by Marie Force
Next time, she thought, smiling at his haste.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“You are.”
He came down on top of her, and Cameron welcomed him into her embrace with her arms around him and her legs hugging his hips. “Tell me why I’m so funny before I’m forced to tickle it out of you.”
“You wouldn’t . . .”
“You don’t think so?” His raised brow indicated she probably shouldn’t risk it.
Since Cameron hated to be tickled, she said, “You got that condom on awfully fast.”
“I’m in a big rush,” he said, kissing her as his chest hair abraded her painfully aroused nipples. “I haven’t done this in a while, so I apologize in advance for the first time.”
“Something tells me you won’t have anything to apologize for,” she said, feeling breathless as the moment was upon them.
He took himself in hand and entered her slowly, giving her time to adjust before he drew back and went deeper the second time. All the while he kept his gaze locked on her face, as if recording her every reaction and emotion, and there had to be a lot for him to see. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and moved her hands over his back, arching into him as he stroked into her.
“Look at me,” he said gruffly.
She forced her eyes to open, to meet his gaze, which widened when he gave her his full length.
“You feel so good,” he whispered against her lips.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself in the kiss.
He reached under her, gripping her bottom with one big hand as he picked up the pace. And still he kissed her with deep, sweeping strokes of his tongue, overwhelming her senses and driving her to an explosive release that had her crying out from the sheer power of it.
His fingers dug into her bottom and her shoulder as he followed her, surging into her one last time before he collapsed on top of her. “Am I too heavy?” he asked after a full minute of silence, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.
“No.” She loved the way he surrounded her and filled her as they trembled with aftershocks.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Of course not.” She caressed his back in small, soothing circles.
“I was kind of rough.”
He sounded regretful, which made her want to reassure him. “I loved it. It was amazing.”
“I had a feeling it would be.” He cupped her breast and toyed with her nipple until it was hard and tight again. “Look at that. So pretty.” Deep inside her, she felt him harden.
“You recover almost as quickly as you suit up.”
Chuckling softly, he continued to play with her nipple until she was equally aroused. He withdrew from her only long enough to put on a new condom.
“On your back,” she said, pushing his shoulder to direct him.
Her bossiness made his eyes go dark with desire as she straddled him. His fingers dug into her hips when she teased him before taking him in as slowly as she possibly could. She loved watching his jaw clench with tension and the muscles in his neck and shoulders straining as he tried to move things along.
But Cameron wouldn’t be rushed. Sensitive from the first time, she eased herself down on him. He felt even bigger this time, which made her wonder how that was possible. She reached behind her to prop her hands on his thighs. His hands moved from her hips to her breasts, cupping and squeezing and rolling her nipples between his fingers.
Cameron had never felt so consumed during sex, but this went beyond mere sex to something else altogether. The sense of connection and the intimate way he watched her took it to another level, a level that scared her and thrilled her at the same time.
“Cam . . .”
She sat up straighter and moved her hands to his chest.
“Need you to move.”
Smiling at the urgency she heard in his voice, she tilted her hips, riding him slowly but deliberately and loving the way he tossed his head back and groaned. He was the nicest, sweetest, sexiest guy she’d ever known, and in that moment she knew she was ruined for all others. There would never be another quite like Will Abbott, and the thought of leaving here and never seeing him again broke something in her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You just looked really sad.” Without losing their connection, he sat up and arranged her legs around his hips. The new position pressed her breasts against his chest and perfectly aligned their mouths. “Are you sad, Cam?”
“Not at all,” she said, giving him a smile that she hoped would reassure him. This wasn’t the time or the place to be worried about what would happen after him. This was the time to enjoy the here and now. Later would take care of itself, or so she hoped.
“Does it feel as good for you as it does for me?”
“Nothing has ever felt better.”
“For me either.”
She brushed the hair back from his forehead and took advantage of his close proximity to kiss him. His mouth opened under hers, and somehow she ended up on her back again, as the kiss became urgent and desperate. Grasping her hips, he took them higher and higher, until she was sweating and clinging to him as his release triggered hers.
He brought her with him when he withdrew from her and turned onto his back, her head on his chest and his arms tight around her. His lips moved softly on her forehead as his hand slid over her hair.
The tenderness after explosive lovemaking was her final undoing. When tears pooled in her eyes, she closed them, not wanting to ruin this lovely moment. She’d gone into this knowing it was a temporary interlude, but she already ached at the thought of having to leave him to go back to her real life.
• • •
Will held her close and breathed in the bewitching scent he’d always associate with her. Bewitched was a good word for how he felt after making love with her. That and a bit despondent knowing they would go their separate ways before too much longer. He’d spent three days with Cameron, and he already knew it would hurt worse to lose her than it had to lose Lisa after three years together.
Maybe he didn’t have to lose her. Maybe there was some way they could make this work. But as he thought of the logistics of a long-distance relationship, he knew that wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted her here with him, sleeping next to him every night, working with him, making love with him, playing with his dogs and spending time with his family.
She fit so well in his life that after only a few days he already felt like she’d been here forever. Did she feel that way, too? Even a little? It wasn’t like he could come right out and ask her that without seeming like he was getting way too far ahead of himself.
As he ran his fingers through her long hair, he felt her relax into sleep and drew the comforter up and over her shoulders.
They had two weeks. Perhaps that would be enough time to show her how well she fit into his no-tech world. Now that he’d found her, he’d do whatever it took to keep her.
• • •
Cameron dreamed about the luge. She raced down the icy slope going far too fast. Under her, the sled shifted back and forth as if trying to dislodge her. The motion and the fear combined to make her stomach ache. And she was cold—really, really cold. Was she naked on the sled? Careening along at lightning speed, she clutched the sled with both hands, as if that would somehow make a difference when she crashed.
How far was it to the end? What would happen when she got there? Would she end up bruised and broken, or would she find a safe place to land? The terror of the unknown made her scream as the sled pitched hard to the left. If she fell off, she’d never survive. That much she knew for certain.
Someone was shaking her gently. “Cameron. Sweetheart, wake up. You’re dreaming.”
She opened her eyes, and Will was there, looking down at her with concern etched into his face. He’d turned on the bedside lamp.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded but realized she was freezing. “Cold.”
/> “Oh, shit, I’m sorry. I’m used to it, but you’re not.” Still naked, he scrambled out of bed and went to the bedroom door, opening it to let in the heat from the fire.
Despite the lingering nausea from the dream, the sight of his spectacular backside mesmerized her as he moved through the dimly lit house to stoke the fire.
He returned to find her sitting up to better enjoy the scenery, which was just as spectacular from the front. “How about we sleep by the fire?”
She kept the comforter around her shoulders to ward off the chill. “That sounds good, but I’d like to use the bathroom first.”
“Hang on just a second.” He went to the closet and found a red flannel robe that he held for her while she stood, wrapping it around her and tying the belt at her waist. “Very cute,” he said as he scooped her hair from inside the robe.
“There’s room for two of me in here.”
Smiling, he said, “Bathroom is right in there.”
“I’ll be just a second.”
“I’ll get us set up in the living room.”
After she took care of business, she stood at the sink for a minute, hoping her hands would stop shaking. The dream had been so vivid and so real and had demonstrated her vulnerability in this situation, which she’d walked into with her eyes wide open.
Because he was waiting for her, she splashed water on her face and took a couple of deep breaths before she joined him in the living room, where he’d created a little nest for them on the floor in front of the fire.
“Is this okay?” he asked, holding up the top blanket to invite her to join him.
“Looks very cozy.” She debated whether she should remove the robe or leave it on, but memories of the dream had her tightening the belt.
Once she was settled under the covers, Will propped himself up on one arm and looked down at her. “You want to talk about the dream?”
The fire crackled and hissed behind him.
She shook her head. “No, thanks.” The metaphor of racing toward certain disaster wouldn’t be lost on him, so she chose not to share it.
With his free hand, he corralled a stray lock of her hair and moved it off her face. “I’m sorry you were cold. I’ll get a space heater for the bedroom for when you’re here.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want you comfortable when you’re with me.”
“That’s very sweet of you.”
He shrugged off the compliment.
“What time is it?” she asked, yawning. In the city, the first thing she would’ve done upon waking was check her phone for the time and anything she might’ve missed while sleeping. She’d been here for hours and hadn’t once checked her phone, which was all but unprecedented for her.
“Four thirty.”
“Sorry I woke you.”
“I’m sorry you had a scary dream.” He dropped onto his pillow, lying on his side so he was facing her.
When he covered her hand with his much bigger one and squeezed reassuringly, Cameron lost another tiny piece of her heart. If he continued to take such lovely care of her, there wouldn’t be much left to take home with her.
“Will?”
“Hmm?”
“Would you hold me?”
“I’d love to. Come here.”
She turned toward him, and he wrapped his arms around her, snuggling her in close to his chest. “Mmm, that’s much better. Thanks.”
“Go back to sleep, baby. I’ve got you. Everything will be okay.”
Of course he had no way to know that for sure, but Cameron chose to believe him for now and drifted into dreamless sleep.
• • •
Will woke up with a plan. Recalling Cameron’s website proposal, he thought of Hunter’s question about maintaining the site after it was built. Someone had to do it. Why couldn’t that someone be Cameron? And why couldn’t she work in Vermont? The idea filled him with elation and hope as he watched her sleep.
He knew it was crazy to be making long-term plans for them on this, the fourth day he’d known her, but after last night, he couldn’t imagine ever letting her go.
She was perfect for him in all the ways that mattered most. He’d suspected she was special almost immediately, but now he knew for sure.
Her eyes opened to find him watching her. She smiled hesitantly, as if embarrassed. “Have you been awake for long?”
“A little while. You’re cute when you sleep. Your lips move.” He demonstrated with his own lips, which brought out her full smile.
“My dad used to say I talked twenty-four-seven, even when I was asleep.” She glanced up at him. “I haven’t thought about that in a long time.”
“You were a little chatterbox?”
“Only with him. I was always so happy to see him when he came home that I’m sure I talked his ear off.”
“Was he gone for long periods of time?”
“He traveled—a lot. He was always in the Orient or Europe or South America. His life seemed very glamorous to me.”
Will curled a lock of her hair around his finger. “Why didn’t he take you with him? A guy of his means could certainly afford tutors.”
“He said his world was no place for a little girl, and I was better off at home.” She shrugged, as if that edict hadn’t broken her heart. “I suppose he knew what was best.”
She didn’t say how lonely she’d been without him, but he could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. Will wanted to ensure that she was never lonely again, that she’d always have him to talk to. If she wanted to talk to him twenty-four-seven, he’d be fine with that. He suspected he’d never get tired of listening to her.
“I think,” he said, continuing to play with her hair, “that leaving you at home was his loss.”
“Maybe,” she said, as if it didn’t matter, but how could it not?
The overwhelming need to give her everything she’d been denied took hold of him. Once again, he had to remind himself it was far, far too soon to be having such thoughts. But he was also painfully aware of their limited time. “Could I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“I know you just moved in with Hannah, and I’d love it if you could continue to spend time with her. But . . . Would you consider staying here with me for the rest of your time in town?”
“I . . . What will Hannah think of that?”
“She’ll be happy for us.”
“What about your parents?”
“What about them?”
“Wouldn’t it be weird for them to know I’m staying here with you while working on a project for the store?”
“Your personal life is no business of theirs, and neither is mine. Nothing shocks them, and besides, they’re all focused on Max and Chloe. They probably won’t even notice.”
“They’ll notice.”
“Who cares? We have thirteen days before you have to go home. I want to spend as much of that time together as we can. Don’t you?”
“You know I do.”
“But?”
She rolled her lower lip between her teeth as she pondered his offer.
“I want this time with you.”
She was on the verge of caving when he unleashed that potent smile.
“Please?”
“Okay.”
“Yes! It’ll be so fun. I promise.”
“I have no doubt it’ll be fun.”
“Another question for you. Have you ever been skiing?”
She knit her brows at the sudden change of subject and said, “I tried it once a long time ago in St. Moritz.”
“You’ve skied in Switzerland?”
“What I did in Switzerland wouldn’t be considered skiing by anyone.”
“You haven’t lived until you’ve skied in Vermont.”
“Is that right?”
“Uh-huh. And lucky for you, you’re sleeping with a world-class skier, former instructor, past Olympic contender . . . extraordinaire.”
“You just had
to add that last part, huh?”
“I thought it summed things up nicely. So what do you say? Do you want to go skiing with me?”
“Will you still like me if I totally suck at it?”
“You won’t totally suck,” he said, kissing her nose. “And I’ll still like you. I suspect I’m going to like you for a really long time.”
She reached up to caress his face, and he turned to press a kiss to her palm.
“I don’t have anything to wear for skiing.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll fix you right up.”
“Will there be coffee before the skiing?”
“Absolutely.”
• • •
Cameron totally sucked at skiing. No matter how hard she tried to follow his precise instructions, her skis still crossed, and she ended up on her backside—over and over and over again, until her poor, abused bottom couldn’t take it anymore.
“Uncle,” she said, laughing as she looked up at him while flat on her back in the snow. She wore Hannah’s snow pants and parka and was using her downhill skis. Although Hannah would probably cry sacrilege if she could see her skis being so badly abused.
Will tried but failed to hide his exasperation when he reached down to give her a hand up—again. “I’ve heard it told that every instructor eventually encounters a student who can’t be taught. You’re not really going to ruin my perfect record, are you?”
“I’m afraid so. My bum can’t take any more.”
“I’ll give you a massage when we get back to my place. We’ll work out all the kinks.”
“As appealing as that sounds, it may be time to declare this outing the disaster it is before you forget you promised to still like me even if I sucked at it.”
He curled his arm around her neck and brought her in for a lingering kiss. “I remember.”
Cameron lost herself to the kiss and forgot she was on skis, which sent her flying once again, this time taking Will with her. They landed hard in a pile of limbs and skis and poles.
Even though everything she had hurt, especially after acting as a landing pad for him, Cameron busted up laughing. She laughed so hard that tears streamed down her face. The glower he directed her way only made her laugh harder.
