Page 15 of Ravage (Dark Desires #1)

ALL SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS HERE

IMOGEN

What the hell is he doing here?

I continue to stare at Cam as my mind goes blank. I'm pretty sure I've forgotten how to speak, and can tell he's finding this all amusing.

"You okay?" he asks, taking a swig of beer from the bottle in his hand.

His smirk tells me he knows exactly why my brain is glitching. The last time he'd seen me, I'd been fleeing, stark naked, after he'd fucked me senseless.

The fact that he seems completely unaffected by my presence is very annoying.

"I'm fine. Just wasn't expecting to see you here." I manage to keep my tone even, despite my racing heart.

"Oh really? I would have thought that Annika told you I was on the invite list?" He flicks a look at my best friend, who is looking far too innocent as she shrugs.

I am going to kill her .

"Nope. Must have slipped her mind," I reply, glaring at Annika.

She clears her throat. "Oh, look, Kresta is calling me over. Bye!" And the traitor races off towards our friends, who are most certainly not calling her over.

I debate on simply following her, to run away from Cam yet again, but my feet seem to be rooted to the spot.

"How are you?" he asks, leaning his forearms against the edge of the table.

They are very impressive forearms. And that tattoo...

I drag my gaze away from his arms to find him studying me closely.

I shrug. "I'm fine."

"Yeah? Cause last time I saw you, you kind of seemed like you weren't fine." He pins me with his gaze, and my stomach clenches.

"Nope. Completely fine. Better than fine, actually. All sunshine and rainbows here."

And now I'm fucking rambling? What the hell is wrong with me?

"Sunshine and rainbows? That's a new one." That smirk appears again.

Damn this incredibly hot, sexy man for whatever the fuck he's doing to me right now.

The memory of his lips on mine, pouring so much emotion into his kisses, has been on constant repeat in my mind all week. Of his slow, determined movements, drawing the pleasure out so that the orgasm overpowered me and left me boneless...

His eyes twinkle as they drift over my body, taking in every inch of me slowly.

Heat coils in my belly, and something flutters.

It. Fucking. Flutters.

"Stop that," I say, glaring at him.

He raises an eyebrow. "Stop what? "

I lower my voice. "Looking at me like you know what I look like naked," I hiss.

He chuckles. "But I do know what you look like naked. And it's fucking exquisite. I've jerked off to the memory of you wearing nothing but those red stilettos every night this week."

Well... that's just... No! I will not imagine him jerking off while thinking about me.

I swallow. "Well, it was a one-time thing. So I guess you'll just have to keep it in your spank bank."

His grin turns almost feral. "Oh, it's permanently stored there, don't worry. At least, until you decide you need a repeat performance."

I stare him down. "I can assure you, that won't happen."

"Whatever you say, Imogen."

Ack, that cocky grin. I hate this man. Well, I want to hate this man.

"I do say."

Connell appears beside him and claps his hand on Cam's shoulder. "Hey man, glad you could make it."

Cam reluctantly tears his gaze from mine to smile at the birthday boy. How had I forgotten that they knew each other?

"Yeah, thought I'd better put in an appearance. I'm guessing Sebastian is floating around here somewhere? Given that you two seem so tight and all."

I turn a confused look towards Connell. "What's that mean?"

"Oh, every time I've seen Connell lately, your boss has been right beside him. We had a real interesting chat on Sunday night, especially." Something about the way he's looking at me has me suspecting that I was the topic of conversation.

"Is that so?" I ask, directing the question at Connell.

"Your name might have come up." Connell simply shrugs.

I swear, other than Annika's flirting, nothing shakes this man. Even the threat of imminent death that I'm trying to convey with my glare .

"Well, how about, instead of all you men discussing me behind my back, you all leave my name out of your mouths," I snap, turning and marching away.

I have no real destination in mind, I just need to get away from them both. I'm in no mood to dance, and I'm mad at most of the people I'd normally turn to, so I simply find an empty chair and yank out my phone.

Imogen

Why are all men such arrogant pigs?

Diana

Uh oh, trouble in paradise? What did Sebastian do?

Imogen

Not Sebastian, another guy.

Although speaking of, I need to have words with that man, too.

Diana

How do you have time for more men?

Ugh, why did I think messaging my sister would make me feel better?

Sebastian slides into the seat across from me, offering me another drink. "What's wrong?"

I glare at him and snatch the drink from his hand. "I don't know, you tell me?" I skull the cocktail and slam it down on the coffee table between us.

"I get the impression I've pissed you off, so why don't you cut the dramatics and tell me what's wrong?" he replies, looking far less affected than I'd like.

This man is on my shit list now, too. Luckily for both of us, I can fuck him while hating him .

"Did you, or did you not, go with Connell to see Cam last Sunday?"

He shrugs. "Yes. I was thanking him for his help with the woman who injured herself."

"Pretty sure that could have just been a phone call. You didn't need to meet with him. You certainly didn't need to speak to him about me."

"Ah, so that's what this is about?" He shifts to rest his elbows on his knees. "Cam told you I asked him why you'd been so upset after you fucked him?"

I go still. "No, Cam did not. All I knew was that I'd been a topic of conversation. How did you know I had sex with him?"

Sebastian shakes his head. "I put two and two together when he reacted at the mention of your name.

And then he told me his side of the interaction.

Seems you've confused both of us with your reaction to something that you usually wouldn't have batted an eyelid at.

" He studies me closely, those intense blue eyes demanding answers.

I swallow. "I didn't bat an eyelid. We fucked. Whatever."

Sebastian's eyes narrow. "No, no. You started this with your little tantrum. So you don't get to pretend that nothing bothered you last Friday night."

It takes a lot to piss off Sebastian, but it seems I've done it now.

I sigh. "It was nothing, okay? It was just... it was very intense, and it may have stirred up some feelings. That's all. He didn't hurt me."

"Feelings? What kind of feelings?"

I groan. "I don't know, okay?! Just... feelings."

"How very unfortunate for you, Imogen. To have actual feelings." His voice is dripping with sarcasm, and it pisses me off all over again.

"Hey, you're one to talk!"

His jaw tenses. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"You are all about control. You don't show any emotion, and I certainly have never seen you get 'feelings'," I reply, using air quotes.

"While I understand that this is all very confusing for you, I don't think I'm the one you're really angry with right now.

We both know I'm capable of emotions, as you have witnessed many times.

But if I felt them during sex, it would throw me right off, too.

So stop being dramatic about it and look inwards to work out why that might be.

" He holds my gaze, and it feels like I'm being told off by a parent.

I sigh, dropping my head back against the chair. "What the hell am I supposed to do? I don't do feelings."

He smiles. "You were married for several years.

You do feelings, Imogen. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Just because you and I can fuck without emotion doesn't mean you'll feel the same when sleeping with others.

Might I suggest actually getting to know Cam?

Rather than running away from your attraction to him? "

I purse my lips. "Just because I caught feelings doesn't mean he did, too. And I sure as fuck am not running after a man."

Sebastian chuckles as he shakes his head. "Imogen, he has been staring at you since you stormed over here. I highly doubt he wasn't affected by the experience. So, stop acting like a child and talk to the man."

I refuse to follow his gaze towards where Cam is standing talking to some of Connell's rugby mates, but I know he's right. I've felt his eyes on me ever since I walked away.

"I'm not a child."

"I'm well aware you aren't, because the stuff we've done together would be very illegal otherwise. I said you were acting like one. Which is not the Imogen I know. It shows just how much you want to explore things with him, and it scares the absolute crap out of you."

I groan. "I hate you."

He chuckles, crossing his arms. "Another lie, and we both know it.

" He jerks his head. "Go and talk to that very attractive paramedic and put both of you out of your misery.

" He gets to his feet and gives my shoulder a gentle squeeze as he walks past. "You might realise there's more to life than simply fucking for a release. "

I watch him walk away, frowning.

That last little jibe was unnecessary and has me wondering what feelings he's avoiding himself.