A Perfect Mistake Read online

  A Perfect Mistake

  Laura Brown

  A Perfect Mistake

  Copyright © Laura Brown

  First Published by Lakewater Press 2019

  All Rights Reserved.

  Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc.

  gobookcoverdesign.com

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior documented approval of the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN-13: 978-06483472-9-3

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  In Loving Memory

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To Heather:

  We met because you agreed to read this novel—even though it was a bit outside of your normal read—and I’m so glad you did! What started as critique partners quickly grew into a close friendship. I can’t imagine going through this writerly journey without you by my side.

  Chapter 1

  Nica

  I needed to get laid. At least, that’s what my amber cocktail made me think—correction, my third amber cocktail. If the first two hadn’t murdered my inhibition, the third managed to land the final blow.

  Minus my usual filter, my eyes wandered around the room, hunting for a man to prey on. The bar was packed for a Tuesday night. Waves of chatter encompassed me, creating a low hum in my ears. But I didn’t care about the noise, not when a particular delicious specimen held me captivated, with hair the hue of rich caramel sticking out in different directions. He sat at the bar, hunched over his drink. A brunette with boobs practically spilling out of her top tried to speak to him, but he shook his head and tapped in front of his ear twice, before turning back to his drink.

  She may have slinked back to her friend, but I bit my lip, taming down the grin threatening to split my face. Perfect. My fingers itched to communicate, or smooth down his messy hair.

  Perhaps both.

  Before I could make up my mind, his broad shoulders stiffened and he turned. My alcohol-induced bravado vanished, and I tried to wrench my gaze away. Except, I didn’t move. Not an inch. Total disconnect from cranial activity to body movement. Damn fruity drinks. A pair of brown eyes locked with mine. Crap. I knew better than to be rude and stare.

  Quick, sign something, I willed my hands, anything.

  About to attempt a feeble fingerspelled “Hi,” I was rendered incapacitated when he sent me a nipple-hardening, throw-out-the-vibrator kind of grin.

  “Nica, what have you found?” my friend Lexie Edwards squealed, then let out a soft growl. “Yummy! Veronica, go get him.”

  At the sound of my full name, I found the will to tear my eyes away from the man. I turned to Lexie, with every intention of telling her no and finding a cab home but “I need to get laid” popped out. And my inhibitions really were toast, because instead of warmth spreading over my cheeks, it spread in a decidedly lower area. Not able to look at Lexie, possibly ever again, I clunked my head down on the table.

  “I’ve been telling you that for years. Does your body even know what to do anymore?” Lexie brushed my wild mass of hair off the table, probably littered with crumbs. Crumbs I could handle. Words, not so much.

  I raised my head, wobbling like a bobble head. Lexie didn’t have the same problem—we’d had the same amount to drink and she didn’t appear affected at all. Her silky hair flowed to her shoulders like a hot fudge waterfall, not a strand out of place, unlike my unruly curls. It wasn’t fair, perfect hair and a tolerance for alcohol that resembled a frat brother.

  “I didn’t mean to say that.”

  “Yeah, you did.” Lexie glanced in the direction of Sexy Caramel Hair. “I think you should go for it.”

  “You always think that.”

  “Yeah, but this guy agrees with me.” I followed Lexie’s pointer finger. His back to the bar, he rested on his elbows, watching me. “Want me to screen him?” Lexie asked.

  “You could try, but I’m pretty sure he’s Deaf, and you haven’t picked up many signs.” I managed an ounce of sobriety and faced my friend. “And please don’t use any of the ones you know right now.”

  Lexie grinned. “What? You don’t want me swearing in front of a guy ready to do you on the bar?”

  “Do me on the…?”

  I turned to face him, only to come eyelevel with a hard chest. I sucked in a breath, filling my lungs with an island oasis that was not part of the bar. I shifted my eyes up his chest, over the Adam’s apple speckled in five o’clock shadow, up to his face. The dim overhead light illuminated his eyes, green specks swirling into my vision. Hazel, not brown, the softer color hidden by long eyelashes.

  And I really hoped he couldn’t lip-read.

  Wish not granted. “What’s your name?” he signed. The noise level doubled, care of a heavy bass song.

  “N-I-C-A,” I fingerspelled to the beat of the music. Dammit, get a grip.

  “C-A-M.” He traveled a searing gaze over my body and back up to my face, waking up every part of me in the process. “Deaf?”

  I shook my head. “Hearing. You?”

  “Deaf.”

  “What’s he saying?”

  I jumped at Lexie’s voice, the silent trance he’d created broken into millions of scattered confetti. My heart threatened to break out of my chest, and I placed a hand there, in hopes of keeping at least one part of me contained. “His name’s Cam and he’s Deaf.”

  “Works for me.” Then, seeming content with my wellbeing, she headed to the bar. Stranger danger wasn’t exactly on Lexi’s radar.

  I reminded myself to breathe, no easy task with a hunk standing in front of me, and my chest constricted tighter than an eighteenth-century corset.

  Cam spun a wooden chair around, straddled it, and leaned against the backing. “Are you having as rough a day as I am?”

  I let out a laugh and nodded. “Hell yeah. One of those days that can only be cured by several drinks.” My head swayed a bit too much to the side, and my entire body followed, until Cam’s strong hand landed on my shoulder. I contemplated getting up and walking away, anything to save my dwindling dignity. I might have, too, if he wasn’t still holding onto me. “Sorry, I don’t normally drink to this degree.”

  “Me neither.”

  He placed his hand over mine, fingers stroking the backs of my knuckles. Each touch lit a fuse deep inside. The type of fuse I’d never extinguish on my own.

  “Want to get out of here?” I wasn’t anticipating that coming from my hands. What are you doing, Nica? He could be an axe murderer, married, a hobo…or an animal in bed. My eyes traveled between the slats of the chair, down the buttons of his gray shirt. He appeared fit and trim, and I bet there were muscles underneath that shirt.

  I dragged my gaze off h
is belt buckle and picked up my drink, fully intending to drown out my humiliation. Only he stopped me, placing his hand over the glass. My lips grazed his skin, salty and smooth. My eyes shot to his.

  “I think you’ve had enough for tonight,” Cam said with one hand while he leaned back and set the glass at the opposite end of the table. He glanced around, halting when he found Lexie laughing and flirting with two guys. “I’d better accept your offer to make sure you get home safe.”

  I gaped at his words, glad he couldn’t hear the squeak I released.

  “I don’t normally do this either. I’m barely handling my own liquor.” He smirked. “And no, that’s not a line.”

  I laughed, maybe from the alcohol or the whole so-not-Nica situation. I didn’t pick up strangers, not like Lexie. I wanted companionship. My parents’ divorce taught me that only friendship could survive, amazing chemistry would leave me heart broken. But, for one night, I’d allow myself the pleasure of this stranger. There was something familiar about him, something safe. I couldn’t put a finger on it.

  After getting two thumbs up from an overly-excited Lexie, I headed out to find a taxi with Cam. I planned on going home, nothing more, but when Cam placed a warm hand low on my back to keep me steady, my breath caught. His fingers pressed against the hem of my silky shirt and I craved more. This situation spelled trouble.

  The houses blurred past on the ride to my apartment, all the while making me very aware of the body next to me. He oozed a sort of strength at near intoxicating levels, and it required everything in me to keep my hands off. Sadness threatened to worm its way back in and kill the mood, the same sadness that had me drinking in the first place. I didn’t let it win. I needed this, an escape for a single night. Tomorrow would come whether I wanted it to or not, but tonight I wouldn’t have to be alone.

  By the time the taxi slowed, a sense of reality had seeped in. I knew nothing about this guy, only that he knew ASL, and damned, I still wanted him. I’d thought him handsome in the bar, but with the street light casting shadows across his face, he resembled an out-of-reach fantasy.

  “That’s where I live,” I signed as the taxi came to a stop in front of the old brick factory building I called home. “You coming to make sure I don’t get lost?” Not giving him a chance to respond, I climbed out of the car, knees wobbling in relief when he joined me.

  We entered the stale, off-white hallway that lead to the musty elevator. A neighbor had once left an air freshener in here, but it somehow made things worse. I stared at the numbers, fighting the anticipation with every inch we climbed. I swore his gaze lingered on my face, and I feared if I turned to him we’d never make it out of this elevator in one piece.

  My foot threatened to snag on the worn maroon carpet when we exited, and Cam steadied me with a hand on my shoulder for the second time that evening. Like the first, his touch a pleasure burn. And it hit me, this was the first time he touched me since we left the bar. Not normal male behavior. Key in place at my door, I glanced up at him. “Thank you for bringing me home. Another guy would have been all over me in the cab.”

  He stepped forward, an unmistakable hunger present in his eyes. The air grew warmer the closer he came. “Don’t thank me yet. I can still change my behavior.”

  “I’m still inviting you in, not my normal behavior and all but a flashing green light.” I searched his eyes, trying to decode him before I took this last step. And he continued to keep space between us, letting me call the shots. “I’m just grateful I found a nice guy.”

  My pulse raced as I entered the narrow walkway into my apartment, eyes on Cam. I couldn’t believe I had a stranger in my home for a booty call.

  The door clicked shut behind him, and for a moment we studied each other, guided by the moonlight. I prepared to take matters into my own hands when the nice guy behavior cracked. Cam backed me up against my refrigerator. Two fingers tilted my chin up, my frequent breaths making sure both of us were very aware of my aching breasts. He leaned in until our mouths were inches apart, then paused. Questions dominated his gaze, questions I didn’t want to contemplate. Not now. Now was for action. I closed the gap for him, tugging on his neck until he relented, colliding his smooth lips against mine. A sense of comfort washed over me, surprising the hell out of me. What was comforting about a sexy man holding me close? A sexy man with what felt like a fine set of muscles pressed against my flat belly. Other things were pressed against me as well.

  Thank you, God.

  He ended the kiss but didn’t move away. Those muscles taunted me, teasing me to get a better look. With hands that only shook a little, I found the top of his dress shirt and unbuttoned the first button. There was nothing flabby about the pectoral muscles revealed. A small patch of soft brown hair sat in-between, calling my name. I leaned forward and kissed the smattering of fine hairs.

  A growl rumbled from his throat before yanking my head towards his. He found my lips in a hard, bone-melting kiss. This, this was what I needed, hundreds of times better than drinking with Lexie. Cam’s hands drifted under the hem of my shirt, his skin the best kind of fire. Until he tugged my shirt over my head, sending me into a mini panic. Why had I put on my basic, boring, white cotton bra? Way to kill the mood. Only he didn’t appear fazed. He trailed his tongue down my neck and along the outline of the bra until my toes curled. Oh yeah, white cotton was fine.

  Only I didn’t want to be fine, I wanted to be naked. With him. I backed up, keeping my hands on him, until we made it into the bedroom, unbuttoning the rest of his shirt along the way. Six pack abs, damn. I trailed my fingers over his tight stomach muscles, tempted to bite them. My legs hit the edge of my bed, and I fell backwards and dragged him with me.

  He stroked my hair away from my eyes, his eyes dark. Desire lived there, of that much I was certain. With his body on top of mine, I felt it. A compassion shone, hinting at emotions I didn’t dare contemplate.

  I kissed his lips briefly before sliding my tongue inside his mouth. When he sucked I almost lost it, the last remaining tension in my body going on a paid vacation. I moaned. Didn’t matter he couldn’t hear—I couldn’t stop the sounds. And for once I didn’t need to worry about making too much, or too little, noise. My head rose off the bed, needing more of him. Craving more. After all, I only had him for one night and needed everything I could get.

  He broke the kiss. I opened my eyes, seeing questions, seeing concern. I didn’t want to talk.

  “It’s OK,” I signed.

  His lips quirked into a grin. “You sure?” We were so close the end of his sign touched my chin, and he stroked a lazy finger down my throat. “Because as much as I’m enjoying myself, I make it a point not to take advantage.”

  My body was on board for being taken advantage of. And I nearly let those words tumble free. “I’m sure,” I managed instead, letting my finger drift down his neck. His shoulders relaxed as he melted into me. Everything else faded away, all thoughts forgotten except how good he felt.

  He slipped his fingers beneath my bra strap, sliding it down my arm, before tugging the material to uncover my breast. The cool air hit my sensitized peak before his warm palm pressed against my nipple, and I nearly purred. He kissed my neck, making a trail down my body, over my breasts, and down to my belly button. Without communicating I helped him take off my bra. The rest of our clothes soon followed.

  Flesh to flesh, every inch of him drove me to crave more. I started to think he was some God-like creature who happened to grace me with his presence at the bar. Would be fitting, too, since I’d never see him again. My eyes traveled over him. His legs were as defined as his upper body. Between his legs he was ready for me, waiting. God-like or not, some precautions needed to be taken. I rolled over and reached into my nightstand, shoving aside random items until I found a package of condoms. Please don’t be expired.

  He moved up my body until his hard length settled at the top of my legs. I stumbled upon opening the box, feeling him at exactly the right spot, wanting
him more than I’d wanted anything for quite some time. Condom in hand, I turned and found us face to face, our bodies aligned a little too perfectly. Some of his hair was now plastered to his forehead, sexy as hell. He grinned and collected the package from me.

  I settled onto my back, the tiny voice I’d been ignoring so well speaking up. I let out a shaky laugh; even if the voice grew louder, I would drown it out. I hadn’t come this far not to know what he felt like inside me.

  Cam kissed me from my ankle up. I squirmed as his lips moved slow, so slow. More, I wanted more. I contemplated flipping him over and straddling him, putting myself out of my misery, when he found my breasts. Oh dear God this man’s mouth is heaven.

  He held my eyes prisoner as he positioned himself. Eye contact, ASL depended on it for communication. Silent words passed between us, and I hoped all he read was “hell yes.” For added encouragement I wrapped my legs around him, tugged until he got the hint, a devious smile crossing his face when he pushed inside, filling me so completely I gasped. I waited for fear to creep in, for the reality of having sex with a stranger to whack me in the head. It didn’t. He felt…right. Maybe it was the alcohol, but no one had ever felt this good before. For strangers we were well matched.

  He continued watching me as he moved in and out. I moaned in encouragement before catching myself. Instead I arched into him, desperate to push him faster. Harder. More. The twinkle in his eyes showed he enjoyed the torture. The popping veins of his corded arms told me he struggled to restrain himself. I continued to move with him, the deliciously slow strides eradicating thought processes. All-consuming need pulsated within me, from head to toe and all the glorious spots between.

  When he bent to suck my nipple, I lost my tenuous grip on control. Without warning, my climax hit. I shuddered over and over as he continued moving against my sensitized skin. Cam leaned down, kissing me hard on the lips, before building up speed, building me up again until I followed his own release.

  I woke up several hours later, my cheek resting on his chest. His arms were around me, holding me tight, our skin still warm in the cool night air. He was fast asleep, his caramel hair even messier than at the bar. I searched myself for the regret, but all I found was sorrow at the thought of never seeing him again. Convinced he would be gone in the morning, I tried to stay awake to watch him sleep. Exhaustion won out. I snuggled in and decided to let the morning bring what it would.