“You’re killing me,” said Cam, his voice strangled.
“I’m sorry. Am I taking too long?” She glanced down and swallowed. While his gaze was on her face, her breasts were at his eye level. Her face burst into flames, and she stepped back. Done enough.
Cam grasped her forearm, stopping her retreat.
“Don’t go. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” His grip was light, but the moment stretched with neither of them moving.
She could pull away with ease—his large hand burned against her sensitive skin. She chose to remain. Swallowing. Suddenly, the air in the room evaporated, and she felt overheated. Sweat beaded on her forehead. “What are you doing?” Once again, her voice seemed breathy and unfamiliar.
He stared as if he hadn’t eaten in days, and she was a three-course meal.
Cam’s eyes darkened, and his gaze dipped to her mouth. “I’d like to kiss you. If you’d let me.” His voice was husky, though not much louder than a whisper.
“We’re almost strangers.” Maybe she needed the reminder as much as he did.
“Strangers who’ve been dancing around this feeling for days. From the second we met, I’ve been drawn to you. And you to me.” His grip tightened almost imperceptibly. “Tell me I’m wrong.” His gray-green eyes dared her to deny the undercurrent buzzing between them since the beginning. Even dehydrated and injured, his strength called to her while his personality was calming, and his intelligence invigorating.
She liked Cam, and it wouldn’t take much to tip that feeling into something more.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” She should move, but her feet remained stuck.
“Do you trust me?” he said, his intent gaze still on her face.
She nodded, surprised that it was the truth. He’d been kind and never creepy.
He tugged her onto his lap and wrapped a powerful arm around her. His other hand tipped her face toward him with a gentle nudge. “Can I kiss you?” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve imagined it a thousand times.”
The air between them crackled with electricity.
Cam had been at the forefront of her thoughts ever since their first meeting, which was the true reason for following himon the meadow. Almost every night after she’d seen him, she hadn’t slept well as she’d tossed and turned, aching for human contact, pining for connection in a way she hadn’t in years. The longing was more than physical, but until he’d arrived, her lack of human contact had become normal.
Part of her wondered if she would have been the same with any man who’d arrived on her doorstep. One touch from Cam and she was convinced only he set her pulse racing.
She nodded.
He tipped her chin upward with a warm thumb and claimed her mouth. The first touch was almost chaste, warm lips pressed to hers. The second was not. This kiss was replete with yearning and heat as he wound a hand into her loose hair. His lips teased hers into responding. A small groan escaped as he deepened the kiss, his strong lips devouring hers, his tongue sliding into her mouth. She moaned. Too turned on to be embarrassed, she kissed him back, her tongue darting to meet his.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer, one big hand splayed on her back, the other still wrapped around, holding her steady. She lost track of time, the intensity not lessening even as they slowed to leisurely nibbles, their lips sliding and pulling. Kissing Cam was like nothing else she’d experienced. She was on fire, every nerve alight.
Her awareness of everything except Cam disappeared. When they halted, it was because they needed air.
Lissa pulled back, her body trembling, aching, and needy with desire.
Cam nuzzled against her neck, kissing her throat once before resting his forehead against hers with a sigh. “I’ve wanted to do that as long as I’ve known you.” His fingers traced her collarbones as he spoke.
She had too. They’d been like magnets, drawing closer until kissing was inevitable.
“Are there women at xTerra?” Suddenly, she wanted to know more about his life. How could someone handsome and incredible like Cam be single? When he left, would she lose her chance to be with him? Her fear of being alone forever had gotten the better of her.
“Yes. Not like you.” His gaze returned to her mouth.
“You said you aren’t married.” Her vision blurred with unshed tears. Cam would leave when his ankle healed, but she wanted to know more while she had a chance.
“If I were, I wouldn’t have kissed you.” His thumb traced her lower lip.
Heat shot straight to her core. “Tell me more about you.” She shifted, leaning into his warmth. “Whatever comes to mind.”
His eyes twinkled. “I grew up in xTerra with my three brothers, Jed, Nate, and Aiden. My father left when I was eight because he got sick of the ‘isolated survivalist lifestyle,’ as he called it. Until recently, my mother was the Mayor of xTerra. By the time I return, she will have lost an election.”
