Sweet Cheeks (7 page)

I don’t bother with my slippers, in my rush to see who it is, but since I cleaned up all the glass, I’m not concerned. Wrenching open my door, I’m just in time to spy Tanning and Cam disappear into his room. Tanning has his arm around Cam, so I’m guessing Cam’s drunk. I’m not surprised. Though I haven’t seen him in a state like that in over a year. Those first few months he was either drunk or high most nights, and I made sure to get him home. If it wasn’t for Bailey’s dad offering him that carpentry apprenticeship, I have no idea what might have happened to him. He was on the downhill slide for sure. And at the time I kind of relished in it. Relished in helping him out and being the shoulder for him to cry on.

Now everything is so different. I don’t feel that way. I’m just worried. I really don’t want to see him messed up again. I wait in the hall for Tanning to come out of his room, I can already smell the alcohol from here and I scrunch up my nose. Phew, that room will need the windows open in the morning.

Tanning finally appears and he looks almost as wasted as I expect Cam is. Except he looks more tired than drunk, but still hot. He always looks hot.

“How is he?” I ask.

Tanning sighs big and runs his hand over his shaved head. “Not good. He’s sleeping.”

I bite my lip. “Maybe I should stay in there with him.”

Tanning’s eyes go wide and he puts his hands on his hips. “No. No way.”

“But, he might get sick. He looked pretty wasted.”

“He is wasted, but you staying in there is
not
a good idea.”

Who does he think he is, telling me what I can and can’t do?
Cam’s my friend and he might need me.

I put my hands on my hips, reflecting his stance. “Why not?” I say.

Tanning frowns and mumbles something under his breath, which I don’t quite catch, so I turn away, saying, “I’m going to grab my pillow. I don’t want to leave him alone.”

Tanning moves quick and grabs at my wrist. “I said, no.”

My eyes flick to his, and there it is again. The heat between us is back and it’s about hundred times hotter than our moment in the kitchen. My breath hitches as Tanning moves closer to me, grabbing my other wrist as he pushes me up against the wall, holding my wrists at my sides. I can smell alcohol on his breath, but it’s not strong, it heady and I want to taste his lips on mine so badly. God, how do I go from cold to hot so fast around this guy, he’s pushing all my buttons simultaneously.

Then his lips crash on mine and my world spins. He takes his time as he explores my lips with his, nipping and biting and I can’t get enough. I want more. I want him to kiss me long and deep. Then he parts his lips and gives me everything. Holy hell, I’ve never been kissed like this and I don’t figure I ever will be again. Tanning has just ruined any other kiss from any other guy from this moment on.

His hands haven’t moved from my wrists, and I wish he’d let me go so I can trail my fingers over every inch of him, but this is so hot, just having our lips touching, exploring. My whole body is on fire and I can’t imagine how explosive it will be when we go further. Oh, boy do I want to go further. I want it so badly right now. Then in the distance I hear a groan and it’s not coming from me or Tanning, though it would be so hot if it was. Tanning pulls away and I can’t help the whimper that escapes. Tanning grins at me, and it’s so adorable. I love that grin so much.

“You need to go to bed,” he whispers in a husky tone.

I swallow. I can’t really speak right now. My heart is beating at a million miles an hour and my breathing is so rapid.

“I’ll stay with Cam,” he whispers close to my ear, his breath blowing down my neck, setting tiny firecrackers off all over my skin.

I give a small nod and swallow again. I don’t want him to stay with Cam. Cam can look after himself. I want him to stay with me. Wow, I really am falling hard for this guy. To say I don’t care about Cam is huge. I’m such a bad friend. But I really want to be bad. Bad with Tanning. Shit, that thought has me all flustered and hot again.

Tanning still hasn’t let me go and I can hear his breath rapid like my own, his gorgeous green eyes trained on me.  I lick my lips and Tanning groans and leans in. I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to crash on mine again, when I feel the softest press of his warm lips on my closed eyelids. Oh, so sweet. No guy has ever kissed me there. Such a tender, caring thing to do. I don’t even think my mom or dad ever did that.

“You need your sleep, JJ. Now go to bed. Seeing you in this slip of a thing is driving me kind of crazy and I’m not that much of a good boy.”

Oh, goodie, I’m not a big fan of good boys.  I press up against him and he groans again, then let’s go of my wrists and pulls away. Double drat. That wasn’t the response I was going for.

“JJ, bed. Now. I’ll sleep in Cam’s room, and make sure he’s alright.”

Cam? Oh that’s right. I forgot all about him. I frown and sigh. “Okay.” I feel like pouting and stamping my foot. It’s not okay. My raging hormones are yelling at me to drag Tanning into my bedroom and have my wicked way with him.

Tanning chuckles and heads for Cam’s door. As he opens it, he turns and says, “I’ll see you in the morning. Hopefully these two can sort all this out. And then I’ll be all free to sort out other things ...”

I smile big as he disappears into Cam’s room shaking his head, then cross my fingers, saying a silent prayer, I’m the other thing he wants to sort out.

eiGHT

_________________________

I wake up with a start. Wow, I never sleep that well, and never that deeply. I rub over my stomach to say good morning to Treasure Pot, then lean across to check my cell to see the time. Holy smokes its past ten in the morning. Even when I'm not working at the bakery, I never sleep past seven. I love the morning, always have.  Rubbing my eyes I think back to all the events of last night hoping Bailey didn't ditch Cam. They really need to work through this, and I know they can. I also think about Tanning and that kiss. My cheeks flush, and I can't wait to see him.

I get up, slipping on my shorts and t-shirt and make my way down the hall. Everything is quiet. Almost too quiet. I open the door to the kitchen, then the living room to see Bailey's no longer on the couch. Uh-oh. That isn't a good sign. I turn back and make my way to Cam's room. I lean down and press my ear to the door, but there's silence. I decide to take a peek and slowly open his door a fraction. All I see is a messed up bed, but no Cam. Odd. I open the door wider and look around to see a blanket and pillow on the floor, but no sign of Tanning.

I wonder where they all went. I hate not knowing. I think about what might have happened. Perhaps Bailey left and Cam went after her. That still doesn't solve the mystery of where Tanning is. I go back to my room and check my cellphone. There aren't any messages. I decide to send Cam a text to find out where he is. I don't have Bailey or Tanning's number so I can't get in contact with either of them. The screen on my cell remains blank, while I stare at it, waiting for a reply.

After about five minutes I've give up waiting and decide to do some baking. That always calms me down. I make my way to the kitchen and see two cups on the side of the basin. Odd, I washed up the cups Bailey and I used after she fell asleep. Then I look into the basin and see a bloodied washcloth. Crap, that could mean a whole heap of things. Cam might have got into a fight, and Tanning didn't want me to know and that was why he was so insistent I didn't stay in his room.  Or Bailey might have ... no she wouldn't. She's too sensible to hurt herself. Or so I think. What do I know. She was in a really bad way.

Oh god. Now my mind is in overdrive.

I race back to my room and text Cam again. No reply. I continue to hit the send button. I need to know he's okay, and Tanning's okay, and yeah, even that Bailey's okay.

After my eighth text, I still haven’t got a reply, so I throw the phone on my bed. This is so frustrating. There isn't anyone else I can call. Gerry's out of town and I don't want to worry or freak out Bailey's dad. Everyone else I know, doesn't need to know Cam's business. This town is small enough without fuelling gossip. I could ring the doctor's surgery. See if anyone came in with an injury. I decide that's the best course of action, and I'm just about to find the number when I hear a vehicle. I rush outside to see Tanning's truck coming up the drive. Thank god.

I wait on the front porch, itching to run over to his car to make sure he's okay. But I don't. I stand and wait while he gets out of his truck then goes around to the other side and opens the door for Bailey. I squint with the morning light to see that she's okay. She isn't. Tanning puts his arm around her waist, I notice her left foot is bandaged, and she hops on her right leg, as they come towards me.

I walk down the steps slowly. Unsure what to say, not sure how or why she's injured.

Tanning gives me a wink and an assuring smile. “You missed a bit of glass, Bailey found it,” he says. And it all clicks into place.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

Bailey gives me a small nod. Her eyes look red and sore, her face still really pale. “Yeah. I'm good.” She tries to smile, but it fades quickly as she looks up to the house.

Well, if Tanning took her to the doctor, where the hell is Cam? Bailey looks like she expects to see him, but he's not here. I guess at least she must have decided to face him. She certainly isn't running anywhere with an injured foot. But maybe he decided to run from her this time.

God, what a mess.

Tanning reaches the steps where I'm standing and in one quick move sweeps Bailey into his arms. I swallow down the lump of jealousy that lodges in my chest. I know there's nothing there, but I don't like him touching anyone. Only me. I try and hold back the scowl so Bailey doesn't notice, but I think I see a hint of a smirk on Tanning's lips as he glances at me.

“You want to get the door, Sweet Cheeks,” he says, without blinking.

Oh, my yes. I love the way that sounds, coming from his precious lips, and I rush to hold the door open so he can take Bailey through. It's then I hear another vehicle coming down the drive and I look up to see a cloud of dust with Cam's truck in the midst of it. He's going way too fast, and I hold my breath as I watch him spin the wheel and skid heading straight for Tanning's brand new truck.

“Shit,” Tanning curses as Cam hits the brakes and comes to a stop mere inches from the back of it. Cam doesn't waste time as he gets out and slams the door heading straight for all three of us, his face like thunder. I've never seen him this angry and it's a little scary to be honest.

I glance at both Bailey and Tanning. Bailey's face has gone even paler and she looks like she's biting her lip hard. Man, I wouldn't like to be in her shoes right now. Tanning shrugs at me and arches a brow. I'm guessing he's not one for the drama. I must admit, as much as I've waited for this moment, I can't say I'm real keen on sticking around watching the fireworks between these two.

Cam keeps coming at us, and I decide to calm him down. I move to intercept before he reaches Bailey. “Hey Cam. Where you been? I've got some coffee on.” That's a lie, but I'm hoping it might stop the tirade that’s sure to be coming.

He doesn't stop though, he walks straight past me and literally yanks Bailey out of Tanning's arms, and without a word he takes her and disappears through the front door, then I hear a slam as his bedroom door shuts.

Well don't that beat all. Not what I expected to happen.

I must look dumbfounded as Tanning waves his hand in front of my face. “You okay there, Sweet Cheeks?”

I blink a couple more times. “Um ... yeah.”

“Did you think they'd break up?” he asks, and crosses his arms, narrowing his eyes.

I look at him. Man he's rocking that black t-shirt. His tan looks even darker, his biceps nice and solid resembling boiled sweets I'd love to taste.

“Well. I kind of thought Bailey might run away. She's good at that.”

“Uh-huh. What else did you think?”

Oh, I'd so love to tell him exactly what I've been thinking, and it has absolutely nothing to do with Cam and Bailey.

I flutter my eyelashes and move in close. “That I really want them sorted, so I can find out what you meant last night about sorting other things.”

Tanning unfolds his arms and cups my head in both his hands, smoothing the pad of his thumb over my lips. He leans in so close I can feel his minty breath on my face, and I close my eyes again, waiting for his lips to press on mine. But they don't, he traces his finger around my lips for another few seconds and then pulls me to him so my head rests on his strong chest, while he strokes my hair and sighs deep. Oh, I could stay wrapped up in his arms forever. I have never felt so safe or so comfortable in my life.

It's a heady feeling, dizzying, all consuming. I actually feel like crying. Like I've found something I've been searching for without even knowing I wanted it. How can I have these strong kind of feelings after only knowing him a few days? Most guys before now have represented either fun, or a means to an end, with little to no emotional connection on my part. Like we both have roles to play and if we stay in character we'll do just fine. With Tanning there is no,
just fine
, there are no roles. I want so much more with him and to be honest it scares me. Scares me that he doesn't feel the same way, and could leave any second. The more I open my heart, the more scared I am. Cam's feelings for Bailey make sense to me now. The hurt and pain he must have experienced would have been torture.

Tanning kisses the top of my head and relaxes his arms, I don't let go of him. I don't want to. Then I realize how pathetic I must seem and drag my arms away so there's space between us.

“About that coffee,” he says and smiles at me.

He must be tired. He hasn't had much sleep. “Um ... of course, I'll make you some.”

“You haven’t yet?”

“Ah. No. I was planning too, but when everyone disappeared, and I saw the washcloth covered in blood, I kind of panicked.”

He scratches his head and rubs at his temple. “Sorry about that. We kind of left in a hurry when Bailey cut her foot and I realized it'd need stitches. She's a bit of a baby when it comes to blood.”