“Summer romance with a rock star sounds like an autobiography,” I say with a smirk on my face. “I go where you go.” And his face changes into one of complete love and affection.
“Fuck,” he says. Grabbing me, he kisses me and he doesn’t hold back. A summer of that sounds like exactly what we need.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I was thinking you could show me a bit about your world today,” Cameron says, and I look over at him clueless. Panic sets in when I begin thinking about having to tell him about my past and all that goes with that.
“What?” I mutter.
“I was wondering if today you would let me take you to the Aquarium.” That was not what I was expecting him to say.
“You want to go to the aquarium? Why?” I ask.
“I see you sitting here reading your books of facts and watching documentaries. I’ve read some of the books plus all the fun facts I learn from you. I figured maybe some hands on learning would bring my game up to where you are,” he says in such a sweet tone that my heart jumps. “I know how you feel about the ocean, wildlife and especially fish. Let me into your world, Miss McKenzie. Show me all the things you love about the world.” The word love burns into me. It’s not something I use or like to hear because of the memories.
“Why are you doing this?” I beg him, and he puts his hand on my bed beside me, causing me to become frightened. Not again, I pray.
“This is what love is.” His words haunt me. They always will.
“Fate,” Cameron says, pulling me from the past and he puts his hand on my leg. It’s like he’s grounding me to the present and keeping my past where it belongs. His touch has a way of doing that for me.
“You really want to spend our day off from classes there?”
“I want to spend my day with you and I want to see you in your happy place.” I don’t know what comes over me, but I pull him to me. Placing my hands around his neck, I bring his lips to mine and when he groans against my mouth, I deepen the kiss. Just as I go to pull away, I lightly nibble his bottom lip and I feel his hands on my waist tighten. The power from this feels incredible.
“You’re my happy place,” I whisper against his lips and his mouth crashes down on me. Slowly, I begin to lean back and he has no choice but to follow me until my back is resting against the couch and he is holding himself up above me. He’s careful not to put any weight on me or touch me other than with his lips. Before he can do anything to stop me, I pull him down on top of me. He groans as our bodies connect and I begin moving my body, asking for his.
“Fate, if you don’t stop I’m going to go to my happy place without even having to get naked,” he says and I can’t help but giggle. “You think that’s funny?” he says as he gives me this devilish grin. Slowly, his hands creep up and I know what he’s going to do before he even touches me. I begin breaking out in a fit of laughter before he even has his hands on me to tickle me. Usually I’d panic at such a touch but all I’m doing is trying to breathe through the laughter.
“Please stop,” I say in laughter, and he jumps off me. I see that he thinks he’s done something wrong, so before he can figure out what I’m really thinking I jump over to him and begin tickling him. He falls back against the couch, and I climb on top of him, continuing my assault as he chuckles against me, trying to grab my hands. “Do you give in?” I say while I’m giggling and continuing to tickle him.
He gives me a warning look, and I stop. “If I say yes, does that mean you are going to get off of me?” I giggle again, then he pulls me down to him and kisses me again.
“We have to stop or I won’t get to see you school me in the world of fish,” he says when he pulls away.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. Prepare to be educated, Mr. McAlister,” I say with a grin on my face.
I’ve been to aquariums before. I live in Orlando so water and fish are kind of everywhere, but being here with Cameron is something different. Other than with Clarissa, I’ve never really shared my love of marine life. No one ever really wanted to know me. The walls I’d built up over the years kept people away. That is one of the reasons I had those walls to keep people out but also to keep out the memories and protect me from new harms. As soon as we are through the door, I feel the comfort that nature brings me. Even though this isn’t natural, it is still beautiful. These are creatures we wouldn’t have easy access to in their true homes without diving, so this gives everyone a chance to enjoy the wonders of the waters.