Chapter 24

We pulled up to the valet of a popular club, Allure, and I started to freak out. “What are we doing?” I asked, my voice a bit frantic. There was a line trailing down the side of the warehouse where the club was housed.

I did not belong here.

“You’re going to meet my best friends,” Camden said calmly.

“What?” I gasped, stiffening in my seat. “I’m meeting your friends?”

I blinked at him. Was I ready for that? Holy. Crap.

The valet opened the door and extended his hand to help me out.

I glanced at the guy in a daze, he was cute, in a boyish looking way.

“Don’t even think about it,” Camden growled at him, all his calm leaking out of his voice. The valet startled and backed up. “Yes, of course, Mr. James. I’m sorry.”

Camden huffed and hopped out of the truck, walking to my door and putting his big body firmly in between me and the young man.

“I would say someone’s jealous,” I whispered.

His eyes flashed. “You have no idea.”

Camden tossed the keys to the valet, ignoring his apologies as he guided me toward the entrance, his arm wrapped around my waist. Heat was bursting from his fingertips, soaking into my skin and sending all sorts of dirty thoughts racing through my brain.

The brief interlude with the valet had distracted me from the reality of the moment, and I was freaking out again as the bouncers lifted the purple rope and let us in, ahead of the huge line of people that seemed to be frothing at the mouth to get in.

I wasn’t the kind of girl that bouncers just let by at a club. Especially a club famous enough that I’d heard of it. This was where most of the recording artists stopped by to give small performances when they wanted an intimate setting or if it was a special event.

I’d honestly never thought I’d see the inside of this place.

“Just so we’re clear…I’m awkward. If you didn’t already know that,” I whispered to him as he led me up some steps and through a door.

“You’re perfect,” he corrected me. “They’re going to love you.” He kissed the side of my head, and I instinctively melted into his side. I wasn’t sure how he was able to do that. Make me feel so safe and seen…that whatever else was happening didn’t seem as overwhelming anymore.

The space on the other side of the door was dimly lit, with warm, ambient lighting casting a golden glow over the crowd. Small, round tables filled the room, each with a flickering candle in the center. The stage at the front was modest, just big enough for a band to play, and there was a small stool set up currently with a microphone in front of it.

I glanced around, feeling a mix of awe and disbelief. The walls were lined with photographs of famous musicians who had performed here, their signatures scrawled in bold, confident strokes. The air was filled with the low hum of conversation and the occasional burst of laughter, creating an electric yet cozy vibe.

“Wow,” I whispered, more to myself than to Camden. “I can’t believe I’m here.” I was embarrassed the second the words came out of my mouth, but he just smiled at me like I was cute and led me further into the room.

My nerves came skyrocketing back as he led me to a group of the most beautiful people I’d ever seen—besides Camden of course. These were the people Camden belonged with. The gods who walked around us mere mortals.

“Hero.” A tall dark-haired dreamboat with mischievous emerald-green eyes, was the first to notice us. His gaze went to me and a smirk formed. I could almost see his brain rubbing its hands together in anticipation.

This guy was trouble.

“Lancaster,” Camden drawled, pulling me closer into his side. The man watched the movement, his smirk growing.

“And who do we have here?” he asked.

“Ari,” a beautiful, stunning, angelic-looking, blonde woman gently chided as she smiled up at him. “Behave. I don’t want you to scare off my new friend.”

I seriously had never seen a prettier woman before, and she looked familiar. But where would I have seen her before? And had she just said she wanted to be friends with me?

I was swooning.

Ari’s smirk melted as he gazed down at her, and suddenly I was looking at a googly-eyed, love-struck puppy dog of a man—his mischief contained—for the moment.

“Anastasia, that’s Ari. And that’s Blake, his wife. Her, you can be friends with. Him, you cannot,” Camden said. I glanced up at him, thinking he was obviously kidding.

He didn’t seem to be, though.

Ari snorted and leaned forward, taking Blake with him as if he couldn’t bear to be more than three inches away from her. “Don’t listen to ol’ grandpappy over there. I’m sure we’re going to be best, best friends.”

Ari howled as Camden growled and a giggle slipped out of me. I glanced up at Camden, realizing I still didn’t know how old he was. A lot older than me, but how old…I wasn’t sure. Probably should ask that at some point.

“Did he just call you—” Camden crushed his mouth against mine, cutting off…grandpappy.

“Please never let that word come out of your mouth,” he murmured when he’d come up for air.

“Please keep kissing me like that forever.” The words slipped out and I gasped, wanting to find the nearest trash can to throw myself in because I couldn’t believe I’d actually said that.

“Deal,” he said, instead of running for the hills like he should’ve been.

I was still gaping at him when the next couple came up.

“Hi, Anastasia,” another beautiful girl said. She had pin straight, long black hair and the greenest eyes I’d ever seen. She looked like she was around my age. Just like Blake, she seemed…sweet. Maybe you couldn’t really tell that from two words, but girls who looked like her, they usually had a stuck-up aura around them, like they were doing you a favor by being in your presence.

This girl had none of that.

“This is Monroe, and that’s…Lincoln.” Camden hesitated, pasting me so close to him I might as well have been glued to his side.

When I saw the golden model of a man at Monroe’s side though—I kind of got it. I mean Camden was still the most gorgeous creature I’d ever seen. But this man…this man was a close second.

“Oh, you guys all play on the Knights with Camden,” I exclaimed, finally remembering where I’d heard these names before.

My cheeks flushed, because that probably should have been a no-brainer, but no one looked like they were questioning my intelligence…so that was good.

Lincoln was intense…like really intense. He glanced down at Monroe, and I was surprised we were all still dressed, that an orgy hadn’t broken out in the room because of the pheromones coming out of the two of them.

“We’re going to be even worse,” Camden muttered to me, reading my mind somehow.

It took me a second to get what he was saying, and when he did, my entire body went up in flames.

He winked at me, chuckling under his breath as his fingers danced over my rib cage.

“I’m really excited about this development,” Ari said and Camden scoffed.

“You just called her your new best friend. What’s Geraldine going to think about that? She values loyalty, Lancaster.”

Geraldine really seemed to get around.

Ari grinned unrepentantly. “I don’t know, she’s probably more upset with Logan over here,” nodding his head at a tall blonde with tattoos going up his neck. “He didn’t want to see her teeth trick.”

Logan for his part, looked a little green. “She didn’t want to take ‘no’ for an answer,” he said.

“But you did keep saying no…right?” Ari asked.

Logan glanced up at the ceiling suddenly, refusing to answer.

There was a pause, and then the group burst into hysterics. Ari and Blake, Monroe and Lincoln, and Camden…who was laughing so hard, I had to practically hold up his entire weight so he didn’t fall over.

Okay, now I was really confused.

Camden finally straightened and wiped his eyes. “Sorry, baby girl,” he said, his body still shaking with laughter. “This will be really funny when you meet Geraldine. Just trust me.”

I grinned, because the sound of him happy…made me happy.

“This is Disney,” Camden said, gesturing to an attractive brunette male that had just walked up from the back.

“Walker,” the man said with a sigh.

“Walker?” I repeated, confused.

“Walker is my real name. For some reason these fools decided that ‘Disney’ was better than the name my mama gave me.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s a whole thing.”

Walker had the deepest southern drawl out of all of them, and I got it then. “Disney” like a Disney prince.

It was very apt for him.

“How’s Olivia?” Camden asked, and Walker’s answering grin was blinding.

Seriously, was there a secret society where everyone in this group drank blood and made a pact in exchange for being the hottest humans alive?

I was going to question Camden about this later, because I had suspicions.

“She’s good. Nervous as usual. And the baby keeps kicking, so she’s afraid she’s going to mess up.”

“Have you been to one of her concerts yet?” Blake asked me, ignoring the fact that Ari seemed to be braiding a section of her hair.

“Her concert?” I asked, embarrassment creeping in again because I had no idea what they were talking about.

“I wanted to surprise her,” Camden said gently, brushing a kiss on my head. They all watched us, fascinated, like we were some sort of exotic animal.

I blushed, and I saw Lincoln and Ari grin at each other.

“My wife is Olivia Davis…formerly Olivia Darling,” Walker said proudly, a dreamy look in his eyes that I swore I’d seen in Camden’s when he looked at me.

Wait a minute…

I gaped at him, feeling faint.

This was it. This was how I knew that this new life I’d stepped into was a dream, and any time now, I was going to wake up and be devastated.

Olivia Davis was my idol. My favorite performance I’d ever done had been a song of hers called “Bluebird.” She had the best voice, the best songs…she was perfect.

She also had a tragic backstory, and I’d always imagined that we were similar in that way. And if she could have a happily ever after…maybe I could too.

“Woah there, baby girl,” Camden chuckled. “I’m getting jealous again.”

“Not a surprise in this group,” joked Monroe, and Lincoln made a playful growling sound before he smacked a kiss against her lips.

“I can’t believe I’m going to see her. She’s really performing tonight?” I glanced up at Camden, because my irrational brain was afraid this was going to turn out to be a joke.

Hearing her sing live was literally one of my life goals.

“She really is,” Camden said, his eyes glittering with amusement.

I almost said I love you.

It really almost slipped out.

I just didn’t know how he did it, anticipating what I needed or wanted every single time. It was like he had an inside track into my mind.

Getting fired? Pshh. I’d get fired a million times if it meant getting to see my favorite artist on earth perform.

“Before she comes out, tell us more about you,” said Blake, staring at me interestedly. I blinked, not understanding how this perfect creature would want to know anything about me.

“Have we met before?” I blurted out, sinking against Camden as he started chuckling.

Blake was the one who blushed this time. “I don’t think so,” she said shyly.

“Blake’s a supermodel,” Ari said, the pride in his voice rivaling Walker’s only moments ago.

“I’m not a supermodel,” Blake grumbled, putting a hand over her face like she was trying to hide.

That’s where I’d seen her, in magazine campaigns. I was sure of it now.

“She’s a supermodel,” Ari mouthed as he lifted her up and started giving her kisses all over her face until she was giggling.

“You guys are adorable,” I murmured, a strange longing hitting me.

I wanted that.

And more specifically…I wanted that with Camden.

I avoided his gaze—just in case he did have some kind of magic powers and could read my mind.

“As I was saying,” Blake continued, slightly out of breath after she’d managed to peel Ari off her. “Tell us about you.”

It was a little intimidating to have them all staring at me.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I…was a nobody. A street urchin. My father was in prison and my mother had left me. I was a foster child who hadn’t been wanted.

Oh, and I’d been fired from being a busser tonight…so there was that.

“Anastasia is the most incredible ballerina in the whole world. I saw her on stage and I was hooked. I’m serious guys, when you see her dance. It’s life-changing. I dream about her dancing. And she was recently picked for a showcase of Giselle, one of the hardest pas de deux’s in ballet,” Camden announced…and I wasn’t sure how it was possible…but he sounded even prouder than anyone else had.

He had also completely butchered the term pas de deux.

Camden completely got an A-plus for effort though.

“Wow.”

“That’s awesome.”

“I can’t wait to see you perform!”

They all said incredibly nice things, and I was a blushing, sweating mess because it had been a very long time since I’d gotten this kind of support from people.

I wished they could be my friends.

The lights dimmed, and Walker stiffened. “Shit, she’s coming out. Do you think the lights will be okay for the baby? You know sometimes Olivia has red cheeks after performing. Maybe I should have put sunscreen on her belly…and headphones too…just in case it’s too loud for the baby’s ears.”

“Is he serious?” I whispered to Camden, keeping one eye on the stage because I didn’t want to miss a second of Olivia singing.

“This is tame for him,” Camden muttered back, giving me another sexy wink.

I was pretty sure I was addicted to those.

I forgot all about anything else when Olivia Freaking Davis walked out on the stage. Even more stunning than her pictures and videos with her long dark-auburn hair, gorgeous face, and the cutest baby bump I’d ever seen.

And we were only feet from the stage.

“My name is Olivia Davis, and I’m going to play some songs for you tonight,” she said, in a sweet, clear voice—the same thing she’d said at the start of every performance since her first show.

As if she needed any introduction.

“You know that phone records things, right?” Camden whispered, and I startled because I honestly had forgotten anyone else was in the room.

Some people loved chocolate.

I loved Olivia Davis.

I grabbed my phone immediately and had Camden show me how to video things because I didn’t want to miss a thing.

“Looks like we have another simp on our hands,” Ari commented, before he huffed in pain. I was pretty sure Walker had punched him.

“Everyone is allowed to simp on my wife. She’s perfect,” Walker said, and I sighed because it was so cute.

Olivia began to sing, some of her new stuff and some of her old stuff, and all of it was completely amazing and wonderful, something I would remember forever and ever.

Camden sang along to some of the songs, but mostly he watched me, holding me tight as he took in my every move. I would catch his eyes sometimes and get caught up because he looked like he liked me so much.

Some girls might have even mistaken it for love.

Along the way his hands stroked against my sides, up and down, sending sparks over my skin that only had one end in mind.

I was faintly aware of everyone dancing around me, and the trickle of sweat sliding down my spine from the mass of bodies around us heating the room. I tasted the cold drink Camden handed me, the sweetness overpowering my tastebuds.

But I was mostly aware of the fact that every love song that Olivia sang reminded me of how Camden made me feel.

“Let’s get out of here,” I told him, before she’d even gotten to the last song.

He looked shocked. “What? Is everything okay?” he asked, concerned.

“I want you,” I rasped. “Desperately.”

Camden closed his eyes, his whole body perfectly still for what must have been the longest second of my life.

When he finally opened them, the hunger in his blue depths left me breathless. “Me too, baby girl,” he said roughly. “Me fucking too.”

“See you guys later,” Camden said.

“Tell Olivia she’s amazing,” I added.

I never would have pictured leaving an Olivia Davis concert early. But I’d also never imagined Camden James.

So, maybe it was fitting.

And then we were off, like two school kids running through a field as his tangled fingers took me through the crowded room, both of us desperate to get out of there as soon as possible. A quick glance back at the group, and I saw they were smirking after us. I tossed a wave behind me…I’d really liked them.

I was against the wall as soon as we got out of the main room, Camden crowding me as he kissed me like I was the only thing that could quench his thirst. He pushed his hard length against me, and I reached down between us, stroking him through his clothes, my mouth literally watering.

A small part of me was very aware his dick was going to split me open with its size, but that particular fear was overtaken by the way his lips felt, and how his hands seemed to know my body like he’d read a book.

“Fuck,” he swore, his eyes burning as he tore himself from my lips and grabbed my hand again, pulling me out into the chilly night air.

Waiting for the valet to pull around his truck, even for the two minutes it actually took, felt like a lifetime. Camden’s hands were stroking me all over and I was wishing for magic that could transport us back to his place in the blink of an eye.

Or maybe the truck would work. Losing my virginity in a vehicle wasn’t exactly how I’d pictured it, but I was desperate enough to go there.

I sighed in relief as the truck was pulled in front of us and Camden chuckled. “Me too,” he whispered, employing those powers again to read my mind.

He helped me inside, his hands lingering on my thighs after he’d buckled the seatbelt. “I want you so badly.” Camden’s voice was low and desperate, and I felt like I might melt off the seat.

“Take me home, Camden,” I answered, and he growled as he pushed away from me like it was the hardest thing he’d ever done and went around the truck to get in on the other side.

The engine rumbled as we drove through the city streets, the night pressing in around us. I sat in the passenger seat, feeling the hum of the road beneath me. The cab felt small, the air charged with so much tension my skin was prickling.

Camden’s presence beside me was almost overwhelming. I could sense every movement, every breath he took. I could feel the heat of his body, the subtle shift of his arm on the steering wheel. Every time our eyes met, it was like a spark igniting something deep within me. I’d never been more aware of another person in my life.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked, his voice low and rough, cutting through the silence.

“I’m fine,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. And it was the truth. Despite the chill of the air outside, I was on fire, a heat that seemed to seep into my very bones.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.

The way his hand gripped the steering wheel, the way his jaw tightened, everything about him drew me in, made me want more.

We were almost home when I decided to put my cards on the table, just so he wasn’t shocked when he saw the aftermath on his sheets.

“Camden,” I began, not even sure how to say this.

“Yeah?” he replied, his voice softer now, almost tender.

I turned to look at him, my heart pounding. “I’ve never—I’ve never done this.”

He glanced at me, his eyes dark and intense. “What do you mean, baby girl?”

The cab of the truck seemed to shrink, the space between us crackling with electricity.

“I’m a virgin.”

The words hovered in the air.

When he didn’t say anything, my freak-out began. Why had I told him that? This was a thirty-something-year-old man…a professional athlete. I’m pretty sure their kind were taught to run to the hills if a virgin reared her head. He was probably going to kick me out once we got home. He probably thought I was going to be a major clinger. I needed to clear this up, tell him he didn’t have to worry about me. That this was no big deal.

Even if it was a really big deal to me.

“Fuck—” the words cut through my inner hysteria. I glanced at his face, my eyes widening as I took him in. He looked like a man barely holding onto control. There was a red flush to his cheeks and he was sitting scarily still. His hands were clutching the steering wheel so tightly I was worried he was going to break it off.

“Camden—I’m not expecting anything from you,” I began, completely embarrassed I’d even said something to begin with.

“I’m going to ruin you.”

His words were…shocking to say the least.

“What?” I asked, a little offended.

He pulled off to the side of the road suddenly and put the truck into park before facing me. Nervous anticipation was bleeding through my veins.

Camden’s hands slid through my hair, and he pulled my head back so I had to look at him.

“I’m going to be your first and your last. I’ll be the only thing you crave after I’m done with you. You’re not even going to be able to look at another man because your body is going to know I’m the only one that can give it what it needs.’ There was a rough, almost manic promise in his voice and I whimpered just thinking about what he was saying.

“That sounds…intense,” I finally murmured. My clit was pulsing between my legs, like a phantom limb was pressing on it as he spoke, every word reaching out and brushing against me.

“You have no idea,” he growled, pressing a punishing kiss to my lips that was definitely an omen of what was to come. ‘You’re going to be mine, baby. As soon as you bleed all over my dick, you’re done. There’s never going to be anyone else.’

I gasped, squeezing my thighs together, my nipples hardened into points beneath my dress.

I couldn’t wait.

Camden leaned forward and bit down on my bottom lip. Hard. Until I tasted blood. His tongue slid into my mouth, capturing the salty, iron tang as it tangled with mine.

Why was that so fucking hot?

He let me go and pulled back onto the road, and this time there was a feral energy to his actions. We were going at least twenty over as he sped through the streets, screeching around the last corner before his penthouse like a man possessed.

Thank goodness we hadn’t been noticed by the cops. I wasn’t sure what Camden would have done if they’d tried to pull us over.

He raced into his building’s underground parking garage and was out of the truck the second he’d thrown it into park. Camden yanked open my door, his arms extended like he was going to grab me and haul me over his shoulder.

Hot…but maybe we needed to slow down for just a second.

“So, you’re not mad about this? I promise I’m not going to need anything from you, or start acting crazy⁠—”

“Fuck, Anastasia. Act crazy. Take whatever you want from me. Own me like I want to own you. Hearing that I get to have what no man ever will is the best. Fucking. Thing. I’ve ever heard in my life.”

His chest was heaving, so much emotion in his gaze I almost couldn’t handle it.

He leaned in close, his breath caressing my ear. “I’ve never wanted anything like I want you, Anastasia Lennox.”

“You have me, Camden James,” I whispered back. “Now, take me to bed.”

A growl burst from his chest as he undid my seatbelt and scooped me into his arms, slamming the truck door behind us as we strode to the elevator.

One step inside, and he was pushing me against the wall again. My legs hooked around his waist as his lips met mine.

The kiss felt desperate and hungry, and unlike any other kiss that had come before. He fumbled with the buttons on the wall as his tongue swept into my mouth. He’d probably hit a few floors he wasn’t supposed to, but I didn’t care—as long as he kept kissing me like this. Like his soul was just as desperate for me as his body was.

He sucked on my tongue as his erection pushed against my core. I moaned and his grip on my hips tightened. I wanted him to hold me tighter. I wanted evidence of him all over my skin. To not only remember this when I woke up tomorrow, but to see it.

The elevator chimed and the doors opened. Camden glanced over, cursing softly as he quickly pressed the button to close the doors. “Wrong floor,” he whispered as his tongue slid down my neck. My head fell back as he sucked on my pulse.

I wasn’t human anymore. I was some kind of wanton creature who survived on pleasure.

We finally got to the right floor, and Camden stalked into the penthouse, still holding me tight.

Our lips were tangled together the entire walk to his room, and right before we crossed the threshold, I pulled back and took a second to stare at him. Maybe I looked deranged, but I just wanted to remember this before moment.

“What’s wrong?” he rasped, his eyes dilated, the black bleeding into the green as he stared at me worshipfully.

“Not a thing,” I answered, and he stepped into the bedroom.

As he walked us to the bed, his lips still dancing across my skin, I took a moment to reflect on the after.

This was probably going to turn into something tragic, a memory that would make my heart ache whenever I thought about it for the rest of my life. I’d compare him to every lover I would ever have, and the loss of him would sit in my soul forever.

I knew that. Yet I still allowed him to take me to his bed.

Because all that pain that would come, all the sleepless nights, the eating my feelings in my room alone trying to forget him, the tears I wouldn’t be able to stop….

I had a feeling he would be worth it.