Camryn
Placing our bags down, Sarah and I sit at a small aluminum table in the mall food court, the chatter of teenagers unable to drown out the grating sound of the cheap chairs scraping across the linoleum. I open the container in front of me. The smell of grilled chicken wafts out, and my mouth waters. Shopping is hard work, especially with Sarah, the shopping dynamo.
“All right, sugar, spill. What’s up with you and hunka-hunka-burning-love? You gonna give him a chance?” Sarah waggles her eyebrows with a sassy little grin on her face.
Sipping on my drink, I glance over the railing, my eyes focused on the people milling about while I contemplate her question. Am I ready to put my heart on the line and take that chance? Just the thought gives me palpitations.
“Camryn?” Sarah whisper-yells, snapping her fingers at me to get my attention. “Hey, are you paying attention to me?”
“Uh, yeah, I am. I’m just thinking.” I jerk my attention back to her.
“Don’t think too hard, steam will come out of your ears,” she says with a smile before taking a bite of her slice of pizza. A strand of cheese stretches from her mouth as she draws it back.
“Funny,” I reply with a smirk before taking a bite of the crisp lettuce. The grilled chicken, roasted corn, and black beans add just the right amount of flavor and texture to disguise the fact that I’m eating a salad.
“What is your freaking hang up with Isaac now? What’s holding you back?”
“I don’t know,” I huff.
“Bullshit!” she shouts, catching the attention of the kids at the table next to us. Feeling their stare, my face heats.
“Sarah, keep it down. Geez,” I whisper, not that she has a lower volume.
“Feed that line of shit to someone else.”
“It’s not a line of shit,” I say, defensive.
“Then what is your problem? Isaac is hot. He seems sweet, and he seems to care about you a lot. I mean, the man stayed with you after the accident and waited on you hand and foot.”
“He is a nice guy,” I grumble.
“And?” She makes a come-on motion with her hand, encouraging me to continue.
“What the hell does he see in me? I’ve seen the girls he’s been with. They are nothing like me.”
“Maybe he realized he had shit taste and needs a change.”
“Oh, I’m sure going home with a model look-alike has been a real strain on him.” I roll my eyes. “How am I supposed to hold his attention?”
“Why can’t you? And what the hell is wrong with you?” she asks, one eyebrow arched.
“I’m a fat redhead whose too damn smart for most men. If one doesn’t scare them away, the other will.”
“Not all men are the same, Camryn.”
“No, but if I can somehow keep their attention, I either end up cheated on or dumped for a chick who’s the exact opposite of me.”
“What about Adam?”
“What about him?” I ask, confused.
“You two were together for a few years.”
“And look where that got me. Dumped because he couldn’t love me,” I murmur, trying my hardest to keep the tears out of my voice. Closing my eyes against the pain, the words leave me in a rush. “I wanted Adam to be the one. But even though he seemed to like my flaws, I still wasn’t enough for him.” Even as the words leave me, the ache in my chest intensifies.
“Okay, so he wasn’t your one. Maybe Isaac is. You just have to give him a chance.”
“Yeah, maybe. Or maybe it’ll last until the newness wears off and he’ll go back to his flavor of the week,” I say, jabbing my straw into my cup.
“Damn, Camryn. I didn’t realize you were so judgmental,” she says, a sneer marring her beautiful face.
“Excuse me?” I ask, flabbergasted. “Judgmental? Me?”
“Hell yes. Have you listened to yourself? You’re condemning the man before he even has a chance with you.”
“I’m being realistic,” I argue.
“No, you’re not. You’ve tried and sentenced him before the trial has even started. You’re trying to come up with an excuse as to why it won’t work out before it even has a chance at working.” She points her finger at me with each word to emphasize her point.
“But—”
“No freaking buts. If you don’t give him a chance, hell no it’ll never work. You’ll doom your relationship before it ever starts. That’s not fair to him or you.”
“No, you’re right. It’s not fair to him,” I say, sitting back against the metal slats of the chair.
“Let’s talk about this logically. One, he’s never been in a relationship before, right?” At my nod, she continues. “Two, if he’s never been in a relationship before, he hasn’t cheated, so you can’t assume he will.”
“But—”
“No evidence, no conviction.”
“You sound like a damn lawyer.”
“What do you expect when we work in a law office? It rubs off,” she replies with a shrug.
“What if I give him a chance and end up falling for him when it’s nothing to him? I don’t know if my heart can take it.”
“But what if you’re everything to him? Do you really want to chance not finding out? And possibly losing the greatest love of your life?”
Is she right? Is the risk of loving him worth the possible damage to my heart?
Knocking draws my attention to the clock. Isaac isn’t supposed to be here for another twenty minutes. Damn, I wanted to get the cobbler in the oven before I went and got cleaned up. Wiping my hands on my dishtowel, I walk toward the front door. As I pass the mirror on the wall, I catch my reflection. My hair is slipping from the messy bun on my head, tendrils curling down my temple and neck, and flour is streaked across the apple of my cheek. Maybe it’s not him at the door. Those hopes are dashed as soon as I look through the peephole. I wipe the flour from my face and pull the door open. The sun makes a halo around his head, but he’s far from an angel.
“Hey there, Red,” he says with a devastating smile, and I go weak in the knees. “These are for you.”
He holds out a bouquet of lilies, and the paper crinkles as I take them from his hand. The same spark I’ve always felt races up my skin as my hand grazes his.
“They’re beautiful. Thank you. They’re my favorite.”
“I know. But I wasn’t sure which type, so I got a few different ones.”
“How did you know?” I ask with a smile.
“Trade secret,” he replies with a wink.
“Oh, where are my manners? Please, come in,” I say, stepping back to let him into the foyer.
“Something sure smells good in here.”
“Oh, it’s the pork chops. You’re a little early. I was just finishing up something in the kitchen for tonight.”
“Something with flour?” he smiles before tracing his thumb down my cheek.
“Uh…yeah,” I breathe out.
“Red,” he whispers before his lips touch mine. All thoughts leave my head as his mouth devours mine, tongues tangling together. The flowers fall to the floor as I wind my arms around his neck. I have no idea how long we stand there making out like teenagers before the incessant beeping of the timer on the oven penetrates my brain. Reluctantly, he pulls away, hands on my hips, holding me steady.
“I’m guessing you need to take care of that or something’s going to burn?” He smiles down at me.
“If you want to eat tonight, yes.” Turning away, I head into the kitchen. His footsteps sound behind me as he follows, paper crinkling in his hand.
“Is that cobbler?” he asks, wonder in his voice.
I look over my shoulder as I open the oven door to see him practically licking his lips as he stares at the baking dish.
“Yes. I hope you like peaches.”
“Ice cream?” he asks, a hopeful look in his eyes.
“I have vanilla, or I made whipped cream.” I laugh out when he moans. “There’s a vase in the cabinet behind you. Would you please get it for me?” I ask, pulling on my oven mitts. Taking out the heavy cast iron skillet, I place it on the stove before reaching in for the potatoes. I glance over my shoulder when he lets out a small whimper, wondering what caught his attention this time. When I realize his gaze is focused on my ass, I blush.
“See something you like?” I ask with a wink before standing up and turning away from him. Where the hell did that come from?
“Can we skip dinner?” he asks, his voice heavy with innuendo.
“Not in this lifetime, buddy. I’ve been slaving away. We’re going to eat.” I place the potatoes beside the skillet, and his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me into his hard chest. His warm, moist breath tickles the back of my neck before his lips touch the sensitive skin.
“You sure about that?” He reaches up to cup my breast, my nipple hard against his palm, and grinds his hips against my ass, the hard length of his cock easily felt through his jeans.
My head falls back against his shoulder as my eyes close. “What was the question again?” I pant out.
As soon as the words leave my mouth, he chuckles against my back. “No, you’re right. You did all this hard work. I'm not going to let it go to waste. We've got all night." He places a soft kiss at the crown of my head before his heat leaves my back, instantly making me crave more. Leaning back, he props an elbow on the granite countertop, the other hand reaching down to adjust himself. My eyes are drawn to the action like a magnet. He shoots me a lecherous grin when he sees where my eyes are focused.
"Anything I can help you with, Red? I'm at your service."
Clearing my throat, I drag my eyes back to the food. "Can you get a couple plates out of the cabinet? Let’s eat while it's still hot."
Grabbing the cobbler, I place it in the oven, so it can bake while we eat. The flash of heat when I open the door doesn’t do a damn thing to cool me off. Maybe if I stick my head in the freezer…
Isaac leans back in the chair, one hand patting his stomach and a satisfied smile stretching across his face.
"That had to be one of the best meals I’ve eaten in a long time. Thank you."
"It was my pleasure,” I reply, tucking some of the loose curls behind my ears. "I don't get to cook that often since it's usually just me."
"You can cook like that for me any day."
In tandem, we work together, gathering the dishes and cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, the silence comfortable.
Wiping my hands on the towel, I glance over at Isaac as he places the leftovers in the refrigerator. "Do you want to watch a movie or something?" I ask, a nervous tremor causing my voice to warble. I feel like a damn teenager on her first date with the most popular boy in school. Isaac takes a seat on the couch and scrolls through my DVR for a movie while I pull out the peach cobbler.
“Damn, that smells good," Isaac hollers as the blend of cinnamon, sugar, and peaches fills the room.
"You want ice cream or whipped cream?"
"Um, both." He chuckles.
"Why does that not surprise me?"
Dishing him up a bowl, I lob a big scoop of ice cream on top, top it with a spoonful of homemade whipped cream, then fix myself a much smaller bowl. I place his bowl on the table in front of him, and without any further thought, he drops the remote on the couch and reaches for the bowl.
"Careful. It’s hot," I warn as he scoops out a large bite, steam rising.
Pursing his lips, he blows on the bite before placing it in his mouth. His tongue comes out to wipe the sugary crumbs from his lower lip as I watch, enraptured.
"Did you find anything you wanted to watch?" I ask before taking a more delicate bite. He shakes his head as he spoons in another mouthful.
Reaching for the remote, I pick the movie he left highlighted on the screen. It just happens to be one of my favorites. Resident Evil. I click on the play button, and it's not long before I'm watching Alice wake from a prone position in her shower.
The clank of the spoon distracts me from the movie as it scrapes against the side of the bowl.
"You want some more?" I ask, still staring at the television.
"If I eat anymore, I'll be in a food coma the rest of the night, and that is not how I want this evening to end."
Glancing over at him, his focus is firmly on me. It's a little disconcerting as I squirm to get more comfortable.
"And," I ask, clearing my throat, "just how did you see tonight ending?”
"With you hot, sweaty, and so numbed with pleasure, you'll never want to leave my side." At his confession, my breath leaves me in a gasp and my panties become soaked. Within an instant, the small distance between us is gone, the bowl knocked to the floor in his haste. My breath catches in my chest as he prowls toward me. Leaning back against the arm of the couch, my heart pounds as Isaac's heavy weight presses me into the cushions, his body blanketing mine. His breath fans across my cheek, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. As his beautiful green eyes roam my face, one hand raises to cup my jaw and his thumb strokes the soft skin.
"You are so fucking beautiful. How did I get lucky enough to be here tonight?"
"You think you’re lucky?" I ask, breathless, pressing my face into his palm.
"The luckiest bastard alive." He lowers his face, his soft lips ghosting over mine. "Red, if you're not ready, you need to let me know before this goes any further. I don't want you regretting anything tonight. The last couple times have been—"
"I'm ready," I whisper against his lips.
"Thank God," he breathes out before his lips devour mine, tongues dancing together. The hardness of his dick presses against my inner thigh. Spreading my legs farther apart, his hips settle in the V, the solid length of him rubbing against my throbbing core. With each roll of my hips, little sparks shoot from my clit. My legs wrap around him, pulling him tighter against me. His hand wraps in my hair, and I arch my neck.
"That's it, Red. Take what you need." His lips trail down my jaw to my neck, tongue laving the skin. His hips rock harder, sending white hot lightning shooting through my body, clit throbbing, nipples peaked into diamonds against the lace of my bra. One hand travels to my breast, cupping the fullness. “Give it to me, Camryn. Now,” he orders, pinching my nipple, and the sharp pain sets me off like a rocket. “God damn, you’re gorgeous when you come. Wrap your arms around me.”
Drained of all energy, I throw my arms around his shoulders before he hoists us off the couch, and I stiffen, causing him to stutter a step.
“Relax, Red. I’ve got you.”
“I can walk, Isaac. Put me down before you hurt yourself.” I unwrap my legs from his waist, but one of his arms shelves my ass as the other buries in my hair, forcing me to face him.
“I’m not going to get hurt,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.
“I’m not a small girl.”
“I’m not a small man,” he mimics. “Trust me. I’ll never let you fall.”
He carries me across the living room with an ease I never would have dreamed. The walls blur around me as he hurries into the bedroom before laying me down on the bed. His weight follows, pressing me into the soft mattress. Untangling my arms from his neck, he stands beside the bed, and my legs slip lower to his thighs as he his whips his shirt off and throws it on the floor. My eyes eat him up as he exposes those rock-hard abs. Uncrossing my legs, I sit up and run my hands up his stomach to his pecs. His muscles tense under my touch, and I pinch his nipple before licking away the sting. His hand curls in my hair, forcing me closer before pulling me away, eyes bright with lust as he gazes down at me.
“Damn, that feels good, but tonight is about you. I want this to be a night you’ll remember.”
Reaching down, he grips the hem of my shirt, raises it up, and pulls it over my head. Bunching it behind my neck, he leaves my arms in the sleeves, where I am helpless and at his mercy. His hands run over my breasts, each thumb causing the lace to chafe my nipples as he strokes them across the hard peaks. His fingers dip inside the cup as he pushes lace under my breasts before grasping the nipples between his fingers, the sensation shooting straight to my clit. My whimper is rewarded with a sultry smile.
“I have plans for you tonight,” he whispers as he leans down, his mouth brushing the skin as he moves toward my ear. “I’m going to taste every inch of your soft skin. Trace every curve of your body. Make you come on my fingers, my tongue, and then, my cock. I’m going to take you over and over. I’m going to fill you so full, it’s going to drip down your thighs. I’m going to worship you like the goddess you are, and by the end of the night, there will be no doubt in either of our minds who you belong to.”
With each whispered word, my heart beats faster, my clit throbbing in time. One touch on the tight little nub would probably shoot me off like a rocket. His mouth moves down my neck, placing soft, wet kisses as he descends to my chest. The first tentative lick on my nipple has me arching my back, pressing my breast to his face. He traces the pebbled skin of my areola with just enough pressure to tease, then pulls the nub between his teeth and bites down. The stinging pain makes my pussy clench, wanting to be filled.
“Isaac, please,” I plead, and he laughs, the sound muffled by my skin.
“I’m running this show. Sit up,” he says, his voice harsh with need, then pulls me up and divests me of my shirt and bra.
“Scoot up,” he orders, nodding toward my headboard.
Moving up the bed, I lie back against the pillows.
“Lift your ass.” My breath quickens.
As soon as my hips clear the bed, his rough hands clasp my leggings, drag them down my legs, and throw them on the floor. His hands roam up from my feet to my thighs, the rough calluses creating a wonderful friction before stopping at the seam of my black lace boy shorts. His big hands splay across my belly and hips, thumbs caressing the material on the outside of my labia before sliding under the material. His head descends, kissing the skin below my navel before going lower, his nose tracing the curve of my belly until he’s poised above my mound.
“You smell so fucking good,” he groans, and heat fills my face as I blush.
Hooking his fingers in the lace, he pulls down my panties as he backs off the end of the bed. As he stands, he raises the soaked material to his face, a look of rapture on his face. When the lace drops to the floor, his hands go to the button on his jeans as I watch. The denim loosens to show the band of his underwear, and he lowers the zipper tooth by tooth, drawing it out, the material sliding down his muscular thighs until they disappear past the mattress. My tongue moistens my lower lip as his big dick presses against the thin material of his boxer briefs. His hand reaches down to palm his heavy length.
“See something you want, Red?” he asks with a smirk.
I nod, unable to verbalize my need. Cocky grin in place, he pushes the fabric down, his dick bobbing as it’s freed from restriction.
“Spread your legs. Let me see heaven.”
I slide my heels across the comforter, giving him a peek. With a growl, he prowls up the bed, rough hands on my knees, spreading me farther, his gaze burning with lust. Settling between my legs, his thumbs trace the crease of my thighs, and I know he can see how wet I am. One finger traces the slit, gathering the moisture before sticking it in his mouth and sucking.
“It’s tastes even better than I remember. But I need more.” As soon as the words leave his lips, his head is buried in my pussy, tongue lapping at my dripping core. His fingers move languidly, then begin pumping more forcefully. My hips rise off the bed, fingers clenching his short blond hair. A sharp sting to my clit has me screaming out his name as my vision goes white hot with pleasure. Still riding the high, the broad head of his dick slides into my pussy, eased by my recent orgasm. After a few shallow pumps, he thrusts hard, burying himself balls deep, the coarse hairs at the base of his dick abrading my clit. Damn, his girth stretches me so good.
“Fuck, you’re so damn tight. Feels so damn good.”
“Please…” I beg, reaching for him. His weight comes down as one hand trails up the back of my thigh, lifting it over his shoulder. He stares into my eyes as he pounds into me, over and over. Each thrust causes his pelvis to hit my clit, and the sting drives me higher. My eyes drift closed as the pleasure builds.
“No. Look at me, Camryn. Know who’s fucking you—owning this body,” he commands. My eyes snap open, and my hands grasp his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as he pummels into me, his body caging mine. My pussy clenches around him as the orgasm climbs higher, reaching the peak, sending me into ecstasy. My mouth opens to scream out my relief, but his lips find mine as he absorbs the sound. He thrusts twice more before stiffening on top of me. Panting, he lays his head on my chest, skin slick with sweat. I wrap my arms around his back and catch my breath. Pushing up to his elbows, he places a tender kiss on my lips.
“You need me to get up? I’m kinda comfortable here,” he says with a smile.
“Maybe in a minute,” I murmur, running my hands over his back, loving the way his smooth skin feels under my palms. After a few minutes, he rolls over to the side as he gathers me in his arms, drawing me into his side. His fingers run through my hair, snagging on the snarls, lulling me to sleep.
“Get some sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up,” he says before placing a kiss on my forehead.