Page 54 of Hook, Line and Single

‘Ah,’ Cameron says as his eyes fall upon the bed.

‘I’m not sure we thought this through,’ I agree.

‘I’ll go and find Alejandro and ask whether there’s somewhere else I can sleep,’ he suggests.

‘You can’t do that. We’ve caused them enough hassle as it is.’

‘I could sleep in the chair?’

‘Yeah, and cripple yourself. No. I’m sure we can manage this. We’re both grown-ups; let’s just be mature about it.’

‘It’s not very big. I don’t think there’s room to put a pillow wall down the middle, even if there were enough pillows.’

‘You’ll just have to behave then, won’t you?’

He yawns widely. ‘I think you’re quite safe. I’m so knackered I can barely keep upright, let alone try anything on.’

‘Right then. I’m going in the bathroom to get changed. You can look away when I come out, and I’ll do the same for you.’

Not only has Gabriela laid out toiletries, but there are two T-shirts on the bed, so I grab one and head into the bathroom. Cameron is sitting in the chair with his hands covering his eyes when I come out and slip under the duvet, and I make a point of facing the wall when he comes out. Nevertheless, I’m very conscious of him as he clambers into the bed behind me. It really isn’t very big, so we end up sort of awkwardly spooned together and I’m surprised how much I enjoy the warm solidity of him pressing against my back once we’ve finished shifting around trying to get comfortable. However, despite the distraction of Cameron’s body next to mine, it doesn’t take long for the events of the day to catch up with me and I fall asleep quickly.

19

When I wake the following morning, I’m completely disorientated. Nothing makes sense, from the room I’m in, to the clothes I’m wearing and the fact that I’m not alone in the bed. It takes me a good few minutes to piece everything together. Cameron’s arm is around my waist, but I can’t really begrudge him that as this bed really is tight for a double. At least he isn’t a snorer; his breathing is soft and even behind me. God, I hope I didn’t snore. I surreptitiously raise my hand to my mouth to check whether I’ve drooled in my sleep, but there’s no evidence.

I crane my neck so I can see the clock on the bedside table. Half past seven. Despite falling asleep quickly, it hasn’t been the most successful night, and I stretch to try to get a little more comfortable. That’s when I notice it and freeze. It may be a number of years since I’ve shared a bed with a man, but there’s no doubt what the object pressing against my right buttock is. When I was going out with Olly, all those years ago, his idea of early-morning foreplay was often nothing more advanced than prodding me in the back with his erection, so I’m familiar with the sensation. I’m acutely embarrassed but also curious in equal measure. Does Cameron know he’s doing it? Is it deliberate? What does it mean if it is? He doesn’t seem the type to just shove his penis at you. I’ve read that men often have involuntary erections first thing. Is that it?

I hold my breath and listen, trying to work out if his deep breathing is because he’s asleep or turned on. Of course, it’s impossible to tell. What to do? If I move again, he might think I’m grinding into him and encouraging him, but I can’t stay like this all morning. Although, maybe if I stay very, very still, it will go down. Just as that thought comes to me, Cameron groans and shifts, pressing his penis more firmly against my buttock. To give him his credit, it does feel like a fairly substantial penis from what I can sense, but I’m no closer to working out how to extricate myself from this situation. In the absence of anything else, I decide that humour is probably the best way to defuse this.

‘Umm, Cameron?’ I whisper.

No response.

‘Cameron!’ I hiss.

‘Hmm?’

‘Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?’

‘What?’

So much for humour. ‘There’s something hard pressing against me, and I think it’s you.’

‘What do you— Oh, shit! I’m so sorry.’ It may be a small bed, but Cameron has suddenly shot so far towards the other side of it that he’s practically hanging over the side. ‘It’s, umm… I wasn’t, umm…’

I roll over to face him. He’s absolutely crimson with embarrassment and refusing to meet my eye.

‘It’s just a thing that sometimes happens to men,’ he begins. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it, I promise.’ He’s actually managing to turn even redder, and I’m fighting the urge to laugh.

‘Oh,’ I tell him, trying to look stern. ‘Well, now I don’t know whether to be offended because you were assaulting me with your erection, or whether to be offended because it wasn’t intentional.’

‘Of course it wasn’t intentional!’ he moans. ‘I mean, it’s not that you’re not attractive, it’s just that… Oh, God. I’m making this worse, aren’t I?’

‘I tell you what. I’m going to get up and have a shower. Why don’t you use the time to do whatever it is that you need to do with little Cameron there.’

‘I can assure you I don’t need to do anything,’ he tells me strenuously.

‘OK. I’ll see you in a minute.’

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