Page 10 of Strong Coffee (Coffee Beans & Love #1)

NINE

Brady

I could talk about Coffee Beans & Love for hours. I could actually talk about coffee in general. I didn’t start drinking it until my late teens when I would cram studying into a single night because I always forgot about tests and exams I had. It was a wonder how I actually graduated.

While I told Camden about the business I owned with three of my best friends, I had a moment and thought he would cut me off and change the subject to talk about himself instead.

But he never did. He leaned his elbow on the table with his body turned toward me and gave me his full attention.

I never had someone so focused on me and the things I said.

“I feel like I’m talking too much about my bar and coffee.” I laughed, the sound nervous and shaky.

“Never.” Camden grinned, giving me a wink. “I like the sound of your voice, Brady, and I could actually listen to you talk for hours.”

My heart stuttered. “Really?”

Before he could say any more, the waiter came over and asked if we wanted anything else. Camden asked for the check when I shook my head. I did want something else, but it was something that only Cam could give me.

“Where did you want to go after this?” I asked him, remembering that he had mentioned going out for drinks and making a night of our date.

“Actually, I had every intention of us going to Coffee Beans & Love, but I wasn’t sure if that would end up being weird for you.”

“Really? You want to go there?”

“I do.” He gave me a sly grin. “I do have an ulterior motive though.”

“What? Do you want to rub it in Shane’s face that I’m out on a date with you?” I laughed, shaking my head but Cam didn’t laugh with me. “That’s what you want to do, isn’t it?”

He shrugged, giving me a wink.

“Cam, you can’t do that. I have to work with him. It would make things weird with the other guys. It would just be…”

“What? What exactly would it be, Brady?”

“Weird.” It would be uncomfortable but what else could I say? I couldn’t tell him that the thought of him being possessive over me was hot as hell.

“You said it’s over between you and Shane,” Cam pointed out. “You’ve also talked up your business so much that I want to check it out. So it’s your fault.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine but if there are any issues, we’re leaving. ”

“It’s a deal.” Cam paid the bill but we still had drinks to finish, so we sat there in silence.

I realized then that my hand was still resting on his crotch.

His cock jumped beneath my touch. It was as if it only just remembered my hand was there as well.

When I went to pull away, Cam caught my wrist in a quick move.

“Never stop touching me, Brady.” He placed my hand on the bulge in his pants.

“This is yours. For however long you want it to be.”

My mouth went dry at the rough vibrato of his voice. My own dick stirred, blood pumping through every inch of it.

“This is when you say, ‘Yes, Sir.’” He winked.

A husky laugh left me. I leaned forward, pressing my mouth against the shell of his ear. “Yes, Sir,” I purred.

“Fuck,” he whispered, his dick pulsing beneath my touch. “I’ll make you pay for that, baby.”

“Good.” I leaned back but kept my hand where he had placed it. His thumb ran along the edge of my palm, holding my hand tight. “Thank you for dinner but I feel like I should at least pay half.”

“I asked you out. So it’s my treat.”

We finished the rest of our drinks and slid from the booth.

“True but it’s only fair that I help pay at least half the bill,” I insisted even though I knew that there was no point in arguing with him.

Even though that was the case, I didn’t want him to think that I was a freeloader just because my business wasn’t making the money I wish it would.

I knew it would happen. It was just taking time.

“Nope.” Cam led the way out of the restaurant. “Doesn’t work that way, baby.”

“Well, thank you then.” I grabbed his hand, linking my fingers with his .

He stopped, bringing our joined hands up to his mouth and placing a soft peck on my knuckles. “You never have to thank me.”

I stared at him, watching his lips move to my fingers. He gave them a gentle nip, the slight tinge of pain forcing a small gasp to escape me.

He only grinned, giving me one of his signature winks. “Come. Let’s go get some drinks before I take you back to my place and have my way with you.”

I threw my head back, a laugh booming through me. “So romantic.”

“Hey, when duty calls.” He shrugged, his grin widening.

“So, it’s your duty to be romantic?”

“With you?” He pulled me close. “Yes.” With his free hand, he cupped my nape and crushed his mouth to mine. “I could get used to kissing you, Brady,” he whispered.

My stomach flipped, my heart practically jumping out of my chest, it was beating so damn hard. “I’m already used to it.”

“Well then…your wish is my command.” He slipped his tongue between my lips, pulling groans from us both.

Snaking my arms around his neck, I deepened the kiss, not caring in the least that we were in public.

Cam broke the kiss but kept his mouth against my lips. “I’m almost tempted to take you home right now.”

“You can.” I reached up, brushing my thumb along his bottom lip.

“As much as I would love to do that, I do want to take you out. I need you to know that this isn’t just sex for me. Not anymore.”

I stared at him, searching his face for a sign that he was lying. “Really? But you said…”

“I know.” He pulled away, grabbed my hand, and led us down the street. My café was a couple of blocks away, but it was a nice mild night, so the walk wouldn’t hurt in the least.

“If it helps any, I don’t want this to just be sex either,” I finally confessed.

“I’m glad.” He gave me a cheeky grin. “I want to just take this one day at a time with you. We don’t have to put a label on it. If people ask, we can say that we’re friends who fuck.” He waggled his eyebrows.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Sounds delicious if you ask me.” I winked.

The heaviness was no longer there. I wasn’t sure what my issue was exactly.

It wasn’t like Shane and I had ever been a couple but I couldn’t get the fact that what I was doing with Camden could possibly hurt him.

I didn’t want to lose our friendship over it because I knew that it would make things difficult for both Noah and Presley if that were the case.

When Coffee Beans & Love came into view, my heart skipped a beat. It was my home away from home, but I had never brought a date there before. The other guys had from time to time but never me.

“Are you nervous?” Camden asked, squeezing my hand.

“Nah. Why would I be nervous? I’m only bringing a date to my place of business and introducing him to friends who will give me a hard time over it once you’re not with me. But nope. Not nervous at all.”

Cam chuckled, pulling me closer into his side. “It’s okay, Brady. I’ll behave and won’t tell them how hard you like to fuck and just how filthy you can take it.”

My cheeks heated. “Thank you. That’s something I would like to keep between us if at all possible.”

His laughter deepened. “But Shane knows…”

When his voice trailed off, I chanced a glance in his direction. “Um…no. He doesn’t. It was simple with him if that makes sense at all. Not that things are difficult with yo u or anything but…” I huffed, shaking my head. “What I’m saying is that he’s more vanilla and you’re…”

“I’m what?” Camden asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Spicy as fuck,” I murmured.

A cheeky grin spread on his face. “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet. We may have fucked twice but that was only in my office, and it was fast as hell because I didn’t have a lot of time. But once I get you home tonight…all bets are fucking off.”

A shiver trembled through me. “I can’t wait.”