Page 36 of Caught in the Middle

Whatever Cam had been thinking about vanished when he witnessed Emma prop a leg up on the ottoman and begin rubbing the lotion in. How was it that watching her moisturize could turn even the most mundane act and boring pajamas into something so intoxicating for him? He was certain he’d never see the women’s sleep section again without this image popping into his head.

As Emma switched legs, she said, “It’s crazy how fast I dry out in the summer.”

“Mhmm.”

“I hope I brought enough lotion this week. I’m sure they have more downstairs otherwise.”

“Yeah.”

She looked up. “Do you want some?”

It took Cam a moment to realize she asked him something. “What?”

She held out the lotion, her eyes narrowing. “Lotion. Want some?”

He shook his head. “No.”

She could’ve sworn something like guilt and torment washed over his features. Then Cam scratched the back of his neck and finally rose from the bed. A thought skittered through her mind, and she was tempted to toy with him, return the favor of the helmet scheme this morning, along with holding her hand in the elevator, but before she could a sound came through the wall.

Cam turned, his eyebrows raising as Emma froze.

No, she thought. Oh god, no.

“Sounds like they’re having fun.”

Emma made a face. “Ew. I do not need the image to match the sounds.” Because that was indeed the unmistakable sound of a woman moaning.

Cam laughed and she shushed him, standing up to pace the room. Whenever it got quiet again, Emma paused. “Okay, that wasn’t so bad,” she whispered.

“Why are you whispering?” Cam asked with an amused look. He made his way to the bed and began pulling back the covers. He could probably score some points if he let Emma have it again tonight, but he did win the bed fair and square in her little race to the ocean earlier.

She relaxed, not caring that he was mocking her. “Because I don’t want them to hear us. Clearly, we can hear them.”

He shook his head, entertained, then reached over his head and pulled his shirt up and off.

“Do you have to sleep like that?” Emma asked, waving her hand up and down at him, then immediately regretted it as a sinful grin pulled on his lips.

“Would you rather me take the bottom half off, too?” He tilted his head at her.

Emma’s face deadpanned. “Not funny.”

“Hard to sleep with such a yummy snack nearby, Emma?”

Her nostrils flared at that. She did not like being taunted, especially whenever it felt like a challenge because she was one to rise to the occasion. Before she could decide on a response to shred his ego, the moaning was back, but this time it was accompanied by the unmistakable sound of furniture banging up against the wall.

Why on earth did they have to be in the room next to Lauren and Asher? Was this some sort of punishment or karma? Emma swore she’d never skimp on the full twenty percent tip again in her life, if only it would make this stop.

“These beds don’t even move,” she said in exasperation.

“But the couch does.”

She made a face, then looked at him unimpressed. “Why am I not surprised?”

Cam shrugged. If only she knew all the ways he’d thought about taking her in this room, the couch included. He was now in bed, sitting against the pillows and the covers pulled up to his waist.

Emma noticed his impeccable muscles were still tantalizing her, but now she had more concerns than Cam’s delicious abs. Especially when it hit her who was next door and exactly what they were doing.

Emma crawled on the bed, making her way up to the pillows but sitting on top of the covers and facing him.

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