77 - Cottage

_Tell me what you want, anything in the world, and I’ll move heaven and earth to get it for you. – Darkness_



The night was not going at all how Darkness had planned. Yes, he had been carrying the ring around since he picked it up in January. It brought him comfort. Something he really couldn’t explain.



He also hadn’t planned on bringing her to the cottage yet. But he couldn’t take her to the clubhouse. The need to be inside her was undeniable.



A manager approached with a bottle of champagne. Darkness politely declined and requested the bill. Before the manager walked away, Darkness handed over the valet tag for the Jeep. “Do you mind?”



“It would be my pleasure,” the man assured them as he walked away.



Henry approached them with the small leather-bound folder. Darkness did not even look at the receipt, he simply handed over his bank card and continued to hold Camille close to him.



When Henry returned with the receipt for him to sign, he also had a handled black paper to-go bag with the name written in burgundy with silver shadowing. “The champagne and fresh desserts are inside. Along with, and please don’t hold this against me, information on catering and hosting engagement parties and wedding receptions.”



Darkness chuckled as he signed the slip and then handed over a folded bill. “That will only work if you cater in Massachusetts and the place that I have in mind is full service.”



Camille looked at him in surprise, and he leaned down to kiss her lightly before taking the bag in one hand and placing the other at the small of her back. “Your dad is going to kill me. I was supposed to be on his doorstep before I gave you that.”



“Mom will save you,” she assured him as they walked out.



“Good,” he murmured as he opened the passenger door of her Jeep.  “I have something for you, but you don’t get to keep it.”



“Mysterious,” she grinned at him as she fastened her seat belt, and he closed the door.



The roads were clear and the drive over to the residential area was smooth and quick. He pulled into the driveway and the security lights that he had installed came on. She slid out of the Jeep and went around to him to accept the hand that he held out to her.



He guided her up to the porch and handed the keys to the cottage to Camille with a grin. “It’s not finished. But it is livable.”



“It’s yours?” she asked softly, standing on the small porch.



“It’s our rental.” He corrected, thinking that the porch light gave her an ethereal look. “We can come here whenever you want.”



“Can we stay here?”



The hope in her voice tugged at his heart. “If you want, we can.”



She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. “I do.”



“I would tell you to keep practicing those words, but from what I’ve heard of your dad’s weddings, such a normal answer is not fitting.” He said, holding her close to him.



Camille laughed. “Normal is not a word that is used to describe his weddings.”



“I can’t wait to see what he does for us.” Darkness admitted as he cupped her cheek.



“I think he will be just as surprised as the rest of us.” She smiled, leaning into his embrace.



“He’s probably already planning.”



“You talked to dad about this?”



“Unofficially. He told me that Christmas did not count.” He ran his thumb across her bottom lip. “I also talked to Cookie and Pipes about working with them after you graduated.”



“But your life is here.”



“My life is wherever you are.”



“Momma Dee-.”



“Wants to stay at the Shack when we move up there.” He tilted his head towards the house. “Now, open the door, so I can take you to bed.”



Camille turned her head and kissed his palm. Then she unlocked the door and opened it. Darkness flipped the switch, and the large overhead light came on.



The living room walls were sheet rocked and primed but not painted. The subfloor was bare, the boxes of planking were stacked against the wall, two sawhorses sat next to a portable table with a miter saw. Long trim pieces lay across the sawhorses.



“Like I said, not finished, but livable.”



She walked into the kitchen and turned on the overhead lights to admire the new cabinets. “Who built these?”



Large cream-colored tiles complimented the chocolate-brown cabinets. The upper cabinets were a mix of open shelving and wood with six-paneled glass doors. Plywood is laid on the top of the bottom cabinets in place of the counter-tops. A cream-colored farmhouse-style sink sat under a large window that looked out into the backyard.



“The crew and me.”



He took a deep breath to steady himself as she took off her jacket and laid it on the counter.



“It’s beautiful, Amos,” she whispered as she walked back over to him.



“The counters will be installed on Wednesday.” He ran a nervous hand along the edge of the temporary counter. “Painters are in the living room on Monday and when they’re done, we’re doing the rest of the floors.”



“You’re really talented,” she stepped up to him and rested her hands on his chest. The light blue cotton of his Oxford shirt was warm against his skin. He looked nice dressed up in his slacks and button-up shirt, but she liked him better in his jeans and T-shirts.



“I like building things,” he admitted softly as he grabbed her hips and pulled her against him. “Want to see what else I built?”



Looking up, she saw the dark desire in his eyes. “Yes,” she breathed out huskily.



Darkness leaned down and gave her a light kiss. Pressing up on her toes, she tried to deepen the kiss as her hands slid around his neck.



Giving a low growl, he pulled back and took a small step away. “I want to show you the part that you do get to keep, and then I’m going to make you mine in every way possible.”



“Promise?”



“Absolutely,” he assured her as he took another step back and offered his hand to her. She bit her bottom lip before moving her hand away from his neck.



With her hand firmly in his, he led her down the short hall to the bedroom door. He tugged her in front of him and rested his hands on her hips. Nervously, she reached out and twisted the nob, pushing the door open.



Reaching inside, Camille flipped the lights on and couldn’t stop the small gasp of surprise. Walking inside the room, she trailed her fingers along the bench and then the bed. The wine-colored comforter was complimented by the sage accent wall.



Walking into the room, she dragged her fingers along the soft comforter as she approached the headboard. “It’s beautiful. Is it one of Sticks designs?”



“Yes.”



“I thought so.” She opened the hidden door and exposed the ring. “Is this Alpha or Master?”



“Alpha.” He said against her neck as his hands pulled her dress up. “You know them well.”



“The, um, the website…”



“I love those pictures of you,” his fingers grasped the bottom of the dress and skirted her skin as he pushed the material up.



She gave a breathy laugh as she raised her arms, and the dress was pulled off. “My jacket…”



“In the kitchen,” he said, dropping the material on the floor.



“Condoms,” Camille said as he placed open mouth kisses on her neck and his hands roamed her body.



“Drawer.” He answered and she gave a soft oh. “You’re nervous.”



“I… umm, I talk a good game. But I’ve never…”



Darkness stepped back and turned her to face him before he tipped her face with a gentle touch under her chin. “What have you done?”



She cast her eyes down as her cheeks blushed. “Dom used a crop and a flogger on my legs. And, allow me to say that alcohol and a game of no truth and dare was involved when Nessie and Clay taught me how to give a carrot a blow job.”



“Baby, I’m talking about being with a man in general.”



“I’ve given a few blow jobs,” she looked away so that he did not see her embarrassment.



He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. When he opened his eyes, he saw a tear slip out of her eye. Leaning in, he took the clip out of her hair and tossed it on the table. Burying his hands in her hair, he kissed the tear off her cheek.



“How…?” he murmured as he began to place feather-light kisses all over her face.



“How did I remain a virgin?”



“How did I get to be the lucky bastard to get such a treasure as you.”