Page 8 of Shadow

“I could eat a burger,” she admitted, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.

“Have you eaten? Would you like to come inside?” she offered.

Shadow hesitated, his gaze searching hers for any sign of discomfort. “You don’t mind the extra company?” he asked.

“Not if it’s you,” Camilla replied, her heart skipping a beat as he widened his smile.

“Then I’ll let myself in. I was planning on eating in the parking lot,” Shadow said, stepping past her and into the room.

As Camilla closed the door behind him, she couldn’t help but wonder what was going on in his mind.

Camilla sat on the bed, the aroma of the freshly delivered food wafting through the air. Her stomach rumbled. Nothing good could come out of this, she knew.

Shadow had no knowledge of her family connection, no understanding of who she truly was, and strangely, she found solace in that ignorance. To him, she was just some girl who had found herself caught in a bad situation.

“You’re not afraid of me?” Shadow’s question broke through the silence, drawing Camilla’s attention away from her food. He had taken a seat at the desk.

She paused, considering his words carefully before responding. “I feel safe with you, and I’m aware of how foolish that sounds,” she admitted.

“It’s not foolish at all. There’s something about you I can’t quite put my finger on either,” Shadow confessed. “A better man would probably let you have a quiet evening alone, but—”

“You’re a good man, Shadow,” she interjected.

“You don’t know a thing about me.” Shadow chuckled good-naturedly.

Under the dim motel light, he looked amused and sexy at the same time. Again, she wondered how his lips would feel against her and his callused touch on every inch of her.

She swallowed, dismissing the image of Shadow above her. Her nipples hardened and she felt a little moisture gather between her legs. An inappropriate reaction, given the situation. Good thing the robe she wore was fluffy and thick. She focused on their conversation again.

“I’ve been around bad men my entire life. Believe me, I know,” Camilla whispered.

Realizing she had revealed more about herself than intended, she quickly dropped the subject, diverting her attention back to the food before them. As she took the first bite of her burger, a moan of pleasure escaped her lips.

“Oh, I missed this so much,” she murmured, savoring the familiar taste.

Shadow offered her an appreciative look before digging into his own meal. Tomorrow might be filled with uncertainties but for now, Camilla found solace in the simple act of sharing a meal together.

Chapter Four

As dinner came to an end, Shadow felt a pang of sadness. He wished he could prolong the moment just a little longer.

There was something about Camilla that intrigued him, something he couldn’t quite put into words. He wanted to get to know her better, to unravel the mysteries that surrounded her.

Shadow knew he had only scratched the surface. After disposing of their food wrappers and drinks, Shadow turned to Camilla.

“Good night and sweet dreams, Camilla,” he said.

“Same to you,” she replied.

As he turned to leave, he heard the soft sound of her footsteps behind him. Curiosity piqued, he halted, turning back to face her.

Before he could utter a word, Camilla surprised him by reaching out and grasping the collar of his leather jacket. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his. Shadow felt a rush of emotion flood through him, igniting a fire that burned brighter than any he had ever known.

He tugged her close, resting his hand on the curve of her spine. When he pushed his tongue down her throat, she sucked down hard on it. His pants felt unbearably tight. All he wanted to do was drag her to bed, put his mouth and hands to work, and hear her whimper, but Shadow held back.

Shadow reluctantly released Camilla from their kiss, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought against the overwhelming desire to stay by her side.

“You already thanked me earlier,” Shadow said, voice harsh.

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