Page 59 of Camden

Stephanie cupped my jaw, rubbing my cheek with her thumb. “No. You are an amazing person. You put someone behind bars that deserved to be there. A person who hurts others.” She paused, twisting her lips in thought. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter. Sadder. “I wish I had completed a police report. I wish I would’ve gone to them first before driving straight here.” She looked ashamed. Like she had done the wrong thing.

“You escaped a terrible situation.”

“But he could hurt another girl.” There was the kind heart I loved about her.

“I’m not going to say he won’t because he might. But he almost killed you. Don’t feel guilty for getting out. Don’t feel guilty for leaving and doing what was best for you. If you would’ve filed a report, they would’ve told you to leave him. To get away because he would do it again. They would’ve charged him with a misdemeanor and let him go with a slap on the wrist. He would’ve come after you, Steph, and that thought alone chills my bones.”

“You think I did the right thing?”

“I do,” I answered without hesitation.

“Okay.” She sighed like she wasn’t sure she believed it. I knew it probably wasn’t the first time she questioned her decision to run. I could see in the way she worried her bottom lip that she struggled with it, but she was alive and she was safe.

The credits rolled on the television screen, and we put on the sequel, neither of us wanting to move. Steph curled further into my side as the opening scene played. Eventually, her breathing evened out, and I let her sleep, reveling in the feeling of her next to me.

We hadn’t done that yet.

No naps. No spending the night. I hadn’t gotten to wake up next to her. I wanted to. More than anything, I wanted to wake up next to her, but I refused to push her faster than she was ready. Normally, she would’ve gotten up after the first movie and headed home. Or I would’ve left her place.

But tonight, I just couldn’t let her go. I needed to hold her close like I needed air to breathe.

I needed her next to me. So, when she fell asleep, I didn’t dare move a muscle. The credits started rolling for the second time; I knew we both needed to get sleep. I’d be damned if I let her drive back to her place at one in the morning. Maneuvering as slowly and gently as I could, I slipped out from under her. I turned off the T.V. and moved our plates from the coffee table to the kitchen sink. After locking all the doors and setting the alarm, I wandered back over to the couch where Stephanie slept peacefully.

She pressed a hand under her cheek and her lips parted slightly as soft snores left her. Bending down, I pressed a kiss to her cheek before lifting her into my arms. She snuggled into the crook of my neck, pressing the softest kiss to my skin. My dick twitched in my sweats.

I carried her up the stairs to my room. Her dark hair fanned across the pillow as she lay on her side of the bed. It felt right having her there. Next to me. Like the spot was always meant to be hers.

She didn’t move or wake as I covered her with my comforter. Slipping into my bathroom, I moved quickly to get ready for bed. I inched back into my room in my boxers and eased onto my side of the bed, wrapping an arm around her. “Cam.”

“hmm.”

“I love you.”

My heart kicked as I smoothed some of her hair away from her face. She didn’t open her eyes, just snuggled in closer to me. Not an inch of space between us. My lips ghosted over her forehead as I spoke. “I love you, too.”

* * *

I shot out of bed,reaching for her. I found nothing but empty sheets. Fumbling with the bedside table, I flipped on the light. My stomach dropped at the empty room.Did I push her too fast?

Light peeked out from the crack under the bathroom door, catching my attention. Climbing out of bed, I rushed over and listened. My chest filled with relief when I heard her, but then quickly replaced with worry as she sniffled again.

“Stephanie?” I asked through the door. My fingers brushed the cold doorknob, itching to force my way in. I didn’t want to intrude on her privacy, but I wanted to comfort her. Hold her. Hearing her sadness weighed on me. “Sweetness?” My head rested against the door as I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

I stood to my full height as the door opened painfully slow. Stephanie looked up at me, tears streaming down her face. Before I could ask what happened, her arms wrapped around my waist, clinging to me. My hands landed on her back. Her smooth, naked skin. Apparently, she stripped down to her bra and panties at some point in the night.

My cock twitched.

I wanted to relish in the feel of her bare flesh pressed against mine, as it was the first time seeing this much of her. Sure, I buried my face between her legs regularly, but I had yet to see her fully naked.

Steph’s breathing slowed as I held her. Eventually, she pulled back but didn’t let go of me. I cupped her face with both hands. “What happened? Was it because I put you in bed with me? I didn’t want to push you, but I didn’t want you to drive home that tired.”Maybe I should have slept in the guest room.

“I’m sorry.” Her gaze cast down, avoiding me.

The pad of my thumb rubbed along her jaw. “Don’t be. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d want to stay.”

Her beautiful blue eyes shot up to mine. She grabbed both of my wrists and squeezed them, but didn’t pull my hands away from her face. “No. It’s not that.”

“You were okay with staying in my bed?”

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