Chapter 39: Chapter 38- Beauty And The Beast

An hour later they lay on her bed together, finally alone.

"I can never bare to be apart from you, Camelia."

"Then stay. Don't leave." She replied, stroking his brown hair as he lay against her chest, on her bed fully clothed. His arms were wrapped around her waist tightly, clutching her to him like a lost little child that finally found their mother.

"You think Julien will let me move back into the guest room?" Amusement laced his words.

Camelia giggled, she couldn't help it. Stefan raised his head and kissed her exposed skin above her breasts, giving her one of his sexy smiles.  She felt a hand glide underneath her lace dress, blushing a bright red.

"Stefan, my family is downstairs.  What if somebody barges in?"  She whispered, glancing down to watch, quivering at the sight and feel of his fingers.

"I've dreamt of you.  I dreamt of the night I loved your body.  The feel of your flesh against me."  He stroked further up her thigh.  "Our bodies naked and wet..."  He reached her panties and her breathing hitched.  "Do you remember me grinding against you? Completely bare?"  He asks in a husky tone.

"Yes."  She gasped and bit down sharply on her lower lip in anticipation as he traced his fingers over the V formed by her closed thighs.

"I lost control. I found my release against you and it felt like I was born again. It was torture to be so hard around you for months....I needed to be wet with you."  He breathed, watching her face, continuing to tease her, tracing the edge of her bikini line.

She moaned out loud.

Stefan raised slightly and kissed her lips chastely while under her dress, he stroked her.  She sank into the mattress, her hands clutching the blanket.  He kissed the corner of her lips, teasing her, and she opened her mouth and turned her face to meet his kiss fully.

***This steamy scene continues in "The Pleasures Of The Flesh" for the maturer scenes***

(Follow me first than download the book in order to view the censored version)

Camelia stiffened beneath Stefan.

She pushed against his shoulders. "Stefan!  Move hurry!"  Camelia's voice was a restrained hiss.

Stefan groaned, shaking his head in frustration, lifting himself by the arms and sitting up.  "Damn it!"

Camelia sits up, slides to the edge of the bed, then stands smoothing down her hitched dress.  Stefan straightens the lapels of his suit and his tie, snatched her lace panties, slipped them into his pocket and stood, adjusting his slacks.

"My underwear!"

He cocked an eyebrow at Camelia's red wine flushed face and smiled sending her a wicked wink when she met his relaxed gaze.

"Don't worry they're safe with me." Patting his pocket. His eyes traveled over her body, his stare sending a blast of renewed heat to her core.  "I don't know how I'm going to play by the rules if I move back in here..." He mutters.

She frowns disapprovingly, smoothed her hair and went to the door—without any underwear.

"Hello?  You two doing the nasty in there?"  A muffled voice says from behind the door.

It was Sammy.

Camelia opened the door with a glare.  "Would you keep your voice down!"

He sweeps in graciously with a impish grin.

"Ohhhh, you were!"  He notices eyeing Camelia from head to toe, switching his gaze to Stefan who looked ready to kill him.  "Sorry for interrupting but we have a wedding to talk about!"  He says sweetly, fluttering his dark long lashes.

"It could have waited until tomorrow, Samuel."  Stefan states in a hard tone.

Camelia could tell he was ready to strangle Sammy with the way his fists tightened at his sides and by the knuckles turning white.

"Nah," Sammy begins, waving a dismissive hand in the air.  "This can't wait.  Cause the way I know you, you ain't going to wait for much longer."  Eyeing him up and down with a knowing look.  "Can you?"

Stefan draws in a deep calming breath, his chest heaving with his exercised control.  "No, Samuel.  I want to spend the rest of my life with her and I want it to start as soon as possible."

"Fabulous!" Sammy was ready to continue when he stops and frowns deeply. "Wait. Did you just call me Samuel?"

"You heard me all right."  A large smile stretched over Stefan's mouth.

Since Stefan was doing background checks he thought to pull up Sammy's record and surprised to learn his real name. His fiancée's best friend had more than one petty offense charge on his record in the last four years.

According to the file, both instances happened at designer boutiques—one at Chanel and the other at Valentino.

The report clearly described him shrieking and throwing a fit when he was told they just sold out of a Chanel handbag he had been eyeing one of the customers was still deciding on to buy or not.

The woman decided on another and Sammy took advantage and declared he was buying it. The claim stated the woman noticed his desperation for the bag and ultimately changed her mind.

He verbally assaulted the woman and tried tugging the bag out of her arms.  The lady in question was not going to let go without a fight and pushed back keeping a tight hold.   Sammy took off his high heel shoe and raised it.  The lady dodged his petty attempt and fell back against a glass case and shattered the display.

Luckily, they were never charged but a small fine and ordered to pay for the damages.   The incident was dismissed as a infraction.

Stefan begins listing what he learned.  "Samuel Earvin Princeton. Born: June 4th 1992 in Los Angeles, California. Height 6'2". Enrolled at New York university the first year of college. Got kicked out for disturbing the peace. Two infractions were listed on his record...."

The shock registering on Sammy's face was priceless.  Beads of sweat started streaming from his forehead and for once he appeared absolutely speechless.

"You did a background check on me?!?" He accused finally finding his voice.

"Samuel....? Earvin...?"  Camelia looked baffled and turned her attention to Sammy for answers. He looked liked a guilty criminal caught in the act.  "Sammy?  Is it true?  You never said anything to me!  What was that about infractions?  I don't understand."

"Infractions are petty offenses.  They are not considered crimes and hold lesser weight than a misdemeanor; most times the penalty is a fine."  Stefan responds, eyeing Sammy smugly.

"Sammy, what did you do?"

Sammy pinches his nose, his face flushed.  His winged eyelashes were fluttering faster than a butterfly's wings.

"Remember when I gifted you those hot pink Valentino Rockstud pumps for your birthday?"

Camelia nodded. "They are my favorite pair of heels I have."

"Yes...well....". Sammy clears his throat delicately. "I was in the boutique sitting on the chairs waiting as the sales lady brought out the latest styles and shades that just arrived.  She came out with your favorite color, a hot pink, and she said it was the last pair they had in your size.  A hoe, I think her name was Katy, Cat... ahhhh, hell I can't remember–"

"Her name was Caitlin." Stefan corrected.

"I'll never forgive you for this Superman! I was always on your side! I converted for you! Do you know how fine Batman is? I ditched black and converted to red and blue for you!"

If Sammy had long hair Camelia was sure he would be pulling it out of his scalp with how exasperated he appeared.

"Sammy, no matter what you did it will never change how I feel about you." Camelia curls her arm around his neck in a side hug. "Nothing you do is surprising anymore."

"I feel like I'm gonna pop a vein!"

"Go on, don't worry." Camelia urged, hoping to ease his tension.

"Anyway, she was sitting behind me on the round sofa they had in the middle of the boutique that bitches sit and wait to try shoes on.  Our backs were turned to each other. The hoe was being showed the same heels the lady helping me was bringing out–obviously picking out a pair for herself."

"I listened in to the shit they were talking about.  Like how she lives in New York and the shopping there wasn't as fun as in L.A..  Something about living there by force and not by choice or something like that....Eventually, the bitch over hears the sales consultant informing me the hot pink were the last pair in the same exact size she needed. "

Sammy wipes away at the perspiration accumulating on his forehead and gives Stefan a glare as he continues.

"I placed the box directly behind making the decision to buy them for you."  He gestures with his hands for emphasis. "I waited to look at other options and styles for myself. Cause I was thinking of getting a pair for myself. While I was busy, the sneaky bitch snatches the box and goes to the counter to buy them just when I turn to retrieve the box. I thought "what the fück?" I wasn't entirely sure if she took them so I approached her and eyed the side of the box where it says the size and color. After confirming my suspicion I tapped her on the shoulder."

He takes a deep breath.

"Dare I ask what you did?"

"The bitch had it coming! I said,'Oh, hell nah, I had my eyes on those you shoe-stealing hooker!' After I insulted her, she glares meanly and looked ready to hit me so I yanked her fake blonde extensions and swiped the box out of her hands. She screams and tries taking them back. The bitch had the audacity to accuse me of lying and stealing to the sales staff. Then she pushed me by the shoulder. That really pissed me off so....I pushed her back so hard she went sprawling back like damaged goods. Long story short, after that I was prohibited from ever entering the premises.  But I refused to leave before I got the pair."

"I always wondered.....Is that why you don't even look at the Valentino store when we pass the window without so much of a glance?"

"Yes, I've sworn to never wear them too." He shrugs. "They bad luck." He explains innocently.

"Care to tell her about the Chanel incident–". Stefan started before Sammy held up a hand to cut him off.

"I ain't doing this now Superman! All I can say is: never ever steal from a diva!" He declares with a snap of his fingers. "This discussion is over as of now." Sammy takes a deep meditating breath. "Let's get back on course. About the wedding–the question I have next is where?  The other is when?"  Sammy glances at Camelia's still flushed face.  "What does the bride want?"

Camelia frowned.  For a moment she didn't know what to say after Sammy's confession. He switched the conversation so quickly her mind had troubling adjusting.

The wedding...

The wedding she was planning originally for herself was to take place for Gloriana and Kivanç. She didn't want her's to Stefan's anywhere close or even in the same state.

She wanted more for herself.

Something different and unexpected.

A place that signified their love.

Out of nowhere, the French restaurant Stefan took her to while he was Kent popped into her mind. The first time she saw the magazine cover his face was plastered on....The red rose submerged in water on the table between them....their immediate connection flourished from then on. She was drawn to him in a way she had never experienced before.  Her soul reached out and sensed him–It almost felt like a sign.

Kent. Stefan. Love. French. The red rose.

The most romantic place on earth.

"Paris..."  She murmured softly, looking up at Stefan who was watching her intently.  "I want to go to Paris."  She clarifies holding her head high with determination.

"The city of love?"  Sammy inquiries.  "Fabulous idea!  What do say about that, Superman?"

Stefan eyes bore into hers.  His expression unreadable.  He just stood there silently watching her, calculating the idea.  Camelia was almost afraid he was about to say No, knowing the way he was so protective.

She held her breath.

"Done."  He says.

Camelia's eyesbrows rose in surprise.  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Sammy blink, angling his head as though he didn't hear him correctly.

"Did he say 'done'?  As in 'consider it done'?"

"Is something wrong with your hearing?"  Stefan directs to him, lifting an eyebrow.  "Because you had no issues standing outside the door while Camelia and I were busy."

Sammy's mouth opened in feigned shock,  placing a hand over his chest. "Are you accusing me of eavesdropping?!?"

"Sammy!  You wouldn't!  Would you?"  Camelia asked slightly outraged and turning redder in the face.

"Bitch, please!  I'd never–"

"I assure you, Princess.  I've been trained for these things.  I can hear a pin drop let alone a person breathing behind a solid door."

"You beast!"  Sammy spat.

"And don't you ever call her that word ever again in my presence."  The warning more than evident from his murderous expression.  Stefan's piercing gaze could shoot laser beams.  It was obvious his dislikes were clearly showing now that he was Stefan and not Kent.

"What?  Bitch?"  Sammy giggled, waving a dismissive hand in the air but stops abruptly watching Stefan fold his arms firmly over his tight bulging chest.

"Well, well, well...aren't we getting possessive!  You may be Superman but nobody has the super powers to control this mouth you son of a b–". Sammy clears his throat.  "I mean, uh...son of a beast!"

"Sammy, stop it." Camelia intervenes, striding toward Stefan who looked like a lion ready to pounce and places a gentle hand on his chest. "Stefan, please...Sammy means well." She whispered searching he gaze in worry.

Stefan clasps her hand and kisses the back tenderly. "I know he does, but he's so damn irritating, it gets on my nerves." He murmurs for only her ears, slipping an arm around her slender waist and squeezing her against him.

Camelia smiles into his eyes. Stefan narrows his gaze to her lips ready to steal a kiss when Sammy speaks up again much to his irritation.

"While you two love birds are whispering to yourselves, I have a fabulous theme for the wedding." Sammy announced as if nothing transpired between him and Stefan.

They both stand there watching Sammy's eyes light up with excitement as the wheels turned in his head.

"He never shuts up." Stefan notes, grinding his teeth together. Camelia pecks his cheek lovingly, hoping to soothe him.

"He means well." Camelia repeats, drawing herself closer to his body. His warmth made her internally shiver in delight. Stefan only grunts in displeasure, shifting her body more fully into contact with his.

Lowering his gaze, he brushed her cheek with his own, soothing himself. He dips and angles his head, kissing the pulse beneath her ear.

He inhaled deeply.  "God, you smell good." He breathed into her ear.

She shivered at the tingles shooting through her middle.

"Hello? Youuuuu-hoooo? Read my glossy lips, I don't like being ignored people! I have precious ideas that need attention!"  Sammy nearly screeched, stomping his foot.

But Sammy couldn't help but see the genuine happiness of their reunion on Camelia's face as they ignored him.  He decided to keep quiet for a few moments and give them some privacy, seating himself on a plush chair.  Crossing his legs and arms he sits waiting and watching the couple in front of him share some tender love.

"You guys look so damn cute together." He mumbles to himself.  "I'm jealous as hell....y'all gonna have children blessed with fabulous DNA."

"Perhaps, we should elope."  Stefan suggested to the side of Camelia's smiling face, placing a greedy hand over one firm butt cheek and squeezes.

Camelia squirms and let's out a gasp of shock.  "Stefan!"  She admonishes her eyes widening.  "Sammy is right there watching us!"  She whisper shouted, desperately trying to peel his grip off her behind.

"Oh my lord! You two can't keep your hands off of each other."

Both Camelia and Stefan find his fingers covering his eyes and one hand swatting the air as if it would ward off the scene.  However, if one looked closely, they would be able to see the part in his fingers allowing a free peek.

"The sooner this wedding happens the better. Thank God ya'll have me, cause I'm a diva at planning parties!"

Camelia giggles as Stefan continues dropping kisses along her neck. "See...what I mean.  Don't you wish he came with a mute button?" Stefan comments, a smile lacing his words. "Eloping sounds like a good idea."

"Stefan, stop...." Camelia says. "Seriously, we need to talk about wedding plans." Stefan lifts his head to gaze down at her. "I've been dreaming of a wedding my whole life, no way are we eloping!"

"Eloping!" Sammy hears Camelia's exclamation. "Over my dead body."   He shouts and jumps to his feet ready to argue.

"Don't tempt me." Stefan warns, and slants his gaze towards Sammy who was strutting towards them.

"That bitch, Gory-Anna already ruined my first plans by swooping in and taking over. Is that skank really marrying that man-whore in a couple days?" Sammy asks.

Camelia sighs. Her cousins betrayal still lingered. She was not sorry things turned out the way they did but the deceit happening behind her back for weeks still stung. Stefan shifted and held her by the waist against him.

Camelia felt Stefan's body tense.

"Yes." She answered.

"Why don't you push her cheating ass aside?  You and Superman can continue the reception party we planned and marry him in a private ceremony." He suggested.

Camelia shakes her head. "No, I'd rather not. Let them have it all, the wedding, the reception, the day–I don't care. However, I do like the idea of a private ceremony." Her eyes lit up, turning to Stefan. "My parents did that, you know. They married privately before family and had a grand party afterward."

"If that's what you want, I can have a marriage license drawn right away." Stefan supplied.

"Wait, what about Paris?" Sammy asks.

"We'll still do Paris for the reception." Stefan answered.

"I'd like that." Camelia responded, placing her hands over Stefan's chest.

He kisses her forehead lovingly.   "Anything for you."

Sammy claps happily. "Now, first things first. The wedding theme. Ready to hear it?" He said, "What if your theme symbolized your love story, girl."  He grabbed her by the arm in a hard grip, shaking her slightly.   "Think about it.  Beauty and the fucking hot beast!"  Sammy places a hand lightly over his heart, clears his throat delicately and looked Stefan in the eyes.  "No pun intended, Superman."

Stefan raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

"Beauty and the Beast?" She repeated, running the idea through her mind. It completely amazed her at how beautiful the theme sounded.  "It's perfect!"

"My God, I'm a genius!"  He let her go, pumping his first in the air. He turned on his heels, began pacing and went on and on by himself.  "Everything will be in red and gold and..."

A long moment of silence passed and neither Stefan nor Camelia moved.  They stood staring at each others eyes.

"Will you move in with me into my grandfather's home?" Stefan inquires, excluding Sammy from the conversation, leaving him to mutter his ideas to himself.

She suspected that he wanted to move out of his luxury apartment and into the home he grew up in and was completely amenable to the idea.

Camelia nods. "Yes, of course." Camelia bit her lip anxiously, looking at him from beneath her lashes. "Stefan....? There's one thing we never spoke about and it's important to me."

"What is it?"

"Don't ever lie to me ever again no matter how bad it may be. Promise me."

"I swear on my life I will never keep anything from you ever again." He vows, placing a soft kiss against her forehead. "You do understand why I had to, don't you?"

Camelia wrapped her arms around his neck, stroking his hair at the nape of his neck.  "Yes, I understand."

His smile was tender as he pulled her closer, pecking her lips. "I'll be taking a whole month off of work for the wedding and honeymoon."

"Honeymoon?" Camelia hadn't thought that far yet.

He gave her a smoldering look. "Yes, honeymoon. I have certain dreams I would like to see come true, Princess." With a slight, arrogant smile he continues. "One specific dream where you're dressed in red...especially red lipstick."

She looked away, dizzy with the memory of his deep, slow, drugging kisses earlier. When she glanced up at him hesitantly, she found him staring at her lips.

"You really are a beast."

"I'm your beast."  He says in a chuckle.  "If I did anything right in life it was when I allowed you to steal my heart from me....and I never want it back."

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Last week, when I began writing this chapter, I accidentally pressed publish instead of save and it showed up in your notifications.  I'm sure most of you figured it was a mistake when it didn't load and probably checked my message board when I posted the reason for the mess up.  Others wondered why they couldn't view the chapter.  If anything like that happens again (I hope it won't) and you can't find the chapter, just know it was a big goof up on my end.

It's easier to follow me for updates and explanations, that way I don't have to go back and respond to every single one of you.  I was happy to clear up the confusion, it's just that it took a lot from my time–thanks for your understanding.

For His Duchess readers...Notice the little tribute I added...? Remember Caitlin...? ;)

Wonder why Camelia chose Paris for her wedding?

I was there in February for my birthday and the idea of a wedding in the most romantic place on earth for Camelia and Stefan came to light.  What better way to celebrate their love than in the city of love?

Hope you enjoyed this one!  Thanks for everyone's support!

Until next time,

Shaz