Her mom huffed. “A bit late to ask that, don’t you think? And how could you not know if Camila has allergies or not by now? How many times have the two of you gone out?”
Samuel froze, then made a surreptitious glance at Camila, before giving a short, bowing nod to her mom.
“My apologies, I was trying to be tactful. I’m aware Camila has no allergies, but I don’t know about you, ma’am.”
Camila saw her mom’s face twitch at the ‘ma’am’ and wanted to snicker. She would have, if she wasn’t already wallowing in despair. She watched as her mom walked into the big mansion, grumbling under her breath, and sent a forlorn look at Samuel. His lips quirked, but he said nothing as he placed a gentle hand on her back and guided her inside.
Brianna was waiting for them in the parlor-turned-dining-room that was pretty much where they sat to eat every time they came to the mansion instead of the formal dining room meant for a huge crowd. The table this time was set for four, food already placed on the table, covered, and Brianna was standing next to it.
She looked like she’d tried to dress up, her hair combed away from her face, held with something at the back of her neck. It exposed her pale skin, but she was looking a lot healthier recently since she was leaving the house often and eating plenty thanks to Samuel and Camila. She was in a peach, shin length dress that fluttered around her slim frame. Camila couldn’t help smiling at her, because the young woman in front of her was so different from the Brianna she’d first met.
“Mom,” she said, stepping forward to stand beside Brianna. “This is Brianna Kane, Samuel’s younger sister.”
Camila watched, and saw as her mom’s expression softened just the slightest bit, and the smile on her face grew wider.
Brianna couldn’t speak, but she did curtsy, and Camila thought it look so damn cute. Especially with how shy Brianna was acting, her head ducked down and hands fidgeting with the fabric of her dress.
It brought her mom’s defenses right down, and she nearly crowed with triumph. She knew this was only half the battle, though.
“It’s nice to meet you Brianna,” she said a little less gruffly than she’d been when speaking to Samuel. “My name is Morganna Blake. You can think of me as Morganna, dear.”
Her tone was kind at the end there, but then she ruined it by sending a glare at Samuel, as if to let him know that she meant it for Brianna only, not both the Kane siblings. Camila just sighed at her Mom’s antics and they all sat down.
Everyone got to serve for themselves, though Samuel served for both Camila and Brianna, before hesitating to serve for her mom. Almost immediately, she served her own plate, and then gave him a stony look.
“Now,” she started. “Mr. Kane, was it? I’ve heard so much about you from my daughter, but I don’t actually know what it is that you do?”
Camila froze in her seat and widened her eyes at her mom. Only, her mom was keeping her gaze resolutely on Samuel, and she didn’t doubt her mom was avoiding her gaze deliberately. The other two didn’t seem so concerned, though, Brianna looking up curiously, while Samuel held his usual expression.
“I am currently the CEO of a company,” Samuel explained patiently. “The company was built by both of my parents and I took over after they passed away.”
“In other words, this position was given to you? Did you earn it?”
Samuel put down his fork and knife and returned her mom’s serious gaze.
“I was in the army when my parents passed away, and I chose to return. I had the qualifications to work at the company, but I did not immediately receive the CEO position. I had to work for it for a year, and at the end of that year, I was accepted by the board of directors and other heads of the company.”
Camila’s eyes flashed between the two of them, wondering why this sounded more like an interview than a friendly dinner between their families.
Her mom didn’t stop it with the probing questions, either, and Camila felt like she and Brianna had completely turned to decorations in the whole thing; they were being ignored and hardly got to get a word in. Samuel, though, took the probing like a champ, answering all the questions Morganna had for him concisely and in a way that she couldn’t retort. When she thought she had a loophole and tried to take advantage of it, Samuel deflected like a pro.
Well, he technically was a pro. As a CEO of a company, Camila didn’t doubt he probably dealt with problematic clients if they were high enough in the food chain. She just felt a bit uneasy, and yet at the same time as if she wanted to laugh, that this ‘problematic client’ was her mother.
Camila felt so awkward about the whole thing, not to mention uneasy, she could barely stomach the food, no matter how delicious it tasted.
At the end of the dinner, when her mom got up and left with Brianna to find the bathroom, she let out a sigh and she slumped into her chair, feeling like she’d just let go of a heavy weight that she’d been carrying for a lifetime.
Crap. The night wasn’t even over yet.
Simon chuckled at her, and she shot a quick scowl at him.
“How can you still laugh? How the hell do you even stay this calm, huh? I know I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Samuel sighed. His hand reached for hers across the table, only for him to pause and look around, making sure they were alone, before taking her hand. Her scowl deepened, but she still squeezed her fingers around his hand.
“Camila,” he said, his voice lower, soothing. His eyes bored deeply into hers, drawing her in and making her forget what it was she was mad about in the first place. “She is your mother. And after the trouble Adrian gave you, I don’t blame her for being cautious. She’d just worried for you. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“But all that questioning,” she murmured feebly. “Like you were in front of the inquisition or something.”
Samuel just chuckled again at her wording.
“Don’t worry about it. If I can’t take even this much, then I really don’t deserve you, don’t you think?”
Samuel was giving her his gentle look, his eyes softened, a smile playing around his mouth. Camila sighed and her eyes strayed away, behind him, where she saw her mom standing in the doorway, watching them, with Brianna behind her.
Camila didn’t know how much she heard, but there was definitely an impressed look on her face, that was quickly wiped away when Samuel realized they were back and casually sat back in his own seat.
Her mom sat back down, but didn’t resume the inquisition, and she dared to hope that things would be better from now on.
Chapter Seven
Camila thought it would never come, the time that her mom would finally leave. Even though she’d softened some, her guard was still far from down and Camila had to deal with more awkwardness at the table for another half an hour. But then dinner came to an end, and ten minutes later, her mom left without her.
She didn’t even argue or try to insist Camila go back with her. Camila was surprised.
“Did you not want to stay?” Samuel asked, seeing her look of surprise, one of amusement on his own face.
“That’s… not it. I’m just a bit shocked, I guess? With how things were going, I thought for sure she would drag me back with her.”
Samuel closed the space between them and gently took her into his arms. She was a little surprised by the gesture as well, but she went along easily, wrapping her own arms around him.
“Your mother is worried about you,” he murmured, nuzzling her hair. “But she also doesn’t want you to be unhappy. Why do you think I wasn’t worried? She and I have similar goals after all.”
“Hmm,” Camila hummed, her eyelids slipping closed as her body went lax, just loving having Samuel’s arms around her. Though in a moment, she remembered that there should still be three of them, and almost jumped away from him in guilt.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing her expression.
“Um, where’s Brianna?” she asked, frowning slightly.
Samu
el hummed, his arms wrapped around her waist pulling her back to him. “She already left to go back to her room. She was anxious about your mom arriving, so she’s probably going to sleep now that the ordeal is over.”
“Oh,” Camila murmured. Come to think of it, Brianna was hardly ever around other people besides just her and Samuel. Or if other people were around, the three tended to avoid them.
Her thoughts were stalled when Samuel pressed a kiss to her lips. She sighed as she let her eyes closed, kissing him back. It started out chaste, soft, but it didn’t stay that way.
Samuel licked and nipped at her lip until she parted for him, then thrust his tongue into her mouth. They’d done this much before, so she wasn’t so surprised. But then, he suddenly held her tighter, kissed her a bit more roughly, his teeth scraping her lips and tongue, and it was enough to make her body jolt, and pull a moan from her throat. Samuel didn’t stop until she was breathless, then he pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers.
“That… was different,” she panted after she’d caught her breath.
Samuel just hummed again. Camila looked up to meet his eyes and froze.
Oh.
Camila felt her breath catch in her throat. The way Samuel was looking at her, she had seen that look in his eyes before. As if he wanted to devour her, only he was holding himself back.
He looked like he was done holding back. Camila could feel heat start to grow in her body.
“Would you like to come upstairs?” Samuel, ever the gentleman, asked for her permission.
Camila couldn’t speak, nodding her agreement.
Slowly, Samuel released her until he was left with only her hand in his. He tugged, and she followed. Her heartbeat was already trying to beat out of her chest, because she guessed she would finally be going to his bedroom. The last time she was here, she’d been put in a guest room, and she hadn't stayed over since.
Finally, she thought. Even though she hadn't been impatient, letting Samuel control how things went between them.
She walked into his bedroom and took the time to look around. Not that there was much to see. The room was certainly big, and there was a big bed and a dresser, but the room was mostly bare.
It actually fit well with Samuel’s image, clean and efficient.
Samuel captured her thoughts again when he squeezed her hand, gently. They had come to a stop beside the bed, and he was looking at her, standing very still. The way he looked, she had a feeling he wouldn’t be moving unless she told him to. The thought that she had a man like Samuel so under her control, in a sense, was a bit empowering.
Camila had been nervous, as well as excited, for this moment to come, but right then, it all went away. She released his hand and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and standing on the tips of her toes as she tugged him down to kiss him. Samuel let out a small sound as their lips touched and slid together, tentatively placing his hands on her waist and holding her closer until their fronts touched. Camila wasn’t nearly as careful, practically plastering her body on his as she bit at his lip until he opened for her.
They kissed for a long time. She felt Samuel’s hands squeeze around her a little, and she gave a moan of pleasure as she rubbed against him. She stilled when she felt a hardness against her abdomen that made Samuel break the kiss and hiss when she rubbed against it.
As if reading each other’s minds, they reached for the other’s clothes and started tugging them off roughly to get them out of the way. Still, he was so careful with her, Camila could tell. So unlike his brother.
With the both of them naked, he gently lowered her to the bed, following right behind her and pressing her into the mattress with his weight, braced on his elbows so he wouldn’t completely crush her. Camila just moaned and wrapped her arms around his back, spreading her thighs for him and tugging, wanting him pressed as close to her as possible.
Their bodies rocked together, and Camila let out a gasp as she felt his cock press against her sex, Samuel letting out a growl as he rocked his hips, nudging the head of his cock at her clit and making her gasp and moan some more. One of his palms cupped her breast, rubbing her nipple as he squeezed gently, over and over. Growing a little impatient, Camila wrapped her legs around his hips and squirmed, until she felt the tip of him at her entrance.
They both went still for a moment. She could feel how taut his body was, but Samuel still stopped to look down at her and make sure she was all right. His eyes roved all over her face, and she gave a tremulous smile, letting him know it was okay.
That she wanted this. Definitely.
“Oh!” she gasped.
He slid inside, gently, but it was impossible for her not to react. He was large, spreading her open, and she reflexively tightened around him. She could see his strained expression, as if he wanted to ram himself into her but he was still holding back. When he was fully seated inside her, they paused once more to catch their breath.
Then, he moved. Slowly, at first, pulling until only the tip remained in her, then pushing back inside, slow and smooth. He repeated the motion, and Camila could feel the sparks of pleasure starting to spread all over her skin. Samuel started to move a bit faster, and the friction against her walls, at her entrance, made her writhe under him. She wanted him to go faster, harder, but this was actually pleasurable. More so than she would have thought. He ground his hips against hers, stimulating her clit, and she let out a cry as her back arched and her head tipped back.
Samuel took advantage, ducking his head to press kisses and licks to her neck as he continued his movements, thrusting in and out of her, rolling his hips to press against her clit as he ground his hips against hers, slowly driving her wild until she was left a gasping, writhing mess underneath him.
Making love. He wasn’t just fucking her, which was all she’d ever had from her previous boyfriends. He was making love to her.
It was so wonderful.
She could feel the pleasure in her body building frustratingly slow, but even as she craved that orgasm, she wanted this to last. She dug her nails into his back, pressed her heels against his ass as she arched into him again. And then, the pleasure reached its peak, and she felt her body go taut, then small shivers start running through her body. Samuel gave a last thrust, hard and fast, making her cry out in pleasure and surprise as her walls convulsed around him, her body breaking out in shudders as she came. And she could feel him swell up and spill inside her as he hit orgasm at the same time, his hips giving short, jerking thrusts, and then going still.
Her mind felt hazy as she came down from the high, and Samuel rolled them both over so they were lying on the sides, his arms around her, his cock still inside her body. Camila sighed and relaxed like that, one leg thrown over his hip. Her eyes slid closed, and without realizing it, she fell asleep, feeling warm and content.
Chapter Eight
Camila blinked her eyes open, and for a moment, she was disoriented. She didn’t know where she was. Everything was dark, but she was definitely lying on a soft bed. She stretched her arms out, disappointed to find she was by herself.
Feeling drowsy, she closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep, only she couldn’t. Because something inside her was telling her that things were very, very wrong. With a frown, she opened her eyes again and looked around, wondering what the problem was. Then, she noticed there was some light coming from under the door.
Wait… where did that door come from? And why didn’t it look like she was in her bedroom? Frown deepening, she slid out of bed. She was in a camisole and shorts, clothes she slept in often, and her feet were bare. She didn’t find anything to put on her feet, so she moved on, though the floor was cold under her feet, making her whole body freeze.
She headed for the door then caught the handle and slowly pulled it open.
Where… am I?
The place she was in was unfamiliar. It was definitely not her apartment, or any place she remembered. She paused for a moment, wondering if she
should start to panic. The feeling of growing dread was getting heavier in her chest, and she didn’t want to move forward, but at the same time, something was tugging her to go ahead.
After a moment, she decided to go ahead.
There was a short hallway outside of the room and since the left side led to a wall, she headed right. Her heart jumped in her throat as she instinctively moved carefully forward, trying her best not to make any noise. She came to what looked like a living room. There were two seats surrounding a TV that was on and playing something, though she couldn’t hear it. Her heart felt about ready to jump out of her chest when she saw the two silhouettes on the two seats.
Both were very familiar.
One of them, she would have mistaken for Samuel, but then he looked up and met her gaze like he knew she was there no matter how quiet she was being, and he gave her a wide smirk. The face was the same, but this was undoubtedly Adrien. And then, the other person moved.
No… way…
Camila felt robbed of her breath as the second person turned around and also met her gaze, giving her a grin almost identical to Adrien’s, in that it looked threatening. It was a face she really wanted to forget, and right then, she couldn’t even properly see the features on the man’s face besides his dark eyes and that grin. But she knew who this man was.
Her father.
The man her mom killed to protect them both.
Why am I standing in front of a dead man?
All three of them were locked in place, the two staring her down as she trembled in place like a rabbit caught under the gaze of two frightening predators, too scared to even move to protect herself.
I have to be dreaming, she thought. This has to be a nightmare! she told herself, but it didn’t stop the very real fear that was paralyzing her.
Then, they both stood up as one, as if being pulled by strings. The moment they stepped toward her, she was no longer frozen. Camila forced her body to move, stumbling a bit as she turned, but she caught herself on the wall then launched herself toward the only door. She fell against it, shaking hands scrambling for the door handle. Her breathing was loud and ragged, but not enough to cover the sound of heavy steps coming up behind her, stopping her heart with every loud thump.
Tangled Obsession: Book 2 of the Obsession Trilogy Page 4
