I sigh deeply in response, because there is no use in denying it.
“I get that you just want to forget for a minute, because I do too, but I want to make sure we are on the same page first, because I am not the type of man who would walk away from someone that I care about in their time of need. I know that our backs are against the wall, but there is still a chance that a new piece of information will come out, so I’m not giving up on you and taking a temporary physical distraction as a consolation prize. Not now, not ever.”
I deflate as his words truly sink in. Despite the fact that I am clearly a lost cause, Cameron is not going anywhere. Not unless I force him to. My body is flooded with an icy cold avalanche of adrenaline at the thought of challenging my curse again, but I do want to fight. I’m not ready to give up yet.
I look up at him with my newfound determination, so that he can see for himself that I mean it. “Okay.”
His lips part with a sharp intake of breath. “What do you mean,okay?”
When I don’t immediately clarify, he says, “I’m sorry, but I need you to be more specific.”
The tension in his shoulders is so tightly coiled that it’s as if he is fighting with every ounce of his willpower to keep his hands to himself until I confirm what he needs to hear.
“I mean,okay, I will let you fight for me. Or alongside me, I guess. I am scared to death right now, because I really don’t want to go to jail. But I don’t want to go back to my old life, either. I want more. I’m not convinced that any of this will work, but if you are truly willing to fight this with me, then I say let’s fight. That way, neither of us adds any more regrets to our ever-growing reserve.”
His lips turn up at the corners as my words sink in, and his joy works like a salve over my frayed nerves, allowing me to truly hope that things can be different. His confidence can carry us both through whatever comes next, so all that remains in this moment is my desire to completely lose myself in him and make up for the time that we’ve already lost.
His eyes darken as he reads my intention, but he still moves painfully slow to bring his face down to mine, as if to warn me that this is it. That our kiss will seal the contract, and for him, there is no going back. I remain resolute and wait patiently for his lips to finally be back on mine, where they have belonged this entire time, and when they finally connect, he seals his fate by my side.
The kiss is soft at first, but the second his lungs release the breath he’d been holding, it shoots heat straight through my core. I bring my arms up around his neck to pull him in closer, and he snakes his strong arms around my waist until I am flush against him, leaving no space for doubt.
The tempo of our kisses increases until we are giving and taking in a near frenzy, but our height difference gets in the way again, making it hard to establish any sort of rhythm.
Just when I start to get lost in the feel of him, we have to break apart to readjust. I glance over at the nearest wall to hint that we can replicate that incredible first kiss back at Ravenwood by using it for leverage. He follows my line of sight, but doesn’t move us towards it. Instead, he recaptures my mouth whilereaching down to grab hold behind my knees, lifting me astride him so our faces are finally at the same level. I lock my ankles around his back and grab onto his shoulders as he carries me over to the kitchenette. I am not sure what his plan is, because the countertop is still covered with what he bought earlier, until he shifts my weight to one arm and uses the other to swipe the countertop clean.
I gasp as the food and games go flying onto the floor around us, making a mess that we will have to clean up later. But when I am lowered down onto the counter in their place, I forget all about them, because we are now at the perfect level to continue.
I tug on his neck, and he leans forward to brace his hands on either side of me, but I am seated too far back for our bodies to be as close as they were before. I put my hand on his chest so that I can scoot closer to the edge without risking us bumping heads, and he watches with amusement as I make dismal progress with a few small bounces. He takes matters into his own hands by curling his fingers behind my knees to yank me to him, so that our bodies are flush against each other once again. I see stars as desire completely takes over every cell of my body at this new angle, but he misreads my expression and hits the brakes, rearing back.
I dig my heels into his lower back and he smiles against my lips as we pick back up where we left off. I cherish every point of contact and every slide of his tongue against mine, but it’s not enough. I keep going back for more, and more, and more until he pulls away to trail his mouth down my jaw, past my ear, and along my neck. It slows things down a bit, but still leaves goosebumps behind every spot where his lips touch my heated skin. I grow impatient and pull his face back up to mine, but just as I dip my hands under his shirt so that I can feel his bare skin, he stiffens and pulls away again.
“Get back here,” I breathe against his lips, digging my fingers into his back.
“Hang on. I think I hear something,” he says between ragged breaths.
We pause for a moment to listen, and I can’t stop myself from moving my hands from his back around the front to his toned stomach, where every one of his well-defined muscles shudders under my touch.
I lean in to kiss that place where his jaw meets his neck when I don’t hear anything other than our labored breathing, and then guide his face back to mine. My phone rings again from somewhere in the room a second later, and I reluctantly turn my attention back to where I dropped it on the coffee table. He steps away so that I can hop down to get it.
My legs are unsteady and I nearly lose my balance, but I get to my phone before it goes to voicemail, seeing the picture of Gabe’s and my face smashed together.
“Hey, Gabe, everything all right?” I summon my newfound bravery and try not to assume that something terrible has happened.
“No,” he says, completely shattering that plan. All the heat from kissing Cameron dissipates and is replaced by icy fear. “The birth mom changed her mind last minute and decided to go back on the adoption. She is going to keep her baby.”
“What?” I say, certain that I misheard him. Cameron is beside me in a second and places a hand on my side, and mouths,What’s wrong?
“This was always a possibility, but it’s rare,” Gabe confirms. “She was so certain the entire time that we never fathomed it would happen to us. She has a right within the first forty-eight hours to change her mind, though, and she did. I know that Scott told you not to leave the retreat early, but I think you need tocome out here. Right now, if possible. He’s distraught, and I’m trying my best, but I’m just so devastated too that . . .”
He continues speaking, but I cannot hear the rest as the phone falls out of my hand and onto the floor.
Cameron reaches down to get it and then holds it up to his ear. “Sorry, Drew needs a second. This is Cameron speaking now.”
A silence stretches as Gabe says something into the phone, and when Cameron’s shoulders visibly sag, I know that he is retelling what happened.
“I am so sorry, Gabe. For both of you. Is there anything that we can do to help?”
Cameron nods while Gabe speaks. “Of course. I will get her to you as soon as I can.”
