There Goes The Bride

Chapter Six: You've Got No Game

Chapter Six:

Cameron placed his clothes on his drying body with hasty and jerky movements, before grabbing his keys in one hand and his jacket in the other. He quickly threw the still dripping jacket onto the passenger seat next to him, not bothering to care if the left over water was staining the expensive cloth seating. Cameron hoped that the distance he created with his own home, to Henry's, would give him time to collect his thoughts and bearings. He needed to remain focused today, he wasn't about to let a woman shake him.

Especially a woman such as her with a strong, defiant temper.

But as Cameron started his car and pulled onto the street, he couldn't help but curse his misfortune. Unlike giving Emily a ride home to soothe her troubled mind, he had unknowingly solved the fight she had had with her boyfriend - something Cameron couldn't help but sneer over.

It was true that at some minuscule notion he was affiliated with Emily's appearance, she was rather lovely in a bland sort of way, which was a complete physical contrast from the usual girls Cameron associated himself with. He actually enjoyed the change she provided, it gave him a new experience. Almost like trying a piece of foreign food, you need to test the taste first before you know if you might enjoy it.

Although, Cameron had to admit that out of all of Emily's features, it was her eyes that truly fascinated him. The knowledge she held beneath the exterior color gave him a sense of enthrallment. And frankly, Cameron loved a good challenge when it came to women, especially if that woman held a fierce persona.

And it was proven, Emily would be an intensive challenge that he would eventually be named victorious in. He vowed that no matter how long it would take for him to get her under his grasp, it would be worthy of a celebration afterwards when her ice-cold demeanor slowly chipped away, leaving her to be just a woman waiting for his touch.

Good God, Cameron thought. He could practically picture her fiery spirit in his bed, all the while visualizing her taunt body on his white, pallor sheets. Emily would have rosy cheeks and glassy eyes, her dark, willowly hair sprawled across his pillows. And that body of hers, no matter how hard she tried to layer and conceal herself, Cameron was certain of her shape that was sculpted from Aphrodite herself.

Groaning at his wild fantasies, Cameron took a sharp right turn down a neighborhood that would evidently lead him straight to Henry's house. He needed his best mate's approval and advice over this woman, and Cameron had high hopes that Henry would steer him in the right direction because his own mind was in such an indifferent state when it came to the incorrigible woman.

And when Cameron realized he was twenty minutes earlier than he said he would be, he hesitantly knocked on Henry's door before he eventually let himself in. The smell of Martha's cooking hit him and he remembered that he didn't grab anything to eat before he left his own home.

"Good morning, Cameron." Martha said joyfully.

"Morning?" Cameron questioned, his reply clipped and short. "It's practically around evening, the sun is close to setting." He looked past her slim frame and into the kitchen. "Where's Henry, is he getting dressed or is he busy with some papers?" Cameron seated himself at the wooden, kitchen table after Martha reluctantly let him into the house. She hadn't expected his visit at such an odd time in the day, but continued cooking anyway.

"Huh, I guess I didn't realize it had become that late." She shrugged, retorting to  his first statement before turning on the stove. "And we were a little caught up this morning so Henry still might be showering."

Cameron raised an eyebrow at Martha's behavior before he took quick notice of her messy hair and clothing, which consisted of shorts and a raggedy shirt half tucked into her pants. It occurred to Cameron how bland Martha usually looked through his eyes in the past, but this morning she was practically glowing.

Martha turned to place a plate of freshly cooked food in front of Cameron, and he took that opportunity to see that she proudly presented passion-tinged cheeks that held a prominent blush upon them. Even her eyes were darkened with satisfied hunger.

Martha shrugged after she gave Cameron a clean fork and knife, noticing his scrutinized expression of her. She also took it upon herself to question Cameron and his strange actions. It seemed as though he was acting different today, normally the two of them could barely nod in each other's direction because Cameron had decided to forever resent Henry's desire to be married. Which always aggravated Martha to no end. But instead of ignoring her presence and looking haughty, Cameron was being polite and civil - well, as polite and civil as he could be.

There had to be something wrong with him, Martha concluded. In all the years of knowing Cameron as Henry's badly-influenced friend, she had never seen him in such a different state. She didn't dwell on it further, though, as Henry took the liberty of walking into the kitchen at that moment.

He was fumbling with the buttons on his shirt, his focus solely on that task, but once Henry peaked a glance and saw Martha leaning against the sink he immediately dropped his hands and smiled at her. Henry gave Martha a heated stare that stirred a deep feeling in her quivering stomach, she even felt herself become flustered and hot.

"God, I hadn't gone three times in one night like that since college!" Henry exclaimed, oblivious to Cameron's presence. He then blantly kissed Martha's neck, murmuring words of passion and love against her heated skin.

"It's funny because I'm sure that even in college you've never done anything like that, Henry." Cameron said, drolly. He rolled his eyes at the couple before him, bending the fork in his palm to keep himself entertained. "In fact, I don't think you've ever spent any time studying the opposite sex in college."

Henry stilled, his arms dropping from Martha's waist before he turned and raised an eyebrow to Cameron. "When did you get here?" He asked, then with wide eyes he added subtly. "And, are you eating breakfast at the table?"

Cameron shrugged under Henry's stupefied gaze, feeling uncomfortable with this new way he perceived him. It made his skin crawl and caused his stomach to roll - it was the exact same look Emily had given him the day before. The look that kept pestering Cameron until he could barely sleep at all. It was the sole purpose of his unanticipated visit to Henry's house, Cameron needed some answers to his own unspoken questions and the stirred feelings scrambling widely inside of him.

Martha was the first person to break the unyielding silence. She placed a gentle hand on Henry's shoulder while her sharp gaze cut towards Cameron, almost as if she knew how pestering troubles. "Enough talk you two, you better head out before that storm hits again." She placed a chaste kiss on Henry's cheek, nuzzling it with her hand afterwards before looking at Cameron once again, causing him to pull at his collar uncomfortably.

Henry nodded his head, oblivious to the look caught between the two, and absentmindedly kissed Martha's forehead before casting his own wary glance at Cameron.

In all the years of knowing his friend, Henry had never seen him act so reserved. It left him on edge with worry and Henry feared that something had rattled Cameron to his core - leaving him in this shell of a humane version.