“I didn’t sleep with Peter.”
Only when his shoulders dropped, releasing tension, did she realize how much her answer mattered to him. He rested his palms on her lower back and drew her between his thighs. His lips journeyed up her neck until he reached her ear.
“I’m glad.”
Jo fought off the little imps stealing all her sanity with every kiss he feathered over her skin. She drew back and met his eyes.
“And what about you?”
“I haven’t slept with Peter, either.”
“Come on, I’m serious. If you get to ask me who I’ve slept with, it’s only fair that I get to ask you.”
“Ask me anything.”
“Etinette. How many times have you slept with her?”
“Never.”
“Don’t lie to me, Cam.”
“I’m not lying. Never. I used her to throw you off the trail some, but those kisses you saw in New York were as far as it ever went.”
Jo pressed her nose into his neck, inhaling him and twining her arms around his back. She nuzzled beneath the collar of his shirt, pressing a kiss to the warm skin there.
“Promise?”
He pulled back, brushing the hair behind her ears and cupping her face, caressing her cheekbones with his thumbs.
“I promise.” He bent to tuck his chin between her neck and shoulder. “And I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.”
“Then why…?” The unfinished question was a Rubik’s Cube she kept twisting and turning, examining from every angle and still unable to solve.
If he wanted her so much, why didn’t he just take her? He had to know she would fully cooperate. And why had it taken so long for them to get here?
Cam set her gently aside and covered the ice cream, putting it away and coming back to grab her hand. He brushed his fingers across the skin beneath her eyes and held her face.
“You’re exhausted, baby.”
She smiled into the palm of his hand and kissed it.
“You called me baby.”
“Because you are. My baby, I mean.” He kissed her forehead. “And I won’t hesitate to fuck Peter up if he forgets.”
“Cam, for God’s sake.”
“And he knows it.”
“When did you become all caveman?”
Even though no one was in the house but them, he leaned in to whisper in her ear like it was a secret.
“Last night in the gazebo, you came when I kissed you. Somewhere around then.”
Her cheeks must be the color of beets.
“Will I never live that down? I told you that’s never happened before.”