Chapter Thirty-Six
“My unit is being sent overseas,” Zach said softly over the phone. “Camryn, I’m headed to Afghanistan.”
Her heart slammed into her stomach and she held back a strangled cry. “Zach, please don’t leave me,” she barely whispered.
“It’s gonna be okay, baby. I promise. I have you to come home to and I’ll do whatever I need to to make that happen. I love you so much. There’s nothing more important than you. In fact…I’m done after this tour, Cami girl. I need to be with you more than anything. I want to knock you up over and over and live until we’re old and gray.”
She laughed through her tears and said, “Was that your attempt at a proposal? Because the answer is yes, Zach. I want to marry you. I can’t wait until you’re home and I can spoil the hell out of you every day of our lives together.”
There was silence on the other end.
“Zach? Are you there?”
“Yeah, I’m here. I’m just marveling at the idea that I gave the most amazing girl in the world the worst proposal in the history of mankind and she still said yes.”
Camryn laughed. “I can think of worse proposals.”
“Really? Okay, but your answer it still yes, right? Please say you’ll marry me, Camryn.”
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you…”
“Camryn?” Teague’s deep voice zapped through her reverie. He stepped closer to her and placed his hand against her face. “I love you more than my own life and I want to be with you permanently.”
Camryn blinked back tears that had pooled because the past and the present had once again collided together. But Zach was more often becoming a distant memory, and even though she knew it was part of the healing process, it was still hard to understand sometimes.
When she looked into Teague’s deep blue-green eyes, her heart broke from the intensity in them. He was in love with her. She could feel it. So why was it so hard for him to be completely honest with her? He’d confessed a secret he thought she already knew, which really didn’t impress her much. Yes she did understand because of who his family was. But what about his life? What about other things that were bigger than just a stupid little P.I. checking up on her? All she wanted was for him to tell her about Chase and he wouldn’t do it. He was still keeping it from her, and then he was back on the whole cheating issue again.
The pressure in her chest was almost painful. She couldn’t breathe.
“Camryn?”
“I need some air,” she whispered, and she slipped on some shoes and left the room. She heard her name once more, but he didn’t come after her when she stepped out the front door. She was glad because a walk in the night air alone would clear her head so she could talk to him again.
She was a whirl of emotions. What he’d said to her about shattering into pieces if what they had wasn’t real had hit her hard. She believed him. She believed that he loved her that much. She would take what he said and treasure it her entire life because she felt the same way about him. But the fact that his confession was about a private investigator totally threw her off. What about Chase? When was he going to tell her about his son? Instead he confessed something completely unexpected, and if that wasn’t bad enough, the situation was so totally ironic. He couldn’t trust her? Camryn certainly didn’t have anything to hide. Her life was pretty cut and dry. Her dance career was public knowledge if anyone needed to find out, and she didn’t have any legal issues to hide or some sort of embarrassing secret to cover up.
Or a child to sweep under the rug.
Before she could analyze any further, she didn’t walk more than half a block when a sleek Maserati crept up along the street beside her. “Camryn? Hey, I thought that was you.”
She didn’t have to see the driver to recognize the voice and she kept walking.
“What are you doing out at night by yourself?” Max inquired.
“I’m walking.” Damn it, he pulled his car up ahead of her and parked at the curb. This was not what she wanted. To see Teague’s dad and his brother in the same freaking day? What the hell was wrong with these people?
Max climbed out of the car and stepped onto the sidewalk. She was now walking toward him and was tempted to turn around and head the other direction, but he said, “I was gonna visit my brother, but then I saw you. Maybe it’s better this way.”
She slowed as she approached him and narrowed her eyes. “What’s better this way?”
He barely shrugged. “Talking to you first. I hear my dad paid you a visit this afternoon. Did you tell Teague? Is that why you look upset? Did you guys have a fight?”
“You’re awfully nosy for someone I barely know,” she answered. She moved past him and kept walking, but Max was soon walking beside her. “I’m out here because I want to be alone, so if you don’t mind—”
“Can I at least apologize for my father?”
That caught Camryn by surprise and she gave him a side-glance as she walked. “Why do you need to apologize for someone else?”
“Because Teague probably flipped out when you told him, and I know that my dad’s intentions were a bit…misguided.”
“Oh?” she smiled sarcastically. “You know what? I don’t want anything to do with you people. Teague’s right. It’s just this big act for all of you. And for your information, I didn’t tell Teague about it because it would only make him upset. So if that’s what the hell you guys were going for, you can just kiss my—”
“You didn’t tell him?” Max asked, coming to a halt. “Oh, thank God.”
Camryn was so puzzled by his response that she stopped, too. “I’d ask you to explain this little game you’re playing, but I really don’t give a shit. I’m sure it will only be a waste of my time.”
“I respect your resistance to my family, Camryn. I really do. I can honestly tell that you don’t give a fuck about who I am or who my father is, or what kind of damage we could do to your life.”
“Damage?” she raised an eyebrow. With a slow smile she added, “Holy shit, Max. Are you threatening me?”
He honestly looked surprised. “What? Oh! No, I’m not threatening you. I’m just— Hell, that came out wrong, didn’t it? I just meant the stress we’d add to your life. Because of who we are. Just being around my dad or me makes Teague pissed, so I can only assume the headache would be passed along to you as well. Tainting by association I guess you could say. Not to mention the fact that your name will be thrown around by the media eventually. Actually it already—”
“What the hell do you want, Max,” Camryn exhaled. “I have other things to deal with right now.”
She felt a few sprinkles of rain on her skin but she began walking again, and to her displeasure, Max did too.
“Okay, I realize that my dad extended an olive branch that you didn’t want. But he also said he told you about Kate.”
She felt bitterness stir in her chest but kept walking.
“He showed you a picture? Of Teague with Kate and Chase?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“He shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry. That was a shitty move on his part. My dad doesn’t like to be told no.”
“So I’ve noticed.”
“So you already knew about Kate?”
She didn’t answer at first. Maybe she should just lie and see what she could get out of him. She would never lie to Teague, but Max was a different story.
“Look, it doesn’t bother me that Teague has a son, okay?” she said. “Whatever the hell is going on is really pissing me off, but I’m not going to do anything about it right now. I love Teague, and whatever is going on with him will have to be shared with me when he’s ready.”
“Are you saying he doesn’t know that you know? You’re gonna let Teague handle his own family issues, right?”
“You mean am I going to blab his secrets to the media? Fuck off, Max.”
“Okay, I see that you’re loyal to him, I just… You can never tell, Camryn. I’m just looking out for my family.”
“I’m done with this conversation.”
She turned at the corner and Max continued with her. “Fine, then we won’t discuss it. You don’t know about it, I don’t know that you know, and nobody knows a fucking thing. See, you’re more like my family than you think.”
Just hearing that made Camryn’s blood boil. But Teague had been right in that aspect. She was beginning to understand his life growing up in Hollywood even if he didn’t tell her every little detail. She’d caught bits and pieces here and there, and of course Melanie always had gossip to share, whether it was true or not. Teague wasn’t as high profile like his father or brother, and Camryn was glad, but he was still an interesting part of the family that the media liked to go after. The McCallans were your typical Hollywood dynasty, right up there with the Coppolas and Fondas. Camryn compared Craig McCallan’s career to Kiefer Sutherland’s, but the only difference to Camryn was that she liked Kiefer Sutherland.
“I see that pisses you off,” Max said after she hadn’t responded. “Don’t like being sucked into the wrath of secrets, he said/she said, or what the facts really are? Well try having it publicized ten-fold. Your every move. Your reputation could be ruined before you even know it, all because of a lie, a photo, or even a tiny little fact being blown way out of proportion. You don’t know who believes what lie about you or who you’re supposed to explain yourself to. Surely you understand that secrets and privacy are necessary parts of the business sometimes.”
“I get it, okay? I think you all need to take a damn chill pill. You’re all overrated, your shit smells like ours only worse, and the fact that fans obsess over you people is sickening.”
“God, you are a match for my brother,” he joked. “And I agree with you on everything but the shit. I’m sure you don’t shit roses, princess.”
She actually laughed at that and it felt good. The past twelve hours had been way too dramatic for her taste.
But being around Max made her miss Teague. Rushing out of the house to get away from the confusion probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do. He’d said he wanted to marry her. Even though it wasn’t the most fabulous timing, Camryn wasn’t one to expect anything grand. It had taken her completely by surprise, and whether or not Teague said it out of desperation, she truly believed he meant it.
Her heart ached for him at that moment. It felt like a piece of her was missing and she needed to return it to her chest. She slowed to a stop and said, “I need to head back. Hopefully I don’t have to see you around.”
“Nice try, Camryn,” Max said, flashing another charming McCallan smile. “I at least need to return to my car.”
“Doesn’t mean you have to walk with me.”
“True, but I’d—”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Teague’s voice bellowed in the dark.
Camryn’s breath caught as she saw him storm down the sidewalk toward them. She didn’t even realize they were almost to Teague’s house again. She heard Max curse and he actually took a step backwards.
“Hey, chill out, Teague. I came to talk to you, bro. I saw her walking the streets and figured—”
“Well you figured wrong,” Teague growled. He would have been in Max’s face but Camryn stepped between them.
“It’s okay, Teague,” she said softly. “I was about to come inside.”
He finally looked at her and his face softened.
“I’m ready to talk now,” Camryn said, sliding her hands around his neck. “I’m sorry for leaving like that. I just needed a little space so I could—”
“It’s okay,” he said softly. His hands gripped her hips tightly and pulled her to him, and then he narrowed his eyes at his brother. Max shook his head and left in silence, but Teague didn’t relax until the Maserati finally sped by.
Camryn could literally feel the relief exude from his body. The way he physically reacted whenever his brother was around was unbelievable. Every single fiber of his being went into protective mode and it was scary.
“Teague,” she whispered when his lips nuzzled her neck. He kissed along her jaw and across her chin. It was sweet and sensual, and it reminded her of their first week together with no lip locking.
His fingers lightly grazed the back of her neck and slid into her hair. It gave Camryn a chill and he smiled his satisfaction. “Yeah, sweetheart?” he whispered back. “I will do anything for you.”
Camryn slowly smiled as the warm feelings in her chest began to spread. “Wow, if I thought your voice was euphoric before, good heavens, your whisper voice is panty-wetting.”
He lightly laughed and kissed her forehead. “Mmm, sounds good. Wait— Euphoric?” He leaned back to see her face in the dim light of the streetlamp. “So that’s what’s euphoric? My voice?”
“Mm-hmm. Keep talking, Inferno. I’m about to take you behind those bushes.”
“I dare you,” he whispered again. He finally kissed her lips, just as the rain started to fall harder. The intensity of their kiss picked up with the amount of rain that fell, and pretty soon they were drenched while their tongues sought fulfillment from each other.
“Teague,” Camyrn finally managed to speak. “I’m soaked.”
“Yeah I bet you are, baby. Because I was using my euphoric whisper voice.”
“It’s pouring down rain, you fool,” she laughed in between kisses.
“It’s not,” he breathed, sucking in her bottom lip. “That’s just your panties talking.”
“Well they’re saying they want to be removed because something else keeps creaming for attention.”
“Oh. My. God.”
***
Teague almost took her right there on the sidewalk, but he scooped her up and headed for the side of his house instead. It was fairly secluded by shrubbery, especially at night. He set her down and gruffly whispered, “Turn around.”
As she faced the house, he placed her hands up over her head against the wall.
“Are you going to search me?” she whispered with a huge smile across her face.
“Damn right I am.” His hand went up her shirt and spread wide against her belly. His finger grazed her navel piercing and he closed his eyes to take in the moment. It was still pouring rain and there wasn’t much shelter from it under the narrow eves of the house, but a soaking wet Camryn set all of his senses into overdrive.
One hand slowly began to venture further up her shirt and then rubbed against her breasts. Once he had his fingers against the satin of the bra, he rubbed her nipples into hardened peaks, enjoying the soft sounds that came out of her mouth. His other hand trekked south into her pants, working his way into the waistband of her panties. He could hardly wait when he sent his fingers to explore. They slid over her clit and she moaned, and after he rubbed them flat between her folds, he brought her wetness up with his fingers as they massaged her sensitive spot again.
“Holy fuck, you weren’t kidding,” he exhaled. “I’d say you’re only an eleven, though, so I’m gonna have to do something about that.”
She only responded with a whimper because his long fingers slid between her folds again, and then up into her heat. He began a gentle rhythm and Camryn took one hand off the house and slid it behind his neck to pull his lips to hers as she tipped her head back.
He released a low groan as he pulled his body tighter to hers. While his mouth made love to hers and his fingers drove her to the edge, he wanted to memorize every single detail of this moment with her. The sweet smell of her hair mixed with rain; the softness of her skin where he held her body into him; the sexy sounds she made in his mouth as he devoured her lips and tongue.
This beautiful woman had become his entire world.
His fingers remained inside of her as he used his other hand to undo his pants enough to release his throbbing erection. The need to get it between her legs was killing him, and as Camryn slid her own pants and panties down, she repositioned herself to give him easier access from behind. His dick replaced his fingers in one smooth motion as their mouths reunited. She let out a quiet moan but it was sexy as hell. He’d have to tease her about the sexy “whisper moan” later, because he felt the gasp from her lips when he reached down to touch her at the same time. He could tell she was at the brink of release.
Teague held her with the other hand firmly and continued his rhythm until her body responded. She kissed him even deeper, and as the rippling sensation rolled through her, he felt her stature weaken with the release. His arm tightened across her ribs to hold her up as she gasped for air, and then he continued to kiss her neck while she enjoyed every last ounce of pleasure that lingered.
Then Camryn tightened herself around his cock and leaned back to kiss his mouth again. Whenever she did that, he could never last long. Teague surrendered his control in a heartbeat. He filled her almost instantly while he groaned into her mouth.
It was still pouring rain when he turned her around. Her pants and underwear were just below her ass so he pulled them back up and then his own. When she rested her back on the house, she smiled and grabbed his shirt to bring him closer. He placed his forearms on either side of her head against the house and continued to kiss her.
“I love you, Teague,” she whispered in the dark.
“I love you too, Camryn. More than anything.”
He didn’t want to mention their earlier conversation, even though it needed to be finished. But it was Camryn that brought it up when she asked, “Were you serious about marrying me?”
Teague leaned back just slightly to catch what he could see of her expression in the dark. He swallowed, unsure if she could tell how insecure he was or not.
“Yes,” he barely spoke. He cleared his throat and added, “I’m sorry I dropped that on you like that. It was stupid of me to blurt it out so soon, but I just wanted you to understand why I did what I did. My future is with you, Camryn. You’re all I want. And I have so many things I want to share with you, to tell you, and I’m slowly learning to trust people again. Please be patient with me because I’m just an idiot that doesn’t want to fuck this up with you.”
She smiled and took his rain-drenched face in her hands. “But do you still mean it? That’s all that matters. It’s really in your plans to marry me?”
“Hell yeah. I’d marry you tomorrow if I could. Camryn, I’ve never met anyone like you. You keep me on my toes all the time with your sass and wit. I smile and laugh when I’m with you; even when I’m not with you I’m smiling like a damn fool. I can’t stop thinking about you and I love it. You’re so forgiving, so selfless and just…the right woman for me. You make me a better person, and I want to spend the rest of my life proving that and being the right person for you.”
“Teague, you don’t have anything to prove to me. I love everything about you. And I’ll continue to love everything about you if you let me. Yes I want to marry to you.”
He could only smile as he leaned his forehead to hers. They had plenty of time to get to the point of actually tying the knot, but he felt at ease and relieved that they were both committed to the same goal.
“Teague?” she whispered, barely touching his lips with hers.
“Yeah?” he answered, his voice hardly carrying through the sound of the downpour.
“There’s something about the rain and your wet, clinging shirt that makes me want to ravish you, so take me to bed and—”
He scooped her up and carried her through the dark garage, barely bumping the Mustang on their way by. Camryn continued to kiss him as they entered the house and headed for the bedroom as quietly as they could.
“Rawk! Fuck!” the bird screeched as they hurried by.
Camryn laughed against Teague’s lips. “Dirty bird knows what we’re about to do again.”
“Ah hell no,” Teague smiled. “I’ll be making love to you until the sun comes up.”
“It’s supposed to rain all day tomorrow.”
“Oh glory be to God, I hope so….”