Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(49)

“You have got to be f*cking kidding me,” I growled low. The girls flirted hard but when one of them ran a finger down his arm, he stepped back and grabbed his board. I was too far away to hear what was said, but nothing could mistake the frowns on the girls’ faces. He strolled up his sandy backyard to the walkway behind his house, alone. It made me love him even more. As soon as he disappeared behind the gate, I followed.

The gate was locked, but I knew how to handle that. I had a set of lock picks in my bag so I pulled them out and started on the lock. As soon as it clicked, I knew I was in. Quietly, I slipped the picks back into my purse and opened the door. There were windows all around the back of Camden’s house, which gave me a full view of him in the kitchen. He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and disappeared around the corner. If anyone had a pair of binoculars they could see right into his home and what he was doing. I personally liked my privacy.

Once fully inside the gate, he had a huge Olympic-sized pool with at least twenty lounge chairs around the perimeter. Instead of going to his door, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, grabbed the newest edition of Physique Sports and Fitness out of my bag, and sprawled out onto one of his lounge chairs. Let’s see how long it takes him to notice me.

I had my phone out on my lap, timing him, with the magazine lifted high and covering my face. It took him all of three and a half minutes to slam the door.

“What the f*ck? I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re trespassing. You need to leave now.”

Ignoring him, I kept the magazine poised high.

His footsteps were angry as they stomped down his deck toward me. “Are you deaf?” he shouted. In the next second, his hand gripped the magazine and he flung it across his yard. He was pissed, but when he realized it was me his eyes went wide in surprise. “Brooklyn.”

Pursing my lips, I slowly lifted my sunglasses and placed them on top of my head. “Nice house,” I said. “Now I see why you left Charlotte. It’s much nicer here.”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s not why I left and you know it.”

“Do I?” I countered. “You left me, Camden. I woke up and you were gone. You didn’t even give me a chance to talk to you.”

He sighed and hung his head. “That’s because I didn’t want to give you the chance. I knew I would’ve stayed and put you in even more danger.”

Jumping to my feet, I stood up to him. “It wasn’t your decision to make. You totally cut yourself off from me. Do you know how bad that hurts?”

“Yes,” he growled, lifting his head. “It f*cked me up just as bad, if not worse. When Mason told me they arrested Blake, I thought I could come back to you, but then he said it wasn’t over.”

I scoffed, “So what, you were going to wait this out? What if it took a year, Camden? You’re supposed to be a fighter. Fighters don’t run from their problems, they fight for what they want. You might think you’re saving me, but all you did was hurt me. I needed you and you left.”

Gripping my arms, he pulled me angrily to him. “I’ve been going out of my f*cking mind worrying about you; wondering if you hate me. But the bottom line is, I don’t want you paying the price for my sins. I had to leave, it was for your safety.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pulled away. “When are you going to realize I’m not a porcelain f*cking doll? I’m not scared of the people going after you, Camden. I’m scared of the unknown. If you want me to turn around and walk out, I’ll do it. But you’re being selfish thinking this is all about you.”

Turning on my heel, I started for the gate. He beat me to it and slammed it shut. His hands gripped my face and he kissed me hard. I dug my nails in his arms and opened myself to him, hoping he could feel the anger kept bottled inside. Breathing hard, he pulled away and rested his forehead to mine.

“This is why I left, buttercup. Because I knew the second you came after me, I wouldn’t be able to let you go.”

“Then don’t,” I cried. “We can face this together.”

Lifting me in his arms, I straddled his waist as he kissed me again. “I just don’t want to lose you.”

“Then don’t let me go.”

Carrying me in his arms, he led us inside and slammed the door. His blue eyes pierced into mine with raw, untamed heat. He was torn between placating me and doing what he thought was right. Even if he wanted to keep me safe, I couldn’t allow him to let me go.

He carried me up the steps and down a darkened hall to the very last room on the left. When he opened the door, the sunset greeted us through floor to ceiling windows. It was nothing but blue ocean and pink skies. The walls were a pale yellow and the bedspread he laid me on was a rich, royal blue. His fingers skirted up my bare legs and he unbuttoned my denim shorts, lifting my shirt over my head. When he looked down at my side, his gaze turned hard.

“Stop,” I murmured gently, lifting his face to mine. “I’m not going to break, remember?” I undid my bra and tossed it on the floor before pressing my lips to his.

He growled deep in his chest and pressed me down into the bed with his weight. My hands fumbled with the string on his shorts but I finally got them loose and he kicked them off. Once he slid mine down, I was way past ready for him to make love to me. Spreading me wide with his knee, he moaned as he trailed his lips down my neck to my breasts. Like a starved man, he sucked my nipples until they grew raw and sore. It felt so achingly good.