Taunting Lips (A Teasing Hands Accompaniment) (6 page)

The massage table seemed larger than the last time I was in here. It sucked out every bit of oxygen, and my chest tightened. To think it hadn’t been that long since her lithe body was draped over that same bed—too long since her body writhed beneath mine. Since she danced for me. 

“You love her.” It wasn’t a question. Her statement brought me back to the present and away from the memories of our last time together. Away from the moment she walked out and left me in this fucked up limbo of nothingness.

“Why would you say that?” I had to deflect. There was no way in hell I could admit to her what I’d only begun to accept. Amanda had won me over with each smile and whimper of pleasure.

“Because,” she said, taking a deep breath, “you’re the idiot standing before me rubbing at his chest as if the ache within him is too big to contain. Like you are longing for the impossible…what’s not out of reach—
yet
.” Courtney watched me as I began to pace the room, head tilted to the side as she examined my every move. Every breath I took.

“I have no—”

“Cut the shit, Camden. Why are you doing this? Why fucking hurt her when deep down you can’t be without her?” Couldn’t she see what this line of questioning was doing to me? I felt ripped open and raw.

“Because…dammit,” I hissed, and stopped in front of her. “I don’t know how to love
her.
” And there was the motherfucking truth. The day my marriage ended, so did a part of me. Yes, it was mutual, but when you give and give and get nothing in return, it hurts. Breaks a part of you down and buries the evidence. “She’s everything I hate—”

“And love all at once,” Courtney finished with a sad smile on her face. “Being scared isn’t a good look on you.”

How could Olivia still affect me so? I’d thought to have buried everything she represented years ago. It’s why I never fucked the same girl twice. Why my heart and cock were in synch—never wanting more from a woman than the soft pink pussy between her thighs.

Fucking insipid bitch. I couldn’t continue on like this and was determined, more than ever, to face what I’d left in the past. Amanda deserved more from me.

A tiny smile made its way onto my lips. “Never claimed I was the brightest crayon in the box.”

This visit from Courtney had given me the hope I’d begun to lose overnight.

“No, you didn’t.” She giggled and perched herself on the bed, just as Amanda had done in the past. “Good thing I am here to help, huh?”

“Are you?” I jested, and she flipped me off.

“Yup, and one day you’ll thank me. I’ll be damned if she ends up giving that sniveling cocksucker another chance.” I couldn’t help it and laughed hard. Courtney was just as mouthy as my girl was.

“What
cocksucker
, as you so eloquently put it?” My mind wasn’t catching up, and the look she gave me said as much. What was I missing?

“One word, Camden. Hunter.”

“What’s he got to do with this?” The timber of my voice had taken on a hard edge. I hated him and everything he represented in her life. “I’ve already beat the shit out of him once this week, and I’ll do it again if he so much as breathes—”

“Calm down, ninja Cam.” My glare only caused her to laugh. “Okay, okay…sheesh. He’s sniffing around, sending her flowers and cards. Everything his mother says to get her back—the idiot can’t even do that on his own.”

“And how is she…” I trailed off; she knew what I was asking.

“Dumping it all in the garbage.” Those simple words helped me breathe easier; she wasn’t interested in his game. “But”—I hated fucking buts—“that’s not to say he won’t break her defenses down. She’s hurting, and he will capitalize.”

“Over my dead fucking body,” I snarled in anger, causing her to jump and glare at me. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Her look told me it was anything but.

“He will never be enough for her.” I began to pace again, feeling like a caged animal. My fingers dove into my hair and tugged at the roots. “She’s motherfucking mine.”

“Is she, now?” Courtney was pushing me. Rattling the proverbial cage of this angry lion and daring me to challenge her words. “You might be too late. Maybe she’ll give in to the familiar.”

The pacing stopped and my breathing grew ragged. “The fuck she will.”

“That’s just not good enough, Camden. Why can’t she?”

“Because I love her, goddammit!” There, it was said—out in the open. I loved the woman beyond all measures and needed her to choose me. I was the right one for her.

“My job is done.” Courtney looked at me with a smug expression on her face. Is she kidding me with this crap? “Don’t huff at me. You’re lucky I’m not in here kicking your ass for the bullshit you pulled at Rage. Seeing you with that ‘
thing’
broke her. Shattered the bit of confidence she’d gained being with you.”

“Fuck,” I hoarsely whispered.

“Exactly. You don’t have time to waste.”

Nodding, I asked her the one question that had been running through my mind since we entered this room.  “Why did you come here? What was the purpose?”

“At first, to tell you off,” she deadpanned with a shrug of her shoulders. “I was dead set on making you feel an ounce of what you made Amanda go through. But then—”

“What?” I interrupted.

“Seeing the pain that radiates in your eyes at the mention of her name changed my mind. Camden, you can’t hide the obvious—what’s so clear to see.  You love her as much—if not more—than she does you.”

Smiling, I reached out and pulled her in for a hug. “She’s fucked up my existence in the best of ways.”

Courtney pulled out of my embrace and leaned up to kiss my cheek. “That’s just what I want to hear. Now go get her back. Don’t let Hunter win. It’s you she needs.”

Amanda had been ignoring me.

All my calls and texts had gone unanswered; no matter what I said or tried, she’d blocked me at every turn. I’d had enough. There was nowhere for her to run and hide if I just showed up at her house.

Pulling into their driveway, I attempted to play nice a final time and called. No surprise. After two rings, it was sent to voicemail. Her sweet voice asking me to leave her a message was bittersweet.

So close, yet so fucking far away.

“I’m here.” Let her have a warning. Courtney had spent numerous hours helping me, teaching me the things about my girl that she loved. Her favorite flower; white, long-stemmed roses were sent every day to her home, each arrangement with a small note from me.

No words of love or declarations. In my opinion, it would be a pussy move if I did. My
gatita
deserved more than that from me. She had to hear the words come from my lips.

I parked behind her sexy classic and got out, a new arrangement in one hand and in the other, courtside tickets to see our Heat play. It would be perfect—she was an athlete, and I loved the sport. This was something we could enjoy together at some point.

I’d seen enough videos of her playing in the last few days to know she’s incredibly skilled. The finals they’d just won had blown me away; my girl had a killer hand. Watching her handle the ball was arousing, no question about the hardness of my cock as she dribbled down the court and manhandled the other players.

They didn’t have an answer for the kind of skills she brought to the court.  Watching her, all sweaty and grunting while she made her plays, was orgasm worthy. Spectacular.

There weren’t any noises coming from within the home; as a matter of fact, had I not seen her car parked in the driveway, I’d say no one was home. I pushed the doorbell and adjusted my cock while I waited. Couldn’t help myself, knowing she was close—that her small, tight body was a few steps away affected me.

Just as I’d positioned myself, the door swung open and my smile faded. It wasn’t my girl, but I knew just who she was and also knew she didn’t like me with Amanda. Courtney warned me, told me all about how she managed to lie and manipulate the events that led my
gatita
to my table.

“What’re you doing here?” she asked snidely, nose turned up and body blocking the entryway from view. Funny, she turned her bullshit society pre-conceived notions on me, yet my family could run circles around hers when it came to money.

“Tell Amanda I’m here.” There was no point in faking niceties with her. She hated the threat I posed to her ultimate Hunter and Amanda fantasies.

“Leave my property.” Her hand went to her hip while she glared me down with so much animosity a lesser man would have crumbled. As I said, the lady was amusing. Maybe I should’ve tried to win her over, but everything I knew about her told me it would have been a total waste of time.

“No.” An annoyed chuckle passed my lips as I raised my hand to push the doorbell button again.

She huffed and shoved her manicured finger into my chest. “You should find someone your own age, and leave my little girl alone.” Venom coated each word. My mouth opened, the retort sitting on my lips, but before I could utter a single syllable, my reason for everything appeared.

“Mom, what the…shit!” Gorgeous. Motherfucking simply gorgeous, she stood there with wide eyes as she looked up at me. Amanda bit her lip then, and a flash of pure volcanic heat seared my veins. Fuck. “What are you doing here?”

“He was just leaving, baby,” Mrs. Brooks interjected and made a move to close the door in my face; my hand shot out, prepared to not lose the sight of her for an instant. Her mother went to speak when my girl gave her a deadly glare of her own. So much anger and hurt inside those eyes. My chest ached, and I rubbed it with the hand holding our tickets.

With a hand on her hip, my
gatita
faced her head on. “Move.”

“Amanda!” Indignant would be the most accurate way to describe her expression.

“Mother.” The timber of her voice held annoyance and anger. Those beautiful eyes that I loved to watch as I brought her to the greatest highs leveled her with an icy glare. “This isn’t any of your business. We've had this conversation, and you promised.”

“That was before he…” she pointed an acrylic nail at me “…did what he did. No man breaks my daughter’s heart and gets away with it.”

Amanda laughed hard, her fingers wiping away invisible tears. “Really?” Her mother nodded, a smug smile appearing on her face. The crazy woman looked victorious, like she’d won this argument. “Bullshit. What about Hunter?”

The smile she wore a moment ago vanished. “He loves you, Mandi.”

I was filled with the taste of bitter ire at her words. Hunter didn’t love anyone. All the fucker cared about was pleasing Mommy and continuing to receive a monthly stippend that maintained his lifestyle. But then again, they had a past. Would she want him back?

For the briefest of seconds, the jealousy I felt made me nauseous, and I tasted the bile that had risen up.

“Hunter loves himself and only worries about pleasing Mommy. Did you think me so stupid? Huh?” Mrs. Brooks shook her head, her eyes cutting my way and narrowing as her daughter spoke. “His motives aren't a secret, Mother.”

“That because he’s filling your head with lies.” This woman needed to shut it, her fucking bullshit working my already frayed nerves.

“Hunter and me will never happen, Mom. Jesus…get it through your head already!”

“You will respect me while living in my house.”

“Then I’ll move out. I think it’s time.” Neither of us said a word as Amanda stormed past us, her body rigid and posture determined as I followed silently behind her until she stopped at the trunk of my car. My
gatita
leaned back and appraised me with hard eyes.

I eye fucked her just the same. Took in her beauty and smiled. She would always be that fierce little kitten I loved to tame.

“You weren't answering my calls.” There, it was said. Shifting my weight from foot to foot, I fidgeted and waited. Amanda needed to at the very least meet me halfway, see that I was putting an honest effort into us.

“And it didn't occur to you that maybe…I don’t know…I wasn't ready to talk. Or that I no longer want to hear what you have to say?”

Fuck, that was a reality I didn’t want to face. “
Gatita
, I—”

“Camden, look at me.”