She shakes her head. “That’s why he couldn’t stand the thought of you being put into that same sleazy basket at the club. He couldn’t stand the thought of Owen ever going through that shame as a teenager if it came out later.”
“Why didn’t he just say that?” I practically shout.
“Because he’s a proud man. He’s not going to bring up his insecurities,” she answers.
I shake my head as I sip my drink.
“Cameron is a good man, Ashley,” Natasha replies. “No matter what he’s done in the past, he honestly thought he was looking out for Owen’s best interests at the time.”
I sit for a moment as I think about what they’ve said.
“Speak of the devil.” Adrian smiles.
I look up and see Joshua walking through the crowd with Cameron following behind him.
Our eyes lock.
The look he gives me sends shivers down my spine.
I want you, I’m taking you, and I’m going to fuck you into submission. Is what it’s silently screaming.
Goosebumps scatter. He hasn’t looked at me that way for a long time, and I had honestly forgotten its power.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I watch him approach us through the crowds.
Dear God, Cameron Stanton is here, and the way he is looking at me tells me that I’m in trouble.
Big. Fucking. Trouble.
Joshua walks up to us and kisses Natasha, slaps Adrian on the back, and then kisses me on the cheek. “Hello.” He smiles politely before taking a seat next to Natasha.
“Hi.” I smile back awkwardly. I pick up my drink to distract myself from Cameron’s smouldering gaze.
Cameron finally moves and kisses Tash, shakes Adrian’s hand and then moves behind me to lean over and kiss my cheek. “Hey, Bloss,” he whispers into my ear so nobody else can hear.
Shit. Don’t call me that.
“Hi.” I smile awkwardly. He stays behind me with his two hands on my bare shoulders. The heat from his fingers pressing on my skin is searing, and he subtly squeezes my shoulder muscles in between his hands, causing more goosebumps to scatter.
Bloody hell.
He pulls up a stool, sits beside me, and smirks knowingly at my body’s reaction to his touch.
Cut it out, goosebumps, you traitorous bastards.
“How was the pussy party?” Tash asks as she sips her drink.
I look at Cameron. “A pussy party?” I frown.
He laughs out loud-that carefree beautiful laugh-and I feel my stomach flip at the sound.
“It was okay.” He smirks as his drink arrives. “Thank you,” he says as he takes it from the waiter.
“Boring. I would much rather be here with you lot,” Joshua mutters as he picks up his beer.
“That goes without saying.” Adrian grins.
“Why does this surprise you?” Tash adds.
“What the hell is a pussy party?” I frown.
“Pussy on demand,” Adrian says, rolling his eyes.
I shake my head and frown. I’ve heard it all now.
Cameron laughs. “Very poor quality pussy, though.”
My mouth drops open. “How and why do I even know you?” I splutter.
“We have a child together. Remember?” He smiles cheekily. “He’s four years old and he’s insanely good looking… just like his father?”
I smirk. “That was all by chance.”
His eyes dance in delight. “You should have known when you met me that I would have super human sperm.”
The table laughs.
“Now I’ve heard it all,” Adrian grumbles.
“You have super human sperm?” I repeat. “Please? Give me a break.”
He sips his drink. “Yep. It must have tentacles, smashing anything that gets in it’s way like some kind of Ninja Turtle.”
“That would mean you have hundreds of Ninja Turtle sperm children everywhere then?” I smirk.
His face falls, and he fakes a shiver. “No. Just the one. My ninja powers were saved for you and you alone.”
“Nice save,” Joshua says though a small laugh.
I smile as Cameron’s eyes linger on mine a little too long.
Joshua, Tash, and Adrian start talking about something else as Cameron’s eyes drop to my little black dress.
“You look gorgeous, by the way,” he whispers as his eyes drop down my body and he reaches over to adjust the spaghetti strap on my shoulder.
My cheeks heat as he continues to gaze at me.
“Owen’s tucked in bed, fast asleep,” he says as he picks up his drink and takes a sip.
“Did you ring him?”
“Yeah, he was just going to bed. I rang to say goodnight.”
Our eyes stay fixed on each other. I really need to stop drinking. It’s giving me asshole amnesia.
I glance over and see Joshua relaying a story to the other two, and Natasha’s eyes dance with delight as she looks over at me. I frown in question. What are they talking about?
“How about I spin you around that dance floor?” Cameron smiles sexily.
“No, thanks,” I say quickly. There’s no way in hell he is holding me in his arms.
“You know, I’m a ten in the dancing category.”
I smirk. “You don’t have a rating system anymore, Cam.”
“I don’t?”
“Nope.”
His face falls. “Why not?”
“Do you even have to ask?” I reply, deadpan.
His face falls serious as he watches me for a moment. He pauses, as if contemplating which direction to take the conversation. “Are you ready yet?”
“Ready for what?” I frown.
“To talk to me.”
“Cam…” I sigh.
“Don’t Cam me.” He puts his hand on my thigh beneath the table. “I want to address the elephant in the room, Ash. It’s been here for two months and it needs to be discussed.”
“Cam.” I close my eyes. “Just leave it. Nothing needs to be said because I don’t want to hear any of it.”
“We’re heading out of here.” Natasha smiles.
“Oh.” My face falls as my eyes go to them.
Adrian, Joshua, Tash are all standing, and I see Joshua throw Cam a wink. I frown as I turn to watch Cameron.
“I’ll get Ash home safe,” Cam says as he sips his drink.
Tash and Adrian come around to kiss me, and before I can even mutter a word, they are walking through the crowd until they’re completely out of sight.
“That was sudden. What happened there?”
“I asked Joshua to leave me alone with you.”
“What?” I frown. “Why?”
“Because I wanted you all to myself.”
My eyes hold his. “What’s going on here?”
He picks up my hand in my lap. “I want another chance.”
I scowl. What the fuck?
“I want you to give me another chance, Ash.” He leans forward and gently kisses my lips. “We are so good together, Bloss.”
I pull back quickly. “No, Cam.” I shake my head. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m trying my best to get a kiss.” His eyes search mine.
“It’s not happening, Cameron.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust you.”
His face falls and he picks up my fingers to kiss the backs of them. “Please don’t say that,” he whispers.
I watch him kissing me slowly, and I shake my head. “I can’t just turn my feelings back on like a tap when it suits you.”
His eyes hold mine.
“The damage you’ve done is irreversible, Cameron,” I reply sadly. “There is no hope for us to ever work it out now. I warned you back then. Now… I don’t have the same feelings for you that I used to.”
His face falls and he drops his head. Feeling guilty, I squeeze his hand in mine.
“I honestly thought I was doing the right thing, Ash,” he whispers.
“I know you did,” I reply sadly.
His eyes rise to meet mine, and he stays silent.
“But I can’t be with someone who bases their decisions on power.”
He frowns.
“You tried to take Owen from me to show me who was the boss.”