Redeem Me

by Jennifer Foor

  I knew Cameron, sometimes better than she knew herself. Her heart was broken, caused by my actions. Had I overheard and misunderstood? Had she played me based off of my reaction? It was very possible indeed.

  She’d gotten her keen knack for manipulation from her lawyer parents, who always seemed to get what they desired. If this was a ploy to win me back out of jealousy, she had me right where she wanted me.

  She was an intelligent woman, who could quickly come up with a way to hurt me. I deserved it for sure, but couldn’t fathom the idea of her actually going through with such a plan. There was no way that my sweet girlfriend would stoop so low to sleep with another man for revenge, or maybe I didn’t know her as well as I thought I had. It was also possible that I’d destroyed that innocent girl, and turned her into someone who would go to extremes to get my attention, or prove a point.

  She had my full attention.

  I was losing my shit over the phone call. Before I knew it, I was in my car on the way to the mountains. I was going to track her down, and get her back, because this turn of events was only proving that I couldn’t live without her.

  Chapter 12

  Cameron

  I think from the moment my feet came off the elevator I was having anxiety. My decision to sleep with Seth was leaving a bad taste in my mouth already. We walked until we reached the number to his room, and I watched as he stuck the key card into the slot. The door opened and he turned to face me with knowledge of what was to transpire. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

  I pushed him inside the room, holding his jacket sleeves for control. "You and I both know you want this, Seth. Stop trying to change my mind. I need to forget, and you said you could make it happen."

  There was no reply needed as he picked me up and carried me further into the room, toward his bed. We stared at each other for a few seconds before either of us made a move. The moment only intensified when he leaned forward kissing me directly on the lips. I started to pull away, but then was caught up in the process of actually feeling someone wanting to be with me again. Parker's betrayal didn't just hurt me, it left me scarred. He may not have cheated on me, but he’d cheated on our future. Seth was here to make the hurt dissipate, and I was resolute to not fight him.

  I wanted to get caught up in desire, not knowing what was to come, and where it would lead me. For once I wanted to be spontaneous, willing to take risks to achieve a common release.

  That's exactly what happened. In one quick swoop I was lying flat on my back. He lingered over me looking down at my body while I was still clothed. I didn't know whether to touch him or to just let him do all the work. Since Parker was the only man I've ever been with sexually this was all new to me. I didn't know whether this man would want me to touch him or if he wanted to be in full control. With my lack of experience, I probably seemed like a lost puppy.

  While I laid flat on the bed, I watched as Seth begin taking off his jacket. He watched me when he loosened his tie and unfastened the buttons to his shirt, removing it next. I sat up on my elbows, noticing the patch of hair on his chest. It was something that Parker didn’t possess. Seth was a distinguished man. He was successful, and knew what he wanted.

  After biting down on my lip, focusing on what was to come next, I watched him walk across the room and bend over to access the mini-bar. He pulled out a soda with two tiny bottles of liquor. “You look like you could use another drink, Cameron. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  I stayed in the same position. “Yes. I’m a little nervous.”

  Seth brought a glass over, stirring it with his fingertip. When he pulled it out and handed me mine, he ran his finger over my mouth. I must have seemed like a fool at first; finally realizing that he wanted me to taste it. I closed my eyes and sucked it in between my lips. The rush of flavor was strong, reminding me that the glass I held was definitely potent enough to take the edge off. I released his finger and downed my beverage, knowing he was watching my every move.

  Seth took the empty glass from me, finishing his off before placing them both on the dresser. He then stood in front of me, unbuckling his belt. “Take your clothes off, Cameron.”

  Right away I felt uncomfortable. “You want me to undress right now?”

  “I can do it for you, if that’s what you prefer.”

  He wasn’t being sympathetic, and I didn’t know whether I should be flattered or feel threatened. “I prefer going slow, if that’s okay with you.”

  His shoulders relaxed and he spun around to sit down on the bed next to me. “We don’t have to do this.”

  “I want to.” I reached for his arm, letting my fingertips glide over his hairy skin. “I’ve only been with one person.”

  “You’re right. Sorry. I’m not used to taking things slow. Forgive me for being selfish.” He slid off the bed and kneeled between my legs. I stayed on my elbows, fully aware of his new ambitions.

  “I can’t stop shaking.”

  Seth ran both hands up my legs until he reached my thighs. “You don’t have to be scared. I won’t hurt you.”

  I couldn’t stop thinking of Parker, and our first time together. He’d told me the same thing, and although it had gotten uncomfortable, he’d kept his promise. “I just want to go slow.” I felt like such an immature kid saying it out loud. I didn’t even want to imagine what was going through this man’s head.

  He smiled and let his hands linger over the waist to my pants. Once he’d coasted them off of my hips I knew there was no turning back. The air hit my bare skin, letting me know how exposed I was becoming. My lips parted the moment his fingers traipsed over the fabric of my panties. “I remember when you were sixteen, and we were working that case at your parent’s house. I saw you one night, heading into the kitchen in just a nightgown. I tried not to look, but you reached up and got something out of the cabinet, giving me a full view of your ass, in panties similar to these. I wanted to walk right in there and take you from behind, even though I knew it was illegal. You were so damn sexy.”

  I wiggled my legs a tiny bit, wondering if and when he was going to infringe his fingers underneath the fabric to my underwear. Admittedly, it was enticing hearing about him watching me years ago. My nipples started to tingle, making me fully aware that he was turning me on with little effort. In the midst of being overwhelmed with strange feelings, the alcohol made an appearance, heating up my stomach as it entered. In a natural reaction, I yearned to be touched more; to feel the physical contact of someone that desired me. He grabbed my arms, tugging me to a sitting position on the bed. Since he was still kneeling, we sat face to face. His dark eyes never left mine as he made his move in to kiss me again. I savored the way his lips felt over mine, and how the stubble of his five-o’clock shadow tickled my skin. Our tongues brushed, then began mingling together at a constant pace. He tasted of alcohol as I sucked on his bottom lip. He tugged out of my grasp, looking at me with a surprised smirk. “That’s the Cameron I want to see. Let yourself go. Give and you shall receive.”

  I snickered, imagining me doing things to him on my own, without being persuaded. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to. In fact I did. I wanted to be consumed in the moment, so much that I didn’t dwell on any of my other problems.

  Seth lifted my shirt over my head, leaving me in only a bra and panties. He licked his lips before tracing the lace on the edge of my bra. I watched my chest moving as my breathing became rapid. His eyes stayed fixed on my skin, and the way his touch gave me goose bumps. A tiny moan escaped my lips when he tugged on the cup, releasing my nipple to be in view. “Oh yeah. Excuse me while I just…” He sank down, sucking my hardened tip in between his teeth. I watched them dragging over my sensitive skin. While savoring the moment, I became fully aware of what was to come. To my dismay, I began to panic, pushing this sexy man off of me.

  “I’m sorry. I just need a minute.”

  That one minute turned into many more. I ended up running into the bathroom, closing the door, and splashing cold water
over my face. What was I doing?

  A distinct knock came from the door, and I heard Seth addressing me. “Cameron, are you okay in there?”

  I opened the door, seeing him standing there shirtless waiting for me. This was my last chance to change my mind. While fighting back the tears from both fear and anxiousness, I took two steps forward, breaking the distance between us. My hands grasped his pants, while our lips connected together. He picked me up with ease, carrying me back into the bedroom area. Instead of laying me back down on the bed, he sat me on the dresser, reaching around to unhook my bra. I felt it loosening, and watched as he backed away to remove it. Now, instead of just a nipple, he was staring at everything I had. Instinctively, I tried to cover up with my hands. He removed them, shaking his head while never taking his eyes off of them. It made me uncomfortable seeing him so mesmerized by parts of my body, almost like they were some prize he’d worked hard to acquire. “Stop doing that.”

  He sneered. “What?”

  “Gawking.”

  “I prefer the word ogling.”

  I gave him a cynical gaze. “It’s the same thing.”

  All of the sudden his face became stern. His brows furrowed, and he seemed conflicted. “I need to know you want this, because you’re confusing the shit out of me. I don’t want to make love to you, and have you run to your father claiming I took advantage of you.”

  I slid off the dresser, tugging him to follow me to the opposite side of the room. As our lips met, we both dropped down on the mattress. I climbed on top of him, keeping my eyes closed so I didn’t lose focus, because I was with a new partner.

  “Indulge yourself in this, Cameron.”

  I was certainly trying to. I let my body slide down off the bed as I pulled his pants with me. His bulge was apparent from beneath his boxer shorts, and I had to admit that I was eager to see the package that awaited me. I licked my lips as my hands traveled back up to the elastic of his underwear. I tugged them down, freeing his erection immediately. Hunger struck as I placed my eyes on his girth. I kissed his thigh while aiming my stare on what was right in front of me, begging for attention. My knees weakened when I tried to stand up to climb on the bed. I was aware of my body shaking, but chose to ignore it and progress with the task at hand, literally.

  It was apparent that he expected me to please him orally, except I wasn’t ready to open myself up to such an emotional connection. To me that was something special. I knew it was part of intimacy, albeit I couldn’t allow everything I’d shared with Parker to become less memorable. I needed some things to stay precious. He was obviously the first man I’d done that to, and I was determined that the next man would be my husband.

  Seth didn’t seem to mind when I found his lips again. He flipped us around, only because he wanted to remove my panties. Just as I was fully exposed, completely naked, there was a knock on the door. “Cameron, I know you’re in there.”

  I jumped off the bed, grabbing my shirt to cover my body.

  It couldn’t be him.

  Parker couldn’t be here.

  Seth seemed irritated as he looked to me for a response. I shook my head, hopelessly thinking of what I wanted to do.

  I had two obvious choices.

  I could get dressed and spend the rest of the night crying to Parker so he didn’t think I was some tramp, who’d rebounded immediately after our breakup.

  I could ignore the door and give into temptation, because I deserved to be happy. Seth didn’t lie to me. He’d wanted me for years, and I’d spent too long living in a bubble.

  “Oh my god. That’s my boyfriend. How did he know I was here?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.” Unfortunately, Seth took matters into his own hands, without running it by me first. He wrapped himself in a towel and headed for the door. I sat on the bed, staring at the ground while listening.

  “Can I help you, kid?”

  “Whatever, man. I’m looking for Cameron.”

  “What makes you think I know this Cameron?”

  “Well, for starters, the purse I bought her last year for our anniversary was sitting out here in the hallway. Is she in there?”

  “No. She’s not in here. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m getting back to my shower.” I heard the door close and saw Seth walking back in my direction. The tears were already streaming out from my eyes.

  When I looked up at Seth he was smiling. “I should have known it was too good to be true.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “Get dressed, Cameron. I’m not in the mood to deal with all this drama. Maybe in a couple years, after you’ve grown out of this part of your life, we’ll try again.”

  He walked into the bathroom, leaving me there all alone. I cried while redressing, trying to come to grips with what could have happened, and what I was now left to deal with.

  Parker had come to the resort to talk to me, and now I had to explain exactly what I was doing; not because I owed it to him, but because I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.

  Chapter 13

  Parker

  I’d driven all that way not knowing how I was going to find her. The barmaid wasn’t very forthcoming, until I told her it as an emergency. She hesitated before pulling the receipt for Cameron’s tab, which she always charged to her room number. I beat on her door, begging for her to acknowledge me, only to be let down when she never answered. It wasn’t until I was leaving that I saw her purse leaning up against the wall at the opposite end of the hallway. After looking inside I saw her phone and identification. It was just dumb luck that there was a door right next to it.

  The guy was a total douche, who made it clear that he hadn’t seen her. The thing was, I could have sworn that I’d seen him around before. Since Cameron’s parents took this trip every year, I wondered if he was part of their firm, and perhaps I’d met him at one of their parties that I’d attended with her.

  Still, it didn’t mean that she’d be in his room. Since I was determined to talk to her, I went and camped outside her door, hoping she’d eventually show up. Nothing could have prepared me for the feeling that I got when I looked down that hallway and saw her coming out of the same room I’d knocked on. Her head was down, and it was obvious that she was upset. She looked up and spotted me¸ stopping immediately. I could see the fear in her eyes, as my stomach knotted up. She’d been in that room.

  With him.

  With her head hung down low, she approached me, sighing as we became face to face. “What are you doing here?”

  I shook my head and snickered. “I thought I was comin’ to catch you in a lie, but apparently you were tellin’ the damn truth.” I couldn’t believe that my innocent girlfriend had just been in another room with a naked guy. From the look of her hair, I’d say they were doing a lot more than talking about the weather. “I can’t even look at you.”

  I peered down the end of the hallway, expecting the guy to come out at any minute. “How long’s this been goin’ on?”

  She shrugged. “What are you talking about?”

  “Come on, Cam. Do I look like an idiot to you? I just got in my car and drove hours to prove to myself that you weren’t movin’ on. Then I get here and it’s obvious that you’re doin’ just that. What I can’t understand is how it’s so easy for you, because it’s tearin’ me apart inside.” I slid down to the floor, burying my head against my hands. I’d never experienced this kind of betrayal. The pain besieged me, enough to where I couldn’t even talk about it.

  We both heard a door shutting and turned in that direction. Thankfully it wasn’t her friend. Cameron turned and inserted her keycard into the slot. She held the door open. “Come inside, Parker. I don’t want everyone eavesdropping on our business.”

  As reluctant as I was, I stepped inside the confines of her room. She kicked off her shoes and lifted her shirt over her head. “Just let me take a shower, and we’ll talk.”

  That stunned me. “Are you serious? Do you have to wash
off the proof? What’s wrong, Cam? Do you smell like him?”

  She became offended. “Screw you. I came here with my parents and other partners in the firm. What I do is my business, since you’re the one who clearly ended our relationship. Don’t you dare come in here making assumptions that aren’t true.” She headed into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I could hear her sobbing, and even though I wanted to, I couldn’t feel bad for what I’d said. She was ripping my heart out. Fighting back my own tears was becoming impossible. I looked up into the mirror and saw myself for the first time in days. My eyes had huge dark circles around them, and they were bloodshot. My hair was just as disheveled as Cameron’s.

  I could hear her in the bathroom, but it didn’t sound like she’d gotten into the shower yet. I walked in there and found her leaning over the sink. She was bawling with snot running down over her lips. We looked at each other for a brief moment before I pulled her against my chest. “I’m so sorry, Parker. I just wanted the pain to go away. I thought it would help me forget about you.”

  I squinted, fighting with the inevitable. Warm liquid fell from my eyes as I became aware that I’d done all of this. It wasn’t bad enough that I’d destroyed my relationship with my family, but now I’d ruined Cameron too. It was too much to handle.

  For the longest time we stood there holding each other as steam filled the small bathroom. Finally Cameron pulled away and finished undressing. She turned to me before climbing into the shower. It was difficult for me to understand how I wanted to be with her, even after she’d just been with someone else. It was as if I desperately needed to know she still wanted me. Out of that hopelessness, I began removing my own clothes. Beyond that curtain was my reason for existing.

  I pulled the plastic, waiting for a response from her. It was pleasing to see her motioning me to step inside. The hot water beat down on my back as I made that move. Cameron had her arms crossed over her chest. I didn’t wait for her to adjust before drawing her into my hold. Her head once again rested perfectly against my body as I kissed her softly on top of the head. “Did it help?” As much as it hurt me to ask, I needed to know.