Unwanted Stars (21 page)

My parents weren't home so I left a message, making my voice as sweet as possible on their machine. Here's my opinion on all of this “Auden's deserted us” business that my parents are feeding to my brother and Hadley. I think they're really lucky to have two out of three of their adult children near them. Maya and Jason are both nearby, both with grandchildren who adore them. They should be satisfied with that, instead of focusing on the raisin in the cornflakes. Me.

Being the baby of the family, I wasn’t ready for any of that. I took this job to figure out what I
do
want. Do I want to be a tour guide forever? Not really. I mean, I can definitely see why their contracts are only for the duration of one year. You can burn out really fast living out of a suitcase. I've been doing this for less than three months, but it feels like so much longer because of the stress and strain on the job.

But it's the adventure of a lifetime. And it led me to Campbell. And for that, it's the best fucking job on the planet.

Speaking of my sexy, British doctor, I hadn't seen him in over a week and was starting to feel restless. I picked up my cell and typed a simple text, hoping he was still awake after a long day of patients.

A: Missing you

C: Don’t get me started

A: What’s wrong?

C: Nada. Just missing my cell phone

A: You’re texting on it, dummy

C: Not that one. The sexy one.

A: Oh...the one you also call Minx?

C: Yeppers

A: (Pouts)

C: (Snarls)

A: Oooh la la. Do it again!

C: (Snarls)

A: That’s my naughty doctor

C: Hey. Careful, minx, this could lead to naughty things

A: Call me. Now.

Within five seconds, my phone rang and I heard his deep, raspy voice on the other end of the line.

"So, you're feeling naughty?"

"Only for you," I said, lying down on the bed of the hotel and glancing to make sure the door was locked and dead bolted.

"What are you wearing on that sexy body of yours?"

"Nightgown."

"Mmm, that sounds nice. Color?"

"Red."

"Delicious. Tell me more, minx."

"Well, it's short...only comes down to my thigh. It's satin with lace along the bodice."

"What's a bodice?"

"Oh my god, you're such a guy."

"Stop, don't kill the mood."

"Sorry, it's, well—"

"I don't care. Is your hair up or down?"

"It's down, and curly. Insanely curly. It's humid here."

"Mmmm, perfect. I can't get enough of your curls."

"I know," I said, biting my lip. Not sure what else to say. I was new to this. All of this. "What are you wearing?"

"I'm knackered, actually. Just boxers. That's all."

"Take them off," I said, feeling bold.

"I like the way you think."

I could hear the cotton of his boxers sliding from his legs.

"Now you," he said.

"If you insist," I said breathily into the phone, doing my best to sound sultry and seductive. He sighed. I guess it was working.

"Okay, done," I said, dropping my nightgown to the floor.

"Panties?" he asked.

"Removing them," I said, slipping them past my legs and onto the floor.

"Nice. Now, what shall I do to you?" His voice was soft and mischievous.

"You tell me."

His breathing deepened into the receiver, and I wondered if he'd switched positions.

"Well, you know how much I love those breasts of yours. I think I'd spend some time with them."

"I can arrange that," I said with a giggle as my fingers grazed the tips of my nipples. "Okay," I whispered.

"Then I'd kiss your neck, really take in the taste of you."

"What do I taste like?" I asked, curious.

"Vanilla. My favorite."

"Mmmm," I said, enjoying myself from his perspective. My hands dragged down my neck and I imagined the pads of my fingers were his lips, softly caressing every single pore.

"And I'd kiss those two little freckles under your chin."

"I have freckles under my chin?"

"Auden," he warned.

"Sorry," I said, clearing my throat. "And what would you like me to do to you?"

"Touch me," he said.

"Okay," I paused, "I'm caressing you with my hand."

"Sounds good."

"And ever so slowly, I'll take you into my—" My phone signaled a call was waiting. I glanced at the screen. My mother. "Shit."

"Wait, what?" he asked, sounding flustered and out of breath.

"That's my other line," I said, clenching my teeth.

"Do not—"

"I won't...but it's...my mother."

"Oh, for God's sake, Auden. Mood gone."

"Sorry, sorry. I won't, it's just...she misses me."

"I know, but so do I, minx. So do I."

Silence.

"You're right. Okay, where was I? Oh, right," I cleared my throat again, dropping my voice down an octave, "I was stroking you with my hand."

"Uh huh..."

"And now I'm teasing you with my tongue. Just the tip."

"Don't stop," he said.

"I'm drawing the tiniest of circles, making you squirm."

"Oh yeah," he said. "Go deeper."

"We'll get there. But, I'm taking my time. Tasting you, enjoying you."

"I need to be inside you."

"I'm right here. Right here for you."

"Touch yourself," he said, panting.

"I-I—"

"Please, baby. Please."

"Okay," I said, "I'm straddling you now, easing you into me."

"You feel so good," he moaned.

I felt myself relaxing, imagining he was with me...inside me, stroking me, loving me, worshiping me in every sense of the word. The pressure built within me as Campbell continued telling me all the sensual things he was doing to me. Within minutes, he had flipped me beneath him, and he was pumping in and out of me, my orgasm approaching...

"I'm taking your nipple into my mouth, biting...just a little."

"Cam—" I moaned, the phone slipping from my fingers and landing on the floor. "Oh my God."

And that was it. I just had phone sex. With my boyfriend. And I dropped the phone. Completely spent, I somehow mustered the strength to grab the phone from the floor.

"I'm so, um, so sorry," I said into the phone.

"It's okay, baby," he whispered. "I heard you. It was sexy as hell."

"Did you, too?"

"Yeah."

"Damn, I missed it?"

Campbell chuckled. "There'll be other times. Don't worry."

"That was intense."

"Yeah, it was."

"That was my first time...you know, doing that."

"Me too," he said.

"Liar."

"I'm so serious. I'm a nerd, Auden. Nerds don't have phone sex."

"Well, you just did."

"Yeah, I did," he snickered. "And it was brilliant."

"Yes...yes, it was."

"Hey," he said, his voice rising in a curious tone.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Do you want to tell me about your day?" he asked.

"Sure," I whispered, pulling the covers over me and turning to my side, spending the next several hours talking to the man of my freaking dreams.

I woke up, cell phone still pressed to my cheek, the tiniest bit of drool on the receiver. I'd fallen asleep while on the phone with him. Oh no!

"Campbell? Cam?" I asked. He said nothing, but I could hear him breathing in and out, in and out. I didn't have it in me to hang up, phone minutes be damned. I curled up with my phone and went back to sleep.

My nerves were shot. Meeting the family was a big freaking deal! I wasn't quite sure I was ready for it, but Campbell had been excited for weeks. Excited for me to meet his family, eager for me to see his childhood home, earnest for me to be by his side at this very special celebration.

His parents were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, which was genuinely impressive. Loving someone, sharing a life with them for five decades. Wow. Campbell insists it's because they married young. His mother Marianne was only eighteen when his parents exchanged vows.

I'd become quite the professional when it came to packing and managed to stuff everything I needed for the weekend into one small carry-on bag. Our flight was just over an hour, but that meant I was stewing in my own insecurities for that long.

The look of excitement on Campbell's face was intoxicating. It made me want to drag him back to the bathroom and have my way with him. Seriously, pure elation poured from his face the moment I agreed to come with him. I'd dated quite a bit, and no one had ever been so eager for me to meet their family. Yes, it was intimidating, but mostly it was endearing. Campbell was proud to call me his, to introduce me as his girlfriend, and that made me happy. Truly happy.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, jolting me back to reality and away from my daydreaming.

My chin was perched on my hand, elbow digging into the arm of the airplane seat, eyes focused on the drifting clouds.

"You," I said with a shrug.

"I approve," he said with a wink.

"Nerd."

"Yep," he said, rubbing my thigh with his hand. "Seriously, though, what's going on in that gorgeous head of yours?"

"Just anxious...you know, to meet your folks. And
four
brothers."

"They'll love you. My mom already does."

"How is that?" I asked, perplexed.

"I talk to her a few times a week. She checks in."

"Ahhh, so you talk to her about me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and pursing my lips.

"Would you rather I didn't?" he challenged.

"No."

"That's what I thought."

"Go back to reading, you cocky ass," I said, swatting him playfully on his arm.

"Will do."

A simple peck on the temple and Campbell was engrossed in his latest science fiction novel. I told you he was a total dork.