Chapter 45
Ten Years Later
Cameron
I secured the last of the blue streamers to the counter bar and stepped back with a satisfied nod.
“Perfect.”
The diner looked like a scene straight out of a cheesy romance novel, but I knew Elliot was going to love it. Bunches of her favorite flowers on every table, strings of fairy lights in the big windows and every other open space that allowed it.
Ten years was a long time, and it was still so weird to think about it.
For someone who never thought I’d have any of it, I’d become a person who had it all.
A full life with family and love, and a sassy teenager thrown in for good measure.
We all had our own paths to follow, but I firmly believed that having Elliot by my side was what made all of it possible.
Like she’d kicked off a ripple effect of happiness in my life that I never would’ve known if it weren’t for her.
“I always thought you’d simmer down as time went on.” Hayden came to stand beside me, her head cocked to the side as she inspected my handiwork. “But it looks like Elliot’s effect on you has been permanent.”
“Her effect?” I quirked a brow, arms folded across my chest.
I could sense the start of her usual ribbing coming my way. I didn’t expect any less from having my closest around me. Wyatt and Taylor even brought their golden Lab along – the younger one, now that Michael Keaton was too old for busy outings.
“She’s turned you into a big softie, that’s what it is,” Alex piped up from behind us, coming to Hayden’s aid instead of mine. Go figure.
We turned in unison to find her and Devon putting the final touches on the ‘Surprise! It’s Our Anniversary’ sign. They agreed to hang it above the booth where Elliot and I were seated on the night we shared our first date.
Devon sniggered, amused by the incredulous look on my face. “She said it, but I’m not going to say she’s wrong.”
“I’m not soft.” I sounded more defensive than I would’ve liked. “I just love my wife and want to celebrate ten years of-”
“Soft, Cam.” Taylor didn’t look up from where she stood, readying the playlist for the big night. “She’s had you soft since day one.”
I was about to argue when the bell above the door jingled. Frankie blustered in, out of breath and red in the face.
“Sorry for the intrusion,” Frankie huffed, “but you should know that Elliot’s cab just pulled up out front.”
The air in the diner suddenly became fraught with excited anticipation.
Panicked whispers cascaded as everyone hurriedly bustled around, putting the final touches to everything.
My heart raced, and I took a deep breath as I went to stand in front of the door.
Dina crept into the kitchen to call Gracie and Alfred, who’d been helping her with the food.
Elliot would be pleased to see at least one familiar face hailing back to our first date over a decade ago.
Although a little rounder in the middle, Dina was still every bit as friendly and attentive a manager as she was back then.
One by one, the others gathered behind me to form Elliot’s welcome party.
The door swung open again and it felt like we were all collectively holding our breath, waiting to catch sight of Elliot. The moment she came into view, we erupted with an ear-splitting “Surprise!” that made her jump out of her skin.
Gracie pulled the tab on her tube of confetti, showering a dumbstruck Elliot with a spray of colorful paper hearts. Alfred added to her confusion by playfully zooming about and yapping.
“What the-?” Elliot’s cheeks flushed crimson as her eyes darted around the diner, taking in our faces and the spread of decorations that festooned the place.
“Happy anniversary, my love.” I went over and kissed her on the cheek. Then again, this time on her lips. I lingered there, savoring the soft feel of her.
A feeling that I was yet to grow tired of and didn’t think I ever would. Not with the way things were going.
Elliot’s arms snaked around my neck and she pulled me close. Somewhere in the distance, our friends were all talking at the same time, offering congratulations among other things.
But with Elliot in my arms, we were absolutely alone. Us, the ten years at our back, and forever stretching out before us.
“I can’t believe you did this.” A tear slid down her rosy cheek. “This is where we had our-”
“First date, exactly.” I pressed my lips to the salty trail beneath her eye. “Which makes it the perfect venue to celebrate, don’t you think?”
I’d never seen a smile so wide.
“You said we were going to take a cruise,” Elliot admonished, slapping my arm. She was trying to scowl but it was evident that nothing was going to wipe that grin off her face. “I bought a bunch of island outfits. And all those swimsuits!”
“I had to think of something.” I smiled at her. “Besides, it’s not like you won’t get a chance to show off your new tropical wardrobe at some point. There’ll be plenty of trips in the future.”
Elliot paused, her expression softening. “The future…” She pulled me into another hug, her breath warm in my ear when she said, “I can’t wait for another ten with you, Cam. And ten more after that. And ten more after that…”
She moved so her nose touched mine, then Elliot closed the remaining space that kept her mouth from mine.
Kissing me gently, she raised her hand to cup my jaw and I melted into her touch.
So many years, so many kisses had passed between us, and not one had failed to steal my breath away.
I covered Elliot’s hand with my own and leaned into her, deepening the kiss.
Elliot
Cameron’s smile hadn’t left her face since we entered the honeymoon suite, but her expression lit up when she saw the bed adorned with rose petals.
“Ten years and you’re still able to surprise me.” She placed a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. “That’s a good sign, right?”
“Mhmm, the best.” I moved my face, correcting its position so Cameron’s mouth lined up with mine.
She sucked in a small breath. “Ten years, and you still take my breath away.”
I took advantage of the slight parting of her lips and leaned in, accepting the entry she granted with languid strokes of my tongue.
We had all weekend and I wanted every second of it to belong to my wife.
I deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with attentive slowness.
Her grip on my hips tightened and she pulled me closer.
A soft moan spilled from me as I melted into her arms, mine snaking lazily around her neck.
We stood that way, pressed together at the foot of our rose-covered bed but nowhere near close enough. It was never enough when it came to Cameron.
“I love you,” I whispered against her moist lips and got right back to kissing her.
Cameron’s response was brief, but purposeful, as she pushed her thigh between my legs.
The motion and the sudden pressure at my core it brought along with it kicked off a chain reaction of sensations in my body.
Desire blazed white hot under my skin, shooting desperate tendrils of heat up my legs where they settled—coiling and pulsing—around my clit.
I groaned, moving my hips to increase the pressure of Cameron’s thigh against me. A primal jolt went through me, drawing out a slight whimper as a rush of wet warmth pooled at the point of contact. My underwear was ruined, and so was I, all while we were still fully clothed.
Cameron’s voice was thick with arousal when she pulled back to look at me. “Bed. Now.”
I gave a small smile, placing a tender kiss to her jaw before clambering onto the bed on all fours. Then I turned on my knees to look at her.
“Like this?”
Cameron’s eyes grew dark. Her breath came in heated, shallow pants. The look she gave me was enough to peel the clothes from my body.
“Just like that.”
She was on top of me before I had a chance to pull my shirt over my head, a flurry of messy kisses pinning me down. Our teeth clashed, slowness flying out the window and into the night as our hunger for each other took over.
Cameron’s thigh found its way back to where I wanted it most, and I arched my back, pressing into the pillows beneath me.
In a blink, her mouth was on me, teeth lavishly grazing the soft flesh of my neck.
I sank my fingers into her hair and held her close, just there, surrendering to the overwhelming arousal that was taking me over.
Her hand moved from my breast and floated lower, hiking up my shirt to drag along the searing skin of my belly.
She then popped the button on my pants, her slender fingers dipping inside my underwear.
I bucked my hips, heart pounding in anticipation of what would come next.
I wanted to feel her on me. I needed it.
“Cam, please…”
Her gaze was on fire, blazing into me as her fingertips played through the strip of trimmed hair she met there. No words were necessary. Everything she wanted to say to me was said in that one look. She was in no rush.
I, on the other hand, felt about ready to come undone with wanting. I rocked my hips, but Cameron shifted on top of me so her weight held me in place.
She dipped her head so that her mouth was next to my ear. “I’m going to make love to you now. You’re going to come. Then I’m going to turn you over and fuck you until you come again.”
Feverish arousal shuddered through me, swelling my clit with a dull, painful ache.
“Oh, God,” I choked out in a strangled moan.
Cameron pushed down, her hand moving deeper into my underwear. Fingers splayed over my mound, she inched lower with her middle one, moving over my pulsing clit with a feather-light touch. Her lids dropped shut, lower lip sucked between her teeth, when she felt just how wet I was. How ready…
I closed my fingers in her hair and pulled her face toward mine, consuming her in a desperate kiss. Urgent, hard, there was nothing tentative about the passion I unleashed on her. Our mouths collided with unrestrained desire that threatened to push us both over the edge.
Cameron pushed between my folds, adding pressure as she fingered my clit.
The kiss broke with a pleasured moan, and I lifted my knee to give her more access.
She bent her wrist, adding another finger as she glided further down my pussy to tease my entrance.
Her thumb circled my clit with her two fingers pushing into me without hesitation, the base of her wrist pressing deliciously against my most sensitive area.
I squirmed beneath her, relishing the sensation of her fingers driving in and out of me.
“Like this?” Her words echoed my earlier question.
Hips rocking to the pace she set, my reply fell from my lips, “Just like that.”
Fingers buried deep inside me, I rode out the waves of pleasure that wracked my body.
Cameron rubbed herself against my thigh, drawing her own pleasure from the contact while she coaxed me closer and closer to absolute oblivion.
It didn’t take long before my body was overcome with a mind blowing climax that wracked through me, powerful waves that crashed and quaked as I clung to her.
“That’s my girl,” Cameron breathed, holding onto me, fingers still inside as she helped me ride out my orgasm.
That’s all for this group of friends. But don’t worry, I’ve got two exciting offers for you!