Page 76 of Keep Me

“That’s my naughty little thing,” he grunts, putting his hand between our bodies as he moves to rub my clit just the way I like.

“Only yours,” I cry as a wave of pleasure crashes over me. His name leaves my lips in whispered pleas as my orgasm washes over me, taking over all my senses.

“Fuck, Cami,” he moans into my neck, stilling as he finds his release.

We lie like that for a few moments, my hands running up and down his back as he presses kisses all over my neck and face. Once he pulls out, he uses my panties to clean me up, then helps me get dressed. After we’re fully clothed and cleaned the best we can be in the middle of a field, we relax into one another once more, staring out at the clear blue sky.

“You asked me to tell you something.” I clear my throat.

“Mhm,” he hums peacefully.

“My life was meant to come straight out of a fairytale, but today’s the first time it’s ever felt like one.”

Ryker crushes me against him, nuzzling his face against mine.

“If I believed in fairytales, you’d be in mine,” he whispers.

In the silence that follows his confession, I can hear the faintest crack of my heart, the first fissure from the man I know is going to obliterate it beyond repair.

Chapter Thirty-One

Camille

One full week of this bodyguard-slash-private investigator tailing me from afar, and I’m already annoyed. It’s reminiscent of the life I lived back in Lorsica, where I was constantly flanked and guarded. I understand why it’s needed, yet I hate it all the same.

I don’t see or hear from him, but knowing he’s there makes me feel uneasy, even though the point is to make me feel at ease. At the same time, I prefer this than a life back at home without any freedom at all.

The gym is the one place I’m left alone after I told my brother that his guy is not to follow me in here. He grumbled about it but agreed, giving me what I wanted.

I take all my frustration out on the bag, throwing punch after punch until I’m dripping in sweat. Throwing a left hook, I huff in exasperation as anxious thoughts creep in and nestle themselves in my head.

What if my parents come here?

Another hook.

What will I do post-grad?

Another hook, followed by another as my frustrations boil.

I want Ryker to keep me forever despite knowing it’s not what he wants.

My fists fly rapidly as I let it all out, my arms burning as I continue to hit the bag, tears spilling down my cheeks. I don’t stop and keep going as all the emotions that have been like an undercurrent, threatening to pull me under, take over. I get rid of them, one hit at a time.

I’m not sure how long I’m doing it for until a hand rests on the small of my back. I jolt around and nearly punch Travis in the process. I stop mid-throw, my gloved hand mere inches from his jaw.

“Travis, what are you doing?” I breathe heavily, stepping back as I attempt to catch my breath. I didn’t think there would be anyone here, seeing as it’s ten o’clock at night.

“I came in for an extra cardio session even though running on the treadmill isn’t my favorite kind of exercise, if you know what I mean.” He chuckles as if I’m his friend who would dab him up after that joke.

I’m kind when we interact because of my position within the team, but we are not friends. Not even close. After the way he cornered me at Theo’s party, I tend to steer clear of him when I can.

“Yeah,” is all I say, unwrapping my gloves and dropping them to the floor.

“You okay?” Travis asks, taking a step toward me. “You seemed to be giving that bag a beating.”

“Just getting a good workout in.” I muster the best smile I can while I crouch down to collect my things and get out of here.

“I can tell you do it a lot. You look amazing,” he drawls.

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