27
Vincent Hawthorne
I am not a whore that you can finger or fuck around everywhere you want!
This woman will bring me to the brink of madness, I swear.
I missed her and knowing Charlie was her ex-boyfriend messed with my brain. Once again, my temper and possessiveness took over, and I let my angry lust shine through. Now I know how much of a mistake it was…
But Camilla didn’t say no. And I saw it in her eyes. She wanted it as much as I did. I just wasn’t expecting that once the high came crashing down, it would make her feel like that.
She is mad. She feels used, even if that wasn’t my goal at all. It’s not the first time she’s expressed that I make her feel irrelevant and meaningless. When, in reality, she has become the sole focus of my brain, the only target of my lust, the unique keeper of my grumpy heart.
And it has been like that for a good while now…
I did want to stake a claim by showing her how much I desire her and can’t resist her—as well as the other way around—but once again, the all-mighty duke had to fuck it up. I need to fix this.
Swearing under my breath, I go after her, pushing through the sea of people in this goddamned prissy club. I had sworn not to set foot in these places after finishing university and for a good reason. As my sweet mother usually says, our people are higher and superior, but as I look around me, it makes me understand that we’re not. Not really.
We’re just some lucky bastards who inherit tons of money and keep marrying into money just so the family can keep the status. It’s not even about blood anymore.
If it were, I wouldn’t even be betrothed to Eleanor.
“I’m back,” I announce as soon as I reach the booth again.
Expecting to find a silent—but angered—Camilla, I am flabbergasted to see she has already left.
Bloody hell!
“Why did you take so long?” Oscar huffs, moving to the side to get some space for me to sit. I won’t sit. “You didn’t even get here in time to say goodbye to Cami!”
I grit my teeth. Their nickname for her is ridiculous. It doesn’t even suit her. She’s too beautiful and gracious for such a plain nickname.
“Well, too bad.” I feign indifference. “I need to go, too. There was a situation with the vineyards,” I lie. “I need to go back and solve it first thing in the morning, quite early.”
“Always the fun one,” Oscar grumbles, annoyed.
“Well, some of us have responsibilities, Oz. You might need to try it one of these days.”
Charlie and Rachel chuckle before saying goodbye formally. Oscar, on the other hand, stands up and gives me a tight hug.
“Keep in touch, asshole. I miss you,” he murmurs.
I do, too. He might have been one of the few people I have always—and still do—considered a friend.
“I’ll do my best,” I promise before leaving.
It goes without saying I don’t even look back and rush to the hotel.
The lift doors ping, and I get out quickly, fast-walking down the long hall. I see Camilla’s silhouette before she notices me, and I slow down a little, taking her in.
Head hanging low, she’s rummaging through her bag, trying to find something and cursing under her breath. This is a new one. I have rarely seen Camilla curse or say bad words.
Did I fuck up that bad?
“Damn him for getting me into a hotel I can’t even afford. Argh!” Her tone is curt and bitter. “Ha,” she exclaims as soon as she finds what she was looking for—the keycard.
She opens the door and gets in, giving me the window I need to rush to the door and wedge my foot between the door and the frame right before she can shut it.
“What in the–” She jumps back, startled, but relaxes right after seeing it’s me. “What are you doing here?”
“Do you think I see you as a whore?” I blurt, shutting the door behind me.
She rolls her eyes, and it irks me. “Vincent, I am tired an–”
“I don’t fucking care,” I growl, getting into her personal space.
Camilla’s eyes widen, and she takes a few steps back. I stalk her, forcing her to walk back until her legs hit the bed, and she falls on it on her ass. Perfect . I loom over her, bending down to bring our faces closer—so close I can feel her breath hitting my face.
“Let’s get a few things straight. Shall we?”
My hand touches her arm, caressing her skin upwards to her shoulder until it finds the side of her neck. Her skin is smooth on my fingers, and I can’t help but spread them and caress as much of it as I can, especially her jawline.
She’s stunning —beautiful inside-out. It’s a shame she’s the only one who doesn’t see it.
“When I look at you, I see someone strong and fierce.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I shush her by placing my thumb over her lips. “Even though you have no close relatives left, you still look forward to what the future may bring you. You keep living by giving yourself a purpose. You’ve worked hard all your life. And I know you’ve been doing that since we were kids because I still remember all of the times you had to stop playing when it was time to go help your mother. Not to mention, you graduated the top of your class in biology. You keep that goddamned manor in check. Nothing is ever out of place, no speck of dust to be seen, all animals are taken care of, there is no employee drama, and you can even fucking cook. What can’t you do?”
I look into her eyes and pause, not because I expect her to answer but because I want all that has been said to be processed by her brain. Except, instead of seeing the pride over being recognised for what she is, I see pain glazing them over.
“Vincent,” she whispers, tipping her head down.
Fuck no.
“I am not done.” I grip her jaw tighter, pulling her even closer, bumping our noses together and forcing her to look at me. “You stand up to me and don’t concede to my every whim. You’re kind to others, you’re gracious even when people are being nasty to you. A whore? ” I chuckle sarcastically. “Oh, love, you’re wife material. Far too superior to so many women out there... And I am sorry. I know my actions are far too impulsive and confusing…This is new for me, and as much as it pains me not to be able to do things in a better way, I still can’t let you go.”
Her shaky breath hits my face, and I repeat slowly—pointedly—“I just fucking. Can’t. Let. You. Go. ”
Our lips connect even before we can register. It’s innate by now. Our bodies recognise each other and thrive being bundled together. Like an invisible force that allows them to identify each other, this magnet between us keeps bringing us back into each other’s arms as if we’re meant to be.
And it hurts in my heart, knowing that I am letting it happen, letting it grow. I am falling in love with someone I could never give the world to, no matter how much I want to. But I am selfish, so fucking selfish .
I can’t let her go, no matter how big the walls separating us are.
“Let me show you how much I appreciate you,” I whisper on her lips. “How much I cherish you.”
Camilla finally relaxes fully in my hold, coming even closer and giving me my answer.
I shouldn’t give in. I should let her go. But she has imprinted herself into me. My blood and soul . It’s too late to try to go back to before. There isn’t a before, not after we happened.
It will destroy her and me. But until then, I can’t.
We’re both feverish against each other, hot skin grazing all over. My wet lips blindly search for her swollen ones. The thirst, hunger, and all of the lust burning inside of me are expressed through my eager touch and harsh kisses.
Her soft curves feel like silk against my fingers. I can’t help but roam my hands over her body—thick thighs, topped by her bony hips and narrow waist. As my hands rise, her dress rises with them, baring her to me.
Camilla makes no move to fight me on it, and her moans only urge me to keep going. Continuing to touch her slowly is a struggle, but I need to keep it together.
I pull her dress over her head, and the sight of her in a flimsy matching lace lingerie almost drives me crazy. My cock twitches inside my dress pants, and my hands waste no time finding her body again.
“Vincent,” she moans my name. It was difficult to get her to call me by my name, but good god, I love it when she does it.
Her hands grip my wrists just as my fingers graze her taut nipples over the transparent bra. Showing me her hesitancy.
“Want me to stop? We can stop…” I admit truthfully.
She is perfect.
“So beautiful,” I whisper as my lips graze the skin on her neck. “All you have to do is say the words, darling, and I’ll stop.”
Kisses, licks, nibbles. I do it all, never leaving her neck area. When the silence stretches for too long, I lean back, trying to get a good look on her. The conflict on her face is visible, and I can only imagine how hard her mind must be battling.
“I’m tired tonight,” I lie before giving her nose a kiss. “We can continue this tomorrow. How about we get some sleep?”
She nods, and I turn us around, settling on my back and pulling her to my side. She doesn’t fight me on it, leaning her head on my chest. With my arm wrapped around her shoulders, I pull her to me, bringing her body even closer to mine.
They fit perfectly, as if they were made to be like this, snuggling together.
This feels better than I thought.
“Thank you,” she whispers, and I can’t help but kiss her forehead before a small hum, as my body relaxes before entering a state of deep sleep.