Page 13 of Off Balance

"For now," Cameron mutters.

Before I can ask what he means, he nods towards the marshmallow. In my distraction, I let it fall too close to the flames, and now it resembles a torch. I blow it off and grimace at Cameron. "I'll make you another one."

"What?" he exclaims. "Why? It's perfect."

"It's basically charcoal. I'll start over."

"Give me that." He pulls the stick his way and quickly engulfs it with his mouth. When he pulls back, he's covering his mouth with one long-fingered hand, choking out a garbled laugh. "It's still hot," he says, his words muffled by marshmallow.

"Ya think?" I laugh. "You just stuffed a ball of lava in your mouth."

"It's so good though," he mumbles around the mouthful. His eyes roll back a little before he closes them entirely, savoring the simple treat. When he opens them again, I could swear his eyes are a little glassy. When was the last time he let himself enjoy something like this?

Deciding he needs another, because suddenly my only goal in life is to make him look that happy again, I load up the stick again and hold it over the flames.

"That better be for you," he says, wiping his bottom lip and sucking the pad of his finger to remove any remnants of the melted marshmallow mess. The sight of it sends my thoughts directly into the gutter.Jesus, that mouth is…

I clear my throat and look back at my stick. It's on fire again. "It was," I lie, blowing the flames off the marshmallow. "But look at that, it's burned. I guess you'll just have to eat it for me."

"I've met my quota of sugar and empty calories for today, thank you."

"You know," I say, continuing to blow on the marshmallow to cool it off. "Marshmallows are actually pretty low calorie. And I'm pretty sure we burned away half the sugar anyway, so you might as well have two."

Cameron bites his lip, considering me. Or the marshmallow that I'm tilting in his direction.

Darting a glance over at my brother and Cora, I confirm they aren't paying attention. The need to be sneaky should be my first clue that I'm about to do something idiotic, but the flickering firelight dancing over Cameron's skin, and the way he's looking at me—okay, the marshmallow, but a man can dream—have me turning my body towards him and leaning forward.

"Open."

Initially, I mean it in a teasing way, but my voice clogs in my throat, and the word sounds low and gravely. The firelight continues to play tricks on me, making Cameron's eyes seem to flash and darken. His lids droop a little, and his lips part.

Slowly—achingly slowly—he leans forward and opens his mouth, just enough for me to see the flat of his pink tongue. The same tongue that darts out, curls under the marshmallow, and sweeps it into his perfect, sexy mouth.

Oh my God.

CHAPTER 3

CAMERON

I know this is bad. It’s so bad. But I just can’t help myself. The way he’s watching me with such obvious hunger makes it impossible to resist.

Moaning as the sweet center of the marshmallow melts across my tongue, I look up to meet Dom’s eyes. They’re hooded, irises so dark that I can’t distinguish them from his pupils, making him look like a hungry shark. I watch the way his throat bobs with a deep swallow, and imagine what it would feel like to rub my face along his stubbled neck like a cat. Or to have his jaw scrape against the sensitive skin of my inner thighs.

His nipples pebble under his tight t-shirt. He knows I’m looking at him, appreciating his big, muscled body. God, what he must look like naked. The thought of all that warm, brown skin and the hint of veins that run up his arms makes my mouth fill up with saliva.

Even the gnarled scar across the bridge of his nose is sexy. I want to run my tongue?—

"Just what exactly is going on here?" A voice says, startling me from my inappropriate moment with my stepdad's brother.

We jump apart, and I don't miss the way Dom's hand flies to the crotch of his pants, pressing against—holy fuck, that can't be his dick!

Shit.Focus, Cam!

"Emile, you came!" I jump up and bound over to him, throwing my arms around his neck. He stiffens at first, but finally relaxes into the hug. He allows it to happen, anyway, before stepping back to kiss me on each cheek. I press forward to kiss his lips, but he pulls away.

"You have something," he says, and gestures to his mouth. My hand flies up, finding my lips sticky with the marshmallow Dom just fed me. How much of that did Emile see?How long was I sitting there, with my mouth around the point of a stick, staring inappropriately at this guy who is supposed to be my uncle?

I roughly scrub at my lips with the back of my hand when Emile turns around again. My mom and Dwayne are making their way across the yard. Dwayne is the first to reach us, holding out his hand to shake Emile's.

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