my waist before lowering her to the mattress.
Her legs widen to accommodate my hips as I settle between them.
Pulling down the straps of the camisole she sleeps in, I trace kisses from her mouth, down the column of her neck, to her breasts.
The silky material of the camisole slips over each one, gathering at her waist and exposing her peaked nipples.
I move a hand up to cup one, relishing in the softness of her skin while my mouth goes to the other.
“Cam.”
My name is breathless as she writhes beneath me, and I groan as her pussy moves against my hard cock.
I pull my mouth away and hiss out a breath as my hips continue to match her movement.
“Baby, if you keep moving like that, this is going to be over much quicker than I want.”
Her breaths are rapid, and her arms are clawing for purchase on my back as if she can’t get me close enough.
“Cam, I need you inside me.”
“Baby, I wanted to take my time with you.”
Rosalie slides her arms from my back and snakes them between us, palming my face and bringing us close. Her gaze is wild, although there’s a trace of softness behind it as she pulls my lips to hers.
“I.” Kiss. “Need.” Kiss.” You.” Kiss.
The last kiss ends with her pulling my lower lip between her teeth and giving it a playful tug.
“Please.”
The slight sting of her teeth and the breathy “please” are my undoing. I pull up quickly to my knees and pull down my briefs, my erection more than ready to be free of its confines before I deftly slide down Rosalie’s silky sleep shorts.
She watches me intently, eyes hooded, as I crawl back up her body, dropping kisses as I go. When I get to her breasts, I give the underside a quick nip, causing her to cry out and buck her hips.
“Oh my god, Cam.”
I give her a wicked smile paired with a playful admonishment to be quiet before teasing her entrance with my tip.
“Shh, Rosie. We need to be quiet.”
Apparently, Rosalie is done playing because the next noise that comes out of her sounds more like a growl.
Giving her what she wants, I grab her by the hip with one hand and thrust inside of her, stilling when I hear her intake of breath before I begin to move again.
Everything about being with Rosalie feels right, but nothing more than coming together like this.
Feeling myself inside her as we move together in a slow and sensual rhythm is intoxicating.
Paired with the kisses she’s placing on every inch of my skin she can reach with her perfect mouth is maddening.
Her fingers begin to claw at every surface of my back, her legs wrapping tighter around my waist, and I know she’s close.
“Baby, let go,” I say, reaching between us and pressing my thumb to her clit.
With my name on her lips and her back arching off the mattress, she detonates.
Feeling the power of bringing someone so much pleasure, I drive into Rosalie, chasing my own release. She reaches for me, dragging me closer as I pump into her wildly.
I bring my forehead to hers and look deep into her eyes before smashing my lips to hers. The moment our lips make contact, I feel like I’m home and finally let go.
I pull back and look down into her beautiful hazel eyes in awe that she is mine. Brushing away the hair sticking to her forehead, I lean down, giving her one last kiss.
“I love everything about you, Rosalie Whittington, and I hope you know I’m never letting you go.”
She tips her head, lightly kissing the underside of my jaw. “I love you, too, Cameron Brown, and you’re never getting rid of me.”
I chuckle and move off her, heading to the bathroom to get a wet washcloth before coming back to clean her up. I help her back into her pajamas, pulling the straps of her camisole over each arm and up to her shoulders before putting on her shorts.
She looks stunning, all mussed in the silky material, and it takes everything I have to pull my boxers back on, along with a pair of gym shorts, just in case, before crawling back into bed.
I lie on my back and pull Rosalie in close to me.
She slings an arm over my middle and places her head on my chest. My hand goes to her hair, running my fingers through the silky strands, relishing the feeling of having her here with me.
I have to believe amidst all the loss and grief we’ve both endured, this is where I’m meant to be.