Chapter 17 #2
She swallowed. ‘My mum used to be amazing at celebrating birthdays… she used to make me the most incredible cakes, but my aunt was really odd about them,’ she whispered, trembling as his arm tightened around her.
‘We didn’t celebrate mine – I think having me living with her was enough, having to commemorate the day I came into the world was just a step too far.
Even if people in the bakery tried to make a fuss, she didn’t like it, so I had to ask them to stop.
’ She took in a long breath, forcing herself to settle as she sank into him.
‘I didn’t really mind and in the end, it was easier not to celebrate. It’s why I didn’t tell you today.’
‘But then I baked you a cake and brought back a bunch of bad memories,’ he rumbled, sounding annoyed. ‘My bad. I’m sorry.’
‘No.’ She shoved back and swiped at her eyes, staring up at him, into the curves of his face reading his guilt, his kindness, feeling her stomach turn over because there were so many layers to this man and, suddenly, she wanted to discover all of them.
‘Don’t you dare apologise,’ she insisted.
‘You reminded me of how a birthday should be.’ She didn’t want him feeling guilty about doing something so thoughtful.
‘You showed me what it’s like to have someone who cares, someone who makes you feel like you matter.
I’m not crying because I’m sad, I’m crying because I’m happy,’ she said, her voice strangled.
Cameron stared at her and his eyes warmed.
‘Aye, well, I’d appreciate it if next time you could label your tears because this is goddamn confusing,’ he muttered.
‘I knew my cooking was bad but—’ He raised an eyebrow and she choked out a laugh, and he smiled too because it was obvious he’d intended to make her laugh.
‘I’m sorry your aunt made you feel that way,’ he said gently as his forehead bunched.
‘My mom didn’t give a damn about my birthday, but Dad always made it special and since I moved to Scotland, Maud’s done the same.
You—’ He cleared his throat, looking awkward, and Izzi wondered if he was going to say anything else.
Cameron was a man of few words, but she knew whatever he said, he meant.
‘You deserve better, Izzi. I hope this is the birthday that changes everything. Although maybe next time you need a way better cake,’ he said with humour as his eyes shifted over her shoulder.
‘I’m going to get this over with and risk making you cry again.
The flowers aren’t from a client, I got them, they’re a present for you,’ he admitted shyly.
Izzi’s eyes widened and filled. ‘For me?’ A tear tracked down her cheek and Cameron sighed and used his thumb to wipe it away.
‘For you,’ he said. ‘And I’ll admit the cake could be better, but I wanted to make it myself.
I wanted to say thanks for all the meals you’ve been making, and for—’ He shrugged and it was like he wanted to say something else but couldn’t.
He swallowed. ‘I don’t know, everything else. ’ He looked embarrassed.
Izzi smiled, feeling something inside her shift. This might just be a temporary arrangement, but she was in serious danger of falling for this man. It might even be too late. But she was going to enjoy it and relish every delicious second that she spent with him.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, trying to imbue the words with as much emotion as she could because she couldn’t say what was in her heart. Was almost afraid to acknowledge it. ‘How about we make dinner and then—’ She smiled slowly. ‘We can figure out another way of celebrating.’
His gaze burned as he stared back at her, looking all kinds of delicious, making her insides pulse. ‘Yep,’ he said huskily. ‘Why don’t we do that?’
Izzi shut the oven door and brushed her hands on her knees as she got to her feet. ‘So the goulash is going to take at least an hour and a half to cook,’ she said to Cameron who was now sitting at the breakfast bar, looking brooding as he swirled one of the glasses of red wine he’d poured earlier.
He’d helped as much as he could with the meal, considering his hand was clearly sore, and she’d let him, enjoying his company as he’d complained about the oven, insisting she must have somehow turned it against him, making her laugh so hard her ribs still ached.
She wasn’t sure if she’d ever laughed so much.
‘How ever are we going to fill the time?’ he asked hoarsely, arching an eyebrow as his gaze sizzled and he stood and pushed back his chair, his broad shoulders illuminated by the muted glow of the lamplight.
‘I’ve got an idea or two,’ she said quietly, letting her eyes roam over him as he stalked across the kitchen until he was standing in front of her.
‘Does it involve taking off all your clothes?’ he suggested, as his eyes wandered down to her feet, lingering for a moment on the curve of her hips, leaving a trail of fire.
Then his eyes flickered to the other side of the kitchen – to the gleaming white marble table she’d never seen him use – and he smiled wickedly.
‘I’ve got an idea…’ he said hoarsely. ‘I’m wondering if we’re having the same one?
’ His eyes glittered. ‘I love that I can tell exactly what you’re thinking.
’ His expression was tender as he gazed down at her.
Izzi patted her hands on her cheeks because he was right – she had been thinking about the table. About how it might feel to sit on it as she wrapped herself around Cameron and he enveloped her in his arms.
Cameron reached down and began to unbutton Izzi’s shirt as she tugged his long-sleeved T-shirt out of his jeans.
He’d showered since returning from the castle and she could smell apples; she breathed him in, letting the scent fill her.
She pressed a palm flat onto his stomach as he eagerly pushed her shirt open and eased it down until it caught on the tops of her arms. Then he kissed her gently and without breaking contact, guided her backwards in the direction of the table.
‘You know I haven’t used it before,’ he said, breaking the kiss, somehow managing to reach behind her to undo her bra while they were moving, brushing the back of his hand against her skin, making her shudder.
She felt the catch release and pulled Cameron’s top up and over his head, helping him remove it and taking a moment to drink in the beauty of his bare chest. All those hard muscles and planes, every inch a homage to his perfection.
She swallowed, but he didn’t give her long to admire him, because suddenly he pulled off her shirt and threw it over his shoulder before doing the same with her bra.
Izzi had no idea where her clothes landed and didn’t really care – especially when the tops of her thighs touched the edge of the table and Cameron lifted her onto the smooth, flat surface in one quick motion.
‘One of the things that sold me on this table was its sturdiness,’ he said roughly, leaning down so he could press feathery kisses onto her bare shoulders before slowly working his way up her neck.
‘Although I’ll confess I hadn’t envisaged this scenario.
’ He dragged his chest against her bare skin and everything inside her quivered.
The height of the table gave Cameron easy access and Izzi feathered her fingertips over his sides as he took advantage, peppering kisses around her ear, taking a moment to draw her lobe into his mouth.
Holy crap. How could he make her even hotter, how could anyone make her feel this much need?
‘I will say its structural integrity hasn’t been put to the test yet, so you’re doing me a favour really,’ he whispered as he kissed her eyelids, making her body writhe with pleasure.
‘Oh, I’m happy to do it…’ Izzi smiled as she began to undo the belt on Cameron’s jeans, fumbling with the catch as pressure at her centre continued to build, making her clumsy.
Was it always going to be like this? She could feel a desperate need inside her, a want so strong she wanted to beg Cameron to hurry. Only they’d barely started and neither of them was even naked yet.
She yanked the belt out and quickly began to work on the zip, but Cameron gently caught her hands and linked them with his, easing back a little.
‘You can slow down,’ he whispered, touching his lips to the edge of her mouth, making her tremble.
‘We’ve got all evening and I want to take my time, to savour you. ’
Izzi swallowed as her insides turned over and her eyes filled with an emotion she didn’t want to name. She didn’t want Cameron to see her cry again, but there was something about this moment that was making her emotional.
She could feel tenderness in his touch, could see the same in his eyes and knew it was reflected in hers. Because she didn’t just want this man – she craved him. And she wasn’t just attracted to him. She was starting to care, very deeply.
Cameron might have seen it too because suddenly he caught her mouth in a kiss and Izzi stopped thinking.
His hands moved until they were caging her face, and he tipped her head and took the kiss deeper.
She pressed her body into him, easing herself closer to the edge of the table, wrapping her legs around his hips so she could tug him closer, feeding the need – the ache – screaming at her core.
Even their kiss was erotic, a melding of tongues, a hot tangle of need and heat, a rush of blood and want.
Cameron paused for long enough to whisper, ‘There’s so much I want to do to you, Izzi,’ before his mouth was back on hers, demanding and desperate. She hung on, clutching his shoulders before she couldn’t contain her impatience and her hands strayed back to his jeans.