Close to You

  “I want you,” he whispers as his hand glides down my belly to the waistband of my pants, but he stills and pulls his head back, staring down at me, panting.

  “Why are you stopping?” Please, God, don’t you dare stop.

  “Cami, I—”

  He just doesn’t want me like this.

  “It’s okay,” I say quickly, and wiggle out from under him, not able to look him in the face. “I get it.”

  “No. You don’t.” He grips my arm, but I don’t want to look him in the eyes and see the apology there. “Cami, look at me.”

  “Landon, it’s okay.” Why do I keep saying it’s okay? Because I’m so embarrassed I don’t know what to say. Except, he started it.

  “Cami, I want you.” My gaze whips up to his. “I want you so bad I’m aching with it. But I don’t want to rush things. We don’t have to hurry.”

  “I don’t feel like we’re rushing,” I reply. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now. We spend a lot of time together. Every time you walk in a room, I want to rip your clothes off. Trust me, I’m more than ready.”

  He takes a deep breath, stands, and just when I think he’s going to leave, he scoops me up and carries me—carries me—up the stairs and into my bedroom.

  “You are so beautiful,” he says softly, his face close to mine as he sets me on my feet near the bed, then makes quick work of our clothes. “And I want to take my time exploring every gorgeous inch of you. We’ve waited this long, there’s no need to go fast.”

  “That sounds nice,” I reply as my eyes rake over his long, lean body. The feel of his muscles over his clothes is nothing at all compared to what they look like naked. “I didn’t think people really looked like that.”

  “Like what?” he asks with a grin.

  I just point at him. “Like they’ve been airbrushed.”

  “You’re good for my ego, baby.” His eyes narrow. “You really don’t wear panties.”

  “Nope.”

  “Why?”

  I lift one shoulder. “Panty lines. I hate them. And thongs are just damn uncomfortable.”

  He laughs. “That’s my Cami, always logical.”

  I bite my lip and cup his perfectly sized, not-too-big, not-too-small dick in my palm. “I’d say that by the look and feel of this, the compliment is returned,” I reply, and look up into his blue eyes. “You’re rather hard, Landon.”

  “I’m hard as a fucking rock, and it’s definitely your fault,” he replies, walking me backward to the bed. “Lie down.”

  He doesn’t have to ask me twice. I lie on my back and he covers me, just like he did on the couch. But this time, there’s plenty of naked skin for both of us to explore. Hands glide and lips nibble as we discover each other.

  He kisses his way down my chest, paying attention to my breasts, rolling the nipples between his fingertips. My back arches off the bed. I can’t stay still as he bites my belly near my navel, then licks his way to the promise land.

  Holy. Fucking. Hell.

  With one swipe of his tongue, I’m lost. A sheen of sweat breaks out over my skin, and I cry out, not giving even one shit about making noise. When most men would think they’ve done their part with one or two swipes of the tongue and move along, Landon proves yet again that he’s not most men. He settles in and continues to explore me with his mouth and fucking me with his tongue, then sweeping up to tease my clit and back down again.

  I’m writhing, my legs shifting, hips circling. He’s making me absolutely fucking crazy. Someone shouts for more, and I’m pretty sure it’s my voice. His hands are traveling over my body, and then scoop under my ass and lift me, and I’m spread open to him like a feast.

  And boy, does he feast.

  Finally, when I’m nothing but a shaking, trembling hot mess, he licks and kisses up my torso, my shoulder and neck, and kisses me deeply. I can taste myself on him, and that only turns me on more. I can’t get enough of him.

  I grab his bare ass and try to tug him to me, but he holds strong, making growls.

  “In a minute,” he says.

  “Want you,” I reply.

  “Oh, baby, I want you too.” And then he takes himself in his hand and rubs the tip of his dick up and down my wetness, through my lips, and up over my clit. His eyes are on mine, watching what he does to me.

  “Holy shit, that’s good.”

  I close my eyes, but he leans in and kisses me, then says against my lips. “I want you to open your eyes for me, sweetheart. I want you to look at me when I push inside you.”

  I look up at him, and slowly, so fucking slowly, he guides himself inside me. He pushes all the way in and stops, sweating, staring down at me with a mixture of awe and pleasure and everything I’ve ever wanted to see from him.

  “Fuck me, you feel good,” he says, and lowers himself to his elbows so he can bury his hands in my hair and kiss me. I hitch my legs up over his hips and he sighs.

  “So deep,” I whisper. “God, Landon.”

  “Too much?”

  “No.” I shake my head and grip his ass in my hand once again. “But I’d love for you to move.”

  I clench around him, making his eyes roll. “God, babe.”

  I kiss him. Sweetly at first, then more insistently, and his hips begin to move. The thrusts become harder, but they’re still shallow, and I can feel every single glorious inch of him.

  Even my lips are tingling as I feel the orgasm start low in my belly.

  “Fuck.”

  “I love it when you talk dirty,” he growls, and bites my neck, which only makes the tingling spread, and before I know it, I’m clenching down on him and crying out as my whole world explodes into a million bright pieces. I can’t see. I can’t hear. I can only feel him, in me, around me, and suddenly he groans and joins me, shaking and panting.

  He collapses on top of me, his face buried in my neck, and we stay like this for long minutes while our hearts slow down and our bodies cool.

  Landon just made love to me. And it was better than any fantasy I’ve ever had. I lie quietly and just let my hands roam over him, from his tight ass to the soft hair on the top of his head, loving him.

  After he catches his breath, he kisses my neck and rolls to the side, taking me with him, so his weight is off of me. He brushes my hair behind my shoulder, drags his knuckles down my cheek and neck, down to my breast, and gently grazes over my nipple, keeping it erect.

  “You’re amazing,” he says, holding my gaze.

  I don’t know what to say to that. I’m suddenly a bit shy. I reach for the covers, but Landon takes my hand in his and kisses it.

  “Are you cold?”

  “No.”

  He smiles softly. “Bashful?”

  “A little,” I admit.

  “After what we just did, there’s no reason to be shy,” he says softly. “Your body is beautiful, and I plan to spend the rest of the night exploring you.”

  I feel my eyes widen and he chuckles.

  “That’s right. But first, let’s nap.” He pulls me against him, tugs the blanket over us both, and in the dark, under the covers, his hand roams over my bare back, my side, my thighs.

  There’s no way I’m going to sleep.

  Chapter 8

  ~Landon~

  I couldn’t move now if I tried. Jesus, she surprises me at every turn, and learning her body, being buried deep inside her, is no different. Have I ever felt this connected to anyone in my life? I rack my brain, but all I see is Cami.

  After having her just once, I know without a doubt that I’ll never get tired of her.

  She’s lying quietly in my arms, breathing softly, but she’s not sleeping. Her fingers brush lightly through the light spattering of hair on my chest and her foot rubs up and down my calf.

  I didn’t bother to turn the light on when I brought her up here, but the moon is full, casting plenty of light into the room. Scoot jumps onto the bed, looks at both of us, then curls up at our feet to give himself a bath.

>   I could get used to this.

  Cami’s hand travels down my chest to my stomach, and suddenly the thought of moving again doesn’t seem so impossible. Surprisingly, my cock is ready to go again already.

  And then it occurs to me: we didn’t use a condom.

  Fucking hell.

  I’ve never forgotten to suit up before. Ever.

  “Baby?” I ask softly, and bury my lips in her hair.

  “Hmm?” It’s more of a purr than a question.

  “We didn’t use a condom.” My voice is calmer than I feel inside. But I don’t want to upset her. We’re adults, for Christ sake, there’s nothing to freak out over.

  Unless there is.

  She tips her head back and looks up at me, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

  “I’m on the pill,” she says calmly. “Have been for years. And I haven’t been with anyone since I was married.”

  What?

  I stare down at her, shocked. Cami is breathtaking. She’s funny and warm and wonderful, and she hasn’t been with anyone since Brian?

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asks.

  “I’m just surprised.”

  “That I’m on the pill?”

  “No.” I laugh and pinch her, making her squirm, but it backfires when she rubs her thigh against my already hard dick. “That you haven’t been with anyone in so long.”

  She shrugs and is quiet for a minute. “It just wasn’t a priority.”

  “Well, I haven’t been with anyone since before I was home on leave last year,” I reply, and drag my hand down her back, then draw hearts on her ass.

  “That was quite a while ago,” she says, and looks up at me with raised brows.

  “I guess it wasn’t a priority for me either.” My hand slips farther down and my fingers slip down her crack and between her folds and back up again.

  With my other hand, I grip her hair and tilt her head back, giving me access to her lips and neck. Her lips fit mine perfectly. Her mouth is delicious.

  She moans, deep in her throat, as I push her onto her back and cover her with my body again, but rather than slip inside her, I flip her over, pull her hips back, and slap her ass gently.

  She gasps and tosses a smile over her shoulder.

  “You like that?”

  “What’s not to like?” she asks with a laugh, and lowers her head. Her slender shoulders are bathed in moonlight, and to my utter surprise, there’s a tattoo on her right shoulder blade. A small anchor.

  I lean down and kiss it, then drag my lips up her neck. “Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are?”

  “Am I sexy enough for you to fuck me again?” she asks, surprising me yet again.

  “Such a dirty mouth,” I mutter, and grin. Rather than answering her, I slip inside her quickly, pushing all the way in and making her gasp. “How’s that?”

  “So damn good,” she says, and grabs on to a rung in the headboard, white-knuckling it. “You can go harder.”

  I bite the fleshy top of her shoulder, grip her hip in my fist, making marks with my fingertips, and begin to fuck her, hard. Her pussy grips me like a vise.

  Jesus, how am I supposed to keep it together when she does shit like that?

  Using the headboard as leverage, she pushes back on me, her ass slapping against my hips, and propels the speed.

  “Faster?” I ask.

  “God, yes,” she says, and cries out when I speed up further. I release her hip and shove my hand under her, circling her clit with my fingers, and she loses her mind. “Oh God, Landon.”

  “That’s it.”

  “Fuck me harder.”

  “Baby, I’m already fucking you into the mattress. If I go any harder I’ll split you in two.”

  “I won’t break.” She shakes her head vigorously. “Please.”

  With both hands gripping her hips now, I thrust as hard and fast as I can, and suddenly she screams my name and comes violently, shaking and pushing back on me, milking my cock like crazy.

  I can’t hold back anymore. I push inside and come, my forehead on her back, panting, shocked at what we just did.

  It might have been the most passionate sex I’ve ever had. And not even an hour ago we made the sweetest love.

  Both blew my mind.

  She’s fucking perfect for me.

  I guide us to our sides and spoon her from behind, holding her close.

  “I get lost in you,” I whisper, wishing I could see her face, but not wanting to move her.

  “Mm,” she says. “But it’s the kind of lost that’s like being found.”

  I blink, processing her words, and know, in this moment, that there will never be anyone else for me.

  “I’M SO GLAD your birthday fell on a Sunday,” Kat says to Riley the next afternoon. We’re all at Jake and Addie’s home for a barbecue to celebrate Riley’s birthday. Mia, Jake, and Kat are in the kitchen. Riley, Addie, Cami, and I are in the adjoining family room, watching with interest as Jake and Mia fight about who’s going to man the grill.

  “I’m happy to oblige,” Riley says with a grin, and then rolls her eyes when Mia throws a mushroom at Jake. “Jesus, Mia, it’s his grill.”

  “I’m the chef,” Mia replies, her nose in the air.

  “That’s the same look you gave me when you were little whenever Mom let you have your way.” I smirk when she glares at me.

  “She never stopped throwing that look around,” Cami says with a laugh, and links her fingers with mine.

  “I didn’t realize that Riley’s birthday was also known as give-Mia-shit day,” Mia says with an indignant sniff, then turns back to Jake. “I know what I’m doing with a grill.”

  “Do you say that to all the guys?” Jake says, then ducks out of her way when she throws a punch at him. “Go enjoy your friends, Mia. I got this.”

  “They’ve kicked me out of my own kitchen on Sundays,” she says mournfully. “And now you’re kicking me out too?”

  “We are villains for making her take one day off a week,” Addie says, and shakes her head when Kat offers her a glass of wine. “You’re going to kill yourself if you keep going at this insane pace, Mia.”

  “Hello, pot, I’m kettle,” Mia says. “I’ll whip the potatoes.”

  “Fine,” Jake says, shaking his head. “Landon, want to help me with the grill?”

  “Why does he get to help?” Mia cries.

  “He’s a guy,” Jake says, and laughs when Mia just glares daggers at him.

  “Addie, you married a sexist pig.”

  “Hi, everyone!” We all turn our heads as a pretty blonde walks into the room. “Sorry I’m late. My children are demons.”

  “Cici!” Cami jumps up and gives the woman a hug. “I’m so happy you came.”

  “I’m just happy that I had a reason to leave my house and enjoy some girl time.” Cici smiles and looks around. “Or, sort-of girl time.”

  “This is Landon,” Cami says as I shake Cici’s hand. “I don’t think you’ve met.”

  “No, but I’ve heard all about you,” Cici says with a smile. “Welcome home. I’m glad you’re here safely.”

  “Thank you.” I turn to Jake. “Let’s give them some girl time, whatever that means, and go tackle the grill.”

  “Sexist pigs,” Mia mutters again, making us laugh as we step outside.

  “Has she always been this bossy?” Jake asks me as he opens the already lit grill.

  “She’s mellowed out with age,” I reply, and chuckle. “Mia has always been headstrong. It might be the Italian in her. Or maybe it’s just her.”

  “She’s awesome,” Jake says with honest affection in his voice. “But man, can she be intimidating.”

  “I like to think of her as badass,” I reply. “But don’t tell her I said that. We’ll never be able to live with her.”

  “Your secret is safe with me, man.” He sets the steaks on the grill. “I’ll add the salmon when the steaks are half-done. It cooks faster.”

  “
Was that also a Mia instruction?”

  “I think she said it about six hundred times.”

  I shake my head and lean against a cement pillar, looking out over the pool that’s covered for the winter.

  “How are things with Addie?” I ask.

  He closes the grill and pulls two beers out of a small fridge next to the grill, hands me one. “I don’t remember my life without her now.”

  “In case you need a refresher, you were an international rock star and you’ve won Grammys for your songs, Jake. FYI.”

  “I know it sounds dumb,” he says with a shrug. “I don’t care if I’m sappy or whatever. In less than a year, she became the center of my universe. Of course I work, and she works, and we have lives to run, but at the heart of it, it all comes back to her. And I didn’t think that I’d ever say that about anyone.”

  I nod, thinking about Cami and how much she’s come to mean to me in less than a month’s time.

  “What’s going on with you and Cami?”

  I raise a brow.

  “Come on, you knew that question was coming.”

  “What’s going on? We’re seeing each other.” I take a sip of my beer. “I’ve known Cami for a long time.”

  “As a friend,” Jake says reasonably. “That’s not the same thing.”

  “That’s what I’m learning,” I reply. “I thought I knew her so well, but she’s proving that to be wrong every day.”

  “Cami’s sweet.” Jake turns the steaks, then laughs when he sees Mia with her nose practically pressed to the window watching him. “Go away!”

  “You should put the salmon on now!” she yells, but Jake shoos her away and turns his back on her.

  “I’m going to wait an extra two minutes to put the salmon on now.”

  “I knew I liked you,” I reply with a smile. “And yes, Cami’s sweet. Are you going to warn me too?”

  “‘Too’?”

  “Mia and Kat have already pretty much said they’ll cut my balls off if I hurt her.”

  “Nah. I’m not going to do that. You’re both adults, and you know what’s what. Besides, they all warned me off of Addie. I’ll never divorce her just to preserve my manhood.”