Facing Me (12 page)

This Is Why We
Can’t Have Nice Things.

*Aiden*

“What the hell…”
Henry shouts, barreling into the room. “Katheryn, what the hell happened to
you, baby?” His tone softening immediately when he reaches her; looking at Cam
and me, his eyes harden. “Explain.”

Cam’s shoulders
slump, “Oh my God, what have I done?  I’m so sorry.” She chokes out,
turning and walking down the hall toward the bedrooms, slamming a door behind
her.

Henry looks
murderous, lifting a silently sobbing Katheryn into his big ass arms. “Man, we
walked in and she was naked.  When she walked toward us, she didn’t say a
word, and Cam decked her.” I say, trying to keep my focus on being concerned
for Katheryn, but can’t help the satisfaction knowing Cam claimed me.

“Well, holy
shit.” Hunter says, leaning against the open door. “Henry, I got you this
bitch.  Happy Birthday motherfucker, I already know she’ll fit.” He says
with a grin, scratching his chin in concentration. “So, Cam went all primal and
beat her ass?” He asks, wiping his forehead. “Damn, I always miss the good
shit.  Anyone happen to record it?  I’ll give my left nut and my
wallet for a slow motion replay.”

“You’re an
insensitive prick.” Henry bites out, shoving past him out the door with
Katheryn still in his arms. “Come on, baby, let me take care of you.” 

“I don’t know
what the hell he’s talkin’ about.  The tip of my prick is very
sensitive.  Sometimes, I can’t even look him in the eye.” He explains
flopping on the couch, patting his crotch. “He needs his ego stroked, he’s a
bashful fucker.”

“Whatever.” I
say, rolling my eyes. ”You can raid the mini bar, watch television; I couldn’t
care less what you do.  I gotta talk to Cam.” He just nods when I start
down the hall.

Opening the
bedroom door, I don’t know exactly what I expect to find, but I’m prepared to
fight for us.  If she thinks I’m letting her run again, she’s got another
thing coming.  Cam is curled up protectively on the bed, reminding me too
much of the night in Minnesota.  Tears streaming down her face, she looks
up, not quite meeting my eyes. “I can’t believe I did that.  What’s
happening to me Aiden? I’m not that person.  I don’t just attack people
for no reason.” She sighs, defeated and buries her head in her hands.

I can’t stand
seeing her like this.  After everything, I can’t blame her for lashing out
at a naked woman in my room.  I mean, shit, who wouldn’t?  Given my
fuck up last night, about other women, I’m thrilled she even gives a
shit.  Carefully, I sit on the bed next to her. “Sit up; I want you to
look at me Camaron.” I say, in a calm voice, with authority.  Knowing that
she is emotional and fragile right now, I know exactly what she needs. 
Anticipation rushes through my entire body at the thought of controlling her,
to be able to make her forget what just happened. 

Instantly, she
sits up, the breath rushing out of her chest in a rush.  Tears still
sliding down her cheeks, but I plan to stop that shit right now.  Walking
over to her, I cup her face in my hands, meeting her eyes. “Good girl.” I say,
feeling her body tremble at the words I have said to her so many times
before.  Right now she needs reassurance from me, I can’t deny her
anything.  Never could. “It was just a misunderstanding.” I add, before
kissing her lips gently.  Cam’s eyes flutter closed, a clear sign she is
avoiding my words. “Give me your damn eyes.  Now,” I command, grasping her
chin harder. 

“I’m sorry.” She
whispers sadly, opening her eyes.  I don’t know whether she is apologizing
for closing her eyes, or hitting Katheryn, but it is bullshit.  Either
way, I don’t need the words.

“Cam, I don’t
need apologies.  You own me, body and soul, just as much as I own
you.  There are a lot of things to figure out between us, but that isn’t
one of them.  Never apologize for defending or laying claim to what’s
yours, I sure as hell won’t.” I clarify, sitting down on the bed beside
her.  Leaning in, I press my lips to hers, hoping she understands that I’m
hers.  I could never belong to anyone else; Camaron has had everything
since New Orleans that very first night, I just didn’t know it. 

Our tongues
clash, my hands pulling her closer to me with each passing second. 
Desperately, I hold her body against mine; she could never know just what
kissing her means to me.  Just the feel of her lips on mine is more than
any cheap fuck would ever get from me.  That’s why no groupie would ever
be enough.  I never wanted to kiss anyone, until Cam.  Affection
wasn’t part of growing up for Hunter and me.  Not until Henry came into
our lives, did we even know any sort of encouragement other than from each
other.  For the first years of my life, Hunter was all I had; he was my
protector, my knight.  He slayed the dragons, kept all pain from touching
me, or so he thought.  The only thing that would have hurt worse than the
beatings he took, was me watching him take them from my hiding place.  Is
it sad that I would have traded places with him to just feel something? 

I have dreamed
of getting a hold of that son of a bitch, just one time, now that I’m not a
fucking kid.  To give him the beating of his life; it wouldn’t be a
fraction of what he gave Hunter, but nothing would ever be enough for
that.  I used to sit and try to justify why he thought we deserved it. 

My kisses slow;
my body tightens as the thoughts invade my head again, making Cam pull back.

“Aiden?” She
asks, breathlessly.  Her lips, still red and swollen from mine, make me
want to bite into that bottom lip.  Hard. “Is something wrong?”

I shake my head,
“No.  For the first time in so long, everything is okay.” Kicking off my
boots, I pull us both up to the pillows. “Right now, I just wanna lay here with
you across my chest.  I need to feel you.” I whisper, pulling my fingers
through her hair.  Her face settles on my chest, making me content to just
stay here forever and breathe her in.

After a while, I
start to think she’s fallen asleep until she speaks. “I know one day you’ll
talk to me about what goes through your mind.  One day you’ll let me in.”
She murmurs sleepily.  I even out my breathing until I’m sure that she’s
asleep, knowing I’m a damn coward because I can’t say the words she deserves to
hear.  My past is no secret; it’s just not something I talk about. 
Hunter has told Gray and Daisy, but other than that, the only people who know,
witnessed it. 

Cam’s phone
vibrates from the bedside table, but she doesn’t budge.  Sliding her to
the pillow carefully, I grab it, inching out of the room so I don’t wake
her.  The moment I click the door closed, I accept the call. “Hello?”

“Hello, I’m
trying to reach Camaron Allen.  My name is Dustin, assistant to Jackson
Reed.  He would like to arrange a meeting to discuss pertinent matters.”

The mention of
his name makes me squeeze my fingers around the phone. “This is Aiden
Chesterfield.  Anything he would like to
arrange
will go through
me.” I ground out.  What does this bastard want anyway?  We never
signed anything with him and never will. 

Dickwad, on the
other end of the line, is ruffling some papers, “As in the drummer for Shaft?”
He asks.

“That’s
me.  What does Jackson want?” I ask, losing my patience.

“Well, we were
informed that after the tour was cancelled by Mr. Reed, it was rebooked at near
capacity by Daisy Cole and Henry Richardson.  According to our updated
searches, Camaron Allen was retained as replacement for Tad Johnson. 
Since Mr. Reed was behind the original tour, he feels that he was under
compensated for his efforts.  We hope that…”

“Wait just a
damn minute.” I shout into the phone, interrupting him.  I pace the hall
outside the bedroom door, in hopes of calming myself.  It doesn’t
work.  The simple fact that he thinks he is entitled to something he
isn’t, sends my blood into a damn power boil.  What the hell did he ever
do for us that would justify giving him anything other than an ass beating?
Taking a breath, I try to be as polite as possible to the lackey doing
Jackoff’s dirty work. It’s not his fault his boss is a piece of shit. “You tell
Jackson that if he thinks he can ask for one dime, after walking out with no
notice, leaving us to pick up the pieces, then he has another thing
coming.  We should sue him for breach of contract and extortion.” I toss
out. “Tell him that and see what he thinks, Dustin.  You have yourself a
great fuckin’ day.” I add, ending the call.

“What the hell
do you think you’re doing?” I jerk around to find Cam watching me from the
doorway. “That’s my phone and my job you’re butting into, Aiden.” Stomping over
she yanks the phone from my hand.  Scrolling through the phone, she growls
furiously. Getting up in my face, Camaron jabs two fingers in my chest, making
me painfully aware that she is beyond pissed. “Isn’t this what you hired me
for?  If you’re going to do my damn job for me, Aiden, then why the hell
am I even here?  The way I choose to handle issues is one thing
you
don’t
get control over.” Swinging her hips, as she walks up the hall to the
living area of my suite, Cam adds, “Unless you all vote to fire me, or I turn
into a slimy bastard like Tad, it doesn’t involve you guys, until Daisy and I
decide it does.” I hear her toss out a goodbye to Hunter, before the door slams
loudly behind her.

Grabbing my
boots, I walk into the living area where Hunter is flipping through channels on
the television. “What the hell just happened?” I ask, confused.  Cam has
never blown up at me over something as simple as me taking a phone call. 
I mean, yeah, it was her phone, but she was asleep.  I was just trying to
help.  Then when I heard the issue being thrown at us, I exploded.

“I think the
term you’re lookin’ for is ‘
topping from the bottom
’, brother.” Hunter
quips, sarcastically.

Shoving my feet
into my boots, I glare at him. “We weren’t in a scene, asshole.  Stop
researching online, you aren’t a dominant, you lack any sort of control.” I
toss out.

“Not what I
meant,” Hunter snaps, leaning up on the couch, he watches me carefully. “You
were topping from the bottom.  We hired Camaron to manage the band’s
shit.  When you took the call, you were going over her head.  That
fucks with a bitch’s ego.  Now she thinks you find her incompetent of
handling her responsibilities, big mistake.  Damn, even I know better than
that.” Hunter shakes his head with a laugh. “Cam is independent. 
Especially when she’s workin’ and you, my dear brother, stepped on her pretty
painted toes.” Waving his hands toward the door he chuckles, “Now, go fix your
shit, admit you screwed up, kiss her ass, or whatever it is you do.”

I can’t believe
it, not only is Hunter serious, he’s right.  Holy shit, I’m actually going
to take advice from my brother about what I should do in my relationship. 
That’s a first. “Thanks man.” I huff, grabbing my hooded sweatshirt off the
chair. “I think Hell may be freezing over if you are giving good advice on women;
I think I’ll take this just in case.”

Hunter just
sprawls back against the couch, flipping me the middle finger with both hands.
“My advice, Aiden, is to do the opposite of what I always do.  Maybe then
you’ll get the fuckin’ girl.  Text Daisy, she has Cam’s room number.” He
says calmly, before I close the door behind me.  Leaving me wondering what
suddenly has Hunter questioning his actions now.  The past few days he has
been saying the most off the wall things, for him, making me wonder if he hasn’t
been holding onto some shit too. 

After Henry came
into our lives, everything got better.  We moved away from everything,
starting fresh, but I struggled.  I needed to hold onto the control,
desperate for structure.  Hunter went the opposite way; being thirteen he
rebelled, taking nothing seriously.  Henry wasn’t exactly a father. 
Since he is ten years older than Hunter, he was like a big brother.  It
was the three of us against the world, until I met Grayson in high
school.  Since then, we’ve added Daisy and I want to add Cam too. 
Which means letting her in, but can I do that?  Can I open up and let her
in like she deserves?  I hope so, because one thing I know is losing her
now will be a fate worse than death.  I’m holding out hope that once
Camaron knows everything; she will still be there holding my hand when I come
out on the other side of facing me and all the shit that goes along with my
past.  

*Camaron*

“Damn it,
Aiden.” I grumble kicking the wall in the elevator.  What the hell was he thinking? 
After calling back the number, I had to have a very uncomfortable conversation
with Dustin, Jackson’s assistant.  Now I have to smooth over a bunch of
unnecessary shit because Aiden, once again, couldn’t keep his cool. 
Jackson not only wants compensation for the tour dates he had booked, that we
re-negotiated after he walked with No Approval Needed; but he wants a meeting
with Daisy and me.  Thankfully, I bought us some time with the bus leaving
tomorrow morning.  We will be back here for the Ironsound’s ‘
Rock
For A
Cure’
Festival, and I’ve set up to meet with them
then.

Emotionally
exhausted, I fling the door open to my hotel room, making Luke and Chase jump
from the sofa. “What’s wrong?” Luke asks, nervously.