No Choice (4 page)

“Most of the time I am, but don’t worry—I’ll make time for you,” he said with a cocky tone.

“Oh thanks, I feel so blessed,” I said with a hand to my chest and a roll of my eyes.

“You should. I don’t take time I don’t have for just anyone.”

“Full of yourself much?”

“A bit, but I’m serious. I was supposed to leave the day I saw you for the first time, but I couldn’t walk away.”

“Really?”

“Really. I told you I’d make time for you. Now I feel like kicking myself for missing two days of talking to you, touching you, and kissing you.”

“Stop it.”

“What? Stop telling you that I want to be with you? Not going to happen. The next two months are going to suck.” We got to the dorm and he pulled me to the side of the entrance, kissing me hard.

“Ahh,” I mewed. The man was an amazing kisser. It was hot, sweet, and electric. My knees were shaking and my chest was pounding. I was glad he was holding on to me tight, or I’d be a puddle on the ground, and that would be embarrassing. I wondered if he could tell how inexperienced I was at kissing.

“Fuck me… where did you learn to kiss like that? Don’t answer that, or I’ll have to murder a motherfucker,” he growled in my ear. I guess I was better than I thought.

“What time is your flight?” I said, all out of breath.

He looked at his watch, then said, “In about two hours.”

“Then you really have to get going.” I couldn’t believe how put out and upset I sounded. I didn’t really know this crazy man before this afternoon. Yes he’d been starring in my late-night fantasies, but I still shouldn’t miss him. It was nutty.

“Yeah, I do, but not before I kiss the fuck out of you some more. Then I’m going to make sure you’re secure in your dorm before I head out.”

“This is crazy,” I said as I shook my head with a smile.

“Know this, Natalie. I’ve never felt the way I do right now. My heart’s pounding hard and fast, and the thought of leaving you is making me a nervous wreck. So keep being a good girl while I’m gone, and I’ll call you as soon as I land.”

He walked me into the hallway and to the elevator.

“I’d walk you to your room, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t stop until I was buried inside you.”

I squirmed with need—fucking ass.

“Soon, baby. Stay perfect.” The elevator pinged, I entered it slowly, and he waved goodbye as the doors closed. Damn, why were there unshed tears in my eyes?

Was she crying?
I swore I could see tears in her eyes before the doors closed. I hurried out of the building and to the nearest taxi. It didn’t take long to get my shit together and get to the airport. While I waited to board, I gave her a call because I already missed her like crazy.

“Hi, beautiful,” I said, feeling instantly better knowing she was safe.

“Hey, you couldn’t have gotten there already. That must’ve been the fastest flight in history,” she said mockingly.

“No. I’m waiting to board the plane. I just wanted to make sure you were safe in your dorm.”

“Yeah, I am. Are you going to be checking up on me all the time?” she asked with suspicion.

“Why—you planning to sneak out to meet guys? Think about that answer before you say it. You don’t want to get me to come back over there.”

“Oooh!
I’m shaking in my boots—sorry, my sneakers. No, I don’t go out and meet guys often.”

“And you’re not going to be doing that shit anymore. Understood?” I growled.

“As long as you’re not meeting women and all,” she replied with jealousy coating her tone. I loved it.

“I already told you I wouldn’t. You’ve got to believe the words that come out of my mouth, woman.” I could hear my flight being called to board, so I had to let her go.

“Baby, I’ve got to go. My flight is being called. I call you later, okay?”

“I’ll look forward to it,” she said happily.

I boarded the plane with a smile. Fuck me. That was the first natural smile that I had when thinking about a woman for anything other than fucking. I knew that I’d be working hard for the next two months to keep my mind off her. Plus, there was a lot of things I would need to do to set up our life here—together.

We needed a house. My condo wasn’t going to do for the long haul. The instant my flight landed, I got out and grabbed a taxi, then headed home. I tried calling her, but it went to voicemail. What an ass! I forgot about the time difference. She was sure as hell asleep by now. Generally, when I got home I felt comfortable and content, but now there was something missing.
It couldn’t be because of her, could it?
I thought.

Shaking my head for being so pathetic, I went to my fridge and pulled out a cold beer and tossed on the game from the DVR. The Mariners were playing the Tigers in spring training. They had some good prospects this year, so I had some serious hope for them. We’d be going to tons of games. I couldn’t wait.

I woke up the next morning from a tantalizing dream of Cameron and me. It was so hot I was afraid Emmy could have heard me moan in my sleep. It was the naughtiest dream I’d ever had. Hell, I may be a nerd and still a virgin, but I was still attracted to the opposite sex. I’d dated and fantasized about men before, but nothing lived up to my dreams. Cameron already had my panties burning up with just a kiss. It was more than any other man made me feel. Gosh, I loved the feel of my hands in his hair with him growling in my ear. I shook from just the memory.

My dream was so amazing I wanted to fall back to sleep. Then I realized I was supposed to get a call from him. I picked up my cell, and it had one missed call. I listened to the voicemail and laughed, then I rushed to shower.

Hey, beauty. I completely forgot about the time difference, and I know you’ve got an early class tomorrow. I hope you sleep well, and I’ll call you before you go to class. Miss you.

When I got out of the shower, I had another miss call.
Shit.
I dialed him right back.

“Good morning, beautiful. I’m glad I caught you before you left for class.”

“Good morning, Cam. Sorry I missed your call again. I just got out of the shower.”

“Did you have to say that?” he moaned. “Now, I’ve got a hard-on—thanks, babe.”

“Sorry,” I said with a giggle. Of course I didn’t think anything of it when I said it, but I just gave him a visual of me, naked.

“No, you’re not. Damn tease. You waited until I was far away before unleashing the vixen on me,” he accused playfully.

I giggled—I couldn’t help it. I knew he was full of shit, but I wanted him to want me as much as he claimed.

“I’m surprised you’re up so early. I thought you’d be sleeping for another couple of hours,” I said.

“I only need four or so hours of sleep a night.”

“I need at least my seven, or you’ll have to run for cover,” I warned.

“Thanks for the tip, babe.” We talked for about five more minutes, but I was already in a hurry. He promised to call me later, but I doubted it. He was a busy man from what I gathered, and he’d already played hooky for almost a full business week. He wasn’t going to be able to be calling me all the time.

I was right. He didn’t call me before I was already asleep. The message he left was apologetic, sweet, and full of promises.

We’d talked every morning, afternoon, evening, and I received at least one voicemail message while I was asleep. Each call got more and more personal. During the latest call we were talking about what he wanted to do to me when we were finally alone. It was the closest thing I’d had to phone sex. I came after I got off the phone and slept like a baby.

After the first week, the calls got fewer and fewer. He called about three or four times a day, but now it was maybe two to three times a week. It’d been a month, and I’d pretty much given up on this fake romance.

My breaking point was when I called him and got no response all day. I worried and worried, but when his majesty decided to grace me with his voice the next evening, I was so angry that I didn’t care for his bullshit excuses. He’d been at his mother’s birthday party and didn’t hear my call, then he lost his phone.

Bull. Yeah, at a country club, with tons of women who wanted him, and I was here, Miss Plain Jane waiting for him like a fool. I knew the long distance wasn’t going to work, but why did he have to lead me on, to make me feel so much for him? Every call, every silly little joke made me fall further and harder in love with him.

I was sure he’d been busy hooking up with the debutants at the party. His story wasn’t believable to me at all. I’d been to those gatherings with my father. Even though I had ties to such circles, I made my own way, especially since I hated the fakeness that came with the scene.

The last straw that broke my heart was the next day when I got a call from some woman named Courtney, claiming she had
her
Cam’s phone after he left it at her place, and she didn’t appreciate him two-timing her with me.

“So listen, little girl, stay away from my man. We’re engaged, and you’re in the way,” she hissed before she hung up on me.

I sat there in my room crying for the next two days. Emmy was ready to murder the bastard, but I just didn’t give a fuck. I refused to answer any of his calls, and by the third day, I changed my number. Graduation was in two weeks, and it couldn’t come soon enough. Emmy offered me a place to stay in Chicago while I got my bearings and found a job.

“Nat, you’ve got to move on. He isn’t worth it. Look at it this way—you found out who he really was before you two went any further.”

“But it hurts so much,” I cried into my pillow. My head was pounding, my eyes were red and sore, and my heart felt broken. Finals were here, so I needed to get my act together and forget I’d ever met Cameron James. I hadn’t seen his sister, which was good because I couldn’t handle the reminder. Come to think about it, neither did Emmy.

“Listen…tomorrow there is a huge party. We’ll meet some hot football players, and you can lose a little control.”

“Sounds good. I need to start living again. At least I learned I had a heart to give. From now on, I’m not letting any man get to me. Have fun and live life. That’s my game plan.” That was going to be my motto. I needed to let go of the pain some way, somehow.

The rest of the day and night, I studied as hard as I could. I got ready for the party after going to a salon. I wanted to look as hot as possible. My long brown hair got some sexy blonde highlights and was styled with hot waves. They did my makeup, and now, I needed to get dressed. When I got to my dorm room, Emmy was shocked the moment she caught the new and improved me.

“Damn, you biatch, you look hot as fuck! The boys are going to lose their minds tonight, and there’s going to be the finest guys at the party. Cameron is going to shoot himself for being an ass when he sees all he lost. I’ve got to take a pic of you once you’re dressed.”

“Damn right. I look good tonight, and there are tons of hot guys on campus who’d love to touch me.”

“You look better than good, and they’ll be fighting over who you go with,” Emmy said as she finished putting on her makeup.

Once we were ready, we posed for selfies. I hadn’t laughed in more than a week, and it felt good. I still felt hollow, but it felt nice to be normal for a night.

When we got to the party, it was already popping. We got in and immediately I saw my ex-boyfriend, Jeff. He was a decent boyfriend. He just wanted more than I was willing to give, but tonight that might change. He smiled at me and approached.

“Fuck me. Damn, Nat, you’re fucking sexy as fuck. A little thin, but fuck, babe. I missed you. Come on, let’s get a drink.”

It was twenty minutes later when I was about to get serious with Jeff again. He had his hand wrapped around my waist, “Nat, baby, I can’t wait. Let’s go back to my place and pick up where we left off.” I nodded and closed my eyes as he bent down to kiss me.

All of the sudden, I felt his hands pulled roughly off me. I opened my eyes to see a fuzzy-looking Cameron who roared, “You’re in deep shit, Natalie. Take her.”

This had been the worst month of my life, and it only got worse the moment I heard him tell my Natalie that they were going back to his place and she’d agreed. My men came with me this time around because I needed the assistance, although right now I felt I had the strength of ten men. This bastard dared to touch what was mine. I punched the motherfucker with a right straight to his pretty-boy face and dropped him on his ass.

“You come near her again, and I’ll kill you.” I walked out with the help of my sister and one of my guys.

When we got into the truck, I was so angry I took her into my arms and threatened the shit out of her.

“If you ever let another man put his hands on what’s mine, I’ll kill you,” I growled as I stared at her.

“Let me out! You cheating son of a bitch! I hate you,” she cried and started slamming her fists in my already bruised ribs, so Tim grabbed her and held her off.

“Calm down.” I said that to her, but it was like I was saying it to myself.

We’d arrived in Champaign to get my woman back, but just as the plane landed, Van received that picture from Emmy. We didn’t make any stops and rushed into town, and before I knew it we were at the party. I disregarded all doctor’s orders and came to win my woman back, only to find her in the arms of another man.

I wasn’t leaving here without her because at my side is where she fucking belonged, and I needed to straighten some shit out. I grabbed her chin roughly, turning her to face me.

“You’re mine. Don’t ever think about leaving me again. I’ll find your ass and kill any man you even say hi to, then I'll lock your ass up until you learn the reality of your situation. This is our forever,” I growled as jealousy ate at me.

I pulled away from her ass before I went too far. I was seeing red. I knew she’d been angry with me after my mother’s party, but I thought she would be fine and things would be okay the next day. I couldn’t have been more wrong because she stopped taking my calls and changed her number.

As we drove on to the hotel, I thought about what happened to get us to this point.

Things were great the first week. I was on fucking cloud nine. Work was intense because I was knocking all deals out of the way to be with her. I was hoping to take some time off when she graduated, just for us, but as I came home one night from work, everything changed.

All I remember was my brakes giving out as I went around the bend toward my condo. I woke up the next day and even in all my pain, I called her. Over the next three weeks I made the biggest mistake of my life. I hid my accident from her. My calls were more sporadic—not that I didn’t want to talk to her every hour of every day, but I didn’t want to burden her with my problems. Plus, someone was out to get me, and I didn’t want her hurt. I loved her so damn much and missed my giggly woman. We didn’t know which of my enemies did this, so I tried to keep my distance from her. I was told it would be months for me to heal completely, so I couldn’t physically protect her.

The left side of my body had been damaged severely. My arm, two of my ribs, and my leg had been broken as well as some cuts and bruises. None of those hurt as bad as the sound of “the number you have reached has been changed.”

My mom’s party was obviously Nat’s last attempt to make this work between us. I knew that I should’ve stayed in bed at home that night, but I felt obligated to be there. My parents told me to stay home, but I didn’t listen. My world was turned upside down that night. It was all because of that stupid bitch Courtney Lancaster. Of all the people to show up to my mother’s party at the Oak Valley Country Club, it had to be her. We’d been seeing each other months before I’d met Natalie. I ended our hookup because she wanted more than just fucking. She’d gone crazy on me then, but I ignored it. That was a big mistake.

I’d been looking at my phone, reading a text my Natalie had sent me. I was going to call her later when I went out for air, but that bitch came up to me and snatched the motherfucking phone out of my hand. I tried to hurry and go after the broad, but I was in a wheelchair. Ten minutes later, I found her and she’d hung the phone over the pool.

“You can have it back if you tell everyone we’re back together.”

“We hooked up twice, and it wasn’t that memorable. Why would I want you when I’ve got the perfect woman?” I was pissed. All I could think about was her being the one who snipped my brakes.