A Twist of Fate (2 page)

Without releasing me, Cameron nodded toward the ice box.  "Don't
worry, there's more where that came from."

I took a big gulp from my glass and by the time the others
had showed up, it was already going down real smooth.  The wine was clearly
having an effect on me.  I was hyper and loud-mouthed and careless.  Aliah
loved it.

"Okay, enough of this!  Let’s test the water," I
shouted over the music.

"I'll test the water for you," Cameron said to me. 
"I wouldn't make you do that."

As he went to lift his shirt over his head, Edwin stormed
outside and removed the cover from the hot tub himself.

Cameron dropped his shirt back down and glanced at me in
disbelief.  “This should be a fun weekend.”

Maddie walked up to the patio door in her one piece bathing suit,
wrapped up in a giant bath towel.  As Jessica ran outside, a freezing cold
north wind gushed into the room and some flurries scattered across the floor.

"On second thought, I think I'll just hang out in
here," Maddie said, then sealed the door shut.  "I look like a cow
anyways."

"Good, I don't want the baby getting sick," Hunter
said, honestly concerned about it.

Aliah rolled her eyes and pulled Hunter outside with her.

"You look fabulous," I told Maddie.  "Your
baby bump is so adorable."  I gulped down as much wine as I could, put my
half emptied glass on the nightstand and reached for the patio door.  "You're
alright in here alone?"

Cameron peeled off his shirt and Maddie couldn't remove her gawking
eyes from his toned flesh.  He picked up my glass, smiled at Maddie's
enthusiasm and returned to the other side of the room to top up my wine.

“Yup.  I’m good.  Definitely good,” Maddie said.

Giggling, I tip-toed to the hot tub as fast as I could and sank
into the bubbling water in the only empty spot available.  Right next to Edwin. 
I looked at him hesitantly.

"Oh, come on now, I won't bite,” Edwin teased, then he
whispered in my ear.  “I know you only like that in the bedroom.”

"Ugh, Eddie!  Can you shut your fat mouth for like five
minutes so I can enjoy myself?"  I shoved his big shoulder, but he didn't
budge.

He only laughed and it was hauntingly sexy.  "I can
probably do five, but I can't make any promises," he drawled, then leaned
into me.  "You'll probably be begging me to talk in like two though."

"Don't forget whose tub you're in."  I backed away
to scowl at him, just as Cameron put my glass on the edge of the tub.

When Cameron squeezed in next to me, he unintentionally
squished me even closer to Edwin.  There was no missing the press of Edwin's
bulky arms and legs against my side.  They were hot and large and thick.

Cameron reached his arm around me and gave me a slow,
drugging kiss.  It was nice, but I could tell it was more to piss Edwin off
than to show me love.  Not able to continue with the awkward attachment to
Edwin’s hulking arm, I curled into Cameron’s and slid onto his lap.  I strung
my arms around his neck and gave him a healthy taste of my lips, to show
everyone that there was no confusion as to who my man was.

Cameron smiled, in between kisses.  "I see your glass
is empty again."

"Good wine, eh?" Aliah chimed.

"Yeah, a little too good," I answered. 
"Cameron's been feeding it to me like water.  I can hardly taste it
anymore."

"Maybe I should go get you some more," Cameron
suggested.  He kissed me again, dropped me into his spot and then leapt from
the tub, every muscle tightening in the cold, winter air.  Then he calmly
walked to the door as if the cold didn’t affect him.

"While you're in there why don't you get me one
too?" Aliah hollered, as the door slid shut.

"I can get you one," Hunter decided.  "I have
to use the pisser anyway."

When Hunter left the tub, everyone shifted over and it felt
like I could finally stretch out and relax.  "Take your time," I
teased, enjoying the space.

Aliah leaned over the edge of the tub and watched Hunter
exchanging words with Maddie inside the toasty hotel room.  I saw Cameron
popping the cork to yet another bottle of wine, as Edwin reached his arm out
and rested it on the tub behind me.

Edwin leaned down and whispered in my ear, the hurt evident
in his tone.  "What's this, you can't even stand to be around me anymore?"

"It's not like that and you know it," I answered, softly.

He locked his aqua eyes on me, holding my terrified gaze. 
"Oh?  How is it then?"

I blew out a harsh breath.  "Maybe if you weren't
always trying to piss Cam off, then we could hang out more." 
Not
likely, though.

"I know I’ve been kind of an ass lately," he
admitted, softening up.

"Kind of?"

"Fine.  I've been a total jerk.  But what do you
expect?  You chose him over me and that hurts."

My eyes were frozen on him, dread filling my sharp features,
as I recognized the wounded look on his face.  I wanted to hug him, to make him
feel better, but I knew that would only escalate the problem.  I kept my lips
tightly pressed together.

"Now you're living with him and I've got the whole
house to myself.  It's really quiet when you're not around and not in a good
way," Edwin told me.

"It's only temporary," I said.  "Besides you
had your family over for a few days.  You weren't exactly alone the whole
time."

"No, but it wasn't the same without you."

I flipped my long, dry hair behind me and the tips dipped
into the bubbling water.  "I'm sorry.  I know it was kind of last minute,
but you didn’t exactly tell me your plans either."  Reality began to cloud
my buzz-induced smile.  I dipped my chin and closed my eyes, suddenly feeling
incredibly emotional.

Edwin lifted my chin with his index finger and my emerald eyes
grew wide in alarm.  My heart pounded hard and fast, as I gasped for air,
unable to steal my eyes from his.  Then his hand dropped into the water,
acknowledging my distress.  Though his touch was gentle, it had zapped my
senses.  Then he slid up next to me.  Close. 
Too close.

"You know I just want you to be happy, right?"

My entire body trembled.  "Okay."  I should have
pushed him away. 
Why am I not pushing him away?

He slowly gripped his hand on my thigh, sending my heart
galloping.  "If you can promise me one thing," he whispered, his
breath tickling my ear, "I’ll leave you two alone for the rest of the
weekend."

Just the rest of the weekend?  How about permanently?
 
"Don't go too overboard," I managed to blurt.

His hand squeezed on my thigh, then he loosened his grip but
it remained where it didn't belong.  "I'm being serious, Abs.  All I ask
is that you quit with the ogling and canoodling when you're around me.  It just
isn't right, having to see you like that."  His pain-filled eyes begged me
to stop tormenting him.

"Seeing me like what; happy?" I whispered, barely
able to finish the sentence.

Edwin’s hand began to casually caress my thigh.  "Please,
just promise me."

Aliah was watching us, chiding my indiscretion.  Jessica was
making a good effort to mind her own business.  Cameron and Hunter were at the
patio doors, not having a clue as to what was going on. 
Did I even know
what was going on?

Aliah flashed a look at Cameron, then scowled back at me. 
"Just promise the man already!  You owe him that much.”  Her words stung
me, even more than they should have.

"Please take your hand off my leg," I begged,
suddenly envisioning the consequences.

Cameron approached us blissfully unaware.

"Promise!" Edwin demanded, holding his position.

Holding my breath, I stuttered, unable to take another
second of it.  "Fine!  I p-promise!"  My heart skipped a beat as Edwin
removed his hand from my thigh and swam to the other side of the tub.

Cameron handed me my glass and hopped back into the water
next to me.  I took a long sip of wine and collected all of my hair with my
free hand so it sat on my right shoulder.  As Cameron leaned in for a kiss, I
turned away, passing it off as though I didn’t see it coming.  He caught my
cheek, but that didn’t satisfy him.

I smiled softly and took another sip of wine.  He waited
patiently for me to finish, then his lips found mine.  But I couldn't
reciprocate after giving Edwin my word.  Cameron pulled back, looking very
concerned.  I could only stare at the water.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice stark.

I looked at Edwin, who was sitting directly across from me. 
I could tell he was making an effort to be a good boy, but I could see a fire
in his eyes that told me trouble still brewed.  Then I looked back at Cam and
cupped his cheek, feeling wretched for not sharing his kiss.

"I think I may have had too much to drink."  And
that was the truth.  But that was not the only thing I was suffering from at
the moment.  Edwin had left me with deplorable, chaotic thoughts.

I wanted to leave with Cam so I could kiss him until his
heart was content, but I also felt the need to nurse Edwin back to happiness.  My
face became stripped of all its colour and Cam watched me turn seriously ill
before his eyes.  Edwin didn't say a word, but neither would he unlock his gaze
from me.  It was like he was just waiting for me to break my promise.

Cam seemed to notice how my illness was in direct correlation
with Edwin's attention.  "Is there a problem?" he snapped, argumentatively.

"Did I say something to you?" Edwin barked back.

Aliah put both of her hands up.  "Guys, cut it out."

"Can't we all just enjoy the night?" Jessica
pleaded.

"Cam started it," Edwin droned.  "First he
steals my girlfriend, and then he tries to rub it in my face.  It looks to me
like he's asking for a black eye."  He turned his stone-cold gaze on Cam.

Cameron stood up and I forced my arm around his waist to
stop him.  But if he wanted to go, he could have gone.  Every muscle in his
body flexed, as I clung onto him.

"Eddie, stop it!" I screeched, afraid of what
might happen if I let go.

Edwin stayed relaxed, his arms stretched out over the back
of the tub, his cool glare held on me.  "Why don't you and your little
lover boy go screw or something?  Anything to get him out of my face right now."

Cameron lifted his chest, his muscles rippling, rampant with
adrenaline, his teeth exposed like a rabid animal.  I could feel the vomit
burning up my esophagus and, when Edwin stood up, I was sure there was going to
be a blood bath.

"Don't cross me, brother, or my fist will be in your
mouth," Edwin warned.

I swallowed back the vomit pooling in the back of my throat
and held my freezing palm against Cam's burning chest to pull him back against
me.

"Come on, Eddie.  It's not worth it," Aliah said,
as Hunter grabbed onto Edwin's arm.  Even he could sense the pure hatred
filtering between the two of them.

“Try it,” was all Cameron said, but he struck a chord with
Edwin.

When Edwin leaned forward, I reached a flat hand out and
pressed it against his solid chest to keep him back.  After scowling at him, I
glanced at Cameron, then back to Edwin again.

"It's time for you to go," I said.

"I'm not going anywhere, until I'm done fixing this
pretty boy's face," he threatened.

"Right now!" Cameron hollered, calling him on.

"Hunter, you've got to stop them," Aliah wailed,
noting the severity of the situation.

I fought to keep them apart, but Edwin reached around me and
shoved Cam’s shoulder.  Cam instantly responded with a counter and drove Edwin
against the back of the tub.  Jessica looked like she had been enjoying a good
soap opera, until Edwin's arm flailed backwards and hit her square in the face.

Jessica leapt out of the tub, her hand covering her battered
cheek.  "Thanks for fucking with my vacation!" she screeched.  Then she
spun around and ran inside, near tears.

Aliah shook her head, disappointedly.  “Real smooth, guys.”

Edwin ignored Cameron just long enough to show his regret, then
he narrowed his eyes at him again.  "Yup, it's definitely worth it,” he decided
aloud.  “Get out of my way," he warned, as he raised a determined brow and
drew his elbow back to wind up for a punch.

Cameron put his fists up ready for the challenge as though I
wasn't even standing in between them, freezing my ass off.  I threw my hands
down in manic frustration.

"I've had enough!" I screamed.  "I'm
leaving.  You two can do whatever the fuck you want.  I'm over it!"

I climbed out of the tub and stalked toward the room, hands
clenched in fists, mad as hell.  I could see Maddie sitting on the bed talking
to Jessica as clear as day.  Thinking Jessica must have left the patio door
open, I made a pass for it, and my face planted firmly against the cold, clear glass.

I WAS ALREADY MADDER than a wet hen,
but now, after smashing my face off the glass door, I was really freaking upset. 
I couldn't tell what I wanted to do first: scream, cry or vomit.  My little
episode seemed to get everyone's attention too, and now they were all chuckling
behind my back.

"Yeah, real funny, assholes," I hollered, scowling
harshly at them before letting myself in the room.

Maddie came running to me with a towel and I didn't realize
why, until she pinched my nose with it.  "Are you okay?" she asked.

"No, I'm not okay."  With my eyes closed, sadness
choked me and tears flooded beneath my eyelids.

Maddie tucked my hair back with one hand and pinched my nose
with the other.

When I finally caught my breath, between sobs, I explained it
to her.  "Cam and Edwin are being dinks and Aliah wasn't exactly
discouraging it.  Nobody gives two shits about what I want," I cried.

"That's not true," Maddie stated softly, but it
was no use.

I had to get out of there.  I was sick and cold and upset. 
"I really can't deal with this.  I'm going home," I whimpered.  I
started to pack up the few things I had strewn around the room, as I held the white,
blood-stained towel to my nose.

Edwin was already in the room, standing there silently,
water dripping from his soaking wet shorts.  Maddie excused herself to the
bathroom to escape from the menacing silence.  Jessica had already slunk out of
the room, hoping to stay out of it.  Edwin held his gaze on me, willing me to
look up at him.

"I'm sorry, Abs.  I promised.  I won't let it happen
again."  He stepped closer to me and reached his hand out to caress my
arm.

I jerked away from him and stomped back to the other side of
my bed.  "That's right!  You promised,” I hollered, tears blurring my
vision.  “How can I trust you when you keep acting like this?"  I fell
weakly to my knees and dropped the towel onto the floor, with tears rushing
down my cheeks.

Edwin made his swift approach and mirrored my crouched position
on the floor.  He took one of my hands in his and held it against his chest.  "I
mean it this time.  No matter how badly I want to smash in his face, I will
leave him alone and keep my comments to myself when you're around."

"And when I'm not around?"

Edwin gently brushed his thumb over my wet cheek, his other
hand still softly clasping my hand against him.  "I don't want to make any
promises I can't keep."

"Edwin!" I chided.

"Fine.  I won't knock him out, but you can't stop me
from speaking my mind.  He needs to know that I'm not going to let him hurt
you."

I narrowed my tear-filled eyes at him.  "Cameron would
never hurt me, but whatever."

Edwin stared at me through dangerously sexy eyes and pursed
his perfectly pink lips.  "Will you stay?"

I sighed, unable to resist his pouty lip.  “I’ll stay.  But
you’d better stay true to your word this time."

He smirked.  "I know, I know."

I appreciated that Cameron had given Edwin a chance to
apologize, but I really needed him now.  I slowly slipped my hand out of
Edwin's, feeling responsible to honour my relationship with Cameron.  I stood
up next to the bed, checked my nose in the framed mirror on the wall and tossed
the bloody towel into the garbage pail.  I would survive, but I needed some
moral support.  Cameron's moral support.

I peered out the patio door and Cameron instantly saw me
looking for him.  He hopped out of the tub to come see me immediately.

"Tell me this," Edwin asked, while we were still
alone.  "Whose house were you going home to if you had left?"

His eyes pleaded with me, but I couldn't let him tug me back
under his wing.  Besides, I was too intoxicated to think clearly.

I raised a sarcastic brow and smirked.  "I guess you’ll
never know, now will you?”

He shook his head at me.  "I'm just glad that you're smiling
again.  See?  I can do that for you," he said, with a soft smirk.  He
always made me smile, even when I didn’t want to.

Cameron entered the room and wrapped a towel around his
waist.  Within seconds he was looping his arms around me, his intentions apologetic
and clear.  When his lips brushed across mine, I accepted the chaste smooch.  But
when Cameron let me go to readjust his towel, Edwin stepped in and lifted my
chin with his fist.

"We good now?" he asked, looking me right in the
eye.

A breath caught in my throat.  "Yup," I said,
terrified to learn Cameron's reaction.

Edwin released my chin and glanced at Cameron, as if he owed
him an explanation.  "I was just explaining to Abby that, as her
friend
,
I was just looking out for her and the last thing I want is for her to get hurt." 
Edwin flashed a careful smile, then winked at me the second Cameron looked
away.

Satisfied that I understood, Edwin headed for the door, his wet
trunks clinging to his massive legs.  We both knew full well that he believed a
man and woman could never be
just friends
.  I pressed my lips together
to stifle my smirk.

"I'll check you guys later," Edwin said, rounding
the corner for the door.

"Wait for me," Maddie called.  She handed me a
glass of water and two Advil tablets and then hustled up behind Edwin.

He waited for her to catch up, then rubbed her round baby
belly with admiration.  "You two crashing with me tonight?" he asked
her belly, smiling.

"Yup," Maddie answered, proudly.  "You're
sleeping with two ladies tonight."  Her smile was radiant and her skin
glowed.

"Hear that?" Edwin asked, raising his eyebrows
dramatically at Hunter, as he and Aliah dried off at the patio doors.  Edwin
reached out his elbow and Maddie grabbed onto his large bicep.

Hunter tugged Aliah across the room and scowled at them.  "It
could be a boy, you know."

"How's your nose, girly?" Aliah asked me, as she
passed.

"I'll live," I answered, rather unconvincingly.

Hunter gave Edwin a playful shove and focused on Maddie
before he left.  "You should get to sleep.  Boy or girl, my baby needs its
beauty rest."

They all shuffled off and the door closed definitively
behind them.  I sipped on my water and swished it around in my mouth.  After swallowing
the pills, I placed the glass on the nightstand.  Cameron had me pinned with
his eyes.

I smiled softly at him.  "Hear that?"

"What?"

I paused for a few seconds and absorbed the silence.  "Absolutely
nothing."

Cameron smiled, stepped closer to me, and pulled me into his
arms.  I rested my cheek against his smooth, naked chest, and when he tried to
kiss me, I didn't fight it.  As our lips connected, Cameron unsnapped my top
and lifted it off of me.  I heard the wet fabric drop to the floor, then my own
gasp, when his hands slowly drew my bathing suit bottoms down.

After reaching for a dry towel, Cameron gently patted my
legs dry, pausing between my thighs and rounding on my wet behind.  He wrapped
the towel around me and drew me into the warm bed with him.  He tucked me into
his arms and his caress tickled my senses.

I couldn't help but feel guilty, when Edwin popped into my
thoughts. 
Why did he have to send me that secret message before he left,
and why was he so concerned with me and Cameron all of a sudden?
  We had
separated for a reason.  He had made his decision loud and clear.

Cameron made me happy.  Things were going great - amazing
really - until Edwin started to stick his nose in our business.  I could only
hope that one day Edwin could stand to be in the same room with Cameron and me
without cringing.

"I hope you're not still thinking about what a jerk
I've been tonight."

"No."  I brushed my fingers across Cam’s chest and
watched his body respond to me.  "I just want things to go back to
normal.  Can't we just be ordinary for a change?"

Cam rested his hand on top of mine, stopping my motion. 
"You'll never be just ordinary."  He softly kissed my temple. 
"I sure as hell can't predict the future, but I can say that right now I'm
the happiest I’ve ever been.  In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve gotten used to
having you all to myself and I don't like to share."  The curve of his
smile crept higher.

I outlined his sexy lips with my index finger and there was
no need for words.  He kissed my fingers, then hovered over me to find another
kiss.  His hands trembled as he unwrapped my towel, exposing my naked breasts
and taut nipples.  He sucked in a sharp breath, as he took in my naked figure,
then he lost his own towel and trailed soft, wet kisses across my flesh.

I squeezed my eyes shut enjoying the sudden pleasure, as his
hot mouth closed around my nipple.  "Mmm.  I definitely didn't do anything
tonight to deserve this."

He smiled against my skin, his tongue still teasing me. 
"This is just for you being you.  Isn't that reason enough?"  Cam’s
lips teased downward, until his tongue circled my belly button, tensing every
muscle in my body.  "I want to show you exactly how much you mean to me,"
he growled, sprinkling wet kisses across my hips and down between my legs.

Cam worshipped my thighs, as he gently spread them apart,
his tongue doing amazing things.  He closed his mouth over me, sucking gently,
then dipped his tongue inside.  A muffled moan sounded from my throat, as I
squeezed my legs around him, overwhelmed with sensitivity.

I ran my fingers through his hair and gripped onto a
handful, as every muscle in my body began to vibrate internally.  With the
flick of his tongue, he had me screaming inside, and with a brush of his thumb,
I exploded into a thousand pieces.  I yelped out in pleasure and Cameron didn’t
stop until the tremors quit rocking my body.

He replaced my towel, protecting me like a valuable
treasure, then pulled the blankets over us.  With a brush of his wet, salty
lips, he gave me a taste of his handiwork.  "I love you, Abigail," he
said, his voice turning harsh.  “And I won't let anyone get in the way of that;
as long as you'll have me."

There was so much emotion flaring around the room, but I was
physically and emotionally exhausted.  "I love you," I whispered in
response, before curling into his arms and nodding off.

***

I AWOKE TO THE sound of the blinds
opening with a heavy swoosh.  My face still hurt a little from my door
incident, but it was nothing compared to my headache.

"I'm never drinking ever again," I mumbled,
covering my eyes from the bright, winter day.

"Forget drinking; are you up for a little skiing?"
Cam asked.  He was so damn chipper and at this hour I was always so cranky.

Skiing was not my thing.  "I feel like hell today.  I’d
bet I look even worse.  I think I'll hang back."

"Oh, no you don't," he insisted, dropping to his
knees on the bed.  He crawled over top of me and kissed me good morning.  "You're
coming with me, whether you like it or not."

I couldn’t help but smile.  "You realize I suck at
skiing, right?  The last time I went I did more falling than actual skiing.  You'll
be better off without me."

Cameron growled insistently, the reverberations urging me to
reconsider.  He made it very difficult to say no to him.

"Don't forget what I told you," I warned, giving
in to him.  "You're going to be stuck on the bunny slopes all day and I'm
even gonna complain about that."  I smiled at him, though it was mostly
true, then snuck another kiss before slipping out from under him.

After a shower and a very light breakfast, I started to feel
somewhat human again.  I plopped down and lied back on the bed that Cameron had
made, and stretched my arms above me.

“I just got off the phone with Maddie,” Cameron said. 
“Turns out, Jessica is staying back with her.”

“I should really stay back too,” I insisted.

Cam rested his hand on my shoulder and then smoothed it down
my arm.  “You’ll do fine.”

“I’ll make a total fool of myself.  You must want me to have
two black eyes to go with my crooked nose."

He chuckled, but I wasn’t joking.

"When does the destruction start?"

"We're supposed to meet the others in the lobby in about
five minutes."  Cam was smiling at me, as though he was going to burst
into laughter at any second.

"What are you smiling at?"

"You."  He yanked on my shirt to pull me up
against his chest and started to kiss me.

Our kiss grew more heated within seconds.  "I have to
get ready,” I said, in between scalding, hot licks of his tongue.

"Just a little dip?" Cameron begged.

"If I have to suffer out there today, then so will you."
 I struggled to fend him off.  He looked so edible.  I spun away and readied
myself for the day, before I could change my mind.

Before long we were down in the lobby, where Hunter and
Aliah were canoodling and Edwin was listening in on another guest’s horror story
about the black diamond slopes.

"There’ll be none of that today," I ordered,
stopping next to him.  "I'd like to get home after this trip; preferably
in one piece."

Edwin gawked at me, like I was a delicious piece of chocolate
cake.  "Hah!  Abby's coming?  This ought to be fun," he said to the
others, as though I wasn’t standing right next to him.

"Zip it,” I snapped.  “Cam's making me go.”

"He can be the one that peels you off the slopes
then," Edwin teased, as he walked toward the exit.

After tromping through the snow to the nearest lodge and
renting out skis for the day, Edwin snickered at me again.  "This is your
last chance.  Are you sure you don't want to go hang out with prego and prissy pants
instead?"

I scowled at him.  "I'm doing this."  And after locking
my boots into place, we skated toward the small rolling slopes.

I demanded that everyone join me on a practice run before we
took the lift up the mountain.  Reluctantly, they all hopped onto the conveyor and
let it drag us to the top of the small hill.  I was shaking in my boots.