Page 37 of Keep Me

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, though your right hook is impressive. Are you okay?” I ask, my hands itching to reach out to brush the matted hair plastered to her forehead. But I don’t because I don’t think she wants me touching her right now.

Fear flashes through her eyes, and I don’t like seeing my usually happy girl like this.

“Y-yeah,” she pants, swiping her hair off her forehead. “I’m sorry for that.”

“That seemed like a pretty intense nightmare. Want to talk about it?” I hedge, hoping she’ll open up.

Camille tucks her knees into her chest as her body shakes. Her glassy eyes meet mine and her bottom lip quivers.

“Come here.” My voice is low and soft as I motion for her to come sit between my legs.

Camille’s eyes waver, so I hold out my hand to her, letting her make the choice. She takes it and I gently pull her to sit on my lap. She digs her face into my neck and starts crying, her fist holding a tight grip on my sweatshirt.

My heart fucking breaks at the sound tearing through me like a saw to my insides. I carefully wrap my arms around her and run my palm up her arm while the other does the same to her back as I try to provide some sort of comfort to her.

“Princess, what happened to you?” I croak. “Please, it’s killing me.” I rest my chin on the top of her head, reveling in knowing she’s safe here in my arms.

Camille sniffles, gathering her emotions as her breaths slowly begin to even out. After a few minutes, her head lifts from my shoulder and she peers up at me with a vulnerability I’ve yet to see.

She’s letting me in.

She takes a deep breath and confesses, “I’m from a small island off the coast of France, called Lorsica. My parents are…” She hesitates but then continues. “My parents are the king and queen.” She lets out a deep sigh. “So yeah, I’m a legit princess.”

She’s a princess?

Before I can say anything, she adds with a slight tremor in her voice, “I needed to get away and explore myself outside of my royal obligations and the public eye. That’s how I ended up here. I ran away, changed my identity, and I’ve been living my own life since.”

I realize I haven’t said a word since her revelation when she says, “Please don’t do that.” Her voice breaks, a lone tear strolling down her cheek.

“Do what?” I murmur, wiping it away with my thumb.

Her lashes flutter closed for a moment as she leans into my palm, then reopen with fire in her eyes. “Treat me like I’m any different because of that. I came here to lose that part of myself, to become someone new.”

“I won’t. It’s just a surprise, that’s all,” I assure her, needing time to reconcile with the new information. “Thank you for sharing your secret with me. I won’t tell a soul. Is that what your nightmare was about?”

Camille’s fingers loosen their hold on me, drifting up to my neck as she traces imaginary circles over my skin as that same fearful look takes over her face. “When I graduated secondary school, there was a huge celebration in the city. It’s a small country, and we like to celebrate everything, any reason to throw a party.”

I nod, encouraging her to continue as I listen intently.

“I snuck off, because well, I was a bit rebellious back then. I wanted to get high, and a group of guys I had no business being around offered me what I wanted. We walked away from the party to a quiet path. And then…” She pauses, her bottom lip trembling.

A grumble vibrates from my chest as I conjure in my mind where this is going.

“One of the guys got handsy, and when I told him no, he gripped my ass. So I slapped him across the face and let’s just say he didn’t like that. He backhanded me across the cheek and threw me to the ground. Adrenaline got me right back up and I ran as fast as I could, but they chased after me. All three of them. I made it back to the city, untouched or hurt, but in my nightmares, they catch me.” She shivers at the thought, then shakes her head. “Anyways, all things considered, it wasn’t that bad. They’re in jail, so I shouldn’t be worried, but it’s like my mind doesn’t remember that when I go to sleep. “

My scowl deepens while my blood boils. Somebody fucking hurt my girl. Put their hands on her. I fight the urge to ask her for their names and fly to Europe to make them pay even if she just said they’re in jail.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to get my anger under control. “What do you mean it wasn’t that bad? Someone put their hands on you, and there’s no amount of jail that could absolve those assholes. I want to fucking bury them,” I snap at the end.

Camille startles at my tone and flinches away from me.

The blood drains from my face. “Fuck,” I mumble. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just pissed off at the image of some guy…I can’t even say it.”

“I know. I’m just shaken up from the nightmare, that’s all.” She settles back into me and brings her hand up to stroke my bearded jaw.

I cover her hand with mine, loving the feel of hers under my own. “You know I’d never hurt you, right? I’ll never let anyone else ever hurt you again.”

“You’re the only guy I’ve let touch me like this in years. I feel safe with you,” she whispers, staring at me with a glint in her eyes.

---