Chapter 9: Surprising Request

Janelle's P.O.V

I didn't quite understand what he meant. It sounded like a goodbye joke to me. How could he ask a total stranger to spend Christmas with him? 

"Wait, what?" I turned around in disbelief.

"I asked if you would like to spend Christmas with me, in my villa," Cameron repeated his question, even more serious this time.

"I heard you, I'm just surprised." I responded trying to relish the uncertainty of the situation. "Me, with you, for Christmas at your villa? You barely know me." 

"You're right, I know we are two strangers who hardly know each other, but I mean it. I would love to spend Christmas with you." He repeated, pleasantly.

I stared at Cameron, wondering what his true intentions were. Someone like him who flirted so much and didn't mind sleeping with any woman, regardless of who she was or where she came from…must have some ulterior motives for making an offer like this.

"You don't know anything about me, Cameron. You don't know me. You met me hours ago, and you want to spend the holidays with me… What about your family, friends, and colleagues if you have any?" I tentatively queried, wondering if I was stepping into uncharted territories.

"Come on, Jane. It's just the holidays." He shrugged his shoulders effortlessly. "Besides, I don't need to know anything about a woman before getting intimate with her. That's how carefree I am about life. And you wouldn't be the first woman I have traveled with, without knowing her on a personal note."

I didn't know why but that last sentence made me shift from one foot to another, suddenly feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Although this would be my first Christmas with a stranger. I understand your hesitation and worries." Cameron stood up from the bed, wrapping the sheet around his waist as he came to stand in front of me. "I would rather not go into details as to why I don't wish to spend the holidays with my family, but I do hope you understand me and consider my request. Honestly speaking, I just feel like you're someone I can spend time with quite comfortably. And trust me when I say this…I don't say this to everyone I meet."

"I understand you, Cameron. But you know so many women around town. Why would you invite someone like me to your villa?" I grimly queried.

Cameron hesitated before he answered, probably structuring his words with extra caution. "Because you're beautiful, intelligent, very brave, outspoken and empathic." He was looking me directly in the eyes as he spoke. Maybe with the plans of making me think twice before refusing his proposal. "And I want to spend more time with you."

I smiled, a little less grim. "Oh, right. I'm beautiful, witty, curvy, and all of the other stuff you listed…just like every other female you ever fucked?"

I don't know why, but suddenly, the image of him slapping that waitresses ass came to my mind…and it left a bitter aftertaste.

"Are you jealous of the other women in my life?"

"We have got nothing going, Cameron. How can I be jealous of what you do?" I sighed in exasperation. "Now I'm wondering why you don't even care to protect yourself from infections and other diseases. Do you test yourself? I don't need to be worried about anything…right?"

"Yes, I'm clean and stop changing the subject," he sighed with exhaustion. "Would you honor my invitation?"

"I find it hard to believe that someone like you would invite me to spend Christmas with him."

"What do you mean someone like me?" He raised a furrowed brow, frowning.

My voice was calm and assertive as I replied, "You sleep around, Cameron. Left, right, center, and back. It doesn't matter to you if she has some kind of a disease, is married, engaged, or divorced. To you, sex is about the body. As you stated earlier, voluptuous bodies. There's no soul tie or intimacy involved. So far…that's what I learned about you." 

 "I admit, Janelle." He held up his hands as if he was surrendering. "Sex is a fun activity to me and not a soul-bonding act. But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings. I mean it when I tell you that I want to spend time with you beyond kissing and fucking."

"So you just want to…bond with me?" I asked, trying to hide how deprived of emotions I felt. "Have chit-chats, enjoy each other's company and sip eggnog by the fire place?"

"Right." He nodded with a confident smile. "Except, maybe…the eggnog. Never was a fan of that."

"To me, Cameron. Sex is a connection of the soul. It's the greatest way I can bond with a person, but only if I trust that person. I'm principled and although I want to loosen up and be free, I do not want to lower those standards." I sighed, wanting to get out of here as soon as possible. In all honesty, sleeping with Cameron had been so out of character for me, perhaps even a bit out of my league because he was my very first one-night stand.

"You are hot, witty, seemingly wealthy, tall, and all of that good stuff." I eyed his physique once again, still not believing that I had been with this man just now. "But you're not the kind of person I want for myself. No offense intended. I may not want to be committed, but I also do not want to be the woman who goes off into the night with a random stranger she just fucked. I know that the Christmas holiday in your villa would be nothing more than a sex party and I'm not sure I want to be the sex tool in this case."

"Is that a no to my offer?"

"It's not a yes."

"If you are so principled and strict, why did you accept to have sex with me tonight?" Cameron asked, and even after everything I had just told him…he didn't actually seem offended like most men would've been by now. "You're more than capable of handling yourself, aren't you? But still…you gave in to my offer. You still took my hand and you came here out of your own free will, didn't you?"

"I..." I realized that he made a valid point. I was just like every other woman, married and engaged, who let him explore them to the best of his desires. But in my defense, I was starved for so long and deserved a break…and the unexpected breakup this afternoon had riled me up more than I had hoped it would. 

I had thought that I would be in bed right now, cuddling with Daniel and telling him all about my stories about what had happened in the field, but instead, I had found him in the arms of another woman, and perhaps that was what had driven me into Cameron's arms as well. 

But now…Cameron's persistence was getting a bit exhausting. I couldn't deny the fact that I had a great time tonight. But I needed to think and regroup before I did something like this again. 

"Cameron…thank you for the good time tonight." I gave him a tight smile as I finally turned to the door. "But this is as far as we go. I must find a place to spend the night, so I need to leave early. Goodnight. I hope you find someone to spend the holidays with." 

I didn't wait to hear a response, nor did I glance to see a wave of his hand.

I think he said nothing. He probably watched me walk elegantly out of the room closing the door noiselessly behind me. I descended the stairs and ambled into the street. The night was dark and cold and the woman at the reception hardly even batted an eye as she watched me walk out.

I started, unaware of where I was headed, my feet dragging through the light snow. The only thing that made me feel safe was the cold, silence and noiseless whispers of the wind. 

Everything that happened today was starting to take its toll, and I wasn't entirely sure as to which direction I should be heading…but one thing was sure…it definitely couldn't be in the direction of a man with dark hair and emerald green eyes…