"All right, Liv. I'm sorry I didn't take this seriously. I'll do what I can to help you."
"Does that mean you'll stop hanging out with her and flirting with her at parties too? Because that, Cameron, is a deal-breaker for me. I willnotbe with someone who disrespects me enough to be friends with the person who is bullying and threatening me. I wouldneverdo that to you."
"I'm all but on my knees here, Liv. I'll do whatever it takes," he tells me.
"Again, you're making it feel like I'm annoying and you're going to avoid Alison out of obligation. That's not how I want this to go. You need to want to do it for the right reasons," I answer.
"I swear to you, I am." He reaches for my hands and this time I let him—his larger ones engulfing mine as he pulls them to his lips and kisses my knuckles. "I love you, Liv."
"I love you, too. I don't want to be a bitch or demand things from you, but these are things that should come naturally."
"I know, but you need to remember, I've never had a steady girlfriend—nothing like what I have with you, so I'm still learning," he reminds me.
"I know that's true and I think I've been understanding, but please, Cameron, if you find it's too much, just say so. We can take a break until you have more time," I offer.Please don't disappoint me again. Next time there won't be another chance.
"I promise," he murmurs, kissing my forehead and pulling me into his embrace.
He smells so good and it feels good to be in his arms again, but I'm not feeling all that great about our discussion. I really, really hope he means what he says and isn't just placating me, because if that's the case, he'll destroy the last of what's between us—and it's already very fragile.
We walk the restof the way to the dorm and sit down on the couch.
"You going to the game, tonight?" he asks after looking at the clock. I know our time is short. He's got ten more minutes and he's back to the game.
"Yep. I'll be there," I tell him with a smirk. "Like I'd miss seeing you in those tight pants."
"Pervert," he teases with a chuckle.
"Damn right. Tight buns, muscular thighs—my boyfriend is seriously hot," I tell him, fanning myself.
"After the game I'll remind you just how hot I can be."
His eyes have that sexy smolder that so easily seduces me.
"Promises, promises," I taunt.
He pulls me onto his lap. "Baby, I'm going to love you all night long—or until I pass out from exhaustion."
"I'm going to hold you to that," I tell him, running a fingertip over his lips, tracing them.
He leans in, kissing me softly, gently, reminding me of the Cam my heart opened for. His tongue licks along the seam of my lips, and I open for him without hesitation. Lord, this man can kiss. Our hands are caressing each other as our tongues tangle and retreat, our breathing getting heavy, our hearts beating fast and loud.
By the time we pull apart, I'm panting and he's not in much better shape.
"I've missed the hell out of you, Liv," he admits, and it feels so good to hear it, I fight back tears.
"I've missed you, too. Let's not make it possible to miss each other like this again unless we have to," I propose.
"Deal." He gets up, but before he walks away, he looks down at me. "I know I'm a shitty boyfriend, Olivia, but do me a favor?" he asks, dropping to his knees in front of where I'm sitting.
"If I can."
He rests his hands on my sides, his thumbs moving over my ribs. "Eat. You're too skinny and I know it's at least partly my fault. Don't do that for me. I would never want you to get sick because of me."
I nod.
"Promise me," he pleads, knowing I won't break a promise to him after our vow not to.
"I promise."
