Page 79 of SALT

Chapter 28

Cameron

This past weekend has been a whirlwind of emotions, from Stormy's confessions, the anniversary of my parents' death, and the status change of my relationship with Everett. I loved him in the dark for so long that loving him in the light doesn't feel real, but it's where we are. After the grand gesture he made at the game on Saturday, garnering the attention of the entire Bulldog stadium, I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I was soaring the rest of the day. The day I lost my parents will always be a sorrowful day, one of reflection and remembrance, but the memories don't have to all be bad. Year by year, moment by moment, the bad memories can be replaced with good ones. I no longer have to look back on that day with only sadness. I now have a happy memory to balance out the hurt. I lost people I loved, but I also gained a heart I may never have had. The second I step out of the shower, my phone pings.

Stormy: Are you busy tonight? I was hoping we could talk.

We keep missing each other. She wasn't at work on Saturday, which sucked. I wanted to catch up with her and see if I could pull more details out of her. Then on Sunday when she was in the shop, I wasn't. I spent the day with Mackenzie talking about the house and doing best friend shit, which included laying poolside and spilling the tea on all the things Everett and me. It figures she'd want to hang out tonight when I am unavailable.

Cameron: I have the charity gala tonight for the MacBeth Foundation.

There is no way I can miss it, even though Everett has told me a million times that he completely understands if I don't want to attend. After my parent's accident, Everett and Moira moved the event to the fall for obvious reasons, but given Moira's pregnancy, things changed this year. I don't love attending the event so close to the date my life was forever changed, but I also don't want people to tiptoe around me and treat me like I'm fragile. I lost my parents, they didn't. For the rest of the world, life moves forward, but I also don't want to be left behind or excluded for fear that I might break. Plus, tonight is another one of those times where I get to fill my memory jar with happy moments, ones that help replace the bad. Tonight, I'm not just an attendee at the gala. I'm Everett Callahan's date.

Stormy: Will you be at the stadium tomorrow?

What is tomorrow? I pull up my calendar app. I know tomorrow is Thursday, but I've been juggling a lot between the stadium, my business, and my new house. Things are starting to run together.

Cameron: Yes, I'll be in around 9 am.

Connor asked me to come in early to brainstorm ideas for surprising Everett at the last game.

Stormy: I'll bring coffee.

I send a thumbs up to her message and then set my phone down. I told her nine a.m., but I'll arrive closer to eight a.m. Connor and I should be done before she gets there, and I'll be ready for another cup of coffee. I quickly grab my vitamin C serum and start moisturizing my face. I'm running behind and I need to pull the redness out of my skin after forgetting to wear sunscreen this weekend.

"Why are you getting ready in here?"

"Jeez, you scared the shit out of me," I say, clenching my towel tight as I practically jump out of my skin. When I look up, Everett stands behind me, donning a suit and tie, looking exquisitely dapper and oh-so edible. His dark locks are styled back in a long fade; his beard is neatly trimmed and immaculately sculpted, highlighting his chiseled jaw and those eyes. Fuck, I redirect my focus back to the mirror. We don't have time for what those eyes do to me. I start rubbing in the serum when he approaches me and kisses my shoulder. My skin instantly pebbles under his caress.

"You didn't answer my question," he says as the pad of his thumb gently drags down the side of my arm.

I blink away the fog threatening to settle and try to remember what question he even asked. "All of my makeup is in here." The hand that was skimming my arm wraps around the one I have holding my towel, and in one swift movement, his fingers expertly loosen mine, and my towel drops to the floor.

"I'll move them for you," he says as his lips trail up my neck and big hands cup my heavy breasts.

"It's fine. I don't need to move twice," I stutter out with bated breath. "When I pack all this up, it will be to move into my new house."

"I think you mean our new house." His fingers pinch my nipples, making my pussy clench. "Where you go, I go."

"Everett, I need to get ready. We're going to be late."

"Then we will be late." His eyes find mine in the mirror. "I've already waited long enough to make you mine. The world can wait a little longer to have you." His hands give my breasts one more firm squeeze before they slowly drift down my hips as his lips start trailing open-mouthed kisses down my back. "I'll be quick, I just need a taste." His teeth nip at the curve of my ass. "I want this pussy to come on my face so I can smell you and be reminded of what I have, of what's mine, all night."

His fingers dig into my hips, and I hiss. "Everett, we don't know how to be quick."

"That's a terrible argument if I've ever heard one. Bend over and spread your legs, sunshine." When I hesitate, he slaps my ass. "Now," he orders. I've barely moved into position when his palms grip my cheeks hard, spreading me wide before his tongue runs straight over my puckered hole. I shrink into myself in a way I never have. I'm very body-positive and confident. I've done a lot of things, but no one has ever put their mouth on me there. "Every inch of you tastes like heaven." My mind barely has time to sort through the emotions flooding my body before his tongue spears my pussy deep, and the groan of undiluted ecstasy vibrates through his groan.

"Mmm," I moan with a half whimper as I grip the counter to steady myself. As his tongue and lips alternate between sucking and fucking me, his thumb finds its way to my tight hole. He hasn't tried anything back there yet, and I haven't asked, but I already know I want it. I want everything with him. When he doesn't meet any resistance, he pushes the tip in. "God, yes," I pant as my senses are overwhelmed. There's no way the man I've fantasized about since I was a teenager is on his knees for me right now in a suit and tie with my pussy in his mouth.

"You like this, sunshine?"

"I like everything with you."

His thumb pushes in further at the same time his tongue spears my pussy, and I come without warning.

"So good," he mumbles as he licks me through my orgasm.

"Fuck me, Ev." It comes out as a half plea, half demand. Oral sex is foreplay. I need him to fill me and stretch me to be fully satisfied.

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