Chapter 6 Cami
CAMI
It’s only been three days since I last saw Hayden, but I miss him already. After the magical night we shared together under the stars, how could I not?
“What?” someone gasps right outside the door. The kids are going to show up soon for Kids Korner, but I decide to investigate what’s going on before they get here.
“Yes, I was shocked, too,” Kelsey, the head of the Board of Directors of Hope Mountain Community Center, says. “The board was only informed yesterday about the outstanding debt still owed after the remodel five years ago.”
“Wait, so does that mean…?” Now that I’m closer, I recognize the other voice as Samantha, the Activities Coordinator.
“The bank is foreclosing on the loan,” Kelsey confirms.
“No!” I object once I reach the two ladies. I know it’s rude of me to eavesdrop, and even ruder to interrupt, but I couldn’t contain my reaction.
“Cami, I didn’t see you there,” Kelsey says. “I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.”
“Isn’t there something we can do? How much time do we have?” I ask.
Kelsey sighs and rubs her left temple. Her shoulders sag in defeat, and I rub her shoulder in a comforting gesture. “There’s already an offer on the property, and I’ll give you one guess as to who it is,” she says flatly.
“Top Spot Realty,” Samantha and I say at the same time. Hayden mentioned something about them during our first conversation and how they’ve done some shady things around town.
“Bingo. The CEO and her minions will be visiting in a couple of days to do a walk-through of the building. I can’t say for sure what they want to do with the place, but I’m guessing running a non-profit community center isn’t at the top of their list.”
“But, then where are we going to go? Where are all these people who depend on our services and classes going to go? They can’t just shut us down,” I argue.
“I’m sick to my stomach about it, too,” Kelsey says. “I’m not sure what we can do to change their mind at this point. Unless you have a hundred and fifty thousand dollars to cover the loan, we don’t have any leverage.”
I look around the hallway and into the daycare room, searching for… something. I don’t know what. A solution? A secret stash of gold? My eyes land on a small cardboard sign I made last week with a few kiddos. It sparks an idea, and I blurt, “What about a peaceful protest?”
“Hmm… It’s pretty short notice,” Kelsey says skeptically.
“We’ll hold it on the day Top Spot is coming to visit. I know we only have a few days, but this place is so special to so many people. I think we can get a good crowd and maybe a few speakers. The kids and I will work on signs tonight.”
Samantha starts to nod along with my idea.
“We can set up a fundraiser as well. It will have to be a simple one with our limited timeline, but I can set up a Kickstarter online and print flyers with a QR code for people at the protest to scan and donate. I’ll make sure to have several donation boxes available as well for cash during the event. ”
“I’ll call an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning,” Kelsey says, patting both Samantha and me on the shoulder. “I don’t know if this will work, but you two have given me enough confidence to try. It’s not over yet.”
We disperse when the first family shows up for Kids Korner. I explain our unique mission for the evening once everyone is seated. I wrote a few messages on scraps of cardboard and poster board for the younger kids to decorate, while the older kids came up with their own slogans.
Our time is up far too soon, but I thank the kids for their contribution. In total, we have fifteen signs, which I’m impressed with. I make sure to tell all of the parents and guardians about the protest happening in a few days.
As I’m cleaning up and collecting the last of the craft supplies, someone comes up behind me. Hayden’s leather and spice scent wraps around me seconds before he pulls me backward, into his arms.
“Hey,” I greet, spinning in his embrace. We made plans to meet after our respective appointments tonight, but I wasn’t sure if he was going to wait outside for me. I would understand if he’s not comfortable being touchy-feely yet, or if he even wants that kind of relationship.
“Hey, beautiful,” he murmurs before claiming my lips. I gasp into his kiss, then melt into his arms, letting Hayden take what he needs while giving me everything back in return. “Ready to go? I was thinking I could cook for you at my place.”
“You cook?” I ask as he helps me carry my things outside.
“Not usually, but I got an easy recipe from my sister.”
I laugh and playfully bump my shoulder with his. “You’re making me feel special and spoiled already.”
“Good. I want you to always feel that way.”
Hayden loads up my suitcase in his truck and then helps me into the passenger seat. I’m fully capable of climbing in myself, but I don’t mind Hayden’s hands on me.
A few short minutes later, we pull into an apartment complex not too far away from my own. Hayden goes quiet, almost like he’s nervous. He has no reason to be. I’m excited to do just about anything as long as he’s with me.
Hayden helps me out of the truck and ushers me inside his place, though he drops my hand once we’re inside.
“The apartment is only temporary,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck in that nervous gesture of his. “I’ll buy you any house you want.”
How is he so adorable and yet sexy at the same time? “Hayden, I don’t care where you live. I’m just happy to spend time with you. Besides, I need to see how good your cooking is before I decide to move in.”
This breaks him out of his spiral, and he steps closer, circling his arms around my waist. “You always know what I need to hear,” he whispers. “I can’t believe you’re mine.” Hayden nuzzles into the side of my neck and places a soft kiss there. Suddenly, I have a different kind of hunger.
“Yours?” I ask, tilting my head back to give him more access. He groans and nibbles my sensitive skin, followed by his warm breath and tender kiss.
“I’m so obsessed with you already, Cami. You’ve changed me, brought me out of the darkness, and shown me more kindness and understanding than I deserve. How could I not want to keep you with me forever?”
I gasp at his confession, and he rests his forehead on mine. “You really mean that?”
“I do. Is that too much, too soon?”
I shake my head no. “Show me,” I whisper. “Show me what it means to be yours.”
“What about dinner?” he asks half-heartedly.
“You can impress me with your culinary skills later,” I tease. “But I’m thinking there are a few other ways to impress me right now?”
Hayden groans and nips at my bottom lip before scooping me up in his arms. He stomps off toward the bedroom, and I laugh and kick my feet out at his ridiculous, over-the-top gesture.
He sets me down once we're in his room, and his lips immediately find mine. Hayden kisses with a desperate desire that’s somehow more intense than the night we spent stargazing in the back of his truck. I can taste how much he wants me, and that fact makes me even wetter.
Hayden peels off my shirt and unhooks my bra, all while still exploring my mouth with his wicked tongue. When he steps away from me, my bra falls on the ground, and my breasts are bare before him.
"Goddamn," he grunts, right before burying his face in my cleavage and licking the sensitive skin between my breasts.
His lips slide down my torso, and then he's biting the waistband of my jeans like he wants to rip them off with his teeth.
He must think better of it and begin working off my pants with his hands instead.
Soon, I’m naked before Hayden, while he’s still fully dressed. I’m still not used to being exposed like this in front of anyone. Heck, some days it’s hard to be naked in front of a mirror, but the way Hayden is looking at me makes me feel proud of my body.
“You’re too dressed,” I pout.
Hayden grins and stands up, practically tearing off his own clothes.
“Hey!” I protest. “I wanted to do that!”
He just chuckles as he stands there in his boxer briefs, which do nothing to hide his massive erection. “I guess we’ll just have to do this again sometime. I promise to let you strip me. But right now, I need inside that tight little pussy of yours.”
I melt at his words. Like, seriously, I’m dripping down my inner thighs. Hayden stalks over to me and cups my face in his large, warm hands.
“Are you sure, sweet girl? We can stop any time.”
“I don’t want to stop. I want to feel you. All of you. Please?”
A deep, rumbling noise bubbles up from his chest. “I can’t deny you anything, love.”
Hayden steps back from me and rids himself of his last piece of clothing.
My jaw drops at the monster that bobs between his legs.
I’ve never seen a dick in real life, but God, it’s like some primal switch is flipped inside of me, and all I want in the whole world is for that thing to be inside of me, breeding me.
Woah. Hold up. Breeding?
I won’t lie, I want babies. A lot of them.
My childhood left a lot to be desired, and I want nothing more than to have kids of my own and shower them with all the love and affection I never got growing up.
But does Hayden even want kids? I mean, he’s over a decade older than me, maybe he’s past wanting all of that.
“Where did you just go, Cami?” Hayden asks. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“No!” I’m quick to answer, making him chuckle. “I just, um, I’m not on birth control or anything.”
“Good.”
The forcefulness of his answer shocks me.
“I’m clean, and I’ll always take care of you and all of the babies we make together.
” My eyebrows are floating somewhere up by my hairline.
I’m in such shock. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.
He’s everything I’ve ever wanted. “If that’s too much for you, too fast, too soon, I’ll understand.
I can pull out. But I don’t want anything between us, Cami. Not ever.”
“Me either,” I tell him truthfully.