Page 56 of Lust & Lollipops

Cam leaned over the table. “I didn’t spend four years falling in love with you to risk watching you walk away with another man when there was something I could do about it. I’m not a gambler, Lolli. I knew I had Kyle and Travis in my pocket. I had them certain that I wasn’t a real contender, and Reid was. I was making it to the end, and I wasn’t taking the only other man you even somewhat liked with me.”

“That’s insanely selfish, Cam,” I shot back.

I wasn’t going anywhere near his comment about falling in love with me.

Not even maybe.

“Selfish, but smart,” he said.

The servers arrived with our food, but Cam made no move to touch his.

I’d seen the single-minded focus most grown-ass fae men had on the meals placed before them on the island. Him not digging in immediately was significant.

“You’re frustrated because you feel like I haven’t told you enough about myself,” Cam said. “And you’re right. I haven’t. There are a lot of things I wasn’t allowed to discuss, but there aren’t any rules now. Ask me anything.”

“Why haven’t you touched your food?” I gestured to the many plates in front of him.

“You’re hurt,” he said. “That far outweighs a little hunger.”

“A little hunger? You’ve been surviving on nothing but fish for nearly a month, Cam.”

“I’ve been fighting every instinct that pushes me to protect you and claim you for nearly a month, too. That’s been a hell of a lot harder than going hungry.”

I sighed. “Fine, let’s act like everything’s normal and just eat. We can talk when I can’t hear your stomach rumbling anymore.”

He nodded, but didn’t pick up his fork until I did.

There was a piece of chocolate cake on one of my plates, so I didn’t hesitate before cutting into it. When the flavor hit my tongue, I groaned.

Loudly.

Cameron already had a forkful of grilled chicken in his mouth.

“Holy shit,” I mumbled around the cake. It came out sounding more like “Oy it,” but I was sure he’d get the message.

Still chewing, he leaned over and cut a piece of my cake for himself.

My lower belly tensed slightly at the intimacy, and my face warmed.

Cam inhaled deeply after swallowing. His fork was still full of cake. “That’s what finally gets you wanting me again, Loll? Stealing your food?”

“Oh, shut up.” I leaned across the table and took a big chunk of what looked like cheesecake from one of his plates, taking a bite of that. “Mine’s better,” I said.

He shook his head and cut another piece of chicken. “Try this.”

When he handed me his fork, there was a bit of challenge in his eyes.

And I wasn’t about to back down.

So, I took the fork and bit down myself.

“Okay, that’s good,” I agreed.

We focused on the food, sharing bites back and forth as we ate. I was full long before Cam was, but he managed to get me to try some of everything, even after I felt like I might burst.

When he was finally as stuffed as I was, we were escorted to our room at the top of the boat.

Everything was elegant and modern, with huge glass windows that looked out over the ocean and the rest of the scenery around us. We were moving slowly, and the boat’s rocking was barely noticeable.

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