Athica Lane: The Carpino Series (8 page)

I’ve never felt less in control or smaller, and I always feel small.   This is new.  Sure I’ve been kissed, but nothing like this.  Cam’s kiss is purely fierce, completely aggressive and all consuming.  This is not a “we” kiss—this is Cam taking what he wants, but it feels like he’s taking what he needs.  I find myself not knowing what to do other than fisting his t-shirt to hang on. 

But the goatee?

Wow.

Just wow.

How can something be soft but a bit scratchy and feel so good on my face?  No one’s ever kissed me with real facial hair before.  It makes his kiss even more brutal and overwhelming, framing his demanding lips as they take what they want.  I feel numb all over at the same time acutely aware of my body humming, hypersensitive from everything Cam Montgomery.

He finally slows his mouth, but doesn’t pull away.  He does something strangely sweet and soft compared to the intensity he just gave me.  With his lips still touching mine as I try to catch my breath, he swipes my lower lip with his tongue, lapping up just one more taste.  

Pulling back enough to look into my eyes, he breathes against my mouth, “There.”

Not able to move a muscle since he has me pinned to the wall with my hair fisted tightly in his hand, I frown, “There?”

“Darlin’,” he starts, speaking against my lips.  “I’ve wanted to kiss the wiseass off your face all week.”

“Really?” I frown deeper.

“Really,” he grins.  “And I’ve gotta tell you, it was far from disappointing.”

Even with his tight grip on my hair, I manage to tilt my head, feeling the pull on my scalp, “Did you think it would be?”

He shakes his head again, but my breath catches when he presses his hips into my tummy, and hell if I can’t feel his erection.  Oh, he feels big.  Bigger than I imagined, and trust me, I’ve imagined.  I instantly feel wetness surge between my legs, making me squeeze my thighs.  I think he felt it too, since he has me pressed to the wall with his big strong body, because he instantly grins. 

He replies, “I hoped like hell it wouldn’t be.  And I’ve been hoping for days.”

But feeling him now, so long and hard pressed into my tummy, I have no response other than, “Oh.”

He doesn’t have a chance to freak me out anymore because we hear the kids coming and they’re coming fast.  Cam squeezes my ass quickly and lays another firm kiss on my lips before stepping back.  I come down to Earth on flat feet and have to lean against the wall to catch my bearings, not to mention my breath. 

Cam grins as the kids come running in demanding, “We want popsicles!” 

The kids look up at me and I look up at Cam, not believing what just happened.  He has a weird sort of satisfaction on his face when he says, “I’ll get you popsicles.”

The little ones hustle into the kitchen, but before Cam turns to follow, he puts a hand to my chin and brushes my bottom lip with his thumb.  Giving me another squeeze, his bright blue eyes smile before letting me go to find popsicles. 

Once he’s gone, I slump to the wall, letting my head fall back with a thump.  I close my eyes and squeeze my thighs to calm myself.  Finally catching my breath and recovering from the most intense kiss of my life, I realize I didn’t know it was possible to feel a kiss in every part of my body.  Moving off the wall, I go in search of my wine glass.  I really need another drink.  I remotely wonder if I’ve been missing out by not drinking bourbon, but I shake my head because I doubt any bourbon could taste as good as it did on Cam’s tongue.  Not if I searched far and wide for the smoothest of the smooth. 

But then again, I think I might like the taste of anything on Cam’s tongue. 

I walk into the kitchen to find my bottle of wine and see the kids sitting at the bar, yammering away with popsicles.  Cam’s leaning down, elbows to the counter across from the kids talking to them as they yammer.  He’s holding a grape frozen treat on a stick in his fingers.  He smirks at me as he takes a big bite off the top. 

Returning his smirk with a small smile, I pour myself another glass of Merlot, thinking what I really have a hankering for is a grape popsicle. 

*****

I climb into the guestroom bed at my sister’s house.  The boys have been through the bath, we read many, many books and Noah even read one to me.  After they were all tucked in, I picked up the house and kitchen. 

It was getting late so Cam, Jordy and Cara left soon after popsicles.  Cam instructed the kids in his dad voice to run home like usual and we were again alone at the patio door.  He reached out for me, tagging me around the waist and dipped his hand under the back of my t-shirt—he pulled me into his brick wall of a body.  His big hand was searing on my bare skin as he leaned down while pulling me up for another kiss, almost as intense as earlier. 

Letting my mouth go, he said, “Dinner was great.”

Still overcome by the way he kisses me, I barely had the wherewithal to respond, “You’re welcome,” to his sort-of “thank you” for dinner.

He grins and squeezes my hip before moving his body out the patio door to follow his kids. 

I set my alarm so I’m sure to get the kids off to camp on time.  Rolling to my back, I look up into the darkness and think about Cam Montgomery.  I haven’t thought about a man in a while.  Sort of a long while.  I have a habit of getting lost in my life with my family, and now my business, not that I’ve ever made men a priority.  I know I don’t put myself out there like my friends when they go out.  I’ve done that a couple of times and anyone I ever met turned out to be an ass or had the potential, so I always go about my merry way.

I can’t help but think about Cam.  The way he looks at me, the way he was with me tonight, the way he kissed me.  Especially the way he held my body like he couldn’t help himself.  It’s different, so different than I’ve ever known, but I like it. 

I like when he talks about his business.  I like the way he looks at me.  I like the way he ate my dinner.  Hell, I even like when he’s frustrated with me.  But I really like the way he is with his kids.  There’s nothing sexier than seeing a man protect and love his family.  Although I’ve always known I’d want that for me, I had no idea how
much
I’d want it.  And now I don’t just want it, I
want
it.  And wanting it like I never knew I would, I can’t help but like the way Cam puts his stamp on it. 

I can’t stop thinking about the way he touched me, as if he couldn’t stop himself.  Oh yeah.  I really like that.  And thinking about Cam’s hands on me makes me fidget. 

I smile into the darkness as I slide my hand under the covers and into my panties.  I have a vibrator at home, but it’s not like I thought I’d want it this week.  I slip my middle finger between my legs, thinking about Cam Montgomery in all the ways I’ve learned to like him in the last couple days.  And I do what I always do, make myself come gently.

What I don’t know is that across the expanse to the next house, the man of my thoughts is doing the same.  But his thoughts are on me. 

“I love this one.  Mr. Franks was a hottie in his Marine uniform.  And your hair?  You look like you walked off the
Casablanca
movie set.  You’re still beautiful, but you were one classy chick in your younger years.”

“Oh, you go on,” Rosa grins as we flip through old photo albums of her and Mr. Franks back in the day.  And by back in the day, I mean the days of black and white photos, fancy set hair, tailored women’s suits with the little peplum on the jacket and men back from war looking nothing short of debonair in their uniforms. 

I met Rosa Franks a few months back at my cousin’s house and we’ve been friends ever since.  My new sister-in-law, Leigh, and I both took to her like glue.  Since then, we’ve brought her into the Carpino fold.  Not that she doesn’t have her own fold, she does with all her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids.  But one can’t have too many folds and you’d think she was born a Carpino with her opinionated, bossy manner.  I lost my grandma a few years back to cancer and we were really close.  Befriending Rosa has not only been sentimental for me, she’s become a part of my life I hold dear.  She’s hilarious, sweet and she enjoys laying life lessons on me every moment she can.  I’ve tucked some of these lessons close to my heart, cherishing them.  But others make me frown and wonder about her sanity at the ripe old age of eighty-five, even if she is as quick as a whip upstairs. 

I spend time every Friday with Rosa, and usually pop in another day or two, as well.  Since I’m always cooking and experimenting for my blog, there’s always extra food and I usually drop dinner off during my pop-in’s.  She loves my experiments (for the most part I’m spot on, though I’ve had a couple doozies that have gone straight to the trash).  Since she lives by herself, it saves her from having to cook for one. 

“Can I play on your phone?” Cara asks from across the table with a chocolate covered face and sticky fingers.  We just finished eating fudgesicles, Cara and Cayden are covered in sticky chocolate.  Jordy and Noah are huddled playing a game on Jordy’s phone and managed to eat theirs without the mess.

“Let me clean you up first,” I say as I move to Rosa’s kitchen for a wet towel.

“I’ve got boxes of toys in the hall closet for my grandkids.  Go get ‘em and have some fun.  Kids and cellular phones these days.  You need to play with toys like normal children and let your brains talk to your fingers, telling them to do something besides push buttons on a screen.  You need to build somethin’ and pretend somethin’.  I have three kids and they’re all smart.  Two of ‘em are engineers and it’s all because they built things with their toys,” Rosa lays out a life lesson thick for the kids.

I grin at all four who are gazing big eyed at her, not knowing what to do or say.  I make it to the little ones and mop up their faces, “A couple more minutes on the phones, then you can hit the toys.  Sound fair?”

They give me little nods as I slide my phone to Cara and Noah.  They look like they’ve turned on the camera and have started clicking pictures of each other and everything else in sight. 

“How did you and Mr. Franks meet?” I ask, reclaiming my seat and flipping through the pages of faded black and white photos.

“Leo was an officer, he’d done his time in Germany and the war was over.  He decided to stay in, make it a career and was back in the states for the time being.  He got himself a desk job.  You see, Leo, he was four years older than me.  I had just graduated high school the year before and got a job as a secretary.  I was really good at typing, fastest in my class and scored well on the interview tests.  Anyway, I was a secretary in the same military office Leo was in,” she explained.

“You were his secretary and had an office romance?  No wonder you like your trashy books,” I tease her grinning, giving her my big eyes.

“Now you stop it, child,” she rebukes with a frown.  “I didn’t work for him.  I was a secretary for his boss’s boss, but we worked in the same office.  And I
did not
like Leo Franks.  He was back from war, and oh my stars, was he cocky, even if he was handsome.  He thought he was all that and a bag o’ chips.  Well, I’ll let you know, I didn’t even think he was a package o’ stale crackers.”

“What changed your mind?”

At this point, the kids had put down all devices and were listening to Rosa.  She notices this too and looks straight at them, “This one day in the middle of winter, I was leaving work.  It was already dark and I was walking to my car.  I could hear some rustling noise from the side and a scary looking man started walking straight to me.”

“Oh no,” I say and look over at the kids, hoping Rosa’s story won’t scare them.  They are all big eyed, listening with rapt attention.

“Oh yes,” Rosa says to me and gives me the eyes that communicate way more than words.  I raise my eyebrows in question and she answers me by giving me a little sideways shake of her head.  I know whatever happened, or almost happened, was not good.

“Oh no,” I repeat, but in a hush this time.

“Yes child,” she confirms.  Then she looks back to the kids, “Well, that man scared the daylights outta me.  But then, one second I was alone with the scary man and the next, my Leo showed up and took care o’ him.  Laid him to waste, he did.  When he was done and got back to me, he put his arm around my shoulders, pulled me to him and said, ‘You left without me, honey bun.  How many times do I have to tell you not to leave by yourself?’  I had no idea what he was talking about since I’d never given him the time of day, but needless to say, I didn’t care because I was shaking like a lamb on butcher day.”

I grin and the kids giggle.

“Leo could see it scared the dickens outta me, so he took me straight to his Ford.  Since I was still shakin’ in my knickers, I let him.  He drove me to this little restaurant, and without sayin’ a word, sat us at a table for two.  Faster than you could say hot-diggity-dog, he ordered me a cuppa coffee, a dry martini, a snifter of brandy and a glass of wine.  He told me to drink what would make me feel better.  I drank the martini and the wine, he drank the brandy and we let the coffee go cold.  Then he ordered us both two huge plates of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and buttered beans.  We sat in that little restaurant for three hours and I never felt safer.  That was my first day with Leo and from there on out, he was in my life every day until he died.  He was still cocky, but he was mine,” she finished her story with a satisfied look on her face, even looking a bit cocky herself.  I can tell she’s told that story many times before and loves telling it.  And I love that she has that story to tell. 

“That’s the sweetest story, even if it is a little creepy,” I smile.

Her smug look turns bossy when she says pointedly, “Don’t ever be one of those modern women who thinks she doesn’t need a good man at her back, you hear me?  You find yourself one who’s willing to protect and keep you, you take care of him.  Trust me child, it doesn’t matter what size, shape or form they come in, you give a good man your love and care, he’ll lay waste to the world to keep you by his side.”

I smile, “Okay.”

“
Modern women
,” she rolls her eyes.  Then she turns to me with furrowed brows, “You promise me you won’t ever be one of them.  When will they learn, they can have their jobs and power and whatever else they hold dear, without missing out on the good stuff.  Stupid, is what they are.”

I try to keep from laughing, “I promise.”

“What’s knickers?” Cara asks quietly.

“Panties,” Rosa responds quick-like.

“Ew!” the boys all groan.

I hear my phone ding and Cara slides it to me giggling as I bite my lip to keep from laughing.  The boys scatter, probably afraid we’ll start talking about panties. 

“Who’s that?” Rosa asks while trying to peek over at my phone. 

I look down and see a text from Cam.  I can’t help but feel a flutter of anticipation, even though he’s probably just texting about the kids since I’m his babysitter this week.  But I can’t help but hope it’s not about being his babysitter.

Cam:  Going to be late.  Be ready at 6.  Taking you and the kids for a burger. 

I frown at my phone for many reasons.  One, I have dinner going in the crockpot.  I’ve been messing around with Carnita Tacos for a while, but I think tonight’s my night.  They should be perfect and I’ll have pictures to take.  Two, I know I’ve spent the last two evenings with Cam Montgomery—the last one ending in a hot clinch with Cam kissing me crazy with his hand on my ass.  But this is dinner out.  Even though he’s had his hand on my ass, dinner out is much different than sharing a meal because I had enough food to share.  Three, he didn’t ask.  I could have plans, even though I’m babysitting this week and there’s no way I could have plans.  But still, he could’ve asked.  And four, it’s worth mentioning twice, he’s had his hand on my ass.  Dinner out with someone who’s groped you during an out-of-this-universe-kiss is different than it is with someone who’s never touched your ass. 

“It’s Cam.  Jordy and Cara’s dad.  He wants to get a burger tonight,” I answer and bite my lip, wondering how I should handle this.

“The one with the nasty ex?” she asks. 

I told her a little about Cam when I called this morning to make sure it was okay to bring the kids.  She thought it was a hoot hearing about Bekki with an i, but I did not share about how Cam makes me fidget and I
absolutely
did not share about the kiss or the grope. 

“Yeah, the one and only,” I mutter as I put my thumbs to the screen of my phone and decide how to respond.

Me:  But, I already have dinner going in the crockpot.  Carnita Tacos.  It’s my third go at creating this recipe.  I can’t leave it.

Cam:  Eat it tomorrow.  Be ready at 6.

“I can’t believe how fast you youngun’s can type.  Are you gonna go?” she keeps butting in.

“I have dinner going at Sophia’s,” I explain looking up, wondering why I’m making excuses.  But seriously, it would’ve been nice to be asked.  Even though I am who I am, he still makes me a teensy bit nervous. 

“Eat it tomorrow,” Rosa eerily repeats Cam’s text.

I frown before looking back down at my phone to respond at the same time I say to Rosa, “I have to take pictures for the blog.  That takes time.”

Me:  I have to blog it.  That requires prep and pics.  It takes time to pretty up the food.

“Paige Carpino, are you sweet on him?” I hear and look up to see my eighty-five year old friend glaring at me with raised brows and big questioning eyes.

“Of course not,” I snap and look back to my phone, waiting for a response. 

“You are.  You’re sweet on that man with the nasty ex-wife,” she declares.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“Stop it, Rosa.”

Ding goes my phone. 

Cam:  I’m in the middle of batting practice and don’t have time for this.  Do your shit with the pictures.  Put it away.  Eat it tomorrow.  We’re leaving at 6. 

“What’d he say?” she asks, reaching for my phone.

Quicker than she looks, she grabs my phone and reads my text.  Giving me her eyes, she states matter-of-factly, “Looks like you’re goin’ for burgers.”

I snatch my phone back and let my thumbs fly.

Me:  It would have been nice to be asked, so I’m going to pretend you asked.  Why yes, thank you, Campbell Montgomery, for the dinner invitation.  A burger sounds delicious.  However, I have five of us to prepare for dinner out. I hope I can be done with my work and have everyone ready by 6.  But because you asked so sweetly, I’ll do my best to be ready on time.

I look up at Rosa, “I guess I’m going for burgers.  But this means we need to leave sooner than I planned because I need to get pictures taken before we go.  And I need to get ready.  And my toenail polish is chipped, I need to repaint.”

She smiles with a satisfied look on her face, “It’s okay, child.  You go and have fun.  I want to hear more about this fellow.  I’d better get a phone call soon. Do not text me, I want to be able to ask quick questions.  I’m too old to text back and forth.”

My phone dings again.

Cam:  Are you shitting me?

I grin.

Me:  I can tell you’re in a Grumpy Bear mood.  No Dr. Pepper for you. 

Cam:  Fuck me.  6 sharp.

I can’t help it, I have to laugh at him.

“Kids, put the toys away.  We’ve gotta go,” I yell.  I look at Rosa as I toss my phone into my purse, “Sorry we’re cutting our time short.  Can I help you put these albums away?”

“No, you go and get your stuff done.  I’ll see you Monday night.  Leigh and Tony are picking me up for Tony’s birthday party at your parents’ house,” she says, getting up slowly and moving even slower toward the door. 

“I’m glad you’re coming.  It’ll be fun.”

The kids made quick work cleaning up the toys.  They gathered their stuff and we head out like a pack of dogs after giving Rosa hugs goodbye. 

“Call me,” she bosses with a meaningful look on her face.

“I said I’d call you,” I throw some attitude right back at her.

“Don’t sass the elderly, Paige Carpino,” she says, leaning out the door.  “Call me!”