“That’s right,” he growled into her, making her clench again, another orgasm already building as the base of her spine tingled.“You taste amazing. He licked and sucked while she thrashed, his hand and mouth anchoring her to the world. Fireworks exploded in her head again, her vision dark other than the sparks behind her eyes.
Cam was merciless as he wrung another long-overdue orgasm from her, this one with his fingers as well. Her bones dissolved like spun sugar. At last, he took pity and lifted his head. His eyes were glazed, his pupils blown. “I won’t last long the first time. It’s been years, and I need you too.”
Hard as steel, he positioned himself. “This is your last chance to call me off,” he said, his body poised above hers.
“Please,” she gasped. Though desire wasn’t new, this all-consuming passion was.
With a hungry kiss, he lined himself up at her entrance, nudging against her swollen core. “It’s been too long for both of us, hasn’t it?”
At her nod, he thrust inside. Her inner walls clenched, and she almost sobbed with relief as he filled her. She’d never felt this connected to anyone, even Derrick. He’d been kind and fun. Cam was consuming, demanding, and her body responded like he was meant to be inside her. He slid most of the way out, then back in, and then repeated the exquisite torture another dozen times—long and slow. Each drag against her most sensitive areas brought her closer to ecstasy. She wrapped her legs around him and held him close as she spasmed while, yet another orgasm ripped through her.
Cam grunted, somehow thrusting deeper, pounding into her, his rhythm relentless. Her spine tingled, and her vision dimmed. At first, her eyes fluttered closed as the pace left her dizzy. Moans escaped her lips, and her nerve endings caught fire. Still, Cam continued. Lissa had never had sex like this, the kind that left her changed. She was conquered. She surrendered,clenching around him again. A finale’s worth of fireworks exploded in her mind as her hips rose to meet each of his thrusts.
“Look at me,” he ordered. “I need to know you’re present. With me.”
She opened her eyes. All the emotion she’d held in check escaped while his gray-green eyes bored into hers. There was nowhere to hide. She’d fallen in love with this man, and her heart was breaking. She couldn’t deny this—tonight, everything was on display. Her heart and soul served on a platter.
“Lissa,” he said, his voice broken. His rhythm broke, and he thrust three times fast and violent. He shouted her name as he came, hard. He pulled out, pumping onto her stomach, a hot puddle—the only precaution possible.
For a moment, Cam braced himself over her, seeming to admire the mess.
“Please stay,” he said, with a soft kiss. “I’ll clean you up in a minute.” He rolled beside her. “Come here.” He held out his arm, and she scooted closer. Holding her close, he kissed her again, his lips warm and soft.
They didn’t speak for several minutes while their racing hearts slowed, then he rose for a warm, wet cloth and cleaned the mess. The tenderness at odds with the intensity from earlier. He picked up his clothes and placed them on the couch beside his rolled sleeping bag.
“May I sleep with you tonight?” His voice remained gruff, as she’d observed happened when he felt powerful emotions. “I want to hold you for as long as possible.”
She couldn’t think about the morning and his departure. She had words she needed to spill, just not yet. Not trusting her voice not to tremble, she flipped back the covers and climbed underneath, leaving room. Cam blew out the candle and slid in beside her, his naked heat warming her skin. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to the back of her neck. Shecouldn’t speak and enjoyed the sensation of being held. It had been so long.
She relaxed into him, and they fell asleep entwined in each other’s arms.
At some point, Lissa woke. Cam’s mouth was on her breast. She’d been dreaming and woke to discover some of her dream was real. She pulled his lips to hers, kissing him again. The sex this time slow and thorough, finishing only when they were both slick with sweat, their muscles trembling and drained. Afterward, lying tangled together, tears leaked from her eyes in the darkened room.
“I’m sorry,” he said, wiping them away and kissing her again. He stroked her hair. “Go back to sleep, sweetheart.” His voice was soothing, and his hands were gentle as she drifted back to sleep.
***
When Lissa awoke, the fire was low. She yawned and stretched, her arms bare in the cool air. She sat up and glanced beside her. Cam wasn’t in bed, his side flat and cold. Her gaze flew to the empty couch. He wasn’t there either.
Her hand rose to her chest and then covered her mouth.
His pack and boots were gone.
A tight band circled her chest, squeezing so she couldn’t breathe. The dam broke, and she sobbed great, wracking sobs that stabbed. She curled up in a ball, unable to stop crying. She’d pull herself together later, but right now she couldn’t. Despite meeting someone intelligent and kind, with whom she felt comfortable being herself, she was once more alone.
Some time later, she fell asleep again, exhausted and heartbroken.
When Lissa woke the next time, her fire was extinguished, and her windowless room was almost pitch black. She shivered,missing the heat. She draped a blanket from the bed around her as she rose to throw wood on the coals. As much as she’d like to wallow longer, she needed to move past Cam’s departure. She hadn’t been trying to change his mind, and at least she had fresh memories. Her only regret was not asking him to return when he could.
The embers had crumbled to dust and were almost gone. It took several minutes of gentle blowing and a handful of kindling to coax the fire to catch. At last, tiny golden flames licked along the edges of the dry wood. She added more logs, building it up. When the blaze steadily burned, she heated water for a proper bath. She was sore, inside and out, her body and her heart aching.
Once the fire was dealt with, she took a deep breath and at last paid attention to her surroundings.
Cam had left his blue T-shirt folded on the table, his battered copy ofThe Fellowship of the Ring, and a note. Lifting his shirt, she inhaled his spicy scent. Her hands shook when she picked up the paper. At first, the words blurred, but she swiped at her escaping tears.
Lissa,
It’s wrong of me to leave this way. I know it, and yet I must. Perhaps you think me a coward. Perhaps I was just sparing us both additional heartbreak. I promised I would go home, and you never pushed or asked me to stay because you understood I couldn’t. Thank you.
