Redeeming You (Before You #2)(26)
“No. You said you needed this job and I don’t want to screw that up for you, and…” Cam hesitated. He didn’t know how much he wanted to share with her. He had feelings for Taylor, but it’d been so long since he’d wanted more than a good time with anyone that he didn’t know how to play the game anymore. He ran his hands through his hair. This was hard. He didn’t want to promise her anything when he didn’t know what he could give, but he didn’t want her to walk away either.
“And?” Taylor prompted.
“I like having you around. I don’t want you to leave. You’re good for me.” And that was the truth. He felt more balanced and centered than he had for years just knowing she was watching and waiting for him. She made him want to be a better person and stop the downward spiral of self-destruction. He didn’t know what that meant except that right now in his life he needed her. That would have to be enough for now or at least until the tour ended because he didn’t want to turn Taylor into another complication. Simple was safe, good, and just what he needed.
“I don’t want to leave you yet, either,” she answered, her voice soft and naked as she tipped her face up to look at him.
Cam smiled as her body relaxed against him. “Good. Let’s go have some fun.” The elevator door opened and he dropped his hand to her lower back guiding her through the doors.
“Where to?” she asked turning to the side as she pushed her long dark hair from her face.
He loved the way her hair framed her dainty features and the blue streak was sexy as hell. “Venice,” he answered even though he’d rather get back in the elevator and spend the night touching her everywhere and anywhere she’d let him.
CHAPTER TEN
Taylor stood in line, Cam’s arm wrapped around her waist, her head resting next to his shoulder, waiting for the next available gondola. When Cam had told her he wanted to take her for a ride before dinner, she laughed. She couldn’t believe he was serious. It just didn’t seem like something bad boy Cam would be interested in doing. It was a little too nice, too touristy and a million other things that didn’t fit, but it meant spending time alone with him, so she wouldn’t complain. Especially when he kept touching her as though he couldn’t get enough of her.
After nearly twenty minutes of waiting, they reached the front of the line. Cam stepped in the gondola and grabbed her hand, helping her into the red scalloped seat. Luckily, Cam paid for a private ride because she didn’t want to share Cam for a minute tonight. Having his attention focused on her was like a drug, one that she didn’t think she would ever stop needing.
As the gondolier pushed away from the dock, Cam put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her tight to his side. She leaned her head against his chest, inhaling his woodsy scent as she slipped two of her fingers between the buttons of his shirt. Was it bad that she craved the feel of his smooth bare skin under her fingertips? She traced every inch of skin she could reach without releasing one or two buttons and slipping her entire hand inside his shirt. His beautiful golden skin had haunted her dreams over the past week and she wanted to make sure she would see every inch of it by the end of the night.
When the gondolier started to sing, Taylor closed her eyes dreaming about spending real time with him, not time mandated by her job, the tour, or their proximity. Shaking her head, she forced the thought away. Live in the present and be happy, she chided herself, because she’d never been able to count on the future.
Cam’s fingers trailed along her neck, dipping into the top of the boat neck of her shirt and chills danced down her spine. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his warm, minty breath tickling the top of her head.
“Nothing,” she muttered, afraid if she told him her thoughts he’d jump out of the gondola and lock himself in his hotel room. Cam didn’t do the one woman, monogamous thing, or at least not since Bre, and not even then from what she heard from Alec. She’d enjoy the next twenty or so days and walk away with her heart intact.
“Hm…” he said. His free hand drifted up her leg to her hips, pausing on the sheer lace covering her flat stomach and her muscles lurched. “That’s not very encouraging.”
She lifted her head, looking into his deep blue eyes that glimmered wickedly. “Why not?” she asked, perplexed.
He chuckled. “I’m trying to impress you and instead of thinking about me, us, or our romantic gondola ride, you’re thinking about nothing.” He lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her wrist and goose bumps erupted along her arm.
Toying with his shirt, she flicked one of his shirt buttons open before sliding her entire hand over his hard chest. “I guess you’ll have to try a little harder to gain my full attention.”
“I guess I do,” he whispered as he cupped her chin, his thumb whispering across her cheekbone. “You’re so sexy when you look at me like that.”
“So are you going to kiss me?” she asked, feeling brave and needy at the same time. He twisted her into emotional knots—hot, cold, confused, happy, aroused. Could she experience them all simultaneously?
He hesitated, looking apprehensive as he sucked his lower lip into his mouth briefly. “Here?”
“Yes please,” she responded her voice more breathless than she intended, her eyes unable to move from his, as her hand brushed over his nipples.