“Cameron, you feel so good,” I sighed, scratching lightly down his back with my fingernails.

  He shivered. “No matter how you touch me I always want more,” he said gruffly.

  He teased me with the tip of his cock, pressing ever so slightly on my heat, and I squirmed beneath him, trying to coax him closer.

  “You ready?” he whispered in my ear.

  He was still hovering at my seam, teasing my slick nub and promising more.

  “Since the first moment I saw you.”

  The words were barely out of my mouth before he pushed inside me with a heavy grunt. He filled me so perfectly, the wave of my climax started to build the moment we connected. I immediately raised my hips and wrapped my legs behind his back so I could take the full length of him.

  Cameron started off slowly, teasing me with a steady rhythm, but the sound of my little whimpers and moans did something to him, and each thrust got harder. He wrapped his hands around my hips and raised onto his knees, positioning me so that only my shoulders were still touching the couch, all the while fucking me like I’d never been fucked before.

  He reached down between my legs to caress me as he stroked in and out, and the orgasm that was right there, just waiting for the perfect moment, roared out of me with a force that nearly brought tears to my eyes.

  It obviously wasn’t the first time I’d had an orgasm with a man, but it was the first time it had ever felt like that.

  I was still riding out the shockwaves when Cameron threw his head back and let out a primal roar that seemed to go on forever. He paused, breathing heavily, then slowly lowered us back down to the couch so he could rest on top of me.

  “That was…” I panted.

  “Just the beginning,” Cameron answered, kissing my neck.

  I could barely form a coherent thought as we rested in the afterglow, but the one persistent drumbeat echoing in my head was how I’d never been properly fucked before.

  Now I understood what my romance novels were talking about!

  Our breathing evened out, almost in synch.

  “Did you hear that?” Cameron asked, picking his head up off my chest.

  “I don’t hear anything,” I answered.

  “Boris is finished with his bone, and now he’s nosing around the kitchen trying to find something to get into,” he groaned. “Guess I need to get up and feed him. The last thing I want is for him to come in here and find us.”

  “Yes, he’d be shocked if he knew his father was no longer a virgin,” I joked.

  He chuckled. “You’re ridiculous.”

  Cameron gazed into my eyes for a moment, then leaned down to kiss me fully on the mouth. The kiss was enough to rev both of us up again, and I started moving against his body with a feral want.

  “No, Felicity,” he groaned. “Stop.”

  “Never.”

  We kissed for a few seconds longer until Cameron pulled away with a frustrated growl.

  “I need to get cleaned up anyway,” he said, padding away.

  “Nice ass!” I yelled after him.

  A few minutes later I was dressed, although going commando since he’d ripped my panties off. I joined him in the kitchen where he was mixing up dinner for Boris.

  I glanced in the bowl at a mixture that could’ve passed for human meatloaf. “Looks fancy.”

  “Nothing but the best for my boy,” he said proudly.

  After he put the bowl on the ground and Boris got to work on it, he turned to me. “I’d say we worked up an appetite. Can I make something for you?”

  If dog food could make my stomach growl, then I definitely needed sustenance. “Hold on, you cook?”

  He shrugged as he opened the refrigerator. “Not all that often, but I can make a mean aglio e olio. Daniel just restocked the kitchen, so I’ve got some huge fresh shrimp and homemade angel hair from Terranova. What do you think?”

  I was practically drooling. “Yes, please!”

  “Perfect. Can you go to the butler’s pantry and grab the big white serving dish? It’s in the cabinet by the sink. I usually eat right from the pot, but let’s pretend to be civilized tonight.”

  “Civilized men don’t rip women’s panties,” I joked as I walked toward the pantry. I raised the hem of my dress and flashed my ass at him, getting a groan of appreciation.

  As expected, the butler’s pantry was huge and beautiful enough to be yet another focal point of the apartment. There were four cabinets, so I started poking through them to find anything resembling a serving dish.

  The man was stocked for parties galore. I searched through the first cabinet, which was filled with crystal stemware, decanters, stacks of fine china, cheeseboards, and flatware sets, but no serving bowls. I opened the second and found stacks of linens. I ran my hand along the top of the sumptuous fabric, wondering if the bright white napkin had ever been used. My finger bumped up against something hard shoved in between the wall and the stack, so I pulled it out.

  The frame held a photo of Cameron and a stunning raven-haired woman. She was looking directly at the camera and laughing, and Cameron was staring at her, his mouth closed but smiling. My heart lurched at the joy in the image. Who was this mystery woman who had Cameron under her spell?

  “That’s Carolina,” he said, making me jump in shock. I’d been so caught up staring at the photo that I hadn’t even heard him approach. “My ex,” he explained.

  “She’s beautiful,” I admitted, even though it pained me.

  He smirked. “And troubled. Which I found out a little too late.”

  “Do you mind telling me what happened?” I asked tentatively.

  Cameron let out a weary sigh. “Carolina and I had a whirlwind romance. She was wild and impetuous, which was sexy as hell at first. But then I started to realize her behavior was really just a way to get back at her parents. She had a strict upbringing—fire and brimstone stuff. She wanted to break free, and she saw me as her way out. Her parents hated my lifestyle,” he smiled wryly. “I was known for being a bit of a hedonist back in the day.”

  I squinted at the photo and focused on her hand. “Is she wearing…did you two get married?”

  Cameron nodded slowly. “We did. That photo was from our honeymoon.” He let out a harsh laugh. “It lasted almost as long as our marriage: a three-week trip and a two-week marriage.” He reached over to take the photo from me, glancing at it quickly, then slipping it back in the cupboard.

  My eyes went wide. “Are you serious?”

  “Oh yeah. When I realized she was just using me to make a point to her parents, I had it annulled. But really, we didn’t make sense together. We had an amazing time together when it was all new and fresh—and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I admit I got caught up in how damn good it felt being with her, which is why I proposed. But once we were on that honeymoon, spending all of our time together, we discovered we had nothing in common. We’d sit at the breakfast table and struggle to find things to talk about. I lost my head to love and paid the price.” Cameron paused to consider it. “Well, not really. The damage would’ve been much greater if I’d let the whole thing drag on. Better to cut my losses quickly.”

  “I’m…I’m sorry,” I said, unsure of what else to say as I processed this new information about him. It sounded like he was talking about a business transaction, which left a sour feeling in my stomach.

  “Well, that’s what I get for letting my heart rule my brain,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice, like it was common knowledge that falling in love would always end poorly. “Look at Tyler. Same thing happened to him, in a sense. He picked the wrong person, and she fucked him up in a dozen different ways. I can’t exactly blame all the problems with the second album on her—Tyler made some mistakes there, for sure—but she didn’t help, running him ragged with all the partying she wanted to do. Not to mention all the drugs she was into…and that she got him into, before leaving him behind with a load of addictions and a broken heart.”

  I felt myself frowning at the revelations. Was that really how Cameron saw love—as something that tore people up and left them broken in the aftermath?

  “Anyway, live and learn,” he said, gently closing the cupboard door and walking to the one I hadn’t checked. He pulled out a white bowl and held it up. “The pasta water is probably boiling—let’s get moving.”

  I followed behind him, trying not to think too hard about what was happening between us. It was nothing more than a fake relationship with a little bit of good sex sprinkled on top. Incredible sex.

  I needed to keep reminding myself of that fact, to keep the reins tight around my heart, because Cameron O’Connor wasn’t the type to make the same mistake twice.

  As if falling in love could ever be considered a mistake.

  16

  CAMERON

  Marketing had suggested taking Felicity to a popular Broadway show for the optics. Everything was for the optics, but not really, because the two of us were having more than just sanctioned fun.

  I’d selected Hadestown since they were putting on a one-night-only original cast performance, and the tickets were basically impossible to get. Taking Felicity to the show sold the fantasy that I’d do anything her heart desired. While there was no happily ever after for the main characters Orpheus and Eurydice, the fact that the show centered on the power of love between the two was enough to make it the perfect romantic night out.

  I’d seen my fair share of Broadway shows and could appreciate the artistry, but I never felt moved by what I saw on stage. This one was proving to be the exception. I stole a glance at Felicity as Orpheus charged into the chorus of “Wait for Me” and saw her eyes brimming. I cleared my throat and tried to focus on the mechanics of the lights swinging dramatically above the stage and not the words of the song, because damn it, I was feeling it too. The devotion between the characters was palpable, and even though I knew enough about Greek mythology to know what happened next, I still held out hope for the two young lovers.

  By the time the show ended, Felicity had tears streaming down her cheeks. I took her hand and brought it up to my lips as the cast took their bows. “Are you okay?”

  She looked up at me with her bottom lip trembling. “That was the most beautiful and heartbreaking thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Maybe it’ll turn out differently next time,” I said softly echoing the final hopeful lines of the show.

  She smiled through her tears. “Maybe.”

  I slung my arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight as we waded toward the exit with the rest of the crowd. We’d arrived late and our seats were right up front, so I was sure no one had a chance to photograph us, but now in the slow slog to the door there was ample opportunity to snag photos of us looking swoony and in love.

  Felicity was so caught up by what we’d just watched that she had forgotten that we were also on stage that night.

  “Hey,” I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Your mascara is running a little.”

  “Oh no,” she whispered back in a panic. “Do I look terrible?” She swept her fingers beneath her eyes.

  “You could never look terrible,” I admitted as I pulled a handkerchief out of my blazer pocket. “Allow me.”

  As if that was her cue, Felicity snapped back into her role as co-conspirator. Her expression shifted to utter devotion as I gently swept the cloth along her cheeks.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” she said. “You cleaning me up seems to be a thing, huh?”

  I leaned down and kissed her on the nose. “I’m happy to take care of you, my darling.”

  I could’ve sworn I heard a squeal from behind us.

  The stirring inside me after the brief kiss had to be due to the emotional overload of the show and nothing more. What was going on with Felicity was an arrangement, a partnership that had morphed into a “colleagues with benefits” scenario.

  And I hoped I’d be able to sample more “benefits” at the end of the night, because fucking Felicity was unlike anything I’d experienced before. Just the thought of her beneath me sent a pulse through my body. But first we needed to put in a little more face time out in public, to make sure as many people as possible saw us together.

  “Dessert?” Felicity asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “Oh, you know it,” I said, glancing around to see if anyone was watching and clocked a group of women with their phones pointed at us. I tilted my head toward them so Felicity would also pick up on what was about to happen next. “But all I want to snack on is you.”

  I swept her into my arms and tilted her in a cinematic backbend, then kissed her, long and slow. I felt her mouth shift from surprise to delight. Her arms slowly circled around my neck.

  When I finally stood her upright, she staggered a few steps. “Wow.”

  “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” I whispered in her ear, getting a delighted giggle out of her.

  A short time later we were seated at a table at Junior’s, a well-known tourist trap that actually had some of the best cheesecake in the city. It wasn’t my typical restaurant choice, but I knew the place would be packed. Plus, I had a feeling that Felicity would appreciate something sweet while we performed for our audience.

  She studied the menu for an eternity. “I can’t decide between the raspberry swirl, Oreo, or red velvet.”

  “Get them all,” I said. “A sampler. We don’t have to finish them.”

  She slapped her menu down on the table. “Speak for yourself, mister. I never leave dessert uneaten.”

  “Well then, I guess we’ll just have to work extra hard tonight to get rid of those extra calories, huh?” I winked.

  “Or you could learn to appreciate a little extra junk in the trunk,” Felicity gave me a sassy look, and I had to admit that more of her to enjoy sounded like a very good thing indeed.

  We wound up with a tray of six different slices of cheesecake, and I swear Felicity looked like a kid on Christmas morning as she grabbed her fork. She leaned over to take her inaugural bite, and the moment the fork hit her mouth, she closed her eyes and moaned in ecstasy. She tilted her head backward and drew the fork out slowly and with a flourish and grinned at me as she chewed.

  “Oh…my…goodness!” Felicity said as she finished. “Heaven!”

  Her little show and excitement over something as simple as cheesecake was so damn adorable that my cheeks hurt from grinning at her.

  “I’m so happy you’re enjoying it.”

  She pushed a plate toward me. “Jump in before I finish it all.”

  I took a tiny bite but wanted to make sure Felicity got her share of whatever her heart desired. I loved seeing her happy. Making her happy. And it was so simple! She didn’t need me to shower her in diamonds or take her for a night out at a top-tier restaurant. All it took was some tourist cheesecake in an overly bright and crowded restaurant.

  Which reminded me we probably had more than a few phones pointed our way. I’d been so wrapped up in watching Felicity enjoy herself that I’d forgotten to keep my game face on. It was easy to forget we were performing, because being with Felicity felt so easy. So real.

  She leaned back in her chair and patted her stomach. “I lied. There’s no way I can finish it all.”

  I eyed the remnants left on the plate. “Same. Still, I’d say that was an impressive effort from both of us.”

  “Hold on,” she said, fishing her phone out of her purse. “This is a cute moment. Give me your hand.” She pushed the plate to the center of the table and extended her arm next to it with her palm up. “C’mon. We’re doing it for the ’gram. Look, Sandrine made me wear the Trésor bracelet, so it’s a nice subliminal ad.”

  I slid my hand toward hers and gripped it, taking a moment to admire the delicate platinum bangle set with rows of pavé diamonds. “Wait a minute. We need to foreshadow the engagement. Show the negative space on your finger so people can envision a ring on it.” I flipped our joined hands over so hers was on top.

  “Perfect!” Felicity held her camera over the table to frame the image. “Now let me put a little bokeh effect on it so it looks dreamy. And…got it.” She held her phone out to show me, and I was once again reminded that Felicity was very good at her job. To turn a messy dessert plate into a romantic work of art was well beyond my creative vision.

  “This is nice,” she said softly.

  I realized we were still holding hands.

  “I don’t want the night to end,” I admitted.

  Our voices were quiet. We were no longer performing.

  “It doesn’t have to.” Felicity tipped her head and raised an eyebrow at me.

  I craned my neck to glance around the restaurant as my body cranked to life. “Check please!”

  A short while later, Carl gave us a knowing smile as we tripped our way to the elevator. Our doorman knew everything, but told nothing. The moment the elevator doors closed, we pounced on each other. I pinned Felicity to the wall, kissing her with a passion built up from acting civilized for the past few hours.

  She caught my lower lip between her teeth, giving me a little nip. I growled in response, getting a laugh out of her.

  “I’ve wanted you all night,” she admitted as I kissed the hollow of her throat. “That dip outside the theater did things to me.”

  “What sort of things?” I asked gruffly.

  “Why don’t you find out?”

  Felicity wrenched the hem of her dress up her thighs, giving my hand easy access to the delights beneath. I cupped her warmth gently, letting my fingertips drift over the lace of her panties.

  “Are you ready for me?” I asked.

  “Dying for you,” she whispered.

  I knew where the cameras in the elevator were, so I angled our bodies keeping Felicity completely hidden behind me. I slipped my fingers beneath the lace and sank into her sweetness. She was more than ready, and so was I.

  The elevator dinged way too soon, and we untangled from each other and practically ran down the hallway to my door, holding hands and laughing.

  “Boris,” I said as I tapped the keypad. “Shit, I need to get him outside.”