Shattered Obsession: Book 3 of the Obsession Trilogy

by Sinclaire, Roxy

  She would love for things to stay that way, but she knew it was impossible.

  After all, this wasn’t the first time she had gone through something of this nature, although the thing with her dad had been different in plenty of ways, and she had been younger then, too. But, she had just suffered a traumatic experience. She had been having nightmares before and during the whole ordeal, so she didn’t doubt she was in for some unpleasant nights.

  It was why she was glad to have Samuel with her. Before, when she was having a bad time, or even when it was just a bad dream, thinking of Samuel or picturing him there drove her nightmares away.

  She could only hope his presence would keep her from feeling too restless.

  “The place has been empty for years,” Samuel continued, likely to fill up the silence. “I had thought we might want to use it as a private getaway before this whole thing happened at the mansion with Adrien. So I had my lawyer set things up there for the first time in a long time. It has everything we could possibly need too, so we can stay there comfortably for weeks.”

  Camila felt her lips quirk, thinking this was sounding a lot more like a vacation. And usually, she would be against having to stay inside for so long when she was an outdoors sort of person, but she definitely liked the idea of hiding behind impenetrable walls.

  “How far until we get there?” she questioned.

  “Just a little while,” he murmured. “You can go to sleep, sweetheart, if you’re feeling tired. I’ll wake you up once we’re there, okay?”

  She opened her eyes, just in time to catch his gaze as he turned to throw a glance her way. Then, she nodded and let her eyes close once more, feeling exhaustion take her.

  She was going to be okay.

  Camila’s thoughts were carefree, just before she fell into a dreamless sleep.

  A while later, they arrived at the safe house, and Samuel woke her up so she could go in. They took a quick look around, Samuel holding her around the waist to keep her steady, because she still felt a bit off balance.

  “Is there something you’d like to do first?” Samuel offered. “Or would you rather just go to bed?”

  She shook her head, nose wrinkling. “No. I don’t know when I last had a shower. I’m assuming this place has a bathroom.”

  Samuel pursed his lips. “Of course there’s a fully equipped bathroom, but are you sure you can stand on your own right now?”

  She wasn’t sure herself, but she gave him a considering look.

  Samuel sighed dramatically, rolled his eyes and grinned. He ducked down and picked her up in his arms. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Far from complaining, she felt relaxed and went along with it, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and snuggling into his arms.

  “Thanks for the help,” she murmured happily.

  “Mmmhmmm,” Samuel murmured, amusement in his eyes. He carried her through the house, back to the bathroom.

  Samuel helped her undress, and then undressed himself. Turning on the shower, he checked it for warmth and then helped her in. She was naked and wet, and so was he, but there was nothing too sexual about them showering together. Instead, Samuel, took the time to massage her scalp with the shampoo and then the conditioner. And then began on the tension in her shoulders, rubbing the muscles to help her relax. Camila couldn’t help but melt in his hands. It felt so good that she never wanted it to end. But as the water began to cool, he switched to washing her, and then shut the water off and helped her out and thoroughly dried her and then himself.

  “Food or sleep?” he questioned once they were both redressed in comfortable clothes.

  “Mmmm food and then sleep?” Camila suggested.

  Samuel nodded. “How about you get into bed and then I’ll make food and we’ll eat together and watch a movie?”

  Camila nodded and climbed into the king sized bed.

  * * *

  From then on, Samuel tended to her attentively. Anything she wanted, he was there to get it for her. He pampered her like a princess, caring for her every need. At first, Camila felt a little awkward, especially after being held captive for so long, but this was different and a welcome change to how she’d spent the last month. Camila was so relaxed, she slept through much of the next day and a half.

  Samuel was by her side, holding her, to comfort her when she experienced nightmares. She had been startled the first time she woke up from one, because for a moment she mistook him for Adrien. In trying to get away from him, she screamed and shoved against him, still half in the nightmare she fell to the floor.

  “Stay away from me, Adrien!” she shouted and backed up to the wall. She grabbed a shoe that was close by and flung it at him in desperation.

  “Sweetheart, wake up, it’s me, it’s Samuel,” he said calmly, his voice gentle.

  Camila blinked. She looked at him, and took a breath, the fright turning to shame.

  Samuel moved over to her slowly, holding his hands out, as if he was approaching a frightened animal instead of her. “It’s alright, sweetheart, I’ve got you. Adrien can’t hurt you,” he murmured softly as he wrapped his arms around her.

  “Oh.” She crumpled, both in her expression and in her body.

  She gripped him and they both sat on the floor with him rocking her in his arms. Her breathing was just slowing down from her dream, but as she started to cry, it turned ragged.

  “Shhh, I’ve got you, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, Samuel, I am so sorry. I had no idea what I was…”

  He didn’t even wait for her to finish speaking, picking her up, taking her back to the bed, then sitting down with her held against his chest. She continued to cry as Samuel rocked her, comforting her with soothing words and gentleness. She soon slipped back to sleep.

  When she woke up a few hours later, her stomach protesting, she recalled what had happened. She looked around for Samuel, but didn’t see him in the room. Panicking, she called for him.

  “Samuel?” Her voice hardly sounded the same to her ears, it was too timid, too scared.

  He wasn’t in the bedroom with her. But he must not have been far, because even with her light call, he showed up at the door in seconds.

  “You’re awake,” he murmured with a smile that went all the way to his eyes. “How are you feeling? Better?” He crossed the room to take a seat at the edge of the bed. He ducked his head down to peck a kiss to her forehead, then tucked her hair back from her face. His eyes, when they met hers, were soft and filled with contentment.

  Camila didn’t get to respond to his question, since her stomach rumbled and let him know exactly what the problem was.

  “Ah. You’re hungry, I bet you thought I almost forgot to feed you.” He grinned and she knew he was teasing her. “I’ve been cooking in the kitchen, I just need to warm something up and bring it to you, okay? I’ll be right back.” He smiled. “I wasn’t sure when you’d wake, but I wanted to have something ready when you did. You slept longer than I imagined you would.”

  “I’m probably just exhausted with everything that’s been going on,” she rationalized. “My body will get used to everything and adjust on its own, or so Doctor Shelton said.”

  Samuel hummed, stroking her cheek. He smiled down at her and it warmed her heart. “Let me bring the food.”

  He went away, and about five minutes later came back with a tray on a short stand holding food. He set it down, then helped Camila to sit up, and put the stand over her lap. Samuel stayed with her as she ate, then put the stuff aside when she was done. He could have taken it all back to the kitchen to clean up, but when he went to stand up, she grabbed his hand.

  “Can you stay?” she asked tentatively, taking a few long blinks, getting longer with each one. “I think I’ll sleep a lot better if I knew you were here.”

  “Of course,” he said gently. He climbed in next to her and scooped her into his arms, cradling her.

  Camila felt secure in his arms, with a smile she let her eyes close and she
began to drift off to sleep.

  “Sleep, love, I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you ever again,” Samuel murmured into her hair.

  She snuggled deeper and fell into a dreamless slumber knowing she was safe and secure in Samuel’s arms.

  Chapter Nineteen

  It took a few days before she could stay awake for several hours a day in a row. Her body was gaining strength from all the eating and sleeping, and once she felt she could, she got up to walk around on her own.

  She woke up on the sixth morning at the safe house to find herself alone in the bed. Samuel had been going to sleep with her, and if she woke up with him gone, she usually just had to call him to have him come to her. Just knowing he was there, so close was comforting. She sighed as she thought about the last few days and wondered if she should call him to her.

  I don’t need to though… I think I need to try getting up on my own. I need to be stronger.

  As she thought about it, she realized she hadn't been out of the bedroom since Samuel had brought them to the safe house. He cooked for her, brought food to her, there was a TV and a radio with a nice sound system in the bedroom, and the remote that controlled both was always on the nightstand. She had everything she could possibly need right at her fingertips. Even the room had an ensuite bathroom, but, she remembered, Samuel had been helping her with that and returning her back to bed, even when she felt fine.

  They had both pretty much been treating her as if she were an invalid, which she wasn’t.

  That needs to stop, she decided. I need to prove that I can do this on my own. I need to take control of my life.

  Rolling over, she went to slip out of the bed, pausing with her feet on the floor. Then, she pushed herself up, and took a few steps. Her legs felt shaky, but not really weak, though she wondered if it didn’t come from her being in bed over the last several days. She made it to the door just fine, and pulled it open.

  After using the bathroom, she went to the bedroom door and down the short hallway that led to the living room and kitchen. She could hear sounds coming from where she thought the kitchen must be, so she followed it. Then, she caught the scent. It sounded, and smelled, like cooking, and her stomach rumbled appreciatively.

  “Samuel,” she said with a smile taking in the sight of him singing along to the radio that sat on the counter.

  He was at the stove frying eggs, and he whirled around in surprise and delight at seeing her. “You’re awake. And…”

  “Walking around?” she said, arching an eyebrow, and grinning at him. “I told you before that my legs are just fine. I think I just needed the sleep, my body was exhausted.”

  He watched her for a moment, his eyes sparkling, then nodded, a grin lighting his face. “All right, then. Are you hungry?”

  “Famished.” Camila nodded. “Need any help?”

  “Nope. Just plant yourself right there, and I’ll have this plated up in a jiffy.” He winked at her and turned back to the frying pan.

  “It smells good.” She hummed and moved to sit down. It was kind of funny to her how weak she was when she got here, and yet she had lasted so long at the farmhouse with barely enough food most days. She wondered if it was because she was getting used to normal portions now.

  Thoughts of the farmhouse made her thoughts want to take a dark path, but she pulled them back, and shoved them in a box in the back of her mind, ignoring them. She didn’t want to remember her time there, and once Adrien was caught, she could fully put it all behind her.

  “In all the time I’ve known you, I didn’t think you could cook,” she teased, watching him. “You seem to enjoy it.”

  Samuel glanced at her and grinned. “… huh. Come to think of it, I guess I never cooked for you before this, have I?”

  She shook her head. “Nope. You’ve got people to do that for you,” she teased some more. “I didn’t think you knew how.” She laughed, merriment lighting her face.

  He tossed her a grin and shrugged. “Guess I am a man of many hidden talents,” he said with a wink and then looked back at what he was doing. “Honestly, though, I never got a chance to do it at home, before I was in the Army. I rarely ever went home while I was in. I moved around a lot, Japan, Germany, tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Italy. As I advanced in rank, I got to do a lot of stuff I never even considered doing during those years. Cooking is one of the things I learned along the way.”

  “Can you cook dishes from each of those places?” she asked, curiously.

  Samuel tossed a grin over his shoulder. “Maybe.”

  Camila laughed softly, she was still feeling lethargic, so she folded her arms on the table, and lay her head down on them. She watched him, eyes half-lidded, and just enjoyed having him there, where she could see and touch him. Even though he and Adrien shared the same face, she would never mistake Samuel for Adrien, and not just because she knew Adrien’s had changed a lot in appearance in the time they’d been together. No, Samuel’s face was more rugged than Adrien’s, but his eyes were kinder, softer. When she looked into Samuel’s eyes, she saw hope, love, and gentleness. Adrien’s held nothing but disdain and darkness.

  Samuel finished cooking and plated the food, and then brought it to the table, where he joined her to eat.

  Afterwards, Camila helped clean up the dishes and then said, “So, will you give me a tour?”

  “Sure,” Samuel replied, taking her hand. “It’s not too big, I think because my parents were looking to use it as a last resort kind of place. A place to disappear to that would be away from everything.” He showed her through the living room, where the front door was, and then to the den which led to a back patio and a small fenced yard. “The fence only covers the back, but it’s electrified. The front as you saw has a concrete barrier with gate. The house itself is passcode protected and only my lawyer and myself have the passcode, so don’t leave the house without me, okay?”

  “I don’t plan on going anywhere,” Camila murmured with a smile.

  Samuel squeezed her fingers and smiled. “Through here is the kitchen, which you’ve already seen, over here is the door to the indoor pool and workout room and spa and back down the hallway leads to our room as well as three others all with ensuite bathrooms.”

  “And this is small?” Camila glanced at him and laughed.

  Samuel grinned. “Well, for us, yes.” He chuckled. “How about a movie?”

  “Sure,” she commented and walked with him back to the bedroom.

  Samuel pulled up Netflix and began scrolling through the new releases. “What do you want to watch?”

  “I don’t care,” she commented, lazily.

  “Hmmm, action, comedy, romance?”

  “Surprise me,” she said with a smile. As he selected Deadpool, she giggled. “Can’t go wrong with Ryan Reynolds.”

  “Look, right there, he says it’s a romance…” Samuel pointed out a few minutes later, laughing.

  Camila giggled and snuggled into him. She was lying against his side, with one of his arms wrapped around her shoulders, and she was comfortable. She was enjoying the movie, but it seemed that she still felt a little tired. She was pretty much on the verge of falling asleep.

  Until the movie got a little heated.

  Well, Deadpool did say it was a romance and it was R-rated. As Wade Wilson and his girl, Vanessa started getting hot and heavy.

  Just seeing it woke her mind up.

  When was the last time Samuel and I even shared a kiss?

  He hadn't touched her sexually since they’d arrived at the safe-house. He’d helped her shower, or take a bath several times, and always joined her, so it wasn’t as if they hadn't been naked together, either. But her body had been too weak to even feel excited in the beginning, and her mind wasn’t even all there.

  It was a whole different situation now, though. After being with him and spending every waking moment, and some while asleep, with him, all she could think of was Samuel.

  Wade and Vanessa landed on a bed, s
till going at it, and Camila felt her face warm up. The movie was racier than she’d imagined it would be, but it was ultimately and action movie, so she was sure it would fade away before things got too far, and it wouldn’t be so revealing, but her mind was no longer on the movie. She was picturing her and Samuel doing the very same thing in his bed back at the mansion. Then the image of the two of them in a passionate embrace, her back pressed against the door flooded her mind.

  Suddenly, she felt self-conscious. There was no reason to be, and she knew it. Samuel had seen every part of her, and not always in such innocent light; the baby growing in her stomach was proof enough of that.

  Out of nowhere, Samuel chuckled, and then squeezed his arms around her.

  “Don’t tell me you’re feeling nervous over just this,” he murmured, his gaze on her.

  His lips were close to her ear, so she heard his voice really close. Like a teenager with a crush, her insides squirmed as she flexed her own arms around him. Slowly, she glanced up at him, meeting his gaze, and found him smiling at her.

  “If there’s something you want,” he whispered huskily, “feel free to tell me.”

  Her throat felt dry, and she couldn’t find the words. Instead, she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. It was quick, then she pulled away to check his expression. He was still smiling. He cupped her cheek in his hand, and gently guided her back for another longer kiss.

  His tongue licked her lip, and she let out a moan as she opened her mouth.

  Their bodies inched lower on the bed, shifting around until she was lying on her back with her head on the pillow. Samuel moved over the top of her, and they held each other as they kissed, all thoughts of the movie and what they were doing in it gone. After a long, thorough kiss that left her breathless, Samuel paused to look down at her.

  “Is this… okay?” he asked.

  She dug her fingers lightly into his back, nodding. Her breathing and heartbeat were both fast, but it definitely wasn’t with fear. She moved her arms to wrap around his neck and bring him down.