by Nella Tyler
“I know,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about you either.”
His gaze went soft. Instead of a smart retort, like I’d expected, Kris leaned down and kissed me, an indulgent, leisurely kiss. The kind that turned bones to jelly.
I pulled him down on top of me and relished the sensation of those bulky, strong muscles covering me. But he was taking his time with his caresses. His hands were almost lazy as they roamed up and down my sides.
Impatient, I tugged on his hair, and he responded by nipping on my lip. Sighing, I tried to ignore the friction building up between my legs and give into this moment. However, I couldn’t help squirming against him, and Kris let out a rumble in his chest.
Breaking off the kiss, he looked down at me and then he was inside of me again. I arched up, as my core was stretched and filled to that delicious breaking point. For a moment, he seemed to linger, as though wanting to make it last.
Wiggling, I managed to get my legs around his waist and locked my ankles into the small of his back. Pushing on him, we both gasped. I watched as the blankets fell back as he moved, the candlelight waving across his skin. Kris reached out, gripping his big hands around my wrists.
Falling into this bliss, as wave after wave crashed into me, everything seemed to slow down. I could feel the slip and slide of the sheets under me, the soft scrape of the hair on his torso against my stomach and the tension and release of muscles.
The cyclical bursts of pleasure. The loss and being filled. Again and again.
“Kris,” I moaned, my chest arching up and overly sensitized nipples brushing him. “Oh, like that. Yes, yes, yes.” I wanted this. I wanted him. Over and over again. All night long.
At that moment, an orgasm hit me, white light blinding me, as though the candles had burst into fireworks at the same moment. Crying out his name, I closed my eyes.
After a few more thrusts, Kris came as well, his fingers tightening on my wrists as it hit him.
Our lips met then, urgent and frantic. He’d let go of me, and I was smoothing my hands up and down his chest. Somehow we’d flipped, and now I was top, bouncing on him, his hands gripping my breasts. Then we were gasping, on our sides, meeting each other thrust for thrust.
Next, I knew, Kris was standing next to the bed and I was half off it as his cock pummeled me. I couldn’t help but think of the kitchen counter before I lost all rational thought.
Tangled together, we rose and fell, over and over, exactly as I’d wanted. Neither of us wanted to stop, but finally, we were exhausted, curled together in the center of my bed.
I was tracing my fingers along his stubbly jaw, his blue eyes bright and watching me. The candles were burning lower and lower. I’d no idea how much time had passed, but it was much later than anyone who had to get up for work tomorrow should have been up.
Letting out a long breath, Kris shifted, his hand leaving my back to drift through my hair. “I should probably go,” he murmured, a strange look crossing his face.
“What?” I asked, my hand stopping.
“Cammie, I-I already almost messed this up once. I’ve been-”
“You’ve been a gentleman, yes, I’ve noticed.” I rolled my eyes. “Did you not hear what I said?” I moved in close and kissed him. “I can’t stop thinking about you either. And what, you think you’re the only one who’s been dreaming about a repeat of that first time?” I whispered in his ear.
Kris pulled back, a smile spreading across his face as his eyes lit up. “Thought it was too good to be true. I loved being proved wrong, though.”
Leaning over, I blew out the few candles that were still going and then curled back up to next to him. Nestling my head on his chest, I murmured, “Stop it.”
“I don’t think I can,” he said into my hair, his grip tightening on me.
Yawning, I shook my head. “We’ll debate it in the morning.”
“The morning.” His voice had a note of joyous disbelief. “Sounds too good.”
“Don’t worry,” I murmured, half-asleep. “It’s not. Not where I’m concerned.”
Kris laughed, his hands smoothing down my hair and my back as I fell asleep in his arms.
Chapter 25
Kris
When I woke up, my body was heavy with sleep and resistant to any movement. Too warm, too comfortable. It would be heresy to wake up too soon. I was smiling, I realized. Then last night came back to me, and my eyes flew open. Not a dream! I wanted to crow in triumph.
Cammie’s brown curls were spilling across the pillow and under my chin. Leaning back, I saw she was still fast asleep, her breathing deep and even.
My muscles were aching a little as I tried not to move and laid my head back down. But part of me was wondering what time it was. Cammie would not be happy if I let her sleep in and we missed the tour of the house.
As though hearing my thoughts, Cammie stirred and shifted. Then, to my surprise, she snuggled in closer, murmuring, “Kris. You smell so good. It’s not fair. You’re like eau de prince.”
A laugh escaped me, and Cammie sat up, blushing. Slowly, she smiled. “You didn’t hear that.”
“No. Nor will I not bring it up any time the occasion presents itself,” I said solemnly.
“Shut up,” she squealed as I pulled her down to kiss her. Breaking away, I raised my eyebrows at her and smirked, but she shook her head. “Sorry. We have to go soon.”
“Then we have to figure out a way to make sure that’s not the case in the future,” I sighed.
Even though Cammie offered to let me have the first shower – and as much as I wanted to persuade her to share one – I let her go first. After going to my car to get a change of clothes, I made breakfast in my boxers. I was finishing up the last of the eggs when Cammie appeared, a towel wrapped around her and wet hair tangled over her shoulders.
“Kris!” she exclaimed. “You didn’t have to do this.”
Swallowing hard, I shot her a quick grin and turned away. Come on, Cammie. Not fair! “Don’t worry about it. Where’s the shower?”
She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb, still looking at the breakfast. As I tried to scoot by her, she placed a warm hand on my chest, and I sucked in a hard breath. “Thank you,” she said, getting on her tiptoes and kissing me.
I kissed her back a little harder than I meant to and her eyes were bright as we broke apart. “Enjoy your breakfast. I’m about to go take the fastest and coldest shower known to man.”
She gave me a confused look as I walked away, then as I was about to close the bathroom door, I heard her sweet laugh ring down the hall, followed by, “Sorry, Kris!”
“You can make it up to me; remember that!” I called to her, and she laughed again.
Cammie and I had agreed to see the house first thing in the morning, to which I was now thanking each and every lucky star. There was something about starting the day with her, getting ready and eating breakfast together that felt absolutely right.
She insisted on driving over, and I agreed. We arrived there a little later than we meant to, but Cammie laughingly said it wasn’t a big deal. I was pleasantly surprised at that – I felt like I was helping Cammie loosen her iron-clad, perfectionist grip on life and have fun.
The house in Redmont Park was incredible, too. A huge, rambling house, it maintained an air of comfort and hominess that the first house lacked because of its size. Everything was airy, the colors warm, with windows of every size and shape every which way. And even though there seemed to be no rhyme or reason to the design, it worked. In that regard, too, it had a bit of an Alice in Wonderland feel to it. I liked it.
“Whoever built this house had a hell of a lot of character. And either an incredibly good eye. Or luck,” I commented. “Somehow it all flows.”
“I think an artist may have owned it. I can check,” Cammie said. She was sounding like her polished and professional realtor self, and I wanted to tease her, but refrained.
“I like thi
s house, Cammie, I have to admit,” I said as we went upstairs. In my mind, I could already see myself living here. “Wow.” We walked in the master bedroom. It had skylights in the high ceiling, a balcony, and an adjoining master bath with a claw-footed tub. “I still can’t believe I can afford stuff like this now.”
“It is a home more than a house, isn’t it?” Cammie was gazing around and I wondered if she was decorating it in her mind, too. “Well, come on.”
After we’d finished the upstairs, we went outside. There was a huge outdoor patio, an infinity pool and a brick path down to a small guest house on the river.
“Damn, who lived here? This place is built for a king,” I said.
“Does that mean you want it?” Cammie asked.
We walked back inside, and I glanced around again. Part of me wanted to say yes, but I knew my head wasn’t on straight enough to answer that question. After everything that had happened last night and this morning, I didn’t trust myself to make a big decision like this right now.
But another part of me – the reckless part – wanted to say yes. Cammie was staring at me with a tinge of hopeful desperation that tugged at my heart.
“I think so,” I said slowly, and her face fell a little. “Aw, Cam, I want to say yes, but I have to sit on it. A house is not something I want to rush into. I can’t sign any papers till I’m sure. But I like the house.” I stepped in closer. “And I appreciate the realtor who took the time to show it off to me.”
“Oh, Kris, I don’t want to pressure you.” She bit her lip. “I understand, I do.”
I winked at her. “Just give me some time to come down off cloud nine, beautiful.”
Cammie gave me a sassy look. “Are you still up there?”
Pulling her to me, I dipped her and said, “You know it.” Leaning down, I kissed her. At first, Cammie kissed me back, her hands on my face. Then she suddenly stiffened, pushing on me and I stood us up straight, heart hammering. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She brushed her hair back and swallowed. “Oh, um, it’s just, I’m working…” Her face was a mixture of guilt and frustration. “I’m sorry. It felt wrong all of the sudden.”
“No, I’m sorry! Dammit. You asked me and everything,” I muttered. “That was on me.”
“Let’s go,” Cammie said, looking around nervously and we headed out the front door.
By the car, I stopped her. “I really am sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Kris, it’s okay. Forget it.” She smiled at me reassuringly.
The ride back was quieter than the ride there. I was feeling like an idiot, berating myself and uneasily wondering if Cammie had really forgiven me. She probably thought I was ignoring her in the interest of my own desires.
At her house, Cammie got out and came over to me. “Stop,” she ordered, hands on her hips.
“What?” I asked, staring down at her.
“You’re beating yourself up.” She linked her arms around my torso. “Please, stop.”
“Will do.” I started to grin. “Does this mean I can kiss you now?” I asked with a grin.
She smiled at me mischievously, and I bent down, holding the sides of her face. It was a long, slow kiss. One I wanted her to remember. But in doing so, I had my pulse speeding out of control and heat roiling in my gut. When we broke apart, Cammie was blushing, and I was a little dizzy.
“I’ll call you tonight, okay?” I said, letting my thumbs trace over her cheekbones.
She nodded. Then, with a coquettish smile, one I knew from last night, she pulled me down for another kiss.
Chapter 26
Cammie
Walking into Birmingham Realty on Friday morning, I was almost skipping. The sky was a clear, cloudless blue, the birds were singing, and more importantly, Kris was getting close to closing on the Redmont Park house. I took a deep breath and smiled around at my lovely coworkers.
The first person I saw was Babs. Instead of a friendly, wide smile back, I saw that she was hunch over her desk. Her eyes were red, cheeks pale as she struggled to hold back tears. When she saw me, she gave me a tremulous smile, stood up and hurried away.
My heart sank a little. I hoped everything was okay at home – I knew she’d been dealing with some really serious personal stuff over the last several months.
Then I got a glimpse of Lettie’s face. She was also bent over her keyboard, but there was a smile I didn’t like playing around her mouth.
Uneasy, I rushed to my office, wondering if I was imagining things. I mean, I was a few minutes l later than I usually was, but I was still on time. Carter and Roger passed me at that moment as I got to my office door. Both of them were giving me blatant, glaring once-overs.
Staring after them, I saw that the other realtors, who were usually more secretive about being rude and resentful, along with the few nice ones, were also giving me dirty looks.
What the hell is going on?
Fear was cramped up my stomach, making it hard to think and I ducked into my office. Once safely closed inside, I flew to my computer and checked my email. Nothing new had come in since yesterday. Puzzled, I sat back and stared at it.
A knock came at my door, and I jumped. Horace Westfall opened the door before I could say anything, his face grim and his shoulders taut. “Can I speak to you in my office, Ms. Book?”
Ms. Book.
Nodding, unable to speak, I followed him done the hall. Everyone was pretending to work, but I saw those same probing, hostile looks from earlier now coming from every corner. And even though I was dreading that door closing behind me, it was almost a relief when it did.
“Horace, is everything okay?” I asked, finally getting up the nerve to speak as I sat down.
He avoided looking at me, instead playing with a piece of paper on his desk. Irritation flashed through me. Then he began to talk, and my entire body went numb.
Yesterday’s house in Redmont Park had security cameras.
Ones that the agency had access to. Horace claimed they were going over the tapes as part of my training.
That’s when they’d seen me kiss Kris.
My jaw set. I knew those tapes were accessible only as a safeguard against theft and property damage. Not snooping on new employees. And I had a pretty good idea who might have taken it upon themselves to check up on me.
I lost track as Horace blabbered on, saying things about integrity, confidentiality, client trust and other buzzwords like that. His entire speech seemed to be made up of half-baked ideas from poorly written articles on LinkedIn.
Sitting back heavily, Horace gave me a pitying look once he finished. It made my skin crawl, and I suddenly wished Anna was there to call him names. Or maybe slap him across the face.
“Now, Cammie,” he said, oozing and patronizing. “We cannot possibly turn a blind eye to this.”
Somewhere in my numb body, I could feel the hollow beating of my heart. It seemed to be off-key or kilter, maybe, because I was beginning to feel ill.
Of course you can’t, I thought sarcastically, as my sweaty fingers twisted together.
But I nodded along, determined to keep my mouth shut and accept my punishment. I wouldn’t point out the hypocrisy of this meeting. A few weeks ago a realtor who wasn’t that much older than me had become engaged to someone who’d been his client last year.
He was a man, however. And I was a woman.
“That’s fair. I did act inappropriately,” I said calmly, after struggling for a moment. The words were bitter on my tongue.
Horace looked relieved. “That’s good to hear. It would sully the reputation of the big B.R. if word got out that we had realtors going around kissing the clients. Soon enough, all the men in the city would be here, looking for dates.” He almost sounded jovial as he smiled at me.
I stared at him, confused. “Okay, then. What will happen next?” I asked, feeling like Horace was stalling. “Suspended without pay?”
He gave me a startled look and then winced, the smile vanishin
g as his eyes darted away. “No, Ms. Book,” Horace said quickly. “I’m sorry, but you’re fired.”
Once I got home, I sank down on my front steps and put my head in my hands. I didn’t want to go inside just yet. I almost felt like I couldn’t face my house. Or face this new reality.
How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let this happen? I wasn’t the kind of girl to lose her head about a guy, no matter how tall he was or how blue his eyes were.
I’d been fired from my first job as a broker. And not from just any realty office.
Birmingham Realty.
All I could think of was how everything that I’d worked for was going down the drain. Pain and humiliation lanced through my body. I was struggling not to cry as the dull thought hit me that there was no coming back from this. No one is going to hire someone fired from B.R, that is for sure.
There really was no coming back. Nothing I could do could fix this.
No other place would take a realtor who worked for big B.R. for a month and left under the cloud of a scandal with her one and only client. Oh, God. What am I going to do?
Raising my head, I noticed the world around me seemed bleak and leeched of color.
My phone began to ring. Out of habit, I glanced down at it and then let out a bitter, watery laugh as I saw my mother’s name flashing on the screen.
What, had the universe told her I needed a litany of “I told you so’s?” Shoving it back into my pocket, I stared up at the gray sky and wondered how soon it would be that I’d be moving back to Cropwell. And how I was going to say goodbye to Kris.
Chapter 27
Kris
Everything was going my way today. It almost felt like a trick. I’d gotten in early, and so had Max, and we’d spent the last two hours framing out the idea in a more in-depth fashion.
And it was a hell of a rush. Maybe I had gotten the Boldin storytelling gene after all.
“So, now that we’ve got a bunch of notes,” Max said, gesturing at the whiteboard where a wild list was sprawled, “we have to start thinking about who we want for this.”
