Chapter 13
~ Hayley ~
“Will you stop fussing with your hair?” Hannah chides, swatting my hands away. “You’re going to undo all my hard work!”
I roll my eyes, earning another slap on the shoulder. She’s spent the last hour helping me get ready for my second ‘first date’ with Cameron. After he told me about his father, it felt like something between us shifted into place, rather than out.
We’re spending Thanksgiving together the day after tomorrow, and to say that I’m nervous is an understatement. I’m meeting his mother and his sister, and I know they are the two most important people in his life, next to his father. I’m worried about what they’ll think of me, not because of Arianna, but because of how young I am to have her. I haven’t told Cameron about it though, he’s too excited for me to ruin it with my silly concerns.
But that’s tomorrow’s problem. Tonight is about us, and about figuring out where we go from here, one step at a time. I’m nervous about our date, but for a whole other reason. I’m staying over at Cameron’s house. Alone. With Cameron. Because his sister is so close to her due date, Cameron’s mother decided it was best if she stayed at their house for a few nights. Cameron actually insisted she'd go because she spends too much time cooped up at home, fussing over Cameron’s father. They have two full time nurses who take care of him so there’s no reason for her worry while she’s gone.
“Did you pack your new lingerie?” Taylor asks from her spot on my bed. I nod, looking down, and feel my cheeks grow warm. When I told Hannah and Taylor, who have also become really good friends, what Cameron had in mind for tonight, they both dragged me to a mall an hour away and took me shopping for new underwear and lingerie. Much to my humiliation, they made me try it all on as soon as we got home, even the lacy matching bra and panty sets had to be showcased. It was the first time someone other than my grandmother had seen me in my underwear after I had Ari, and it made me feel self-conscious. Somehow, Hannah and Taylor both made me feel at ease about it, however it has been short-lived since I’m not feeling as confident right now.
“Cam is going to f-r-e-a-k when he sees you in that black baby doll nightie,” Hannah throws in. So not helping my need to throw up, I think to myself.
“He’s not going to be able to keep his hands to himself,” Taylor chimes in, exchanging a look with Hannah. Bitches. None of this is helping. I’m still so damn nervous.
“How do I even know it’ll happen tonight?” I ask quietly. “What if it’s too soon? Don’t you think I’m rushing into this?”
Hannah turns me to face her, giving me her are you serious? look.
“It doesn’t have to happen tonight,” she says. “But if it feels right, then let it happen, Hayls.”
“But I’m nervous. It’s the first time I’ll be with someone like that after…” my words trail off. I don’t need to explain further because Hannah and Taylor both know everything about my past, even a little more than Cameron does. That little fact makes me feel a tiny bit guilty but that’s something I’ll have to deal with another time. Right now I have a more serious dilemma on my hands. I could possibly be having sex with Cameron for the first time and I’m terrified. Not because I think it’ll suck, but because I’ve never opened myself up so entirely, both physically and emotionally. Even in high school, when I used to distract myself with guys all the time, it was always purely physical. I never got my emotions involved. Until now.
“Sweetheart, trust me, I understand,” Taylor says, walking over to where Hannah and I are standing. “But Hannah is right. If it feels right, then timing isn’t important. What’s important is that it’s what you both want.”
“And I can tell you, in complete honesty, that Cam is just as nervous as you are for tonight, but he’ll never force you to do anything you don’t want to,” Hannah adds.
“He’s nervous too?” I squeak.
Hannah chuckles. “Yes, he is. He spoke to Noah, and I happened to overhear.”
I sigh, feeling my shoulders relax. “Okay then. I guess we’ll have to see how it all goes.”
“And please,” Taylor pipes up, zipping my overnight bag. “If you’re about to, you know, please think about those of us who are going through a dry spell, alright? Do it for those of us who aren’t gettin’ any!”
That’s all it takes for the three of us to burst into a fit of laughter. My nerves subside slightly until my grandmother knocks on my door.
“Come in, Gama,” I call out.
The door opens and Ari walks in, followed by Macy and my grandmother. Ari comes over to me and throws her arms up. I rest her on my hip and turn to my grandmother.
“You look lovely, sweetheart,” she says smiling at me proudly. “I believe there’s a young man waiting downstairs. And don’t worry, I strip searched him, he’s good to go.” She winks and laughs at my expression. I always knew this woman was batshit crazy but God, I love her.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” I tell her.
She closes my door and I look at Hannah and Taylor. “Are you sure you girls will survive a night alone with my grandmother?” I ask. They’re having a movie night here tonight and looking after Ari while I’m with Cameron.
“We’ll be fine,” Hannah replies. “Now quit staling and get your hot mamma ass downstairs.”
Ari looks at Hannah and yells, “Hot mamma ass!”
I raise my eyebrows while Taylor and Hannah start howling with laughter.
“It’s not funny, Han,” I chuckle. “I don’t want my baby growing up with a potty mouth.”
I scrunch my nose and rub it against Ari’s, causing a sweet giggle to come out her mouth. “Okay, monkey pants, we’d better not keep Cameron waiting. You ready to go meet him?”
Ari smiles at me, probably not understanding a word I’ve just said. With Taylor and Hanna behind me, I throw my overnight bag over my shoulder and walk downstairs with Ari on my hip. Cameron has his back to me when I reach the last step and I take in how good he looks from behind. When he turns around, I bite the inside of my mouth to stop the shiver of anticipation that threatens to pulse through my body. He looks…edible. His dark jeans hang from his hips and his thighs. Oh those thighs… His red button up shirt shows off his strong, muscular chest and the sleeves, rolled up to his elbows, show just a hint of the tattoo on his right bicep. His eyes land on me and he gives me that half-grin that I love, bringing out his dimple.
“Hi,” he says. I think I hear nervousness in his voice but I’m not sure. If he’s nervous he’s hiding it well. I walk closer to him and both Hannah and Taylor disappear into the kitchen.
“Hi,” I reply, feeling like an idiot the minute the word leaves my mouth. Say something else, you moron. Ari wiggles on my hip, reminding me that Cameron has yet to meet her. Suddenly my nerves are back, and my stomach flutters. What if he doesn’t like her? Or worse, what if Ari doesn’t like him? Well, I brace myself; it’s time to find out.
“Cameron, this is my daughter, Arianna,” I say, watching the way he looks at her. At the sound of her name Ari looks up. Only, it’s not me she looks at, it’s Cameron. She watches him carefully, like her little two-year-old mind is sizing him up. “Ari, this is Cameron. Can you say hi?”
Ari smiles shyly at him, not saying a word. It’s when he reaches out his arms to her that I’m surprised, and when she willingly falls out of my arms and into his, I’m in shock. Ari is friendly enough, but I’ve never seen her go to a stranger so easily. Ari looks at Cam, smiling her shy smile again, and touches his face. Their interaction has me speechless.
“Hi Princess Ari,” Cameron says, looking down at my little girl. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Instead of responding verbally, Ari simply wraps her arms around Cameron’s neck. I feel my throat tighten and grow thick with everything I feel in this moment. Relief. Fear. Amazement. Gratitude. Awe. All of it.
“Are you guys ready to go?”
I turn around and see Hannah standing in the doorway to the kitchen. The look on her face tells me she saw the whole thing, yet she doesn’t look as surprised as I’m sure I do.
“There’s been a slight change in plans,” Cameron answers, looking at Hannah and then at me. My stomach does a slight dive and I’m hoping he doesn’t want to cancel. I swallow, and wait.
“Arianna is coming with us,” he says.
I stare at him.
“Here’s her bag,” Taylor says, smirking. She walks past me, Macy on her hip, and hands Ari’s bag to Cameron.
“This was the plan all along?” I ask surprised.
Cameron smiles. “Yes. I’m taking both of you on our date tonight.”
My hearty swells and I feel like it’s going to burst. I feel tears coming but I bite my tongue until the threat has passed.
“I will come get her in a few hours and then we’ll all see you tomorrow at Cameron’s house for Thanksgiving,” Hannah pipes up, ushering us towards the door.
I pull my jacket on while Cameron helps Ari with hers. Seems she’s decided to attach herself to him.
“And remember,” Hannah says softly, so that only I can hear. “If it’s meant to happen it will. Just have fun, enjoy it.”
She smiles at me and I kiss her cheek, whispering ‘thank you’ before heading out the door. Cameron straps Ari into a car seat while I climb in the front passenger seat.
When he joins me, he catches me staring, a smile playing at my lips. “What?” he asks, starting the ignition and pulling away from the curb.
“Nothing,” I reply. I’m grinning like a fool and on the verge of crying. All because Cameron brought a damn car seat for my daughter. So far, it’s already turning out to be an amazing night, and it’s just started.
The drive is quiet, except for Arianna singing quietly in the backseat. Cameron’s hand rests on my thigh and something about this, the three of us in his truck, feels natural, and I like it. I’m not sure where Cameron is taking us, and I don’t think to ask until he stops outside of a small restaurant I’ve never been to before. It’s a tiny corner bistro with wrought iron tables and chairs set up outside. It’s too quiet for a weeknight and something tells me Cameron has something up his sleeve. We climb out and I go to help Ari out when Cameron walks around the hood of his truck with her in one arm and her bag in the other. I giggle. He looks very domesticated. He knocks on the door of the bistro and a tall, bear-like man comes to open.
“Cameron, come in, come in,” he welcomes.
He closes the door behind us and locks it, flipping the sign on the door to “closed”.
“Tony,” Cameron greets, shaking the bug guy's hand. “This is my…” he hesitates, looking at me and then back at Tony. “Girlfriend, Hayley, and her daughter, Arianna.”
I stick my hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he replies, kissing my hand. I blush. He’s quite charming.
Tony then does the same with Ari and she, too, is taken by his charm. I stifle a laugh when I see Cameron almost scowling.
“The kitchen is set up,” Tony says “And all yours. You’ll lock up when you’re done?”
“Yes, thanks again for letting me have the place for the night,” Cameron replies.
Tony nods and says goodbye before leaving us alone. Cameron leads us to the kitchen and sets Ari in a kiddie’s high chair.
“You going to tell me what we’re doing here?” I ask, walking closer to Cameron.
He closes the distance between us, resting his hands on my waist. “We are going to have some fun.”
I tilt my chin and stretch on the balls of my feet until my lips lightly brush his.
“Later,” he mumbles against my lips. His eyes burn into mine and I see the promise. Later….
With a chaste kiss and a heart-stopping smile, he goes to the fridge and starts taking out ingredients.
“What are we making?”
Cameron grins excitedly. “Pizza.”
** ** ** ** **
“Did you have fun?” Cameron asks, wrapping his arm around my waist. He kisses my shoulder and I shiver.
I turn to face him. “I did, thank you. It was perfect.”
“Before or after Ari threw the flour at you?” He chuckles.
I shake my hair out laughing at the memory. We ended up making a bigger mess after that, and needless to say, I had no idea rolling pizza dough could be such a turn on. I licked my lips several times while Cameron’s hands worked and kneaded the dough until it was pliable. It made me wonder if he could do the same to me and bend me to his will.
“You were amazing with her,” I say. “I’m glad she seems to like you.”
He smirks. “It’s my charm, even the little ones can’t resist me.”
“There’s that cockiness I’m so fond of,” I tease.
“Nah, as long as you like me, I’m happy.”
He dips his head until our lips touch. I hold my breath and when both his arms snake around my waist I sink into him. He moves his lips across mine in a gentle caress that leaves me craving more.
“Do you need to change?” he asks quietly. I’m so caught up with his lips that I forgot about my overnight bag.
I nod, feeling shy and nervous all over again. Cameron goes to close his bedroom door while I take my time changing into my lingerie. I eye myself in the mirror. My eyes are bright, my cheeks rosy and my hair hangs down in soft ringlets just below my breasts. The black baby doll dress is almost see-through with a bow that ties it between my breasts and flows down to my thighs, covering the matching black panties.
Taking a deep breath, I open the door. Cameron is sitting on the edge of his bed, shirtless, with his elbows on his knees. He looks up when he hears the door, and we stare at each other for what feels like hours. I notice that he’s lit some candles and turned off the lights. It’s romantic, and not what I was expecting. He stays seated, and watches me approach, his eyes appraising me, appraising my body.
I come to stand between his legs. “Wow,” he breathes. He reaches for me, his hands wrapping around the back of my naked thighs and pulling me until I straddle him.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” he says quietly.
I touch his lips. “I want…” I pause. I’m not sure how to tell him what I want. Cameron tips my chin so that we’re nose to nose.
“Tell me,” he presses. “I want to give you what you want.”
My hands slide up his arms and I lean closer. My voice is nothing but a whisper, mixing in the air around us. “You, Cameron. I just want you.”
“You already have me.”
Our lips crash, our mouths seeking each other out. Our tongues slide together, lapping and tasting each other, discovering each other. He lifts me up and turns us around. His arm tightens around my waist and I wrap my arms around his neck as he lowers us onto his bed.
He settles himself between my legs and I wrap them around his waist. Our mouths pull apart and our eyes collide.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers. His fingers trail down my face and around my neck. “You’re sure?”
I rest my palms on Cameron’s chest and feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat increase. I have no doubt that this is what I want.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
I grip the back of his neck and pull his lips down to mine, urging him on, encouraging him. I feel him loosen the bow between my breasts and I arch my back when he palms one. He massages slowly, moving his mouth down my throat until it wraps around my other nipple. He sucks hard and I moan, threading my fingers through his hair.
“Ohhhh,” I moan again and writhe under Cameron’s touch. His mouth moves to the other one, paying it equal attention until I’m a quivering, needy mess beneath him. His tongue travels down, circling my navel. When he kisses my C-section scar I suck in a breath. Something about it feels more intimate than anything else we could possibly do tonight. I lift myself onto my elbows and watch him move lower. His fingers slip under my panties and he kneels back to slide them down my legs. I try to hide myself, my nakedness, but Cameron stops me by putting his hands on the inside of my thighs and pushing my legs open.
He groans, staring down at me. I’m wet and I know he can see it.
“Oh my God,” I moan when he presses his thumb down on my *.
“Watch me,” he instructs, his eyes dark and dangerous. I swallow, my breath faltering when my feet are lifted and placed over Cameron’s shoulders. His mouth lowers, his eyes boring into mine, and his tongue slips out. At first I think he’s going to lick his lips but instead, he slides it over my *, between my slick folds until I feel it dip inside me. My whole body is ablaze for him, his touch.
I bite my lip and whimper as his pressure increases, stoking the fire burning low in my belly. My toes curl and my hands grip his duvet. I moan between pants, struggling to keep my head from dropping. Cameron’s pace becomes faster, with more fervor, and when I think he’s going to give me the earth-shattering explosion my body is reaching for, he stops and lowers my feet onto the bed.
“Cam,” I pant. “What - ”
“Ssshhh,” he cuts me off.
My mouth goes dry when he starts unbuckling his belt, sliding the zip down. His cock springs free after being trapped behind his jeans. I swallow hard when Cameron’s fist wrapped around his length and starts moving up and down. I’m so turned on and I decide to tease Cameron the same way he’s teasing me. I sit up and spread my legs, catching his attention. My hand slides down and I start stroking my over-sensitive nub. Without warning, Cameron stops, and crawls over to me, grabbing my wrist and halting my fingers.
“Lie down,” he growls.
As I lie down and scoot further back, Cameron leans over and pulls out a condom from his bedside table. I’m grateful that he was the one to think about it, because I’m so hot and bothered that it slipped my mind. The last thing I want is a repeat of the last time … -
My thoughts come to a standstill at the feel of Cameron at my entrance. He lowers himself onto me, devouring my mouth with a devastating kiss. I rest my feet on his butt and press down, breathing out on a whimper when he slides in.
“F*ck me,” Cameron breathes out against my mouth. “So tight. God.”
I slide my hands through his hair, over his damp shoulders and down his back. “Cameron,” I try to catch my breath and adjust to his size. He’s stretching me, filling me completely. “Please, I need you to move, I need - ”
Cameron swallows my words with another kiss and starts rocking his hips. Slow, torturous strokes. I don’t want slow. My body is too hot for him, and too frenzied. The tip of his cock rubs my walls and the fire in my belly intensifies. Our bodies slip and slide, finding a frantic rhythm that causes my muscles to tighten with delicious pleasure. He pulls out, almost all the way, and I yelp when he grabs my ankles and puts my knees under his arms. Somehow it makes the feel of him sliding back in excruciatingly intense. I grip his forearms and he pushes into me harder and harder.
Our moans and grunts fill the room as our bodies climb higher and higher in search of ecstasy, and I feel it coming with every thrust. Cameron drops my knees and lifts my butt, driving us both crazier as he deepens his strokes and drives into me faster and faster.
“So. Close,” he sighs, his face sweaty. I tilt my hips and the simple movement makes the tip of his cock hit my sweet spot. I clench around him.
“Oh, sweet f*ck.”
I cry out and scream his name, shaking, my body giving in to a pleasure I’ve never experienced before. Cameron follows, dropping his body onto mine, and biting my shoulder to silence his grunt.
“Wow,” I pant. An aftershock of pleasure ripples through me when Cameron tries to move. He lifts onto his forearms and looks into my eyes as he wipes my hair from my damp forehead.
“You are amazing,” he says, smiling lazily at me. I stroke his back, enjoying the feel of his chest pressing against mine.
“Hmmm,” is all I can manage. He chuckles and I feel it between my legs, where he’s still connected to me.
He kisses me, long and slow, before pulling out of me. I wince. “You okay?” he asks.
“I’m perfect,” I tell him honestly. I’m going to feel it tomorrow but I have no regrets. Cameron walks into the bathroom to discard of the condom, and I take the chance to put his shirt on. He comes back out, a washcloth in his hands.
“Lie back down.”
I frown at him. After that, there’s no way I can go again so soon. My legs are barely standing as it is.
He brings the warm washcloth between my legs and cleans me. Nothing about it feels awkward. In fact, it’s… sweet. He throws the cloth to the side, blows out the few candles, and slips into a pair of briefs before climbing into bed. I give him a sleepy smile and he pulls me into him. I kiss his chest. I’m exhausted, but I wouldn’t change a single second of our tryst. Instead of going slow, we gave into our most primal needs and it makes me feel connected to him in the most visceral way.
“Goodnight, Hayls.” He kisses my forehead and I mumble something unintelligible before slipping into a peaceful slumber.