Page 28

Elliott

This was bullshit .

I’ve been sitting here reading the same sentence for what feels like forever. But all that keeps playing in the back of my mind is what are they looking at? What did they find in the Everton files?

The door handle turns and I jump, sitting up, and setting my book down without even saving the page I was on. I need to know what the hell they found.

"Hunter? What did you—" I call out as the door begins to slowly open, honey-colored eyes land on me. " Kameron ?" I breathe out.

"Hey, gorgeous." A small smile forms on his lips as he slides his hands in his pant pockets.

Tears blur my vision and I don't even realize my feet start running until I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me into his embrace. His warmth takes me over and the tears become sobs. " Kameron!"

He curls down into me, his face nuzzling my neck as he breathes me in, "Fuck, I've missed you." He mumbles.

I don't want to leave this moment but he pulls away to look down at me, his forehead resting on my own. His thumb comes to my cheek and swipes away the stream of tears that have coated them. I’m not sure if they are from happiness, relief, or reality hitting me all over again.

"How are you feeling?" He grabs my hand in his as he walks to the couch, sitting us both down before he slides in closer to me. "I can't imagine how you have been feeling. I am so sorry, Elliott. I will never be able to forgive myself for not getting you out before—"

"Kameron, it wasn't your fault."

"I didn't get there in time. It is my fault." He lets my hand fall from his, turning away and resting his head into his hands.

"You didn't know what he was going to do. I didn't know."

"I knew it was bad." He inhales a deep breath, "I knew he was going to do something fucked up, but I tried Elliott…" He drops to his knees on the floor in front of me, grabbing my hands back in his. "I tried to get you out in time. You have to believe that."

"Kam, I know." I lift a hand to cup his face and he leans into it.

Only now do I see how his eyes are glossy and a tear rolls down his cheek.

His eyes lift, darting between mine. "I believe you.

" I whisper to him. He moves closer, settling in between my thighs.

He waits a moment, like he is gauging if I am okay with his closeness.

How could I not be? Even after everything, he makes me feel safe.

He leans in hovering inches from my lips, and I can't help but breathe out his name.

"Is this okay? I don't want to go too fast. I know—"

I slam my lips onto his before he can finish his sentence. I don't want him to think of me as this fragile little thing. I don't want what Samuel did to me to define who I am.

"Fuck, I've missed the way you taste." He growls into my mouth, pushing my legs further apart so that his hips meet my groin, his hands still cupping my cheeks.

His tongue slides across my lips asking for entrance.

I part them and his tongue lands on mine.

He deepens the kiss, his minty taste spreads across my taste buds and I moan into his mouth.

I want more of him. His rosewood scent swirls in the air and it's all so much at once.

His hips grind into me, "You drive me crazy, El."

The sound of this new nickname has me falling into him even more. I can't get enough of him. There is no space between us yet I need him closer.

"Ahem—"

I jump out of Kameron's embrace with a yelp.

Kameron turns to look over his shoulder, then looks back at me, giving me a soft kiss on my lips before standing.

With Kameron's tall and wide frame, I can't see who walked in, so I lean to the side landing on my elbow with a thump.

Green eyes land on mine, void of expression.

Kameron walks up to him in hurried steps and wraps his arms around him. Hunter tenses up and gives him a pat on the back. He looks uncomfortable with Kam's touch. "I've missed you, man!"

"I missed you, too." His eyes are still on mine, but they snap to Kameron quickly, "We've all missed you."

"Been taking care of my girl?"

"You could say that." Marcus chuckles, stepping into the open door frame, leaning his shoulder on it. A smug smile on his face. He looks between Hunter and Kam before his dark irises lock onto Kameron only. They scan him intensely with a sense of worry.

"Flores." Kam says, shifting on his feet a bit. He goes to walk to him, but Marcus holds his hand up and Kam stops his advance.

"I'm glad you're safe." Marcus says.

"Thanks, me too." Kam's words clip out.

I'm still seated on the couch, slouched over on my elbow as I watch them. The air fills with the tension of whatever it is that is going on between them. I try not to blurt out all my thoughts but I can't help myself.

"What did you find? Can I go see it now?" I stand, walking up to Hunter now and his eyes soften as he takes me in.

"No." Hunter and Marcus say in unison.

"What do you mean? What is it? "

"You don't need to see all of that right now." Hunter's voice sounds like a beg, and it baffles me to hear him like this.

"I don't need to, or you don't want me to?"

"I don't want to show you." His voice booms out.

I instinctively take a step back. Distancing myself from the sudden defiance in his tone.

Fuck. What did they find?