"Where is this coming from?" I asked, eyeing him suspiciously. "Do you know something that you're not telling me?"
"What? No!" he said, letting go of my arm. "I'm just saying that we were in the middle of a serious discussion last night when we were interrupted, and I didn't get to say what I was feeling at the time. I just wanted to add it in the mix so that you know."
"Duly noted." I nodded. "And for the record, I don't object to your baggage at all. We all have it. What I object to is all the money. I'm not sure I can handle the adjustments that would be required to live in your world. I just don't know."
"What adjustments?" he shot back defensively. "There are no adjustments for you to make! You like me, I like you, and we want to try and figure out how to make this work. That seems to be the only adjustment needing to be made."
"No, it's really not," I said, shaking my head. "There are all kinds of issues associated with you and your money, and now that you're signing this contract to be one of Metzler's guys...it's just all really complicated, and I need time to think it over."
"I'm not one of Richard Metzler's goddamn lap dogs!" Cam shouted, causing Tesla to come running into the dining room barking. Cam looked down at her and said, “Quiet, girl."
"I didn't say you were a lap dog," I replied calmly. "I said that there are compromises that will have to be made in order to live the kind of life you live. I just don't know if I'm willing to make them or not, and I don't want to go too far down this road if I'm not going to make them. I'm trying to protect you, too."
"I don't need protecting!" Cam shouted. "Stop trying to protect me! I'm fine the way I am, I've got everything under control!"
"Obviously," I said sarcastically. "Okay, fine. You don't need protection, but I need to decide for myself what I'm willing to do."
"You're just scared," he shot back. "Well, I've got news for you, sunshine, we're all scared."
"Don't get snippy with me, Cam," I said, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm just trying to make a good decision for myself. I've got a lot going on and I don't want to screw it all up by falling for a guy who..."
"Who what?" he asked. "Who isn't going to be there when things get tough? I'm here, aren't I?"
"No, I just..." I began and then looked away.
"What is it, Alex?" he asked as he pulled me close and tipped my chin up so I had to look at him. "What is stopping you from letting go and seeing where we wind up? What are you running from?"
I looked into his smoldering green eyes and knew exactly what it was that I was afraid of. Cam Connor was a magnetic force, and I knew that once I was pulled into his orbit, it would be impossible for me to get out of it.
"I'm...I...I..." I stammered as I held his gaze and felt my body responding to his touch.
"Tell me, Alex," he whispered as he leaned down, holding his lips only millimeters from my own. "Tell me why you're holding back."
"Cam..." I moaned softly knowing that the sound of my voice was going to push him over the edge and that he'd take me with him.
Cam's lips crushed mine as he kissed me hard and yanked me against his body. For a moment, I thought about fighting the attraction, and then I gave up and gave in. There was no use in fighting it. We were drawn to each other and the only way to stop it would be to leave and never look back, and I wasn't prepared to do that.
His hands roamed my body as he pushed my shirt and then my bra up over my breasts. I could feel him breathing hard as he kissed me more deeply and his hands cupped my breasts as he squeezed my nipples into erect points. I moaned louder as he quickly pushed my pants down over my hips. My panties quickly followed and he lifted me up off the floor and set me on the table, spreading my legs as he unzipped his jeans and slid them down over his hips.
Seconds later, he had rolled a condom over his engorged shaft, and I felt him pushing inside me as I spread my legs wider, pulling him deeper into me. He groaned as he sank all the way into me, and I felt the need rise in a way that I'd never felt with anyone before. I wanted Cam. No, I needed him. And he knew this.
He pulled back as he began the steady familiar rhythm I'd already come to want. I broke away from the kiss and put my hands flat on the table behind me so that I could meet his thrusts with an equal force. Soon, we were slamming against one another as we drove each other closer and closer to the edge. Cam's eyes never left mine as our rhythm pounded out our need for each other. I could feel him swelling inside me, and when he reached down and slipped his thumb between my lips so that he could stroke me to orgasm, I moaned loudly and let go.
The force of the climax hit me hard and fast as I pushed myself forward and clung to him. Cam wrapped his arms around me and thrust harder and faster and soon he reached the edge, too. He groaned as he came, and I looked up to see him looking down at me as the wave of pleasure washed over him.
"Oh, God, Alex," he groaned as he held tightly to me, his hips still thrusting as he rode the orgasm. He kissed me, softer this time, as he ran his fingers through my hair and held my head in his stro
ng hands. He breathed into my lips, "What you do to me, woman."
"Cam...I...oh God," I whispered as I kissed him again. I could feel my desire beginning to build again, but I knew that if we didn't stop now, we'd never get out and look for Liz. "We have to stop."
"I know, I know," he groaned as he pulled back and stepped away. The room felt colder without him holding me and I wanted to beg him to come back, but I didn't. He walked to the bathroom, shut the door, and a few minutes later emerged with his pants pulled up and his shirt tucked in.
I, however, was still sitting where he'd left me; half naked on the dining table wanting him.
"You'd better get dressed." He grinned. "I can't be held responsible for what I do if you don't."
"Nice, Connor." I laughed as I hopped down off the table and almost stepped on Tesla. "Your dog is incredibly well behaved."