Reckless (Pier 70, 1)

by Nicole Edwards

  Hell, Gannon intended to meet Cam’s father and sister first.

  After Milly had mentioned a wedding that morning, Gannon had thought about it throughout the day. He’d even gone so far as to pull up jewelers on the Internet to check out rings.

  No, he hadn’t bought anything, but that was because he wanted them to pick out their rings together. They would be the symbols of their everlasting love; he wasn’t going to jump the gun there. But he was serious when he’d said he wanted to meet Cam’s family.

  Staring back at Cam now, Gannon knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. It was inevitable, but that was what happened when soul mates finally met, when they finally realized that their match was waiting for them.

  Cam was his soul mate.

  The love of his life.

  The man Gannon would forever give his heart, body, and soul to.

  Still, Gannon had one question… “What happened to taking things slow?”

  Cam’s smile was radiant, and Gannon couldn’t look away as Cam got to his feet. “Eh. Who’s got time for that shit?”

  Gannon smiled, his heart warming, the thin layer of ice that had formed around it a short while ago melting away.

  “But I’m serious,” Cam told him. “I want to marry you. Maybe not tomorrow or next week or next month. But it will happen.”

  “I know,” Gannon assured him.

  And he did know. They would get through the rough patches together. They’d proven they could do it already, and Gannon had no doubt that their love for one another was strong enough to endure.

  “I think you need to go talk to Roan,” he suggested to Cam. “He needs to know how you feel. But more importantly, I think he needs to understand that I’m not here to interfere with your relationship with him. Y’all are friends and that can be a fragile thing sometimes. Especially when someone comes along to shake things up.”

  “I really don’t think he’s in love with me,” Cam stated, the conviction in his tone reassuring. “That was the first time he’s ever said anything. I’ve known him for twenty-five years. Why now?”

  That was a question only Roan could answer.

  “Do you think he’s in love with me?” Cam asked, frowning.

  Gannon had thought about that when he’d seen the two of them together, heard the things Roan had said. “No, I don’t think he is, but I think he thinks he is.”

  Cam’s eyebrow lifted, a lopsided grin emerging. “English, Gannon.”

  Gannon smiled back. “I love you. Now more than ever.”

  “I see a but in there,” Cam replied, eyes narrowing.

  “No but. My love’s definitely unconditional. But…” Gannon laughed. “Okay, so there’s a but.”

  Cam’s eyebrows lifted.

  “I want to meet your father. Your sister and her husband. Your nieces and nephews. You’ve met the only family I have. Milly. Now it’s time that I meet yours.”

  “Right now?” Cam’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

  “No. Right now, you need to go talk to Roan.”

  Cam nodded. “I want you to go with me.”

  Gannon shook his head. Although he would give anything to be a fly on the wall, this was something Cam needed to do on his own. Roan would feel as though they’d ganged up on him, and that wasn’t fair to the friendship they’d built through the years. “Why don’t I figure out dinner while you go talk to him?”

  Cam took a deep breath, let it out. “All right. But you have to promise me one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I want you to stay the night with me tonight.”

  Gannon pretended to consider that for a moment, then laughed when Cam grabbed his face and pressed a loud, sloppy kiss on his mouth.

  “Okay,” Gannon said, pushing Cam back. “I’ll stay.”

  “Good.” Cam grabbed his cell phone from the charger on the counter, then took a step back. “Now wish me luck.”

  “I was thinking you should wish me luck,” Gannon retorted. “I’ve seen what’s in your refrigerator. Or rather, what’s not.”

  Thirty-Six

  Cam hated leaving Gannon behind in his apartment. He would’ve preferred to stay there with him, get naked, and have some hot, sweaty makeup sex.

  After all, what was the point of arguing if you couldn’t have makeup sex?

  Instead, Cam was going to have one of the most difficult conversations of his life. With his best friend.

  As he made his way down the stairs, he grabbed his phone from his pocket. It took a second to pull up Roan’s number and hit the call button. Another second and Roan answered.

  “Hey,” Cam greeted. “Can we talk?” Noticing Roan’s SUV in the parking lot, he added, “Where are you?”

  “Down on the dock.”

  “I’ll be there in a second. Cool?”

  “Yeah.”

  Cam hung up the phone, made his way across the gravel parking lot in front of the marina office, past the security gate, then to the private pier that led down to the water. He slowed when he noticed Dare walking toward him.

  “He okay?” Cam asked, stopping in front of Dare.

  Dare turned to look back down the pier. “He will be. He’s confused, yeah.”

  “I swear to God I had no idea,” Cam blurted.

  “I know. And he knows that, too.” Dare shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “I think he’s worried that your friendship’s at risk.”

  “That’s what Gannon said.”

  Dare smiled. “Gannon’s a good guy. I like him. And I like him for you. Y’all figure it out?”

  “Yeah.” Cam couldn’t contain the smile when he thought about how he’d proposed. Dropping his head and staring down at his feet, Cam added, “I’m gonna get back into counseling. He’s gonna go with me.”

  “I think that’s smart,” Dare said when Cam met his gaze. “Love’s not easy, man. But when you find that person … it’s worth it.”

  Cam sensed that there was something Dare wasn’t saying. They’d been friends for a long time. Not nearly as long as Cam had been friends with Roan, but fourteen years was a long damn time. In all that time, Cam had never known Dare to have a serious relationship. But he wondered if there hadn’t been someone at some point.

  “I’ll get outta your hair. Go talk to him,” Dare said, shrugging his shoulder toward the lake. “See ya tomorrow.”

  “Later.” Cam remained where he was as Dare headed back toward the office.

  After a few deep breaths, he forced his feet to carry him down the pier toward the lake. He found Roan sitting on the edge, feet dangling in the water, a beer in his hand.

  “Hey,” he greeted, dropping down onto the wood beside Roan.

  “Man, look,” Roan began, but Cam cut him off.

  “If you’re gonna apologize, I’m gonna punch you.”

  Roan’s eyes slammed into his. Cam smiled.

  “I owe you an apology,” Roan stated defensively.

  “No, you owe me a beer,” he countered, nodding toward the cooler beside Roan.

  Roan handed over a beer.

  “We haven’t talked much in the last few weeks,” Cam said, twisting off the lid. “And I’m sorry about that. This thing with Gannon…”

  “You love him.”

  Cam noticed it wasn’t a question.

  “I love him,” Cam confirmed. “I plan to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him, Roan.”

  Roan’s eyes widened, but he didn’t speak.

  Cam continued, “But I want you to know that our friendship—yours and mine—it means everything to me. And Gannon knows that. Hell, I asked him to come down here with me, and he told me that this was something you and I needed to work out. He doesn’t want to come between us.”

  Roan released a breath. “I don’t know what I’ve been thinkin’. When I told you I was in love with you, I thought it made sense. In my head, it did, but when the words came out ... it just felt weird.”

  Maybe Dare and Ga
nnon were right, Roan wasn’t in love with him; he was simply worried about the friendship.

  Roan continued, “Doesn’t mean it’s real. But it’s confusing, nonetheless. Regardless, I want you to be happy, man. And I can see Gannon does that. He makes you happy.”

  “He does,” Cam agreed. “Doesn’t mean things are easy with us, but no one’s perfect. The shit we’ve been through—before we ever met—that plays a huge role in our relationship. But I love him enough to move past it.”

  “How do you do that?” Roan asked, turning and peering out at the water. “He travels and that shit freaks you out.”

  Roan sounded genuinely curious, so Cam answered. “I’m gonna go back to counseling. He’s gonna go with me. It might not be easy, but we’ll get through it.”

  “Can you get past it?”

  “Maybe.” Cam didn’t know the answer to that, but he was willing to do whatever it took to keep Gannon in his life.

  Neither of them spoke for a few minutes. Cam watched the sun slowly slide past the horizon, drinking his beer and enjoying the peace and quiet.

  “I don’t want this to fuck up our friendship,” Roan finally said.

  “It won’t.” Cam nudged him with his shoulder. “Just as long as you don’t try to fucking kiss me, man. It’d be like kissin’ my sister. Not cool at all.”

  Roan laughed, and Cam was glad he could see the humor in that. “Are you comparing me to your sister?”

  “No.” Cam smirked. “Don’t tell her I said this, but I think you’re prettier.”

  Roan shoved Cam, making him laugh.

  “I’m not pretty,” Roan argued.

  Cam shrugged. “I don’t know about that.”

  Roan met Cam’s gaze, his smile disappearing. “We’re cool?”

  “We’re cool,” Cam assured him, finishing off his beer. “I need to get back upstairs. Gannon’s makin’ dinner, and I have no idea what the hell he’s gonna find in that pantry.”

  Roan laughed. “Whatever he finds, I’m sure it’s expired.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” Cam got to his feet. “You need anything?”

  “Nah,” Roan said, looking up at him briefly. “I’m just gonna chill for a while.”

  Cam turned to walk away.

  “But hey,” Roan called out.

  Cam stopped, turned back toward him.

  “I’m gonna have to come upstairs at some point, so could you keep all that moaning and shit to a minimum?”

  Cam laughed, grateful it was dark so Roan didn’t see him blush. “I’ll do my best to keep Gannon quiet.”

  “Not him,” Roan said, chuckling. “You. You’re the screamer.”

  Cam shook his head, then turned back toward the marina office.

  Gannon had just set everything out on the table when Cam returned. He hadn’t known how long Cam would be gone, but he’d wanted to be prepared, so he’d heated up the oven and tossed the frozen pizza in, figuring he could microwave it if necessary.

  Cam stepped into the apartment, and Gannon looked him over. “You okay?”

  No fresh bruises. No tears. That was a good sign.

  Cam came over to the table, placing his hands on the back of one of the two chairs. “We’re good.”

  “Glad to hear it. Hungry?”

  “Depends,” Cam said, glancing around the small kitchen. “What’s bein’ offered?”

  “Sit,” Gannon told him, then returned to the microwave, where he’d stashed the pizza to keep it warm for a few minutes. He returned, placing it in front of Cam. Back to the kitchen once more, he returned with the bowl of soup he’d prepared for himself.

  Cam laughed, making Gannon chuckle.

  “I think it’s safe to say I’ll be in charge of the grocery shopping,” Gannon told him, retrieving his spoon.

  “Mmm. You’re gonna cook for me?”

  “If I want to eat, I’m thinkin’ that might be my only choice.”

  “We could always have burgers,” Cam said, his eyes dancing with amusement.

  “True. Now eat.”

  Twenty minutes later, they’d downed what little food they’d had and hand-washed the few dishes they’d used, leaving the kitchen just as Gannon had found it. Spotless, with even less food than before. Gannon was sure he’d be hungry in a little while, but for now, it would tide him over.

  Considering what he was hungry for wasn’t food, anyway.

  “Am I a screamer?” Cam blurted, his eyebrows downturned as he walked over to the couch that separated the kitchen area from the small living area.

  Gannon choked on a laugh, watching to see if Cam was serious.

  Cam didn’t appear at all amused by Gannon’s reaction, which only made Gannon laugh harder.

  “Maybe we should find out,” Gannon suggested.

  “So I’m not?” Cam confirmed.

  Gannon grinned, crossing his ankles as he leaned against the kitchen counter. “Not yet, no.”

  “Why’re you lookin’ at me like that?” Cam asked, his dark blue eyes turning molten.

  Gannon admired him as he leaned against the back of the sofa, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared back at Gannon. “How am I looking at you?”

  “Like I’m dessert.”

  “Mmm. Dessert. I like that idea.” Gannon moved toward him, loving the way Cam opened his arms when he approached.

  Stepping closer, Gannon pressed his lips to Cam’s, lowering his voice. “I like that I can make you scream when you come.”

  Cam watched him and Gannon waited to see what he’d do. The hard lines on Cam’s face softened, as did his smile. That only lasted a second before a delightfully mischievous sparkle ignited in the cobalt-blue orbs peering back at him. “How much do you like it?”

  “A lot.”

  Another twinkle in Cam’s eyes. “Care to show me?”

  “How much I like it? Or how loud I can make you scream?” Gannon had an idea of his own, but he wanted to hear Cam’s version.

  Cam didn’t disappoint, taking a step closer and erasing the space between them. “Both. Right here. Right now.”

  “Is that a dare?” Gannon retorted.

  “Depends,” Cam said.

  “On?”

  “On whether or not you’re feelin’ reckless.”

  Reaching out and grabbing Cam’s hips, jerking him forward, Gannon stared deep into those beautiful eyes. “Now I’m feelin’ reckless.”

  “Hopefully you intend to feel a whole helluva lot more than that.”

  “Oh, I do. I definitely do.”

  Gannon heard Cam’s sharp intake of breath, his eyes widening.

  Now that things had been settled between him and Cam, as well as between Cam and Roan, Gannon couldn’t resist the temptation, the deep, driving need to touch Cam, to hold him, to feel the warmth of his body wrapped around him in every way possible.

  And he didn’t care how they made that happen, as long as they did.

  Luckily, Gannon didn’t have to wait long. Cam’s firm, soft lips came to rest over his, his warm breath fanning over Gannon’s mouth. It was sweet and reassuring, but after all the events of the day, Gannon suddenly didn’t want sweet and reassuring.

  He needed to possess Cam, to claim him in the only way he knew how.

  “Turn around,” Gannon ordered softly.

  Yeah, he knew his tone was gruff, commanding, but Cam didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it looked as though Cam was just as excited about the turn of events as he was. With one last long look between them, Cam turned slowly so that he was facing the back of the couch.

  Gannon moved behind him, the warmth of Cam’s body reassuring as Gannon leaned into him. Anticipation fizzed in his veins.

  “You like when I take control?” Gannon asked, pressing his mouth to the back of Cam’s neck.

  “You have no idea,” Cam sighed, leaning into him. “No fucking idea.”

  Gannon nipped the sensitive skin there, inhaling Cam. He smelled like sunshine. Warm and intoxicating.

  Cam didn’t
put up a fight when Gannon arranged his body the way he wanted it, placing Cam’s hands on the back of the couch before pushing his shirt up and over his head. Cam tossed it aside, then returned his hands to their original position while Gannon pressed kisses along Cam’s muscled back, loving the way the smooth skin moved against his lips when Cam shifted.

  The man was beautiful. All sleek lines. Powerful and so fucking sexy, and now Gannon couldn’t keep his hands off of him. Reaching around, Gannon untied the string that held Cam’s shorts up. As he continued to run his mouth over every delectable inch of Cam’s back, licking down his spine, he worked the shorts down Cam’s hips, allowing them to pool on the floor.

  Cam stepped out of them, kicking them off to the side before resuming his position, this time spreading his legs wide.

  Gannon took the opportunity presented to him, sliding his hand between Cam’s legs and cupping his balls, kneading them with his fingers as he leaned against Cam.

  “Ah, fuck,” Cam hissed softly.

  Teasing Cam was a pleasure Gannon would enjoy for years to come. Watching the muscles in his shoulders and back tense as Cam sucked in air, shifting his hips in an attempt to encourage Gannon to do as he wanted… So fucking beautiful.

  Gannon managed to work the button on his jeans free while he stroked Cam’s smooth, rigid cock, enjoying the rumbling groans. In an effort to throw him off, Gannon released him, then turned and headed for the shower. “Join me, Cam.”

  It wasn’t a request, and he caught Cam’s smirk as he released the couch and followed.

  Several minutes later, once the water had heated and Gannon had stripped, they stood beneath the hot spray, their chests sliding together as their mouths fused. Gannon didn’t rush, instead allowing his tongue to linger, gliding over Cam’s lips, then inside his mouth while he used his hands to smooth over the hard muscles of Cam’s back and ass.

  Taking a step back, he grabbed the soap, then proceeded to wash Cam from head to toe, leaving not an inch untouched. While he did, he watched Cam watch him. The way his eyes glowed as they tracked him, it sent a shiver racing down Gannon’s spine.

  “My turn,” Cam said when Gannon finished, taking the sprayer from the wall and rinsing all the suds away.