Westside Series Box Set

by Monica Alexander

  I smiled. “I’m not asking you to stop.”

  “Do you honestly know how much I’ve wanted this?” he asked me as he continued to kiss me. “Shit, Andi, this has been all I’ve thought about for days.”

  That made me smile against his lips. “Me too.”

  “Really?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “Shit, seriously? If I’d have known that, I would have acted on this days ago. It took everything in me to hold back, especially when you were all tucked up next to me in bed. Every night I’d lie there thinking about kissing you, but I didn’t want to be a jackass.”

  “I wanted you to kiss me,” I told him as I pulled back and looked into his intense green eyes. “In spite of everything that happened on Sunday night, I couldn’t stop feeling what I did when I looked at you, Cam. When you were in my bed, all I wanted was for you to kiss me. These past few days, everything just got more intense, and this was all I could think about. The last thing I want to do is leave. I want to stay – with you.”

  I trailed my index finger along his cheekbone, tracing the sharpness of it down to the softness of his lower lip.

  “Jesus, Andi,” he hissed, my words and actions affecting him more than I’d intended.

  I smiled as I lifted my sweater and tank top over my head, and then I reached behind me to unhook my bra. His just stared for several seconds, drinking me in before his hands slid to my waist and his mouth lowered to descend on my bare breast, his lips closing around my nipple. I let my head fall back as he sucked and nibbled and drove me mad with want, his lips tugging something deep in my core.

  “Oh God,” I whispered, and felt his lips curve into a smile.

  “I’ve been called worse,” he teased as he sucked even harder, making me involuntarily press against his hardness. He groaned, the sound vibrating against my bare skin, so I started to move against him, giving him a taste of his own medicine. He continued to tease me, and I teased him right back as we worked each other into a frenzy.

  I finally lifted my head and eased his chin up with my index finger so I could look into his eyes, part of me ready to explode if I didn’t get more of him.

  “Bedroom,” I said softly, the word spoken on a gasp of air.

  “You don’t have to ask me twice,” he said, and before I knew what was happening, he was lifting me, his hands cupped under my backside as he walked us to his bedroom. He deposited me on the bed, smiled down at me, and went to close the door.

  As he did that, I wriggled out of my jeans and tugged off my boots and socks, discarding them on the floor. Cam stopped short when he saw me laid out before him in just my panties.

  “Andi, are you sure?”

  I nodded. “Definitely. Come here.”

  I was absolutely sure. The past four days had felt like a whirlwind anyway, so why not continue the trend. I liked him too much not to sleep with him at this point.

  “Please tell me you have condoms,” I said, as Cam slipped his jeans off and slid on top of me, his body weight pressing me down into the mattress in that amazing way that always made me feel small and powerless in a really good way.

  He framed his hands on either side of my face as he looked down at me. “I do.”

  I smiled. “Good answer,” I said softly as I looked up at him.

  Cam really was beautiful, especially when his green eyes were watching me with such intensity like they were now. His light brown hair fell around his face, and his lips were plump and pink from kissing me. His eyes locked onto mine, and he slid his hand into my panties as he covered my mouth with his and I cried out, his mouth absorbing the sounds as he did things that took me almost to the brink and made it impossible for me to stay quiet.

  When he finally rolled off of me to retrieve a condom, I took a few seconds to catch my breath and watch him. He sat at the edge of the bed, his tanned, muscular back to me. I ran my hand up to his shoulder and tugged him back. He looked over his shoulder at me and grinned at me. Then he turned and stretched his legs out next to mine, twisting so his body half-covered mine. We kissed and teased each other for countless minutes until neither of us could take it any longer.

  When he moved on top of me, I urged him between my legs, cradling him as I felt him slid all the way in. He stopped for a few seconds to let me acclimate to his size before he started moving. I pulled him against me as I pressed up to meet him each time he surged forward, my hands wrapped around his shoulders, holding him tight as he brought me to the brink again and again before I completely toppled over. He brought me to the same place twice more before he paused, let out a small shudder and collapsed on top of me.

  We were both grasping for breath, but Cam kissed me, our breath mingling as I held him close. When he pulled away, he dropped his head into the curve of my neck and pressed his lips against the hollow of my throat. His breath was coming in short bursts, warming my already heated skin.

  I still hadn’t caught my breath when he reached for my hand, threading our fingers together, not wanting to sever the tie between us.

  “Did that just happen?” he questioned, making me laugh.

  “It was real,” I assured him.

  “Holy shit. I think I’m still in shock.”

  “Why?” I asked, as he moved so his body was half-covering mine, our fingers still twisted together.

  He looked at me in amusement. “Because I had one goal in mind today, and that was to hold your hand.”

  “Well, you’re doing it.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I am. But, trust me when I say I never expected more.”

  “So I exceeded your expectations,” I said proudly. “Good to know.”

  “Andi, you pretty much surpassed my expectations, like nine hundred times over. This was honestly the last thing I thought we’d end up doing.”

  “Yeah, me too, but after everything that happened and the look on your face when we got back here, I kind of got caught up in the moment.”

  “So this was mercy sex?” he questioned teasingly.

  “Absolutely. I felt sorry for your poor little boy band ass, so I decided to sleep with you. You found me out. It has nothing to do with the fact that I actually like you.”

  “Do you?”

  I nodded. “I already told you I do. You completely won me over the night you came over to my apartment.”

  “Chicks dig the sympathetic vibe,” he said, in a mocking douchebag voice.

  I lightly smacked him on the chest, making him laugh as he grabbed my wrist and rolled us so I was on top of him.

  “Hi,” he said softly.

  “Hey you,” I said as I looked down at him.

  “Thank you for not leaving. I would have understood, but it would have crushed me at the same time.”

  I ran my thumb over his lower lip. “I wouldn’t have dreamed of going anywhere, Cam. And the good news is that now the paparazzi won’t be completely wrong in their assumptions. I mean, not that we’re together, but we’re not exactly platonic friends.”

  Cam’s look turned intense as my words washed over him. “I would want that – if it were possible. I’d want to be with you for real.”

  I smiled. “I know, and I’d want that too, but we both know we can’t.”

  He sighed and looked away. “Now I feel like a dick for sleeping with you.”

  With my finger on his chin, I guided his gaze back to mine. “Don’t feel bad. I wanted this – whatever it is. And we don’t have to define it. Let’s just make the most of the time we have, here and now.”

  “But what if I don’t want to say goodbye?”

  “Then don’t. We can still talk on the phone, and we can see each other when you’re in town. Didn’t you say you have to come back here for some events over the next few months?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, we’re going to be on the Today Show in January, and we have an appearance on The Tonight Show in December. I think there are some other appearances we’re doing too, but I’m not sure.”

  I smiled. “Great
. That’s so great.”

  Cam tried to look appeased, but I could see he wasn’t entirely happy. I wasn’t either, but for a girl who fell headlong in love with guys too soon, I figured maybe it was better that we didn’t live in the same city. We could take things slow and not get carried away. I could easily see myself getting sucked in with him, and I didn’t want that to happen.

  I cupped his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his. “Don’t overthink this,” I teased him, because that was what I usually did. “Today things are good, and that’s all we need to focus on.”

  “I know. It’s just that I like you, and I haven’t liked anyone in a long time.”

  “Well, then I feel extra special.”

  “You are, Andi. You’re awesome in so many ways.”

  I smiled. “I’m awesome. Camden Baylor thinks I’m awesome.”

  Cam grinned at me. “He’s not as cool as everyone says he is. In fact, he’s kind of a dork.”

  “I know,” I agreed. “That’s what I like most about him – especially his knowledge when it comes to Broadway musicals. It’s sexy as hell.”

  “Geez, way to stroke a guy’s ego.”

  I shrugged. “I try.”

  Then I kissed him again, figuring it might be nice to lose myself in his arms for the next few hours. I’d never found a place like it before, and I liked it way more than I wanted to admit, given our circumstances. But I was also determined to live in the moment. Cam was right. I needed to stop overthinking things. We were good – today we were good – and that was all I needed to worry about.

  Chapter Ten

  Cam

  “We have to go,” I said softly, since I was pretty sure Andi was half-asleep.

  “I don’t want to,” she mumbled, refusing to open her eyes.

  As I looked down at her head on my chest, her long brown hair splaying out behind her, and the content look on her face, I knew I was going to dread saying goodbye to her in a few hours. But that was all we had left. Our flight was leaving in an hour, our bags were packed and waiting by the front door of the suite for Chris to load them into the car, and as soon as we could get out of bed, we’d be off.

  I wasn’t exactly sure what had happened in the past week, but this girl had become my whole world. We’d spent practically every second of the last five days together, and usually that would be more than enough time for me to be itching for some space and distance, but those were the last things I wanted.

  We didn’t have a choice, though. Andi had to be home for Thanksgiving, since her parents were already mad that she lied to them about having to work. Somehow they’d found out about the pictures of us, and I’d been privy to a short but stilted conversation in which she promised she’d explain everything when she saw them. And then she promised she’d be home for turkey. Her dad was even going to pick her up at the jet center, which was kind of freaking me out since I’d never met the parents of someone I was dating before.

  Of course dating was usually a loose term in my world. The only ‘girlfriends’ I’d had in the past three years were two other celebrities I’d been set up with and asked to make appearances with for a few months to both promote the band and also to dispel the rumors that Dillon and I were dating. I hadn’t really connected with either girl, and in the end, it had been a business transaction on both sides. We’d never even kissed. Anyone else I’d been with had been a hook-up. Andi was different.

  “Come on, time to climb back up the rabbit hole,” I teased her, since she’d compared what we’d gotten caught up in akin to Alice falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland.

  And I got it. My world wasn’t real to her. I wasn’t even sure I was real to her since I was so different than every other guy she’d ever dated. We didn’t talk much about our pasts, because that was never any fun, but I did learn that she’d never dated anyone her own age, let alone years younger. I had no idea what she liked about a goofball like me, but I also wasn't questioning after she’d spent the better part of two days in my arms.

  I knew what I liked about her. Everything. Even if I had no idea what that meant in the grand scheme of things. Our lives were so different, and we lived on opposite sides of the country, but because of everything I felt when she smiled at me, I wasn't willing to walk away and not look back. I probably should have done that, but it wasn't going to happen.

  Andi finally opened her eyes and looked up at me, smiling softly. “Is it wrong that I want to say screw it to turkey and stuffing and family togetherness in favor of staying here with you for a few more days?”

  I laughed. “I’d like to say no, because that sounds awesome, but I’m going to favor your family on this one. You said it’s been months since you’ve seen them, and they’ll be even madder if you ditch the whole holiday. Not to mention the fact that Gabe would probably kick my ass if I hijacked you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “He can get over it. Besides, he’s the one who escaped to Mexico with his boyfriend with every intention of ditching me.” As soon as she said that, her eyes got wide and her hand clamped over her mouth. “I didn’t say that.”

  “Say what?” I asked, thoroughly confused.

  “Shit,” she cursed. “Okay, you cannot tell anyone, alright?”

  “Tell anyone what? I have literally no idea what you’re talking about.”

  She sat up and ran her hand back through her hair. “Gabe is gay, and absolutely no one else knows. It’s like the biggest secret.”

  “Okay, I won’t say anything,” I said, not sure who she expected me to tell.

  “No, seriously Cam. If it got out, it could ruin his career.”

  “What does he do that they’d care that much?”

  She bit her lip. “He’s a NASCAR driver. Gabe Lightner.”

  It took me a few seconds to make the connection, but I recognized the name. Phillip watched the races every time they were on, so we’d all been subjected to viewing more than our share of NASCAR while we were on the bus. He even knew some of the drivers personally, and I’d told Andi this in a conversation the day before.

  “Oh,” I said as understanding dawned on me. “I won’t say anything to Phillip. I promise.”

  “Thank you. It’s just the fame thing, and the connections. I don’t want to do anything to damage his reputation.”

  “Yeah, sure thing. I get it. And at least now I don’t have to be jealous of him,” I said, trying to ease the tension at the same time I was actually being honest.

  Andi had told me all about her family and Gabe the night before over dinner when we were trying to figure out what we still didn’t know about each other. We’d covered a lot of ground being holed up for two days. Even though we probably could have ventured out, I didn’t want to subject Andi to any more run-ins with the paparazzi, so I didn’t push going anywhere. She’d been more than happy to stay in. But as she’d been going on and on about her best friend, and when I realized that he was the guy she’d been texting during our show, I felt a little twinge of jealousy spark up.

  Andi gave me a little smirky smile. “You were jealous of Gabe?”

  “Please. The way you talk about him, I figured there was something going on with you two. He was apparently so captivating that you spent an entire Westside concert, where I was pouring my heart out up on stage, texting him. I figured there was a lost love there or something.”

  Andi laughed. “Not at all, and I really am sorry about not paying attention during your show. I feel bad about it.”

  “Yeah, me too. If only there was some way you could make it up to me,” I said coyly.

  She smiled. “I thought we had to leave,” she said as she curled back up against me and slid her leg over mine.

  I groaned in frustration. “We do. We’re seriously going to be late, and I refuse to be one of those celebrities who doesn’t respect other people’s time. The pilots who are flying us should get to be home with their families tonight. It’s practically a holiday after all.”

  “You are so sw
eet,” she said as she pressed her lips against mine. “I on the other hand am selfish and want you all to myself for as long as possible. Any chance there’s a bedroom on this plane?”

  I laughed out loud at her assumption that our ride would be that lavish. “Uh, no. There are a few seats and a really tiny bathroom. That’s it. And Chris will be there.”

  Andi mock-pouted. “That sucks.”

  “It does. But you know what?”

  “What?”

  “I’ll be back in New York in a few weeks since we’re going to be on The Tonight Show. I know you have to work, but I’ll fly in the night before the taping, and we can hang out.”

  She smiled. “That sounds so good. I can’t wait.”

  “Me neither,” I said, and I actually started counting the days in my head.

  “I probably need to get dressed now, don’t I?” Andi asked.

  “Regretfully, yes.”

  “Okay fine,” she said, kissing me once more before she slid out of bed.

  I just watched her, loving that she was so comfortable around me. It made the view I got to drink in that much more enjoyable.

  When we finally headed out, Andi said goodbye to what had become our love nest, and I took her hand. We made it downstairs and into the car without any fanfare, and soon we were moving through the city toward the airport.

  Andi was relatively quiet the whole ride, and I fought the urge to ask her what she was thinking. It just sounded cheesy to do that, and quite honestly, I could guess.

  “What do you think is going to happen when I get back to the city?” she asked me when we were both buckled into our seats on the plane, ready to take off.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Will there be reporters at my apartment? Will they want to interview me or something? Will they try to follow me?”

  I felt Chris looking at me, but I didn’t meet his gaze. He wanted me to tell Andi that I’d asked Bruce to stay in town to keep an eye on her for a few weeks once she got back to New York. I didn’t want her to know, though. I wanted her to be able to return to a life of normalcy as much as possible.