Unwanted Stars (24 page)

I was feeling pretty hot, I'm not going to lie. Brand new red party dress, strapless with a poofy skirt, and tiny little crystal embellishments along the bottom. Picture Taylor Swift in one of her 1950s dresses, only a little less innocent.

The anniversary party was being held at a local restaurant and the attire was black tie. Fifty years is a big freaking deal and I wanted to look fantastic. I wanted to impress every single member of his family if that was possible. In fact, it was my mission for the evening.

"Thanks," I said before applying the deep scarlet lip color to my lips. "There, I'm ready."

"Maybe we should, um, take a drive," he said with a smirk, looking me up and down.

"What do you mean? The party starts in a few minutes."

"I know, but we could be a little late."

Wrapping my arms around his neck, doing my best to taunt him, I whispered, "And what would we do on this drive, doctor?"

He pressed his forehead to mine and sighed. Loudly.

"You're driving me insane."

"I know, sorry," I said. "Later, I promise."

A muffled growl escaped his lips, turning me on like I'd never thought possible.

"I love when you do that," I said, tracing his jaw with my fingertip.

"When I'm frustrated?"

"The sound you make. It's hot."

"Gee, thanks. I'm so glad I can turn you on with my sexual frustration."

I cupped him through his tuxedo slacks and he inhaled, surprised at my touch when I'd so blatantly turned him down. He was already hard and that turned me on even more.

"I promise. You won't be frustrated all night."

"Don't toy with me, minx."

"I don't break promises. It'll happen when you least expect it."

"I love when you talk dirty to me," he said with a chuckle. When I removed my hand, he groaned.

"No, don't stop."

"I have to. We're late now."

He pulled me into his arms, wrapping one around my waist and dipping me down as if we were dancing. The movement took my breath away.

"You have
no
idea what you do to me."

"The feeling is mutual," I said, gazing into his eyes.

"God, I hope so," he said, straightening up and lifting me back to my feet. "Let's go. We're late."

"I just said that," I said, rolling my eyes, holding back a snicker.

Colin and Marianne Hutchins are extremely loved people. To say the restaurant was crowded would be the understatement of the century. People had come from all over the world to celebrate with them: relatives from Ireland, friends from the states, old high school pals who still lived across the island. It was overwhelming to see so much love in one place, all directed at two people and the relationship and life that they built with one another. It was inspiring.

There were so many people and
so
much to eat. Waiters walked around the large dining area carrying trays of all sorts of tempting appetizers like mini grilled panini sandwiches and shot glasses filled with squash and tomato soup. I managed to grab a few stuffed mushroom caps and prosciutto-wrapped honeydew slices. Bottles of champagne were uncorked every few minutes and almost every person had at least one drink in hand. Campbell and I sipped our champagne and talked with his brothers Nick and Simon and their wives Sophia and Trixie. So far, I had to admit that Charlie was, by far, my favorite. Silly like Campbell, he was entertaining and casual.

Nick and Simon (and their wives) were extremely kind and pleasant people, but much more reserved. Maybe it was the setting of the party. We were all dressed up and sipping champagne, not break dancing at a club, but I just didn't feel the same amount of warmth that I had experienced at the Hutchins’ house the day before. Oh well. As long as they approved of me, I was not about to complain.

Sophia, Nick's wife, was from Spain and spent quite a bit of time giving me tips on leading tours in Madrid. I was grateful, as Spain was one of the few countries I wasn't quite getting a grasp on. It was still a mystery to me as I'd only visited it once in all of my tours with Jordan. Not nearly as popular as Italy or France, but just as beautiful, I was eager to learn more about the country that had eluded me.

Trixie. Her name fit her perfectly. She was a cute little blond with a tiny, waif-like body. She looked like the human version of Tinker Bell, and her voice was adorable as was her demeanor. She and Simon were newlyweds and couldn't keep their hands off each another. It was really sweet, and it took a little pressure off of Campbell and me. As affectionate as we were, we had nothing on those two. At one point, I actually saw them rub noses. I swear to God, it happened!

"Do you miss the states?" Trixie asked, wide-eyed. Her thick British accent was difficult to understand at times, but it made her all the more adorable.

"Sometimes," I said, tilting my head to the side. "I miss my family and all, but this is the opportunity of a lifetime, ya know?"

"Completely," she said, nodding before sipping her vodka cranberry. "What's next on the agenda?"

"Luckily, I'm on a nice long break at the moment, but next week I leave for a four week tour."

"Oh wow." She glanced at Campbell and then back to me. "That could be hard."

My nose scrunched as I thought about how grueling those weeks would be. Being away from him was getting harder and harder, especially now that Michelle was assigning the longer tours to me.

"We'll make it work," I shrugged. "I'll make him visit."

"Somehow I don't think it'll take much convincing."

"Why do you say that?"

"The way he looks at you. I've never seen him like this before."

My cheeks turned rosy and I giggled behind my hand. "Do you really think so?"

"Trust me. Simon and I have been together for a long time. I know these boys...and I notice these things."

"I thought you were newlyweds," I said, confused. By the way they hung all over each other, I assumed they were together two years tops.

"We are," she said. "But we've been together since University. I waited a long time to become a Hutchins."

"Interesting."

"But something tells me you won't have to wait so long," she said with a twinkle in her little pixie eye.

"Why do you say that?" She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by the voice of her husband.
Damn his timing.

"Trixie, c'mere. I want you to meet someone," Simon called from across the room. Campbell and my eyes locked, and for the first time, I imagined what it would be like to be a Hutchins. To be part of this warm and welcoming family.

I was approaching my 24th birthday, so it's not like I was incapable of thinking about marriage at my age, but no relationship ever made me ponder the topic before. Dating had always been a casual thing, a collection of mind games and stolen kisses. Fights, make-ups, and all that other immature crap. Campbell was the first
man
I'd ever truly loved, and although the idea of being his wife was definitely appealing, I certainly wasn't ready for any of that. And I couldn't let the charming Trixie make me think otherwise. I'd only known him for three months and didn't even get to see him on a daily basis because of my work.

But damn that Trixie...she planted a seed inside my head...and inside my heart.

"Time to go," Campbell said hours later, dragging me from the dance floor. He and Charlie had busted out their break dancing moves again and the rest of the Hutchins family enjoyed watching along with me. Simon jumped in for just a minute, but was in over his head when he saw his brothers’ moves.

"Where are we going?" I asked, wiping the heat from my brow. We'd been dancing for hours, but the adrenaline coursing through my veins was keeping me from falling apart in exhaustion. Campbell stopped abruptly, pulled me into him, and spoke into my ear.

"Anywhere but here, minx."

The husky growl of his voice, the gravelly tone, and the feel of his hot breath against my ear was all I needed to know. He wanted me, he needed me, and I couldn't deny him. I wanted him just as badly. The question was, where could we be together without being disrespectful to his parents or the occasion? The thought of jeopardizing the rapport I'd built with his family made me sick to my stomach. That was just not acceptable.

"I want you in my old room. No one's at the house yet."

"But what about—"

"Mum and Dad haven't even started saying their goodbyes. Plenty of time."

"Okay," I said, breathing heavily, "but on one condition."

"Anything," he said, his eyes dark and mischievous.

"Pam Anderson gets the boot."

"Done. She's not my type."

"Oh really? You said you like blondes."

"My type is
you
," he said, weaving his fingers through my hair. "And that's it."

Resisting the urge to make a sarcastic remark comparing Pam's enormous breasts to my own, I kissed him, taking in the taste of bourbon and soda, his drink of choice for the evening. It was intoxicating.

"Take me home, Chester," I whispered, holding back a laugh.

"Be careful, saying things like that will get you a spanking."

"God, I hope so," I said with a giggle, taking his hand and leading him to the car.

Standing in Campbell's boyhood room, I began to disrobe in front of the mirror, knowing I'd catch his eye. And I was right. My handsome doctor walked to me, standing just inches from me, watching my reflection as I removed my necklace and earrings. We stood in silence, but with a simple nod, Campbell answered my request, unzipping my dress and letting it fall to the floor.

Red lace panties, bra, and high heeled shoes were all that remained on my body.

"You have too many clothes on," I said softly.

"You're right," he breathed, tugging on his bowtie and letting it fall to the floor with my dress. Never taking his eyes from my gaze, he unbuttoned his shirt and removed his jacket.

His hands wrapped around the curls that fell down my back. He grasped my hair and tugged gently, making me gasp. It was one of the most sensual things I could have imagined him ever doing, exerting his desire and his need for me in such a simple way. But it spoke volumes. My head tilted back and I smiled, never breaking eye contact. His hands wrapped around my waist, drifting down to my panties. Instead of pulling them down, he simply caressed me through them, driving me wild, making my pulse race and my breathing ragged. Still not breaking eye contact, he touched me again and again until I felt my orgasm build.

"Not like this," I whispered.

"What do you want, beautiful?"

"Together," I murmured. "I want us to come together."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, pulling on the panties with a new sense of urgency. I stepped out of them and leaned against the mirror, placing my hands above my head. Behind me, I heard Campbell unzip his fly and rip open a condom wrapper.

Hot, wet kisses were placed from the base of my neck all the way down to the start of my ass.

"Please, Cam. Now." I needed him, wanted him, possibly more than I ever had.

He pressed down on my lower back, tilting me further toward the glass of the mirror, and entered me from behind. A low moan escaped his lips as he sunk himself deep into me. Slowly and deliberately, he rocked into me again and again. His hand wrapped around my body, fingers stroking my most sensitive spot as he continued to plunge deep inside me.