Camile had walked into that room wearing nothing but strategically placed drapes of silk. I’d noticed her immediately. How could I not with her gorgeous dark hair and her curves in that sexy but classy dress? In a room filled with beautiful young women, she’d stood out.
She was a heady combination of seductiveness and naivety. Something about her seemed both young, but also older than her years. There was that air of being slightly lost that she has in spades tonight, but she’d covered it with pretend sophistication.
Truth be told, I’d let my mind conjure up a few fantasies of me being her man, but then I’d seen the way she’d looked at Jack. She’d stared at him as if he was the center of the entire universe.
Rarely in my life have I been envious, but I was green-eyed jealous right then as I decided Camile was out of bounds. If it had been anyone but Jack, I’d have waltzed straight up to her and told her she was mine, but I’d be suicidal to step in Jack’s way.
I sigh. It’s a pity because something about her hasreally got me by the balls, but I tell myself I’ve got plenty of women ready to give me a good time, and I don’t need to try to seduce the girl who has heart eyes for Jack.
The chair creaks as I sit and lean forward, elbows on my thighs, watching her closely. Her eyes move rapidly under her closed lids, but she's not making any more distressed sounds. Maybe her dreams have moved on to nicer things?
No sooner does that go through my mind, she whimpers and lets out a low moan.
“Please, no,” she whispers. “Don't.”
It's that tremulousplease nothat has me moving. Pushing up from the chair, I walk slowly to the side of the bed and toe off my boots. As I do so, she turns onto her side, facing the wall, and leaving plenty of room for me.
I climb on the bed next to her and curl against her, being careful not to touch. With one hand, I reach out and stroke a tendril of hair that lies on the pillow.So soft. Stroking her hair, I mumble reassuring words, telling her she's not alone, and she's safe here. I tell her all about the cat and the kittens, and that in the morning, I’ll make sure she gets a good breakfast.
A yawn overtakes me, and I realize I could fall asleep here if I'm not careful.
Her breathing has become deeper, and I think she's fallen back into a deep sleep now. It means I can sneak out knowing she should be okay. First thing tomorrow, I'll come back and bring us something delicious for breakfast, maybe muffins, and then take her to see the kittens.
As I begin to push myself up from the bed, I hear the low rumble of male voices outside the room. Crap, herguards are back. If I leave now, it's going to create all hell, and while I don’t really care, I also can’t be bothered to deal with it tonight. They'll go and fetch Jack, and I’ll have to explain why I was here in the first place.
Even though I've got a good reason for being here, he can be a bit of a hard ass. I'm not in the mood for being told off tonight. It’s better if I let myself just rest here for a while and maybe sneak out in the morning.
Hopefully, they'll fall asleep themselves at some point. Probably not, but I don't really have any other plan. I'll end up being reprimanded one way or another, but if I can delay it by a few hours, that's all good.
Plus, it's just sonicehere next to her. She’s warm, and her hair is so soft. Carefully, I move a little closer, so I can feel the gentle curves of her body against mine. I don’t press up by her. I’m not trying to be sexual, not at all; this is about comfort.
Maybe Jack will let her stay. Just like maybe he'll let the kittens stay, too.
Smiling, I click the lamp off and close my eyes.
5
CAMILE
I jerkupright in bed to find the room in darkness, except for a faint glow of moonlight from outside, filtering in through the thin curtains.
Immediately, I know this isn’t my room. Where the hell am I?
My throat is dry, and I lick my lips as I swallow past what feels like a lump of dread blocking my throat.
Why is my head throbbing so badly? Why do I feel as if I've slept for a year but also hardly at all?
My heart rate begins to slow as my eyes adjust to the light, and I take in the fact that I’m lying on my side, facing the wall in a room. The distant thump of heavy bass reaches my ears. The clubhouse. Suddenly, the memories of the previous night rush back to fill in the blanks and I remember where I am.
The biker compound.
Shit. I climbed over the fence and came to Jack. The last place I should have run to, and the last man I ought to have asked forhelp. Still, he let me stay.
Thank God, too. The thought of what happened to me before I got here, and what could have been the outcome, has an ice-cold rock of terror lodging in my stomach.
Something is different, though I can’t quite put my fingers on what. My arms are bandaged from where the woman called Shelley had cleaned up all my cuts and grazes, but they still sting. It could have been far, far worse, though. I remember being brought a cup of tea as I was reassured that I was safe here. Hadn’t I gone to sleep with the lamp on? I was sure I hadn’t wanted to be left alone in the dark, though it would seem like I am now.
My fears instantly invade my thoughts.
