Merchants with Evil Intent (31 page)

Chapter
10

      
Joe placed Camille on the bed, sweeping
his eyes over her. She self-consciously grabbed for the covers. “Don’t you know
how beautiful you are?” he murmured as he settled himself over her.

      
Even in the faint light peeking through
the curtains he could see color painting her cheeks.

      
He kissed her, parting her lips with his
tongue. They explored each others mouths for a few minutes before he pulled
away, peppering her neck with soft wet kisses.

      
She moaned when he took her nipple into
his mouth and gently suckled. His warm mouth felt so good against her skin. He paid
equal attention to the other nipple then teasingly he worked his way lower. The
caress of his lips against her skin set her aflame.

      
His fingertips massaged her soft
triangle, causing her to moan and shudder. His mouth quickly took over where
his fingertips left off. Camille squealed in response.

      
He suckled on her nub sending her into a
fierce climax. He followed it up with a few slow swirls of his tongue, feeling
her shudder in response.

      
He lifted himself to his knees, pulling
her thighs wider and entered her slowly.

      
He slid in and out at a slow pace,
enjoying the moment. He paused and braced his arms on either side of her head,
kissing her sweetly as they rocked together in unison.

      
He felt her tighten around his shaft and
then shudder, a look of total pleasure covered her face. He pumped harder and
faster until he came, causing her to shudder even more.

      
He placed a tender kiss on her swollen
lips before
laying
next to her, pulling her closer.

      
Real life was way better than his dream.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camryn stomped into the office, ignoring
the growls coming from her stomach. She found Ian sitting at Declan’s desk,
surfing the internet. She made him jump when she slammed the door.

      
“Jaysus!
You
scared the shite out of me!” he screeched.

      
She raised her eyebrow. Cops in Chicago
didn’t jump like sissies. “What’s the deal with your brother?” she snapped.

      
“I’m not sure what you’re getting at,”
Ian floundered.

      
“Well, I tell him why Viktor is after me
and he pulls away like I’m an effin leper!”

      
Ian’s eyebrows knitted together. “Well,
Declan knew of the trafficking so I don’t know why he’d pull away from you
because of that.”

      
She snorted. “That’s not the reason. I
told him I’m a virgin and
that’s
why
Viktor is after me.”

      
Gads! How should he respond to that? The
gel might rip his feckin’ eyes from ‘is head! He cleared his throat. “Aye, I’m
sure that threw ‘im for a loop.” Her eyes narrowed and he quickly added, “Gel,
you’re a unique individual; you ‘ave to understand. It took ‘im off-guard, no
doubt. Besides, what’s it matter to you what he thinks”

      
Her bottom lip quivered. She stomped
around the small office, fighting back tears. When she was sure her voice
wouldn’t crack she replied softly, “Look, I hardly know anything about him. I
just found out his last name! When I hear his voice or see him I turn to effin’
Jello! I’ve never felt that before.”

      
She wrung her hands and tucked her hair
behind her ear. Her eyes met Ian’s and she softly asked, “Have you ever been in
love, Ian?”

      
Ian grinned, “Aye. I still am. So, aye, I
know the feeling well.”

      
“Is this what it’s like? Do you turn to
mush when you see her?
 
Do you find
yourself wanting to run your hands through her hair, to smell her?
To kiss her everywhere?
Is it hard to breathe sometimes when
you’re with her?” Her eyes pleaded for answers.

      
“Aye to all the above,” he assured.

      
Her eyes held his and she slowly nodded
her head. “Look, I know this isn’t going to sound rational, but I think I’m in
love with him.”

      
It wasn’t until she heard the clasp of
the door that she realized Declan heard her admission.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Viktor rubbed this face with the palms of
his hand. His beard itched and he was fucking tired of biding his time.

      
He bought a new cell phone, one of those
pay as you go pieces of shit. A sweet deal since calls couldn’t be tracked.

      
He pounded her number into the phone. He
looked out the window at the city lights. Not much scenery in this piece of
shit town, but it was better than watching the dummy box.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Camille awoke in Joe’s arms. She started to
rise when he gently pulled her to him. “Nu-uh, you’re not going anywhere,” he
murmured.

      
She smiled and met his eyes. “What if I
have to use the washroom?”

      
“Oh!” he flustered.

      
“I’m kidding.” She lay back after she
checked the time on his clock. “Don’t you have to go to work?”

      
He stretched and yawned.
“Nope.
I took the day off. I didn’t want you to be by
yourself so soon.”

      
She kissed him lightly. “You’re sweet,
you know that?”

      
He sat up on his right elbow and leaned
in to her. “Don’t tell my co-workers that,” he teased, running his fingers
through her hair. “So, Miss Mayden, can I make you breakfast or since it’s
noon, lunch?”

      
She grinned. “Wow, let’s see, you’re a
great cop, fantastic in bed and you can cook? I’ve hit the mother lode!”

      
“Hey, I didn’t say I could cook. I was
thinking about taking my lady out for a bite to eat.”

      
“Say that again.”

      
“My lady?”

      
She nodded.
“Yeah.
I like the sound of that.”

      
Joe bent and kissed her nose. “I like the
sound of that, too.”

      
Camille tugged gently at the hair on his
chest, deep in thought. He lowered his head to search her eyes. “You okay?”

      
“Yeah,” she sighed and scooted towards
the side of the bed.

      
Joe pulled himself up, wrapping his arms
around her. “What’s wrong, babe?”

      
She shrugged, fighting back tears.

      
“Look at me,” he begged. She turned so he
could see the unshed tears pooled in her eyes.

      
The pit of Joe’s stomach roiled. “What?”
he whispered.

      
“Not so long ago I was tied to a bed in
an abandoned building not sure if I’d survive. And now I’m with the most
wonderful man I’ve ever met in my life and I’m not sure how to react,” she said
softly.

      
He pulled her chin. “You can react any
way you want. I’ll be here for you for as long as you’ll let me.”

      
That did it. Her tears fell freely. She
choked out, “How does the rest of your life sound?”

      
He wiped the tears from her cheeks with
his thumbs and kissed her on the forehead. “Did you just propose to me?” he
teased.

      
Camille laughed. “It sounded like it,
huh? I didn’t mean it that way.”

      
Joe pulled back, a flash of hurt in his
eyes. “Well, someday you
will
be
Camille Butler.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Your phone, love,” Declan murmured.

      
Camryn reached into her pocket and
retrieved her phone. “Hello?”

      
“Hey Cam, do you miss me?” Viktor
sneered.