Page 89

Nate

S leep fled slowly the next morning, like sand through wet fingers.

As my dreams faded and reality returned, I noticed a light pressure on my chest. Blinking away the last vestiges of sleep, I glanced down and saw Cameron asleep on my chest. Her mouth was slightly open as she breathed deeply and steadily.

A tiny bit of drool coated the skin below her mouth.

Staring at her, I couldn’t help but grin at how adorable she looked.

I could get used to this .

The words gave me pause. Could I really see myself with this woman? Settling down and being hers? Domestic life had never appealed to me. It had always seemed boring, trite, banal. Until now.

I watched her sleep until she finally stirred. Stretching and wiping at her mouth, Cameron groaned and then yawned before looking up at me. She blinked in surprise.

“Were you watching me sleep?”

“I was. You drool when you sleep,” I said, lifting an eyebrow and giving her a cocky grin.

“Oh, God ,” she hissed and wiped her mouth again, a red flush rising to her cheeks.

Chuckling, I sat up and rubbed a hand over my messy hair. “Come on. Let’s get ready. We need to get on the road.”

Before I could pull myself from bed, Cameron clutched at my arm. Turning, I found her gazing at me, a playful smile on her lips. Excitement and anticipation stirred in my stomach.

“Do we have to get going so fast?” she asked, then licked her lips. “Don’t we have a few minutes?”

A hungry growl reverberated through my chest as I pulled her against me. “I think you might be right.”

Our lips met, and the heat of her mouth surged into my own as her hand drifted low, fingertips playing along the waistband of my boxers.

Taking my cue from her, I let my fingers drift over her left breast, my thumb grazing her nipple.

When Cameron gasped and arched her back, desire flooded through me.

My cock throbbed, straining against my boxers.

Cameron drew her fingers across the bulge of my underwear, and I let out another growl. She broke the kiss and grinned at me.

“I think I have some work to do,” she said.

Before I could say a word, she pushed me onto my back and lowered her face.

Lying back, I watched her peel my boxers down.

My cock sprang free, forcing a sigh from my throat.

When she wrapped her hand around my shaft, I groaned in pure pleasure.

She began to stroke me, her fingers cool and smooth in sharp contrast to her warm breath.

“God, that feels good,” I groaned.

Cameron’s gaze locked on mine. Without breaking eye contact, she parted her lips and took me into her hot mouth. My jaw dropped open as indescribable pleasure swept through me. She never once looked away. As her head bobbed up and down along my full length, my hips moved in time with her mouth.

I ran my fingers through her hair. “You’re doing such a good job.”

Spurred on by my words, she moved even faster, stroking me as she sucked me. Saliva slicked my shaft and her hand, making my cock glisten. Cameron hummed low in her throat, and the sound vibrated right through my cock and balls.

“Fuck, are you trying to make me come?” I hissed.

“Mm-hmm,” Cameron grunted, never taking her mouth from me.

“Shit.”

With her confirmation, I let my mind go blank, allowing her to do whatever she wanted to me. Her movements grew more frenzied as my breathing became ragged. She could feel how close I was, and she continued pushing me closer to the edge, to the tipping point.

A tight pressure grew deep in my balls, spreading into my pelvis.

Shuddering pleasure throbbed along the length of my dick.

Digging my fingers into the sheets, I thrust up into her mouth.

A scream of pleasure burst from my throat, and ecstasy washed across me as the pulse of carnal release rippled down my full length.

Every muscle in my body tensed, then relaxed fully.

All the while, Cameron continued moving up and down on me, milking every drop.

Finally, fully spent, I let out a gasp of relief.

“Did I do good?” Cameron asked playfully.

Giving her a stern look, I sat up, lowering her onto her back. “Your turn,” I growled, tearing her panties down her legs.

Cameron giggled, but the laughter turned to a curse of delight as I buried my tongue inside her.

She was wet beyond belief, and my lips and tongue slipped across her hot opening.

Wrapping my lips around her clit, I sucked hard, smiling against her when she whimpered.

She grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me against her, urging me on.

I slid a finger inside her and stroked that spot that always made her tremble. Cameron cried out.

“Oh, fuck,” she hissed, lifting her hips to grind against my face. “God, yes.”

Adding another finger, I thrust into her, fucking her with my hand while I sucked on her clit. My fingers were dripping, and when I looked up, she’d pulled her shirt up and was pinching her nipples.

The sight of her in the throes of pleasure made my inner wolf growl in desire. We both wanted her to feel good, to shudder and cry out beneath our movements. A faint tremor ran through her body, and her breathing came in fast, shallow gasps.

“Come for me, baby,” I said.

“Oh, fuck!” she cried out, her mouth dropping open in a silent scream.

I flicked my tongue over her clit while my fingers continued their rhythmic thrusts into her.

Cameron threw her head back again and slammed her pussy into my face as her orgasm exploded through her. She trembled beneath me. Unwilling to release her, I continued my movements, thrusting and licking as she continued to come.

At last, fully spent, she gently pushed my face away. “I can’t,” she choked out. “No more. No more.”

Smiling, I kissed her stomach. “You’re the one who asked for it.”

She scooted up, resting on her elbows. “And I think I did a very good job, as did you.”

“I’m not complaining,” I laughed. “Can we get ready now, or do you want to go another round?”

“I’ll be good,” she said, swinging her legs over the bed. “We can get ready.”

The emotional high faded a bit, and sadness welled up inside me.

I wanted this woman. I could actually picture myself with her.

Forever. Yet, it wasn’t that easy. Our world was outlined by dumbass laws that made me an outcast. I’d never rip her away from everything she loved just to be with me.

That was the most unsettling kind of selfishness I could imagine.

Maybe, just maybe, if JC could pull something off, we could end up together, but I had to make sure I understood how this might all play out.

Sighing, I shoved those thoughts away and stood up.

As we set about our morning routines, I was once again struck by how natural it was.

Brushing our teeth, getting dressed… it was like we’d been together forever.

In the past, when I woke beside a woman, I’d have eased from the bed, left a note on the pillow, and vanished before she woke.

That playboy life had always been exciting and fun.

When I looked back on it now, though, it reeked of childish desperation.

It had been my attempt at finding someone I wanted —a constant revolving door of women who didn’t quite scratch the itch like Cameron did.

This was a strange but welcome change of pace.

“What’s that?” Cameron asked as I pulled a small spray bottle from my bag.

“It’s a fifty-fifty mix of water and vodka,” I explained.

“A little early for drinking, isn’t it?”

“Smartass,” I chuckled. “It’s not for drinking. It’s to cover our tracks.”

I went around the room, spritzing the bed, the couch, and any other place we’d have touched for more than a few seconds.

“It destroys the enzymes in scent molecules. Basically erases our scent,” I said. “If anyone tracks us to the hotel, they’ll never be able to tell which room we were in.”

“Why don’t we spray that on ourselves, then?” Cameron asked.

“Wouldn’t work,” I said, putting the cap back on the bottle.

“Our bodies are always giving off a scent. It might cover it for a minute or two, at max. The only way to really cover it for very long is a stronger smell.” I shrugged.

“Heavy perfume or cologne would work, but then you’ve only given them a different scent to track.

Or,” I added with a frown, “another person’s scent.

Like last night? You told me on the way back here last night that this Carly woman sprayed you with her granddaughter’s scent?

Stuff like that would work, at least for ten or fifteen minutes anyway.

Long enough to get away and break the scent trail.

Sounds like that woman is pretty smart.”

“Interesting,” Cameron whispered. “This is a really weird world. Cool. Interesting. But really freaking weird.”

“You could say that again,” I laughed. “I’ve lived in the shifter world so long it’s become second nature to me. It’s interesting seeing it from your point of view.”

A low, gurgling rumble groaned from Cameron’s stomach. She put a hand to her belly. “I’m starving. Those candy bars and chips didn’t do much for my appetite last night.”

“Let’s put our stuff in the car and see if there’s anything to eat within walking distance of the hotel,” I suggested.

Outside, the sun had barely crested the horizon, sending grayish streaks of light across the sky. I scanned the surrounding area for danger, but not a single sight or scent stuck out. We were in the clear.

“All good,” I said.

“I never asked, did you find any evidence last night? Anything that can tie Rick and his father to this whole thing?”

I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened my photo gallery.

“If this garage is really owned by Rick’s father, then this should be pretty damning.

I sent these photos to Ollie last night.

He and JC have them now. I guess we’ll see how things go when we get back, but I think it was a successful mission. ”

Cameron shook her head. “I still can’t believe this. An entire fortune built on selling shit that ruins people’s lives.”

“Yeah. We aren’t dealing with Boy Scouts.” Stashing our bags in the trunk, I glanced around and sniffed the air. “What is that?” I gasped at the delicious aroma.

Cameron sniffed as well. “Shit, that smells good.”

My stomach cramped with hunger, and I took her hand. “Come on. I gotta see what that is.”

We strolled down the block, following the enticing scent—a combination of meat, garlic, spices, and cheese.

It led us right to a food truck in an abandoned parking lot three streets down from the hotel.

Usually, I’d have thought the place too sketchy to eat at, but almost a dozen people waited in line.

Clearly, this was a hidden gem the locals loved.

“Wanna give it a shot?” I asked.

“Hell, yes,” Cameron said, eyeing the truck with almost fervent desire. “I’m starving.”

The bright red sign on the side of the truck read “Miguel’s Breakfast Burritos.” The menu was short, but everything sounded amazing. Before we got to the front of the line, I decided on a birria burrito, and Cameron chose chorizo and beans.

Stepping forward, Cameron glanced up at the man in the window. “ Hola, como estas ?”

The guy’s eyes widened, and he smiled. “ Muy bien. Y tú?”

“Hambrienta !” Cameron exclaimed and rubbed her stomach.

The man laughed and clapped his hands. “Well, we shall take care of the lady and her mister. What can I get for you?”

We ordered the two burritos, but the man—the eponymous Miguel, I assumed—added, “Potatoes? I have hashbrowns.” He leaned down and whispered conspiratorially, “These Americans love hashbrowns.”

Cameron chuckled and ordered one of those as well. Even if the food ended up sucking, I’d still like the guy.

Within minutes, he was handing us a bag laden with food. I paid, leaving a hefty tip.

“ Gracias, mi amigos!” he called to us as we departed.

The sun had fully risen by the time we walked away, cutting through the early morning mist.

“Do you want to stop somewhere and eat?” Cameron asked.

Pointing to a store ahead, I said, “Let’s pop in there real quick.”

Five minutes later, we exited the little dollar store with a couple cheap beach towels and a few bottles of orange juice. I led Cameron to a small park near the hotel, where we laid the towels out on the dewy grass so we could sit and eat.

My first bite of the burrito had me groaning in ecstasy. “Holy shit,” I said through a full mouth. “This is fucking amazing. I should have tipped that guy even more.”

Cameron looked like she was experiencing the same culinary delight.

She couldn’t even respond as she tore into the burrito.

The hashbrowns were unique—fried crispy and dusted with what tasted like cumin and chili powder.

Ridiculously good. We should have ordered more.

Our shifter metabolism required a lot of food, but the sheer size of the burritos would be enough.

The burritos, along with the potatoes, would have us both bloated and ready for a nap when we were done.

“This is nice,” Cameron said after taking a swig of orange juice.

As I looked out over the Detroit River, it felt a bit like we were in a smaller town, not a huge city.

The quiet and calm of the early morning seeped into us, embracing our little pocket of picnic heaven.

I almost laughed out loud. It was nice. It was also pleasantly boring compared to everything else we’d been through.

We had important things to discuss, but I decided to simply let the moment be. If nothing else, we could spend the next few minutes enjoying ourselves. The outside world, and all the dangers that came with it, could be forgotten for a while.

“It really is nice,” I agreed, taking another bite of my burrito.