The One That Got Away (6 page)

“
Chris!”
she yelled while already stepping from the bar. He looked up and
raised his brows. “Close up—okay?” She didn’t
wait for his reply as she pushed out into the cold air and headed for
her car.

*
* * *

Will
paced his little bed-and-breakfast room for the thousandth time,
probably much to the annoyance of anyone below him, but he didn’t
care; he was livid.

He
couldn’t sit still, especially not in the pub with her ignoring
him plainly. She hadn’t looked at him once in the three hours
he had waited, and fuck! He was pissed off.

Someone
attacked—and scarred—my Cammy!

He
had never felt rage like it, never known anger quite as acute as when
he understood Cammy no longer trusted him enough to tell him what had
happened. But why he had expected her trust he didn’t know. He
had run off ten years ago and never contacted her; it was no wonder
she was pissed off.

Will
wanted to roar his fury and rage at someone—cause a fight just
to work off some anger—but he wouldn’t. He was in control
of his temper, he was a better man than his father. Better than that.

But,
shit, he was angry. Will stalked to the bathroom and wet his fingers,
he ran his palms over his face and rested his hands on the basin. He
stared into the mirror and glared at himself.

He
saw his father’s angry violent face staring back, and he turned
around, disgusted. Sometimes his temper was so strong, so violent and
harsh, it ran through his veins and felt like a snake slithering
through his body. He hardly drank because he knew then he would have
no control. It was at times like this that he actually understood his
father—and that made him hate himself. How could he understand
a man who beat his kid?

He
remembered back to a time when he had just had a kicking from his
dad. He had run straight into Cammy’s arms and allowed her to
soothe the anger from his body. Her gentle hands and soft touches had
been the only way back for him some days. He remembered all the
trouble he got into after leaving home, and winced with the knowledge
he no longer had Cammy and her healing touch.

There
was a soft knock on his room door. Will glared at the white wood and
closed his eyes.

All
your pacing got the old lady riled and now she’s going to
complain…Great.

After
taking a deep breath and whispering the oath, “Can’t kill
old people,” to himself, he yanked open the door.

Cammy
stood before him. She seemed to stop herself from taking a step back
and Will didn’t know what to say. She swallowed hard and then
bit her bottom lip. Will watched with fascination, his heart
hammering with the understanding that Cammy was no longer looking
angry, no longer refusing to meet his gaze. She was staring right up
at him, with…heat…in her eyes.

“
Cammy,”
he breathed. He sounded stunned, blindsided to his own ears. He
stepped back and allowed her into the room, and he was utterly amazed
when she smiled and followed him in. She awkwardly looked around, her
gaze falling upon the bed, and Will had to fight the need that
suddenly pulsed through his veins.

Not
yours anymore…

“
Can
I get you—anything?” He coughed awkwardly when he
remembered he was in a hotel room, and of course had nothing to
offer—except maybe a bottle of water.

She
grinned and shook her head, and then as if catching herself she
dropped her gaze.

“
Uh,
I just wanted to—uhm…”

Will
stepped closer and lifted her chin with his finger. She gasped but
didn’t pull back. Her hazel eyes locked onto his and Will felt
a tremor of desire roll over his spine, down his back and straight to
his cock. She was beautiful.

“
Don’t
apologize—not to me.” His thumb stroked over her jaw. He
wanted so desperately to touch her mouth, to kiss her lips until they
were breathless like they used to be. But he didn’t know what
she would do, and now he had her calm and gentle he wanted to keep
her that way. But he still allowed his thumb to stroke her cheek.

“
But
I want to.” She spoke quietly. Will could still hear the desire
in her voice. It was like a fire in his groin, an animal inside him
that roared to get out.

Lust
was painful when held back.

“
Don’t.”

She
looked up at him, not moving, her only motion was to swallow, and
breathe—and even that was sending Will crazy. She made him
burn, made him want until he could think of nothing but to learn if
she tasted the same as ten years ago…to find out if she still
whimpered when he kissed her neck, if she still trembled when she
came.

Memories
flooded his mind of times when he had his hands filled with her pert,
soft and completely perfect breasts, while he kissed her mouth and
licked at her tongue. Her responses back then had been so innocent,
so uninhibited, it made him wonder just how different she would be.

“
Will,”
she breathed, and the sound drew his eyes to her lips. The soft,
pillowy mouth that he knew could send him wild. The image of his last
night with her, when her mouth was around his shaft flew into his
mind. Heat licked at the insides of his thighs and singed his balls.
His cock went solid in his jeans and strained against the zipper.

“
Cammy,
I…” He couldn’t finish what he was going to say,
because Cammy drew herself up and pressed her lips against his mouth.
He was going to tell her he didn’t think he could resist her
for much longer, but apparently she felt the same.

Stunned,
shocked and almost shaking with emotion, Will pressed closer and
opened his mouth so he could taste hers. All thoughts scattered as
his body took over. He wrapped his arms around her and reveled in her
taste, her heat, her seemingly desperate desire.

Ah,
God. He couldn’t be this lucky—to have her back in his
arms.

Chapter
Five

Cammy
gasped for air when Will’s mouth trailed all over her face, his
firm yet gentle kisses peppering her skin, making her mindless and
wanton. He speared a strong hand into her hair and tipped her head
back, his other hand roamed over her back and backside. Gone were the
tentative touches she remembered from ten years ago. Gone were the
worried glances whenever he allowed his excitement to go too far; he
never had quite understood she liked it when he had gotten a
bit…rough.

Now,
he clutched her with a man’s grip, held her with steel arms and
heavy, hot kisses and Cammy loved it. Her body was alive, weak and
pliant in his arms. She clutched at his shirt and pulled herself
closer to his solid chest. He growled low in his throat and Cammy
found herself smiling.

He
was a man now
,
she thought, with a cool thrill along her spine—and she wanted
to know what it was like to finally fuck William Granger.

The
man—William Granger.

For
so many years she’d regretted that last day they had together.
What if she had gone with him? What if his dad hadn’t caught
them together? What if—what if—what if… And
tonight, on her way over she had begun to think ‘what if’
again. What if he disappeared again, and she never got to see him?

When
she walked into his room and saw his handsome face, and his slightly
awkward smile, she had thought…
What
if I kiss him
?

And
now she was…

She
sighed when he gripped her head with both hands and claimed her mouth
again. He was frantic–as much as she. He was forceful, and
strong, and everything Cammy had ever dreamed he would be. She pulled
back just enough to gasp, loving the way he hungrily moved his mouth
down her jaw and nibbled.

And
then a stab of fear jerked her back from his kiss. She stared up at
him as the idea he would be up close and able to see her scars burned
through her desire. Will frowned but kept his hands on her face, and
as if he read her mind, his eyes dipped to her scars. Unable to step
out of his strong hold, Cammy closed her eyes.

Mortified
and wondering what he would think, she jumped a little when she felt
his hot mouth press over the tip of her scar. Her eyes flashed open,
as a new wave of heat sizzled all over her skin.

“
Will.
Please…”

He
didn’t listen; he just continued to taste her with heavy,
sensual kisses. Instead of trying to verbalize her need, Cammy lifted
her hands and gripped his wrists—not to pull him away, but just
to feel a little in control of what he saw. He slid one of his hands
into her hair and he cupped her nape. A little gasp of surprise
slipped from her mouth when he jerked her head back. His mouth
descended on her scars again and Cammy felt the responding heat
between her legs replace any fear she had felt.

He
was so demanding and strong, so completely in control, and Cammy was
melting in his arms. Suddenly she became desperate to be closer to
him, to touch him as he was touching her. For years she had pined for
this man, yearned to see him again so she could show him what he
meant to her. And now, as she lifted her trembling hands to undo his
shirt, she finally felt as if she had come home.

*
* * *

Will
watched Cammy’s hands as they worked his shirt buttons loose.
The slow but purposeful strokes of her fingers inside his shirt had
his insides bunching, coiling for more. She was shaking, clearly
nervous, but the determination on her face showed him she wanted him.

“
Cammy—you
don’t…”

She
cut off his words by leaning forward and kissing his bared chest. The
moment her hot lips met his skin his thoughts of offering her a
chance to back out scattered. Her cool hungry hands swept over his
heated skin, leaving ripples of goose-bumps in their wake. He stroked
her hair to the side and watched as she licked and sucked at his
body. The image was the most erotic thing he had ever seen. She
stared up at him with hooded dark eyes as she tasted him—licked
him.

His
cock twitched as if remembering the last time her mouth had been on
him.

With
a deep growl, Will dug his hands back into her hair. He pulled her
face up to his and kissed her. His tongue found hers with hungry
impatience. She sighed into his hold and Will could wait no more. He
walked her backwards to the floral decorated wall and pressed her
against the flat surface and ground his stiff cock against her. She
gasped and lifted her head. Their eyes met, and bolts of electricity
shot down Will’s spine right to his balls.

She
wanted him; that much was clear. She panted and gasped as their
bodies wound higher and higher. Her little hands were back inside his
shirt, stroking and teasing his skin. Her seeking fingers swept all
over his chest and down his sides, and now her greedy hands were
tugging at the top of his jeans.

Hell,
yeah!

“
Can
I take off your top?” he panted, well aware he hadn’t
seen the extent of her scars on her body. The way she had reacted
when she thought he might see them had told him the damage didn’t
end just on her throat. She had looked at him with more than fear;
his Cammy was terrified of what he would think, and for some reason
that made him bristle. He could never think less of her; she was
perfect.

Her
breathing hitched, but bravely she nodded and swallowed.

Will
tucked his fingers in the bottom of her sweater held her stare and
lifted the material slowly over her head. He didn’t miss the
apprehension in her eyes, the sudden hitch in her breathing when her
skin was bared. And when she dropped her gaze and closed her eyes,
Will took the chance to actually look at the pinkened flesh that
marked the savage damage some bastard had done to her.

The
bastard hadn’t just stopped at her throat, he had carved
criss-crossed lines all over her chest with whatever weapon he’d
used. Questions surged into Will’s mind, curses and anger
filled his mouth. But when he looked up and found her watching him
with agonizing scrutiny, he could do no more than drop his mouth down
and claim her lips.