Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
L ifting her from the floor, he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed and then kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips.
“Come back to me, Sam. I need you.”
And, oh, how he needed and wanted her right here in his bed, in his life, by his side every day. The thoughts were shocking as he realized he loved this woman and he didn’t want to let her go. He didn’t want her to walk out of his life.
The very thought had his chest aching. Suddenly, her arms reached up and pulled him closer to her.
“Cameron,” she gasped.
“Honey,” he said. “I’m right here.”
“What happened?”
“You fainted,” he said.
“I should go,” she said softly.
No, he didn’t want her to leave.
“Please, no. Remember how you needed me that night in the cabin?”
“Yes,” she gasped.
“I need you. I need you to comfort me and ease the pain I have. I’ve been such a fool. I didn’t mean to hurt you, and sometimes I let my ambitious side take over. I need you to curb those overexcited tendencies and ground me in reality.”
Her hand reached up and caressed his face.
“Cameron,” she gasped as her lips found his.
It was a kiss of longing and desperation and pain. It was a kiss that fused their mouths and took them on a journey of feelings he could no longer deny. He loved Sam. He’d loved her before he left the Mistletoe Inn.
He’d loved her after their first night together and knew he was making bad choices but unable to stop himself.
Now he understood why his grandmother thought he was too ambitious, too wrapped up in his company becoming a success. He’d hurt the one person he cared about with his zealous overeagerness of buying property.
When you hurt the people you loved, you went too far.
Their lips came apart. “Sam, forgive me. Love me.”
While she didn’t respond with her lips, her hands moved over his back and she pulled him in close as she unbuttoned his shirt. Finally frustrated, she pulled his shirt apart, sending buttons flying across the room.
He didn’t care; he could buy another one. He needed to get inside Sam. Somehow he had to show and convince her that he loved her with all his heart.
She lifted her mouth to his and he met her halfway. It was a kiss of desperation and longing, and it took Cameron completely by surprise. Her mouth covered his, moving over his lips, seeking comfort in an age-old connection. And Cameron was more than happy to return her kiss, eager, in fact, to soothe and remind her he knew that he had hurt her badly. She deserved better.
Breaking the kiss, she gazed into his eyes. Lifting the hem of her sweater, she pulled it over her head and he helped her remove the cumbersome garment.
His palms slid up her back. The touch of her warm, bare skin beneath his fingers was intoxicating. Oh, how he wanted to remove all her clothes. Slowly undress every inch of her until he could touch her naked flesh.
She moaned, the sound encouraging him. Her fingernails gently raked his chest. He leaned over and kissed the tops of her breasts that spilled forth from her bra. So beautiful.
His tongue trailed over her smooth skin and she leaned back, giving him access to her throat. Eagerly he took her cue and kissed his way across her breast and up her throat, lingering at her ear. He wanted to make her feel good. He wanted to comfort her and make the demons in her life disappear. He wanted to remove all thoughts and envelope her in sensual pleasure.
Then he had to convince her to let him buy her ranch.
She disentangled her limbs from his and stood. Slowly, she slid down the zipper on her jeans and stepped out of them, leaving them on the floor. She stood before him, beautiful in her panties and bra.
“God, Sam, I’ve missed you so much,” he said, reaching for her.
She took his hand and pulled him until he was standing. Reaching down, she unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his legs.
“Tell me, Cameron, is your ghostly grandmother still around?”
“No,” he gasped as her fingers brushed against his hard cock.
Cameron was a little surprised by the way she took charge, but then he realized that tonight she needed to be in control of something in her life. It was the reason she’d flown all the way from Bozeman to Dallas.
Taking the lead in their lovemaking was the only thing she had left. Even her wedding business seemed on the verge of collapse. She needed something positive in her life and he’d damn well give her everything she wanted tonight.
“Cameron,” she whispered, clinging to him. “I want you so badly. Even though I’m still mad as hell at you, I can’t stop these feelings of desire for you. Damn you, Cameron.”
While he was glad she wanted him, he loved her, and he didn’t want her to ever stop having feelings for him.
“Forgive me, baby,” he said. “That’s all I’m asking.”
Urgently his hands pushed her bra down and her breasts were free for his taking. His mouth wrapped around her nipple and he suckled until she moaned.
Her hands tugged him tightly against her and he was forced to release her breast. Her eyes had darkened with desire and her breathing was quick and heavy.
“I’ve lost everything. Forgiveness is going to be hard,” she gasped.
“You haven’t lost me, sweetheart. I’m here. I want you to be happy,” he said nuzzling against her neck.
“But…”
“Tomorrow we’ll fix everything, but tonight, let’s concentrate on one another,” he whispered, gazing down at her.
“All right,” she said. “I may regret this tomorrow.”
“No regrets, just passion.”
Quickly, they both shed their remaining clothes and fell back onto the bed. He lay beside her, his mouth hungrily seeking hers while he ran his hands over her body. Why did this feel so right? That they were one. That somehow God and the universe wanted them together, fighting, loving, and living life to the fullest.
Then he knew what he had to do to get her one hundred percent back.
In a short time, he’d watched this woman take on huge responsibilities for her business, and more importantly, her family. She was the kind of person who would always have your back as long as you treated her honestly and fairly, and there was no question he would do that and protect her in the process.
No longer would her brother take advantage of her. Cameron would make certain the man knew his sister would always have his shield, his love, and his heart.
She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and he moaned as she stroked him, the pleasure increasing. Tonight was the beginning. Tonight, he knew what he had to do.
He didn’t want her to stop, but this time was all about giving her pleasure. He found her womanly center and caressed her as she gasped and writhed on the bed. Even before he’d touched her, her folds were wet. Wet, because no matter what, they cared about one another. As much as she resisted her feelings for him, he hoped and prayed she loved him as much as he loved her.
All he had to do was get her to confess her feelings. She needed this moment as much as he needed her. Together, they were invincible. Together, they would solve the disaster her brother had created.
He loved the look of her blonde hair splayed against his pillow, her brown eyes gazing at him with uncertainty.
His lips tasted her skin, his eyes drank in her beauty, and soon, her mouth would be moaning and crying out his name. Her body tensed and shuddered beneath his fingers. But he wasn’t done with her, not yet.
This night would be theirs to remember how they came together. This night would be the moment they realized they loved one another.
“Cameron,” she cried, her body shuddering her release. A smile crossed his face knowing he’d made her forget, for a moment, the loss she had experienced.
“Oh, my,” she said, her breathing rapid and shallow.
He grinned and kissed her on the lips before he released her and opened the nightstand drawer. Quickly, he found the foil packet and ripped it open. He stretched the condom over his penis.
There would be no unwanted pregnancies between them. He would never try to trap her because he wanted her voluntary commitment to him. To loving him, pleasing him, searing him with her touch forever. He wanted more than tonight. He wanted forever.
Shoving him back on the mattress, she climbed on top of him and lowered her body over him. Gripping her shoulders, he watched the emotions on her face as he filled her. With a sigh, she sank all the way down and his hands moved to her waist.
Slowly they began the dance of love. The dance of giving one another pleasure.
“Look at me, Sam,” he said and she opened her dark eyes glazed with passion. “I want to gaze into your soul. I want to promise you happiness as we come together.”
A moan came from deep inside her chest and he said everything with his eyes that he couldn’t say just yet. Not until the business of the Mistletoe Inn and Ranch was behind them. Then he would offer her forever.
“Cameron,” she cried and he reached up to her breasts and teased her nipples, feeling the hard little nubs.
“Yes, baby,” he said. “I’m here.”
“Oh,” she cried again. “I can’t hold back.”
“It’s all right. I’m right there with you,” he said.
Staring into her gaze, he exploded inside her as her own climax ripped through her.
“Cameron,” she screamed.
With a mighty slam, he ground into her one last time as she collapsed on top of him, her heart pounding against his chest.
For several minutes, they didn’t move, and then he pulled out of her and rolled her to the side, spooning her. Lying there together, catching their breaths, their hearts slowly returned to earth.
“Sam,” he said, whispering her name against her ear. “Thank you.”
When she didn’t respond, he figured she’d fallen asleep. Pulling the covers over them, he let her rest. The last few days had been harrowing and she needed to sleep. Tomorrow they would have a serious discussion that he hoped would put an end to the nonsense her brother had created.