Return to Passion

by Carla Buchanan

  But then Camille told her that real news. “I’m getting married, Anna. I’m staying here to be with my man.” Camille liked saying that. She had a man. And it was the man she’d dreamed of being with all her life. She’d known Remi since she could remember and had had a crush on him before they ever started dating.

  That statement launched Anna into a whole inquisition. Anna had known that there was only one man who could’ve swayed Camille so her friend didn’t bother to ask who; she only wanted Camille to be sure about her choice. And when Camille assured her she’d returned to her one true love, Anna squealed again. She was happy and proud Camille had finally come to her senses in her love life and professional life. She and Anna weren’t only business associates, they were friends, as well. They cared what happened to one another.

  “I’m so happy for you, Camille,” Anna finally said. “Now let me get off this phone so I can start planning. I feel like a mom planning her daughter’s arrival into womanhood. This is going to be awesome. Expect me in town by the end of the week. I just said no to a really huge book signing and I have to call them back. I want to make your coming out a big deal, okay? So try to keep this under wraps for just a bit longer. We’ll have an official unveiling soon so just keep this among your closest family and friends. Gotta to go, babe. Ciao!”

  And that was that. The easy part. Now it was time for the hard part—talking to her father.

  “I’m assuming she took the news well?” Remi had just walked back into his family room after he’d left to take a phone call. He carried an uneasy expression, almost as if he’d gotten bad news but was trying to cover it up by focusing on her.

  “Is everything okay? You look like you just got some bad news.”

  “No... I mean yes... Everything is fine. Just some work stuff.”

  Camille believed the call wasn’t as innocent as he made it seem, but she decided to drop it for now since she had a bounty of other stuff on her plate to contend with.

  However, her mind wouldn’t let it go, so she asked, “Rem, are you really sure about us? Can you—”

  A finger to Camille’s lips silenced her. “There is nothing to forgive,” he said, anticipating her words. “I have every confidence you would have found your way back to me eventually. You aren’t the malicious type, Ladybug.” He made her stand and face him. As his hands settled on her hips and their bodies aligned Camille’s skin prickled through the thin T-shirt he’d given her after ripping off her dress. “You went to a city where you were able to realize your dream. I’d never want to take that away from you, so maybe life was meant to unfold this way.”

  “This was meant to be, Rem. My dad being sick may have brought me here, but you’re why I’m staying. I hope you’re ready to deal with my lifestyle because there will be travel, there will be fans and there will be—”

  “Me and you. Nothing else matters. And I’d be happy to be your trophy husband,” he joked. “I plan to be by your side at every event I possibly can. You know your fans want to see what true inspiration looks like.” He then flexed his muscles and a slight shiver moved through her as she giggled.

  Camille played off the shiver as fake and rolled her eyes. She then slapped Remi playfully on the chest. “You are too much. But maybe you should stay away from my work. I don’t want to be on some daytime gossip show for getting into a fistfight at a book signing because some groupie thinks you’re one of the heroes from my books.”

  “Think I’m that good-looking, do you?” he asked arrogantly and then placed a kiss on Camille’s lips and held her closer. “Maybe I should be the model on your next book cover. We can make this a partnership.”

  “Yes, I do think you’re that good-looking, but you should probably keep your day job. I don’t share well.” Camille stepped away from Remi because it was getting hot. Her uncontrollable need for Remi was ridiculous and they needed to separate before they were at it again. She needed to talk to her father and she wanted to do it before she lost her nerve. But damn if she could make her legs move with Remi’s face buried in her neck and his hands on her butt and his...

  Maybe they had a little time to spare.

  Chapter 13

  Once exploring fingers dipped into her wetness, Camille had been a goner. Over and over again Remington had brought her to her release until she was no longer able to move a limb. She’d fallen asleep in his arms before they’d even had a chance to disconnect their sweat-slicked bodies.

  And now he was doing what a man who was whipped beyond description usually did the morning after the woman he loved made him scream like a girl.

  He was making breakfast.

  He placed food on a tray with her favorite dessert. He then added a cup of orange juice and coffee as well, before he deposited a black velvet box among the items.

  The ring was his grandmother’s. Frederick Krane had given it to his woman years ago. Now Remi’s grandmother rested in heaven and he hoped she was looking down on him in approval, knowing he was giving her ring to someone he loved and wanted to be with, and not out of obligation or circumstance.

  Walking into the room, he licked his lips at the glorious sight of Camille’s half-uncovered body. She was lying on her belly with her arms under the pillow and her head on top. Her skin glowed from a combination of the sun’s morning rays and the contrast of her bronze skin against the stark white sheets. The swell of her buttocks peeked out from under the sheet, leaving him to imagine the feel of the mounds of flesh in his hands and mouth.

  He set the tray down, unable to resist reaching for her. He had to wake her up so she could eat and so he could propose properly.

  He had to touch her, right?

  That would be his excuse.

  But the truth of the matter was he needed her more than he needed anything else, and touching her was the only way he could even begin to satisfy that need.

  Remington’s hands found a path under the sheet and over the curve of her rear as he leaned into her sleeping form. He grazed her shoulder with his stubble. She squirmed and then sighed before turning over. She dazzled him with a smile and her hands instinctively went to the back of his freshly shaven head to pull him close for a kiss. An ardent morning greeting with a little dry-humping thrown in.

  “I made you breakfast, Ladybug. You hungry?”

  “For you? Definitely.”

  “As much as I’d like to take you up on your offer,” he said removing her hand from inside his cotton pajama pants, “I think you may want what’s on this tray more than you want—”

  “Never. I could never want anything more than I want you. I know that now, Rem.” Of course, her words were about more than just breakfast. She was speaking of her career. She was willing to deal with staying in a town where people may judge her for her writing in order to be with him. She was willing to face her father’s potential disappointment so she didn’t have to hide who she was any longer. She was willing to leave the life she’d come to know over the past ten years so they could be together.

  She was willing to do all of these things for him and he still wasn’t being honest with her. And the call he’d received yesterday reminded Remington of that fact. His petition to run for mayor had been approved and soon it would be public knowledge. Some knew of his intent, but it wasn’t official until that document became public record.

  Remi cursed himself several times as he thought about Camille’s potential reaction to the news of his campaign. He was sure she’d try to sacrifice their personal happiness once again so he could have the best chance at happiness in his career. He couldn’t allow her to protect him again.

  Remington could admit he’d let a lot of things get away from him since Camille’s reappearance into his life. He’d usually be at the office until late at night and return early in the morning. He’d been singularly focused and it had resulted in success. Then had come t
he day he’d filled out that petition and received the last signature needed to enter the election and he’d considered that day to be a success. And while Remington had thought those successes had brought him the happiness he needed, he realized he wasn’t truly fulfilled until Camille walked back into his life. He realized he wanted more. He realized he’d been missing something and he hadn’t even known it.

  Maybe he should just tell Camille and let her decide what to do with the information about his political aspirations. It was too late for her to take back her proclamations of love and trust in their relationship. Surely she’d see that they were adults and that there was no reason for them to make the hard sacrifices anymore. She’d make a perfect first lady for him and the people of Fairdell. She cared about people, she wanted the best for them no matter what opinion they held of her. She’d kept a pseudonym to not only protect her father and Remi, but to protect their religious little town from possible negative attention. He could imagine the kind of press the town would get if the media found out who Camille was and where she was from. They’d make a big deal out of the fact that such a prominent voice in erotic fiction came from a town like Fairdell.

  But she was willing to put herself out there because of him and he couldn’t allow her to regret her decision by thinking he was a liar. However, he’d have to approach the subject delicately. Maybe he could contact Charlie and her father and ask for their help in making her understand why he had chosen to keep it from her until now. He’d do anything to stop her from feeling as if she had to run again in order to protect him.

  Remi kissed her forehead one more time before pulling away from Camille so he could propose the right way. But her body was too much of a distraction and the fact that she was naked and he could smell her arousal in the air was... Oh, forget this!

  She had him when she licked her lips and let the sheet drop from where he’d tucked it under her arms. Her exposed nipples were hard. They were taunting him. Remi leaned in and took one taut nipple into his mouth and Camille moaned, her legs falling wide for him in invitation. Her hands reached out for the waistband of his pajama pants but he was strong and stopped her before things got too out of hand. He stood quickly and backed away from her, needing the distance.

  “I didn’t come in here for this...not that I don’t want to,” Remi said very seriously. When she started to giggle he wondered what was so funny about his frustration. But when he looked at where her gaze had landed, he saw that his length tented his pajama pants and there was no way he could be taken seriously now.

  He shared in her laugh at his expense. He then shocked her by stripping out of his clothes and diving onto the bed. “I’m only giving in because you won’t take me seriously in my...condition.”

  “Oh, I take you very seriously in this condition. And I don’t mind helping with the cure for your particular ailment,” Camille flirted and for the next hour the pair cured Remi’s condition.

  * * *

  “Okay, now I need food. Bacon, please.”

  Remi had just opened his eyes after their lovemaking put them both to sleep for a short nap. Camille lay there facing him, awaiting his response. He didn’t speak, instead reached one long arm over to the tray she’d forgotten was there and placed a piece of cold bacon in front of her face. She didn’t take it from him, but let him feed her until they’d gone through three pieces this way without speaking.

  Camille thought he was reaching for a fourth piece, but he instead presented her with a little black velvet box. A ring box.

  She sat bolt upright when he set the box down between them and opened it. Before she could blink he was off the bed and on his knee with the ring in his hand.

  “Remi? What do you think you’re doing and where did you get—”

  Of course she knew what he was doing because they’d talked about it already. They’d agreed that they wanted the same things from their relationship. But she’d thought it would be some time in the future before they took this step. She’d thought they would maybe date and get to know each other and make up for lost time. She didn’t consider that he would be putting a ring on her finger so soon.

  “This ring belonged to my grandmother and then my mother. It was at the jeweller’s when she died in the accident, and I’ve been able to treasure it all these years. They were both given this ring on their first anniversary and it was meant to be passed down to my wife on our first anniversary. I’ve been apart from you for too long and I can’t wait until our first anniversary. I told myself that I would give this ring to you on the day you told me you loved me again. And even though that day was yesterday, I hope—”

  “Yes!” Camille laughed and put her hand out to him, wiggling her fingers playfully. It was unlike the reaction she would’ve expected from herself. She never thought she’d be this excited. But deep down she’d always wanted this for herself.

  “I have yet to ask anything so you need to sit your sexy butt down and wait for me to finish,” he teased. “Now, where was I? Oh, yeah...I hope and pray that I can make up for the hurt you endured when you made that decision for us. I hope you’ll let me show you how much I love you for the rest of our lives. I want you to accept this ring and promise that I will do whatever it takes to make you happy. Will you be my wife, Camille Elise Ryan?” he asked and stared at her, waiting for her answer.

  She sat quietly, making sure he was finished with his speech. She then threw her arms around him and tackled him with her naked body. She screamed yes over and over until the reason for her screams wasn’t an engagement ring.

  * * *

  Camille was going through clothes quickly and it wasn’t as if she could just wash them and wear them again. Remi had destroyed her favorite casual dress the other night. But he was ever the thoughtful man because when he’d left her to soak her aching limbs in his bathtub, he’d tried to make it up to her by getting her clothes from her father’s house since she was too embarrassed to do it herself.

  She couldn’t believe he’d done something so thoughtful. But as she stood there looking at the clothes he held out to her, it hit her.

  “Oh, my God, Rem. What did Daddy say when you showed up to pick up my clothes?” She was still innocent in her father’s eyes and she wanted to remain that way—at least a little longer.

  However, Remington remained tight-lipped about his conversation with her father. He only said he had everything under control and Camille believed him.

  “I’ve already picked out something for you to wear,” he proclaimed, changing the subject. Camille could tell he was proud of himself for completing the task. She raised an eyebrow at him, but he shocked her when he handed her a pair of designer jeans, a flowy green camisole with a white exposed zipper detail on the back, and a white cropped blazer with rolled sleeves. There was also a pair of nude pumps and a clutch to match. The G-string and strapless bra were nude as well and Camille glared at him for providing her with such skimpy underwear for a simple dinner with her father.

  Remi threw his hands up in surrender. “What? They are all yours, right? I just chose from what you had.”

  The both chuckled and Camille left to get dressed.

  Chapter 14

  “I am so glad you could make it,” Bernice Savage gushed and Remi could feel Camille tense at his side. She’d complained that she would rather stay at his house in bed than go to a dinner with the woman who seemed hell-bent on making her uncomfortable around her own father. He wasn’t exactly sure what Bernice’s deal was but she seemed to show an unnecessary amount of hostility toward Camille, as if she was personally offended by Camille’s existence.

  Maybe tonight they’d find out the cause of her hostility or maybe she was just jealous. Reese Ryan cared a great deal about his daughter and he wasn’t shy about singing her praises to anyone who would listen. The man was so blindly proud that he never noticed the disparaging looks pe
ople gave him when he spoke fondly of his daughter. Most still saw Camille as the girl who’d broken the heart of the city’s most influential resident’s grandson. They saw her having threatened their perfect little town in some way. And they resented her for leaving and not coming back as many other Fairdell natives had. Charlie, Sonya, Remi and a whole host of other Fairdell natives had returned to contribute to the success of the town; however, Camille was one of the rare ones who had not.

  What people didn’t know was why she hadn’t. If people knew she’d sacrificed a future with him so he could have a future at Krane Foods and be a leader in the city he loved, they wouldn’t be so quick to judge her. But they’d never know the real reason and he only hoped she could deal with the potential hostility, especially when they found out what she did for a living.

  He had to show people that he loved her regardless of her leaving and regardless of what she did for a living. He needed to be the example. Some people would fall in line and follow his lead because they respected him, but others...they’d swear that Camille was some Jezebel who hurt men for fun, especially when they found out about Reese Elaine.

  They were so wrong about his fiancée. He’d defend her. He’d protect her. He’d show her that it didn’t matter what anyone else thought about her being his wife and first lady. His love would erase all the negativity and hatred.

  “I’m so glad you invited me, Ms. Savage. But I think I’d follow Camille anywhere,” Remi said and kissed Camille on the top of the head. He could feel her relax beside him a little.

  “I told you to call me Bernice,” the older woman fussed and placed a hand on Remi’s arm, smiling the whole time. “Oh, Camille...I wasn’t even paying attention to you standing there. Not used to you being around here, I guess.” It was a dig at Camille. Remington didn’t like it but he chose to hold his tongue. He wasn’t one to disrespect an elder. He’d been brought up better than that.