Redeeming You(30)

“Where to?” she asked turning to the side as she pushed her long dark hair from her face.

He loved the way her hair framed her dainty features and the blue streak was sexy as hell. “Venice,” he answered even though he’d rather get back in the elevator and spend the night touching her everywhere and anywhere she’d let him.





CHAPTER TEN





Taylor stood in line, Cam’s arm wrapped around her waist, her head resting next to his shoulder, waiting for the next available gondola. When Cam had told her he wanted to take her for a ride before dinner, she laughed. She couldn’t believe he was serious. It just didn’t seem like something bad boy Cam would be interested in doing. It was a little too nice, too touristy and a million other things that didn’t fit, but it meant spending time alone with him, so she wouldn’t complain. Especially when he kept touching her as though he couldn’t get enough of her.

After nearly twenty minutes of waiting, they reached the front of the line. Cam stepped in the gondola and grabbed her hand, helping her into the red scalloped seat. Luckily, Cam paid for a private ride because she didn’t want to share Cam for a minute tonight. Having his attention focused on her was like a drug, one that she didn’t think she would ever stop needing.

As the gondolier pushed away from the dock, Cam put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her tight to his side. She leaned her head against his chest, inhaling his woodsy scent as she slipped two of her fingers between the buttons of his shirt. Was it bad that she craved the feel of his smooth bare skin under her fingertips? She traced every inch of skin she could reach without releasing one or two buttons and slipping her entire hand inside his shirt. His beautiful golden skin had haunted her dreams over the past week and she wanted to make sure she would see every inch of it by the end of the night.

When the gondolier started to sing, Taylor closed her eyes dreaming about spending real time with him, not time mandated by her job, the tour, or their proximity. Shaking her head, she forced the thought away. Live in the present and be happy, she chided herself, because she’d never been able to count on the future.

Cam’s fingers trailed along her neck, dipping into the top of the boat neck of her shirt and chills danced down her spine. “What are you thinking about?” he asked, his warm, minty breath tickling the top of her head.

“Nothing,” she muttered, afraid if she told him her thoughts he’d jump out of the gondola and lock himself in his hotel room. Cam didn’t do the one woman, monogamous thing, or at least not since Bre, and not even then from what she heard from Alec. She’d enjoy the next twenty or so days and walk away with her heart intact.

“Hm…” he said. His free hand drifted up her leg to her hips, pausing on the sheer lace covering her flat stomach and her muscles lurched. “That’s not very encouraging.”

She lifted her head, looking into his deep blue eyes that glimmered wickedly. “Why not?” she asked, perplexed.

He chuckled. “I’m trying to impress you and instead of thinking about me, us, or our romantic gondola ride, you’re thinking about nothing.” He lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her wrist and goose bumps erupted along her arm.

Toying with his shirt, she flicked one of his shirt buttons open before sliding her entire hand over his hard chest. “I guess you’ll have to try a little harder to gain my full attention.”

“I guess I do,” he whispered as he cupped her chin, his thumb whispering across her cheekbone. “You’re so sexy when you look at me like that.”

“So are you going to kiss me?” she asked, feeling brave and needy at the same time. He twisted her into emotional knots—hot, cold, confused, happy, aroused. Could she experience them all simultaneously?

He hesitated, looking apprehensive as he sucked his lower lip into his mouth briefly. “Here?”

“Yes please,” she responded her voice more breathless than she intended, her eyes unable to move from his, as her hand brushed over his nipples.

“Since you asked so nicely…” His voice trailed off as he shifted forward, claiming her mouth with his, the kiss possessive and drugging. He bit her lower lip and she gasped, the sensation of pain mingling with pleasure screaming through her lips. Without pausing, his tongue slid into her mouth, tangling with hers and causing a dizzying warmth to spread through her body. Lost in the moment, she didn’t care about anything except the feel of his mouth dancing against hers and the heat of his hands as they roamed under the hem of her shirt, caressing the bare trembling skin of her stomach and her sides. It felt insanely good—shockingly good—and it took every last reserve of her willpower to stop herself from crawling into his lap or laying down on the bottom of the boat, offering her body to him as a pagan sacrifice.