Rough: Daunting Temptation (Coral Gables Series Book 1) (29 page)

"Let me guess: You and Delsin were together, then he did something to screw it up, and you ended it. But then he started to fight for you."

Why do all parents have those sensors that tell them what's going on?
I ask myself. "That's the short version, yes."

He nods slowly. "Delsin panics easily, and then he's prone to messing things up, but you shouldn't be too hard on him, given that you're only his second or third girlfriend, Miss Brooks."

"Call me Camille, Mister Rough ... I mean Devin."

"I like that better, to be honest. If you call me Devin, I don't feel quite so old, even though I already have two synthetic knee joints," he smiles.

I giggle. "And you still ride your board with those knee joints?"

"I can't help it. It's one of the few things I'm good at, and skating made me rich. I only hope that Delsin stops competing and concentrates on his studies soon," he sighs.

"Delsin seems rather assiduous in his studies. I mean, he got all his credits without any problems," I tell him. "The only annoying thing is those women who keep throwing themselves at him."

"Are you jealous, Camille?"

I let my eyes roam the yard before I nod. "Yes. We've had a few arguments over that, too. It's really irritating how these girls won't stop their act, despite knowing that he is with me. Delsin is far too popular with the girls," I sigh.

"Like me when I was young. I don't know what Delsin has told you about me, but a lot is only stories his mother told him. I loved Tammy - that is his mother - but then this groupie got in the way ... That woman was chasing after me, even though she knew Tammy and I were together. Well ... she was a scheming bitch, and so she managed to stage a scene that Tammy then stumbled upon. Anyway, Tammy left me because of this, and eight months later, I get a letter saying she had a baby. Delsin. I thought we would have a chance of getting together again, but she had already married someone else. I didn't want to wedge my way into this family, because it was obvious that Delsin had a stepdad who treated him like his own son. I saw my son for the first time when he was three, and I've always been the money man, but nothing more. Only when Delsin got older, we started building something that could be called a relationship. But he doesn't really trust me," Devin tells me. "Now that he is twenty-three, I am still trying to show him that I want to be his dad."

"And he doesn't let you?" I ask.

"Not really, no. He told me that he was in Austin, so I came here hoping I could spend some time with him. But he refused me."

"I'm sorry," I say. It makes me sad that Delsin won't give his father a real chance. "But Delsin told me that you're both rarely interested in what the other one in doing."

Devin shakes his head. "So far, Delsin has blocked every attempt on my part. Maybe he'll let me be part of his life some day." Then he leans close. "It would be nice if I were invited to your wedding, in case you're going to tie the knot at some point. Will you promise me that?"

I stare back at him with wide eyes. My mouth opens and shuts again. Our wedding? Delsin and me ... getting married? What? "Um ... yeah, if that day should come, I'll take care of sending you an invitation," I stammer.

His rolling laughter vibrates in my ears and I smile shyly. "You're really sweet, Camille. I'm glad Delsin has found such a nice girl."

Okay, now my cheeks must be flaming red. "Thank you, Devin."

Chapter 14

My birthday is approaching and by now, we are all back in Miami. After the college in Austin did not accept my application, mom and dad insisted that I finish my studies here, and I am okay with that now, because I want to be with Delsin.

Hailey has become virtually settled, ever since she met this guy Logan at a bar. She stopped going out with all kinds of guys, and instead is trying to have a long-distance relationship with him. He seems to be nice, but I haven't seen him more than twice, so I cannot really tell yet. All I can say is that he's not my type. He is blond and has a beard, both no-gos for me, but his hairstyle is cool. His hair is on the longish side and he had it combed back when I met him. That was eight weeks ago. And by now, I am finally certain that I really love Delsin. The realization came slowly. To my surprise, Delsin enjoyed working on the farm, once we got back there. I can still see him unload the hay for the horses with Steve. Delsin wearing jeans, boots and a Stetson, no shirt; now that was an awesome sight. With every passing day, he had a more certain place in my heart, and he kept showing me that he meant what he said, that I was the most important person to him. And he deleted all the phone numbers of his former escapades.

Today I spent the day on the beach with Thally. It was nice, but also far too hot for my taste. Late in the afternoon, we drove home because we both felt that some of our fellow students were annoying. Once we came home, we showered and dressed up, because we want to celebrate tonight. After all, my teenage years are coming to the end at midnight. I want to leave stuff from the past behind when I start a new decade. I know I can trust Delsin, and I know he would go to the ends of the world for me. Tonight, at midnight, I plan on telling him what I feel for him. I want to say the three magic words, want to tell him that I now know I really do love him.

"Are you ready, Cami?" Thally interrupts my thoughts.

I look at myself in the mirror before I look at her. "If you let me come like this, then yes, I am ready."

She looks me up and down. "Red neckholder dress, black heeled sandals, hot hairstyle. Looks good, so I guess I can take you," she grins.

"Are you sure? I have the feeling the curls might be too much." I spent ages with the curling iron, but now I am not satisfied with the result.

"Nonsense. They look hot, believe me," Thally insists.

"Do you think Delsin is going to like it?" I ask skeptically, but curious.

"His eyes will bulge and fall out. Don't be so negative, Cami, you're looking hot. Hot with a sizzling t at the end," she smiles. "Delsin is going to love the look."

I put on some transparent lip gloss that smells of raspberry, and even tastes like raspberries a little. Then I put it in my handbag. "Alright. Then let's hit the town."

"I called a taxi. I don't want to have to drive later," Thally tells me.

"Okay. Shall I give you half the fare?" I want to know.

"No, that's okay."

We leave my room, leave the apartment and walk out to the street. The taxi is already there and we get in. Thally tells the driver an address, and off we go.

"That is not the club's address," I say quietly.

"I know, but I have to quickly do something before we can go there," she says and types something on her phone.

I have a suspicion, but decide to keep a straight face.

Then she pulls a scarf from her handbag. "I'm sorry but I have to blindfold you now."

I say.
So much for keeping a straight face
, I think and resign myself to fate.

***

The taxi stops and the driver gets paid. Then Thally helps me get out. "I'm going to tell you when you need to raise your feet, so you won't fall," she says softly as we start walking.

"Thanks," I sigh and hold on to her arm. I can't tell how long it takes. We march across uneven terrain, and it smells of salt water. We must be close to the ocean. I dislike my momentary helplessness and fight the impulse to pull the scarf down. It must be a surprise party, so I don't want to spoil it.

"Careful, here comes a step," Thally says and tells me when to raise my feet.

It works; at least I don't fall on my face. Then it gets even darker, so we must have entered a building of some kind.

When she takes the blindfold off, lights go on and a smiling mass of people shouts "Surprise!"

I look around, feeling overwhelmed.

"Uh ... hi?" I say, perplexed.

Delsin approaches me and hands me a plastic cup filled with beer. "Hi, Caramel," he beams at me and kisses me tenderly.

"Could you stop eating your girlsfriend's face off? We might still need her," Thally teases him, but that only makes him deepen the kiss.

I giggle and pull away. "Hi. Whose crazy idea was this?" I ask him.

"Mine and ..."

"Mine, too. And ..." Thally chimes in, and then Ave yells: "and mine and Hailey's, what did you think?"

They surround me and beam at me from all sides.

"Oh god, I think I'm going to cry," I say softly and hug them all, one after the other.

"But why?" Hailey asks, looking confused.

"Because she is touched, silly," Delsin answers with a grin and grabs my hand. "I'm going to abduct Caramel for a while now.

"You're going to have to cease calling her that after midnight. She's no longer a teenager, so her 'sweet' phase is over now," Ave teases him.

"Camille will always be my sweet Caramel," Delsin counters, winks at me and leads me away from the rest. He puts an arm around me, leads me through this unfamiliar house and brings me to a flight of stairs, far away from the small crowd. "You're looking incredibly hot tonight," he murmurs into my ear.

I look at him shyly. "Thank you."

He shakes his head. "Don't thank me for that." Then he starts to climb the stairs.

"Where are we, anyway?" I ask, because we have never been here before, but it looks like a spacious private home.

"In my new home. My dad gave it to me as a present, for whatever reason," Delsin explains as he leads me upstairs. "I'm going to show you our new bedroom now," he grins.

"Wow." The impressed word escapes my lips as we reach the top of the stairs. "Your dad is really generous," I whistle.

"I was speechless, too. But I won't complain, because I really like it here."

I nod and walk with him through a long corridor. The bedroom he leads me into has a double wing door and is huge. It seems larger than the whole apartment I live in with my friends. Then he suddenly lifts me up and carries me to the bed.

"What got into you now?" I ask him, laughing.

"I want to break in the new bed with my girlfriend," he says nonchalantly and locks the door behind us. He sets me down and takes off my sandals. Then he pulls down the back zipper of my dress.

"And what do we do if they hear us?" I ask him shyly. Even up here, the windows vibrate with the bass, so it is really unlikely.

"They can only hear us if they turn off the music, and they're not going to do that," Delsin decides while he opens the clasp of my bra. He pushes me gently back on the bed and I watch him undress.

He takes off his cap, his red shirt and his jeans. Wearing only his boxers, he joins me in bed. His lips are soft as they meet mine, and his hands are tender. I return his kiss, melt into it and close my eyes. The tip of his tongue glides along my lower lip, but then he starts to move downward the way he often does. His tongue leaves a hot trace down my throat and circles my nipple, before he sucks it into his mouth and nibbles softly. I moan as a shiver of arousal grips my body. His fingers dance upon my skin, and I shiver again, until they finally reach the hem of my underwear. Delsin pulls down my panties and his tongue is right there as he spreads my legs. It slides between my folds and hits my most sensitive spot.

"Delsin," I moan loudly.

"That's my name, baby," he smiles and teases my clit with his expert tongue.

I cannot hold back and am glad the music is so loud right now. He kisses the insides of my thighs and pushes a finger inside me. I raise my pelvis to match the thrusts of his fingers. When he adds a second finger and finds the rough spot that intensifies the wonderful feeling inside, I throw back my head.

His tongue whirls across my clit again and the heat suffuses my body. I come with a scream but he does not stop. He goes on and on, and I ask myself, does he want to make me come a second time? The spasms flash through me, and all my nerve ends are tingling.

"Delsin, please," I gasp.

He does not stop. The sweet torment does not stop, until a second orgasm wracks me and I can only lie there, exhausted. Delsin glides on top of me and I can feel his erection nudge me. It feels different, so I look down. He is wearing a condom. I look at him in question.

"Didn't think you'd want to have to shower afterwards, so I put it on," he explains and kisses me.

I can taste myself on his lips and tongue as he enters me. His penis feels thicker than usual, and he gasps.

"Oh hell, I should have stopped after your first orgasm," he growls, struggling to push it in further.

I emit a strangled sound, because the way he fills me and stretches me is painful, but in a good way.

When he has buried himself up to the hilt, he starts to move. Delsin moans softly as his tongue starts to play with mine and he slides in and out of me. I caress his shoulders and his cheek, our heads are close together. Then he rolls over with me so I sit on top. I immediately straighten my back and gyrate my pelvis. He massages my breasts and twists my nipples between forefinger and thumb. Delsin's moans grow louder as he thrusts back against me from below. I brace myself against his chest so I won't fall off. My overstimulated clit rubs against his pubic bone, so I move more carefully. Then he grabs my waist and sets the rhythm in which I should ride him, and that is what I do. I feel a third orgasm approach, and Delsin directs me to move faster. I come again, this time with a loud shout of joy and satisfaction. He rolls us over once more, thrusts quickly a few times, and then freezes as he spills inside me.