The Soldier's Angel - Preview

Chapter Four

Camille allowed herself to be pulled along, getting on the elevator behind Lucas. As the door closed, she looked at Denis kneeling in the lobby gasping for air and felt a smug sense of satisfaction. She quickly jabbed the door open button. "Denis?" she called sweetly. He looked up at her hopefully, and the joy she got from knowing she was about to destroy that hope was almost orgasmic. "I'm keeping the Switch. I paid for it." She grinned and waved. The door slid shut, and she reluctantly released his hand as she turned to him with a radiant smile. "You are amazing! Thank you!" She stood on her toes and kissed the cheek Denis had hit. "Sorry, he punched you, though."

Lucas grinned when she kissed him, and butterflies erupted in her stomach. She loved his smile; it lit up his whole face and made you want to talk to him, a stark contrast to his serious resting face. "I'm just glad you don't think I overstepped." He wrinkled his nose and gave her a look of mock indignation. "And punched is a bit of an over-exaggeration; he barely touched me. I wanted a reason to hit him and make him stay away. It was easy to figure out how to get him in a temper."

She giggled at his expression. "Still, thank you."

"No problem." She noticed he was studying her face again, looking a little concerned. And gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. "Are you okay? You don't seem that upset for someone who found her boyfriend fucking her friend."

Camille felt her smile die, and she swallowed back the lump that rose in her throat. "Her best friend, actually, ten-year friendship down the tubes." She sighed. "I'll probably feel more upset later. Honestly, my relationship with Denis was pretty much over. The trip I booked was my last-ditch attempt to fix things. It's mostly Leah I'm upset about." They stepped off the elevator and walked slowly down the hall. "Who actually suggested I book the trip to fix things."

"Well," Lucas said. "I'm next door if you want to talk sometime." She smiled impishly and looked up at him from under her eyelashes.

"Are you saying I can't get under you, Sergeant Major Grayson?" Where the hell did that come from? Camille's heart began to race; she had never been so forward in her life.

Lucas let out a short laugh, and then he looked at her very seriously, and her smile faded slightly as she prepared herself for rejection. "Angel, I'd love to have you under me, on top of me, and just about everywhere else. But I'm not willing to be a rebound or, worse, a mistake or regret. Let's take some time to get to know each other and see what happens." He smiled again, and Camille's heart skipped a beat, and she felt the heat in her face as red stained her cheeks. "Good night." He opened his apartment door and stepped inside, closing it softly before she had a chance to respond.

Camille stared at the door for a moment. "Jesus." She choked out as his words sunk in, and heat flooded her body. Well. That was something to look forward to.

The door opened again, and he poked his head out. "No, Lucas, remember?" He flashed her a grin and gave a little salute before closing the door.

Camille chuckled and headed inside; her laugh died and was replaced with a groan as she looked around at the mess she had created. "I'll deal with this in the morning." She muttered to herself as a wave of exhaustion washed over her and the adrenaline high she had been riding since she walked in on Denis and Leah that afternoon faded. She grabbed some blankets and a pillow and made her way to the couch, making up a temporary bed until she got to the furniture store and bought a new one. Despite how tired and run down she felt, she spent an hour tossing and turning before conceding defeat. The image of Denis screwing Leah had taken hold and wouldn't go away. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of Denis slamming into Leah, one hand squeezing her breast while the other held her leg back, and the look of pure pleasure on his face flashed across her eyelids.