by Ruby Forrest
She dropped her bags on the couch near the door. “Kat, it smells amazing.”
She froze in her tracks as she saw Jayden standing next to Katherine in the kitchen. He was wearing a shirt that was rolled up to his elbows showing off his biceps, and a pair of black jeans. His brown hair stuck out on all ends of his head making him look younger than he actually was.
“You can cook?” Camilla’s voice sounded amazed even to her own ears. She had a weakness for men who could cook because it meant a guy was not only independent, but also great with his hands.
Jayden looked amused as he reached for his beer and took a sip. “Don’t sound so surprised, or my ego will be wounded.”
Camilla shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be, I just didn’t know.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about, Jay,” Katherine said from next to him as she placed the food in the oven. “He can sing, too.”
Jayden looked uncomfortable. “You’re my little sister, your opinion is biased.”
Katherine rolled her eyes as she poked him. “Come on, you know me. If you have a horrible singing voice, I’d tell you. I mean, I have no problems telling you that sometimes you have a one track mind.”
“Thanks, Sis,” Jayden commented, very dryly.
“Daddy, uncle Lee won’t let me play with the light saber,” a little voice complained. A second later, a little girl with blonde hair and chocolate eyes walked into the room and made a beeline for Jayden.
“Aby, honey, you know how Uncle Lee feels about his toys.”
“I heard that,” Leroy called out as he emerged a while later dressed in a tutu and wearing a sparkly tiara over his jeans and shirt. “It is not a toy. It’s a collector’s item.”
Camilla stood there, the wheels spinning in her mind as she looked from father to daughter, the pieces clicking in her head. If Abigail wasn’t his girlfriend’s daughter, then where was the mother?
“Baby, I know we’re very open and honest with each other, but if dressing up like a Disney princess is some weird fantasy of yours, I think I’m going to have to draw the line,” Katherine teased as she placed a kiss on his cheek.
“But come on, I am rocking this tutu.” He struck a pose, and everyone laughed. Camilla gave Leroy a weak smile as she tried to cast her mind back and remember what Katherine said when she talked about her brother.
She mentioned him so many times, but Camilla always kind of zoned out. Especially because she did it so often. Camilla cast her mind back far enough trying to drag up a memory of Katherine talking about her brother which shouldn’t have been that hard considering she’d done it enough.
As she half listened to the conversation going on around her, she frowned as the memory finally resurfaced.
The mother had left.
“Smell something rancid?” Katherine teased as she waved her hand in front of Camilla’s face and snapped her fingers.
Camilla gave a start. “What?” She blinked as everything swam back into focus. “God, no. Your food is divine, as if you need me to keep saying that.”
Katherine pretended to brush lint off her shirt. “It can never hurt to hear that, but then why do you look like you swallowed something bitter?”
Abigail interrupted. “Daddy, who’s that pretty lady?”
She was pointing at Camilla with a big smile on her face. Camilla flushed as she bent down, so that she was at eye level with Abigail. “Hi, I’m Camilla, but you can call me, Cam, what’s your name?”
“Abigail,” she said shyly as she gazed up at her with deep brown eyes.
“That’s a lovely name, can I call you Aby?”
Abigail nodded enthusiastically as she ran off to Leroy.
She couldn’t tell them that she was trying to remember what Katherine said, so she took her time standing back up. “I was just thinking that the sight of Leroy in a tutu will probably leave me scarred for life.”
Leroy was busy doing ballerina poses with Abigail. “You’re just jealous that you can’t rock this tutu like I can.”
“Yeah, sure, that’s what bothers me.”
Leroy spun on his heels and stopped directly in front of Camilla and began clucking. “Sexism is an ugly color on you, Sis.”
Camilla laughed. “It’s not sexism to say that it doesn’t suit you, at all.”
Leroy picked Abigail up and tucked her under his arm while she squirmed and giggled. “Is too, now I’m taking Aby, and we’re going to go play in the living room where your negative comments cannot penetrate our Disney bubble.”
He made airplane noises as he dramatically swung Abigail out of the kitchen, the sound of their laughter following in their wake.
Katherine, Jayden and Camilla all watched with identical expressions of joy on their faces.
“She seems like a really sweet kid,” Camilla offered as Jayden and Katherine resumed cooking. Jayden was dicing up mushrooms and without looking up, he said. “She really is. I’m lucky she’s so even tempered. She keeps me calm, most of the time.”
Camilla leaned her hip against the counter as she tried not to be too obvious about watching him. “I can see that.”
Katherine set the timer and poked her head inside the oven for a quick look. “Dinner should be ready in about thirty minutes. Jayden, do you mind finishing up here? Cam can give you a hand, I’m going to go see what the sparkly princess and my niece are up too.”
Jayden and Camilla laughed as Katherine grabbed her glass of wine, took a sip and made her way out to the living room.
Camilla moved into the kitchen and rolled up her sleeves. “What do you want me to help you with, Chef?”
“Can you hand me the bowl on the top right shelf?”
Camilla stood on her tiptoes and reached for the bowl and placed it beside him. “Now what?”
“Can you wash the lettuce?”
Camilla nodded as she turned on the faucet, waited for the water to warm up then proceeded to wash the lettuce. “There you go.”
She wiped her hands on her jeans as she watched him work.
“Want to hear a funny story about Aby?”
Camilla leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms over her chest. “Sure, go ahead.”
“I was helping her with her math homework the other day, and there was a particularly difficult problem that she was struggling with, so after I explained it to her, and I was checking to make sure she didn’t miss anything, she suddenly says ‘Daddy if I had Facebook I know what I’d write’, so when I ask her what it was, she says ‘I’d write #I’msoconfused.”
Camilla burst out laughing. “No way. She actually said that.”
Jayden paused, took a sip of his beer and turned around to face Camilla with a grin. “I kid you not. She actually said that. When I expressed surprise over the fact that she knew what a hashtag was, she kind of gave me this pointed look and said. ‘Daddy of course I know what a hashtag is’ then she flounced away to continue playing as if she hadn’t just said that.”
Camilla shook her head. “Kids these days. This generation is way more aware of the world then we were, far more into technology too, but then again, it does play a larger role in their day to day life.”
Jayden leaned against the counter, mirroring Camilla’s pose. “That’s so true. When I was her age, I was trying to figure out how much candy I could jam into my mouth, and I almost always ended up jamming stuff in my nose.”
Camilla made a face. “You must’ve been quite the handful as a child.”
Jayden gave her a wry grin. “I guess you could say that, but I was a cute trouble maker. I never stayed in trouble for long, I knew exactly how to get out of it.”
“I bet you did,” Camilla said.
“Can I pour you a glass of wine?” Jayden asked.
Camilla nodded. “I’d like that, thanks.”
Jayden moved towards the fridge and opened the door. He took out a bottle of sweet red wine and reached up to
take out a champagne glass from the cupboard. As he was reaching up, his shirt hiked up an inch to reveal a patch of tan skin.
Camilla found herself staring at it wondering how it would feel to run her tongue over it. She blushed as she turned her gaze away and stared at the salad bowl instead.
“There you go.”
She gratefully accepted the glass and took a sip allowing the warm liquid to slide down her throat. “Can I help with the salad?”
“Sure,” Jayden responded as he took another sip of his beer.
She stood in front of the salad bowl and looked at him over her shoulder. “Where do you want me?”
Jayden’s eyes darkened as he put down his beer bottle and moved, so he was standing right behind her, his arms came up around her, and he leaned in to whisper. “In every room in this house and mine, and in every position possible.”
She let his hot breath tickle her ear, and goosebumps rose up and down her flesh as she felt his body press up against hers. “For now though, just help me cut the cheese into tiny slices, okay?”
Camilla took a breath before answering. “Okay.”
Jayden didn’t move an inch while Camilla was cutting the cheese. She could feel every rise and fall of his chest, she could feel his muscles pressed up against her back, but most of all, she could feel his breath as his head lay on her shoulder, and the sound of his quiet breathing filled her senses.
“Jay?” she whispered as she diced up the last of the cheese.
“Hmm,” he murmured.
“Is this some technique of yours to teach me how to cook?”
“What?”
“Trying to distract me, so I’ll try even harder to focus?”
She felt his quiet chuckle. “That’s actually not a bad plan, but sadly, no, that isn’t what I’m trying to do.”
“Then what are you trying to do?” She tried to turn around to look at him, but she could only move her head an inch to the side.
“I’m just enjoying the moment and trying not to scare you.”
“Scare me?”
“I’m sure you’ve noticed that I’m seriously attracted to you, Cam, but it isn’t just that. I rather like you as well, and I haven’t felt both in such a long time.”
Camilla swallowed audibly. “I’m not afraid.”
She heard Jayden shift, and she heard the kitchen door shut as Jayden placed his hand on her shoulders and slowly turned her around, so that she was pressed between him and the counter.
Jayden brought his hand up to her face and twirled a loose strand of hair between his thumb and forefinger.
“I rather like you too,” Camilla whispered quietly as she brought her hands up and began to trace his back. He shuddered slightly beneath her touch before his lips curved into a smile. “I should certainly hope so, Cam. Otherwise, this would be very weird.”
Camilla laughed quietly. Her hands came up and tangled themselves in his hair as Jayden reached behind her and moved the salad bowl to the side. He hoisted her up, so she was dangling off the edge of the counter, and he kicked her legs apart, so he was standing between them.
“Jay,” Camilla took a deep breath before she stared at him. “What are we doing?”
Jayden stilled as he pulled back and stared at her. “Do I have to give you the talk?” He grimaced, and Camilla giggled as she reached her hand out to smooth away the grimace. “No, I don’t mean it like that, I just mean, what are we doing?” She gestured between them. “Your sister is my best friend, and you live right across the street from me, I don’t want things to get awkward between us.”
“I know, and I don’t want that either, but we’re both adults here, and I think we can handle it, but if you want me to stop, I’ll stop.”
Camilla shook her head as she buried her face in his shoulders. “No, I don’t want you to stop.”
Jayden ran his fingers through her hair. “I guess you feel it too, that pull, and normally I take out the woman I’m interested in on a date, but I just can’t help myself right now.”
Camilla kissed his neck. “I think I’d go crazy if I had to sit across the table from you for an hour or two without doing anything.”
Jayden gently titled her head backwards and pressed his lips to hers for a sweet kiss. Jayden soon deepened the kiss as his hands moved, so they were resting on the small of her back.
Camilla moved herself closer to the edge of the counter and pressed herself against him. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moaned as she arched her back.
Jayden made a growling noise in the back of his throat as he tore his lips away from hers and began kissing her neck softly at first then harder.
Camilla moaned quietly in his ear. “What if Kat walks in on us?” she mumbled.
Jayden paused for a moment, reached behind him, turned the lock on the kitchen door and returned to his earlier ministrations on her neck. His hands moved from the small of her back to the front of her shirt, and they snaked their way underneath. One hand lay flat across her stomach, and the other inched upwards and settled atop her bra.
Camilla quietly gasped as his hand slid under her bra and began to pinch her nipple. Her lips sought out his, and they plunged their tongues into each other’s mouths and began breathing loudly as Jayden’s hand undid the clasp of her bra.
Camilla’s hands ran up and down his back until eventually they moved underneath his shirt, and she impatiently began to yank it off. Jayden pulled back and chucked his shirt to the corner while Camilla did the same to her shirt.
Jayden’s eyes darkened as he helped her remove her bra, and he took a minute to appreciate the fullness of her breasts. Camilla groaned quietly as he took her breast into his mouth. His tongue darted out and licked the sensitive nub before gently sucking on it.
Camilla moaned into his ear as she began kissing and nipping his neck. Jayden released the nipple when he was sure it was erect then proceeded to do the same to the other breast. Camilla impatiently yanked on his pants, but couldn’t get them down.
She made an impatient noise in the back of her throat as she reached her hands down and fumbled with his belt. She finally succeeded in undoing it, and she pushed his pants down halfway.
Jayden’s hands came up to stop hers. “Not yet. I want you to come a few times first,” he whispered huskily in her ear.
Camilla’s stomach dipped as one of his hands moved down and underneath her jeans. He undid the button and pushed her jeans down just a bit before his finger plunged into her core.
She gasped as one finger made contact with her sweet spot. She wriggled her hips and pushed herself even closer for some much needed friction. He added another finger, and his fingers began to move back and forth, he pressed his lips to hers and licked her bottom lip.
Camilla’s hips began rocking back and forth as she tried to kiss him back with as much passion as he was making her feel.
Jayden bit down gently on her bottom lip, and Camilla opened her mouth to allow him access. Their tongues began a slow, sensual battle for dominance as Jayden’s fingers kept up a steady pace.
Camilla whimpered as her hand reached down and cupped him. She began stroking him over his boxer shirts, and he jerked in her hand as she felt his member grow even bigger.
She smiled against his lips as Jayden began picking up the pace. Camilla felt her orgasm begin to build up, so Jayden brought one hand up and pinched her nipples to send her toppling over the edge.
Jayden swallowed back her moan as her body shuddered with the after effects of the orgasm. She stilled as Jayden tore his lips away from hers, and she stared at him through hooded eyes.
They both turned towards the door as they heard it giggle. “Cam, Jay, are you okay?”
Jayden took a deep breath. “We’re fine, Sis. Just didn’t want Aby to break something in the kitchen.”
“Right.” Her voice sounded skeptical. “Well, we forgot to get something for desert, so Lee, Aby and I are heading to the s
upermarket to see what we can round up. Do you guys want anything specific?”
“Maybe some strawberries and whipped cream?” Camilla called out as a suggestion. Jayden raised one eyebrow as he stared at her lips and smirked.
“Okay, sure. I’ll see if I can pick up some vanilla ice cream too.”
They heard the sound of Katherine moving away, and they both heaved a sigh of relief before they heard her footsteps coming back. “By the way, in case you don’t think I know what’s going on in there, I do. Worried that Aby will break something my ass. Just make sure you’re both safe, and feel free to use the bedroom when we leave.”
Jayden began to choke on his laughter as Camilla blushed and hid herself in his shirt.
They heard the front door shut, and Jayden’s laughter turned to quiet chuckling.
“Cam?”
“Nuh uh.”
“I didn’t even say anything.” Jayden’s voice sounded amused.
“You don’t have to.” Her voice sounded muffled, so she pulled her head away just a bit. “I can’t believe Kat knows.”
Jayden’s hands came up around her and wrapped her in a hug. “Kat is entirely too perceptive for her own good, but come on, she was trying to talk you up while we were waiting for you to get back from work, so it’s not like she didn’t want this to happen.”
“I know, but I’m sure she didn’t mean like this, not less than a day after we met, and on the kitchen counter no less.”
Jayden pulled back, and titled Camilla’s head up, so she was looking her in the eye. “I know it’s not ideal, but believe me, I haven’t felt this way in a long time, and I would like to date you, so if you’re uncomfortable right now, we can stop. Do you want to stop?”
Camilla smiled at him as she pressed her lips to his for a sweet kiss. She pulled back. “No, I don’t want to stop, but I think we should take her advice and move this to the bedroom upstairs.”
Jayden pulled back and helped her off the counter. He pulled his pants up just a little, so they weren’t sagging. “I have an idea though. Do you have any whipped cream in your fridge?”
“A little, why?”
Jayden gave her a wicked grin as he opened the fridge, rummaged around for the can and took it out. The timer went off, so he switched off the oven and tugged on Camilla’s hands as they raced up the stairs.
