by Tia Siren
“Third house on the left from here,” she explained and pointed up ahead as if I could see a fucking thing.
Angie paid for the gas and started the car. We headed a few minutes up the road and I counted the driveways as we passed.
“Whoa, this one?” I shouted as the driveway cut its way through the trees.
Angie drove up the driveway and we exited the trees. The house loomed before us. There were cars parked everywhere, and the house stood menacingly in the dark. It was a mock Tudor design and had spotlights in strategic positions that lit certain parts of the house and the large garden.
We got out of the car and could hear the music from the rear of the house. “Whose party is this?” I asked Angie.
“I have no idea. It was Kerry who told me about it,” she replied.
We entered the house and were instantly bombarded by music from every room. Whoever owned the house had serious amounts of money. Or, they had no idea their house was slowly being trashed by a few hundred party goers.
“Where is the bar? I’m desperate for a drink,” I asked Angie.
“Not sure, let’s try the kitchen or out the back,” she replied as she grabbed my arm and pulled me through the heaving bodies as they raised their arms in the air and jumped to the sound of the music.
“Where have Kelly and Rachel gone?” Angie asked.
“I don’t know, they were right behind me. I’m sure they will turn up at some point,” I replied as I downed a shot of tequila.
“This is sure one hell of a party!” Angie said.
“It sure is. I’m going to mingle. I will meet you back here in about an hour.”
I wandered around and found bars that had been dotted around the house. I had a drink at each one and started to feel the effects of the tequila. Everything went slightly blurred and I went outside onto the upstairs balcony for some fresh air. I could see the pool below me and the girls were getting naked as they jumped into the pool. I could see bodies all over the place, and some were even making out in the garden. I took a few deep breaths to clear my head.
“Hi there, my name is Kyle,” a voice said from behind me. I turned and could see a guy standing behind me. “I have not seen you around here before?” he asked.
“Nah, I’m from down by the base,” I replied and flipped my hair over my shoulder. I wasn’t really in the mood to talk with anyone, but he seemed to be looking to score. Brother… all guys were the same.
“A long way from home then,” he said as he approached me. “Are you here with anyone?”
“Just some friends,” I said. He stood even closer to me.
“Friends are good.” He slid his fingers under the collar of my jacket and tried to pull me closer to him.
“Do you mind?” I tried to push him away.
“Come on. You know you want to have a little bit of fun. Fuck the night away. I’ve seen your type before,” he said. He put his arm around my shoulder.
“Will you just back up,” I shouted as I tried to walk back into the house.
I had noticed that a lot of people from the party had started to leave and there was no sign of Angie or the girls. Kyle kept following me, so I headed back up the stairs as if I was going to the bathroom. I glanced over my shoulder as Kyle followed me up the stairs.
I reached the landing and quickly walked into one of the open rooms, locking the door behind me. I sat with my back against the door. Kyle was trying to talk to me asking for me to let him into the room.
“Open up!”
I sat and thought about what I could do. I reached into my jacket pocket to see how much money I had because if I could get to the gas station, I could easily get a cab. I slid my hand to the bottom of my pockets. My money… I left it home, and there was no way I could use my credit card because Dad had stopped that for the summer.
Shit, what the fuck am I going to do?
“Hey, fucking open the door. I don’t bite,” he barked loudly, and some part of me was actually concerned that he did bite.
I reached into my pocket and grabbed my cell phone, and I scrolled through the contacts A, B, and stopped at C.
“Hello,” I heard a sleepy voice.
“Cam, it's Katie. I need your help,” I replied as I began to sob. Why did I call Cam? Right, I felt safe with him. I’d have to apologize later, but for now, I just needed him. Fast.
“Katie. Do you know what time it is?” Cam asked.
“I know. I’m sorry, but my friends have left me, and I have no money,” I replied sobbing. “I’m scared. I have no way to get home,” I cried.
“Where the hell are you?” Cam said waking up. His voice was filled with anger, but I could sense the worry in it too. Relief flooded me. He wasn’t going to drill me with stupid ass questions. He was just going to come rescue me. I could easily fall in love with the man.
“I don’t know exactly, out of town on the coast road. There’s a big house, the third one after a gas station, something V it was called,” I said.
“Power V. I know it. So, where are you now?” Cam replied.
“I have locked myself in a bedroom. Some guy is trying to hit on me,” I wiped my eyes on the sleeve of my jacket. “He’s outside the locked door and won’t leave me alone.”
“Wait there. I’ll come and get you,” Cam said. He hung up the phone.
I sat in the bedroom and heard Kyle continually knocking on the door for me to let him in. Apparently, he would show me a good time, he repeatedly muttered through the door.
“Leave me alone, Kyle,” I called back through the door.
I waited for around thirty minutes until a voice called from downstairs. I got to my feet and placed my ear to the door.
“Katie, Katie. Where are you?” Cam shouted.
I unlocked the door and ran past Kyle, who looked on in shock. Cam had reached the top of the stairs and stood to face my direction. I ran up to him and threw my arms around him.
“My God, Cam. Thank you, I was so scared,” I said as I continued to sob.
“Well it’s okay now, let’s get you home,” he replied. He led me down the stairs and toward his car.
“Okay,” I clung to him tightly, not worried about what anyone thought about the situation. I hated myself for having to bother him, and even more so for getting myself into yet another stupid, shitty situation. Ugh. My father was right. I needed to grow the fuck up.
“How the hell did you manage to get out here?” he yelled as we headed down the driveway.
“I don’t know. It was Angie who drove. It was some friend of a friend that Kelly knew,” I explained in a sorry tone. “They just said it was a party, and I did not expect this.”
“Where are they now then?” he asked angrily.
“I think they left without me. I went on the balcony for some fresh air and that guy started to pester me and hit on me,” I replied, “When I looked for my friends, they’d vanished.”
“It is stupid going somewhere you don’t know, especially if you end up drunk, again. You know these kids have no restraint over themselves. Especially when they see you all dressed up and think you want them,” he added angrily.
“I’m just glad you came to me,” I said. I rested my head on the back of the seat.
“Well, Katie, I’m not very fucking happy about it. I had to wake Emmy and leave her with Owen, and as good a friend as he is, he’s not the best person to leave a kid with,” Cam said.
“I did not know what else to do. That guy really scared me. I mean, he was a real douche bag, he was worse than Peter,” I explained.
“You certainly know how to attract the wrong ones,” he snapped.
“I never did anything. I was outside and he came up behind me and grabbed my jacket and just tried to force himself on me. He said he would show me a good time and knew I wanted it,” I murmured as I started to cry again.
“That’s easy to say. You put yourself in that position. You, not anyone else. You only have yourself to blame,” he expressed in a rou
gh tone.
I could see we’d entered back into the city limits. The lights started to blaze through the night sky. I explained more about the party and how it had gotten a bit crazy with a lot of the kids getting naked as they jumped in the pool. And how some ran around naked in the garden. And if the girls had not left me, I wouldn’t have had to call him this time.
I began to cry again. “I really am sorry Cam, but if I had called Dad, he would have killed me. He probably would have just told me to find my own way home,” I explained.
I sobbed uncontrollably, the effects of the tequila had hit the emotional button in my brain, and I had a huge sense of relief at being saved by Cam again. I leaned over to him and rested my head on his shoulder as I cried. I held onto his arm and gained comfort from being close to him.
“Cam,” I murmured.
“What now?”
“You have saved me twice now. It’s becoming a habit,” I whispered roughly, “I knew I could rely on you!”
“A bad habit for sure. I’m not sure who is more stupid between the two of us. You for putting me in that position, or me coming to help you,” he replied. “You shouldn’t rely on me like that. I can’t always save you.”
I held Cam's arm as I sobbed. He was nothing like any of the stupid dickheads I had acquaintances with. Cam was a real man and, not just in looks, he was mature and sensible. I felt safe with him.
The car slowed to a stop. We had come to an intersection and the light had just gone red.
I sat up and looked toward him. “Cam,” I cooed.
“What beautiful?” His word sunk deep inside of me. He cared about me, and not just as an object he could toy with if he wanted to, which he very much could.
Cam turned to me and lifted his hand as he wiped the tears from my eyes. I gazed into his eyes and could see the sparkle from his soul; he was a good man. I understood why I was so attracted to him. I smiled at him and leaned forward. I raised my hand and caressed his cheek as I got closer to him.
“Oh Cam,” I whispered as I placed my wanting lips onto his.
Then our lips locked and our kiss lingered for what seemed forever. The passion was so intense that it burned me, leaving me panting with need. I’d never, in my life, experienced something so damn hot, so fucking right.
I sensed Cam was pissed, but he had let all this fall by the wayside and he had not pushed me away. Instead, he embraced the touch of my lips against his. I could feel his gentle touch as his hand caressed my cheek. Our kiss continued; it was soft, tender and one so full of sexual expression. I moaned into his mouth, and he into mine.
“Katie,” he whispered. “Everything is okay now. I have got you.”
Please just don’t let me go?
Chapter 11
Cam
The light changed to green and we set off in the direction of Owen’s house to collect Emmy. I was still pissed at her for being so stupid. Calling me was okay; at least I would know she was alright. But letting herself end up in that position is just down right stupidity.
Even though she had just kissed me, there was no way I was going to be swayed away from being pissed at her. Christ, it takes a lot more than one deep, meaningful kiss to wipe away the thought of her being childish in her attitude towards responsibilities. For herself and others.
“You have to admit, it is a bit stupid going that far out without any money on you,” I said.
“I did have some money, I told you. But I left it at home,” Katie said, defensively.
“Well, it is a position you shouldn’t find yourself in. You should be more prepared in the future. Have some more self-respect!” I said. We started to get closer to Owen’s house.
“So, tell me what happened again, in detail?” I asked.
I half expected Katie to relish in the fact I had asked what had happened, but she sat in the seat quietly. For once.
“I’ve had enough of talking about it, I just want to forget it,” Katie replied with a sour face.
“You have to face the facts Katie. It was irresponsible… totally. It’s one thing I can agree with the Admiral on. You really should grow up!”
We slowed down as we approached Owen’s house. I could see the light was on in the living room as I walked up the driveway and tapped on the door.
Owen opened the door and I went inside to get Emmy and her car seat. We opened the rear door and placed her on the back seat. She was asleep. Owen helped fasten the seat to the straps and then grabbed my arm.
“What the fuck are you doing, Cam. I know I said to make a play at her, but this is ridiculous,” Owen said as he glanced over my shoulder to see Katie.
“It’s fine, don’t worry,” I replied.
“Cam, she will land you in trouble if you’re not careful. Don’t forget whose daughter she is,” he said sternly.
“I know. She’s just…” I started to say.
Owen cut me short. “I don’t care what she is. Just be fucking careful; you’re out in the middle of the night playing hero again when you should be home,” Owen snorted. I’d never seen him pissed at me.
“Look at it from her side. She’s just confused and needs some direction and encouragement. Don’t you think you would be the same if you were the Admiral’s daughter?” I said as I closed the rear door of the car.
“Well as long as you’re getting your rewards for being her savior,” Owen smiled a deep grin.
“Geez, it’s not like that, and you know it,” I replied in a whisper so Katie couldn’t hear me.
“Now, don’t forget what you told me,” Owen said, placing his hands to emphasize Katie’s breasts.
“I wish I had kept my mouth shut now!” I replied, screwing my face up and using my eyes to remind him Katie was still there.
I knew Owen meant well with his advice, but he was a playful son-of-a-bitch and any chance he had to make fun of me, he seized it with open arms.
“Well, I would love to rib you all night, but it’s late, or should I say early. And you, my friend, need to get home and show the Admiral’s daughter some of your direction and encouragement,” Owen laughed.
“Keep the fucking noise down,” I muttered. “Fuck!”
I walked to the driver’s door and thanked Owen by hitting him hard on the shoulder for watching over Emmy.
We made the quick drive back to the base and entered through the security; luckily the night guard opened the barrier when he saw it was me; without checking all of the cars. The last thing I wanted was for people around the base getting to know I was out with the Admiral’s daughter at God only knows what time of the morning.
I pulled up the driveway and unhitched the baby seat from the rear of the car. I entered the house and Katie followed me inside and closed the door. The events were a while ago, and I was home safe with Emmy. I was still pissed at Katie for being so damned reckless. She was not stupid or dumb by any means. But she was hell bent on acting that way at every possible chance.
I entered the bedroom and placed the baby seat onto the bed. Emmy murmured as I unfastened the straps of the chair. I gently lifted her and removed her jacket and put her in her cot. I watched as she wriggled and rolled before finding her sleeping position. She placed her thumb in her mouth.
“You know, I love my daughter more than anything in the world,” I said as I stood rocking her cot while she fell into deeper sleep.
“I know; you can see by the way you look at her that you have something very special between you,” Katie stood beside me, and we looked at Emmy together.
Emmy nuzzled up, and the thought of how life would be when she was at the same age as Katie scared me. Especially on base. There were just too many marines of the same age who were driven by testosterone. Emmy would have to be strong to resist the temptation that would be continuously presented to her.
“I will tell you now. If she acts the way you do when she’s your age, well, I can’t even think about it,” I laughed, heading out of the bedroom.
“Well, she has a long
way to go before she gets to that stage,” Katie tiptoed behind me.
“I just find it quite worrying and horrifying that she might put herself in some sort of danger, you never know what kind of people are out there,” I said.
We sat in the living room. The sun was beaming gently through the curtains.
“At least you will be a good dad, much better than mine,” Katie bowed her head.
“Why is that then?” I asked. “I thought your relationship with your dad was alright, apart from your troublemaking mentality.”
“Cam, excuse me for being rude, but fuck you,” she answered with a wink.
I looked at Katie more seriously. “So how is your relationship with your dad?”
Katie laughed quietly. “I’m not the perfect daughter, by any means, and I know that he wanted me to be prim and proper, you know dresses and garden parties and all that sickly-sweet stuff.”
“What happened when you didn’t end up that way? God, he must have been a bit pissed with you,” I said.
“Ignorance is bliss, or so they say. Dad put this theory well and truly to the test with me. He basically ignored me my whole life. And we still talked and all that, and he used to say, ‘make sure you’re home at blah, blah time,’ but that was it. Other conversations were just everyday chit chat, no fatherly talks or advice; nada, nothing,” she said.
“I have seen all the pictures in his office. He must love you?”
“Of course, he loves me, and I know that, and I love him. But there was no need for him to give up on me when I didn’t materialize into the perfect daughter that he had aspired me to be,” Katie explained. Her tone had shifted to a whisper.
“It sounds bad,” I replied as I listened to her.
“Well when I look at him, it looks like he has just, well, he’s just not bothered with me anymore. Because he can’t be bothered, I’m not bothered,” she added.
I listened to Katie as she explained her relationship with her dad. It must have been difficult for both of them. Especially in the time that Katie’s mother left. The Admiral had an enormous naval base to control, so he probably never had a chance to notice his daughter growing up, and she needed his attention. And Katie had sort of rebelled and tried to seek attention. This was what the Admiral had missed, and she had become a creature of habit and carried on this way. For attention.
