Uncovering Camila (Wildflowers Book 3) (14 page)

Chapter 35

Camila rushes up the stairs in Vanderbilt Hall to the fourth floor and down the empty corridor. She passes several offices, including that of the Dean, and knocks on an unmarked door to her right.

“Come in.”

The sound of Marshall’s voice makes Camila’s breath hitch. When she opens the door, he’s hunched over a pile of papers on top of his desk. The last time she’d been in the space, they talked about the networking party. There was so much tension in this small office then, both his and hers. It occurs to her how much can shift between two people when they’re both willing to take that leap.

Camila stands with her hand on the open door. “You said it was urgent. Everything alright with the December issue?” She’d been studying at her favorite carrel desk tucked away in the far corner of the library when she saw his email.

“Please close the door.” Marshall’s serious tone puts Camila on edge. She tries to recall if anything happened the other night when they last saw each other, but draws a blank.

She shuts the door behind her and leans against it, figuring it’s probably best to be as near to it as possible if she needs to escape. She can feel the tension start to build again.

Marshall reads the entire length of the page before looking up. He gazes at Camila for a few beats then motions for her to sit down.

She shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “I’m good here.”

Not taking his eyes off of her, he stands but doesn’t move from behind the desk.

“You said there was urgent business to discuss. What’s going on?” Camila asks. The way he’s looking at her with his impenetrable stare makes her nervous.

Marshall moves his finger over his top lip, which Camila recognized a while back as something he does when he’s thinking. He glances down at the papers then back up at Camila.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Marshall walks around to the front of his desk and leans back, his hands in his pockets.

Camila shakes her head. “I was at the library when you emailed.” She stresses the last two words in order to remind him of why she’d rushed over.

He gets up and covers the distance between them in a few steps. Marshall draws up a hand and takes her bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger. He continues to gaze at her as he runs his thumb along her smooth lips. “I couldn’t get you off of my mind,” he murmurs.

“Must be contagious,” Camila replies. She lowers her gaze to his mouth, willing him to come closer. She caught herself thinking about him several times as she outlined her research paper for her Immigrants’ Rights seminar.

“Must be,” Marshall says, his voice gravelly. She’d invaded his thoughts during his morning run and again as he stood under the hot water of his shower. Everywhere he went he caught himself looking for Camila, hoping that each corner he turned she would appear. The harder he tried to focus on work, the worse it got. He’d become so distracted during his Free Speech class that a student had to repeat a question about
Morse v. Frederick
a few times before Marshall could answer it. As soon as that class ended, he sent the email to Camila. He wasn’t going to wait until later that night to see her.

He leans down and kisses her left jaw. Camila closes her eyes and drops her bag to the floor. She downplayed how much she thinks about Marshall to her cousin out of fear that she’d sound obsessed. Certainly it’s more than she ever thought about Eliseo or any other guy she’d been with. Today had been no exception. She’d found herself repeating the same points in two different sections of her outline. If he hadn’t sent that email, she was certainly going to text him to meet her after her shift at L. She’s relieved his impatience outmeasured hers. Feeling the weight of his body against her own makes her day right side up again.

Marshall reaches down and locks the door, his tongue tracing the shell of her ear. Her hips buck, and she lets out a low gasp when he sucks and bites down on her lobe. In that one move, he’s kindled that slow, simmering burn that only he seems to be able to quell in the late-night hours. Camila rocks her hips against his erection, trying to find some relief as he continues to stoke her fire with his lips.

He lifts her legs around his waist and presses against her cunt even harder. Marshall hadn’t planned on having sex in his office when he sent Camila the email. The whole idea of professors and students together had always been unseemly, let alone the idea of hooking up on campus. He had only wanted to see her, maybe steal a kiss on those soft lips of hers. But when she stood against his door, he was overtaken by a need to connect with her, to be inside of her.

His lips travel down to hers, and he parts them with his tongue. Camila is entirely swept up by her need and his kisses. All her fears and thoughts have been entirely obliterated. Gone is that part of her that would care if anyone found them together. It’s ironic how quickly desire can force someone to shift her priorities.

Marshall pulls back to lift off her sweater. “Fuck,” he mumbles when he sees her bare breasts. His fingers fumble with his buttons. He has to feel her skin on his. He sets Camila down and lowers her jeans to her ankles. She steps out of them one by one, as he trails kisses up and around her thighs.

Camila lets out a low gasp when he runs his warm tongue along her cunt, soaking her already drenched thong. Marshall reaches up and squeezes her nipple between his fingers. “I couldn’t wait to kiss you,” he says into her pussy. With his other hand, he moves her underwear to the side and blows on her sensitive clit. He watches it contract as he does it, making his already erect cock twitch. Marshall brings her to the leather loveseat against the right wall. He lays her out, her body flushed and warm from his touch. Marshall is on her again, his lips crashing against her as his fingers enter Camila. She circles her hips and opens her legs wider to accommodate him.

He could watch her come all night. It’s precisely what he’s going to do later, if she’ll let him come over. He tries not to expect it although she hasn’t yet told him ‘no’. He avoids asking outright, instead asking about her work schedule and if she wants to get together to eat. Only then does the implied invitation to come over happen. Little does he know that Camila hasn’t considered turning him down once. She arches her back as he plunges his fingers deeper and plays with her breasts. He lowers his mouth over one of her nipples and sucks.
Fuck
, if he’s not careful, he’d make this a daily habit.

Out of the blue, a loud chime breaks through their heavy breathing. “Shit,” Marshall mutters.

“Wha-?” Camila utters inarticulately.

“I have a lecture in fifteen minutes.” His eyes search hers. “I didn’t plan for this to happen, and I don’t want to make it a quickie.”

Camila reaches down and touches his cock. “Doesn’t seem right to show up like this though does it?”

Marshall shakes his head. “Not at all.”

Camila gets up on her knees, and Marshall positions himself behind her. Her sex is glistening and open. She’s so primed for him.

He slides himself inside her, leans over her back and whispers, “You are incredible.”

Chapter 36

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

Shoshana loops her maroon cashmere scarf around her neck a third time to protect against the cold wind whipping down Greene Street. “Fall is always too short,” she complains, ignoring her cousin’s comment. “What do you say we go somewhere warm during Thanksgiving break? Think Todd will give you a few days off?”

“I’m not going to talk about traveling with you until you answer me.”

When they reach Grand Street, Shoshana stops walking and turns to her cousin. “You only agreed because you secretly want this. You can hide behind me and say it was my idea.”

“Which it was,” Camila reminds her.

“Potato, tomato, whatever. It’ll be fun.”

“Makes you the third wheel you know.”

Shoshana scoffs. “I’m totally chaperoning this thing. Now, let’s talk about going away during our break.”

“I could stand to get away. Todd should be fine with it. Considering I’ve rarely taken any vacation, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Camila replies. 

“What’s not a problem?” Marshall asks when he reaches the corner. He starts to reach out to touch Camila’s back and give her a kiss, but then stops himself, uncertain of what her boundaries would be today. This is the first time since the two breakfast dates they’d had that they’re out during daylight hours, and he wants to make the best impression possible on her cousin. Granted, he must’ve when they met over Tinder, but spending a Sunday with them means he’s made it to another level in Camila’s world, and he doesn’t want to blow it by kissing her in public.

Shoshana smiles at his apparent nervousness and extends a hand to break the ice. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” When he takes it, she pulls him in for a friendly kiss on the cheek. “There, that’s better. And you know C.C.” She smiles, pushing them closer together.

Camila gives her cousin a look. She should’ve known Shoshana was going to be pushy about this. Shoshana had managed to wear her down after she’d conducted a week-long campaign of texting naked photos of men at all hours. One with Gerard Butler’s face and the largest penis she’d ever seen popped up on her phone during her last study group. Camila was so horrified that she decided then and there to end it. She had to hand it to her cousin, she’s truly one of the most persistent people she knows.

Marshall takes Camila’s hand in his and brings it up to his lips. “It’s good to see you,” he says quietly.

She holds his gaze, daring herself not to turn away. Other than the kiss in the Chinese restaurant, Camila was never the type to be physically demonstrative in public let alone have actual dates with men. Ironically, since meeting Marshall, she’s broken a lot of her patterns.

“You guys are so cute,” Shoshana gushes. She threads her right arm through his left and says, “Now enough of that. I’ve mapped out all the galleries with exhibits worth seeing. After that, we’ll stop somewhere for brunch or lunch. Cool?”

Camila and Marshall don’t answer. Squeezing her hand, he leans down and asks, “Your cousin always like this?”

She nods. “Pretty much. We always have fun so I don’t mind. It’s nice not having to think for a day.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Marshall kisses the top of her head.

“I don’t get it,” Camila confesses.

Marshall shakes his head in agreement. Gallery after gallery, and he’s only managed to see a handful of works he likes, let alone understands.

“Well, I think it’s brilliant,” Shoshana declares. “The artist is clearly making a statement about the fetishism that’s so prevalent in this age of Instagram images. You see this.” She points to a small sculpture made of silicone on a stand. “It represents how much we distance ourselves from our own bodies in the way we misrepresent them over social media. We are the sum of the whole, not a mess of disjointed pieces hastily put together like this.” She waves a hand at another similarly unidentifiable object.

Marshall and Camila stare at her wide-eyed.

“What?”

“You got that from looking at this?” Camila nods her head in the direction of the theoretical limb.

“I studied the artist last semester. I totally dig his statement.” Shoshana turns and heads toward the door, picking up a brochure on the way out. “Hmm, Costas gallery. Madrid, Barcelona, Firenze, New York,” she reads aloud. I’m going to have to check out more of their stuff.” She flips to the back to read further. “Worked as a curator in New York before moving to Firenze. Now splits his time between New York and Madrid. Wow, I want to meet him.” Shoshana flashes the card in front of Camila. “Tell me he’s not the hottest gallery owner you’ve ever seen?”

Camila glimpses the dark wavy hair, sharp features and dark eyes, then looks at Marshall and shrugs. “Yeah, sure, I guess.”

“Oh please. I didn’t say hottest guy period. I just meant . . . .” She waves a hand. “Never mind. You’re a lost cause.”

“Where to now?” Camila asks, getting off the subject as quickly as possible.

“One more gallery or food, which do you prefer?”

They both look at Marshall. He can sense Camila’s boredom and Shoshana’s eagerness. It’s any wonder these two women share the same gene pool. “I missed breakfast. How about we eat then visit a few more galleries,” he says diplomatically.

Shoshana stares down at the brochure while Camila and Marshall discuss the menu.

“Shosh, I’m going to the bathroom.” Camila taps her arm. “Make sure you order for me.”

“I can do that,” Marshall offers.

“She knows how I take my coffee,” Camila replies.

Her cousin nods without bothering to look up.

“You usually this into gallery owners?” Marshall asks, when Camila walks away.

Shoshana looks up and tucks the card back into her purse. “No. It’s just, he looks really familiar, but I can’t place him. Maybe my dad’s done business with him in the past.”

“Ah okay,” Marshall says. “If you don’t mind me asking, what were you guys talking about when I arrived?”

Shoshana flips her hand back. “Nothing. C.C. seems pretty burned out so I thought we could go somewhere over Thanksgiving break. What are you doing?”

“Thanksgiving’s always been one of those holidays I wish I could sleep through. After my parents divorced, I had to switch off so it went from three of us having awkward dinners out to two of us doing that. Now I just go wherever I’m invited.”

“Then come with us. I haven’t decided where yet, maybe Jamaica. C.C. will want anywhere warm.”

“Thanks but I’m going to Miami with my mom to visit a friend of hers.” He props his elbows on the table.

“So you’re making a parental exception this year?”

Marshall nods. “Extenuating circumstances.”

“Sorry for the wait folks. Can I get you started with some coffee?” The waiter asks as he approaches. “Oh, wait. Aren’t you Professor James?”

Camila stops behind the waiter when she hears him identify Marshall.

The waiter sets down the carafe of coffee and points. “I’m in your Free Speech class. My name’s Franklin Kaul.”

Marshall rubs his top lip. “Yeah, okay. You sit in the front row if I remember correctly.”

Franklin nods and resumes pouring. “Great class the other day. I’ve been meaning to come in during your office hours to discuss
Smith v. School Board of Commissioners of Mobile.
”

Marshall holds up a hand to cut him off. “That’s what my office hours are for.”

Camila steps aside as Franklin backs away. She takes the empty seat by Shoshana instead of next to Marshall, where she’d been sitting earlier.

Marshall raises an eyebrow. “Really?”

She shrugs. “You want to field questions about more than just
Smith v. School Board
?”

He leans back and stretches his arm across the now empty chair, wishing Camila were in it so he could rub her back. It’s difficult to be near her and not be able to touch her. Of course she’s right. The law school is small. It wouldn’t be difficult for Franklin to place her face if he made the effort. Then what? New professor, not even tenured, is spending time outside of class with a student? Not just any student, but someone he’s supposed to be advising for Law Review?
Shit
.

“Have you guys decided?” Franklin interrupts the tense silence.

Shoshana turns to face him and orders for the table. “Professor James will have the steak and eggs. My cousin will have the breakfast bowl minus the roasted tomatoes. I forgot to order her a decaf cappuccino with skim milk, so one of those, and I’ll have a spicy Bloody Mary, the spicier the better and a green Shakshuka.” She gathers the menus and hands them to the waiter. “Thank you.”

“That was efficient,” Marshall observes.

Shoshana folds her hands on the table. “Minimizes the interaction. He didn’t have time to think about why you’re here or who we are.”

“He was in my Critical Race Theory seminar last semester,” Camila says. “He was one of those oversharers.”

Marshall sits upright and runs his fingers over his lip. 

“Well, if you look unhappy, he’ll think something is wrong. People are always more interested in drama so start laughing and look like you’re having a good time,” Shoshana instructs. “And it’s not as if you’ve done anything improper. C.C. isn’t giving you blow jobs for grades, so enough already.”

Marshall nearly chokes on his coffee. Clearly she has no idea he and Camila had sex in his office.
If that were ever discovered, no law school would take me
. . . .
Fuck
.

“Guess it’s a good thing we had a chaperone today,” Camila jokes, sipping her water. Marshall’s demeanor is becoming more rigid by the minute, putting her on edge. Relationships are different under the sun than in the moonlight. Everything is magnified, and the lines obscured by the soft light of moon only become more evident when shined upon. This, this is what Camila had avoided in her previous relationships.

Shoshana sighs and drums her fingers on the table. The strain is palpable. All she’d wanted was to see her cousin happy and share it with her. In a city of over eight million people, the odds of running into any of his students were infinitesimal. All it took was one wrong choice in restaurant to see Camila’s smile fade.