by T L Swan
“You owe me fifty bucks,” I whisper.
He smiles sexily. “Best fifty bucks I’ve ever spent.”
13
Ashley
I glance around the luxury bathroom as I sit on the toilet.
It’s early morning and the sun is peeking through the side of the drapes. My eyes roam from the oval stone bathtub sitting in the center of the room, then over to the three-nozzle shower with the bench seat. I have never been in a bathroom like this before. In fact, I don’t think I’ve even seen one this exotic in movies. The more time I spend in this house, the more uncomfortable I become. I don’t know rich. I’ve never had money. So how could I ever fit in to Cameron’s cultured lifestyle? I blow out a deflated breath. This is a lot to take in. My body is tired. Cameron and I stripped each other bare last night. We couldn’t get enough and finally fell asleep with our arms wrapped around each other. The last time we made love in the shower was surprisingly intimate, and to be honest, I kind of wish it hadn’t happened. I now have a super high bar of what lovemaking should really be like. He was tender, soft and loving, and kept whispering beautiful things in my ear as his body slowly brought mine to orgasm. It was great. It was better than great. It was mind-blowing
But now I’m ruined forever.
I finish up, wash my hands, and stare at my fucked-all-night reflection in the mirror, a goofy smile crossing my face.
I look a total mess and Cameron Stanton is frigging perfect. From his body to his mind, to his… I look around at my surroundings… to this house. There isn’t a thing I would change about him. How many men have I met in the past and thought to myself, he would be perfect if only he was funnier? Or he would be perfect if he was smarter? Never have I had a guy who ticked every damn box. I blow out a deflated breath. All this box-ticking is freaking me the hell out, and I know that this is one high that’s going to be hard to come down from.
I don’t want to rain on my own parade, but I really do need go out there and tell him I have a son.
“It’s no big deal,” I murmur to my reflection. But I know it is a big deal. Who am I kidding?
Just go out there, say it and be done with it. The longer I leave it the harder it’s going to get, I remind myself.
Maybe he won’t care and things will just be the same? But I have this annoying, nagging voice in my gut, warning me that he could be so disgusted, he’ll cut all ties with me immediately.
The problem is that I’m not going to know how he’s going to handle it until I actually get it over with, and it scares the hell out of me that he will end it. I should have told him before I slept with him. I brush my fingers through my just-fucked, rat’s nest hair as I contemplate his reaction. It could be the best thing I ever do, or it could turn sour instantly. I blow out another deep breath. I guess I’m about to find out.
“Just go out there and tell him,” I mouth to my reflection in the mirror. Just do it. I drop my shoulders as I prepare myself.
Just fucking do it.
Right.
I open the door and walk back into the bedroom to find Cameron lying on his back with his hands folded behind his head. His dark skin and rippled abdomen are contrasted against the crisp white sheets. He smiles sexily and holds his arm out to me. I smile and drop down to sit next to him on the bed.
He pulls me down and kisses me softly. “Good morning, Blossom.” He smiles as his dark curls hang down over his forehead.
My stomach flutters at the sight of him naked and smiling up at me.
“Good morning, Dr. Stanton.” I smirk. His hand snakes around to cup my ass and I notice a book opened upside down on his bedside table. “What are you reading?” I ask as I pick it up.
He puts the back of his forearm over his eyes as if embarrassed.
I read the cover and my mouth drops open as my eyes meet his. “Pride and Prejudice?” I gasp. “You’re reading Pride and Prejudice?”
He shakes his head. “You weren’t supposed to see that.”
I smile broadly.
He takes the book from me and places it back down. “I was carrying out some market research.”
My eyebrows rise.
“I wanted to see what was so special about this three dimensional man you were so enamoured with.”
“Mr. Darcy...” I smile broadly, this is without a doubt the best news I have ever heard.
He purses his lips. “Don’t see what the fuss is about to be honest. He definitely wouldn’t sweep me off my feet.”
“Mr. Darcy could sweep anybody off their feet. If he can’t do it, who can?” I smirk.
He smirks. “Ashley Tucker is doing a pretty good job of it,” he answers.
“Is she?” I murmur with a raised eyebrow.
“She is.”
“Well, Ashley Tucker told me that it’s her feet being swept off the ground,” I add.
He smiles as he pulls me down and kisses me softly. “You tell Ashley Tucker that I haven’t even started to sweep her off her feet yet. She should probably prepare herself.”
“Ashley Tucker has her force field on to protect her from such things,” I whisper as I smile against his lips. We kiss, and he flips me so that I am on my back and he has my two hands pinned above my head. I smile up at him.
“Let’s go to New York.”
My face drops. “What?”
“I want my date.”
I frown.
“I want the weekend we arranged all those years ago. We can leave this morning and spend the weekend there, maybe catch the red eye home for work on Monday.”
“What do you mean?” I pause for a moment. “I mean… I can’t.”
“Why not?”
I stare at him blankly. Why couldn’t I go? My mind begins to race. I mean… Owen is away. This would be the perfect opportunity if ever there was going to be one. Holy crap, I haven’t been spontaneous for so long, I think I’ve forgotten how to be.
“I can book us some tickets now.” He smiles hopefully.
Oh shit, I have no money. “I’m sorry, I can’t,” I murmur through my disappointment. Fuck, I hate having no money.
“My treat.”
I frown. “Cam, I’m not letting you pay for me. It’s not fair.”
He sits up abruptly. “Why isn’t it fair? I have the money. You know I have the money.”
I stand and blow out a breath. “Cam. No.”
He stands abruptly, too, and pulls his boxer shorts on. “If it wasn’t for the money, would you want to go?” He wraps his arms around me, his lips taking mine in his.
I smile up at him. “I would, but why can’t we just hang here for the weekend?”
He shakes his head as if it’s a no brainer. “I can’t take you out here? How am I supposed to sweep you off your feet when we can’t leave the fucking house?”
“We don’t need to go out. You live in a castle.”
“Can we go?” He smiles playfully as he starts to walk me backward while biting my neck.
I laugh up at the ceiling while he attacks my senses. “I said no.”
“I said yes.” He bites me hard and I laugh as I try to push him away.
“No.”
“Yes.” He growls into my neck as he picks me up and throws me back onto the bed and crawls over me.
“Stop it. My vagina is a very tired girl.” I giggle.
His eyes dance with mischief. “It’s lucky I know mouth to mouth resuscitation. I reckon I could bring her back to life so she’s ready to party.”
I laugh out loud. Oh Lord, this man kills me. “I have no doubt about it.”
“I’m booking a flight.” He bends and takes my nipple into his mouth and bites me.
“No.” I laugh.
“Say yes or I am biting this nipple off.”
“Yes or I am biting this nipple off,” I repeat.
He bites me hard and I giggle. “Smart Alec,” he snaps. He bends and bites me again and I squeal. “Cameron. Stop it!” I yell.
“Come to New York with me�
�”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Alright.” I laugh.
“Alright?” he asks, half surprised as he pulls back to look at my face.
I narrow my eyes as I stare up at him leaning over my body. “Just tell me why do you want to go to New York so much?”
He pauses. “I want to go back to the weekend we were supposed to be meeting—”
“Before you lost your phone,” I interrupt.
He looks at me, deadpan. “How many times are you going to bring that up?”
I shrug. “As many as it takes to annoy you.”
“You already reached that quota ten times ago.” He frowns.
“Really? Oh, I had no idea.” I act shocked.
He rolls his eyes. “I want to go back to the people we were when we met in Vegas.”
My heart drops. I don’t even know where to find the girl he met in Vegas.
She is long gone, replaced with responsibilities and debt.
He wraps me in his arms and kisses my forehead. “Let’s go away and forget everything but each other.”
I smile into his shoulder. I could nearly tear up at the thought—a weekend of just us, not worrying about the future would be so nice.
What should I do?
I frown into his shoulder and he kisses my temple softly. “Lets go,” he whispers.
I smile and, unable to stop myself, I whisper the word, “Okay.” I lean up and kiss his soft lips. “Deal. Mr. Stanton. Nothing but us.”
* * *
“You’re going to have to take my car and drop me at yours,” Cameron replies casually as we walk out the front door, towards the garage.
“What?” I frown. This morning he has fussed over me, booked our flights and accommodation, and made me breakfast. I feel like Lady Diana with all this attention.
“Well, you can’t be seen going back to get your car on the security cameras. They’ll know you didn’t stay in the apartments last night,” he replies.
I stare at him blankly. Shit, I didn’t think of that.
“Do you want to get paid for last night or not?” he asks sarcastically as he gets into the passenger seat of his Aston Martin.
I stand still as I stare at the car door he has just sunk into. “I suppose so.” I hate this. I’m calling Eliza and telling her I’m not accepting payment.
Shit, my car is a mess. I don’t want him to see it. I troll my brain to try and remember the state of it. I know I haven’t washed it since I moved here. I’m pretty sure it’s filled with empty coffee cups.
Fuck’s sake, why am I such a slob? Damn it!
I climb into the driver’s seat and he passes me the keys. I glance around. “Why don’t you just drive and we will swap when we get there,” I murmur, distracted.
“I want to be sure you can drive it.” He points to the ignition and I frown. I start the engine. It purrs like a kitten.
“Why do you have such a stupidly expensive car anyway?” I ask as the seat automatically moves forward and all the mirrors move into position. “Oh wow,” I whisper, impressed.
He smirks, places his hand on my thigh and grips firmly. “Because I can.”
“Hmm.” I turn and glance over my shoulder as I slowly reverse the car out and turn slowly.
“Just go this way.” He points to another driveway disappearing down the side of the house.
“Where does that go?” I frown.
“Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, where do you think?”
I fake a smile. “You’re so witty, you should be locked up.” I drive the car down the driveway slowly.
“Yeah, I know. It’s dangerous letting me loose in society,” he replies, amused. “Other guys don’t stand a chance.”
I giggle, not because of what he said, but because it’s completely true.
Where the hell do you go after Cameron Stanton? Dick of a god, wit of a champion, house of a mogul. I’m totally screwed in the worst way.
We reach the end of the long driveway and the automatic gates open. “Turn left.” He points to the left and without thinking I turn right.
“I said left.” He frowns.
“And I said I’m driving the car, so you better shut up.”
“Excuse me, this is the long way.”
I smirk as I turn down the street. The truth is that I have no idea where I’m going, but it’s just so much fun disobeying him. He has control freak tendencies that I like to push.
We eventually come into view of Club Exotic and I drive up the road slowly.
“Just pull up here. Which is your car?”
“The white one in the back row.”
A frown crosses his face before he remembers to hide it.
I smile anyway. “She’s no Aston Martin.”
He smirks, but wisely holds his tongue. “Be back at my house in an hour?”
Um, that won’t work. I need to race to the shops to get myself a sexy date dress for tonight. I have no idea what the hell I’m going to wear all weekend. I’m going to do a smash and grab at the shops. “I’ll be a few hours,” I reply.
He frowns. “No, just get your stuff and come straight back. Pack your clothes for Monday work because we won’t get home until late on Sunday night.”
“I will be going back to my house on Sunday night,” I tell him as I pull the car to the side of the road and glance over at him. “I’ll probably be well and truly sick of you by then.”
“You have an hour,” he answers, unimpressed.
“Stop bossing me around.”
“Stop behaving like an errant teenager,” he fires back.
I lean in for a kiss. “You have to pump the clutch a few times to get the gas to come through.” I smile against his lips.
He pulls back and looks at me flatly
“And don’t go around the corners too quick because the driver’s door is faulty and it flies open sometimes,” I add.
His face drops in horror. “You’re joking?”
I smile as I kiss him again. “Yes, I am.”
He shakes his head. “Seriously, though, is this car going to kill me?”
I giggle. “I hope not. I’m not written in the will yet.”
He chuckles and shakes his head as he climbs out of the car. He leans down through the window. “Don’t be late, our flight leaves in five hours.”
“Okay, boss.” I smile and, unable to help it, I step on the gas and do a burn out up the street. I glance at the rear view mirror to see the horror on his face, and I laugh to myself. Oh man… he’s so fun to antagonize.
I pull the car into the shopping parking lot and dial Mom’s number. I’ve been waiting to make this call.
Owen answers on the first ring. “Hi, Momma.”
A broad smile crosses my face. “Hey, baby.” I laugh. “How’s my little man this morning?’
“Good.”
“Watcha doing?”
“Baking cookies.”
“Oh, what type?”
He puts the phone down. “What type are they, Grandma?” he calls.
“Chocolate chip,” I hear my mom say in the background.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“I’m just…” I pause for a moment. “I’m cleaning the house. Are you being a good boy and helping Grandma?”
“Yep. We’re going to the playground after lunch, too.”
“Oh, that’s fun.” I smile and my heart breaks a little. I miss him.
He starts talking to my mom as though forgetting he’s on the phone to me.
“Owen?” I call.
“Yeh?”
“I’m going to go, darling, but I’ll call you later tonight. I love you.” I smile.
“Love you, Mom. Grandma she wants you,” he says.
“Hello, dear.” Mom says through an obvious smile.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Everything is fine.”
“Did Owen sleep alright?”
“Perfect.”
I s
mirk. “In your bed?”
Mom laughs. “Perhaps.”
“Thank you so much, Mom. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for you doing this for us both.”
“Ash, stop worrying about us and have a nice peaceful week.”
My phone alerts me to a text before the name Cameron flashes across the screen.
“Okay, I’ll call you tonight.”
“Speak then. Have a great day.”
I hang up and click on my message.
You are grounded without wifi, young lady
I laugh out loud and text him back.
Your car was made to be driven like that.
A reply pings back.
That’s a whole different punishment:
I’m talking about the state of your car.
It’s a health hazard, Ashley!
I bite my bottom lip to stifle my over the top smile. I write back.
Quit nagging me.
I glance around at people walking by the car. I must look crazy laughing to myself while I sit in the car alone. A reply bounces back.
You have fifty minutes!
I get out of that car and press the fancy car lock. Everything bleeps and as I walk across the parking lot, I call Jenna. It goes to voicemail and I leave a message.
“Hi, babe. I hope everything is going alright. Call me as soon as you get a chance.”
I hang up and straighten my shoulders.
Right. Sexy hot date dress, coming right up.
* * *
The thing about shopping that annoys the crap out of me is this: When you have no money and nowhere to go, you see every damn hot outfit ever created. But, when you have no time and a specific target in mind, there is absolutely nothing to be found anywhere. I’m in a near panic. I have ten minutes left to find a dress for tonight and I’m starting to sweat.
Why is it so fucking hard to find a sexy, non-slutty dress?
I flick through the clothing rack, annoyed. Everything here screams that I’m a two dollar whore, or come grab a granny. There’s nothing in between. My phone rings and I glance at the screen to see one of my favorite names light up. Jenna.
