“Cameron North, if you're going to contradict the boss, we might have a problem,” I teased.
“Are you going to punish me?” he asked.
If my pulse wasn't racing before, it was now.
“I might, but we could also come to some kind of compromise,” I said. “We can agree that yours is the cutest ass on any man in the country.”
I arched a brow expectantly.
“I think you're hoping I'll say yours is the cutest ass on any woman in the country,” he said slowly. “But I stand by what I said. Yours is much cuter.” Hegripped me tighter and picked me up until I wrapped my legs around his waist. His mouth met mine in a kiss that should have set the apartment on fire.
He carried me over to the couch and lay me down, before lying over me, his knees on either side of my thighs.
“I've been thinking about this for days,” he whispered. “Kissing you. Being with you.” He kissed me again, then pulled away and frowned. “Unless you just wanted to talk?”
“No,” I said. “Yes. I mean, I want to talk, but I want to kiss you first. Unless you want to talk?”
“I want to have a long bath and a conversation with you, after I taste your pussy and make you come,” he said. “Is that too direct?”
“No, no,” I said quickly. “That's exactly direct enough. Don't stop.” I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and pulled his face down so I could kiss his mouth and trace my lips over his.
He ran his hands up and down my body, touching me everywhere, only layers of clothes between us.
He kissed my mouth, down my cheek and my neck. The more he kissed me, the more I wanted. The more I needed.
“Please,” I whispered.
“Please, what?” he asked, his face buried close to my throat. “Tell me what you need.”
“Everything,” I said.
He pushed himself up and propped himself on his elbow to look down at me. “Everything? You might need to elaborate.”
I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him back down to me to kiss him more thoroughly. I let my hands wander up his shirt and across his muscular back. Holy puck, it felt like his muscles had muscles.
That thought promptly made me feel self-conscious. My hands and mouth went still, frozen, wondering what the hell a guy like this was doing with me.
He lifted his head and frowned. “What is it? Do you want to stop?” He rolled off me and knelt on the floor beside the couch. His eyes were dark with desire, but laced with worry. “Andi, speak to me. What is it?”
“No,” I said softly. “It's not you. It's one hundred percent me.” I sighed out my nose in frustration.
He pushed himself off the floor to sit beside me and hold both of my hands. “You're beautiful. You know that, right?”
I shook my head sadly. “I don't know that. Imean, I believe you believe that, but I don't see it when I look in the mirror. I see crazy hair I can't control, too many freckles and…" I gestured down at myself.
“The most incredible body I've ever seen,” he said firmly. “Is that what this is about? You think I'll judge you because other people do? Firstly, I wouldn't do that, because you're stunning. Secondly, fuck them for making you feel bad about yourself. When I look at you, I see a smart, gorgeous, intelligent, caring person. Someone who's probably too good for a dork like me.”
“You're not a dork,” I insisted. “You're gorgeous and sexy. You deserve a woman who doesn't look at herself and remember the things people say about her. Someone who doesn't eat too many hotdogs and cupcakes.”
A flash of anger crossed his features. “Who told you you shouldn't eat whatever you want to?”
“Society as a whole,” I whispered, withdrawing slightly from his fury. “My mother in particular. Girls from school. My mirror is a particularly judgemental bitch.”
“If that's the case, I'll smash it for you,” he offered. “It'll be worth seven years of bad luck.” He cupped my cheek with his hand. “I'm sorry peoplewere assholes to you. It's not okay. No one should be treated like that byanyone.”
He looked as though he wanted to growl at my mother, but understood it was a battle for me and her, not for him to undertake on my behalf.
“No, they shouldn't,” I agreed. “I shouldn't let it get to me. I just… I look at you and I… You're out of my league.”