~Landon~
I couldn’t move now if I tried. Jesus, she surprises me at every turn, and learning her body, being buried deep inside her, is no different. Have I ever felt this connected to anyone in my life? I rack my brain, but all I see is Cami.
After having her just once, I know without a doubt that I’ll never get tired of her.
She’s lying quietly in my arms, breathing softly, but she’s not sleeping. Her fingers brush lightly through the light spattering of hair on my chest and her foot rubs up and down my calf.
I didn’t bother to turn the light on when I brought her up here, but the moon is full, casting plenty of light into the room. Scoot jumps onto the bed, looks at both of us, then curls up at our feet to give himself a bath.
I could get used to this.
Cami’s hand travels down my chest to my stomach, and suddenly the thought of moving again doesn’t seem so impossible. Surprisingly, my cock is ready to go again already.
And then it occurs to me: we didn’t use a condom.
Fucking hell.
I’ve never forgotten to suit up before. Ever.
“Baby?” I ask softly, and bury my lips in her hair.
“Hmm?” It’s more of a purr than a question.
“We didn’t use a condom.” My voice is calmer than I feel inside. But I don’t want to upset her. We’re adults, for Christ sake, there’s nothing to freak out over.
Unless there is.
She tips her head back and looks up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight.
“I’m on the pill,” she says calmly. “Have been for years. And I haven’t been with anyone since I was married.”
What?
I stare down at her, shocked. Cami is breathtaking. She’s funny and warm and wonderful, and she hasn’t been with anyone since Brian?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.
“I’m just surprised.”
“That I’m on the pill?”
“No.” I laugh and pinch her, making her squirm, but it backfires when she rubs her thigh against my already hard dick. “That you haven’t been with anyone in so long.”
She shrugs and is quiet for a minute. “It just wasn’t a priority.”
“Well, I haven’t been with anyone since before I was home on leave last year,” I reply, and drag my hand down her back, then draw hearts on her ass.
“That was quite a while ago,” she says, and looks up at me with raised brows.
“I guess it wasn’t a priority for me either.” My hand slips farther down and my fingers slip down her crack and between her folds and back up again.
With my other hand, I grip her hair and tilt her head back, giving me access to her lips and neck. Her lips fit mine perfectly. Her mouth is delicious.
She moans, deep in her throat, as I push her onto her back and cover her with my body again, but rather than slip inside her, I flip her over, pull her hips back, and slap her ass gently.
She gasps and tosses a smile over her shoulder.
“You like that?”
“What’s not to like?” she asks with a laugh, and lowers her head. Her slender shoulders are bathed in moonlight, and to my utter surprise, there’s a tattoo on her right shoulder blade. A small anchor.
I lean down and kiss it, then drag my lips up her neck. “Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?”
“Am I sexy enough for you to fuck me again?” she asks, surprising me yet again.
“Such a dirty mouth,” I mutter, and grin. Rather than answering her, I slip inside her quickly, pushing all the way in and making her gasp. “How’s that?”
“So damn good,” she says, and grabs on to a rung in the headboard, white-knuckling it. “You can go harder.”
I bite the fleshy top of her shoulder, grip her hip in my fist, making marks with my fingertips, and begin to fuck her, hard. Her pussy grips me like a vise.
Jesus, how am I supposed to keep it together when she does shit like that?
Using the headboard as leverage, she pushes back on me, her ass slapping against my hips, and propels the speed.
“Faster?” I ask.
“God, yes,” she says, and cries out when I speed up further. I release her hip and shove my hand under her, circling her clit with my fingers, and she loses her mind. “Oh God, Landon.”
“That’s it.”
“Fuck me harder.”
“Baby, I’m already fucking you into the mattress. If I go any harder I’ll split you in two.”
“I won’t break.” She shakes her head vigorously. “Please.”
With both hands gripping her hips now, I thrust as hard and fast as I can, and suddenly she screams my name and comes violently, shaking and pushing back on me, milking my cock like crazy.
I can’t hold back anymore. I push inside and come, my forehead on her back, panting, shocked at what we just did.
It might have been the most passionate sex I’ve ever had. And not even an hour ago we made the sweetest love.
Both blew my mind.
She’s fucking perfect for me.
I guide us to our sides and spoon her from behind, holding her close.
“I get lost in you,” I whisper, wishing I could see her face, but not wanting to move her.
“Mm,” she says. “But it’s the kind of lost that’s like being found.”
I blink, processing her words, and know, in this moment, that there will never be anyone else for me.
“I’M SO GLAD your birthday fell on a Sunday,” Kat says to Riley the next afternoon. We’re all at Jake and Addie’s home for a barbecue to celebrate Riley’s birthday. Mia, Jake, and Kat are in the kitchen. Riley, Addie, Cami, and I are in the adjoining family room, watching with interest as Jake and Mia fight about who’s going to man the grill.
“I’m happy to oblige,” Riley says with a grin, and then rolls her eyes when Mia throws a mushroom at Jake. “Jesus, Mia, it’s his grill.”
“I’m the chef,” Mia replies, her nose in the air.
“That’s the same look you gave me when you were little whenever Mom let you have your way.” I smirk when she glares at me.
“She never stopped throwing that look around,” Cami says with a laugh, and links her fingers with mine.
“I didn’t realize that Riley’s birthday was also known as give-Mia-shit day,” Mia says with an indignant sniff, then turns back to Jake. “I know what I’m doing with a grill.”
“Do you say that to all the guys?” Jake says, then ducks out of her way when she throws a punch at him. “Go enjoy your friends, Mia. I got this.”
“They’ve kicked me out of my own kitchen on Sundays,” she says mournfully. “And now you’re kicking me out too?”
“We are villains for making her take one day off a week,” Addie says, and shakes her head when Kat offers her a glass of wine. “You’re going to kill yourself if you keep going at this insane pace, Mia.”
“Hello, pot, I’m kettle,” Mia says. “I’ll whip the potatoes.”
“Fine,” Jake says, shaking his head. “Landon, want to help me with the grill?”
“Why does he get to help?” Mia cries.
“He’s a guy,” Jake says, and laughs when Mia just glares daggers at him.
“Addie, you married a sexist pig.”
“Hi, everyone!” We all turn our heads as a pretty blonde walks into the room. “Sorry I’m late. My children are demons.”
“Cici!” Cami jumps up and gives the woman a hug. “I’m so happy you came.”
“I’m just happy that I had a reason to leave my house and enjoy some girl time.” Cici smiles and looks around. “Or, sort-of girl time.”
“This is Landon,” Cami says as I shake Cici’s hand. “I don’t think you’ve met.”
“No, but I’ve heard all about you,” Cici says with a smile. “Welcome home. I’m glad you’re here safely.”
“Thank you.” I turn to Jake. “Let’s give them some girl time, whatever that means, and go tackle the grill.”
“Sexist pigs,” Mia mutters again, making us laugh as we step outside.
“Has she always been this bossy?” Jake asks me as he opens the already lit grill.
“She’s mellowed out with age,” I reply, and chuckle. “Mia has always been headstrong. It might be the Italian in her. Or maybe it’s just her.”
“She’s awesome,” Jake says with honest affection in his voice. “But man, can she be intimidating.”
“I like to think of her as badass,” I reply. “But don’t tell her I said that. We’ll never be able to live with her.”
“Your secret is safe with me, man.” He sets the steaks on the grill. “I’ll add the salmon when the steaks are half-done. It cooks faster.”
“Was that also a Mia instruction?”
“I think she said it about six hundred times.”
I shake my head and lean against a cement pillar, looking out over the pool that’s covered for the winter.
“How are things with Addie?” I ask.
He closes the grill and pulls two beers out of a small fridge next to the grill, hands me one. “I don’t remember my life without her now.”
“In case you need a refresher, you were an international rock star and you’ve won Grammys for your songs, Jake. FYI.”
“I know it sounds dumb,” he says with a shrug. “I don’t care if I’m sappy or whatever. In less than a year, she became the center of my universe. Of course I work, and she works, and we have lives to run, but at the heart of it, it all comes back to her. And I didn’t think that I’d ever say that about anyone.”
I nod, thinking about Cami and how much she’s come to mean to me in less than a month’s time.
“What’s going on with you and Cami?”
I raise a brow.
“Come on, you knew that question was coming.”
“What’s going on? We’re seeing each other.” I take a sip of my beer. “I’ve known Cami for a long time.”
“As a friend,” Jake says reasonably. “That’s not the same thing.”
“That’s what I’m learning,” I reply. “I thought I knew her so well, but she’s proving that to be wrong every day.”
“Cami’s sweet.” Jake turns the steaks, then laughs when he sees Mia with her nose practically pressed to the window watching him. “Go away!”
“You should put the salmon on now!” she yells, but Jake shoos her away and turns his back on her.
“I’m going to wait an extra two minutes to put the salmon on now.”
“I knew I liked you,” I reply with a smile. “And yes, Cami’s sweet. Are you going to warn me too?”
“‘Too’?”
“Mia and Kat have already pretty much said they’ll cut my balls off if I hurt her.”
“Nah. I’m not going to do that. You’re both adults, and you know what’s what. Besides, they all warned me off of Addie. I’ll never divorce her just to preserve my manhood.”
“If you hurt Blondie,” I reply, perfectly serious, “you won’t have to worry about your manhood. I’ll simply kill you and make it look like an accident.”
“Point taken.” Jake laughs and pulls the meat off the grill. “Come on, let’s listen to Mia tell me all about how I did this wrong.”
“I just don’t want any wine,” Addie says, and looks to Jake for help when we step inside. “Seriously, babe, they won’t leave me alone.”
“You know, peer pressure is bad,” I say slowly. “Just in case you forgot from when you were teenagers.”
“Addie loves wine,” Kat insists, but Cami’s watching with a thoughtful gaze. She’s rubbing her lips with her fingertip. She glances over at me and gives a slight nod, and I know what she’s thinking.
I know what’s happening here. Just wait and see.
“So tell them,” Jake says with a shrug. “I told you to tell them a month ago.”
“Holy Mary, Mother of God!” Mia shrieks. “You knocked her up!”
Cami grins. Everyone gasps and stares at Addie wide-eyed as tears gather in her pretty blue eyes.
“He totally knocked me up,” she says, getting choked up. “Isn’t it just the sweetest thing ever?”
The girls squeal and rush over to Addie to give hugs and kisses and belly rubs.
“How long?” Riley asks.
“Do you throw up all the time?” Cici asks.
“I want to throw the baby shower!” Cami says.
“I feel great,” Addie says, and smiles brightly at Jake as he walks over and kisses her cheek, then hugs her from behind. “I’m about three months along. I wanted to make sure everything was okay before we announced it. I know, that seems silly because it’s you guys, but—”
“We get it,” Riley says, patting Addie’s hand.
When the girls are all finished fussing over Addie, I saunter over and pull her in for a big hug. “I’m so happy for you, Blondie.”
“Thank you, handsome.”
“You should stop wearing those shoes. You don’t want to fall and hurt yourself.” The room goes absolutely quiet at my statement, and then all of the girls bust up laughing.
“You’re so sweet,” Addie says, patting my cheek like I’m a little boy who just said something funny. “But you’ll get my sexy shoes off my cold, dead feet.”
“Addie and Cami are very serious about their shoes,” Kat says.
“And you’re not?” Cami asks Kat, looking pointedly down at her cherry-red high heels.
“Not like you guys. You make shoe shopping into an Olympic sport. Have you seen Cami’s shoe-closet dream board on Pinterest?” Kat asks me.
“No,” I reply, smiling at Cami as she blushes.
“Oh God, you have to see it,” Riley says as Jake motions for all of us to file through the kitchen and dish up buffet-style. “The girl knows how to daydream about a pretty closet.”
“My shoes deserve a pretty closet,” Cami says softly, then latches on to my arm and buries her face in my shoulder. God, she’s funny. “I spend a fortune on them,” she mumbles into my shirt.
“I want to go play in Addie’s closet. Since we’re here anyway,” Mia says, and sniffs at the salmon. “These spent about a minute too long on the grill.”
“Sorry, chef,” Jake says, and rolls his eyes. “Eat steak instead.”
“I’m trying to steer clear of red meat,” Mia mumbles, and takes a piece of salmon, along with salad. No dressing. My heart hurts a bit for my sister. She’s beautiful, extra pounds and all, but she’s beat herself up for not being thin enough her whole life. “Addie, let’s go stare at your shoes after dinner.”
“We can totally do that,” Addie says happily, shoving mashed potatoes in her mouth. “God, I’m hungry.”
“I was constantly hungry when I was pregnant,” Cici says with a laugh. “I gained ninety pounds with my first.”
“Holy fuck,” Addie whispers, staring at her potatoes, but then she shrugs and keeps eating. “Jake’s stuck with me. Even if I do gain another whole preteen person.”
“Eat, baby,” Jake says, kissing her cheek.
I glance down at Cami and frown when I see tears in her eyes. “What is it?” I ask softly, so only she can hear. She shakes her head and looks up at me.
“I’m just happy. Everyone’s happy.”
I lean in and kiss her gently. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
“WHAT DID YOU think of today?” Cami asks as we finally walk into her house later that night.
“I had a good day. I always enjoy hanging out with you girls.”
She smiles and hangs our coats, then absentmindedly leans down to scratch Scoot’s ears. “I’m glad you had a good time. I did too.”
“Your mood has been hard to read today,” I say honestly, and watch as she thinks it over and then shrugs.
“I don’t know why I’ve had this weird mood on today. I’m so happy for Jake and Addie. I love celebrating my friends’ birthdays, and Riley seemed to enjoy herself. Everything was great today, but I’ve felt kind of . . . melancholy.”
“Come on.” I hold my hand out to her, then lead her up the stairs. “Show me where you’d put this shoe closet of yours.”
“Oh, it’s just a silly daydream,” she replies, but I shake my head.
“So daydream with me for a minute. Where would you put it?”
She bites her lip and watches me warily for a moment, then walks into the bedroom adjacent to her master bedroom and flips on the light. There are three bedrooms up here, not including her master. One is her office, one is a guest room, and this one is currently being used for storage.
“Okay, talk to me.”
“Really, Landon, it’s silly.”
“No, it’s not. Talk.”
She sighs and rolls her eyes, then walks about the space. “I would close up the doorway and make a new one that goes into my bedroom,” she begins. “Then I’d make this whole wall nothing but shelves for shoes. The walls on either end would have racks for clothes and this last wall would have hooks for scarves, my dresser, and more shelves for bags.
“In the middle, I’d put a vanity table and chair. Maybe. I don’t know, I don’t have it all figured out, but I’d essentially turn this bedroom into a kick-ass closet.”
I’m looking about the space as she describes it. “That wouldn’t be difficult, Cami.”
Her eyes light up.
“Seriously, it would maybe take a weekend and a few hundred dollars. Where do you have your shoes now?”
She motions for me to follow her, turns out the light of the closet-bedroom, and leads me into her master, opening a small walk-in closet that would be too small for most women I know. She has all of her clothes hung, and about three dozen shoe boxes stacked under them.
“I just leave them all in the boxes so they aren’t just in a huge heap,” she says. “It works fine.”
I know exactly what I’m getting her for her birthday in a few weeks.
I simply nod and pull her in for a hug. “Let’s take a bath.”
“A bath?”
I nod and pull her shirt over her head, toss it aside, and reach for her bra. In a matter of seconds, I have her undressed and sitting at the side of the bed as I strip off my own clothes.
“Stay.”
“Still not a dog,” she says with a sigh, and watches, her eyes on my stomach, as I turn away and walk into her bathroom. She has a separate shower and tub. The tub is a big jetted tub, the perfect size for two.
I run the water, adjust the temperature, and walk out to find that she’s flopped onto her back, her feet still on the floor. Her eyes are closed. I wish I knew why she seems so down today.
“Did you fall asleep?” I ask before laying my lips against hers and kissing her sweetly.
“Mm-mm,” she says, and grins against my lips. There’s her pretty smile.
“Have I mentioned how much I love this dimple in your cheek?”
“You used to tease me about it when we were teenagers,” she says as I pull her to her feet.
“Did you ever stop to think that teasing you was my way of flirting with you?” I ask as I guide her into the bathtub. I sit behind her and tug her back against me, then wrap my arms around her stomach and simply hold on.
“Well, if you were trying to flirt, you were bad at it,” she says, and bats at the bubbles with her hand.
“I was a teenager. Of course I was bad at it.” I chuckle and kiss her neck, just under her ear. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m just quiet, Landon,” she says, and leans her head back on my shoulder, takes a deep breath, and relaxes against me. “There’s nothing wrong.”
“Will you tell me if that changes?”
“If you like,” she says.
“I want you to talk to me. I want you to tell me anything and everything.”
“You’ll get sick of hearing my voice,” she says, and looks up at me with a smile.
“Impossible.” I kiss her nose. “Your voice is the best part of my day.”
“My voice? Not my body, or my mouth?”
“Those are both impressive,” I reply, and tuck her arms under mine, hugging her around her shoulders now. “But it’s your voice that makes my day.”
“That could be the sweetest thing that anyone’s ever said to me,” she says.
“Oh, there’s more to come, sweetheart.”