Unwanted Stars (12 page)

"Let me finish. Please," he said, looking serious. His forehead creased, his lips forming a straight line. "I'm scheduled and organized. My days are always planned for me. Patients, meetings, consultations. But with you, I'm different. With you I feel alive. For the first time in my life."

"Campbell, c'mon. I saw you tonight. The way you helped Brianne. You can't tell me that doesn't make you feel alive, powerful even!"

"Of course. Healing people, comforting them. It's...it's brilliant. I
love
it. But it's not the same as how I feel when you're near me."

The clicking of my heels stopped as I came to a halt. That was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever said to me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to kiss him or run away. Far, far away.

"You scare me," I whispered.

"You fucking terrify me." He laughed, his voice cracking with the words. He closed the distance between us, gripping my hair with his hand and pulling me close. "Don't push me away. I want to know you, Auden. All of you."

My heart pounded within my chest and my pulse quickened. Glancing around the empty street, I knew it was safe. My lips touched his gently at first, growing more urgent with each contact. He bit gently down on my bottom lip, causing chills to run down my spine. The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention and my belly stirred from his touch. My fingers gripped the belt loops of his khaki pants, pulling him closer to me. He read me perfectly, deepening the kiss and twirling his tongue with my own. With each sensual stroke, my body responded more intensely. Heat rose through my neck and cheeks and my fingers ran through his hair, tugging softly on the ends. He moaned into my mouth before pulling away.

"We should stop."

"What? Why?"

"If we don't stop now, we'll end up in my room."

"Let's go," I said, placing soft kisses on his neck.

"No, we have to be careful. Ellis will be there. And Anabelle could find out. Your job is too important. We have to wait."

"Niiiine days," I whined into his shoulder.

"It's just over a week. We can do this."

My nose wrinkled in frustration. "Speak for yourself, doctor."

A feral moan left Campbell's mouth and he grabbed me by the shoulders, pulling me into a darkened entrance of a bakery.

"Say that again," he said, lapping at the hot skin of my neck.

"Doctor?"

"You have no idea how fucking sexy that is."

"Ahhh, so I've found your weakness. The good
doctor
has a soft spot." It felt good to know how to turn him on. He certainly knew how to do the same for me. A look of smug satisfaction crossed my face.

"Shit, Auden, you're so fucking hot," he said, his hand roaming down underneath my skirt. Jumping slightly, I felt my legs open for him almost automatically, as if I'd waited for his touch for twenty-three years.

The tips of his fingers tickled the lace of my panties as he stroked me through the fabric. I released a gasp, our eyes locked. Here we were, in the middle of an empty street in Rome. Smart Auden would push his hand away. Girl scout Auden would slap him across the face and stomp back to the hotel in a huff, reporting his indiscretions to Anabelle. But the real Auden...the one who mattered, didn't care if I lost my job on the spot. I never wanted those fingers to stop touching me.

His mouth took mine once again as his nimble fingers stroked me through my panties. Pressure built inside of me and I found myself reaching for a release my body so desperately needed. My forehead pressed to his shoulder as I attempted to muffle the sounds escaping my lips.

"I can feel you," he said. "Feel how close you are."

"Oh God," I whispered.

"Will you let me? Let me make you come? Right here, right now?" he asked.

I moaned into his shoulder, nodding my head. He quickened the pace of his fingertips, pushing me forward. And then it happened. The orgasm ripped through me. I bit into his shirt, growling into him—a sound I'd never made before. But I wasn't embarrassed. I was satisfied, I was blissful, and I was completely captivated by this man.

Gently, he kissed the tip of my nose when I finally came back up for air. That tiny gesture was the most intimate part of the entire experience. I shuddered with the simple touch of his lips on my skin.

"God, you're so sexy," he said, pushing my hair behind my ear.

"That was...the most sensual experience of my life," I said, struggling to catch my breath.

"Baby, I'm just getting started.” He pressed his lips to mine once again. "Come on, I'll walk you back. I think you might need to rest."

"Doctor's orders?" I said with a laugh, knowing just how corny that sounded. Campbell just shook his head.

"Indeed." He offered a bemused smile.

Indeed.

This is the day I'd been dreading. Telling myself I had more time with Campbell when I knew we were down to the wire. I was avoiding the inevitable, which is funny because when other people do that, it pisses me off. I'm always spouting off about how people need to get their shit together and face reality. Indecisiveness, denial, all of that crap drives me nuts. I hate it. And so, for the moment, I hate myself. But I'm sure I'll get over it.

When the bus pulled into the parking lot, I had to finally face the facts. The tour was over. Campbell would return to his life as a pediatrician and I'd meet with Michelle to discover my fate with Jordan Tours. Would I be packing a bag, on my way back to Chicago? The thought made my stomach flip—could I leave him? I guess I'd have to. My fate was in the Sergeant's hands. The thought of
that
caused an equal amount of dread in my brain. I didn't know what Anabelle thought of me, and even worse yet, I didn't trust her. Not at all.

Campbell and I had to be discreet when saying our goodbyes. I couldn't pay any extra attention to him. I had to hide my emotions, my fear of never seeing him again. My sadness of walking away from that face, that enticing voice, those eyes. We'd exchanged cell numbers, but I couldn't escape the idea that no matter how much time we'd spent together, no matter how many stolen kisses, stolen conversations and moments of sheer desire and lust we shared, I might not ever see him again.

I wanted more. So much more.

When Michelle called me into her office to discuss my future with the company, my phone pinged with a text.

Missing you already

Not only did I feel sheer joy at this text, but hope. I hoped that Anabelle had been kind in her evaluation of me. I hoped that the phone conference back in Venice had nothing to do with me. I hoped that I'd have some time before my next tour. Selfishly, I hoped to spend as much time as possible with the new man in my life.

With a new air of confidence, I walked into Michelle's office with my head held high. I was determined to maintain my contract with Jordan. I was determined to spend more time with Campbell and to pursue a future with this company.

Her stony face gave me pause. She gestured for me to enter the room, simply saying my name. No pleasantries, no ice breakers.

Fucking Anabelle.

"So,"
she began, holding a stack of papers in her hand, "everything looks fine. You'll start your own group in eleven days."

"Seriously?" I asked, shocked that Anabelle actually gave me a break. If she'd known about my night with Campbell in the street, she most certainly wouldn't have. Thank goodness she didn't.

"Why do you seem so surprised? Anabelle said you were just fine. We're going to chalk up the first tour to first time jitters. Especially since Tom still won't give me a definitive answer—"

"Well, I—"

"Anyway, do you think you're ready for your own group? Spring break is approaching, so we need to step it up. Are you on board?"

"Absolutely," I said with a nod, feeling my confidence returning. "I'm ready."

"Okay, good. Well, then. Enjoy your eleven days. I'll send over your materials a few days before the tour begins. You'll be visiting France and Spain with this tour, so you'll want to brush up on the big stuff."

"I will." I nodded.

"Great, well…welcome aboard, officially."

"Thank you, Michelle," I said, walking to the door. My hand was on the doorknob when Michelle cleared her throat.

"Oh, and Auden?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't screw it up."

I couldn't get those words out of my head. Part of me was pissed at her. The other part was anxious. It was probably just tough love, but her words stung.
Don't screw it up.

In my mind, I would confront her. I'd say something sharp like, "Listen, Jersey girl, I don't screw things up, alright? I make them better. Always."

She'd stare at me in awe, trying not to show how self conscious she was about her overabundance of eye shadow and liner. I'd really be on a roll and wouldn't stop there. "
And
a year from now you're going to be
begging
me to stick with your company instead of pursuing other things. So, check your attitude at the damn door, because this girl ain't got time for your shit. Have a nice day."

Oh man, I wish.

My mind continued to ponder different scenarios where I made Michelle regret her lack of faith in me as I swirled the glass of wine in my hand, staring off into space as I sat at the bar in the pub across from my flat. My wandering thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hey."

A pair of garnet colored glasses sat atop a perfectly painted face.

"Anabelle, how are you?"

"Fine. Exhausted," she said, pulling up a barstool and sitting beside me, gesturing for the bartender to make his way to us.

"I'll have a French Martini.” He nodded and prepared her drink.

"That's my favorite," I said with a nod. Maybe Anabelle wasn't so awful after all. Maybe I'd been too tough on her.

"I need something strong. This tour was long, wasn't it?" she asked, running her hands through her hair. And in that moment, I realized this was the first time I'd seen her without her signature tight ponytail. Was Anabelle actually capable of letting loose?

"I don't have much to compare it to," I said with a shrug.

"Oh, that's right." She took a sip of her drink.

"I don't know what Tom's problem was. You did good, Auden."

"Thanks."

"Just be careful." My heart skipped a beat.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying hard to sound casual.

"You're not fooling anyone. I
chose
to look the other way because you did such a good job with the tour. And Spring Break is coming."

"I don't understand." I played dumb.

Anabelle turned her entire body to me. She crossed one leg over the other as she leaned into the oak of the bar. Narrowing her eyes, she tilted her head my way, peering over her glasses. She reminded me of my sixth grade teacher Miss Osborne when she did that. You couldn't fool Miss Osborne. Ever.

"Give me a break." She paused. I still said nothing. She rolled her eyes and continued, "You and the good doctor. It was
so
obvious."

My pulse was running out of control. I swallowed hard.