Page 38 of Keep Me

And this is why I’m no good for her, because some sick part of me gets off on that. Knowing I’m the only one who is allowed to be this close to her and that there’s no one else in her life.

“Do you not want me not to call you princess anymore?” I ask, needing to know if she’s still okay with it.

A shy smile forms on her lips, the sight making my heart jump in my chest. “I only want to be your princess.”

Fuck.

Her words make my cock harden slightly in my pants, but I shift her so she won’t notice it.

“Only mine,” I murmur, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Camille sucks in an audible breath at my words. I didn’t mean to say it out loud, but I still meant it nonetheless.

“Let’s get you back to bed.” My voice is hoarse as I look at her for what she wants to do. Camille nods and attempts to lift off me, but I stand with her in my arms instead.

I carefully place her on her bed, and I’m about to pull away when Camille’s voice halts my movements.

“Can you…hold me? I—”

“Anything you need,” I tell her.

“Thank you.” She smiles, her cheeks slightly more red.

I round the bed, then gently lower myself on it behind her, shuffling to get closer to her.

“Tell me what you want,” I ask her, noting how this could sound in a very different context.

“Hold me from behind, please,” she states, sounding more confident than before.

I do as she says and wrap my arm around her waist. I pull her against me while my other arm slides under her neck. Camille sighs contentedly as my arms cocoon around her, and I don’t miss how perfectly her body fits against mine. If anything, I’m doing everything I can not to think about that. Otherwise, my cock won’t get the message that this isn’t the time.

“Sleep, princess, I’m right here,” I whisper, pressing my lips lightly to the top of her head.

“Thank you,” she says back, her breaths coming in slower. Then she slowly drifts off to sleep in my arms.

It’s then that I realize how fucked I am, because I know that from now on, all I’ll want is to wrap my arms around her every night and hope to wake up to her infectious smile every morning.

She’s throwing me a curve ball, switching up the game, but I’m determined to keep playing.

Chapter Seventeen

Camille

I’m usually quite grumpy early in the morning, especially after a nightmare disturbs my sleep. But I find myself waking up with a content smile on my lips this morning as I slowly come to.

I fell back asleep with a quiet mind, everything going still except for the sound of his heartbeat against my ear. I’ve never experienced a peace like that in my entire life than when I was in his arms.

Ryker.

Embarrassment attempts to steal my inner peace, but I brush it away. Ryker made me feel safe enough to be vulnerable with him. I just needed him to listen, and he did.

While Ryker did make me feel safe, I know I need to continue to work on knowing I can keep myself safe. I can’t rely on someone else to heal my demons.

The gentleness he treated me with nearly made me melt in his arms. That rugged man can be so damn sweet. It’s honestly surprising to me how he’s still single because what girl wouldn’t be falling head over heels for a man like him?

I know it’d be all too easy for me to. Part of me feels like I’m already halfway there, and I know that sounds crazy. Yet isn’t that what love is? A rush of feelings so big that they’re scary, exciting, and all-consuming all at the same time?

If it isn’t, then I don’t want it.

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