Camryn
WAKING UP THE next morning, I am caged in Trystan’s arms. Stretching as much as I can in the confines of them, I realize just how sore I am. Sex three times in one night. I have to admit; it has been a while since I have done that. And I can truthfully say, I never enjoyed it as much as I did last night. After my talk at the beach with Gigi yesterday, I didn’t expect things to happen so quickly between us. But after his confession to me, I was so overcome with emotions and regret. Regret for our time lost. Regret for my stubbornness. One thing Trystan and I have, without a doubt, is chemistry. It’s consuming and the passion runs deeps between us. It always has. People used to joke that we were too young back then to know anything about love. And after shit went south, maybe I believed them a bit. But I can say with one-hundred-percent clarity and certainty, no one makes me feel as alive as this man. No one has come close. With a look, a simple touch, or a few words, he sets not just my body on fire, but my mind too.
Wiggling free from his embrace, I decide to make use of that glorious kitchen and make some breakfast. Let’s hope he has the necessary ingredients. I find one of his T-shirts on the floor and resolve it’s all the clothing I need for now. Looking back at a sleeping Trystan, I steal a few moments to truly take him all in. He looks so peaceful and content while he sleeps. His hair is wild, and I give myself a pat on the back, because I no doubt helped with that look just a little. Long eyelashes frame his closed eyes. His defined cheekbones and jawline are covered in five o’clock shadow, likely from not shaving for a few days. His full lips appear to be set in a slight smirk, and it makes me wonder what he is thinking. Taking my gaze lower, I go over every plane of his body. It is perfectly sculpted and toned. Muscles are defined through his arms, chest, and abdomen. Ink covers portions of his chest, stomach, and upper arms. One of his tattoos caught my attention last night, but we were preoccupied, so I never got the chance to inquire about it. Sadly, a sheet covers his lower body, but I smile to myself, remembering what lies beneath that covering. With one last perusal of his body, I pivot and make my way quietly downstairs.
Surprised at how neat and organized his kitchen is, I am able to find all the ingredients to make Gigi’s famous pancakes. They have grated apples, cinnamon, and sugar throughout. One word for these suckers—amazing! These were a staple growing up, and when I was old enough, I insisted she teach me her secrets. Now I make them when I want to feel close to her or am feeling nostalgic. After getting the bacon going, I grate apples, and get all the ingredients mixed for the pancakes. A thought hits me and I stop in my tracks. Where is my phone? Searching around the house for my phone, I can’t quite remember where I left it last night. My excitement over this house got the best of me and then I got lost in Trystan. God, it has been so long since a man made me feel the way he did last night. No one has compared or even come close to setting me ablaze the way he can.
Hearing my ringer go off helps me locate my missing phone. Glancing down, I see it’s Hunter and immediately feel regret. I never let him know I wasn’t coming home last night.
Answering without a hello, and with an apologetic tone I say, “Hunter, please don’t be mad or yell at me. I am so sorry I didn’t call last night to tell you I wouldn’t be home.”
His laughter catches me off guard. “Oh, Buttercup. Little did you know, a certain detective made sure I knew of your whereabouts. That you were in good hands. And to not worry. So spill it, gorgeous. I want all the details.”
Coyly I respond, “There is nothing to tell. Absolutely nothing.”
“Pffttt. That’s some bullshit and we both know it. Tell me this, where are you right now? And why would I get a phone call from the Adonis, telling me you were with him and spending the night? So S-P-I-L-L- it.”
“Did you just spell a word out? Was that for emphasis? Geez, you’re dramatic. I am right in the middle of cooking breakfast, Hun, but I promise to fill you in on the seedy details later. Okay?”
“Fine,” he whines. “But I really want to know now. Okay, can you answer two questions and then I will leave you be until you come home?”
“Two questions, and that’s it. No follow-ups, no trying to get three or four questions into two. Got it?” I jokingly answer.
“Okay, how many orgasms did you have and are you sore today?” he nonchalantly asks.
Laughing out loud, I respond, “Nothing like cutting right to it. I am sore as hell, and I lost count after several.”
“You hussy! And for the record, I am jealous. I can’t remember the last time I was good and sore from amazing sex. Or that last time I had several orgasms in one night. So unfair. All right, go have breakfast and remember when you get home; I want all the dirty details. Can I have one more question before I let you go, Cam? This is a serious one and not me prying into your sexcapades.”
“One more, and that is it until I am home.”
“Are you okay? I mean, are you feeling good this morning? No regrets?”
His question touches me, because I know deep down, his concern for my happiness is paramount to anything else really. “Honestly, Hun, I am completely at peace. I mean, we have a lot of things to talk about and work out, but everything makes sense now, regarding the past. There is so much to tell you, but just know this, I feel like I am where I have always belonged.”
“Awww, Buttercup. I am so damn happy for you. That man loves you. When you were in the hospital, I saw another side of him. Little did you know, I became his biggest cheerleader in winning you over. Go make breakfast, have some more mind-blowing sex, and then come to me with all the details.” He blows me a kiss through the phone and the line goes dead. Sitting with a stupid smile on my face, I set back to my task of operation pancake breakfast.
Now that I have my phone, I scroll through to my favorite playlist and begin dancing and cooking in tandem. Lost in the process, I don’t feel him until he is behind me; flush against my back, caging me between him and the stone.
“Well, this is certainly I sight I could get used to. You shimmying around my kitchen, cooking in just a T-shirt.” His gravelly tone ignites a flame within me. “When I woke up this morning and reached over to an empty bed, I thought I dreamed last night. The smell of bacon, apples, and cinnamon were my saving grace.” He places kisses along my neck while he is speaking, and there is more than food getting hot in this kitchen.
“Behave, Detective. I wouldn’t want breakfast to be ruined.”
“Sunshine, are you making Gigi’s famous pancakes? They are my favorite. She would make them for me and Caleb often.” His tone softens as he speaks about my grandmother.
His confession reminds me just how much time he spent with my Gigi over the years. I never gave him much credit for that, but I know how much she appreciated the company, and how much he helped look after things for her. Turning around, I stand on my tiptoes and my arms wrap around his neck. Gazing into his eyes, I place a soft kiss on each corner of his mouth. My tongue traces the seam of his lips before he returns the favor. Getting lost in his kisses is something I most definitely can get used to again. Breaking away from the kiss, I pivot and flip the pancakes. His chest and stomach are still to my back, so I resume my dancing a bit, moving my ass just so.
He hisses out a breath, “Easy, Sunshine, or the only breakfast I will be having will be you, spread out on the table. My face buried between those gorgeous legs, devouring that pretty pussy.”
His words are like a beacon and my pussy immediately responds. Moisture begins to pool between my legs. If I don’t stop this now, we will both get carried away and breakfast will be forgotten.
Pivoting back around, I put my hands on his chest, giving him a gentle shove. “You, over there. I can’t focus with you behind me,” I say chuckling. “Coffee is ready and breakfast will be done shortly. Now go.”
Amusement lights up his face. “Well, aren’t you a bossy little thing? I concede for now, because I haven’t had those pancakes in months. But rest assured, I am not even close to having my fill of you.” Placing a kiss on my forehead, he retreats for now.
Once I finish plating the last of the pancakes, I grab the bacon and head to the table. Watching Trystan fill his plate, I am left wondering where he puts it all. With his body looking like it does, I assumed he ate rabbit food. Typical guy bullshit. They eat whatever they want and it never shows. I look at the pancakes and gain five pounds.
Before we got carried away with kissing and almost ruining breakfast, there was something I wanted to say to him. For some reason, I am nervous. Perhaps it is the guilt I harbor over being so far away from my grandparents for so long, because I could not face him. Of course he notices my unease.
“Are you okay, darlin’? Looks like you have something on your mind. Are you having regrets about last night?” His voice is laced with apprehension, which isn’t like his normal cocksure self.
“Honestly?” I question. “When I woke up yesterday I had no intentions of spending the night with you. But do I regret it? With one-hundred-percent certainty, I can say, I have zero regrets about last night. Nothing has felt more right or real to me in as long as I can remember. I do have something I want to say to you though. But please eat while I speak. No sense in the food getting cold.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he replies, while shoveling a forkful of pancakes in his mouth. “Fucking hell. These are amazing. Didn’t realize how much I missed having them.”
“That makes me happy. They don’t compare to Gigi’s but they are pretty damn close.” Smiling at him I continue, “There was something I wanted to say to you. I owe you a huge thank you.”
“For what?” he interrupts.
“Impatient man. Let me finish,” I teasingly reprimand him. “For years you looked after my grandparents. And after Gramps passed, you took it upon yourself to care for and help Gigi. It means more to me than you will ever know. I have so many regrets, Trystan. And not being around more for them because of my own heartbreak, insecurities at being near you, whatever it was, just wasn’t right.” He begins to speak and I stop him. “Please, just let me finish. And then you can have the floor.” He nods in agreement. “Time is precious. A gift really. We never know how much time we have with those we love. The fact I lost so much of it with them over the years, crushes me. And now knowing what I do about your situation, the regret is even greater. Selfishly, I stayed away for years because my heart was wrecked.” Tears begin to fall down my cheeks.
Pushing himself back from the table, he reaches over, and grabs my hand. Pulling me toward him, he cradles me on his lap.
“Camryn, I want you to listen to me, okay?” My head nods up and down to let him know I am listening. “Spending time and taking care of your grandparents is nothing you have to thank me for. Caleb and I loved them very much. Being with them made me feel close to you. So I may have had some selfish reasons for spending time with them. But I will say this. They were so proud of you and everything you accomplished. Your happiness was the utmost important thing in their eyes. They were never angry or upset with you for your choices. In fact, they were your biggest cheerleaders. Time lost isn’t an easy thing to get over, but living with regret can destroy you. Sadly, we can’t can go back and change things or rewrite history. Want to know something? Gigi always told me you would be back. She insisted, one day, you would make your way home, but it had to be on your terms and when you were ready. The universe works in strange ways darlin’.”
His words hang heavy on me. Of course she knew I would come home. My heart was always in Savannah. Sadly, it took a while for my brain to catch up. Prior to learning Gigi was sick, I had been contemplating returning to Savannah. Her illness kicked that into high gear and sped up the process. But the thoughts were already in my head for a while.
“I appreciate the words, Trystan. I truly do, but the thanks are there nonetheless. Oddly, I never felt I had to worry about being away from home, because I knew you were here. Helping, visiting, and loving them. And I am forever thankful to you for that.
“Well, it was truly my pleasure, Sunshine. Two of the best people I have ever known. And Gigi fed Caleb and me like kings.”
I smile at the thought of Gigi cooking and catering to the Harrison boys. The kitchen was her happy place. Feeding others gave her purpose. Feeling like they both gave each other something that was missing from their lives, makes me feel a little better. But the bottom line is I was the common denominator missing and it hurts to think about that.
“What are your plans for today, Cam? I have get the little man shortly, but I was hoping we could see you later. Caleb has been asking about you since your accident. Maybe something low-key. We could cookout and have a firepit in the backyard. What do you think?”
“Hunter and I were going to catch up and have chick flick night. He missed me last night. Oh yeah, thanks for calling him. He would have been worried sick if I didn’t show up home.”
“No problem. I got that impression from him after the time we spent together in the hospital. Would he want to come tonight too? He is more than welcome.”
The invitation of my best friend pulls at my heartstrings. Hunter hasn’t had an easy time fitting in often, so his inclusion in our plans touches me. “You don’t mind him tagging along?”
“Not at all, Sunshine. If he is important to you, which I know he is, he will be important to me. No time like the present to get to know each other better.”
“I am not sure you know how much that means to me. He is one of the most important people to me. Let me talk to him when I get home, and I will let you know. Does that work?”
“I can be very persuasive if need be. If you need my charms, let me know.”
“Persuasive, huh? Perhaps you can put some of those skills in persuasion to use before I head home.” Those words and raising my eyebrows in a suggestive manner are all the invitation he needs. Before I know it, I am tossed over his shoulder, with a firm smack to my ass. The next few hours are spent with him showing me just how convincing he can be.