“All these years, I’ve hated Hank for ignoring me. He didn’t even know I was there.” Tears choked his voice. “The only reason he found out was I opened the door. That’s it. He came to see Mom, and I opened the fucking door.”
I pushed us toward the couch and helped him down. Dylan settled in beside me, his hands on my hips. I pulled him down, laying him along side me. He pressed his nose into my neck, then his lips.
“Cameron,” he whispered. “I’m nothing like them. I don’t run. I don’t cheat.”
“I know.” I ran my hands down his bare chest. “You didn’t run from me.”
“Never.” He kissed along my collarbone. “I do love you.”
I pulled his head up and stared into his eyes. “I love you, too, Dylan.”
He kissed me, pulling my shirt free from my shorts. My breath hitched as his warm hands moved along my skin, over my bra then under. I raised my hips to meet his. He slipped his arm around my back and lifted me onto his lap as he sat up. My shirt came off, then my bra. We were bare chest to bare chest. His lips moved down my neck, over my breasts, kissing and nipping each one until I thought I was going to explode.
But as great as it felt, it wasn’t quite right.
“Dylan,” I said, suppressing a moan. “We should stop.”
“Stop this or not go further?” he asked as he leaned away.
I pressed my body against his. “Not go further. Don’t stop kissing me.”
“Okay. Pants stay on.” He flipped me back onto the couch, kissing down to my waistband.
I dug my nails into his shoulders. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him to stop. My body said hell yes, while my mind said this was enough for tonight. I didn’t know what I wanted, and that scared me more.
“Your skin is softer than silk,” he whispered against my navel. His nose skimmed along my body between my breasts until we were lips to lips. “And your tits are perfect.”
I laughed at that. “Funny. They’re small apples.”
Dylan kept his gaze on me as he scooted down and took one in his mouth. I moaned, loudly.
“Like I said, perfect.” He pressed his chest against mine and put his elbows beside my head. “You’re beautiful, Cameron.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. Nobody had ever told me that before. Well, other than my father and he didn’t count. Dads have to say things like that. “You’re crazy. I mean, you’re this gorgeous rock god. You’re so far out of my league, it’s not funny. But I’m so glad you chose me.”
“I’m only crazy about you.” He kissed my nose. “And you’re so full of shit. You have no idea how many guys check you out? Look at that guy where we rented the kayak. He asked you on a date.”
I started laughing, shaking my head. “He was just being nice.”
“In. Front. Of. Me.” Dylan grinned. “That dude’s got balls.” His grin faded as his face turned serious. The intensity returned to his face. “It pissed me off.”
“And you kissed Miranda,” I reminded him. The memory of that still stung. “I didn’t like it.”
He huffed. “I only did that because of what’s his face at the bonfire. And she was hurting because of it.”
“I know.” My hands fell from his back and onto his chest. I pushed him off me as I sat up. “But I didn’t kiss him. Eddie kissed me. You pulled him off me before I could tell him to back off.”
“I know. That guy was gunning for some action even if he didn’t have a willing participant.” Dylan’s eyebrows furrowed together. “What a wanker.”
“You were flirting with Lola two seconds after we got there.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “We’re idiots.”
“Yeah,” I said, reaching for my bra and shirt.
“Oh no, you don’t,” he said with a laugh. “I kinda like topless Cam. Maybe we can get in the hot tub like this.”
“You mean you in your trunks and me in nothing but bottoms?” I pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “I wear a one piece.”
Dylan fake groaned. “I guess I’ll suffer.”
I slapped him playfully.
“Come on,” he said, standing then pulling me to my feet. “Let’s change and try to forget the negative parts about today for a little bit longer.”
“You’re gonna have to talk to him, you know,” I said as I followed him to his bedroom where he’d put my bag.
“I know. Just not yet.” He sighed and glanced down at my bare chest then grinned. “You know, you can leave the straps down on the one piece.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
I didn’t spend the night at Dylan’s, even though he promised pants on. It was tempting. Being in Dylan’s arms felt right and perfect and dangerous. As much as I loved him, I was scared of loving him too. It was weird. I’d never met anybody like him before, and it was intimidating.
Mom left a note on the fridge that she’d taken the breakfast shift. That didn’t make sense. The general manager normally worked the breakfast shift while Mom worked evenings. Dad snored in his recliner. The TV was still on. It was on last night when I got home, but I didn’t turn it off. Dad slept better with the noise.
Jake came out of his bedroom and immediately lay on the couch.
“You just woke up and you’re taking a nap now?” I asked as I pushed some of the mail to the side so I could sit at the table. An envelope stuck out with a red F on it. My eyebrows slammed together as I pulled it free.
“You’re starting to sound like Mom,” Jake said. He turned the TV up and changed the channel. “Besides it’s summer vacation. I can do what I want.”
“Final notice,” I mumbled. The return address was the mortgage company. I set it aside and searched the rest of the mail. There were several stamped with “Past Due”. I
