Page 29 of Sophia & Cameron

Slowly, he shook his head. It had been years, and it was one of the main reasons he hated seeing the girl he liked in the arms of anyone else but him. He could admit that to himself, but he’d never admit that to anyone else. Telling Sophia this little tidbit felt like he was giving a piece of himself to her.

Cameron rubbed the back of his neck and fought the embarrassment. He wasn’t angry with his brother over it anymore. And that girl was probably married with a bunch of kids by now. He simply had never gotten over the fact that he couldn’t keep the attention of the first girl he’d tried to win over.

Sophia lowered herself to her seat at his side. “That really…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Cameron.”

He shrugged and forced a smile that he didn’t feel like giving her. “It was ages ago.”

“Doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter,” she said. Her eyes traced over him, scanning him from head to toe. “I bet that sort of thing doesn’t happen anymore, huh?”

Cameron snorted. “No, I don’t suppose it does.” He didn’t miss the desire that all but poured from her body. The way she leaned in. The way her tongue peeked out of her mouth to moisten her lips. Even the hitch in her breathing told him exactly what she thought about him. The chemistry he had with her was off the charts, and now that she knew he could be vulnerable with her, maybe they’d start making progress toward something again.

His fingertips traced lightly along her cheekbone as he brushed strands of hair behind her ear. “Your turn,” he murmured beneath his breath. “Tell me something real.”

She exhaled with a trembling breath. “I don’t have anything to tell you.”

He tsked. “Tit for tat, Red. Tell me something you haven’t told anyone else.”

Sophia closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

“Why don’t you date?” he whispered.

Her eyes flung wide, and she stiffened before jumping to her feet. “Pass.”

Cameron watched her dart up to the front door and sighed. He should have asked her for something else.

Why wasit that he always ended up at this club on the weekends?

Because ofher.

Sophia wasn’t the type to sit still. She wasn’t willing to commit to one person, and it showed in the way she flirted mercilessly with any guy who was halfway decent looking and gave her a smile.

Cameron had danced with her once tonight, but it was difficult to keep her attention on him. He could feel the familiar tug of jealousy in his chest any time she let a guy pull her close. But the second the dance was over, she was on to another group of people. She didn’t have any connections with any of them, and only one of them seemed interested in tugging her outside to see if he had a chance at something more.

Cameron had stopped that one real fast.

He arched a brow as that guy returned to Sophia’s side and pulled her onto the dance floor. It was a slow song, and every few minutes, Sophia’s eyes locked with Cameron. One side of his mouth quirked upward. She had the attention of more men than he had the attention of women, and yet he could see a familiar jealous streak in her own behavior when he danced with one of them.

The man she danced with attempted to take advantage of their proximity, his mouth dangerously close to the hollow of her neck. Cameron pushed off the wall and strode toward them. She hadn’t kissed anyone since he’d arrived, and that was one thing he wasn’t willing to let happen. He had no right, and yet he couldn’t stop himself.

His hand landed on the guy’s shoulder, and the man turned with recognition in his gaze. “Hey, man, we’re busy?—”

“I’m cutting in,” Cameron interrupted, pushing the man to the side and scooping Sophia into his arms.

“Cam—” she started indignantly, but her words were cut off as he spun her away from her partner then back towards himself, so she collided with his chest. Her eyes were wide and bright with exhilaration. “What are you doing?” she breathed.

Cameron’s mouth shifted to her ear. “Tell me something, Sophia. How can you live with yourself?” His voice was teasing and light. He loved being with her this way.

She reared back. “What?”

“What makes you think that you can tempt me, tease me, then deny me?”

She made an attempt to pull away, but he held her tight, his voice growing huskier.

“You flirt mercilessly with any guy who looks your way, but then you stare daggers at any girl who attempts to flirt with me.” He hit the nail on the head with that one. Her eyes widened further, and her cheeks flamed with color.

“I—you—that’s not…”

He chuckled, not missing the way goosebumps rose on her arms. “Let me ask you something else. Why won’t you let me get close to you… when you clearly don’t want anyone else to get close to me?”

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