by Noelle Adams
Lily’s breathing was ragged and her eyes were glazed and intense as she studied him. “Yes.”
The relief that he felt at that one little word was so great that Cam nearly sank to his knees. Both hands snaked up into her hair and ruined her beautiful upswept style and yet he didn’t care. He kissed her with a ferocity that scared him. For once in his life he was going to give in and be impulsive and allow himself to simply feel. He heard Lily’s purse drop to the floor and then felt her wrap shimmy down her arms. “I want to make love to you, Lily Cavanaugh,” he said huskily as he leaned his forehead against hers and did his best to regain his breath.
She smiled shyly. “I’d like that very much.”
And then, hand in hand, they walked into the bedroom where Cam closed the double doors and turned toward the woman who was his every dream come true.
Five
The sun was just beginning to rise when Lily opened her eyes and instantly smiled. They had made love. Repeatedly. She laughed a little inside with a sense of giddiness when she thought about it because she always knew that Cam was thorough in everything that he did, but that thoroughness had a whole new meaning now.
He was pressed up against her back completely wrapped around her and Lily loved the way that he felt. She wanted to bask in the afterglow of it all but the little voice of doubt crept into her thoughts. One night. That was what he had asked for was just one night. After such a night, could Lily really be okay with having just one night?
Cam’s lips on her shoulder told her that he was awake. Turning her head slightly, she looked at him and smiled. “Good morning.”
He didn’t speak, he simply continued to trail kisses along her shoulder and then down her spine; all the while, his hands began their own exploration.
Interesting, Lily thought. Clearly the super-genius mind of Cameron Greene did not seem to recall his one-night rule. That was more than fine with her; if she had her way, there would be no rules, no limit. Forever actually worked quite well for her.
Arching her back, she purred with delight as he worked his way back up and rolled her beneath him before diving in for a kiss so hot, so deep and so wet that she simply forgot how to breathe. Just when she was about to completely wrap herself around him in silent invitation, Cam pulled back and smiled down at her.
“Good morning to you, too.” His hair was mussed and he had stubble on his chin and he looked good enough to eat to Lily. Cam always was the portrait of neatness and never had a hair out of place, she liked this look on him a heck of a lot more and smiled as she ran her hand down his cheek and down to his chest. “See anything you like?” he asked lightly.
Her green eyes met his and her expression turned serious. “Everything.” And then she pulled him down for another searing kiss and forgot all about rules and nights and gave him a morning that he was sure to remember.
***
For the first time since…well, ever, Cam was late for a meeting. There was a moment of pure panic when he first looked at the clock after him and Lily and nearly destroyed one another with their enthusiasm, but then he couldn’t find the strength to care. Time had no meaning right now and he had a beautiful woman wrapped around him. Now that had meaning.
He just wasn’t sure what it was.
Everything was different and yet it wasn’t. Cam had expected that they’d make love and that they would be done. Maybe there would be a little awkwardness, but then they’d move on. He never expected her to respond to him the way that she did or that he’d be so insatiable for her. And she for him! He certainly hadn’t expected them to still be so needy for one another this morning and if he wasn’t careful, he’d never want to leave this room today and take care of the things that he had to.
Reluctantly, he slowly made to get up and smiled at her sleepy protest. He kissed her forehead. “Believe me, I’d much rather stay here but I’m already late.”
Lily instantly sat up and looked at the clock. “Oh, my gosh! I’m sorry! I’m really sorry, Cam! I didn’t mean…I mean, I didn’t even think that…”
He silenced her with a kiss. “Stop worrying,” he said. “I’m going to grab a quick shower and then I’m going to go but after this afternoon’s session, you and I are going to go out and I’m going to let you show me all around Times Square.”
“Because I’m such a pro at it after my day yesterday?” she teased.
“Something like that,” he said as he walked toward the bathroom and shut the door.
Lily sighed and smiled at the same time. Okay, so Cam had completely forgotten about his rules and about time. That had never happened. Ever. But what did that mean for them? For all Lily knew, this morning was just simply a small detour or extension of the night and now Cam was done. She pouted slightly. Well, she wasn’t ready to be done. No, she was about as far from done as a person could get. Pretending wasn’t an option for her anymore and she only had six weeks to work with to convince him that their reality could be so much more than what either of them had imagined.
***
Cam had never been a clock watcher but today he was. Every meeting seemed endless; all of his conversations were forced. All he wanted was to be done and to get back upstairs to Lily. The thought of going out on the town with her filled him with anticipation. Images of her from the night before kept flashing through his mind and when he thought about the things they had done this morning? Well, there were several times during his meetings that he found himself shifting in his seat uncomfortably.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. While Lily didn’t seem outraged or even shocked by their becoming intimate, Cam wasn’t sure it was smart of them. Lily was a woman who led with her heart; she put everything she had into everything that she did. Cam was a lot more closed off. He was studious and serious and while their friendship had always worked for them, there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that if he pursued a serious romantic relationship with Lily that he’d end up killing some of her spirit; the essence that made her who she was.
What made him love her.
Shaking his head at his own negative thoughts, he almost wept with gratitude as the afternoon session finally came to a close and he was free to leave. Doing his best to stay under the radar, he quickly made his exit and hit the bank of elevators before anyone had noticed his departure. Tapping his foot and waiting for the doors to open, Cam looked at his watch and saw that it was only two minutes after five.
A new record.
At the sound of the elevator’s arrival, he was glad that there was still no one around and quickly stepped on and pushed to close the doors. By the time he arrived at the suite he had only used up another two minutes. His fingers fumbled with the key card and when he finally got through the door he was treated to the sight of Lily walking across the room in nothing but a towel.
“Cam!” she cried and then looked for the nearest clock. “You’re early. Is everything okay?”
Cam tried to tell himself that he had planned on coming back to the room and taking Lily out sightseeing and that making love to her wasn’t on the agenda. He wasn’t going to allow himself to do that again. But one look at her? And all of his good intentions flew right out the window.
He knew the second that she caught on to his train of thought because her smile went from sweet to sexy in the blink of an eye. Slowly Lily walked toward him and Cam began to wonder how it was that she was as anxious to be with him as he was for her. For years he had pined after her and she had never given even a hint that she was interested in pursuing a more intimate relationship. But now? Now they were clearly on the same page and he was loving it.
“So?” she said sweetly as she stood nearly toe to toe with him now. “Are you okay?”
Slowly Cam’s hand crept up to where her towel was knotted between her breasts and lingered there. His eyes met hers and the heat he saw there mirrored his own. With a gentle tug the towel dropped to the floor. “I am now.”
***
Snow had begun to fall again as Lily an
d Cam walked along 7th Avenue. “Isn’t this amazing?” Lily asked excitedly. It was well after seven when they had finally left the hotel and an hour later, they were strolling hand and hand trying to decide on where to eat. Every few minutes she would make them stop and either take selfies of themselves in front of something she considered fun or they’d ask random strangers if they would mind taking their picture. She was having a blast. “All of the lights and the activity…it’s invigorating.”
Cam wasn’t sure he fully agreed. What they had done earlier in the room was invigorating. Walking along 7th Avenue in the cold and the snow was something that he could easily live without. He was starving and as much as he hated to admit it, he’d go along with anything that Lily wanted for dinner, even if it came from a street vendor.
“Ooo, we have to go in here,” she said as she dragged Cam into the Disney Store.
“Why? Why do we need to stop in here?” The sheer magnitude of the colors, music and lighting assaulted him as they walked in. “Seriously, Lil; why?”
“I haven’t been to Disney since I was a little girl. I came in here yesterday and it just was so overwhelming and made me wish that I could hop on a plane and go to Florida right now.”
“It would be a lot warmer, I can tell you that,” he grumbled.
“Oh, stop being such a baby. We’re having fun; remember that.”
“If you have to remind me, then no I’m not.”
Lily stopped and made a face at him. “Remember the trip we took there when we were eight? Remember how much fun we had?”
“Remember how I got sick on the rides?” he said sarcastically and then hated himself when her expression fell. “Okay, okay…yes, it was a fun trip. If you don’t count the throwing up. So, we’re here in this…monstrosity of a store. What are you looking for?”
“Looking for? Cam, you don’t come in a place like this to look for something specific; you come in and explore and then surprise yourself when you find something that you absolutely have to have.”
Cam didn’t need a store to do that; he knew the feeling and all it took was creating a little white lie to fool their families. And now he found something that he absolutely had to have.
Lily.
She dragged him around and commented on just about everything that they saw and the way that her whole face lit up with each new thing she discovered had Cam smiling as well. It was hard to stay serious and stern when she was just bursting with excitement. Cam wanted so badly to be able to free himself up enough to find something that made him that happy and carefree. Something that just the sight of it would make him grin from ear to ear.
Something like the woman standing in front of him wearing a sparkly tiara and posing like a princess.
Cam took the tiara off of her head and took her hand and led her to the front of the store. When they approached the registers, she blushed as she watched Cam pay for the tiara and then hand her the bag.
“Thank you,” she said and leaned in close and got up in her tip toes to kiss him on the cheek. Once they were back outside, she looked around to try and decide which direction they should go in to find a place to eat. “Okay, what are you in the mood for? Italian? Burgers? Steak?”
He chuckled at the fact that she threw burgers out there in the suggestions being that she knew his feelings on them but decided to throw caution to the wind. “You decide,” he said lightly and found that he actually liked letting go and the smile that lit up Lily’s face was worth it.
Even if it meant eating burgers.
“Um…let’s see,” she said, looking around again. “There’s that diner with the singing waitresses that we can try.” Looking at Cam she saw him merely shrug. “Or…we can do the Hard Rock.” Another shrug. “You know, it’s a lot easier when you just tell me where we’re going rather than letting me decide. We’ll probably eat a lot quicker, too.”
“You were so excited about going out and exploring,” he began, “that I want you to choose the place that you want to experience. Tonight is all for you, Lily.”
Well, if he had said that sooner life would have been a whole lot easier. “Okay then,” she said with a firm nod of her head. Taking his hand, she turned them around and with a purposeful stride, took off in the direction that she wanted. It didn’t take long for Cam to question what she was doing.
“Uh, Lil? Why are we back at the hotel?”
With a saucy glance over her shoulder she smiled. “You said that tonight was for me, right?” Cam nodded. “Well, then what I want is room service and…you.”
Far be it from Cam to argue.
***
The next night was their last in New York and they had a flight out the next morning. Cam’s last session of the conference had ended at noon and they had spent the afternoon doing more sightseeing and finally had a meal outside of the hotel. As they lay in bed, Cam knew what he had to do; it wasn’t what he wanted to do, but in the long run, he was doing what was best for Lily and for their friendship.
“I’m really glad that you came with me this week,” he said softly as he tried not to focus on the way her hand was tracing lazy circles on his chest.
“Mmm…me too,” she said. “This was a great idea.”
It was hard to focus but Cam trudged forward. “So we’re supposed to have dinner with everyone tomorrow night and I know that we had planned to go in there and pretend to be involved and announce our relationship to them but…”
Lily lifted her head from his shoulder; not liking where this was leading. “But what?”
“Well, things took a bit of a turn here and I think that it would be best if…this…” he began awkwardly, “stayed here.”
Now she sat completely upright and looked at him with disbelief. “Excuse me?”
Cam sat up beside her. “Lily, you and I have been friends forever and I don’t want to do anything to risk that. I wouldn’t be able to handle it if you weren’t a part of my life. Your friendship has gotten me through some pretty rough times and I treasure what we have.”
“I do, too, Cam. I don’t understand where this is all going.” Lily was thoroughly confused and her gut was telling her that he no longer wanted to sleep with her but he didn’t even want to have a fake relationship with her anymore.
“The physical turn in our relationship wasn’t something that I had planned on and I think that lines are getting blurred. We both know that it’s never good to combine sex with friendship. Eventually things get too awkward and the friendship suffers. I don’t want that for us. So I’m thinking that this…” he cleared his throat, “isn’t something that we should continue once we get home.”
She stared at him like he was insane. Not continue this? Was he out of his mind? This was some of the most amazing sex of her life and things hadn’t gotten weird between them at all. Why end it? Which is exactly what she asked him rather snappishly.
“It has been amazing; I’m not denying that. I just value our friendship more. Can you understand that?” His eyes were earnest as he tried to get her to see his point of view.
“And the fake relationship?” she asked coldly. “Is that something that we should continue when we get home?” Cam nodded. “Just without the sex,” she stated matter-of-factly and Cam nodded again. Lily considered her options. While this was totally not the way she had envisioned things going, all was not lost. The rules had changed several times already and being that she now knew Cam on an entirely new level, she was certain that she could get him to change the rules again.
And she could even make it seem like it was his idea.
Reclining back on the pillows, Lily pulled the sheet up snugly around her and stared at the ceiling as she continued to ponder. She knew it was a tactic that would drive Cam mad. He was used to people quickly falling in line with what he wanted and whenever she didn’t, it would infuriate him.
Good. Let him stew.
Without a word, she kicked the sheet off and walked completely naked into the living room and grabbed a
bottle of water from the mini fridge and then came back to bed as she drank. Then she resumed her earlier position and stared at the ceiling. The tension was rolling off of Cameron in waves to the point that Lily had to stifle the giggle that was dying to come out. After a solid five minutes she turned and simply said, “Fine.”
Cam’s eyes grew wide. “Fine? That’s it? All of that and all you have to say is fine?”
“What would you have me say, Cam?” she asked innocently. “Should I kick, scream and carry on? I can’t force you to keep having sex with me so what would you have me do? You want to go back to us just being friends who are pretending to date, then fine; that’s what we’ll do.”
“And you’re okay with it?”
“Sure.”
He didn’t like it. It was too easy. Cam couldn’t quite put his finger on it but Lily never gave in to anything this easily. “So…we’re good?”
Lily nodded. “Of course. Why wouldn’t we be? We tried something new and it didn’t work for you. Besides, you’re right; friends is a better option. You’d probably make me crazy after a little while with this dating thing. This way we stop before any real damage was done and we have an end date. Plus, this means that should either of us meet someone that we’re really interested in, even if it’s during the holidays, that we’re free to date or sleep with them.” Lily did her best to sound blasé about the whole thing and the play of emotions on Cam’s face was near comical.
“No,” he said adamantly. “Absolutely not.”
Lily quirked an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?”
“Until the week after New Year’s, we are exclusive. No dating and certainly no sleeping with anybody else!” Cam never raised his voice to Lily and he was kind of surprised that he was doing it now but how dare she even suggest such a ridiculous concept. Sleep with other people while they were pretend dating? Why would she even consider that?
