“I missed you too.”
As I drove farther away from the city, the heavy, black cloud that had been following me dissolved. The last time I felt this good was the last time she’d smiled at me, weeks ago.
I glanced down at the woman beside me. She was sleeping and snoring lightly. And I realized why all the bad stuff seemed to be pushed away. It wasn’t because we were going far from the city, but because she was right beside me.
She’d been the reason all along.
* * *
My heart jerked in my chest as I slowed down on the street of my childhood. A very short part of my childhood, but the one that would always be a part of me. The one that changed me.
“Are we there?” she asked.
She’d woken up ten minutes ago and had been sipping the now-cold coffee I bought for her at the service station. It was ten minutes past six in the evening now, but it was still a little bright outside.
I nodded, gauging the reaction on her face as I pressed a small square remote and the gates opened. They opened smoothly, soundlessly. They were the first thing I’d installed. I wanted protection for it. A symbol to everyone that someone now owned the place.
I pulled up the long, winding driveway and pressed the remote again to close the gate behind us. I had planted huge pine trees on both sides of the driveway and all around the property a few years ago. They’d grown tall and wide, and not only served as protection, but as walls from the outside, hiding the place from passersby. I’d posted PRIVATE PROPERTY and NO TRESPASSING signs all along the old, black iron fence.
“Wow. It looks like we’re going to visit a vampire,” she said excitedly.
“Could be werewolves too.”
“Really?” she chuckled. “It’s so…secluded. What is this place? Who owns it?”
“I do.”
“What?”
“I bought this place a few years ago. As soon as I saved enough money for it.”
“Really? Someday I want to buy my own place too. Maybe even something like this if I won the lottery. How much did you—Omigod, is that…? Wow.” She goggled. I wondered what she thought of it. “I don’t think I’ve ever been inside a mansion before. Are we going inside? It’s haunted, isn’t it? We should definitely go inside. Hurry up.”
I chuckled. She looked like an excited little girl about to open her presents. I didn’t know what reaction I’d expected from her, but I never thought she’d be delighted to see it.
It was a derelict manor. I had only started fixing it. I’d had it since forever, but I’d always put off repairing it.
But when I’d left her, I started like a madman.
“Can we take a look at it later?” I asked. “I want to show you something first.”
“You mean there’s something more interesting than this?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll show you.”
“It better be good, Bigfoot.”
I smiled at her and she smiled back.
I kept driving, following the paved road that led behind the mansion. Here, the trees were thicker and older. The paved road turned into a narrow gravel path until we reached a clearing. And then it gave way to a large open backfield.
There in the middle of it stood a small modern cabin. I’d renovated it over the years. It had been the gamekeeper’s cottage before and wasn’t in as bad a condition as the mansion, but I wanted to put my stamp on it. I had ripped everything out and started with bare bones.
Now it was an A-frame structured cabin, with a slender metal roof slanting to the ground on both sides like a tent. The wall-to-wall privacy glass had cost a fortune, but it was worth every penny when I woke up in the morning to find the interior bathed in natural light and the view of the open field spread out before me.
“I love it,” she said softly, her eyes warming as she took in the building and the view behind it, which is where I wanted to bring her. “It looks so modern but warm. I love the black trim and the stained-wood exterior walls. I love the front deck. Maybe you could put a couple of rocking chairs there. What’s behind it?”
I parked the vehicle in front of the cabin. The porch lights flicked on, bathing the cabin in warm light.
I hadn’t answered her question yet when she asked another one. “Is this where you…went off to when you left?”
“Yeah,” I answered. “It’s where I thought of you. A lot.”
She became pensive.
“But it’s not what I brought you here to see.”
“Okay,” she said. “Show me.”
She got out of the vehicle before I’d even unbuckled my seat belt. I watched as she shivered her way to my side of the car, waiting for me. She wrapped her arms around her middle, rubbing her sides. The wind blew her hair, covering parts of her face.
My heart ached as I watched her.
She knocked on my window impatiently. I chuckled, grabbing the blanket I kept in the back seat before I stepped out of the truck.
She’d already started walking ahead of me.
“Kara,” I called out.
She looked over her shoulder, and I could tell she was feeling sad.
“Come here,” I said.
A small frown marred her brow. “Why?”
“Please.”
I hated saying please. But for her I didn’t mind.
It seemed to placate her somehow. She hesitated at first, but she stepped forward once, twice, until she was walking toward me, and stopped an arm’s length away.
I stepped forward. I saw her shift back, and I could see that her walls were up again.
Our truce was over. And she was expecting payback.
I wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. She let out a relieved sigh.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, tightening the blanket around her.
I nodded. She was always welcome.
“Come with me,” I said.
I was going to show her the maze. And what happened just beyond it that changed the course of my life.
Chapter 26
Cameron
“Come with me.” I wanted to ask for her hand, feel her fingers seeking mine once more, but I could tell from the way she held the blanket tight around her that she wouldn’t welcome my touch at this moment.
It made me anxious. If I told her what happened just beyond this maze, would she run away from me?
Should I even tell her?
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.
Too late now, motherfucker.
Yeah, that’s right. We were already here, and I had promised her I would tell her.
My heart pounded. The night air was a little chilly, but I felt the sweat break out on my forehead, trickle down the side of my face.
“What is this place?” she asked as she walked beside me. I led her to the back of the cabin.
“It’s a maze.”
Her jaw dropped, then she smiled. “Wow. Do you have a treasure map?”
“I can make one for you,” I said.
I would have smiled and would have enjoyed showing her around if we were in different circumstances.
I stopped just at the entrance of the maze. I’d put up a trellis there. It was too cold for the flowers now, but thick, brown vines wrapped around the structure.
The maze was as it always had been—massive, beautiful, secretive. The tightly packed greenery was high and dense, making it almost impossible to squeeze in between. When I was a kid, I could squeeze my way through in certain spots, but now it was impossible. I’d tried.
“They say this maze is cursed,” I told her.
I glanced at her to see her reaction. I wondered if it would spook her, but her smile had turned into a grin.
“What are we waiting for?” she said, her eyes sparkling. “Let’s go in.”
Damn. She’s fucking a
wesome.
“Who else knows about this place?” she asked. “I mean…have you brought anyone else—”
“Just you.”
I stepped forward, then stopped in my tracks when I felt her hand reach for mine.
I looked down at our joined hands, then up at her. This was the first time she’d willingly touched me after I left.
“I’m glad. Cameron,” she said, “if you’re not ready to tell me, I understand.”
Something warm and tight was forming inside my chest as I looked at her. What was she doing to me?
I grew up being very careful not to show anyone what was important to me. I had to keep everything locked inside me tightly, securely. Because once you showed the world what you valued, they got you by the balls. The world would know your weakness. And the world would use it against you. The world always did. You’d be crippled. Then where would you be?
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Like what?” I asked hoarsely.
“Like…you don’t know what to do with me.”
Because something was changing, I realized. It wasn’t just a small shift. And I had no idea what to do about it. Because when I looked at Kara’s face, her eyes, so honest, so damn real, and strong and good, it made me believe the world had a place just for me. And this time, it was something that was good.
“I’m wondering if you’re real.”
She didn’t speak for a moment, then she smiled. “It was hard getting you to open up to me. Damn near impossible,” she admitted. “I’m happy that you brought me here. It’s a start.”
I tried not to show it, but I wondered if she’d seen by the expression on my face how hard this was for me.
I closed my eyes, brought her hand to my lips, and kissed her palm. She was so warm.
I wondered why in all those years I had never talked about what had happened just beyond this maze and why I wanted to now.
“You don’t have to tell me now. Whatever it is. You can tell me when you’re ready,” she said, her voice low and gentle.
I looked in her hazel eyes, saw the understanding and strength. And I knew. I had been waiting for her to come in my life.
I didn’t know why these thoughts were in my head, and right now, the why wasn’t important. She was beside me. That’s what mattered.
“I want to tell you,” I said gruffly.
“All right.”
We stepped inside the maze and started our trek. When we reached the part where the trees formed a canopy, shielding the ground from the elements, she stopped.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, her eyes wide as she released my hand and twirled around slowly to take in her surroundings. “A little creepy when I see the dark parts ahead, but seriously beautiful. Is this maze the reason why you bought this land?”
It helped that she was asking me questions. I didn’t know where to start.
“A huge part of it, yeah,” I answered. “Kara?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m glad you’re here with me.”
Was it too much to tell her that? Was it too fast?
The smile on her pretty mouth was everything sweet and soft.
“I made a choice,” she said, reaching for my hand again. “And I chose to fight for you.”
She had no clue—absolutely no clue—how much that meant to me.
Not too fast. Just right. Just damn right.
I stopped, gently pulled at her hand to prevent her from walking away from me. I turned to face her, wanting to touch her face. Wondering if she’d let me.
“I know I hurt you,” I whispered, realizing how easily I could get lost in her eyes. “I’m so fucking sorry for what I did.”
She bit her bottom lip. My eyes focused on it. It had been a long time since I felt her body, had her taste on my tongue. The last time I kissed her only intensified my hunger.
I couldn’t stop myself. I pulled her closer. I heard her sharp intake of breath as I wrapped my arm around her small waist and drew her against my body.
“I’m hungry, Kara,” I said roughly.
She swallowed. Her eyes had turned glassy as they dropped to my lips.
“Can I?” I murmured.
Her gaze lifted to mine. “Yes.”
I watched the play of emotions on her face. I was anticipating the things I could do to her, the pleasure I could give her. The last time I had her on top of me didn’t go well.
I was too hungry for her, almost desperate to be inside her, and I had let that desire control me and had forgotten that she hadn’t done it before.
I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.
It was all about her now.
And hell if it didn’t make me feel like a damned caveman that she’d let me be the first to touch her.
I knew this maze like the back of my hand. Behind her was a small secret passage. It was a narrow space, a cocoon surrounded by high and dense shrubs and trees. There was a bench there where I could lay her down and kiss her until she was writhing in pleasure. And until I’ve had my fill.
I had a feeling that day wouldn’t come anytime soon. Maybe not ever.
I placed my hands below her ass, squeezing, wanting my fingers to go higher, find and play with her wet heat, but I’d wait until she was ready.
I tightened my grip on the back of her thighs and hitched her up. Her long legs wrapped around my waist as I walked us into the passage. She placed her chin on my shoulder, hiding her face from me.
Was she embarrassed?
The dress she had on rode high on her hips. Damn, I loved it when she wore a dress or a skirt. It was easy access and made me imagine what she’d do, what her alluring face would look like when I touched her.
“Just a kiss,” she said in a soft breath.
I sprawled on the bench and groaned as she sat on top of me. I could feel her heat, wanted it on my lips, on my tongue.
I licked my bottom lip. “Just a kiss,” I promised.
My hands banded on her hips, lifting the dress more so I could look at the piece of lace covering between her legs.
My hands shook. It was white lace. Damn, damn, damn. She couldn’t have known what it would do to me.
“Kara?” I murmured in her ear.
“Hmm?”
“Where do you want me to kiss you?”
She let out a soft, little moan when I lifted my hips up against her.
“Cam,” she rasped. “What are you doing to me?”
“Nothing yet.” I kissed her neck, rubbing my lips on her skin, just lightly, faintly, so that she could barely feel it. “Soon.”
My breath hitched against her skin when she ground her hips against me. Fuck.
“Shall I kiss you here?” My fingers stroked the long line of her throat, sliding down between her breasts. She closed her eyes, but her lips parted slightly.
“Or here?” I slid my finger down her stomach, stopping just below her navel. Her eyes flew open.
“Just a kiss, Kara,” I murmured. “Anywhere you like.”
Her legs tightened against my waist. A sign that she was aroused. There was no question that she could feel mine. It was straining against my jeans. Soon it would start to feel more than uncomfortable. But right now, the pain felt good.
She wrapped her hands around my shoulders and buried her face in my neck. She was breathing hard. “Damn, Cameron. I want to know how to handle you.”
“You are, baby,” I said in her ear.
“I…want to.”
“Let me taste your lips then.”
I plunged my fingers in her hair, securing the back of her head as I brought her mouth down to mine.
She tasted like a woman. My woman. She tasted like a peach. Soft, juicy, sweet. I lapped at her bottom lip slowly, making a sucking sound as I dre
w it between my lips, biting it lightly, licking at it.
She let out a soft breath. I slipped my tongue inside her mouth, discovering her tastes, seeking more of her as I played with her tongue. She was hesitant at first, shy, and I had no idea why the hell that made me feel a rush of affection and desire for her to open up to me, share a part of herself with me willingly. I let out a moan.
She made a little noise at the back of her throat. She tangled her fingers in my hair as she licked at my mouth, sucked on my tongue just the way I had with hers, and then I lost it.
So fucking good.
Calm down. I forced myself to slow down, concentrating on her needs and not my own. If it were up to me, her dress would be ripped to shreds by now. And her legs would be on my shoulders.
My hands stroked her neck, her shoulders, then paused just below her collarbone. Slowly so as not to spook her, I used my thumbs to stroke the delicious small swells of her breasts. When she moaned, I devoured her, slanting my mouth against hers, swirling my tongue inside her mouth again and again. My thumbs moved down and caught her nipples against the fabric, rubbing, pinching them with my fingers. I wanted to suck on them.
She yanked her mouth from mine.
“Cam!”
We were both breathing hard, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder.
My sweet, sweet Spitfire.
“I’ll stop if that’s what you want,” I said, my voice thick with desire.
“I don’t know if I want to stop,” she breathed. She pulled back a little and looked at me. “I…I’ve never done this before, but I want…”
More, her eyes said. I placed a small kiss on her shoulder and smiled against her skin, letting out a long breath. If this made her speechless, we should definitely do it more.
“Did you enjoy it?” I murmured.
She nodded.
“Kara?”
“Yes?”
“I want to make you come.”
She took a deep, shaky breath.
“Can I?” I asked.
She turned her head so that her cheek was resting on my shoulder and her lips were touching my neck.
I ran a fingertip down her arm. “Are you wet?”
“I…don’t know,” she whispered.
Spitfire in Love Page 27
