Only You (20 page)

“Shane, I’m so hot. Please let me cum,” she whined, but he didn’t change his pace. He didn’t give her pained clit any relief. She wanted to explode in orgasm, but she suddenly could only focus on how hot she felt. She no longer felt butterflies. Instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of dread and a growing nausea.

“Shane!” she screamed. “Shane, please!”

***

The door to Camden’s bedroom flew open and Eric’s eyes flew to the entryway. Shane looked completely frantic. Eric held Camden’s arms, trying to force her to relax. She was in some intense dream, and her tossing and turning had intensified. She was mumbling, but he couldn’t understand her.

“I don’ know what’s going on,” he said. “She’s dreaming about something, but it suddenly got intense. She’s been tossing and turning like you said, but she just started mumbling and groaning, and she started thrashing around. I’m trying to hold her still.”

“She screamed my name,” Shane looked at Eric in concern. He hurried to the other side of the bed. His worried eyes scanned Camden. Her pajamas were soaked in sweat.

“I think she might have a fever,” he whimpered to Eric.

“She does.” Eric replied softly. “It’s not uncommon, but I think we need to wake her up.”

Shane nodded, and leaned forward. He placed his hand softly on her cheek.

“Sunshine, wake up for me, baby,” he murmured. “I need to know that you’re okay.”

“Shane,” they heard her whimper in reply. “Shane, please.”

“I’m right here, Camden,” he cooed. “Wake up, baby.”

When she continued to squirm, but didn’t respond, Shane grew frustrated.

“Screw this,” he grumbled. He reached forward and pulled Camden into his arms. She leaned her head against his chest, inhaling his scent, and began to relax. “Shane,” she sighed contentedly. Camden’s eyes began to blink, and she looked confused, as she took in the two men seated on her bed. Glancing down, she realized she was fully clothed, and she blushed when she recalled her dream. Even upon waking, however, she realized she was insanely hot, and her stomach was miserable.

“What are you…” she started, before suddenly bolting off the bed and running to the bathroom. Eric and Shane hurried behind her, only to find her leaning over the toilet heaving. Shane wanted to cry, seeing her in so much pain. Eric, used to the chemo side-effects, hurried to her side and lifted her hair off her neck. He rubbed her back soothingly, before looking at Shane.

“Her anti-nausea meds are on the kitchen counter. I think there's a pain reliever and a fever reducer there, too. I lost track of what prescriptions Dr. Stevens gave her. You wanna hold her hair or grab meds and fluids?”

Shane looked at Eric with appreciation in his eyes. He was so glad Eric was here to keep a level head. Shane went to pieces whenever he saw Camden in pain.

“I’ll do this,” he replied. “Could you get the meds?”

Eric nodded and moved from his spot, allowing Shane to kneel at Camden’s side to offer her comfort. He heard Shane whispering encouragement to Camden, as he quietly left the bathroom to retrieve her medication.

***

Chapter 24

Javier looked around the packed bar and grinned. This was the busiest they’d ever been on a Friday night, and it was all thanks to the local band he had hired. They’d really drawn a crowd. He couldn’t believe the drummer was Melia’s younger brother. She’d been bitching and moaning for months about Shane and Javier letting them play, and he’d finally given in to her just to shut her up. What a shock to find out that she was right! Breaking Chains had charisma and talent, the lead singer had an awesome voice, and Melia’s brother Todd was gifted with the sticks. Shane would be shocked, and he would be thrilled with the profits.

“Two rounds of shots for the bachelor party in the corner. One sex on the beach, one slippery nipple. Shots for thirteen guys.” Javier turned to see a scowling Melia, and his smile grew. This night couldn’t get any better. She was obviously annoyed with something…most likely him. Javi didn’t know what he had done this time, but he’d have to make sure to do it again. He chuckled as he prepared the shots and helped Melia load her tray with all twenty-six of them.

“Hey Javi, I’m taking my break!” Brody tossed his hand towel to Javier and jumped the short door to the backside of the bar. Javier shook his head when he saw Brody toss an arm around Tiffany’s shoulder. The two headed toward the stairs, ignoring the crowd around them.

“Good band.” Javier turned to the customer speaking to him. Her dark red hair lay in waves down her back. She was staring at the stage, so Javier didn’t get a good look at her face.

“Yeah, it’s their first gig here, but I’m thinking we might have to make it a regular thing,” he replied.

“Good plan.” She nodded, but kept her gaze on the platform.

Javier turned and began straightening things behind the bar. He walked to the other side and filled a few orders for beer. He fixed a round of Cosmos for a few executive ladies who were out celebrating payday. When he finally made it back to the red-headed woman, he noticed her hands were empty.

“Can I get you something to drink?”

Melia slammed her empty tray on the table. “One round of blowjobs and one round of red-headed sluts,” she growled. “I swear these guys are on their iPhones googling shot names that are sexual.”

Javier laughed and started to prepare the drinks for Melia. As he was doing so, he turned back to the woman on the other side of the bar.

“As I was saying, can I get you something?”

The woman turned, and Javier froze in place.

“Yeah,” she replied. “You can get me Shane.”

At the stranger’s words, Melia grew curious. “What do you want with Shane?” she asked. A little venom slipping into her voice.

“Daphne,” Javier muttered. She smirked at him in reply. “I didn’t even recognize you. Weren’t you blonde last time I saw you?” He tried to sound lighthearted and teasing, but the effect didn’t work.

“Yeah,” she cooed. “I needed a change. Wanted to shake things up.” She ran her fingers through her wavy locks, playing with one strand flirtatiously.

“Well, you definitely are doing that,” Javier mumbled under his breath.

“Excuse me,” Melia butted into the conversation, the tray of shots beside her long forgotten. “Why do you want to speak to Shane?” she demanded.

“Who are you?” Daphne replied cattily. “His gatekeeper?”

Melia’s nostrils flared. “I’ll have you know that I just ended a relationship with Shane.”

Javier tried to stop it, but he really couldn’t hold in the laughter that escaped his throat. “I wouldn’t call it a relationship, Melia. Besides, he has a girlfriend now.”

“Exactly.” Melia cut her eyes at him, and he knew he’d get an earful later for calling her out. “So why is SHE,” she pointed to Daphne,” here to see Shane. He’s not available for girls like her.” Melia’s eyes scanned Daphne from head to toe, and she sneered.

Javier stepped in. “Melia, why don’t you take those shots to the bachelor party guys? I’m sure they are growing impatient.”

Melia glared at Javier before picking up the tray. She glanced between the shots and Daphne. “Yeah, red-headed slut for sure,” she grumbled as she took the tray across the room.

“Feisty,” Daphne turned to Javier. “She yours?”

Javier paled. “Melia?!? No. Absolutely not. She’s strictly an employee, and a pain in the ass one at that.”

Daphne laughed, and the melodic sound drew attention from the crowd around them.

“So, it seems that Shane gets around these days. That’s definitely a change.”

“He isn’t here, Daph.” Javier figured cutting to the chase might get her out of the bar sooner.

“Did you even tell him I was coming?” Her eyes narrowed in accusation.

Javier sighed. “Truthfully, Daphne? No, I didn’t. He’s with someone now, and he has too much going on to deal with you on top of everything else.”

Daphne wasn’t deterred by Javier’s words, it seemed. “So, when will he be back? I’ll wait for him. He and I need to talk.”

“He’s not even living in the area right now, Daphne. Like I said, he’s got a girlfriend.”

“So!” she argued. “I was his girlfriend for an entire year. He and I have history.”

Javier chuckled. “Your history can’t compete with his and Camden’s.”

“He’s with Camden?” Her eyes widened in shock. “I thought he couldn’t find her.”

“Well, they found each other.” When Daphne’s face dropped, Javier’s expression softened. He could only imagine loving someone, but knowing you always came second. In Daphne’s situation, he wasn’t even sure she’d ever had a ranking. Suddenly, Daphne’s face grew more determined.

“Call him, Javier. Tell him I want to see him. He owes me that much,” she argued.

“Daphne, you guys broke up more than a year ago. And from what I knew, you weren’t that serious to begin with. He owes you nothing.”

Daphne glared at him.

“Like I said, you need to move on and find another plan for your civilian life.” He locked eyes with her.

“I’m not ready to let him go, Javi. I need to talk to him, to see if I have any chance at all. She broke his heart, and I never did that. That must earn me some points or something.”

“They’ve worked all that out. There was a lot of misunderstanding three years ago. They broke each other’s hearts, but now they’re in a good place.”

“They aren’t good for each other,” Daphne whined. “You don’t break the heart of the person you love. Not if you can help it.”

Javier shook his head. He knew that all too often, the person whose heart you did break was the one you loved.              

“I’m telling you, you need to leave this alone. He’s happy. Gonna be a dad.” Her jaw dropped.

“He never wanted kids. We talked about that on several occasions.”

“Trust me, Daphne, he is THRILLED about this kid.” She scoffed in disbelief, and Javier was getting annoyed.

“Maybe he never wanted kids with you.”

Daphne flinched at Javier’s direct insult.

“I’m not leaving until I get to talk to him, Javier.”

“I don’t have a clue when he’ll be back to visit, Daphne. He’s on a leave of absence.”

“Then the least you can do is give me a job in the meantime,” she demanded. “I need to make a living, and then I’ll be here whenever he comes back, ready to plead my case.”

Before Javier could reply, he was distracted by a commotion near the stage. He couldn’t make out much through the dark bar, but he could tell that a large, dark-haired man, who looked to have eaten steroids regularly since puberty, was lifting the groom from the bachelor party into the air.

“Shit!” he muttered before jumping the bar and running towards the fracas. Why the hell would Melia’s boyfriend NOT stay away from the bar?!?! This idiot was going to kill business.

“Vinnie, put him down,” Javier demanded, as he came to a stop in front of the giant man. He swallowed slowly as Vinnie turned, eyed blazing.

“This mother fucker had his hands on my girl!” he growled. “What kind of riff-raff you letting in this place?”

Javier just stared. The only riff-raff he saw in the bar was the idiot muscle-head in front of him.

“Put him down, Vinnie,” he ordered again.

Melia grabbed Vinnie’s arm, her voice pleading. “Vin, he just grabbed me to keep me from falling. I swear.” Javier noted the wavering in her tone. “You saw, Vin. I tripped in my heels. He only grabbed my hand to keep me upright.”

Vinnie’s head snapped to Melia. “He pulled you into his chest.” His eyes came back to a severely frightened groom.

“He was only fighting gravity, Vinnie,” Melia replied meekly. “If he hadn’t, we both would have fallen.” Javier saw her shaking. What the hell happened to the fiery Melia that tortured him daily? She almost acted scared of this idiot.

“He was STILL touching what is MINE!” Vinnie roared. He pulled back his fist and let it fly. The area around them broke into chaos, as the guys from the bachelor party tried to come to their friend’s rescue. In the confusion, Vinnie lost his hold on the groom, but his eyes had quickly found Melia. He grabbed her by the wrist and started dragging her away. Javier was trying to gain control over the situation when he noticed Vinnie and Melia nearing the exit. What struck him was the look of pain on Melia’s face and the tears streaming down her cheeks. He could tell she was begging Vinnie for something, and Javier didn’t like it one bit. HE was the only one allowed to pick on Melia. He was hurrying across the bar, completely leaving the confusion of the fight behind him when he saw a blur of red hair pass him. Within a moment, Daphne was on Vinnie’s back, squeezing his neck in a choke-hold. Melia had dropped to the ground in tears. Javier ran across the bar and pulled Melia into his arms, checking her for injuries. Seconds later, Vinnie dropped to the floor unconscious.

“What the hell did I miss?!?!” Javier turned an angry gaze on Brody, whose break had taken twice as long as scheduled. Brody’s mussed hair and half buttoned shirt left it obvious what he and Tiffany had been doing.

“While you were defiling your girlfriend in Shane’s bed, Vinnie here decided to start a bar fight,” he growled.