“I understand.” My voice is squeaky and broken, and his lips pull into a small smile.
Those magical hands of his glide back down to cup my ass, and the next thing I know, he’s lifting me against him. With my arms wrapped around his neck, he carries me to the bed and lays me down.
The first kiss is staggering. If I were on my feet, I’d fall to the floor. His lips are soft and sure, not bruising or aggressive.
They tease open my mouth, and he takes his time. Truly just sinks in and leisurely kisses and touches and learns.
He presses one leg between mine, just over the most intimate part of me that begs for more, denim against denim, and I feel the flush move through me from my head to my feet.
My hands slide into his hair as he takes the kiss deeper, and we start to move against each other, searching for more.
“Skin,” I gasp as I grapple with his shirt. “I want your clothes off.”
“Excellent idea.” He pushes up onto his knees and tugs his shirt over his head, dropping it onto the floor. In the moonlight, I can see his chiseled muscles. His smooth flesh. I can’t help but reach out to touch him, letting my fingertips dance over his skin.
“Am I dreaming this?” He smiles, and I realize that I spoke the thought aloud.
“If you are, don’t wake us up,” he says as he helps me out of my shirt and bra. The next thing I know, his lips are around my nipple, and my hips are moving, grinding against his leg.
God, I want him. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more. And if the amazing sensations moving through me are any indication, I’ll be getting some long-overdue orgasms very soon.
He easily unfastens my jeans and pushes his hand inside, under my panties. When he finds my center, he groans.
“Christ, you’re slick,” he whispers and bites my chin.
I spread my legs wider in invitation, and he slides a finger inside me.
“Oh, God.” I arch my back, and he licks my nipple as his hand does magical things between my legs. Just as I’m about to come, he pulls his hand away. “No, don’t stop, Cameron.”
“Not yet,” he replies and kisses me again. “I want you to come when I’m inside you.”
“Then get a move on, damn it.”
He laughs and pushes his jeans down his hips, reaching for a condom. But before he can rip the packet open, his phone rings.
We still and stare at each other in the moonlight.
“Don’t answer it.”
“I have to. It’s my job, Maggie.”
I shake my head, but he reaches over and, with his eyes pinned to mine, answers.
“Cox.” His eyes narrow. “Copy that. What’s the ETA? Damn. Yeah, yeah, I’ve got it. On my way.”
He hangs up and tosses his phone onto the bed, then looks down at me with an apology written all over his face.
“No.”
“I’m sorry, I have to go.” He kisses me lightly. “I have to be at the airstrip in twenty minutes.”
You have got to be kidding me!
“Don’t leave me like this. Call in sick or something.”
“That’s not how this works.” His expression is grim as he tugs me close to him. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I’ll make it up to you.”
I’ll make it up to you.
I’ve heard those words before. More times than I can count.
“Forget about it.” I reach for my shirt and tug it over my head. “This was probably a bad idea anyway.”
He fastens his jeans and pulls his shirt on, his hair a mess as he stares at me with conflict waging war in his blue eyes.
“This isn’t over. As soon as I’m able, I’ll be back, Maggie.”
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Right.” I nod and blow out a breath. “You’d better go.”
“You’re mad.”
“Bet your ass, I’m mad. But we don’t have time to get into that now.”
He crosses to me and cups my face, but I’ve already emotionally pulled away.
Men leave. They lie. Break promises and leave me hanging.
I knew better than this. I don’t know why I thought it would be different with Cam.
Cameron kisses me softly. “I promise, I’ll be back. Do you want me to drive you to the pub?”
“No.” Hell, no. I’d rather die. “I’m good. Don’t worry about me.”
He throws some things into his bag, looks back at me once more, and then he’s gone.
And I know in my heart that I’ll never be able to forgive him for this—or myself for letting it happen. Even if it’s not entirely Cameron’s fault. I know he has a job that takes him away, but it’s too familiar, too close to what I put up with from the jerk I was married to.
Cameron is the last man on the planet I should be throwing myself at.