The Thing About Trouble (Crystal Lake 1)

He was quiet, but those eyes of his were alive, watching her closely, their dark depths intense.

“I’m tired of standing on the outside looking in. Of feeling like I don’t belong. Tired of being alone. Tired of feeling like life is on the right side of the road, but I’m hurtling down the left, leaving everything that matters behind. I just want…” Her voice broke, and she exhaled, squeezing her eyes shut as she hung her head. What the hell was she doing here? Did she really think she could bring her crap into his world? Didn’t Cam have enough to deal with already?

But then warm fingers slid underneath her chin, and slowly, he forced her head up until his dark eyes slammed into hers.

“What do you want?” he asked.

Her throat was tight, and she swallowed hard. She wanted to look away because she felt so damn exposed, but couldn’t, and eventually, her throat loosened. A heartbeat passed.

“I want everything,” she said softly.

Cam didn’t flinch at her words. In fact, his eyes darkened even more, as if the center had become whole, and he made a noise at the back of this throat. It was a primitive, primal sort of thing, and Blue’s blood sang.

He moved back. Gave her some room. Blue didn’t hesitate and walked inside.

17

Cam’s heart banged a mile a minute as Blue sailed past him. He’d put Tawny to bed less than an hour earlier and had checked on her ten minutes ago. She was fast asleep, curled up in the corner, snuggled among a posse of stuffed animals.

He had the place to himself.

The air crackled with energy—an unseen force that sizzled and sparked red-hot desire. Did she feel what he did? He and Blue had been dancing around this moment for weeks now. Hell, months even. The first time they met, sparks had flown. Of course, he’d been too stupid to recognize what those sparks were. But that was okay. It would make tonight sweeter. Hotter. He just had to keep his shit together, because no way was he going to rush this. Blue needed time, and this had to be done on her say.

“Do you want—” he began.

“No,” she interrupted him.

To have a drink?

She read his mind. “I don’t want a drink.” She moved closer. “I don’t to want to chill or watch a movie or eat popcorn.” She was so close now, he could feel the heat from her body. “I don’t want to talk or listen to

music.” She touched his chest. “And I don’t want to cuddle on your sofa either.” She turned her face up, and it took everything in Cam not to grab her mouth with his and kiss her senseless.

“I want to feel what it’s like to be with you. To touch you. For you to touch me.” She smiled then, a small sort of thing, as if just realizing her power. “I want to know what it’s like to have you inside me. I want to know if…” She caught herself and blushed, looking away quickly as if her bravado had fled.

“What?” he prodded gently.

Blue worried her bottom lip and eventually met his gaze. “I’ve never…” She swallowed hard. “That is, I’ve…I don’t think I’ve ever had an orgasm.”

Cam was surprised. Most women he knew could take care of business on their own and they were more than capable of telling him exactly what they needed. But Blue wasn’t most women. She was about as far away from the sex-kitten persona most folks in town associated with her as he was from the damn moon.

“Maybe I have,” she whispered.

A nervous tic pulsed beside her mouth, and Cam reached for her then, kissing it away softly as he pulled her into his arms. He inhaled the fresh scent in her hair and felt his whole body tighten with desire.

“Bluebell, if you have to wonder whether or not you’ve had an orgasm, then there’s no way in hell you have. But that’s okay, darlin’.” He cupped her butt and drew her closer yet. “You’ll know exactly how amazing it feels when I make you come.” He felt her shudder. “And I will do whatever it takes to make that happen for you. But you’re in the driver’s seat. We go at your pace, and if you want to stop, just tell me.”

“I don’t want to stop, but I’m a little nervous.” She exhaled a shaky breath and looked away. “So stupid, I know.”

“No,” Cam said gently. “You’re not stupid.” He bent forward and pressed a light kiss to that spot below her ear—the one he adored. “You’re beautiful and open and honest.” She shivered against him, and he smiled. “You like that?”

She nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

He worked his way back up and claimed her mouth in a kiss that rocked his world. She tasted like heaven, and the feel of her, the velvety wetness drove him mad. His tongue and lips created havoc, and she squirmed against him, chest heaving, color high.

“You like that too?”

“God, yes,” she uttered throatily, arching her back slightly so he had no choice. With one deft move, Cam pulled her sweatshirt over her head, and, sweet Jesus she was naked beneath it. Her breasts were softly rounded—just enough to fill his large hands—and he cupped them carefully, dipping his head and settling his warm mouth over her puckered nipple.