Page 36 of Can I Tell You Something?
“I’m all good man,” Ryan says. “I’m not pausing though. This movie is already way too long. Hurry, or you’ll miss it.”
“You want anything, Hannah?” he asks, the back of his hand ghosting over my shoulder as he passes by my chair.
“No, thank you,” I reply, keeping my eyes trained on the television.
What do I do now?How am I meant to come up with a fast excuse when I’ve sat here stuffing my face with cookies and wine for the past hour.
Looking around, I spy my almost empty water glass on the floor. I nudge it gently underneath the table and out of Ryan’s view, then try to stand up and hold myself back from running to the kitchen. “I need water, actually.”
I’ve barely stepped across the threshold when Cameron’s hand darts out, closes around my wrist, tugging me out of view of the living room. My body spins into his and his arm loops around my waist, holding me there while his other hand finds its way into my hair. His lips crash down on mine before I can speak, and when he tugs at the nape of my neck, I open for him easily.
My hands find forearms and I slide them up to his shoulders, fisting at the fabric of his t-shirt. His tongue is warm, needy and searching, and thank God he’s holding me up or I’d be a puddle at his feet.
“Had to taste you,” he whispers into my mouth. “Couldn’t stop thinking about it.”
“Ryan is right out there,” I whisper back while pulling him closer. I’ve never felt so torn in my life. He kisses me again, deep and all-consuming. I still can’t wrap my head around it. Him, here, moaning as our bodies grapple to get closer than possible. I could do this forever.
“We should go back,” he says, pulling away, eyes roaming my face as he fixes my hair, then wipes my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “You’re so fucking hot, Hannah.”
He presses a tiny kiss to my forehead, grabs his beer from the counter, and then he’s gone.
I can’t do it. There’s no way I can sit in that room with my brother and it won’t be obvious that I’m absolutely thrumming with need. I fill a glass of water, then splash a little on my face and neck. I’m sure it makes no difference at all.
Half an hour later, probably the longest half-hour of my life, I make my excuses and head upstairs, hoping Cam will follow.
Ryan stretches, yawning loudly. “I’m gonna head up too.”
Oh, now you get the hint?
This is the entirely wrong combination of people leaving the room.
“I’m not fussed about the end of this movie, I’ve seen it before,” says Cameron.
This isn’t right either. I want the two of us alone, not all three of us heading our separate ways.
I climb the stairs with Ryan behind me, and Cameron returns our glasses to the kitchen, then follows behind him. In the hallway, Ryan is banging on about Christmas eve plans while Cameron throws me an apologetic look over his shoulder.
I use the shared bathroom first to wash up and brush my teeth, secretly hoping Cameron will come in and we can grab another moment alone here. My parents’ room has an en-suite, but Ryan uses this bathroom too. It’s still a risk.
Back in my room, I change into a baggy t-shirt and climb into bed, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to sleep when I’m this pent up and horny. And is it any wonder, when all I can think about is Cameron lying in his bed on the other side of the wall?
I picture him with one arm propped behind his head, the other resting lazily on the crotch of his black and white checked pyjama bottoms with his covers pushed back. I wonder if he’s stroking himself lazily through the material, or if he’s slipping his hand inside the waistband for a more direct touch.
And I wonder if he’s picturing me doing the same.
I don’t want this to be how tonight ends, so I grab my phone from my nightstand to tell him to meet me downstairs. I’m about to hit send when my door slowly opens.
Chapter 23
Hannah
Cameronslipsinsideandcloses my door quietly behind him. I sit up as he stalks towards the end of my bed and crawls up to me.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“Shhh,” he says, one finger pressed to his lips.
He pulls his earbuds from his pocket, hands one to me, and pushes the other into his ear. I stare at it, until he gestures for me to copy him.
