Page 51 of Ronan

“We need more room for cargo, so I’m going to remove the bench seats.” My voice is lost in the rhythmic clang of metal on metal, and Cameron is oblivious as he concentrates. Making sure I can still see him from the garage, I get to work.

Boomerang jumps inside the van as soon as the side door slides open, tail thumping and tongue lolling in an excited grin. “Sorry, girl,” I say as I reach to pet her snout. “We aren’t going anywhere today.” She tilts her head at me, refusing to move as I loosen the bolts holding the benches in place. It doesn’t take long for me to remove them, leaving only the two front seats.

First, I load supplies we don’t have an immediate need for. Large bags of rice, grain, and dried beans, plus a backpack full of warmer clothing for when winter hits. Excess weapons—freshly cleaned and sharpened—along with five gallons of potable water.

A small grin plays on my lips as I glance behind me, making sure Cameron is still preoccupied. Honey, maple syrup, and a sealed container of sugar sit in a box that I tuck between the others, covering it with a blanket. One breakfast was all it took to reveal Cameron’s sweet tooth.He moaned and mauled his way through every bite, licking the honey from his fingers.

It was very distracting.

Cameron faces away from me, and I take a moment to watch him as he works. He might think himself good at concealing his emotions, but the raw, burning anger in his eyes last night was enough to cut right through me.

My intention was never to hurt him, although my actions were undeniably selfish. By keeping distance between us, I’m protecting myself. Cameron is a wild bird, vibrant and jumpy, ready to take flight at the first sign of danger.

What happens to me if he flies away?

Coward.

How can I demand his trust if I’m not willing to offer him the same?

Lost in his work, he’s oblivious to my approach, his quiet focus interrupted by my arms wrapping around his waist. He jumps, twisting to glance at me over his shoulder, a surprised expression turning to a scowl as I plant a kiss on his cheek.

Stubborn human can’t decide whether he wants affection or is annoyed by it.

“What are you doing?” he demands, and I laugh at the irritation in his voice. My prickly little porcupine, with his quills out and ready for a fight.

I twist him to face me, pulling him into my lap as I sit on a large wooden crate. He wiggles against me, hands landing on my shoulders as he stares at me, suddenly shy. “I realized I haven’t told you.” His scowl digs deeper as my smile spreads.

“Told me what?”

“How much I want you.” My hands wrap around his legs as I slide them on either side of my hips.

His lip draws between his teeth as his eyes skirt away. “Last night was stupid. I shouldn’t have gotten so upset with you. This isn’t… you don’t have to do this.”

“Don’t have to do what?”

He makes a vague gesture at where I have him in my lap, hands resting on his thighs. “Coddle me. Give in to my neediness. It’s ridiculous for me to expect you to go through all this trouble for me.”

“Trouble? That’s what you think this is? Maybe I’m doing it for me, Cameron… have you considered that? Maybe it makes me feel better to tell you.” Damp strands of his hair thread between my fingers as I pull his face closer, leaving only an inch between us. “And I do,” I say as his bright blue eyes flicker to mine. “Want you.”

He closes the distance, his lips finding mine with a low groan rumbling in his chest, a sound that whispers in my ear to takemore. My hands settle on his waist, encouraging him to roll his hips as he groans again, his body loosening.

The weight of him moving in my lap and the friction of his lean body have my cock thickening in a rush. Moans vibrate on my lips as he glides his tongue against mine, and my hands slide to grip his ass. He gasps into my mouth as I rock up into him, showing him exactly what he’s doing to me.

There’s no finesse to his movements, just pure instinct as he snaps his hips forward with a chorus of the sweetest, most desperate sounds. My fingers knead into the flexing muscles of his ass as he speeds up, whimpering in a way I’m sure he’ll deny later. As I push my hands under hisshirt, the warmth of his bare skin is like a brand to my palms, and he whines against my lips as the familiar jolt passes between us.

Labored breaths punch from his lungs as I kiss my way along the line of his jaw, following a path to his long, slender neck. A gentle suck has him pressing into my lap, and I growl against his skin at the friction. My hands inch to the front of his body as I drag my teeth over him in a light scrape. Tense muscles bunch and pull as my fingers drift over his stomach, mapping out every dip and curve as I tiptoe lower.

Cameron springs from my lap like it’s on fire, face flushed and breathing ragged. “It’s… hungry.”

Confusion muddles my mind as the impression of his body heat fades. “Is… it?” I stutter, disoriented, and his eyes drop to where my cock pushes greedily against my pants. He’s not in any better shape, his arousal obvious under his shorts, and I tilt my head as I try to make sense of what happened.

“Um, yes, very. Let me grab us some protein bars.” He turns and darts towards the house, leaving me dumbfounded in his wake.

“Cameron!” I shout, and he hesitates, slowing to a stop but refusing to turn around, his posture rigid. Unsure where his head is, I approach him cautiously. “What did I do wrong now, mo’sziv?”

“Nothing.” He forces fake cheerfulness into the lie, still facing away. “What does that word mean?”

“Explain to me why you’re upset, and I’ll tell you.”

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