Page 1 of Bound by Adoration

1

NYX

My head felt heavy as the cloud of darkness surrounded me, threatening to hold me down in its depths. Maybe it was the best place for me to stay. In the dark. But my brain started to come online and pulled me away from its comfort. I wasn’t one to chase the light. I had come to a place in life where I found comfort in the darkness.

In fact, until Raid, I was perfectly fine with the idea of a life of solitude and darkness. Only, fate seemed to have a different plan because my past and present were crashing together in a tidal wave I couldn’t escape.

Steel banded arms held me tightly, pressing me against some serious warmth. The other side was a bit cooler; someone was there, just not as close. Two all familiar smells filled my nostrils and entwined in a way that shouldn’t have. This twist of familiarity knotted up inside me like I was … home.

Home? What the hell? I hadn’t known the comforts of home for years now. This security was unnatural to me.

“Nyx!” was shouted at the same time as “Cami!” in some kind of unison that didn’t mingle in a good or right way. What in the hell was happening? Everything was out of control.

Cami.

That name.

Given to me at birth, but a name that I’d wanted to forget. Tried hard to erase.

I’d ran fromCamifor years, and yet here it had crashed into my life like an explosion around me, sending me into an abyss of hell. Of thoughts and memories I didn’t want to recall.

Raid and Liam.

Together. In the same space.

Something I never thought would happen. Never thought my past and present would collide. Ever. Yet, here we were, together.

Heaven and Hell. Saint and sinner. The road behind me and the one before me. This wasn’t like a fork in the road, and I needed to choose a way. Rather, it was this path that merged together and forced me to face a reality that scared the shit out of me.

A groan came from my lips filled with despair, dread, and frustration from all the time, energy, and risks I’d taken to stay hidden. Useless. Everything I’d given up meant nothing.

Liam was never supposed to find me. Never. That was the deal. As painful as it was to walk away from him, we both knew the deal. He shouldn’t be here at all. Finding me, he wasn’t even supposed to try. We had a clean break. He knew the situation. He knew more than anyone had ever known. Why would he come here? What the hell gives?

Yet, he was right here. In my home. With me. With Raid. Fuck.

Eyes fluttering open, the two intense men were staring down at me, worry marring both their strong faces. Both undeniably beautiful in very different ways.

I’d wondered if Raid had caught me before I went down, since I was now sitting in his lap. Raid clutched me tight, a look of pure relief in his gaze as our eyes connected. He was a gorgeous man. Rough edges, tattoos, alpha attitude and all. Not that I’d tell him that last part; wouldn’t want him thinking that I was good with him bossing me around outside the bedroom.

“Are you good?” he asked me, his sole world focused on me as if he were seeing inside my soul.

Blinking and pulling myself out of his gaze, I looked to Liam, another gorgeous man with strong features who was good, pure, and way out of my league.

He knew this because I’d told him, several times. Repeatedly. He didn’t need to get messed up in my life, yet here we breathed in the same air. I wasn’t worth the risk of him coming here; didn’t he know that?

Concern shined in his eyes as well. “Cami? Are you okay?” His voice had this deep edge to it that I didn’t know I missed until this moment. Everything I fought to push down and forget bubbled up in this split second. So many emotions crowded my brain. Every inch of my body tingled in this way that had me feeling alive, worried, cautious, but cherished and treasured.

Only, this wasn’t how it should be. If Liam was here, I was beyond fucked.

And I had no idea how to get out of this mess.

Did either of these men know what a monumental hurdle was standing in my path? Liam, maybe. Raid. Doubtful. He didn’t knowmeafter all.

What I didn’t realize in that moment was just how high that hurdle would actually become. Or if I would be able to come out the other side.

“Yeah,” I answered, then ordered, not looking at either of them, “let me up.”

I needed space. Needed to breathe.

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