Page 58 of Already At Risk
“You’re the only one I want it to be.”
Cameron’s shoulders shifted, almost like a weight had been lifted off them.
I wasn’t done, though. There were other things I had to say, other considerations. I knew I needed to voice some of my fears, the things that went beyond simply the logistics of our professional relationship.
“But what if we risk this and then it’s not even worth it?” I whispered. “What if we aren’t compatible? What if we end up not liking the same things?”
“We’re compatible, Natalie.” Cameron stared at me like he wasn’t sure if I was being serious or not. “It’ll be worth it.”
I knew, from the shaking of my body and the flush of my skin, that he was right. But the rational side of me felt that it was worth discussing. I wanted him to really think this through before committing. Because this wasn’t something we could simply take back.
When Cameron still saw the wariness in my gaze, he inched closer, and his proximity swirled around me. There was the smell of sandalwood, the warmth of his body, the husky quality of his voice when he breathed my name again, a slight admonishment to it like he couldn’t believe this was even a topic of conversation, thatthiswould be the thing I was questioning.
He reached out, his hand curving behind my elbow, tugging me a little closer. His fingers dragged down my arm, stopping at my wrist. A thumb pressed inside of it, like he was taking my pulse, and I knew he’d find it racing. He tapped on it, a sign that he’d clocked me, my body, what he did to me, and then he trailed his hand back up my arm, a gradual torment of touch. My lips parted as I wondered where else he would go, what else he’d do.
“I’m barely touching you, and you’re panting.” His voice was a sensual caress as he lifted a brow at me. “You know that, right?”
I rolled my eyes, attemptingnotto simply melt at his feet. “I’m a medical professional, Cameron. I’m well aware that my body is either deeply aroused or I’m having a medical emergency.”
“Mm,” he hummed. His lips twisted while his eyes sparked atmy admission. “Then just think of what I could do if you finally gave me permission, Sunshine.”
He took a step back again, letting me think on that as he walked around to the other side of his desk. When I managed to unstick my feet from the ground where he’d rooted me, I tentatively strode forward, keeping my voice low. Because I wasn’t quite ready to drop this. I didn’t like the idea that we might be risking something when it might not even work out. Even if, yeah, okay, it reallyfeltlike it would work out.
“What if you like things that I don’t?” I pressed.
“It’s not going to be about what I like,” Cameron said with a shake of his head, also keeping his volume soft. He was looking at his desk, now shuffling things around. “It’s going to be about what you like.”
“I mean, I still want you toenjoyyourself.”
Cameron looked up at me, lifting his brows. “You’re joking, right?”
My cheeks flamed, but before I could say anything, he cut back in.
“There is not a single situation I can imagine where you and I are involved and I’m not enjoying myself.Immensely.” He leaned forward on the desk, palms flat. I tried not to stare too much at the way it stretched the fabric of his suit jacket and shirt over his arms and chest. “We can talk about it, though. If you decide you want this, then we’ll talk. I promise. Just not here.”
His eyes skirted to the door, and I remembered for the first time since we walked in that we weren’t alone. That there were people outside that door, walking around. No one would have seen anything, though, right? There was only one window in this room. Just a tiny sliver that lined the door, opposite where we were standing. Someone would have had to look at just the right angle, and even then, they probably just saw my back. Still, nerves traveled up and down my spine, my pulse racing for an entirely new reason.
Seeming to be sharing my thoughts, Cameron added, “If we’re going to do this, we’ll—I’ll—have to be a little more careful.”
I nodded. “You’re right. I’m so sor?—”
“Do not apologize for behavior that I initiated.”
My lips pressed together at the sound of his lawyer voice, which vanished a second later.
“Today was a big day,” he acknowledged. His lips curved, a reminder that beyond whatever just happened between us, beyond whateverwouldhappen, there were really good things that came out of today. “It came with a lot of emotions, and I don’t want you to feel any sort of pressure after what you went through this morning. So just think about it. It’s a standing offer. I’m not going anywhere.”
A standing offer.
I couldn’t believe that he was really, truly offering me this.
I couldn’t believe I wasn’t moreembarrassedabout it.
But it was so hard to be when Cameron made me feel so secure in knowing that he wanted this, too. He wanted to help me, and he wantedme.
When would I ever get this lucky again? Knowing my track record, probably never.
“What should I do after I’ve thought about it?” I asked after a beat of silence.
