CHAPTER Twenty Nine
Camille was on the edge of her seat, waiting for Ross to tell her about his family, and she thought he was taking his sweet time bringing it up.
After getting two more beers, opening them, taking a swig, grabbing a slice of pizza, stuffing it in his mouth, and chomping away, Ross was finally ready to begin his story.
He took a deep breath and another swig of beer, and Camille was about ready to kill him by the time he started talking.
“Are you familiar with the pharmaceutical company called Prosser and Paine?” he began.
“Sure,” Camille answered, not making a connection at first.
Ross waited for it to sink in, and when it did, Camille was wide-eyed and speechless.
“Yep, that’s my dad and my grandpa, but Grandpa has passed, so the company solely belongs to my family. Gerald Prosser, my mom’s father, had no children other than my mom.” Again Ross was letting reality settle, and it didn’t take long.
“Ross!” That was all Camille could manage.
Ross laughed a little, knowing it was a lot to handle. Prosser and Paine was the largest pharmaceutical company in the United States, and one of the largest in the world.
“So, I take it you’ve figured out that my Granddad died, and the entire enterprise went to my mom. We have investors and small-time partners, but basically it’s still our family business even though its outgrown that title.”
“Uh,” Camille had so many questions.
“I bet you’re wondering why I lived at the lake and worked construction, right?”
“Yeah?” It seemed odd, for sure.
“I didn’t want to go to college, and I never wanted the high-profile life associated with the family business. My parents set me up nicely, and of course, they wish I’d take more interest, especially since my dad is getting older. But they get it. They have capable people running things.”
“So, there’s no feud going on?”
“No, I just don’t go home much because I feel a little pressured and a whole lot of guilt.”
“Guilt?”
“Come on, Camille. You get it. No matter what, we’ll always feel somewhat responsible for helping with our family businesses. The difference between you and me is that I don’t help.”
Camille had to take a moment to let all of this sink in. Ross, her Ross, was one of the richest men in the country, and she had no idea.
“I have to admit, I wondered where your money came from with no job.
Even though you lived simply, you were out at the Point for six months.” “When Janelle and I moved to the lake, we decided we wanted to be normal people. We would make our own living, and we did it. But I imagine it’s a lot easier when you know the safety net is there.”
“Why so secretive?”
“When people find out you have money, they treat you differently.”
“And you were afraid of that with me?” “Kind of, at first. But not after a while.” “I get it. I really do.”
“I was going to tell you, but I figured with the holidays, you’d be asking, and you did,” he said, smiling.
Camille looked at this man she thought she knew and hoped she was not one of those people he said would treat him differently. On second thought, she knew he would still live simply, so his money made no difference in her life whatsoever.
“Actually, being low-key with my identity during the Meyer mess was a blessing. I worried constantly that my family would get thrown in it, and all of a sudden, people would come out of the woodwork wanting to take advantage, starting rumors and telling lies. That’s why I went to the Point.
I couldn’t go home. I just had to disappear. ”
“Well, I’ll give it to you. It’s my job to flush out secrets like this, and it completely escaped me,” Camille admitted.
“That’s why I was so harsh and rude when you first arrived. I thought you had figured out who I was.”
After hearing all this information, some other details also seemed to clear up for Camille.
“So, that’s why when you and Janelle split, you wanted the bank accounts, and she got the house. And that’s also why when you gave Janelle your debit card, she was hesitant?”
“Yes, she always saw family money as mine, and the money we made as ours.”
“I figured you would need to sell your house on Leafland before we could up and take off, but you didn’t need the money.”
“This is true. Are you mad that I didn’t tell you?”
“No, not at all. I actually think it was a wise move. We still have a really new relationship. That’s a lot for someone to handle, and as you said, there are people who would take advantage.”
Ross was so relieved. He worried that Camille would feel as if he’d lied to her and that he didn’t trust her. But that simply wasn’t true. He didn’t want his money to change things between them, and it seemed he’d gotten his wish.
“I just love you so much, Camille. It’s scary how much!”
Camille wasn’t quite ready for his bold disclosure and looked into those big, blue eyes for solace.
“I love you too,” she said. She hoped more than anything that he understood her completely. His money made no difference whatsoever to her. She loved him unconditionally, and she always would.
Ross now felt that all this seriousness needed a break, and his mind went to something else altogether.
“I remember a time when we were interrupted right here on this couch. And I kinda feel like we have unfinished business,” Ross said, leaning down to kiss her neck, but he didn’t kiss it right away.
Instead, he brought his face delightfully close, and she could feel his hot breath against her skin.
He finally put his lips lightly on that sensitive space right behind her ear, and Camille was brimming with anticipation.
The atmosphere had gotten serious very fast.
“Do you want me to make love to you, Camille?” he whispered. His voice was so sexy and so inviting.
Camille closed her eyes and soaked in the delicious feel of his warm breath on her skin. Her heart skipped a beat when his soft lips began kissing her neck over and over again.
“Yes, I do. Yes.” Her voice was weak and strained, but she helped Ross as he began removing her clothes. When Ross finally pulled her lacy panties down over her hips, she stepped out of them and moved to the couch, where she lay, bare and ready for him.
“You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of, Camille. I love you,” he said.
He was standing beside her and removing his clothes, and as each piece dropped to the floor, Camille knew she was one step closer to having Ross inside her.
Completely stripped of his clothes, Ross sat beside her now, mesmerized by her gorgeous body stretched out before him.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he said, rubbing his hand across her belly and up to her breasts. “I just can’t believe you’re mine.”
Maybe it was the charming, private location, or maybe it was Ross’s sultry, lustful tone, but Camille had never been so seduced, so romanced, and her senses were raw.
Ross gently moved his hand between her legs and watched her eyes as he slowly slid his fingers downward.
And as sexy as that was, Ross did it again and again until Camille closed her eyes and her hips tilted slightly.
Ross leaned down now and lightly kissed her tight nipples with the warmth of his mouth and tongue. He licked and sucked her, praising her beauty, and her moans grew in strength as he repeated his praise.
“So fucking beautiful.” His breath on her wet skin pulled her nipples even tighter, and goosebumps came out of nowhere.
He kept his slow and sensual attention to her breasts and slid his hand back down between her legs, and this time, he slowly pushed two fingers inside, making Camille hold her breath and then release it with a sexy moan.
“You like that, don’t you?” “Yes,” she managed.
Camille was now swaying her lower body in the same sexy rhythm as Ross’s fingers moving in and out, and Camille’s moans were getting louder. Her eyes were still closed, and her head tipped back on the pillow.
“I love watching you … your pleasure. You’re so fucking hot, Camille.
It’s everything I can do not to lose my shit just watching you.”
Camille moaned as Ross’s fingers now pulsed her from the inside.
“Oh, fuck, Ross!” Camille could feel that beautiful tension brewing in her core.
“That’s it, baby,” Ross begged. He could feel the faint pulses starting as his fingers kept their steady pace, working her just right.
When Camille lifted her hips and opened her knees wider, he placed his lips around her and licked and sucked her until she released a primal groan, digging her heels in, eventually lowering herself back onto the couch.
Ross kept his tongue on her until she relaxed.
Camille was still relishing her glory when Ross took her legs and placed them up on his shoulders and pushed inside her.
“Oh, fuck, Camille. You’re so … so … tight.”
Camille gasped initially but then let each of his firm strokes pleasure her sensitive spots. She was still reeling from her climax, and every move inside her felt so good.
“Ross! Ross! I’m going to come again.” Her voice was strained and desperate.
And just then, Camille’s insides pulsed and gripped him with a pressure that sent Ross over the edge. “Oh, shit!” he yelled.
Their ecstasy lasted longer than usual, and when it all subsided, they got comfortable on the couch in each other’s arms. As blissful as their encounter was, Camille had a nagging feeling that their difficulties with Shane Simpson were far from over.
She hugged Ross a little tighter but didn’t voice her concern.
Little did she know, Ross held her as close as he could because he was also having some disturbing thoughts of a future haunted by a monster.