Enya looks at Jimmy and seems to realize they’re about to be left on their own. “Okay. Time to go.”
The group leaves together and walks to the zipline building’s parking lot.
As we draw near to our destination, I brush my mouth over Camile’s. “Can I come to your place?”
A shiver runs through her. “I’d like that.”
Camile
When we enter my place, I’m pleased I cleaned up earlier. There are still designs everywhere, but I’ve stacked them in orderly piles so I can work through them and choose my favorites. I’ve decided to follow Leo’s suggestion and pitch to investors first. While it has the potential to be hardest on my ego, I think there’s a higher likelihood of success because venture capitalists don’t mind taking a risk in a way that clothing companies may not. I’ve sorted through about half of the designs and have a growing pile of discards, but I’m really excited for the small array I’ve selected for my collection.
“Wow.” Leo whistles as he enters behind me. “You’ve been busy.”
I look over my shoulder and grin. “You inspired me.”
I probably shouldn’t be so frank, but the drinks at the bar have loosened my inhibitions enough to flirt with him and see where it leads. Based on the way he whispered hotly in my ear before we separated from the others, I have a good feeling about it. Leo takes my hand and guides me to the sofa separating the living area from the bed. I see him glance over at the rumpled blankets and then his gaze clashes with mine. The look in his eyes has butterflies erupting in my stomach. What will it feel like when he actually lays his hands on me?
He sits and pats the spot beside him. I sink into the sofa, my knees wobbling, and he curls his palm around the side of my face, sending ripples of desire through my body. The tip of his thumb presses into my lower lip, and he holds it there for a moment. Excitement pulses between my legs. He looks like the lion he’s named for—hungry and ready to move in for the kill. I can’t help but squirm while I wait for him to act.
Finally, he dips his head and his lips meet mine. Lightning flashes on the insides of my eyelids. The naughty pixies in my pants want to throw a party and invite him in. Nothing about the kiss is tentative. It’s thorough, as though he’s wringing as much pleasure as possible from every second. I sigh happily and press closer. He smells faintly of beer, but it’s the scent of his skin that overwhelms me. It’s pure Leo. Masculine, woodsy, and enticing.
I run my hand down his chest, over sculpted muscles, and down to the front of his jeans. He groans and thrusts his hips forward, hard behind his fly.
“Touch me,” he murmurs. “Please.”
I cup his erection, but before I can decide what to do next, he grabs my shoulders and jerks me toward him. I straddle his legs, then hesitate. While he’s given no sign he doesn’t like my size, I’m probably heavier than the other girls he’s been with, and I’m worried I’ll squish him. How unsexy would that be?
“You’re thinking too hard.” He reaches for the hem of my blouse. “Is this okay?”
“Wait.”
He immediately drops the fabric. “What’s going on in your head, Cami? Let me in.”
“I, um.” I bite my lip, afraid to share my fears even though I know realistically he’s unlikely to say, “yeah, actually, youaretoo fat for me.” I muster my courage. “I’m worried you won’t be impressed with what you find beneath my clothes.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a second but then force myself to open them again. “I have thick thighs and love handles. If you’re not okay with that, then we can’t go any further.” When I’m finally brave enough to look him in the eyes, he’s staring at me incredulously.
“You are the sexiest woman I’ve seen in my entire fucking life.” His voice trembles with emotion. He raises a hand as if to brush hair from my face but stops short. “Have I done anything to make you think otherwise?”
I want to roll into a ball and hide, but I can’t run away from this situation, and if I don’t deal with it now, then the fear will only return with a vengeance later. “No, but I’ve had plenty of nasty things said to me, and it’s kind of hard to forget them.”
He frowns as understanding dawns. “Like the men at the club that night?”
“Yeah.” I climb off and sit beside him. R.I.P. to the sexy mood.
But then Leo grasps my chin between his thumb and forefinger and turns my face toward him. “I wish I’d punched that asshole.” His nostrils flare and his eyes burn with anger, but not directed at me. “I should have laid him the fuck out for speaking to you like that. I just…” He releases a shuddering breath. “I was trying to keep a low profile because of the whole drug thing. But it shouldn’t have mattered.” He studies me, trying to gauge my reaction. “I’m sorry I didn’t do that for you.”
I shrug as though every awful name those men called me didn’t cut to my very bones. “You hardly knew me then.”
He scoffs. “Doesn’t matter. Nobody should be treated like they’re trash.” His lips brush mine and he nuzzles the side of my neck. I relax, and warmth fills me. He continues. “I’ve always thought you were gorgeous. But I’d mentally classified you as off-limits because of Karson.”
I try not to flinch. Of course he did. Story of my life. I’m rarely judged on my own merits.
“We don’t have to go any further if you don’t want to,” he says. “But I’d love to bury my face between those thick thighs you mentioned and make you forget about anyone who ever said anything mean to you.”
My thighs clench tighter at his words, and my clit begs for his attention. “I want that.”
He grins. “Then how about I strip off first so you feel less exposed and vulnerable?”
I nearly laugh. Yeah, seeing the man who’s built like a Greek god naked isn’t really going to make me feel less self-conscious. But I’m not about to pass up the opportunity to ogle him, so I keep my mouth shut while he stands and strips off his shirt and jeans, leaving him clad in only a pair of briefs that lovingly caress the bulge of his cock. My gaze journeys down his body, over the ridges of his abdomen and deep grooves above his hips. I swallow. There’s a damp spot on his underwear, where precum has soaked through. Liquid heat rushes to my core. He really does like my body. So much that he’s been leaking for me. My lips curl into a sultry smile. I feel like a seductress. Like the type of woman I never dreamed I could be.
