The Real

I knew I looked hideous, yet the man was treating me like I was his catnip.

“Okay.”

He chuckled. “Okay.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek then the corner of my mouth.

Content in his lap, my bliss was interrupted by the arrival of my escort home.

“Well, isn’t this the shit. You two look cozy,” Bree said as she approached our table with a warm smile. “Cameron, good to see you. I’ve heard nothing but good things.” Her voice low, and in a playful warning, added, “Keep it that way.”

Her eyes found mine and she winced as she looked at my swollen mouth. “Ouch, babe. Let’s get you medicated and get you home.” She pulled out the prescription I begged her to pick up for me and handed me two pills as she spoke to Cameron. “This stuff renders her unconscious in minutes. We’ll have to make this quick.”

Cameron stiffened beneath me as I popped the pills into my mouth and sipped the water bottle I had on my table. He warily eyed the bottle of pills as I put them in my purse.

Bree noticed his reaction.

“Just a few low dose Percocet to take the edge off,” she assured him. “Let me grab a coffee and I’ll get you home.” I gave her a careless nod, still entranced in willing captivity of the man holding me. I sank further under his spell before waving her away.

All-knowing Bree looked between us as I tried to get myself together. I was sure I looked needy and desperate, like a lovesick teenager curled in his lap.

Zero shits were given as I imagined having lip access to every inch of his skin. I curled my fingers in his crisp shirt, tucking them beneath the seams to touch his skin. He let out a low groan as his amused eyes found mine when we were free of interruption. There was so much light in them. I hoped what I saw was a mirrored reflection of what he could feel from me.

At that moment, I was transparent, and I knew it. I wasn’t doing anything to stop it. I had no fear. I wanted it, wanted us. To belong, not to just a man, but the man who held me. Warmth spread throughout my limbs as my body shuddered with sparked need. The pain was dull in comparison to the reaction of his touch, his words, the look in his eyes.

“I wish I knew what you were thinking,” he said softly.

“Happy,” I managed to say clearly while my heart pounded inches from his, in an attempt to communicate what it felt.

His eyes closed briefly, and when he graced me with them again, I saw a hint of vulnerability.

“Abbie,” he whispered, his voice strained. My heart crashed against my chest as he bent and placed a barely-there kiss to my parted lips. Fearful of my breath, I shook my head, warning him away. I could taste the copper on my tongue, and I tried my best to clamp my mutilated mouth shut.

“Don’t worry. I won’t take that as our first kiss, either. And you are worth every second of the wait.”

Far too soon, Bree was back with her coffee, and I was forced away from my Cameron cocoon. Reluctantly, he stood, keeping me close as he walked us to the door of the café. My mind was starting to cloud as the pills began to kick in. I

was a lightweight when it came to the effects of any medication.

“I’ll text you tonight,” he whispered before he placed a kiss on my temple then gave a warm farewell to Bree.

Our fingers were the last things to separate.

I woke to the sound of a garbage truck, feeling as if said garbage truck had backed up at top speed and dumped its load in my mouth. Flexing my angry jaw, I felt like I was still in a drug-induced haze. I was trying to convince myself to get my lazy ass out of bed when my phone buzzed on my nightstand.

Cameron would like to Facetime.

“Oh shit,” I screeched as I pulled my comforter up to cover myself. My finger hovered before I decided to hell with it and unlocked the screen to answer it. Cameron appeared in what looked like his kitchen.

“Hey, beautiful, how are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” I said truthfully. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer last night. Those pills knocked me out.”

He gave a sharp nod. “It’s fine. I was sure they would.”

I quickly ran my hands through my hair. I knew I must’ve looked like a mess. “I probably look terrible.”

“Not at all, you look comfortable,” he said as his eyes scoured me, making my heart dance.

“So, that’s your place?” I asked.