“I take it back,” I said through ragged breaths.
“No take-backs on orgasms.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t dare. I meant I take back what I said about not being a fan of quickies. I’m officially a fan. Maybe their biggest fan.”
He sank his teeth lightly into the juncture between my neck and shoulder. “I’m a fan of every speed with you, but this was spectacular.”
He pulled out and set me gently back on my feet. He helped me step back into my panties and scrubs, then dealt with the condom. We zipped and tucked and readjusted our clothes, then sat side by side on the landing while we caught our breath.
“I can’t believe I just did that,” I said. “I just got laid at work.” I covered my eyes.
“Wejust did that.” He peeled my fingers off my face and held my hand. “And it was fucking amazing. No take-backs on your take-back.”
We’d done it mere feet away from my office. Nearly in public. Even if I was the only person with a key to this this stairwell, that was tempting fate. If Gina ever found out, I’d never hear the end of it. And I was pretty sure I didn’t even care, although that could have been the afterglow talking.
“Kyle, I’m not glowing, am I?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I mean, actually glowing,” I reiterated. “Luminous. Radiant.”
He grinned. “I know what the word means Cam, and yes, you are.”
“Ugh.”
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered. “And it’s super-sexy, knowing I’m the one who made you look like that.”
“You’re not helping.” He laughed as I curled into him and he wrapped his arm around me. “Speaking of both super-sexy and what happened in my bathroom that first morning, you almost kissed me, right? There was a spark between us. I wasn’t imagining that, was I?”
“Youalmost kissedme, but you weren’t imagining anything. It was an inferno from my perspective.”
“Then you shut it down. If I hadn’t made the first move last Wednesday, would you ever have tried to kiss me again?”
He traced his fingers over my cheek. “In a few weeks, maybe.”
“Weeks?”
“Or a few months. However long it would have taken to be sure you trusted me.”
I leaned into his shoulder, loving the supportive bulk of him. “I trusted you from the beginning.”
“Maybe a little, but not enough.” He hugged me closer. “Cam, I’ve always been a team player. That’s a given when you’re part of the supporting cast. But I’ve watched guys in the field who kept themselves separate, who didn’t rely on the rest of us. Sometimes, it worked out all right for them. Other times...”
“You think I’m some kind of prima donna who can’t play on a team?”
“No, that’s not what I think.” He gently held my chin and turned my face toward his. “I think you’re a person who takes care of everyone else, but has a hard time letting anyone take care of you. And if you think you can protect someone or fix something for them, you’ll do it on your own.” He kissed my cheek, then whispered in my ear. “I want you to let me take care of you sometimes.”
“Because we’re teammates now?”
“Yeah.” He kissed me. “A team of two. We also have other people who care about us and will have our backs if we let them.”
“I’m learning that, I think. So, I should just let other people help me and it will all work out? It’s that easy?”
He shook his head. “Not easy. Sometimes it feels like the hardest damn thing in the world. But I want you to know, if you ever do let go, you’re not going to fall. I’m going to be right there to catch you.”
24
CAMI
