By the time I dragged my coward ass out of my office, Cami was gone.

Not that I could blame her, but fuck if that didn't make me feel like more of an asshole. I drove home looking for her, knowing she must have walked and in the back of my mind I was planning on what I could say to fix this. Would anything cover a fuck up this big?

I entered the apartment and spied the kitchen light on and sighed in relief, knowing she made it home.

"You just keep screwing it up, don't you?"

I leaned against the door frame and shook my head at Shayne. "Is she here?"

She scoffed, "You don't deserve to know."

"Just let me fix this with her, Shayne. I can stop screwing it up, I swear."

"Everytime you go around her, she looks more miserable than when you ignore her. How do you manage that?" Shayne demanded as she stood and placed her bowl in the sink. "You got her all kinds of messed up right now."

My shoulders fell in defeat. It was hard to hear that I had hurt her, even though I knew that was exactly what I was doing. "Then what should I do?"

Her mouth twisted as she considered it. "I should tell you to back off, let her cool down a little."

"But?"

Shayne shrugged and sighed, "I think she really could stand to hear some sort of explanation."

I bit back a smile and nodded. "I can do that. I can fix it."

"But..." Shayne added as I turned around. "If you fuck up again, I won't help you anymore. You need to tell her how you really feel."

I spun back around to find her standing close to me. "Is that what you plan on doing...if I screw up again? Do you plan on telling her how you feel?"

Shayne glanced away and chuckled nervously. "Uh...no. She's my friend. What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on. I've seen you watching her. Don't you think you should say something?"

Shayne blinked up at me and shrugged. "I don't want her to hate me."

"Who could hate you?" I whispered before pulling her into a hug.

She sniffled back a few tears before playfully punching me in the gut. "Quit stalling, asshole. Go talk to her!"

I walked Shayne to her room, my arm slung over her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her temple before she left me. I could see Cami's light on, her door left open a crack. Not wanting to take any chances with her refusing to talk to me, I let myself in.

She gasped when she pulled her shirt over her head and felt me hugging her from behind. "Chance," she sighed. "Just don't."

I buried my nose into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. "I don't wanna fight, Cami."

I wrapped both arms around her midsection and pulled her body tightly to mine. "We can't keep doing this," she murmured, her head dropping back against my shoulder. "It's like all we do is fuck with each other and fight. And I'm so tired..."

I turned her in my arms, holding the back of her head and tucking her close to me. "That's not what I'm trying to do, babe."

After a few moments of brushing my lips back and forth over the curve of her bare shoulder, Cami finally relaxed against me. "I don't understand why you keep running from me," she mumbled against my tee-shirt.

I cupped her jaw in my hands and tilted her face to look up at me. "I only walked away from you at the gym, because I was afraid."

Her brow furrowed sharply. "Afraid?" she echoed. "I'm the one who should be afraid. You keep abandoning me. Everytime I open up to you, you leave me." Cami paused and sucked in a deep breath. "Do you have any idea how awful that makes me feel?"

"I'm sorry," I sighed, the full weight of the way I had been treating her was now threatening to strangle me. I hurt her so badly. I couldn't come up with any words to make it better. So when she turned away from me with tears in her eyes, I did the only thing I could.

"Chance!" Cami squealed when I lifted her from under her thighs, pulling her legs around me. I carried her across the hall to my room, pushing the door shut with my ass and kicking my shoes off as I went.

I held her tightly to me, lying back on my bed and snuggling her close. I smoothed her hair down with both hands as I shushed her cries. "I'm so sorry," I whispered over and over. "I never meant to hurt you."

Cami cried against my chest, soaking my shirt until I finally pulled it off my body. I tried to control my excitement when she pressed her bare chest to mine, her lips finding their way to my neck. Fuck!

I ran my hands all over her back, resisting the urge to squeeze her ass cheeks and rock our bodies together. Comfort. She needs comfort, you horny fuck.

Her breathing slowed down, her tense body finally relaxing in my arms. And just when I thought she was calm enough to talk this out, I realized she had fallen asleep on my chest.

.....

I awoke feeling panicked when I reached for Cami and she wasn't there. I glanced at my clock, noticing it was after 3pm. No wonder Cami got up already. Obviously all those night shifts were catching up to me. Today I had the day off from both jobs, something that doesn't happen very often. I smiled thinking that maybe Cami and I would go do something together today. Maybe a date? Too weird? Fuck, I don't know. I don't go on dates.

But shit, I want to with her.

As I made my way down the hall, I heard squeals coming from the kitchen. I found Shayne and Cami locked in an embrace. I didn't like the way it made me feel and suddenly I felt guilty for being jealous. "What's going on?"

Cami turned around to find me standing there, the huge smile on her face falling noticeably. Shayne glanced between us, nudging Cami slightly. "Go ahead and tell Chance the news," she urged excitedly.

Cami shrugged and moved toward the sink. "He probably won't care," she replied softly as she started to wash the dishes.

Shayne gave me a 'what the fuck did you do?' look and all I could do was shrug. I thought I was making progress with Cami and even though we didn't get a chance to talk, I was hopeful because she had let me hold her all night long. When Shayne shoved me in Cami's direction and left us alone, I tried not to laugh.

"You're not gonna tell me your good news?" I prodded as I stood behind her, my hands gripping the counter on either side of her.

She arched her back when I breathed on the back of her neck, tickling those little baby hairs around the nape. "Come on, Chance."

"I'm just gonna keep annoying you until you tell me what your news is," I threatened, my fingers dipping under her tank top and skimming up her sides. "Last chance before I start tickling the shit out of you."

"Fine," she laughed as I started digging into her ribs playfully. She spun around to face me, her eyes bright and happy as she announced, "Meg called and the magazine is offering me a spot on staff. I'll have my own office."

"That's just wonderful, babe!" I scooped her up in my arms, clutching her in the tightest hug I could. "We should celebrate."

Cami's phone vibrated on the kitchen table. She wriggled out of my arms and I watched her read what I guessed was a text and reply with a smile.

"Cami?"

"Yeah?" she responded absently, barely glancing up at me.

"Celebrate? We should do something special," I offered hopefully.

While still glancing at her phone, she typed another assumed reply, smiled as big as they get and then finally acknowledged me. "I would like that," she replied timidly. "But I already have plans tonight. Rain check?"

Da fuck?

She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek and disappeared down the hall. Completely confused, I retreated to my room, only to have Cami pop her head in an hour later to ask if I needed to get into the bathroom because she was about to get a shower. I raised my head and smirked at her. "If I need to get in the bathroom while you're in there, I'll just come in."

"Chance..." she sighed, easing herself further into my room.

When she got close enough to me, I pulled her down to straddle my lap as I sat in my favorite chair. "You know we both have issues with boundaries. Walking in on the other one showering is our thing, baby doll."

I leaned up to run my lips up the front of her neck, smiling when I heard the hitch in her breath. "Chance..."

"Talk to me," I pleaded, pulling her tighter against me with my hands on her waist.

Cami sighed deeply, bringing her hands up to grip my shoulders. "It's super convenient that now you wanna talk to me. Is this because I have a date?"

"A date?" I echoed. "I just thought you were going out with Shayne."

She blinked quickly, eyes darting away as if she were surprised I hadn't figured it out yet. The text? Who was it? It finally dawned on me.

"Kyle?" I spat. "Why are you going out with him?"

Her shoulders dropped and she sank down further in my lap. No big deal since my growing hard-on was now deflating. "What's wrong with Kyle?" she accused defensively.

He's not me.

But my dumbass didn't say that. "I mean nothing...I guess," I stuttered. "He's just so..."

Not me.

"What?" Cami narrowed my gaze and I realized I had walked straight into a trap. If I call him names and degrade him, I look like the ultimate dick. If I agree he's great, what's to stop her from running off with the jerk?

"You barely know him," I finally managed to say.

She pulled her hands from my shoulders and fiddled with them in her lap. "I know enough. He hasn't hurt me. He doesn't make me feel like shit."

"Cami..." I reached for the back of her neck, hating that she pulled away from me and climbed out of my lap. "Why won't you let me explain?"

She took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest as she scowled at me. "Fine. Tell me why you keep bailing on us. Tell me why you keep pulling me in and then pushing me away."

I leaned forward, desperate to reach her. I felt as though I could distract her with my touch. "I didn't do it to hurt you, Cami. Everytime I pushed you away...I thought it was for the best. As much as I want to be with you, I've told myself it's better if we're not."

I could see Cami's chin quivering. "Okay," she huffed. "I...need to go get ready."

I watched her fling her body around, determined to get away from me, but I couldn't let her do it.

"I was wrong."

Three words. And I meant them. She paused at the door, her fingers wrapped around the handle. She had three words for me too.

"It's too late."

.....

"Cami. Come on."

I had sat there for an hour stewing about why I had fucked around with Cami's head so bad that I had actually shoved her right into another guy's arms. I couldn't just let her go without trying. Just one more chance.

"It's unlocked," she called through the closed door.

I walked in to find her standing in front of her full length mirror. Her tight, dark blue jeans hugged all her curves so perfectly. Fuck me. That ass was lethal. She had on some short, little heeled black boots that gave that perfect ass a slight lift.

"Can you help me?"

I lifted my gaze to see her holding a scrap of glittery material in front of her bare chest. I rubbed my chin and just drank in the sight of her. Fuck, I wanted to be the one she was dressing like this for.

"Help you what?" I rasped out.

Cami turned her body and held the material in front of her chest. "Tie me?" she asked sweetly, gazing up at me through dark lashes in the reflection of the mirror. "Please?" she added.

I lowered my head and growled in frustration. My dick was getting harder at the sight of so much bare skin. She held two scrappy strings up behind her neck, her eyes urging me on. "This isn't a shirt, Cami. This looks like a fancy napkin."

She laughed. "You're so stupid. You sound like an old man," she chided me.

Once I had secured it around her neck, she showed me another set of strings that would hit her mid-back once tied. I dragged my fingers across her body, feeling some sort of satisfaction at the way she shivered. "No bra?"

"I can't wear one with this," Cami explained. She turned to face me once again and my eyes were drawn to the way the fabric draped so perfectly between her breasts. She lifted the bottom hem to reveal flower shaped stickers covering those gorgeous oval nipples I was aching to kiss. "I have these on instead."

I loved the way she peered up at me with those gleaming emerald eyes, cheeks tinged pink and eyelids glittering with more make-up than I had ever seen her wear. Fuck. This was killing me.

"How do I look?"

I pressed my palms to either side of the mirror behind her. Leaning in closely, I rubbed my nose across the top of her head a few times, just drinking in the scent of her. "You smell so good," I breathed.

I lowered my lips to the side of her neck, dragging the tip of my tongue up slowly. When my mouth landed on her earlobe, I sucked the tender flesh, nibbling and getting drunk off the taste of her skin. "You taste incredible," I sighed into her ear.

I lifted my face from that incredibly enticing crook in her neck. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, mouth parted, breaths coming hard and fast. I took a moment just to drink in the sight of her so aroused. Her eyes opened fully when my hands skimmed up under her top, gripping around her ribs and my thumbs rubbing softly on the underside of her breasts. "You feel so soft," I groaned painfully.

I leaned back to see the entire package. I glanced over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of that delectable ass of hers. I sucked in a shaky breath as I raked both hands through my hair. "You look..."

There didn't seem to be a word good enough to describe the way she looked. I despised the fact that someone else would get to enjoy her company tonight. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and lock her in my room. Every thought was consumed with the things I could do with her.

I took a step back and ran my hand over the bulge in my shorts. Vulgar, I know. But fuck if I wasn't trying to soothe the incredible ache from knowing she wouldn't be mine tonight. "You look utterly fuckable," I finally blurted.

Cami's mouth fell open into a perfect O. I could see she was struggling with what to say next. She finally closed her mouth, gathered her things into a small purse on her dresser and approached me slowly. I just stared down at her as she clutched my waist with both hands and blinked up at me. "Thank you," she whispered.

Before I could respond, she floated away from me, out the door and onto her date with Kyle.

Fuck my life.

....

"Fuck!" I heard Chance's raspy voice cut across the darkened living room. I switched on the lamp closest to the door and he groaned loudly.

I kicked off my boots and set my clutch on the coffee table. "Why are you sitting in the dark?" I asked as I watched him scrub both hands over his face.

"It's not dark anymore," he slurred.

Great. He was drunk. I lifted the near empty bottle from between his legs and inspected it. "Did you drink all this by yourself?"

"Yup," he declared, popping the 'p' and licking his lips. "And I've enjoyed every drop."

"Super," I growled, opening the top and sipping the smooth amber liquid. "Well at least you popped for the expensive stuff when you decided to get shit-faced."

I grabbed my clutch and carried the bottle back to my room. I heard Chance stumbling after me, bitching that I stole his whiskey. "You don't need anymore," I called over my shoulder at him.

As soon as I stepped into my room, Chance grabbed me from behind, suddenly stealthy quiet even in his drunken state. "You're right," he panted into my ear, his voice low and growly. "What I need is right here."

"You're drunk," I protested, peeling his hands off my zipper. "You need sleep."

"Oh that's a great idea," he groaned loudly. He stumbled around me, yanking on the corner of my comforter and collapsing onto my sheets. "Your bed feels so nice," Chance mumbled into my pillow.

Shit!

"You can't sleep in here, Chance," I told him as I pulled on his bicep. "You need to sleep in your own room."

"I can't," he protested, rolling over onto his back.

I knelt on the bed, still trying to get him to sit up. "Why can't you?"

Chance sat up and pulled my body down flush with his. "Cuz you're not in there," he moaned, his hands all over me all at once.

I pressed my flattened palms against the mattress, struggling to lift my body off of his. He gazed up at me, eyes glazed over, a goofy smile curling the corners of his mouth. "Fuck, you are so beautiful, baby doll."

I tried not to react, knowing he was drunk off his ass and obviously in his feelings. I sat up more fully, straddling his hips and noticing the way his eyes rolled back from the contact.

"Why did you get so drunk?" I asked softly, trailing a single tip down the side of his beautiful face.

Chance let his eyes drift shut for a moment before running both palms up the front of my thighs, landing back on the waistband of my jeans. "I couldn't stop thinking of you in these jeans, your fancy napkin top..." he paused and I laughed. "Even those stupid flower stickers you put on your nipples. What are those even for?"

"They're supposed to keep your nipples from poking through when you don't have a bra on," I admitted nervously.

Chance smirked as he lifted his hips and blew out a deep breath. "You didn't want Kyle to see your nipples get hard?"

I rolled my eyes at the mention of Kyle's name, causing Chance to lift his hips further, forcing me to fall forward. He reached around to pull the strings at my neck and back, easily removing my shirt without another thought. I reached for it, but he tossed it across the room and laughed.

"Those sequins were giving me a headache," he sighed.

"That's called a hangover, big boy. You need some ibuprofen."

"You think I'm big?" he smirked, giving me a slow grind through our clothes.

I covered my eyes with my hands and laughed. "I can't deal with you like this. Let me go get you some water."

"Wait," he breathed, holding my hips down before I could climb off of him. "Don't you want some help with those?" he asked, lowering his gaze to my chest.

I made a face at him, grimacing at the thought of how much it will hurt to peel them off. "Maybe they'll fall off after a few days?" I wondered hopefully.

"Not likely," he chuckled. "Just let me, okay?" Chance raised his fingers to the edge of the top of the stickers before I even had a chance to respond.

I sighed deeply and then finally agreed with a