August 22nd, 1971

    Cameron hadn’t given me any clues throughout the day on how we would celebrate my birthday, or if we would celebrate at all. The latter wouldn’t bother me, as I’d asked him not to make a big deal out of my thirtieth birthday, though I had doubts he would listen to my request.
    I was standing on the side of the stage for the encore; Amoeba came back out and played two last songs, the first being Missing Persons. The crowd roared at the end, and only quieted down at Dale’s insistence.
    “This here, this is a song from the new album. Are you all ready to see the fairgrounds?”
    The crowd cheered and yelped in response. Lee started the song off with a pounding bass line, which eventually grew into a steady rhythm provided by the addition of drums and keyboards. I knew this song well, it was one of my favourites on Cabinet of Fools. Lyrically, Fairground was short and concise, but on a musical level there was very little else from the album that could outdo it during a live show.
    The song could run for ten minutes, but never sounded like the night before even at nearly double the length of the studio take. Tonight’s rendition was frenzied, if not downright feverish in its delivery. I danced, as I always did, though I slowed when I knew Cameron’s section was upcoming.
    He began the keyboard solo delicately, drastically changing the atmosphere in a moment’s time. I swayed to the sound with my eyes closed and saw his hands moving across the keys in my mind. To my surprise, the sound echoing through the auditorium morphed, for a brief moment, into the recognizable melody of a birthday song. I laughed, unable to contain myself, and after a few seconds Cameron’s keys were back in the frenzy of Fairground.
    I chuckled to myself and headed down the corridor into the backstage area. ‘He’s got something planned,’ I realized, ‘and it won’t be optional.’ I poured myself a shot’s worth of whiskey and drank it in two sips, putting the glass down just as the band entered the room. I made a point to keep my gaze fixed on the bottle of rum I’d just picked up, while pretending to be engrossed by the label’s description of the aging process.
    “Enjoy the show?” Cameron asked. He was standing close to me, but I didn’t turn around or answer. He put his arm around my waist and turned me towards him. “I know you did,” he told me with a cheeky grin.
    I stared at him, with a skeptical look on my face.
    Colin was standing nearby, pouring himself a drink. “I’d be careful, Cameron,” he warned. “She looks angry.”
    “No, she isn’t,” Cameron assured him confidently.
    I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, I am.”
    A wide grin crossed his face and he chuckled. “No, you’re not.” Cameron kissed me, and my attempt at displeasure vanished when he pulled away. “See?”
    “You’re an ass,” I spat, though my words held little clout when put against Cameron’s impish grin.


    It wasn’t too long before we all headed out from the venue. The bus took us to the hotel a few miles away, where once in our room, I took my shoes off and headed towards the bathroom.
    “Don’t get too comfortable,” Cameron warned as I crossed the threshold.
    I turned around and stared at him. “What do you have planned?” I asked forcefully.
    “My plans? Well…” he spoke, trailing off as he approached me and pulled me into his arms. “I’ve got my own plans for you.” His voice was quiet and deep, and his lips briefly brushed my neck as he spoke. “But first, we’ve got to celebrate.”
    I groaned, but held onto him as he kissed me softly.
    “Can’t say no to a party,” he said, his voice enthusiastic.
    “I can,” I answered. “Very easily. But I won’t.” I gave him a peck on the lips and smiled. “Where are we going?”


    Within thirty minutes, we had all convened at a bar a few blocks away from the hotel. Drinks were ordered, jokes were made, and very soon, it was collectively decided that a toast should be made.
    “If I may?” Colin asked as he stood, his glass in hand. “Cheers to a tenderhearted woman who has been a kind friend to us all,” he said, raising his glass. “To Emily!”
    Everyone hollered in agreement as they raised their glasses. I lifted mine into the air as they sipped their drinks, and thanked them. “I’m very grateful to have you all here with me.”
    As I shifted in my seat and took a sip from my glass, I realized Cameron’s hand was higher on my thigh than I’d noticed earlier. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, but he was suddenly deep in conversation with Dale.
    “What year will this be?” Lee asked me, pulling me away from thoughts of straying hands. “How many times have you rotated around that damned ball of hellfire?”
    “The sun?” I asked with a laugh. Cameron’s grip on my thigh tightened. “Thirty fucking times, Lee,” I replied. “Would you believe it?”
    “You don’t look a day over twenty-nine,” he said with a wink. “Well, maybe one day older.”
    I joined in his laugh, but mine turned to a cough when Cameron’s hand inched higher. “Just a bubble in my throat,” I explained to Lee after he asked if I was alright. I snuck an accusatory glance at Cameron, but he was still engrossed in conversation.
    We kept chatting, mostly talking about the tour and how it was going. When Lee asked me if I was enjoying the time spent on the tour, I answered honestly.
    “It’s a little bit of an adjustment after how many months at home,” I said. “But it’s an experience I’m very grateful to live through.”
    Lee smiled, and he lifted his glass in cheers. “I think I can safely say that we’re all happy you’re here too.”
    At Lee’s words, Cameron’s hand crept higher up my thigh. His fingers were nearly at the seam of my fly, and I could feel my cheeks redden as he gently pressed his fingertips into the fabric. I raised my glass to my lips and drank the remaining amber liquid in one gulp.
    “Well, I think I’ve hit my fourteen drink limit,” I announced with a chuckle.
    “You’ve only had two glasses,” Willie protested. “What about the other twelve?”
    I shook my head and exaggerated disappointment. “You have to count the dozen glasses of wine I chugged before we left the hotel,” I replied.
    Cameron removed his hand from my thigh and agreed with me. “You didn’t really think she would handle all of you sober, did you?” he quipped. “Keep it going for us, but the bus leaves at noon tomorrow whether or not you’re on board.”
    He took my hand and led me out of the bar, somehow managing to hail a taxi the moment we walked onto the sidewalk. It pulled to a stop in front of us and Cameron opened the door for me, which I graciously accepted. I sat in the backseat and waited for him to walk around to the other side and join me.
    As he told the driver the name of the hotel, Cameron put his hand back on my thigh, at the exact spot it had been minutes ago. I gave him a look that I hoped would make him knock it off, but all I got in return was an innocent smile. He turned his head to look out of the window, but kept his hand where it was.
    We couldn’t arrive at the hotel fast enough. With every bump in the road, he flexed his hand and my cheeks reddened. I nearly threw the cash at the driver for the fare, and hastily got out of the taxi. Cameron hurried to catch up with me and put his hand on my lower back when he did.
    The tension between us was thick, and didn’t let up when we stopped at the room door to unlock it. I fumbled with the lock and laughed, prompting Cameron to take the key from me and open the door himself.
    The moment it clicked shut behind us, my lips were on his. I felt him hook his fingers into my belt loops as he pulled me closer to him and responded with a ferocious kiss.
    “Are you insane?” I demanded in a hushed voice when we separated. “You nearly fingered me in the taxi!”
    Cameron chuckled and flashed me a wicked grin. “I nearly did. Lucky for you that you aren’t wearing a skirt.”
    My mouth gaped at his words, making him laugh in delight. “You wouldn’t,” I asserted.
    He raised his eyebrows. “I wouldn’t?”
    We stared at each other for a moment that felt like centuries, until he stepped forward and pulled me into his arms and kissed me purposefully.
    I began to tug at the bottom of his shirt to untuck it from his jeans, but when my fingers went to his zipper, he took my hands and moved them to my sides.
    “No,” he whispered, his gaze locked on mine. His brown eyes seemed to melt with the passion in them, and I knew mine were doing the same.
    I didn’t speak, but instead let him lead. He slowly unbuttoned my shirt, staring at my skin as it slowly became exposed. I watched his face as he slipped the shirt off of my shoulders and let it fall to the ground.
    Cameron’s fingers slipped behind the waistband of my jeans and I inhaled sharply at the contact. I heard a low chuckle escape from his lips, but his eyes stayed low as he pulled the zipper’s tab down. His fingers brushed my underwear and I bit my lip, wanting him more than anything as I watched him pull my jeans off.
    “Turn around,” he murmured.
    I didn’t hesitate to listen. He slowly unhooked my bra, letting me remove the straps from my shoulders and toss the bra to the ground beside my shirt. His warm hands met the skin of my stomach, and he pulled my back against his chest. His hands roamed upward, a low moan coming from my lips as his fingers moved over my breasts.
    Cameron kissed my neck, softly, before stepping back from me and taking my hand. I turned to face him, but couldn’t voice my displeasure that he was still clothed.
    “Lay on the bed,” his quiet voice commanded.
    I followed his instruction, hearing the dull thud of a drawer closing as my back was turned. When I looked at Cameron, he was approaching the bed with a length of wide ribbon in his hands. Gently, he brought my hands so they were above my head and very loosely wrapped the ribbon around my wrists.
    I didn’t dare speak. I hadn’t been expecting this turn of events, but I wasn’t against it either, seeing as I wasn’t really tied. I could easily slip my hands out of the ribbon, but when I saw his face as he stepped back and gazed at me, I decided not to.
    Cameron stood to the right of the bed and lifted his shirt over his head. He let it fall to the ground and lowered his jeans, slipping them off in a similar fashion. I kept my eyes locked on his body as he removed the last of his clothing and slowly crawled onto the bed.
    I could feel myself nearly shaking with desire. He trailed his hand along my bare side as he moved to hover over me, his gaze crawling up my body.
    “You have skin of marble,” Cameron hummed. His eyes met mine and he must have seen what lay behind my gaze. His lips met mine and he kissed me slowly with tender lips.
    “I might just explode,” I admitted when he pulled away. I raised my hips to meet his and his chuckle turned to a low groan.
    “I’ve barely touched you,” he said softly, though he was definitely touching me as he spoke.
    “You’ve been touching me all night,” I reminded him. I knew my face was red and my body screamed for him. “Please,” I moaned.
    He didn’t speak. Rather, he lowered his head and kissed my stomach. My eyes closed and I raised my hips once more; this time eliciting the response I wanted. Cameron slowly pulled my underwear down and off of my legs before returning his lips to my stomach.
    He trailed down slowly, his hot breath driving me wild. I gasped when he met my wetness, and curled my leg around him. He moaned against me, quietly, holding me down against the bed.
    Even if I hadn’t been restrained by the loose ribbon around my wrists, I couldn’t have moved. Only when he brought himself to my stomach and up to my neck did I speak.
    “I thought I was a good girl all year,” I said in a whisper.
    Cameron’s deep laugh made me giggle. “You were,” he answered. “Too good.”
    “I get tied up for being good?” I continued, my voice betraying my desire. “What do I get for being bad, I wonder?”
    His mouth opened slightly, I had surprised him with what I said. A devilish look crossed his face before he answered, his tone mirroring mine. “You’re about to find out.”


    I walked back into the bedroom, having just come out of the shower. Cameron was laying on the bed, still nude, and looking statuesque in the lamp’s glow as I approached the bed. He was slowly coiling the ribbon that had earlier held me hostage around his hands, and only stopped when I crawled next to him.
    “Tell me something,” I said quietly, looking at his hands. “Did you get that in a sex shop?” I asked cautiously.
    Cameron chuckled and shook his head. “Fabric store,” he corrected.
    “Thank God,” I sighed. “At least you’re not crazy enough to go into a southern sex shop with an accent like yours,” I laughed.
    Cameron’s deep laugh joined mine and he pulled me close to him, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “I wish I could have gotten you a real present for your birthday,” he told me when he pulled away.
    “I really enjoyed what you did at the show,” I assured him with a smile. “That was really special.”
    The proud smile that grew on his face warmed my heart. “I know you did, Emily,” he whispered.
    I snuggled into his embrace and kissed the warm skin of his chest. “Cameron…” I whispered, my lips barely lifted from his skin. He hummed a reply and I kissed the same spot once again. “I adore you.”
    Cameron softly kissed my hair. “To be adored by the one I treasure,” he murmured. “How much luckier could I be?”