The Fix Up (10 page)

Camryn

“So you’re trying to tell me someone broke into your apartment and stole all your bills?” Olivia asks, wide-eyed.

I nod. “Yep.”

Her expression is one of disbelief, but she closes her mouth and stares straight ahead, blinking.

We’re at the gym, walking around the track that’s elevated over the entire workout area below. Before she was a married woman, we used to love this vantage point for scoping out the hot guys below. Now, we just walk.

Well, I still look, because
hello
, I’m not dead.

“You probably just misplaced them,” Olivia says.

I know that’s not true. They were on my dining table right before . . .

Sterling! If he saw those bills and late notices, I’ll die of embarrassment. I can only imagine what he must think of me. It’s been days since we talked, and honestly, I’m not sure what to think. Last weekend I set him up for that date, and then afterward he came over and we made out like a couple of horny teenagers. I’m sure he’s just busy with work, but still, a girl can’t help but wonder what’s going through his mind.

I told him to go after the woman he was interested in, assuming that he meant me. But now, this radio silence has left me unsure. For all I know, maybe he’s still hung up on his ex.

My cell phone buzzes against my thigh. I pull it from the pocket of my spandex workout capris and see it’s a text from a certain sexy British troublemaker.

Sterling
: Are you free on Saturday? I’d love to hang out again.

A smirk pulls up my lips.

Camryn
: Is “hang out” a euphemism for . . .

Sterling
: Dessert? Yes. Be at my place at seven.

My breath catches in my throat as his bold words stare back at me.

“What is it?” Olivia asks, sensing the change in my mood.

“Nothing,” I lie.

With trepidation, I realize this Saturday night could change everything. Three more days until I figure out, finally, what is going through Sterling’s mind.

Sterling

Standing in front of my bathroom vanity, I tuck a towel around my waist. After shaving, I rinse my face and apply a splash of cologne to my neck.

My thoughts wander to Camryn, and the level of anticipation I have for tonight is through the roof. All day, my imagination has been running wild with thoughts of what may happen tonight.

Tonight, there’s only one thing I know for certain—I want her.

Finally, I run some product through my hair, then get dressed. She’ll be here any minute, and though my thoughts are far from innocent, I doubt she’ll be amused to show up and find me naked.

I’ve come to accept the fact that I’m falling for her hard. And I also know there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. I’m in uncharted territory, but fuck it, I’m going with my gut. Just like Noah advised, I’m going to be a motherfucking grizzly.

Besides, I have five months to wed, which means I have time to see where things might go with Camryn. If it doesn’t work, I still have time to marry.

I can’t lose.

My doorman buzzes, and I punch the button on the intercom. A few moments later, I open the front door just in time to watch an unsure-looking Camryn step off the lift.

“Hey there,” I murmur, and her gaze darts up to meet mine.

Expectant energy crackles in the space between us. Camryn, looking more beautiful than ever, crosses the hall and steps inside.

“Hi.” She’s quiet and contemplative tonight, and I can’t help but wonder how much of that trepidation is for what may transpire tonight between us.

We grab a couple of bottles of water, and since it’s gotten too chilly to enjoy the balcony, we sit together on the couch.

“Does it ever get to you . . . what you do for a living?” she asks.

“Of course it does.”

“I’m sorry, that was . . . I shouldn’t have—”

“You have this bad habit of apologizing when you don’t need to.”

“I’m sorry.” Her face breaks into a cheeky grin. “Shit. I did it again, didn’t I?”

I nod. “Yes, now quit. You can ask me about anything you like. I don’t want you feeling like you have to walk on eggshells around me.”

She opens her mouth, presumably to say
I’m sorry
, and I shake my head at her, laughing.

Sorry
, she mouths with a smirk.

I lunge at her, pinning her under me on the couch, and begin tickling her waist. I dig my fingers into her ribs as I unleash the wrath of my playful fury.

“Not fair . . . so not fair!” Camryn gasps in between fits of laughter. She thrusts her hips up in an attempt to get away, bringing her center in direct contact with my hardening dick, and I grunt.

“Sorry.”

This time I don’t tease her. “No, you’re not,” I say, rocking my hips into hers.

A strained breath pushes past her lips, and her eyes slip closed. “God, Sterling . . .” Her voice is almost pained, right on the edge between desire and agony.

“Does that feel good, love?” I push forward again, now fully hard. “When I rub my cock against that pretty clit of yours?”

“Oh, fuck,” she curses under her breath. Her eyes drift open, glazed over with wanton lust as they meet mine. “You can’t say that kind of stuff.”

“I just did, Cami.”

With her body restrained beneath me, I’m in the perfect position, and I use it to my full advantage. Kissing her deeply, I rock in tiny thrusts, grinding against her each time we meet.

Whimpers of frustrated need claw up her throat.

“Just feel it, baby.” I thrust again, kissing her neck. “Right there.”

Her breathing is shallow and fast, her pulse rioting in her neck. The warmth of her penetrates straight through two layers of jeans, and it takes all the restraint I have not to just strip her trousers and knickers down to her ankles and thrust inside her, slowly so I can hear her voice break as she moans.

We continue our game of thrusting and kissing and fumbling until I can’t take it any longer. The need to hear her call out my name overtakes everything else.

“I need you,” I say on a groan. “Come here.”

I sit up, pulling her up from the couch. Her mouth opens but she doesn’t say anything, which is good. If she refuses me right now, if she tries to bring rationality to this situation, I might have a fucking meltdown like a two-year-old.

When she stands, I work at the button of her jeans, peeling them and her black satin knickers down her legs. My intention is to strip off her shirt and bra too, but I get sidetracked when I look down and see the most gorgeous cunt I’ve ever laid eyes on. Shaved bare. Juicy and plump. Wet with moisture that I want to lap up like a dog.
Fuck, I could eat that all night.

I take her by the hips and lower her to the sofa. “Right here, beautiful.”
Sit right here while I eat your pretty cunt.

If she refuses me, I might just have to spank her. I’ve never anticipated anything so much as this moment.

Planting one hand under her ass, I use the other to spread her apart with my thumb and finger, exposing the pearl of her clit. Then I lift her to my mouth and lap at her slowly.

“Fucking hell.” She moans, fighting to squirm away.

I almost chuckle. Her response is perfection.

But I don’t allow her to squirm away. I keep my hands planted where they are so I can taste, lick, suck, and nibble all the sensitive spots that make her moan. Her hips writhe, pushing her against my mouth, and I can’t get enough. I’ve never tasted something so sweet and tempting as her arousal.

When Camryn buries her hands in my hair, holding me in place, I increase my pace. My tongue moves in lazy, yet sure circles over that bundle of nerves that I know will make her detonate.

Soon, she’s making sexy whimpers and circling her hips. Gripping both of her ass cheeks, I pull her even closer. Right onto my tongue as I lick her, over and over at a brutal pace.

“Sterling!” She moans my name, tugging on my hair as she comes.

I continue licking and sucking through all the tremors in her sexy body as the orgasm crashes through her. Her body pulses with her release as I kiss my way up to her navel.

And then we’re eye to eye.

“Fuck. Did that just happen,” she asks. “This is bad. This is really, really bad.”

“Afraid so.” I’m smug, and I can’t help it. I just made her come apart and scream my name in under five minutes.

“Oh thank God, because I was worried I dreamed it.”

I can’t help but laugh. Damn, she’s cute. This must mean she’s been dreaming about this moment just as much as I have. It makes me want to do it all over again. As soon as possible.

I help her into her knickers, pulling them slowly up her legs, then help with her jeans.

“Are you ready for that dessert I promised you?”

She clears her throat, looking down at the bulge in my jeans with longing. “What about you? Don’t you need . . .”

More than I need my next breath.

“When you’re ready.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod, wanting her mouth, her hands, more than I want to survive the fucking zombie apocalypse.

“He’ll make it,” I grit out.
Lie. It’s a total lie. My dick is going to die.
“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” She smiles at me warmly. “So, you were serious about dessert?”

I chuckle. “Of course.” I take her hand and lead her into the kitchen. “You told me once that you wanted to go to Italy.”

She shoots me a curious glance.

“I have the next best thing. Gelato.”

“Yum.”

Camryn squeezes my hand, and we enter the kitchen together. Watching her face light up is worth the extra effort of running across town to the European grocer. My dick is still pissed at me, but my heart is happy.

“I might have even recorded an episode of that show you like. You have time to stick around?”

“Absolutely,” Camryn chirps, her cheeks rosy.

Sterling

A few days have passed since my dessert date with Camryn, and my smile hasn’t so much as budged.

Sure, I’ve been working, going to the gym, and dealing with all the other general life stuff, but my mind has been on her. The few times we’ve spoken on the phone, she says I should go on another date, but doesn’t press me when I shrug off the suggestion.

I pass by the lobby, and when I check in with the receptionist, I’m directed to a conference room at the end of the hall. Noah and Olivia are having a baby shower today at their office for work friends. I guess when the two CEOs and marry and produce offspring, it’s something their employees want to celebrate.

I figured I’d drop by and say hello. The fact that Camryn will be here has nothing to do with my decision to clear my calendar this afternoon and cross the city for this.

Yeah, right.

When I pull open the door to the large conference room, it takes me a minute to spot any familiar faces. Ninety percent of the attendees are women, and they’re all smiling and cooing and talking about baby smells and the best swaddling blankets, and promising that the lack of sleep is all worth it.

Setting the yellow-and-green gift bag on a side table, I cross the room. I had no idea what to get them for their baby, so I opted for something that I hope will make them laugh in the stressful times ahead. Nipple cream for Olivia, and a package of condoms for Noah—size extra-small. Maybe by the time the baby actually comes, it will give me more time to think up a suitable gift.

Spotting the guests of honor seated at the head of the conference table in the very front of the room, I approach and give them each a hug.

“Thank you for coming,” Olivia says, her hand on her swollen belly. Her cheeks have a glow to them, and her expression is happy. It’s good to see good things happen to good people.

I shake Noah’s hand. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it.”

Noah shoots me a wry look. “Camryn’s over there.”

I can’t help but chuckle. He sees straight through me. “Thanks. I left a gift on the table. You’ll know which one’s from me.”

“At least have a slice of cake,” Olivia says. She’s already honing those mothering instincts.

I look over at the huge layer cake frosted in pink and blue that rests in the center of the conference table.

Noah leans closer. “We may have actually conceived on this table. Just an FYI.”

Fighting off a shiver, I say
no thank you
to the cake, and go off to find Camryn.

She’s standing with a group of women, nodding along to their chatter as she holds a paper plate with an uneaten slice of cake in her hand. I wonder if Noah gave her the same warning.

When she sees me, her eyes widen and she excuses herself from the group. “What are you doing here?”

“’Ello, love.” I kiss her cheek. “I was in the area. Thought I’d swing by.”

She smiles at me warmly. “It’s nice to see you. Are you behaving these days?”

“Me? No way. Where’s the fun in that?” I wink at her.

It’s the first time I’ve seen her since our erotic encounter on my couch. The memory of using my mouth to get her off is one I’ve replayed countless times. Usually while alone in bed at night. Responding to her breathy moans, moving my tongue faster and faster until she came apart. I want a repeat.

And then we ate ice cream—not ice cream, gelato—while we watched an episode of her favorite TV show. Her contented little sigh as she leaned her head against my chest was perfect. I loved that. Loved holding her in my arms.

Our conversation that night turned deeper. I recall the memories from childhood I shared. How I’d been so mad at my parents for ripping me away from everything I’d known and moving me to a new country. I spent my first years here resentful and bitter, but now it feels like home.

I remember how she almost dozed off at the end of the night. I attributed it to the fact that she must have felt safe in my arms. Then I called a cab for her and sent her home, but she’s never far from my thoughts.

Fuck
. That’s when I know for certain I’m falling in love with Camryn. She isn’t like other women. She’s driven; she has substance. She makes me want to settle down . . . or maybe I’ve always wanted that but never found the right fit that would satisfy me mind, body, and soul.

Until her.

And with the deadline approaching fast, I still haven’t found a way to tell her how I really feel.

I pause, my hand on Camryn’s lower back. “Come somewhere with me.”

“Now? What about work?” she asks, her gaze questioning mine.

“Please. I have something I want to show you.” Or rather, someone I want her to meet.

She must see something in my eyes, because after a moment of studying me, she grins. “Okay.”