28. Cameron
Cameron
Cam was waiting in the main living area for Mary. The glam team had left a short while before and his body was still humming from the intensity of their love-making session in the shower.
But he remembered the desperation, the need to get out of Sullivan’s Bar earlier. And seeing Mary back here at the apartment had just made him feel even more exposed and like the coward that he was.
Of course she’d realised that meeting her family would be a lot for him. Because he’d spilled his guts to her. About it all. The abandonment. Juvie. Christ.
And then today, seeing her being welcomed into the bosom of her family like that ... it had been too much. Triggering. Ha. It had been more like an explosion. Reminding Cam of what he hadn’t had. And what he’d never had.
And what you want. The thought floated into his head before he could stop it. Something else occurred to him. Had he been ... jealous of Mary? Of her family? For getting to have her like that? All that unconditional ... love.
Love. That was the problem. Cam at his core was deeply unlovable. And so far it had never bothered him. Until Mary. With her luscious curves and huge brown eyes, and all of that love between her and her family, making Cam want …
He heard a sound and looked up to the spiral staircase, and saw a pair of bare feet and the black dress being held up. Shapely bare legs. His blood roared. Dammit. Why wasn’t this lust fading away? But it was as if every time he had her, it only fed the hunger.
He couldn’t see the whole of her until she’d reached the bottom of the stairs and when she faced him, his mind went blank and he welcomed it. The black dress clung to her curves like a second skin, enhancing them and making her waist look tiny.
The tops of her breasts swelled gently from the bodice and drew the eye to perfect, creamy skin. Her hair had been set in smooth waves, her fringe teased to one side. He caught sight of a train behind the dress. A draped sleeve capped one slender upper arm.
She was breathtaking. Literally. Cam had to suck in a breath before he forgot. He tried to make his mouth work. ‘You look ... stunning. Truly.’
‘So do you.’
He noticed then that Mary was looking at him with eyes that seemed even bigger. He had changed into a classic black tuxedo.
Her feet were bare and she was carrying shoes and a clutch. He remembered something and, before he lost his wits completely and made a total fool of himself, turned to a velvet box on the table.
He opened it. ‘I have something to add to your outfit.’
She walked towards him, her dress making a swishing sound along the floor. He picked out a thick diamond choker necklace and held it up. Her eyes became comically big. ‘Is that real?’
Cam smiled at her reaction. ‘Don’t worry – it’s just on loan.’
Her mouth tilted on one side. ‘If I’d known this was on the cards, I’d have arranged for Caitie and Johnny to do a heist.’ There was a brittle quality to her voice that made Cam look at her, but she wasn’t looking at him. He pushed the niggle out of his mind. He was imagining things.
‘Turn around.’
She did, presenting him with her back, acres of smooth skin. He carefully reached in front of her and placed the necklace around her neck, tying it. She turned around again and he took out a matching bracelet, fastening it onto her wrist.
‘I might need sunglasses,’ she said jokingly, but now Cam could hear the thread of vulnerability in her voice.
Maybe that’s what he’d noticed. He tipped up her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his.
‘There is nothing special about the people who will be at this event. Underneath it all, they’re no less full of insecurities or problems and issues than anyone else. ’
‘I’ll just imagine them naked – it’ll be grand.’
Cam’s body leapt at the thought of her naked, and the way she filled his hands and the way she felt around him, milking his body. He welcomed the incendiary images. That’s all this was and all he wanted. And the sooner it burnt out, the better.
‘Let’s go.’