Embracing the Fall (9 page)

“Well, we’ll have to see about that.” He slipped his hand up to cup the back of her
neck and enjoyed watching her flush in reaction to his touch. “Does Ziporah know you’re
inviting me?”

She had to swallow before she could answer, a fact he noted with pleasure. “She will
when you get there.”

In that moment, Evan saw that he had a brat on his hands. “Perfect. Put your address
and number in my phone and I’ll be right behind you two.”

She gave a happy bounce and a squeal, and then rocked back and forth on her heels
as she typed in his phone. He was studying her bent head as she did, then she floored
him with her whispered words. “I know that Zoe and Terryn probably told you I’m a
chicken. But, I’m ready for this. I want this and I’m really happy that they picked
you.”

He nodded first and took a moment before he spoke, not trusting his voice right away.
“That’s lovely to hear, sweetheart. I’m really glad they picked me, too.”

“Mm-hmm,” she swallowed again and licked her lips. After she handed his phone back,
she lifted her face before she added, “I’m not scared.” And walked away.

The hell she wasn’t, he thought. The fact that she was and wanted to face those fears
about brought him to his knees. He grabbed his coat from a table and headed for the
door; life just got a hell of a lot more interesting.

“You did what?” Ziporah could not believe what she had heard. “Repeat that, please,
because I know you did not just say that you invited Evan over.”

“Yes, my friend I did just say that.” When Cami tried to bounce away like it was no
big deal, Z grabbed her by the hand.

“Hey,” she said in a voice soft but stern. “We were just supposed to meet him tonight.
You know, see if we liked him and then go from there.”

“Well, we did like him. I know you liked him as much as I did. And he’s not coming
over to tie us up. He’s coming to watch Buffy with us. Just to get to know us better.
That’s all.”

“Oh, all right, I guess. I still can’t believe we are doing this.” A quick kiss to
her temple and then she went on. “Millions of people are into it, but it feels so
weird to think that if everything goes right, we are going to be letting this man
put us in shackles and spank us.”

“Z? You don’t think I’m like this because of what happened to me, do you? Or that
it happened because I’m like this?” Her voice was small and it was tinged with the
guilt and shame that a lot of survivors carried. Z cursed quietly, yet with venom,
as she pulled Cami into a fierce hug.

“Of course not, idiot. You have asked yourself those same questions over and over
again. And every time, you get the same answer. You were a submissive long before
that happened to you, and you don’t stop being who you are just because you were attacked.
And you were attacked because of who he was–an asshole–not because of anything that
had to do with who you are.”

Cami smiled and said, “Okay. You’re right. I know. Just god! I’m so mixed up. What
if–”

“Relax,” Z murmured and moved away to make some popcorn. “I’m going to be right here
the whole time. No use torturing yourself with what ifs. Let’s just strap in and enjoy
the ride.”

“Hi,” Cami thought her voice sounded like the squeak of a teenage boy in puberty and
tried not to grimace as she faced Evan at the door. “Come on in.” She stepped back
and motioned him ahead of her. “Can I get you a drink? We got just about everything
and non-alcoholic stuff too, if you are done drinking for the night.”

As he shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her, Cami almost moaned. Not only
was it leather, but it was soft as butter and smelled deliciously of him. It brought
back all of the tingling feelings she’d had every time he got within range of her
this evening.

She followed him through the short hallway into their living space. Z could afford
a place on her own, barely, and so could Cami, but in those cases with the cost of
living in New York City, they would be dismal places indeed. But together, they were
able to afford an apartment that was spacious, above ground and in an area that they
both felt safe walking home to.

As Evan looked around, Cami felt pride in her and Z’s home. It was lovingly decorated
by both of them, with Cami’s country living touches finding harmony with Z’s more
sleek modern style.

“Nice place you girls got here.” Evan’s warm voice filled the room and Cami almost
closed her eyes to savor the rich tone of it.

“Thanks.” She tugged a bright colorful throw blanket out of the way and motioned him
toward the couch. “This is the prime TV seat. Z and I fight over it all the time.
So, as honored guest, you get to sit here.”

The smile he shot her was hot enough to melt snow and Cami caught herself sighing
as she snuggled the blanket into her chest. Fire erupted in her cheeks when she heard
him chuckle because he caught her, too. “Umm, here.” She flung the blanket at him
and headed into the kitchen. “I’m gonna see if Z needs help with the snacks. What
would you like to drink?”

“Whatever you two are having is fine with me,” Cami heard as she almost tripped in
her haste to flee.

“Oh my God, Z.” She was breathless and scared and more excited than she remembered
being in a long time. “He’s so hot. And his voice! Did you hear him? That accent turns
my legs to jelly, I swear.”

“Yeah,” Z said as she loaded up the pretty serving tray they found at a craft fair
in Central Park last spring. “It’s enough to make any girl turn to jelly, so don’t
feel too bad.”

“Hey, Evan?” Cami called out, “we are going to be just a minute, okay?”

“No problem, ladies,” he replied, “take your time.”

“What’s up?” Z asked, still staring at the tray like it held the answers to the mysteries
of the universe. “Why did you do that?”

“So you can tell me what’s wrong.” Cami inched closer and rested her forehead on Z’s.
“Spill it, sweetie. Two minutes ago you were all no-nonsense and take charge, and
now you look like a good wind could knock you down. Is it Evan? Want me to ask him
to go? I will. We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. I can do it on my own.
I’m a big girl, I’ll be fine.” Cami reached up and stroked one hand over the chic
glossy bob of Z’s dark hair. It was like running her hand over satin; it was so smooth
and healthy.

The fact that Z didn’t move or immediately shoot down her concerns had Cami worried.
Z was the strong confident one between the two, so if she was afraid to speak up,
something must be terribly wrong.

“Don’t ask him to leave,” she finally whispered, and with a sigh, turned to wrap one
arm around Cami’s waist and place one hand lovingly on her cheek. “But, I didn’t expect
this, Cam. I like him, too. A lot. It’s making this seem more important than I thought
it would be.”

Cami saw the same expression on Z’s face whenever she was telling her a hard truth,
like when her bird had flown away because Z had forgot to close the window. Or when
Z told her their friend Angie had been attacked and that they didn’t know if she was
going to make it.

So, seeing that same look now told Cami that she had better think before she spoke.
Evan was handsome, no doubt. But, they had just met him today and Z wasn’t the type
to get all girly over a boy. For her to confess this now meant that Z must be as nervous
about this next step as Cami was herself. Somehow, that was more encouraging to Cami
than all of the coaching she’d been getting so far. If her stalwart and un-flappable
Ziporah was all flustered and excited too, then that meant that she wasn’t alone.

So, in the spirit of solidarity, she wrapped an arm around Z’s tense shoulders and
said, “Okay. So what?” With a cheeky smile that she always used to get Z to give in
to her, she grabbed the serving tray. “It’s a Buffy-thon. Then who knows? We’re here
to explore, right? To embrace our fantasies and desires? Open ourselves up to that
lifestyle and you to the adventure of a lifetime? Let’s go out there and face this.
Together, like we’ve faced everything.” She laughed like a loon at the jaw-dropped
look Z gave her. “What? You’re the only one who can be encouraging and strong? I’m
not allowed to give you a boost when you need it?”

“Well, no,” Z said in a mock stern voice as she tried not to smile and failed. “Not
when it comes to sex, you’re not. I’m the one who’s supposed to be here for you, not
the other way around.”

“This is different then.” Cami declared. “This time around, it looks like we are going
to have to be there for each other.” Cami turned to go, and then at the last second
looked back over her shoulder. “Now, I know it’s just supposed to be Buffy and no
fooling around, but do you think we could get him to let us take a peek at what he’s
bringing to the table? You know, in case it turns out he’s only a one-inch wonder.”
Then she sailed out, laughing as Ziporah cracked up.

Evan heard the laughter coming from the kitchen and turned to look just as they came
scampering into view. They had both changed into lounging clothes before he got there
and their carefree smiles and comfortably sexy attire reignited the fire that had
been banked within him. Cami with her lush curves was dressed in a pair of grey work-out
sweats that weren’t quite yoga pants. They were way too sexy to be termed just sweats,
with the way they rode low on her hips and draped so lovingly over her remarkable
ass, though. She had a slouchy cut-up pullover on top of it that he assumed she thought
was modest because it was baggy. But it was slipping off her bare shoulders and drooping
down in the front, showing him glimpses of the soft looking sports bra under it and
even softer looking breasts.

Ziporah was dressed in what he liked to call God’s gift to mankind: black skintight
leggings. They clung to every toned and lithe inch of her– from the perfectly round
globes of her high, tight ass, over her sleekly muscled thighs and down those mile
long legs to her dainty bare feet. Instead of a loose fitting sweater like Cami, she
had on a beat up tee shirt that at one time must have sported a band’s logo or album
cover, but now all he could make out was faded colors and a few letters. It was so
worn it was almost no barrier at all and as she dropped onto the couch cushion next
to him, the gentle wobble of her small, high breasts told him she wore nothing underneath.

It must be my birthday, he thought with an inner smile as Cami set the tray down in
front of him and took a seat on his other side.

“So,” Cami stated matter-of-factly as she palmed the remote. “Rules for Buffy-thon.
You can talk when we do, but you can’t get offended if we hush you. We only do it
so you don’t miss out on the best lines.”

“Hmm-hmm.” Ziporah poured Frangelico liqueur and vodka into a shot glass and handed
it to him with a wedge of sugared lemon. “Rule number two, every time a vamp bares
their fangs, bites someone or gets dusted, we take a shot.” She licked her thumb and
grinned at him when she caught him watching her do it.

“Oh!” Cami added with a bounce, “and let’s also do one every time Giles cleans his
glasses.” Ziporah seconded the notion so he guessed that was that.