Cami
“I WANT TO take you home to my place,” Aiden murmured against my head. “I don’t want you here. Not until Dee comes home.” He sighed, his breath ruffling my hair. “Not even then.”
I tilted my head up to study his weary face. “This is where I live.”
“Maybe we can find you a new place. The building we own where Maddox lives has some nice two-bedroom units.”
“I doubt we can afford the rent.”
He smirked. “I think we can arrange something.”
“Aiden,” I scolded gently. “I don’t need you to do that. I’m not with you for your money or what you can give me.”
His eyes were soft, and he slid his fingers over my cheek. “Are you with me, Cami? Even after all I’ve put you through?”
“Yes.”
“Let me take you home. I can’t relax here, and I think you’d feel better too. Please.”
He was right. I was on edge, and the thought of going into my bedroom down the hall made me anxious.
“Okay.”
Aiden stayed close all night. While I talked to Emmy, and later Dee, on the phone, he was beside me, constantly touching my shoulder or arm, wrapping his hand around mine and kissing the knuckles. My heart soared every time he touched me. He huffed a little when I assured Emmy I would be at school the next day; although he gave up the fight quickly when I explained why.
“I need to see my teacher and the director to explain why I wasn’t there for my presentation. I have to get a make-up date.” I sighed. “I hope they give me one.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“You’re not going to beat anyone up, are you?”
“No. What happened, though, is not the normal ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse. I want to make sure they understand and you get the chance.”
I tapped my chin. “You know, I think you BAM boys are a bad influence.”
“BAM boys?” he asked with a chuckle. “Do explain.”
“Emmy gets involved with Bentley and misses her presentation because she’s kidnapped. I get involved with you, and some madwoman comes after me and I miss mine,” I teased with a grin. “The common denominator seems to be BAM boys.”
“Maybe the common denominator is you girls. Seems to me both of you are trouble.”
“A little.”
He wrapped his hand around my neck, tugging me to his mouth. “A lot. I’m still going with you tomorrow, by the way.”
“Okay.”
He brushed his mouth over mine. “You’re still tense.” He rubbed my shoulders. “You’re safe now, you know that, right?”
“I know.” I shut my eyes with a sigh. “I need a little time, Aiden. The past few weeks have messed with my head. I was convinced I was going crazy or developing the same symptoms as my mother.”
“You’re not.”
“My head knows that now. I just need the rest of my body to catch up.”
“Okay, here’s the plan. I’m going to run you a bath, bring you some wine, and then we’re going to bed.”
“Then I can read to you?”
“I want you to relax.”
“Reading to you does relax me. I want to. Please?”
His eyes were warm, his mouth even more so. “Yes.”
I watched him walk away and heard the water come on in the bathroom. I was tired, but my body was tense. My mind wouldn’t shut off either. Yet, not for the reasons Aiden probably thought. Louisa had scared me, and it was going to take some time to recover from everything that had occurred in the last while, but it was his confession, the things he told me about his life and upbringing that had my head spinning. The fact that he did care, and he wanted to try to be more with me. The look on his face when I said the word love to him . . . he was incredulous, incapable of believing himself worthy of being loved. Unable to comprehend that he could love someone.
Yet, with every gesture, every brush of his fingers on my skin, every endearment, he proved himself to be more than capable. The fierceness of his protection, the need to look after me, it all showed his feelings.
He came down the hall, extending his hand. “Come on, Sunshine, the water is ready.”
I reached for his hand, letting him tug me down to the bathroom.
I only hoped that one day he could say the words.
Once again, Aiden had his body curled around me, his head facing me and his eyes gazing at my face. I glanced down from my Kindle with a smile. “You’re supposed to be relaxing, not staring.”
He tucked himself closer, his head burrowed into my stomach. “I like looking at you.” He sighed as I ran my fingers through his hair. “I like being close to you. To be able to touch you.”
“You can touch me anytime.”
“I’m not good at this, Cami. I have never been part of a couple.”
“Ever?”
“No. I’m going to mess it up.”
I shut the Kindle and gazed down at him. “So will I. No one is perfect, Aiden. We’ll learn together. All I ask is that you don’t shut me out. Talk to me. Share what you’re feeling and let me help you.”
“You help me without even knowing it.”
I ruffled his hair, then smoothed it away from his forehead.
He played with a wrinkle in the T-shirt I was wearing. One of his that was too long, too big, and perfect. A frown creased his face, pulling down his lips, and his eyes grew tormented. “Today,” he whispered, “I-I thought I would be too late. That I would never have the chance to tell you how I felt and what I really wanted.”
“It didn’t happen,” I soothed him. “I’m right here.”
He pushed up on his hands, kissing me. It wasn’t his usual, controlling, passionate kiss. His mouth and tongue moved languidly with mine. He wound his hand into my hair, caressing my scalp, his touch tender. He tugged me down, hovering over me, his mouth never leaving mine. Endless minutes passed as we kissed. Never rough, never forceful, but passionate, claiming, and soulful.
“I want you, Sunshine.”
“Yes,” I pleaded. “Yes, Aiden.”
He swept the T-shirt over my head, gazing down at me. “You are so beautiful. I’ve never told you how beautiful you are.”
“Show me.”
He kissed my cheek, his lips soft. He started at my mouth and slid down, every inch of my body touched with slow, sensuous drags of his lips. He whispered thoughts into my skin, his voice reverent, gentle.
“These freckles drive me wild.” He traced them with his tongue, light and teasing. “Like a tiny patch of stardust on your skin.
“Your breasts are perfect for my hands, Sunshine.” He licked and tugged on my nipples, making me groan. “The way your nipples swell for me, little buds just for me.”
His mouth ghosted along my forearms, kissing the thin skin on the inside of my wrist and pressing his lips to my palm. “Your hands touch me with such tenderness.” His awed and shy gaze met mine. “I had only ever known harsh touches until you.”
“Aiden,” I breathed out, cupping his face, tugging him to my mouth for another kiss.
He swirled his tongue down my torso, his fingers dancing on my skin. He kissed the arch of my foot, teased the back of my knee, and slid his tongue up my thighs. He didn’t rush, and I let him do what he wanted. He would stop and lean forward, capturing my mouth with his and kissing me, then with a grin, go back to the body part he was worshiping. Because I realized . . . That was exactly what he was doing.
He stopped at the top of my right thigh where I had a beauty mark. Lazily, he traced it with the tip of his tongue, making me shiver.
“You like that, Cami? You like my tongue there?”
I gripped the sheet, fisting it tightly in my hand. “Yes.”
He slipped his hands higher, pushing my legs apart. “Is it because you know, once I’ve been there, where I’m going next?” His hot breath drifted over me. “What I’m going to do to you next?”
He had me so turned on; I couldn’t take it.
“Please, Aiden—”
“Shh, baby. I’m gonna take care of you.”
He dipped his head and found me wet and ready, aching for him. He groaned, his mouth and fingers working in tandem. I cried out with the force of my need, but he refused to hurry. Gradually, he built a rhythm, until I shattered, my cries of his name echoing in the room.
Then, for the first time, Aiden made love to me. He showed me with his body what he wasn’t able to say out loud. Pulling me up on his thighs, he filled me inch by inch, claiming the last part of me. He moved leisurely, his hips curling in tight circles, his mouth covering mine. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close, our bodies fused together so tight we moved as one, never apart. We rocked, our eyes locked on each other, desire and need overriding all else.
“Cami,” he moaned. “I need you. All of you. Oh God, baby . . .”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, clutching on tight. Tears spilled from my eyes at his need, the way he whispered my name, his breathless words of adoration.
I felt the tremors of my orgasm begin. I held him harder, surrendering to his body. Giving him everything he needed. Letting him have everything.
His arms became vises. He buried his face in my neck and stilled. A long, low groan escaped his mouth. He jerked, his cock kicking up inside me, triggering my release. I sobbed his name, my orgasm washing over me the same way he had loved me. Long, slow, peaking, and ebbing like the tide.
I collapsed into his chest, spent.
He lowered me to the bed, keeping me close, refusing to release me.
“Sleep, Sunshine. Know I’m here, and you’re safe. I’ve got you.”
I flexed my arms, sated, sleepy, and content.
“I have you too.”
I felt his smile.
“I know.”
Mr. Hob and my favorite teacher, Madame Franklin, were aghast when they learned what had occurred. I was grateful Aiden was with me. I began to talk and became overwhelmed, my voice shaking, and I knew I was going to cry. Aiden picked up my hand and took over when I faltered. He used words I never would have, which made the story seem scarier. Words like perpetrator, terrorized, stalker, and victim, all peppered his statements.
“What is the next step?” Mr. Hob asked.
Aiden frowned in displeasure. “It’s in the hands of the police. Louisa’s parents have been contacted. She is in a locked medical facility.”
“I don’t want to press charges,” I murmured.
Aiden huffed, already knowing my thoughts.
Madame Franklin looked puzzled. “Why ever not, child?”
“I think she needs help, not jail.”
Aiden spoke. “I explained to Cami it may not be her decision, but we will see what the police decide.”
“And from us?” Mr. Hob inquired. “What do you need?”
“A chance to do my presentation,” I requested. “I know, usually, once you miss it, you are deducted marks.”
“Of course. No marks will be deducted. The circumstances are rather . . . unique.”
Aiden smirked. “A fact I pointed out last evening.”
We stood, and Aiden shook their hands.
Madame Franklin hugged me. “Come and see me after class, Cami. We will pick a new date.”
“Thank you.”
I walked Aiden out to his car. He held my hand within his, strong and firm.
“I’ll be here to pick you up later.”
“Okay.”
At his car, he bent and kissed me. Sweet and soft. He lingered, his hand resting on my neck, his fingers tracing circles on the skin, holding me close. With a satisfied smile, he stepped back. “Have a good day.”
I couldn’t help beaming at him.
He grinned back widely. “There’s my smile.”
Laughing, I turned and began to walk away, when he called, “Hey, Sunshine?”
I spun around, waiting. He didn’t say anything, but he shuffled his feet and dragged a hand through his hair. I hurried back to him, laying my hand on his arm.
“Aiden?”
He met my eyes, anxious and worried.
“What is it?”
His expression tugged at my heart. Bashful, fearful, yet determined. He cupped my face with both hands and leaned close.
He spoke three small words. Three words that seeped into my heart, stitched the worn edges, and mended the cracked and beaten shell.
“I love you.”