Instead of giving in, I grip her hips and flip her over until she’s on her stomach so she can’t wiggle loose. She squeals as I take her wrists again then put her arms around her back, making sure I’m being careful with her. “What are you doing?” She rests her cheek on the couch and doesn’t try to get away.
“Tell me what you want me to do…” I lean down and whisper in her ear. “Did you make a move because you only wanted something or because you want me?”
She swallows hard and licks her swollen lips, staying silent.
“You want to use me? Then use me,” I challenge.
Blinking, she clears her throat and furrows her brows, trying to look at me. “I’d never do that to you, Eli.”
“Good,” I say with a smirk. I release my grip, giving her room to leave, but instead, she sucks in her bottom lip and stays put.
Shifting my body, I roam my hands down her back, then slowly lift her shirt. I press my lips to the little dimple above her ass, and she lets out a bated breath. Kissing up her spine, I remove her clothes in the process. Cami releases a moan, and I nearly embarrass myself with the way my cock responds.
She puts her arms between the couch and her body, slightly lifting herself so I can bring a hand around her and cup her bare breast. The softness of her skin almost has me tearing everything off and giving in to what we both want. Pressing my head into the crook of her neck, I groan at how good she feels pressed against me. She shifts and turns slightly until her gaze meets mine. Without a word, I capture her lips with mine, and when she moans, I grab her jaw and deepen the kiss. I taste the sweetness of the syrup she ate with breakfast this morning, and we both fight for more.
My other hand slides up, and I wrap my fist in her hair, slightly tugging. The heat burning between us is so hot, I wouldn’t be surprised if that annoying smoke detector started beeping again.
Then the doorbell rings.
What the fuck?
We pull apart, both gasping for air as we look at each other confused.
“Did you hear that?” she asks.
“I did.” I furrow my brows. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No. Are you?”
“No.” I lift off her, then straighten my shirt and shorts. Holding out my hand, I help Cami to her feet, and she adjusts herself as we stand awkwardly in front of each other. “I’ll go check it out.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She follows me as I walk to the front door. I look through the peephole, but don’t see anyone. Relief floods through me until I swing it open and see a bouquet of at least two dozen roses on the welcome mat.
I step to the side and watch Cami’s reaction.
“I’m gonna take a wild guess and say those are for you.”
She releases a heavy sigh and grabs them. The crystal vase alone looks like it easily cost a grand, and I know I can’t compete with that. They’re obviously from Zane, and no matter what, he’ll always have an advantage over me.
Cami takes them into the kitchen, and I shut the door, then follow her. The flame that ignited our hot make-out session has extinguished, and she notices when I walk past her and grab a bottle of water from the fridge.
“So, who are they from?” I ask bitterly, unable to look at her. Chugging the water, I keep my back to her and wait for the inevitable.
“Zane,” she responds. “And he left a note.”
I finish the bottle, twist the cap back on, then toss it into the trash. “Congrats.”
Heading for the staircase, I call Bruno and demand he come upstairs with me.
“Wait,” she blurts out.
“What?” I ask over my shoulder.
“Why are you congratulating me?”
I know I’m being a dick, but I’m so goddamn tired of trying to win her over and failing. We take two steps forward, then something like this happens—a reminder that I’ll never be good enough for Cameron St. James—and we move five steps backward.
Turning around and facing her, I flash a smirk and shrug. “For getting back what you wanted.”
Chapter Eleven
CAMERON
DAY 6
Staring at the vase of roses on the dresser, I wait to feel something. Anything.
I was tempted to throw them out yesterday, but the flowers are beautiful, and I would have felt bad for tossing them. Not because of who sent them, but because it seemed like a waste of a perfect bouquet. I didn’t want to upset Eli further, so I brought them to my room
Zane has always showered me with gifts, and I was too blind to see the reason behind them. They’d make me so happy, knowing he thought of me enough to send something so pretty, and I’d forget whatever problems we were having. Then another issue would come up, he’d buy me something else, and the cycle would repeat.