Always Yours (15 page)

Giving her an approving nod, I motioned to the bar with my head and we proceeded over to it. "I think we need shots too," I said, fanning myself as we walked.

"But no more Captain," Tess forewarned. "It’s time to get reacquainted with my Patron."

While we waited for our shots, my eyes drifted over to Cam. He was talking to Blake in the corner of the room. They had been over there since we arrived and I was starting to wonder what they were talking about.

"Why are they just sitting over there? And what the hell are they talking about?" Tess asked, mimicking my thoughts.

"I don't know, but maybe we need to do something to grab their attention," I suggested with a roguish raise of my eyebrow.

The bartender placed our Patron shots in front of us. We clanked our glasses together before consuming the cold, silver tequila. It burned going down, slowly warming my core as it hit my belly, and I cringed from the aftermath—tequila was not my cup of tea.

"Somethin' Bad" by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood started playing and I instantly looked at Tess. This was our chance, and by the wicked smirk she gave me, I assumed she was thinking the same thing. We slammed our shot glasses down on the bar and she took my hand, leading me out to the dance floor, making sure to take the long way so we would pass right by the guys. Cam's stare caught mine as Tess pulled me along and I shot him a tantalizing grin, motioning him with my finger to follow us.

We reached the center of the room and began stomping our feet to the beat of the music, throwing our heads back in laughter. We raised our hands in the air and moved our hips, grabbing the attention of most of the male bystanders in the room. That was all it took—Cam and Blake had their arms around our waists in no time.

"Are you trying to get me in a fight tonight?" Cam questioned in my ear.

"That would be entertaining, but no." I giggled as he kissed my neck. I turned, giving him better access and he nipped at me, making me squirm in his hold.

Glancing up, my stomach dropped when I locked eyes with Adam. A voracious glimmer filled his eyes and the right corner of his mouth arched upward, making the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge. If he hadn't been so damn good looking I would think his eccentric actions were disturbing but for some reason they were just the opposite. As attractive as he was, he had nothing on Cam; it was just Adam's mysteriousness that caught my attention. I wanted to know more about him—I wanted to understand him.

Writing off Adam's uncharacteristic behavior to all of the alcohol he consumed tonight, that and the fact that he would do anything to get under Cam's skin, I spun around, breaking our eye contact and returned my attention to Cam.

"I can't wait to get you back to the hotel room, firecracker," he admitted, pushing his hips into me. "Do you feel how hard I am for you?"

"Cam, when aren't you hard?" I teased with a small giggle.

"It's not that I'm hard all the time. It's just you're always so damn sexy," he said with a sinful smile. "So really, it's your fault."

"Well, I guess I'll have to repel you with my unattractive side from now on," I challenged, wrapping my arms around his neck, leaning into him.

His hand came up and swiped down the side of my face. "You couldn't repel me if you tried. This body is too fucking sexy." I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes and took in the sweet words he said.

I couldn't believe how fast and hard I was falling for him. The thought terrified me, making me tense up, but before I could dwell on it, his mouth was on mine.

"Don't think, just feel,"
Cam's voice
echoed in my head and I let go—melting into his kiss, my insecurities dripping away one drop at a time.

My mind kept trying to build walls to block Cam out, to keep my heart safe. Only my body didn't care about my heart—it was insatiable— prevailing over the barriers with leaps and bounds. I just prayed that it had enough endurance to push through till the end.

Only time would tell.

"Blake, calm down. Everything will be fine. I'm pretty sure Cara and I can handle hanging some damn streamers," I said into the phone with an agitated tone.

Blake was planning a surprise graduation party for Tessa and had been a royal pain in my ass this week. He had called me at least ten times today and it was only 2pm. Usually, Blake was easy going and laid back but this week he was worse than a woman on the rag—continuous mood swings and the perpetual worrying were just a few of the symptoms he was suffering from.

"Sorry, Cam, I just want tonight to be seamless."

"It will be. She's going to love it." Trying to alleviate some of his stress I continued, "Cara and I will be at your place no later than four to start setting up. Is there anything you need me to grab before we head over there?" I asked hesitantly, knowing that I just opened myself up for a list of shit I wasn't going to want to do.

"No, I think I have everything you'll need at the house already." There was a long pause and I could hear the graduation march starting to play in the background. "Shit, they're starting, I have to go. Matt will be there around four to help you guys out. Thanks again, Cam."

The line went dead. "That girl has got him tied up in knots," I said, putting my phone in my pocket.

"I like her," Cara spoke up from across my living room. "She gives Blake a run for his money."

"Yeah, well, hopefully she likes him as much as he likes her." I sat down on the couch next to Cara and put my arm around her, pulling her close.

"Trust me, she does," she said nonchalantly.

"How do you know?"

"Because I have magical powers that allow me to read people's minds." I gave her a disconcerting glance and she laughed. "Come on, Cam, are you blind? Do you not see how she looks at him? A woman's eyes always tell a story."

They do, huh?

"Oh, really?" I grabbed her by the waist and flipped her onto her back. "This new information could be very useful." Crawling over her and straddling her hips, I pinned her arms above her head while she squirmed beneath me. "Let's see what story your eyes are conveying." Playfully, she shut them as she turned her head. "Look at me, Cara," I ordered, and she did. I loved how she submitted to my commands when we were messing around like this.

The room fell silent as we stared at each other. The only sound I could hear was the heavy sound of our breaths rising and falling. Her irises were browner in the soft daylight and as the sun shined down on her, I saw a glimmer of love radiating through them. My heartbeat picked up and suddenly it was all I could hear—echoing through me like a train in a tunnel, and on that train was everything I ever feared.

Commitment—one thing I was nowhere ready for. Not since Amber left.

What Cara and I had was easy, it worked for us. I cared about her—a lot—but we had no labels, no obligations to each other, and that was just how it needed to stay. At least that's what my head was telling me, but my heart was conveying a different story. My heart was falling for her and there was no way to stop it. But what was even scarier was the fact that she might be falling for me, too, and I knew that would only lead to fucking problems—emotions always did.

"So did they tell you a story?" she asked as she batted her eyelashes at me.

"They sure did," I said quickly. My mind was reeling from the railroad of emotions I was undergoing, making it hard to think. Her face fell and she looked at me, disappointment evident in her eyes, and I instantly felt like a fucking jackass. With my head battling my heart, I tried to gather my thoughts, but my heart was overpowering my mind. Slowly, I leaned down like I was going to kiss her, stopping just short of her lips. "Do you want to know what I really read in your eyes?" I whispered. The rational part of me protesting—begging me to take the words back. A shy smile radiated on her face and as she shook her head yes, I closed the gap, kissing her softly.

Beep...Beep...Beep

The loud noise of my phone made Cara jump and I released her hands. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the distraction my mind silently prayed for from my pocket. It was another text from Blake.

Shit, the cake!!

I shook my head before typing back a reply.

I'll take care of it.

"What did he forget now?" Cara asked, her voice weighty with irritation.

"The cake." I stood up, helping Cara to her feet and she sighed heavily. Relief rushed through me as my mind regained control over my moment of weakness. "I guess we should get going then. We have a lot to do."

We got in the car and made our way to the bakery to pick up the cake Blake had ordered. We hadn't said much to each other since getting in the car and the awkwardness between us was only growing.

"What are you doing next Sunday?" Cara asked, breaking the odd silence in the car as we turned into the parking lot.

"You, hopefully," I replied, flashing an errant grin.

She reached over, slapping my arm and I winced, pretending like it actually hurt, her playfulness breaking the ice a little. "Do you want to come over for dinner, smartass?" she asked as her eyes rolled.

"Depends on what you're making, firecracker. Can you even cook?" I teased her.

"Yes, I can cook, but I don't know what I'm making yet. My parents are coming over and—"

"Wait, your parents are going to be there?" I asked, taken aback.

"Well, yeah," she said as she looked down, fumbling with her fingers. "I thought you could meet them."

She wants me to meet her parents? Shit! I'm not ready for that yet.

A million excuses ran through my mind but one look at her and I knew there was no way I could lie, even though the truth would hurt her more.

"I think I'll pass on dinner, Cara." I sounded like such an ass.

Her head shot up and she looked at me with wide eyes. "What? Why?"

"Honestly," I rubbed the back of my neck. "I'm not ready for that." I put the car in park and undid my seat belt, hoping she would accept my truthfulness and be done with it.

"Jeez, Cam, it's not like I'm asking you to marry me, it's just dinner. My parents are going to be in town for two weeks in-between their trips and I thought I could introdu—"

"Well, you thought wrong! I'm not coming, so stop fucking asking," I growled, flying out of the truck, slamming the door behind me.

Why can't she just leave it alone?

I stomped into the bakery without looking back and I wasn't surprised when she didn't follow me.

The rest of the ride to Blake's was spent in silence. Cara wouldn't even look at me; she just stared out her window with her arms crossed over her chest. She was pissed, and I needed to do some damage control and fast.

"Earth to Cara," I said, pulling her from her thoughts as we stopped at a red light. Reaching out I placed my hand on her leg and she pulled it away. "Will you talk to me please?" I asked, tilting my head.

"There's nothing to say, Cam," she said coldly.

Sighing, I took deep breath. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have snapped at you. I don't even know why I did."

"Maybe it's because you're an ass?" she spit at me.

"You're right, Cara, I am an ass." The light turned green and I began to accelerate, thankful I wouldn't have to look her in the eyes as I said the rest. "I don't know how to deal with this shit—with you. You have my head in fucking knots. There's a battle inside of me every damn day. The part of me that Amber destroyed wants to push you away like I have everyone else."

"What about the other part of you?" she asked, her voice quiet yet hopeful.

"That part wants to explore." She looked over at me with a confused look on her face. "I want to explore everything—your mind, your heart," I paused, cocking my head in her direction as I slowly ran my eyes up the length of her. "And every inch of that fuckable body. One day I will own you, inside and out."

"You already do," she mumbled under her breath, so softly, that I wasn't even sure I heard her correctly.

I took her hand in mine. "Don't give up on me yet, firecracker."

My heart had already fallen for Cara, it was my mind that needed convincing—I guess I was going to have to work on that.