Page 52 of Freeing Camila

She felt . . . loved. Even if the word hadn’t been spoken yet.

And that, more than anything, undid her completely.

CHAPTER20

Jeeves lay awake,his arm curled protectively around her as she slept, her breath soft and steady against his chest. The moonlight spilled through the slats of her blinds, painting silver patterns across the sheets and her bare shoulder, and for the first time in a long time, the quiet didn’t feel empty. It felt full—of her.

He couldn’t stop looking at her. Couldn’t stop the surge of emotion tightening in his chest. She’d given him something she hadn’t given anyone else. Not just her body, but her trust, her heart, her fear, her bravery. Her first time.

That knowledge sat heavy in his soul—not in the way of burden, but reverence. Like something sacred had just taken place between them, and he was still trying to catch up to the weight of it.

She didn’t see herself the way he saw her. She thought she was broken. Damaged. But tonight, she’d let him in anyway—through trembling fingers and hesitant kisses, through wide eyes and brave vulnerability. And he’d held her. Not just in his arms, but in every part of himself that mattered.

Jeeves tightened his grip around her gently, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.

She was a gift he hadn’t expected, hadn’t even let himself hope for. But here she was, tangled up with him in this jumble of sheets and quiet trust. And what she’d given him tonight—it wasn’t something he’d ever take lightly.

It wasn’t about being first. It was about being the one she chose.

He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes, letting the warmth of her sink deeper into him. He didn’t know where things would go from here. But he knew, without a doubt, he’d protect what they had. He’d protecther.

Because you don’t take a gift like that and walk away. Not when it means everything.

It dawned on him then. He hadn’t wanted the responsibility of protecting someone again. Not after Colombia. Had even had an agreement with his boss to not be assigned to protection details again. And when Baker had asked for help with Cammie’s case, he’d begged Flint to assign someone else. He thought he didn’t have it in him to be a protector anymore. Thought he was too messed up to do the job well.

Now, those deeply ingrained protective instincts that had laid dormant inside of him had flared to life. And he would gladly do what was needed to assure Cammie was protected. Mind. Body. And soul.

They spent the next few nights together alternating between houses. The first night she’d spent at his place had been an eye opener. He liked her there . . . a lot. He didn’t realize how empty his house was until she filled it, making it feel like a home for the first time. Now, he couldn’t picture himself living there without her.

It was too soon. He knew that. But still . . . he couldn’t help how he felt. He’d ask her to move in tomorrow if he knew she’d be receptive to it.

They marked a few more things off her bucket list, like a picnic in the grass in his backyard, getting her a library card?which she was ridiculously excited for?and spending a day at the zoo.

Jeeves hadn’t expected the zoo to be this kind of experience. He thought it would be fun, sure—something light to balance out the heavier things they’d both been carrying. But watching Cammie take it all in for the first time? That was something else entirely.

She was a wide-eyed whirlwind of curiosity and wonder, practically bouncing ahead of him as they walked past the giraffe enclosure. “They’reso tall!” she whispered like it was some big secret, her hand slipping into his without thinking.

Jeeves chuckled under his breath. “Yeah, it’s kind of their thing.”

She tilted her head back, squinting at the long necks and fluttering her lashes against the sunlight. “I’ve only ever seen them in books. And the internet. I liked to watch those videos of the babies being born.” She turned to him, eyes alight with something that made his chest ache. “But in real life . . . they’re beautiful.”

He didn’t reply right away. Just stood there, letting the moment press itself into his memory. Her face, glowing with excitement. Her voice, soft but full of wonder. He could’ve told hershewas beautiful—but he didn’t want to break the spell just yet.

They moved on, hand in hand, through habitats and exhibits, her excitement building with each stop. She leaned close to the glass to watch the penguins, squealed quietly when a red panda peeked out of the treetops, and stood perfectly still for ten minutes watching a tiger pace in the shade. Jeeves didn’t care how long they lingered. Honestly, he could’ve spent the whole day doing nothing but watching her eyes light up like that.

They stayed clear of the insect exhibit since the many creepy crawlies, as she called them, evoked memories of her time in captivity. He didn’t want to do anything that would dampen the joy she was experiencing in the day.

At the gorilla exhibit, they stood behind the glass and watched the giant apes in awe . . . and disgust. Right in front of the viewing glass, one of the gorillas sat and ate, exhibiting a peculiar habit of spitting the chewed up food into his large, dark palm, only to lick it up again immediately afterward in a strangely repetitive cycle. Over and over. Something about it, weird and compelling as it was, made it impossible to look away.

However, it was her that truly held his attention, captivating his gaze above all else. Cammie was all soft smiles and sudden gasps, her reactions genuine and unfiltered. Like no one could ever tell her to tone it down. Like the world could never take this kind of joy away from her.

Maybe the world hadn’t given her much to smile about until now. That thought sat heavy on his heart, making him determined to change things for her.

“Are you sure this is your first zoo trip?” he teased gently as they stopped to share a funnel cake on a shaded bench.

She licked a bit of powdered sugar from her lip and grinned at him. “Positive. And I think I’m in love.”

Jeeves raised an eyebrow. “With the zoo or the funnel cake?”

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