She was pulling away, he could feel it. She might have been right beside him, leaning into his side as he held onto her, but in her mind she was a million miles away. That shell of hers was growing thicker and stronger with every minute they spent together.

And even though he knew in the back of his mind that he needed to leave it alone, that the distance between them was probably a smart thing, he just couldn’t do it. He’d felt more like himself in the past few days with Sutton than he had in years.

In a bleak world full of untrustworthy people, she was a beacon of light, a breath of fresh air. He could be normal around her. There was no need to censure everything he said for fear it would get back to the press and make him look bad in the eyes of his fans. He was surrounded by people most hours of the day, but it was only when he was with Sutton that the crippling loneliness disappeared.

The lines were beginning to blur. Actually, that wasn’t right. The goddamn lines had been completely erased between them, but he couldn’t find it in him to care.

As he pulled the car into the driveway of the second of three houses they were supposed to see today, he knew without having to go in that this place wasn’t going to work either. The first had been okay, but with over four thousand square feet, it was too damn big. He’d grown up modest and humble, and he just couldn’t justify buying something that size. Even with a family, they’d maybe use half of it at the most.

“Oh wow,” Sutton breathed as she stared out the passenger window. “This is….”

“Over the top?” he finished, already turned off from the curb appeal alone. The huge marble columns on the entrance and massive stone fountain in the center of the yard made it feel like he was pulling up to a five-star hotel, not a home.

“I was gonna say glitzy,” she replied, turning to give him a smile.

“This isn’t me,” he grumbled, twisting the key and shutting off the ignition. “It’s like the realtor didn’t listen to anything I told her. She just got online and found the most expensive mansions in the area so she could rack up a fat commission.”

“Hey.” She reached over and placed a comforting hand on his knee. “Don’t get discouraged yet. Let’s see what it looks like on the inside before you write it off.”

Camden already knew the outcome of this trip, but if it meant he got to spend the rest of the day with her, then he was all for it.

* * *

Sutton

Oh god.

This place is terrible.

But I couldn’t say it out loud, mainly because the realtor wouldn’t stop waxing on about how wonderful the monstrosity was.

“As you can see, the architect pulled the design from outside in. With the rich marble columns and flooring, it flows seamlessly. The crown molding is all hand-carved, and if you look up, you can see the beautiful tin tiles on the ceiling.”

I looked up and barely contained my cringe. What the realtor was describing as beautiful was straight-up gaudy. Clearly I spoke too soon when I told Camden to give the inside a chance before judging. It was like Rome had thrown up all over the house.

Turning to look at Cam, I saw him lower his eyes to mine and nearly busted out laughing at his disgusted lip curl. Noticing the realtor’s back was to us, I chanced giving him an exaggerated eeek face that made him chuckle. I wasn’t sure why, but knowing I was the one to make him do that warmed me from the inside out.

“One of the added benefits of this house is the enclosed pool and hot tub, so even in the middle of winter you’ll be able to enjoy the water. And if you’re not one for swimming, there are tennis and basketball courts at the back of the property.”

He bugged his eyes out and mouthed, “Tennis court,” and I finally lost control of my laughter.

My eyes had been closed and my head dropped back, so I didn’t have a chance to brace when his hands landed on my hips and yanked me into him. Letting out a surprised gasp, my eyelids popped open and I found Camden staring down at me with a sweet, soft smile. “You look beautiful when you laugh like that.”

I couldn’t breathe. Hell, I couldn’t even think. All I could do was melt into him.

The realtor turned and gave us a strange look before clearing her throat and wiping her expression clear. “So who wants to see the upstairs?”

* * *

“Jesus Christ, those places were fuckin’ terrible.”

I let out a giggle, turning to look at his profile in the lights of his dashboard. The sun had set while we were trying to find our way out of Tacky Mansion Number Three.

He wasn’t exaggerating. Those houses were awful. But we’d made a joke out of it, and the wasted hours had turned into a lot of fun—much to the dismay of the realtor. She didn’t like it too much when we ran around playing hide-and-seek, but she probably would have been madder if she didn’t have Cam to moon after the whole time.

“They were pretty awful,” I replied, laying my head back against the headrest. “But it was fun.”

“It really was. I didn’t realize it was gonna take so damn long. Let me buy you dinner to make up for wasting your whole evening.”

I really liked that he seemed as hesitant for this to end as I was, but after spending the past several hours in these heels, the last thing I wanted to do was stay in them any longer if I didn’t have to.

“How about you come over and I make dinner? I make a pretty mean chicken parmesan.”

He turned his attention from the road to me, the expression on his face causing tremors to shoot up my spine. “You’re offering up a home-cooked meal, no way in hell I’m turnin’ it down.”

* * *

Dinner had turned into a couple beers while we sat on the couch and talked. That eventually morphed into us flipping on the TV and finding a movie we’d both enjoy.

It was getting late, and I’d started yawning every few minutes, but I wasn’t ready for the night to be over, so I tried my best to hide them.

“Come here, cutie. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“I’m totally fine,” I lied, faking cheeriness even though I was exhausted.

He wrinkled his brow in skepticism. “Uh-huh. Just come here.” Before I had a chance to move, he grabbed my hips and pulled me across the couch against his side.

I told myself not to, but my body instantly relaxed the moment his arm wrapped around me, and within seconds I felt my eyelids getting heavier. He was just too damn comfortable.

I must have dozed halfway through the movie, because I woke to the credits rolling along the screen when my body was jostled and suddenly lifted off the couch.

“Wha—”

“Sh. I got you,” Camden whispered as he started out of the living room.

With a happy moan, I nuzzled my face into the crook of his neck and let my eyes drift shut again as I let out a weak objection I didn’t mean. “I can walk. You don’t have to carry me.”

Please don’t put me down. Please don’t put me down. Please don’t put me down.

“I don’t mind, cutie. Just relax.”

Thank God.

I hummed and curled my arms around his neck. Maybe it was because I was still half asleep, or maybe it was because of the three beers I’d consumed, but my filter had disappeared. My mouth opened, and the words just fell out without me giving it a second thought.

“You feel so good,” I murmured as he lowered me to the mattress.

The humor in his voice rang loud and clear when he asked, “You talkin’ about me or the bed?”

It was like I was floating on a cloud between reality and dreamland, only marginally aware of what I was doing. My arms tightened when he tried to pull away. “So nice and warm.”

“Baby.”

The word came out guttural and rough, how I imagined he’d sound while he was making love, and without a single thought or ounce of sanity, I used my hold to pull him down and press my lips against his. If this was a dream, it was the best goddamn dream I’d ever had.

* * *

Camden

That was all it took for what little self-control he had left to snap. He’d been hanging by a thread most of the goddamn night, barely able to function thanks to the aching hard-on straining to get free.

When she’d dozed in his arms earlier, he’d been content to simply sit there and hold her as he finished the movie she’d put on. But then she’d moved in her sleep, shifting her body so her head rested in his lap.

She let out the cutest little snores, barely moving a muscle, and he’d used the opportunity to slowly drag his fingers through all that long, sleek hair. He’d planned to move her into her bed and leave once the credits began rolling, but the struggle to leave her grew even harder when she snuggled into him as he carried her to her room.

Then she kissed him.

And fuck him, he just couldn’t take it anymore.

With a growl, he drove his tongue out, forcing her lips to part so he could gain entrance, and the moment he did, she lit like a fucking firework.

She whimpered down his throat as she met his tongue thrust for thrust. Her arms pulled tighter, leaving him with no choice but to join her on the bed and give her his weight. Their legs tangled together and her back arched, pressing those perfect tits against his chest. Unable to keep from touching her, Camden let his hands roam, drifting over her curves just like he’d been dying to do for days.

She responded to his touch so beautifully, so perfectly, he lost himself in everything that was Sutton Briar and gave no thought to real life.

His palm skated down her ribs until he reached the hem of that sexy-as-fuck peach blouse that had been driving him crazy all day long. He couldn’t get enough of her skin. It was just as velvety as he’d imagined. His fingertips trailed across her stomach, causing her to shiver beneath him. There was no missing the way her skin trembled under his touch as he moved up, up, up.

Her little moans and breaths egged him on as he got higher, until he finally had one of her heavy breasts in his hand. They were more than a handful, just as he’d expected, and he couldn’t wait to have his mouth on them, his teeth, his tongue. Visions of how perfect she’d look holding those tits together as he slid his dick between the creamy mounds made him wild, and he gave the perfect globe a squeeze.

Sutton sucked in a sharp gasp, the sound of it breaking through the lust and making him stop. It wasn’t a gasp of pleasure. It was something else altogether, and when he lifted his head, he noticed her entire body had gone stiff as a board. Her eyes were open wide, the golden green depths filled with panic, and her skin was two shades whiter than normal.

“Fuck,” he hissed, shooting up to sitting. “Fuck, Sut. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”

“N-no. It’s… uh, i-it’s okay,” she stuttered as she lifted up, crossing her arms over her chest as she pulled in a shaky breath. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I started it—”

“But I should’ve stopped it,” he grunted, scrubbing his hands over his face. “For Christ’s sake, you were half asleep. I’m an asshole.”

When he finally found the courage to turn his head and look at her, she was gnawing on her bottom lip. “It’s all right, Cam. Really.”

But it wasn’t. He could see it all over her face. He’d freaked her out. Obviously she didn’t want him the same way he wanted her, and for reasons he couldn’t understand, that fucking killed.

“I need to go. It’s late.” Standing from the bed, he adjusted the erection behind his fly and started for the door. He could hear her as she scurried off the bed, the gentle fall of her bare feet on the floor as she rushed to keep up with him.

“Please don’t be mad,” she pleaded as he hurried down the hall and through her living room. “I’m sorry.”

He stopped and spun on his heels, pissed at himself for taking advantage when she didn’t have her wits about her.

“Not your fault, cutie. I’m totally to blame here.”

“But—”

“I should really go,” he interrupted for the second time. “Like I said, it’s late. We’ll talk tomorrow, yeah?”

Indecision warred across her beautiful face as she asked, “You sure?”

“Absolutely.” He needed to get the hell out of there before he made an even bigger fool of himself. He’d crossed a line tonight, one he feared he’d never be able to uncross. But what was more, he feared he’d lost her for good by fucking up so badly. He needed time to regroup, to think, and he couldn’t do that with her standing there looking so frazzled and cute. “I’ll call you.”

Eventually.

With that, he turned, yanked the front door open, and muttered a quick “Lock up behind me,” before bolting down her front walk to his car.

Son of a bitch. He’d fucked up bad.