Teasing Hands (15 page)

I gasped and turned to look at Camden. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“Nothing,” Hunter hissed, his cold eyes trained on Camden. “It means nothing.”

“Like he said,
gatita
.” Camden winked and pushed me forward. “It means nothing.”

As pissed as being in the dark made me, whenever he used that name, I couldn’t stop from smiling.

We passed an irate Hunter on the way out the main door. They were both quiet as we passed and I was left stewing in my own thoughts. I’d be damned if they kept me in the dark.

I’d use whatever I had at my disposal to get the information out of Camden. My pussy was in for a long night.

16

“How I've never run into you before blows my mind.” I shook my head. Camden raised a brow as we walked into the private elevator to his condo. “I've been in this high-rise quite a few times.”

His lips formed a thin line. “Who do you know that lives here?”

“A friend.” I rolled my eyes at his impatient huff. Pushing of the wall, I came to stand in front of him and fisted his shirt. He smirked at my actions, but let me pull him down to my level nonetheless. “I have many friends, you know.”

“As long as they have pussies—”

I bit his lip, cutting him off mid sentence. “I’ll have you know, that a woman or two have hit on me in the past. Gender doesn't matter in that aspect.”

“And have you?” His arms wound around my waist, pulling me in just a tiny bit closer. I could feel his hardness against my stomach. “Let a woman taste what doesn't belong to you?” With his fingers tangled in the ends of my hair, he tilted my head back and kissed the hollow of my throat. “Answer me.”

“That isn't any of your business.” Camden bit me in response, and I let out a small hiss. “I’m not asking you details about your past…am I?”

“Fair enough, but I still want to know who you came to see.”

“A girl from the team—our captain used to live here before graduating and moving to Boston because of a job offer.” Another kiss. “We spent a few days here over the summer. Going to the beach and tanning. Using the gym and flirting with a few of the other cute male tenants.” His eyes narrowed, and his grip on my hair tightened. “But don’t worry, nothing happened. I’ve been with no one since—” I stopped right there, knowing he’d know who I was refering to anyway.

“For some reason, that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“It wasn’t meant to.” The elevator reached his floor then, the doors opened and he pulled me in behind him into a very spacious and open living room.

“Do you want the tour now or after dinner?” For the first time since I’d met Camden, he looked nervous. Out of place.

“You were serious about dinner?” He nodded and then did the cutest thing. Camden blushed. It broke me to see him so shy all of a sudden, and now this date meant so much more than what I’d had in mind. To me, this was his way of proving I was more than just a fuck to him.

“We can order out? Something simple.”

“No.” Fine, we’d do this his way.

“Then what are we cooking?” I still had no idea if the man knew his way around the kitchen, and I didn’t feel like playing the guinea pig.

“How do you feel about us grilling outside? I make a mean stuffed lamb burger.” My stomach rumbled then, and it was my turn to blush. “Guess that’s a yes.”

Nodding, I let him pull me trough the living area and into a very well stocked kitchen. “I’m impressed,” I said and smacked his ass as he opened the fridge and pulled out an already thawed pack of what I assumed was ground lamb. “What can I do to help?”

From what I could see, he had all the ingredients I’d need for my mom’s potato salad. It wouldn't take me long at all to prepare and would go great with the burgers.

“How about for sides? Got any ideas?” Camden walked over to the sliding glass doors and opened them. Immediately, the smell of the water below hit me, and I inhaled in deep and smiled. “Why are you smiling?”

“Love that smell.” He smiled, but didn’t ask for more of an explanation. With his hands full of ingredients, he set up a workstation on the counter space beside me. I watched him as he created a kind of chimichurri for the lamb. Sexiest thing I’ve ever seen
—Camden in all his masculine glory doing something so domesticated.

“Are you making a side?” Camden’s hands dug deep into the bowl of meat as he incorporated all his ingredients. I bit my lips and nodded, my thighs squeezed together in search of a small reprieve from what he caused. He eyes darkened
. He’d noticed how turned on this was all making me. “What are you making?”

“Potato salad,” I choked out and pushed away from the counter. Fuck, I needed to cool off
. I opened the fridge door and prayed the cold air did just that. It took a moment as I tried to regulate my breathing. Camden unnerved me. Weakened my defenses.

I felt him behind me before he spoke. His body heat against my back seared me right through the thin cotton of my clothes. He was hard, throbbing against the flesh of my ass, and I couldn’t help myself
. Couldn’t stop from pushing back and rubbing his hardness between my cheeks.

“I’d quit that if you want to eat tonight,
gatita
.” His breath was hot against the back of my neck. I shivered, and a tiny mewl escaped me. “Have no problem fucking you right here…fuck that. I’d take you against those balcony doors for all to see.” The fingers of his right hand came around and cupped me. “Let them see my
gatita
purr for me. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes.” It was the truth. I’d let him without putting up any kind of fight.

“Good to know.” He nipped my neck and pulled slightly back. “Get to work. I’m heading upstairs to the rooftop balcony to turn on the grill. Come up whenever you’re ready.” His fingers rubbed me twice, tight circles against my clit. My hand slammed down against his butcher block countertop. Small tremors rocked my body, and I started to gyrate against his hand.

The fingers against my clit di
sappeared and I ground my teeth in annoyance. Asshole.

“Get out,” I spit out between clenched teeth. His laughter followed him out of the room and toward a set of stairs by the first bedroom on this floor. “Fucker,” I mumbled under my breath and pulled out all the ingredients needed and set to work.

Within ten minutes, I had everything cut and ready to mix. The potatoes were boiling and I was curious, so while they sat on high heat, I wandered around his home. Nothing too personal or intrusive, just looked at the pictures that sat on a table beside his leather sectional. One was of an older couple, both smiling at the camera with a cake in front of them. Another was of a woman in her forties hugging a tiny girl around the age of six. But none caught my eye like the one of him hugging a beautiful brunette to his body.

They were smiling and appeared happy. In love.

My chest ached. Who the hell was she?

“That would be Olivia,” his voice whispered behind me, and I squeaked. When the hell had he come in? “That was on our wedding day, and the only reason it’s still out is because it’s a reminder of what I became with her. What I never want to be again.”

“You two made a stunning couple.” It hurt me to the core to admit what was plain to see. His misery and coldness were caused by her treatment of him. Shaped him into what now stood behind me.

“She’s my past.”

“But where does your future lie?”

Silence filled the room
. We didn’t speak while I continued to look around at a part of him he never showed. His softer smiles threw me off and made me feel less secure. The water spilling over the rim of the pot on the stove pulled me away from him and the looming quiet that had descended upon us.

I set off to work in the kitchen and pushed away the sudden self doubt that had bloomed in my chest. They’d looked so happy together—like everything that I wanted with him, but doubted he’d willingly give. Concentrating on the task at hand, I managed to put together the salad and a quick dessert of chocolate chip cookies. Nothing fancy, but I hoped he appreciated the effort.

I’d just set the cookies to cool when Camden came down the stairs. Sans shirt, he walked up to me and pushed me against the counter. Our chests pressed together, he tangled his long fingers into my hair and tipped my face up to look at him.

“Why are you hiding down here?” His kisses were a tease, soft and sweet. “Come upstairs.” Like always, he didn’t request. It was the mere formality of a command. “I think you’ll enjoy my balcony
. It’s private, and I promise to misbehave.”

A small giggle escaped my lips at his silliness. “Lead the way, massage boy.”

The outdoor living space blew me away. We were at the very top floor of this condominium high-rise and with no one to spy on us. Total privacy. There was a small outdoor kitchen with a beautiful stainless grill, and beside that, a small sitting area. In one word—cozy.

“This is nice,” I said admiringly and walked over to the covered hot tub. Not one part of me would have minded ending my night in there. Camden watched me as I explored his open space, his eyes darkening as I fingered the outside edge of the empty tub. “What a shame.”

“Is it now?” His taunt made me laugh. “Why is it a shame?”

“Because the hot water on my naked flesh would have felt divine.” Camden swallowed hard before making his way over to where I stood. His large hands framed my face, pulling me up to look at him before our lips touched.

Three times he pecked my lips before laying his forehead on mine. “You have no idea the things you cause inside of me. Turmoil and bliss.”

“It’s the same for me.” I pulled his top lip between my lips and sucked, laving him with my tongue before pressing my teeth down. “Drive me fucking insane.”

“Good.” He smiled down at me and pushed a stray hair behind my ear. “Let’s go eat,
gatita
. I brought you here for reasons other than making you scream my name.”

“What reasons?”

“Enjoying your company. Getting to know you better. There are things I don’t know, and I’m curious.”

“Ask away,” I
said and pulled him with me over toward the grill. The sizzling meat smelled amazing, and I unabashedly pointed to my stomach. “I’m starving. Put some food in me already.”

He chuckled at my antics and checked the burgers on the grill. “They should be done in another five. How about we learn a little more about each other until then?”

“Like what?” Pulling one of the smaller chairs that surrounded a small bistro set near him, I sat down and waited for his answer. Camden bent at the waist and opened what seemed to be a fridge, then he pulled out two bottles and after popping the cap, offered one to me.

“For one
,” he started and took a quick pull of his beer. “How old are you? I’m guessing early twenties, but I want specifics.”

“Twenty-one and you?” Camden choked on his drink, his eyes wide. “Don’t tell me you have an adversion to my age.”

“No…” He coughed again and rubbed the back of his neck. “Just didn't know you were so fresh and innocent. It’s having the opposite effect, really.  I couldn’t be harder for you if I tried. Legal and unblemished by society’s bullshit.”

“Good to know.” I licked my lips and eyed him with hunger. “But I’m not that untouched and pure, Camden.”

“One day that cute little mouth of yours will land you over my knee.” The threat of a spanking wasn’t a turn off at all, and the flush over my cheeks told him so. “Bad
gatita
,” he admonished with a wink and pulled the burgers off the grill.

“Are you going to answer my question? How old are you?” Camden continued to prepare our burgers with the works, and he didn’t spare me a single glance when he answered. “Thirty-two.”

“Not surprised.” His eyes snapped up at my words. “I’ve always been attracted to older men. Never dated one, but attracted nonetheless.”

“Man, Amanda. Singular. Only me.”

“Shut it, gramps.” This caused him to laugh and almost drop our plates of food as he walked over to the small bistro table. He motioned for me to join him with a nod of his head. I liked this side of him. At ease and playful. Maybe, just maybe, Camden was opening up to me…maybe we’d be more sooner than I’d hoped.

“Are you going to tell me what that was between you and Hunter back there? What did you mean by the real reason he is here?”

He let out a humorless chuckle. “I’ve been waiting for you to bring that up.”

“So?”

“Hunter came to my parents a few—”

I had to stop him there. “What the hell do your parents have to do with this?”

“Look around,
gatita
. How could a simple massage therapist be able to afford a penthouse in the middle of South Beach like this. Or any, for that matter?” He could see the confusion on my face, I was sure. Until now, I hadn't even given much thought to how he acquired his place. Now, though, I needed to know. “My family owns the spa where I work. I’m actually the manager as well.”