Only You (23 page)

"Get this through your head, woman." He growled sexily, but his anger was still evident in his gaze. "I love you. I love you with all my heart and soul. That means you are the center of my universe. If I pity you, it is a small thing regarding only one circumstance. I do not pity you as a person. I think you are strong and fierce and inspiring." He lifted his hand to grab her chin. "You are everything to me," he whispered. "You have to stop doubting that, Sunshine." He kissed her temple softly.

"You deserve better, Shane," she murmured. A single tear trailed her check, but Shane wiped it with his thumb.

"Nothing is better
for me than you," he whispered. "I want you, Camden." He kissed her temple. "Only you." He pressed another kiss to the tip of her nose. "Only ever you." He leaned forward, bringing their lips together in a slow, languid caress.

Camden wanted to push him away, but she didn't seem to have the ability. She slowly melted into the moment, a slow simmer beginning in her belly. Shane nibbled her lower lip, causing Camden to giggle. He took advantage of her open mouth and slipped his tongue inside. Her tongue joined his, tasting and teasing, mating in way that made them feel as if they were part of one being. Time stood still as Shane kissed her. He lifted his head and began pressing soft kisses on her cheeks, her eyelids, her forehead, and temple. He whispered words of adoration. He told her she was beautiful. When he lifted his hand and stroked her smooth head, Camden began to cry.

"You are ALWAYS beautiful, Sunshine," he whispered. "And always mine."

Overcome with emotion, Camden grasped the sides of his face and pulled it back to hers. This kiss was possessive and passionate. He had stoked a fire in her, and she would not rest until he made good on the promise his words and kisses had made.

Moments before, she had felt exhausted, but Shane's caresses had caused her body to awaken and her libido to come to life. Camden reached for Shane's shirt, lifting it over his head. She sighed in adoration when his muscles came into view.

"I wanna lick you," she muttered, staring at his chest. Shane chuckled and leaned forward again.

"All in due time, Camden." He trailed kisses down her neck, paying special attention to the spot where he knew later he would leave his mark. His fingers traced the waistline of her yoga pants, tickling her sides because his touch was so light. Camden shivered as Shane kissed down the other side of her neck. He began to slowly raise her shirt, shifting his body to gently press kisses to her now visible belly. He grinned at the small baby bump.

"Hi, baby," he murmured to her stomach. "I love you." Camden's eyes watered when Shane's gaze met hers. "You have the best mommy in the whole world," he crooned. Placing a final kiss over Baby Hunt, Shane trailed kisses slowly up Camden's abdomen, as he followed the path of her shirt. When he'd finally removed it, Shane pressed his hand to Camden's heart.

"Mine," he whispered. His eyes were glossy as he met her gaze. He gently grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. "Yours," he promised. "Always and forever yours."

He took Camden by surprise when he stopped to kiss the raised bump on her chest. She stilled, growing uncomfortable as he paid such focused attention to the stark reminder of her disease.

"Why would you kiss my port?" she queried, her voice wobbly and uncertain.

He lifted his eyes to hers. "That port will be what keeps you with me. The way it helps kind of sucks, yeah. But I am still thankful that it gives me you and our baby."

Camden nodded slowly. She lifted her hand to move a strand of dark hair from Shane's forehead. "Last time," she murmured without thought, "Eric and I looked like twins. It made the stares more bearable, because we had to share them." As if it were a passing comment, Camden lifted her head and kissed Shane tentatively.

Her hands slowly traced his back, and his hands traveled back to her pants. He slid them off slowly, stopping along the way to mark a path of kisses down her legs. He slowly crawled up her body and smirked.

"Commando, Miss Shepherd?"

Camden blushed. "I was preoccupied with my hair when I got dressed. Didn't have time to worry about underwear."

A brief look of compassion softened his expression before lust swirled in his eyes once more. "Easy access," he teased.

"Your turn, hot shot," Camden teased in reply. Using her feet, she tucked her toes into his waistband, and dragged both his boxers and his basketball shorts to the ground. Shane growled in approval.

"You're getting good at this," he muttered.

"You know, I had a dream about us a couple of weeks ago," she teased. Camden blushed, not believing the words were actually coming from her mouth. Shane's eyebrows lifted in questioning interest. His fingers traced shapes softly on her belly.

"The night after my first chemo treatment, when you and Eric woke me because I had a fever."

Shane fingers stilled, as he searched his memory for that night. His eyes widened.

"You screamed my name," he recalled. "We thought you were having a nightmare.

Camden's blush grew. "If that was a nightmare, I don't ever want to wake up," she murmured.

Shane grinned and leaned forward. "What did we do?"

"You took me...hard," she confessed. "It was hot. You grabbed me by the hips and flipped me over."

"Doggie-style?" he laughed.

"And rough, Shane. I thought you were going to tear me in two."

Shane hardened at the mental picture. "Did I hurt you baby?"

"It was awesome," she whispered. She felt him jerk against her leg, and she giggled.

"Baby, when you are cancer-free and can handle it, I'll tear you up." His voice grew gravelly at the end of his statement, and Camden felt tingles throughout her body.

"Tonight, though," Shane whispered huskily. "I'm going to take you soft and slow. By tomorrow morning, you will have no doubt who I want in my bed and in my life."

***

Chapter 28

The feeling Shane had experienced the first couple of times he had visited the oncology ward had dissipated. Being a frequent visitor, the place lost its daunting feeling to him. Of course, it helped that Shane was convinced Camden's treatment would be successful. In his opinion, failure was not an option.

As they reached the nurses' station, Shane grimaced when he saw that Adrienne was manning the desk.

"We're here to check-in for chemo," he stated curtly.

Adrienne glanced from the computer where she was sitting. Her eyes narrowed on Shane.

"Sign-in. She's in the usual room, so you can head in. I'll let her nurse know she's here." She immediately returned her gaze to the computer, ignoring Shane. He did as she asked and led Camden to her "usual" room. Camden's steps slowed when she entered.

"Where is everyone?" She knew better than to expect that everyone would be here. It was only her third round, but they had come to her other two chemotherapy sessions. She had actually been surprised at the turn-out. Last time, the same group as before had been present. Well, everyone except for Stella.

"Maybe they are just running late, baby," Shane soothed.

Camden climbed into her bed and settled against the pillow. Shane was holding the bag with all her provisions. He handed it to her once she seemed comfortable. Camden immediately began searching for her e-reader.

A chipper brunette man sauntered into the room, his sunny disposition catching Shane off guard as much as the fact that he was male.

"Hi, I'm Christopher." The nurse held out his hand to Camden. "I'll be your nurse for today's treatment. How are you feeling today, Miss Shepherd?"

Seeing Camden was in good hands, Shane turned to her. "Baby, I'm gonna head to the cafeteria to get a drink. Do you mind?"

She looked up at him, concern on her face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, absolutely. Just thirsty," he replied hastily. Although she was suspicious, Camden nodded, indicating it was fine for him to leave.

Shane hurried out of the room and headed straight to the men's restroom down the hall.

"About time you showed up," Javier teased.

Shane smirked when he saw Javier's head. Eric's equally shiny skull poked around the corner. "You ready for this?" he teased.

"Do me," Shane said, pulling his shirt over his head and leaning against the counter.

Brody and Javier chuckled. "That's what she said," they laughed in unison.

As Eric plugged in his electric clippers, Shane asked, "Where are Molly and Jack?"

"In the waiting room," Brody replied. He looked at Shane in question. "You sure about this, man?"

"It's a little late to ask that, Brody," Javier teased, rubbing Brody's bald crown. Brody swatted Javier's hand in playful annoyance.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Shane answered. "She said it made it easier, sharing the stares with Eric." He grinned as he heard the buzzing commence.

Twenty minutes later, Camden was starting to worry. Shane was headed to the cafeteria for a drink, a trip that usually took ten minutes max. She looked around her empty room, and for a moment felt extremely lonely. She reminded herself that she was not alone this time, but her reminder proved unnecessary moments later, when her door opened and the love of her life stepped into the room.

"Shane?!?"

Camden couldn't help but stare at his shiny head. Her eyes watered. "Where is all your beautiful hair?!" she demanded.

Shane grinned. "You said that last time, it helped to feel like you and Eric were twins. You said it was easier to share the stares with someone else."

"Yeah, I did. And it was.... B-b-but your gorgeous, gorgeous hair..." Shane's smile faltered for a moment as he doubted his plan. Camden's eyes were watery, and she stared at him in shock. "You shaved your head for me?!?" She was in total awe, and Shane stood solid, afraid he had made a huge mistake.

"Have I told you today how much I love you, Shane Hunt?!?" His smile returned, and he hurried to her side. He kissed her lips gently and whispered into her ear. "Now, you never have to feel like the stares are all for you."

Shane stepped to the side, and the door opened. Eric entered, and Camden smiled at his naked head. He was her former twin, her partner in the battle against cancer. The fact that he would willingly shave his head for her was a HUGE deal to Camden. Eric had been thrilled when his dirty blonde hair had returned. He treasured his hair. Camden figured he owned more hair product than she did.

When Brody walked in, bald dome glistening, Camden laughed. When she saw Javi, her laugh calmed to a smaller chuckle. By the time her dad entered the room, Camden was crying. But the most heart stopping moment was when Molly entered the room, her dark locks completely absent.

Camden started to sob uncontrollably, and Molly hurried to her side. Sitting on the bed, she pulled Camden into her embrace. After several minutes, Camden lifted her head and locked eyes one by one with each person in the room.

"I am so stupid," she whispered.

Everyone looked stunned, and Shane looked horrified. This was NOT the reaction that he'd been hoping to get. Molly placed her hand on Camden's head, which at the moment was clothed in the cutest hand-made beanie, and stared into her eyes.

"Why are you stupid, sweetie?" she asked softly.

Camden looked at Eric. "Why didn't I listen to you? Why did I push everyone away for so long?!" She began to cry again.

"Thank you," she whispered through her sobs, tearfully scanning the room. "Thank you so much for doing this for me. You will never know how much each one of you means to me."

Molly pulled Camden back into her embrace, and squeezed her gently. "Anything for you, baby girl."

Each person took a turn hugging Camden, and Camden told them each directly how much their gesture meant to her. After everyone had "face time" with Camden, they each found their spot from the prior two sessions. A few minutes later, Christopher entered the room to discuss white cell counts and to start the treatment.

"What movie did you bring for us this time, Eric?" Molly cooed. It wasn't lost on anyone in the room, including Jack, that she was enjoying watching the movies Eric chose each week. "Eye candy" was a new term in her vocabulary, and Jack thought it was hilarious. It grossed out Brody to hear his mom talk about the actors that way, but Eric was doing a good job of picking movies the guys would also enjoy.

"Ahh, Molly. Today, I brought a lovely movie called Drive." He sighed dramatically. "Ryan Gosling."

"Yum," Camden giggled from her place on the bed.

"Hey!" Shane playfully elbowed her.

"He ain't got nothing on you, baby," Camden teased.

As usual, the hours of chemo treatment were relatively uneventful. Shane hated the last bit, however, as Camden didn't react well to the final drug. Each session, it seemed her body grew more aggravated with the drug, and the doctors had to slow the drip. The last one also seemed to be the one that caused her the most issues with nausea, too.

It had been really difficult for Shane the last couple of chemo cycles. Thankfully, Eric was always there to help him. Camden seemed to grow a little out of it by the end of chemo day, and she was usually exhausted by the time they left. Her nausea seemed to increase over the next twenty four hours. Then, she had several days where she was miserable. Shane was by her side every minute, holding back her hair, wiping her sweaty brow, giving her pain meds, and taking her temperature. He felt like a nurse, but he wouldn't choose to be anywhere else.