It took a moment for the knocking to penetrate her concentration bubble. Riya shook her head and frowned.
Am I hearing things?
The noise came again, and she sighed heavily, rolled her shoulders, and got up from her desk. She swiped her mug on the way from her office determined to grab another cup of tea while she worked on the latest program she had for homework. Cup on the counter, she snagged a peek at the clock and shook her head.
Where does the time go? I didn’t know it had gotten so late. This isn’t good, I have to stop and find some rest at some point. Although, I do want to get this finished.
Pulling the door open, her breath whooshed out of her body.
Cameron Liaci stood there, arms full of bags, snow dotting along his shoulders and hair.
Wait, snow?
She’d been so into her work, it had totally escaped her how much had fallen since she’d walked in her place. “Cameron,” she said calmly.
Here’s hoping he can’t hear how hard my heart is pounding. Or see the pulse in my neck.
“Injured shoulder. Cold. Think I could come in?” He gave her a half sexy grin.
She frowned, it was a smile he bestowed on everyone when he wanted something.
“Shouldn’t you be home? And not standing at my door at three in the morning?”
“What if I like being at your door?”
Riya rolled her eyes and stepped back. “I’m fine with you coming in, Cameron, but don’t lie to me.” She closed the door behind him, locking it, then trailed him into the kitchen where he put the numerous bags on the counter.
“I’m not lying to you, Riya. Why do you think I am?”
He gripped his shoulder and she caught the wince he tried to hide. Then he put his attention on her and she forgot what she’d been about to do.
“Riya?”
Christ, that voice. Decadent, deep, and tempting her to do all sorts of things—naughty things—with him.
“Because I’ve seen your practiced lines on other women, Cameron. You forget I see you in the diner flirting with anything that has breasts. I know the lines, the looks, and the half smiles you dole out in order to get whatever it is you’re after.” She flicked her tongue over her lips, wishing his were there instead, before it hit her.
I was getting him something for his shoulder.
Turning on her heel, she went to the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of over the counter medication and carried it out to where he was finishing up emptying the bags. “Here,” she said, placing the white bottle on the countertop with more force than necessary.
Those gray eyes found her, flicked down to the bottle and back up to her face. “Thank you.”
Her response was a grunt. It wouldn’t do to get herself involved in this. She needed to get to bed. Flashes of the last time she was in a bed with a man—correction, with this man and nearly whimpered aloud. The way his gaze heated, Riya wasn’t so positive she’d managed to keep her sound contained.
I’ll not address it. I’m still not sure what he’s doing here.
“Do you need water to take the pills with? Or what can I do so you can get on your way, although I have to say, I’m confused as why you just brought me a bunch of groceries with things I don’t necessarily eat.”
Another lazy perusal of her form as he dropped two pills from the bottle into his hand after opening it. “I showed up at your door because I figured if I’m going to be snowed in somewhere, it should be with you.”
She moved her mouth but nothing came out…For a bit. “You figured you would just come here to get snowed in?”
Cameron nodded.
“What the fuck would possess you to do that for?”
He took the pills without water and swallowed them. Then he moved toward her. Purely sexual, purely masculine until the tips of his boots touched her socked toes. “Because I want you, Riya Hendrickson. I don’t know any other way to get you to spend time with me.”
She blinked owlishly, head tipped back to hold his gaze. “You already had me. I wasn’t your type and you left and never came back.” Damn her sensitive heart for thudding out of control at his words and holding out some feeble hope of him being serious.
“I left because I was an idiot and I didn’t come back for the same reason. And I thought you’d come to me.”
His words triggered something in her brain that snapped the haze of wishful thinking away. “Like the other women,” she sneered. Riya had to give him points, he didn’t try to worm out of that statement, but owned it with a firm nod.
“Exactly like that.”
Holding her anger, she shook her head. “I’m not like the other women.” She longed to yell that out and beat it over his head. She wasn’t like anyone else, she was her own person, with her own hopes and dreams. “Just because we all fell for your charm doesn’t make me like the hordes of women you fuck on a random basis.” This time more than only anger laced her words, there was also pain.
She blinked away the tears. Riya hated how she tended to cry when she got upset. Not because her feelings had been hurt or anything but when she got angry, tears gathered and fell. She hated how it made her look.
Cameron stared at her for a moment then lifted her onto the counter.
Startled, she opened her mouth to reprimand him for using his arm only to realize, he’d lifted her with one arm alone. Okay, so that was pretty flipping sexy and hot, especially since he didn’t seem all that bothered by picking her up that way.
Fireman.
Her brain’s comment wasn’t appreciated or needed.
Cameron got right in her face. “You’re nothing like them, I completely agree. What you are Riya, is a breath of fresh air. You hold my balls to the fire when I do stupid shit. You don’t let me get away with it. When I watch you, I see the wheels spinning as your mind takes you wherever it does and you just go with it. You’re impulsive, carefree, absolutely adorable, and perfect.”
Riya didn’t know what to say. No one had said those things about her. Well, perhaps the impulsive part but that rarely came out as a compliment.
Why do I think I’m looking like a fish here once more?
Cameron settled the back of his hand along her cheek and slowly drew it down until he rested it along the curve of her neck. His fingers were across the back of her neck, his calluses rough against her skin and creating ripples of desire through her. He had his thumb on the pulse below her ear, making lazy circles and driving her to distraction. “I want to be here with you, Riya. I want to do this right and have an actual relationship with you. Something more than the fling we had before. I couldn’t get that time out of my head, no matter how much I tried.”
“You couldn’t?”
“God no. Christ woman, you sunk your claws into me that night and still, years later, haven’t let go.”
Her self-preservation kicked in. “So you’re trying to get me to loosen my claws?” It hurt. How the hell did he think she had her claws into him? She pretty much avoided all contact with him that she could. She never made him come to the diner. Sure as hell didn’t make him sit in her section when he was there. “If that’s what you’re after, then leave and never talk to me again.” Her words were cold and slightly devoid of any feeling.
Riya thought he may back up but instead, he tightened his grip on her slightly and inched closer between her legs. “Well now what would be the fun in that? I want them in deeper.” His breath brushed her cheek. “Dig them in, mark up my back. Hell, draw blood if you want. I want to feel them as I’m fucking you, Riya.”
Her pussy was slick and wanted to be touched. Not by her either. But him. If he stood between her legs like this much longer, she wasn’t going to be responsible for her actions. “What are you playing at, Cameron?” She had to keep him at a distance, it wasn’t fair for her to allow herself to involve her heart all over again.
He locked gazes with her and gripped her waist. “I’m not playing, Riya. Not yet. I do want to play with you though. I want to pet you, stroke you, and play. All night long and then some. I already told you I wanted back in you. But I also want more than that. How can I make you see this?”
“You roll up to my house in the middle of a snowstorm carrying groceries. I’ve spent more time with you in the last twenty-four hours than I have since the night you were here in my bed. Perhaps even more than that. You fucked me and left, it’s not like there was anything more than that. So why would I think any other way but suspiciously?”
“I am so sorry for how I treated you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t need an apology. I’m not in high school. I knew what I was getting into when I said yes to you coming home with me.”
His fingers located her skin and brushed along it, lightly, teasingly. “And what did you get?”
“A night to remember. That’s it.” She hadn’t any idea how she was managing to keep her cool, especially with him so close, sharing his body heat with her.
“This time, I will have to do better.”
Sweet merciful heavens—she was in trouble.
αβ
Cameron had gotten lost in her eyes. There wasn’t anywhere he wanted to be other than right here with her. He wasn’t an idiot, he could see the suspicion and doubt in her gaze. While it killed him to witness it, he also understood why it was there. Because of him and his past actions. Something he needed to rectify.
Here, in her kitchen as it snowed more than it had in years in this town, he had calmness and contentment in his soul.
I’ve been blind, she’s so much more to me than just an exceptional night in the sack. This woman completes the man I want to be.
Her soft skin beneath his fingertips burned through and had his cock hard within his jeans. The air smelled like Riya and the scent of lemon, grapefruit, and blood orange mixed in made it all the more perfect to him.
Letting go with his uninjured arm, he slipped it around the nape of her neck and drew her closer to his chest. He shut his eyes in relief when she didn’t fight him on that. Her cheek rested against the cotton of his shirt.
He wanted to take her right now and remind her of how it had been between them that night so long ago. However, he also instinctively knew that would be the shortest way for him to lose her for good. This woman wasn’t a vapid headed idiot. Not in anyway.
While it was harder than steel for him to do, he drew back from the curves pressed against him. “Are you going to kick me out?”
“You know you’re not as cute as you think you are, Cameron Liaci.” She met his gaze.
“Yes, I am,” he stated with assuredness.
The slight curl of her lips as she fought her smile warmed him.
Rolling her eyes, she pushed against his chest and slipped off her counter. “I won’t make you drive in that craziness out there. But you’re staying in the guest room.” She crossed her arms and shot him a look, daring to contradict her.
“I’ll take it. Want to stay in that room with me?”
Riya narrowed her eyes at him.
He flashed a grin. “Just checking.”
“Do you have clothes or did you just run out with groceries?”
“I have a bag in my truck. I’ll go get it.”
She shook her head and held out her hand. “You stay in here and stop using that damn arm or you won’t be able to get back to work as soon as you’d like. I’ll get your bag. Give me your keys.”
The moment he placed them in her palm, he realized he wouldn’t have turned them over to anyone else without hesitation. He remained there as she moved around him and swiped her jacket on her way out the door.
I could get used to this. Being in a house with her.
Shaking his head over his playing house scenario his mind created for him, he made sure the groceries were put away then he got himself a cup of water. He peered out the window over her sink and shook his head at the accumulation thus far. It was going to be much worse than they’d anticipated.
The door opened and he turned to see her walking in carrying his heavy black bag in one hand. The thing was heavy and it didn’t appear to bother her in the slightest.
“Bedroom is back here,” she said once she’d removed her snowy jacket and kicked off excess snow from her footwear.
He trailed her down the short hallway to the room. A double bed was in the middle of one wall with enough room to move on either side. An older dresser and an oversized chair in the corner were the only two other pieces of furniture. Across the bed was a quilt in different shades of pink.
Riya dropped the bag by the dark brown chair in the corner and turned back toward him.
Cameron wished there was more light on in the room aside from the single lamp illuminating the space.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, rubbing a hand along her left arm.
He was but not for anything in her kitchen, unless she was in there. But yes, he could go for some grub. “I don’t want to put you out.”
She snorted. “Right, exactly why you showed up at my house in the middle of a snowstorm because you didn’t want to put me out. I’m having another cup of tea and a sandwich, do you want me to make you one as well?”
“I’ll make the sandwiches, you just show me where everything is kept.”
Her indecision wavered before she gave a nod.
He then gestured for her to lead the way out of the room. He had to get her out of here or they would be naked on that very pink bedspread in seconds.
Before she exited the room, her gaze flicked to the bed and to him briefly. There was no disguising the heat in her gaze. Or the longing.
He trailed his gaze along the back of her low riding workout pants. Gray in color with pink writing on the ass cheeks. ROYALTY. He hid his smile, it worked for her. He loved it. The white shirt she wore hugged her upper body and he longed to peel it away from her dark skin and trail his tongue along each inch.
She made them both a cup of tea while he made a huge sandwich then cut it in half. He chuckled over her pink paper plates as she put a half on each.
“What?”
“I don’t remember this much pink last time I was here.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Were you paying attention to my plates then? And the second bedroom?”
“Can’t say that I was.”
“There you go then.” She lifted both plates, carried them to the living room and put them on the coffee table. “I got them,” she called out the second he reached for the drinks.
“I’m not an invalid.”
“Nope but you are not supposed to be using that arm. I’m guessing you shouldn’t have been out there tonight.”
“You would be right on that, but I monitored dials and gauges. I didn’t go in the building.” He sat on the couch and took a large bite of his sandwich. Ham, turkey, and salami along with lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and a dash of salt, all on thick slices of multigrain bread. While he chewed, he watched her.
She sat curled up on a loveseat, balancing the plate on her knee as the mug of steaming tea rested on the arm. Wisps of her hair fell around her face adding an air of innocence to her appearance and never once took away from the sexiness. As she chewed, she tucked her hair behind one ear and lifted her gaze to his. “What?” she asked around the bite in her mouth.
“Nothing. Why did you get into cybersecurity?”
“I’ve been messing with computers since I can remember, the government came knocking before I got out of high school and offered me a position there when I graduated.” She picked a small piece of the bread off and popped it in her mouth.
“Then why are you taking classes for cyber security and working as a waitress?” He had to be missing something.
“I never finished high school.”
He had to try twice to swallow that next bite. “What?” School had not been an option for him or Carter and not finishing something which never came up.
“I said I never finished high school.” She took another bite and chewed slowly. Her throat moved up and down as she swallowed. “That’s why I’m working at the diner and going to school.”
He wanted to pry and learn more but his brain wasn’t completely on board with that idea. He took a drink of the tea and tried to figure out the best way to continue.
She gave a short bark of laughter while she shook her head. “What’s the matter, Cameron? Not used to someone who didn’t finish school and go to college? Ashamed you slept with me now?”
“I’ll put you over my knee if you keep talking that way. No, I’m not ashamed of that. I’m curious.”
“Then how about I don’t make you try to figure out a way to ask the questions you’re dying to know in a way with diplomacy, and just tell you. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”
He hated that she believed she should be ashamed.
Now, she waved him quiet when he opened his mouth once more. “I had to drop out to take care of my mother. She had dementia and we couldn’t afford for anyone to take care of her. So, I quit going to school. Never stopped playing with computers to keep up my abilities. When she passed away, I figured I should get back to doing for me, so I got my GED and began working for the degree.”
“When did you lose your mother?”
She cleared her throat and shrugged. “It’s been a while.”
He finished his sandwich and canted his head to the side. “How long?”
“A little over two years.” She wouldn’t meet his gaze, just finished her own partial sandwich.
“Riya?”
She brushed off her hands and placed the plate on the arm of the chair, opposite side of the mug. “The night I slept with you, it had been one week since I put her in the ground.” She climbed out of the chair and picked up the two items before walking out of the room and leaving him alone.
Holy shit, one week after she buried her mother, he treated her like everyone else he fucked—he’d left.