“Cam. Cam.” She shivered.
When they broke apart, he helped her stand.
Then he stood before her and said, “My name is Camilo Canto.”
She grabbed his T-shirt with her fist. “Camilo Canto,” she repeated. “You’re here.”
“I came back to find my diamond. Another one I should have never tossed away to begin with.” He touched her cheek in the familiar way she had missed.
“Cam, I get it. I really do.” Evan made a point of repeating his real name.
“No, I get it. I think you always did. It just took me a while to get there.”
“Understandable considering the work you do,” she said.
“Did,” he corrected. “That part of my job is over. Just Cam from here on out. Miguel Ramirez is in there, as much as I hate to admit it, but he doesn’t define me.”
“I’m glad you worked through it.” Evan ran her hand down his forearm and entwined their fingers.
Cam touched his forehead to hers. “I haven’t completely worked through it, but enough to know I’m not letting my zing get away.”
“You’re zing?” Evan asked.
“I’ll explain later. Let's take a walk.” He pulled her to his side. “I want to do this right. Take it slow. Get to know you.”
Evan met that incredible golden gaze and said, “I’d like to get naked.”
She watched his expression morph from incredulity to hunger. He grabbed her hand and tugged her forward.
“Your way's good too.”
Evan unlocked the apartment and hurried inside. The wind through the open window billowed the toile curtains and caused the blinds to tap rhythmically against the glass. Cam was leaning against the door, his hands shoved in the pockets of his fatigues, drawing her eye to the outline of his sizable erection.
“Cam?”
“I don’t think I can hold back,” he said.
Evan closed the distance between them. Just like she had done in their cave, she pulled the tank top from her body. “Then don’t.” She toed off her trainers, peeled the yoga pants down her legs, and stepped out of them. In a white lace bra and matching thong, she stood before him. “Don’t hold back, Cam.”
Slowly, he pulled his hands from his pockets. He reached up and flicked the clasp between her breasts. Evan started to shed the garment when he stayed her movements with a quiet command.
“I’ll do it.”
She nodded on a deep inhale. He smelled like the ocean. He smelled like a memory. Cam's big hand occupied the space between them. Extending his index finger, he traced the inside swell of her breasts. He pushed away one lacy cup, then the other. That devilish finger snaked up and under the strap and sent the bra sliding down her arms.
He had only touched her with one finger, and Evan's skin prickled, her breasts ached. She squeezed her thighs together to ease the tension. He noticed.
Cam took a step forward, and she mirrored the action. He ran the back of his hand down her flat stomach and past the elastic of her thong. Then, still fully clothed, he followed the panties to the floor, kneeling before her. He placed a kiss at the bare apex of her thighs and slid his hand through the seam of her wet flesh.
Then, he stood and said, “Bedroom.”
With a confidence born of desire, Evan turned and walked the length of the room. Cam stalked her at a distance.
At the foot of the bed, Evan faced him. She could feel the down comforter brushing her calves, the carpet under her curled toes. She watched as Cam reached behind his head and pulled the gray T-shirt from his body. From his rounded pecs to the ladder of abdominal muscles to the cradle of his hips, Cam's bare torso was battle-worn and beautiful. He knelt to unlace his boots.
“I’ll do it.” Repeating his words, Evan stepped in front of him and sank to her knees. Once the boots were off, she lifted a hand to his waistband.
“Can I?” she asked.