Outspoken Angel

by Mia Dymond

  He released a breath then trailed his tongue down her wet slit, opening her wider along the way and nibbling on the swollen flesh.

  Cameron writhed beneath him as he lapped at her with his tongue. “Max, please,” she whimpered.

  With a low chuckle, he pushed a finger inside her and curved it upward. She cried out and arched off the bed. He added another finger and then moved in and out of her, careful to drag his fingers across the quivering spot just at the top of his middle finger.

  Cameron ground her hips against his hand, cramming his fingers further inside. “Yes, Max.”

  He watched in awe as she moved her fingers across her clit, imitating his rhythm inside her body. Scalding hot heat surrounded him. A rush of moisture left her body and he felt her muscles clamp down on him with a quickening pulse beneath his touch.

  Still focused on her self-pleasure, Max realized too late he’d been distracted when he felt her grasp his cock.

  “Cameron,” he warned.

  “My name again.” She giggled mischievously as she wrapped him in another all-too-familiar death grip and stroked him from top to bottom and back again, pulling him against her smooth skin and dangerously close to the sweet heaven between her legs.

  He cursed and pried her hands loose before he sat up to shuck his pants and boxers. In the next second, he was naked and positioned over her with his cock fisted and stretching to be inside her warm heat.

  “There’s no going back, Princess.”

  She draped her long, slender legs across his hips and fastened them around the small of his back. Holding him hostage with her baby blue eyes, she untangled his fingers from his cock, pressed her heels into his ass, and forced him deep inside her.

  “Dammit, Cameron!” Max squeezed his eyes closed and grasped her hips to keep his hands from shaking. “Do. Not. Move.”

  He fought to drag air into his lungs. Her body held him in a tight vise so hot and snug that moving even a millimeter would completely unwind his reserve. He took another couple breaths, opened his eyes, and prepared to issue another order. Cameron met his gaze with another smirk and rolled her hips.

  Max released a heavy breath and slapped her palms against his shoulders. “Slow and easy will have to wait.”

  Cameron groaned as he began to piston in and out of her with fast, hard strokes to show her exactly how crazy she made him. “Max,” she murmured.

  Sweat coated the back of his shoulders as he kept his tempo, her heels pressing harder against his muscles. His balls drew tight and he leaned to kiss the top of her shoulder.

  “Tell me you’re close,” he moaned.

  Her curls whipped the air as she squirmed. “Doesn’t matter. Just do it, Max.”

  He paused only a heartbeat and then reached between them to slow his strokes and press his thumb against her clit. “Oh but sweetheart, it matters a whole lot.”

  “Max,” she hissed.

  His thumb moved her slippery flesh in circles. “Let go, baby.”

  He gave her clit a pinch and then thrust into her one more time. Cameron’s scream tortured his cock as she found her release and rippled around him.

  Max resumed his earlier furious pace, his fingers hard on her hips, thighs tense, teeth gritted.

  “Awww God, Cameron.” His balls burnt as they slapped her baby-smooth ass, his dick suffocated in her tight, wet grip. He was out of control, an addict with an insatiable sweet tooth. Screw control. Screw his heart.

  “Oh fuck yeah,” he groaned as he pulsed inside her.

  For several seconds he lay on top of her, kissing her forehead and then whispering his satisfaction in her ear. Buried deeply inside her, he felt complete. He knew then no one else could ever take her place. She muttered a sleepy unintelligible mumble when he rolled next to her and pulled her back against him.

  Max smoothed Cameron’s curls from her forehead and placed a feather light kiss there before he rolled beside her. While his heart beat a jungle rhythm, his soul remained rooted firmly inside hers.

  She sighed softly as he molded her against him and pulled the sheet over them, resting one arm across her hip. He listened quietly as her breathing began to slow. Satisfied she was sleeping peacefully, he shifted to tuck a wayward curl behind her ear.

  “I love you, Angel,” he whispered.

  “I love you too, Max,” she mumbled, snuggling deeper into the warmth of his body.

  He exhaled a long sigh of contentment as he sank back into the pillow. Even in sleep Cameron had a response to everything. Sassy little witch. She’d flown in on a lightning bolt, cackled at the top of her lungs, and cast a spell over him to pry the heartfelt words from his lips.

  His eyes darted around the bedroom. He would’ve said them anyway. Being the dutiful soldier he was, he didn’t waste energy on trivial matters. If something needed to be done, he did it. If something needed to be said, he said it. Honestly, bluntly and finally. And he loved her. Just because. No explanation necessary. Consequences be damned.

  He tossed his arm across his forehead and shifted his thoughts to Calvin Thomas’ disappearing act. Why didn’t he show? Thomas scheduled the appointment himself. Did Cameron misunderstand? He snorted. Unlikely. There were two major things Cameron understood: interior design and designer shoes. No way would she risk not meeting a client on time and dressed in one of her best pair of stilettos.

  He rolled his head to the side and glanced at the sleeping seductress beside him. His heart warmed as a faint smile played at the corners of her mouth while she slept. His forehead wrinkled. Something wasn’t right. If Thomas hired her, why didn’t he meet her? Bothered by that thought, he eased himself out of bed, slid into his pants and quietly left the bedroom.

  Pacing the floor downstairs, he dialed his cell phone.

  “Steele,” he said, lowering his voice.

  “Sterling?”

  “Yeah,” Max answered impatiently.

  “Doesn’t sound like you. Were you asleep?”

  “No, why?”

  “You sound different. Almost…”

  “Almost what?”

  Steele snickered. “I don’t know, relaxed? Any particular reason you might be relaxed?”

  “No, I’m anything but relaxed. Especially since Cameron discovered your investigation in the trees.”

  “I needed to scan the whole neighborhood.”

  “Uh-huh. You needed to scan the whole Holly.”

  “I don’t know how Cameron saw me,” Steele said defensively. “I’m the king of camouflage.”

  “A regular Rambo,” Max taunted. “You probably gave yourself away thinking about snakes.”

  “You know why I hate snakes.”

  “It was a boa constrictor, Steele, and you were in a jungle. There aren’t boa constrictors or jungles in Arizona.”

  “Did you call me for a reason?”

  “Yeah, we need to investigate at Holly’s gym.”

  “We do?”

  “Calvin Thomas may be a member.”

  “Do you think he and Stone are working together?”

  “Don’t know.” Max sighed in frustration. “All I do know is that he arranged to meet Cameron, didn’t show up, and then someone tried to nab her.”

  Steele snorted. “Maybe Cameron’s reputation as a maneater precedes her.”

  “Steele,” Max warned through gritted teeth.

  “I’ll see what I can find out.”

  “Can you manage to keep the investigation quiet?”

  “Is Holly going to be naked?”

  “Holly can’t know about either of us.”

  “Relax, I won’t compromise your position.”

  Max snickered despite himself. No way could anyone compromise his current position. And anyone who tried would have hell to pay.

  Satisfied Steele would get some answers, he climbed the stairs and crept back into Cameron’s bedroom. After undressing, he slid between the heated sheets, draped one arm across her hip and molded his body to hers.

  Fingers
of unease tickled Cameron’s spine as she awoke. Did Max tell her he loved her? The Man in Black finally gave in to his heart and said something intelligent. Her heart flip flopped. She told him she loved him too. Although it was the truth and she didn’t doubt her feelings, the reality was a bit scary. Would he attempt to tame her?

  Absolutely.

  Would he succeed?

  Absolutely not.

  Her lips curved. But what a rush it would be to watch him try.

  She opened her eyes and bit her lip as she looked beside her to see her lazy, fat cat wrapped around the top of Max’s bald head, swishing his tail contentedly in sleep.

  “He’s been there for hours,” Max said behind closed eyes.

  She giggled. “Why didn’t you move him?”

  “He’s comfortable.” He opened his eyes and lifted a hand to tweak a wayward curl. “Besides, I didn’t want to wake you. This is the first time you’ve slept all week.”

  A loving curve creased her lips. “This is the first time you’ve slept beside me.”

  As if he sensed the intimate moment between them, Maxwell stood and stretched before he jumped off the bed. Positioning himself in front of the bedroom door, he meowed loudly.

  Cameron sighed. “He’s hungry.”

  Max’s eyes flashed. “Me too.”

  “Cat food first.” She stepped into her shorts and pulled a tank top over her head.

  Max reached beside the bed for his jeans and stood to pull them over his hips. He watched her nipples tighten inside the fabric stretched tightly across her breasts.

  “Hurry, Max.” She opened the door. “He gets demanding when he’s hungry.”

  He grinned as he followed her downstairs. The cat wasn’t the only one grumpy.

  She quickly fed the cat then turned to him with a twinkle in her eye.

  “What do you want for breakfast?”

  He folded her into his arms, closed his fingers around her firm ass, and kneaded the soft flesh as he pulled her closer.

  “You,” he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

  She stepped back to look into his eyes. “Okay, but first we talk.”

  With lethal calmness, he studied her thoughtfully for a moment, not surprised at her request. Scooping her up, he set her onto the center island and stepped between her legs.

  “Shoot.”

  “You really love me?” she asked directly.

  “Yes.”

  “When did you know?”

  “The first time you rubbed my head.”

  “I lifted my top at the same time,” she reminded him.

  “Yeah.” His eyes clouded with visions of her persuasive tactics. “I remember.”

  “Max!” She slapped his chest. “Be serious!”

  “I am.” He stroked her thigh with his index finger. “I liked what I saw, but the head rub was even better.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you touched me.”

  “No!” She rolled her eyes. “Why do you love me?”

  He sighed impatiently. She was going to talk this to death.

  “Can we –“

  ”Why, Max?”

  “Because you aggravate the hell out of me.” He placed her open palms on his chest, pushed her shorts down her legs, and slid her to the edge of the counter.

  “Because your touch makes me crazy.” He unzipped his pants to free his raging hard-on. “And because I can’t breathe without you,” he said, burying himself deeply to the hilt inside her.

  She gasped softly at his fullness.

  “You have such a way with words, Max,” she whispered, tossing her head back as he rocked against her, “but I love you anyway.”

  * * *

  His blood boiled as he adjusted the focus on his binoculars to clarify the activity in Cameron’s kitchen. The x-rated show the two of them broadcasted made him physically ill. He watched angrily as the bald guy slid his hands down her back to squeeze her ass and rubbed himself against her.

  He threw the binoculars to the ground next to him, cursing as he ranted. Taking a deep breath, he became still as his brain formulated another plan. It was time to convince her this was not a game. She would be his, one way or another.

  * * *

  Cameron savored her intense sense of satisfaction as Max lifted her from the counter and re-positioned her clothing. “I just might learn to like the kitchen more.”

  “I already do.” He zipped his pants and glanced at his watch. “Hell.”

  She frowned. “What?”

  “We’re late.”

  She snorted. “So? Rachel expects me to be late.”

  “Hawke knows I’m never late.”

  She lifted a shoulder and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “Blame it on me.”

  “It is your fault.”

  “How?” she squealed.

  “You tempted me.”

  “Uh-huh, and I made you take me on the kitchen counter too.”

  “You did.”

  “I’m not ashamed, Max,” she said off-handedly. “I enjoyed myself. I needed inspiration before I paint all afternoon.”

  “Can’t we stay here?”

  “Sorry.” She began climbing the stairs. “You’ve got a drummer to interrogate and I’ve got a nursery mural to paint.”

  “Fine,” he relented. “One pair of shoes, okay?”

  The sound of her mischievous cackling floated on the air as she disappeared from view.

  * * *

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Max heard Cameron’s lighthearted giggle as he signaled to the guard at the gate outside the Hawke estate before driving through. “What’s so funny?”

  “Remember when we couldn’t get in and out of here without being mobbed by reporters or half-naked groupies?”

  He couldn’t help his own sly smile. “Weren’t you a half-naked groupie?”

  She snorted. “Ha, ha, ha. As I recall, you took advantage of my groupie status.”

  He snickered and parked in the driveway, amused by her sassy response. “Groupies are generally willing to follow my rules. You, Sweet Pea, are no groupie.” He helped her from the truck and led her to the front door, lacing her fingers through his as he entered Hawke’s security code and guided her inside.

  Rachel met them on the way to the den. “I thought I heard - “ Her voice faded and her eyes dropped to Max and Cameron’s intertwined hands. “Someone,” she finished with a smirk. “Come on in.”

  Cameron grinned. “Sorry we’re late, Rach, I was running behind.”

  Rachel gave Max a serene smile. “The guys are outside in the studio, Max,” she said. “They want you to go on out.”

  Reluctant to release Cameron’s hand, Max glanced at her. “You’ll stay here, right?”

  “Yes,” she huffed. “I’ve got things to do.”

  Untangling their fingers, he nodded slightly and fought his desire to kiss her. She quirked an eyebrow as if issuing a challenge.

  “Enough already!” Rachel squealed. “Just kiss her, Max!”

  Not waiting for further encouragement, Max pecked Cameron gently on the lips before disappearing out the back door.

  “Ooooh, Cameron.” Rachel grabbed her hand and pulled her up the stairs and into the nursery. “You’ve got some major explaining to do!”

  Panting from her hasty trip upstairs, Rachel propped herself against the crib and buckled her arms across her stomach.

  Cameron pointed to a wooden rocking chair. “Sit.”

  “What gives?” Rachel demanded, sitting obediently.

  Cameron pried the lid from a paint can. “He’s hot, huh?”

  “Scorching,” Rachel agreed.

  Cameron turned to add a purple tail to the dragon on the wall. “He’s taking good care of me.”

  Once the paint had been blended she glanced over her shoulder to gauge Rachel’s response. Rachel nodded without comment.

  “He likes my shoes,” Cameron continued.

  Rachel huffed and threw her hands in the air. �
�Oh, for Pete’s sake!” she shrieked. “Just do him!”

  Cameron spun completely around at Rachel’s unexpected outburst and then winked. “I did,” she said matter-of-factly. “Several times.”

  “And?”

  “He loves me.”

  Again, Rachel sat mute.

  “Rachel?” Cameron frowned and laid her paintbrush across the top of the paint can. “Are you okay?”

  “Oh, yeah, sorry. I’m fine. I just expected you to tell me how powerful the sex was.”

  Cameron sighed in remembrance. “Combustible.”

  “Max told you he loves you?” Rachel asked, her eyes wide.

  “Yes. Are you shocked?”

  Rachel shrugged. “Not really. Hawke mentioned something like that but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Max emotional, let alone in love.”

  “He thought I was sleeping when he told me.” Cameron traded her paintbrush for a pencil and sketched a knight next to the dragon.

  “What did you say?” Rachel pressed.

  Cameron glanced over her shoulder. “You won’t believe me.”

  Rachel tilted her head to the side and nodded for her to continue.

  “I said, I love you too, Max.”

  “What’s going to happen once Vince is caught?”

  Cameron sighed and stuck her pencil behind her ear. “I honestly don’t know, Rachel. I’ve never let myself get in this predicament. I think I’ve got a bad case of bodyguard fever.”

  “Bodyguard fever?”

  “Yeah, like hero worship. What woman wouldn’t fall for a man who is not only exceptional eye candy, but who is willing to kill for her?”

  Rachel’s bubbly laughter filled the nursery. “I don’t think you’ve got bodyguard fever.”

  “No?”

  “No, you’re in love with him.”

  Cameron felt a nudge of hard core reality. “You may be right.”

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

  “No.”

  Rachel pushed a toe against the floor and began to rock the chair. “Then you’re definitely in love.”