by C. Gockel
As the dawn arrived, I wasn’t sure how we were going to get Drake out of my room. He must have noticed my increasing nervousness. Without releasing me from his hold, his lips found their way to the skin not scorched from my torturous device on my neck and my ear. He whispered, “I’ll be waiting for you in your closet tonight. Gage will keep you downstairs long enough for me to get into position.”
“You’re going to hide in my closet?”
“Unless you have a better idea. Gage can’t come up with a distraction every night; it would cause too much suspicion.”
“So, Gage, he doesn’t mind?”
“Are you nuts? Gage knows how I feel about you. So does Bianca.”
I could hear my heart pounding in my chest, scared that I might ruin the moment, but more fearful of not knowing the answer, “How do you feel about me?”
Drake gave me the strangest look. Sarcasm oozed from his voice when he said, “I’m fascinated by your threshold for pain. How do you think I feel about you?” His lips found mine in an aggressive and needy way. His hands clung to my flesh as if it would be the last time he would hold me for a lifetime. I didn’t know what would happen the rest of the day, and in that moment, the earth could have stopped spinning and I wouldn’t have given it a second thought.
I heard a light tapping on my door, “Darling, it’s Gage. Ready for breakfast?”
I looked wide eyed at Drake, and whispered, “Darling? Are you sure he’s okay with this?”
Drake rolled his eyes. “It’s an act, Love. He needs to be convincing or your lunatic grandmother will ban him until your wedding night, which means I’d have to go, too. Go spend the day with your fiancé. I’ll be waiting for you tonight.”
I called toward the door, “Gage, I just need five minutes to freshen up.”
“All right. I’m starving. Hurry up.”
Drake and I were both on our feet. The pangs of adrenaline started to grip me when I realized I’d be able to see Drake again tonight. I had just spit the last of my toothpaste into the sink and rinsed when Drake came up behind me. I looked at the reflection of us in the mirror. His arms wrapped around me as he seemed to be transfixed by the couple in the mirror, too.
His lips were at my ear, while his eyes were glued to the mirror. He confessed, “I started to believe I’d never hold you again.”
I couldn’t respond. I felt my welled-up desire for him begging to be released. I turned my body so that I faced him, slipped my hands up under the back of his shirt and rested my head on his chest. I felt his hands stroke my hair as he waited for me to say something. His lips kissed the top of my head as I confessed, “I never stopped thinking of you. I don’t want to wake up without you next to me. I don’t want fantasies anymore. I want you.”
Drake placed his hands gently on either side of my head and pulled my face away from his chest, so I was forced to look in his eyes. “I need you, Camille.” His lips were on mine: they weren’t gentle. Our bodies were tight against each other and our breaths were erratic. I lost myself in him again until I heard a tap at the door that brought me back to reality.
“Drake, I gotta go. Gage is waiting.” I didn’t want our moment to end, but knew I couldn’t take a chance on the guard coming in. “Get in the closet. I’ll see you tonight.”
Drake looked like he was in pain, “I can’t let you go, Camille.”
“You have to or we’ll get busted and there won’t be a tonight. Go!”
His lips found mine one last time before he dashed toward the closet. As soon as I’d seen the closet door closed, I opened the door to an awaiting Gage. Gage took my hand and walked me down the hallway with my guard in tow. As we hit the top step, he commented, “You look absolutely radiant this morning, Darling. Having the guard outside your room must have done wonders for you.” I looked at him as he wore an enormous smirk.
“It did. Thank you for speaking with Zandra on my behalf. I’ll need to give her my thanks as well.”
Zandra was waiting at the bottom of the steps and had heard our conversation. “Ah, it’s good to see you two getting along so well.”
Charm oozed from Gage when he said, “Who could not fall under the spell of such a beautiful creature?”
She smiled sweetly at Gage and asked me, “You slept well, Camille?”
I wanted to laugh but instead put on my most thankful expression and answered, “Yes, Grandmother, I did. Thank you for allowing me some privacy.” It was the first time I had referred to her as “Grandmother,” and I watched her reaction as I spoke.
She was pleased. “I’m glad you slept well, Camille. Are you ready for your lesson this morning?”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
Gage interrupted, “Miss Zandra. I was hoping we might be able to tour your estate this morning, that is, if you don’t mind.”
“With an escort?”
“I was hoping you might consider escorting us.”
Zandra looked surprised, “Me?”
“It would give us both a chance to get to know you better. Camille was telling me how much she will miss the beauty of your estate.” Okay, that was a little on the thick side, but Zandra seemed to physically soften in Gage’s presence. I had come to think of her estate as a prison and had no desire to ever set eyes on it again once I was paroled.
“I believe we could skip your lesson one more day, Camille. I’d love to show the two of you around.” Gage continued to play his role as my doting fiancé, perfectly. He opened doors for me, held my hand, smiled as Zandra told us about nearly every blade of grass. Thirty minutes into our tour, Bianca and Drake strolled hand-in-hand onto the expansive grounds and found us near a fountain depicting Aphrodite. As the five of us walked together, Drake purposely brushed his arm against mine then caught my eye for a fraction of a second. I nearly jumped out of my skin. He was like the forbidden fruit, daring me to take a bite.
Several hours later as our tour drew to an end, Bianca spoke up as we approached the front door to Zandra’s mansion. “Miss Zandra, thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful tour. Drake and I have some wedding plans to finalize. Do you have an escort you could provide us while we drive into town?” I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
“Don’t be silly, child. I’m sure Gage would love an opportunity to escort you two.”
Gage shook his head, “Miss Zandra, if you don’t mind, I’d like to spend the afternoon with Camille. I thought a dip in the pool might be fun.” I cringed when I thought of chlorine on my neck but found a way to force an adoring smile at Gage.
Zandra had transformed before my very eyes. No longer the hateful captor that I had loathed for weeks, she was now the accommodating host. “Very well then. I’ll have Camille’s guard escort you two into town. Gage, I’ll change and join the two of you by the pool. I would very much like to know how your family is doing.” The rest of the afternoon was a tremendous bore, but Gage really turned on the charm, and by dinner time Zandra was treating me as though I were her long lost granddaughter rather than a blemish on her otherwise noteworthy family tree.
Bianca and Drake returned early that evening. Zandra, having immensely enjoyed her time with Gage and me, politely asked them, “Did you two take care of all your arrangements?”
“We did. Thank you for the use of an escort, Miss Zandra,” Drake answered sweetly. “Bianca and I are excited to start our life together. I think we’re both regretting that we put the wedding off for so long. Watching Gage and Camille together makes me jealous that we’ll have to wait so long.”
Zandra raised her eyebrows. “Really? Well, you can always move the date forward.”
“You know, we might just do that.” Drake leaned over and kissed Bianca’s cheek, “I don’t believe I can wait much longer for you.” Bianca giggled, and I wanted to barf. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and I had trouble hiding my instant jealousy. Drake gave her another tender kiss on the cheek, while I dug my fingers into my knees.
Gage realize
d that I was at a low boil and leaned over to me, whispering only loud enough for me to hear, “It’s only an act, Darling.” Gage’s comment did little to soften my impending implosion.
“Bianca, I think I’ll turn in early tonight,” Drake announced with an adoring look at her.
Bianca took Drake’s hand in hers, “I’m a little worn out myself. Would you walk me to my room?”
The two excused themselves, which left Gage and me alone with Zandra, again. Having them out of the room did wonders for my self-control. Gage and I spent another hour with Zandra, Gage the perfect guest, and I, quiet but attentive. An hour after Bianca and Drake had gone upstairs, Gage looked my way, “Darling, you look exhausted. Are you tired?”
I hadn’t been paying attention to their conversation, but realized this was Gage’s “get-out-of-jail-free” card for me. I yawned, “It’s been a full day. I think I’ll turn in, too.”
“I need you well rested for our adventures tomorrow. Miss Zandra, will you keep me company or am I on my own this evening?” Zandra had always struck me as a wicked person, but super perceptive. I had to wonder if she’d see through all of Gage’s fake charm. So far she seemed to be soaking it up like a sponge, but I made a mental note to tell him he needed to tone it down a little.
“I’m an old woman, Gage. You get your rest. I’m sure Camille will be ready for an adventure with you tomorrow.” She looked at me with a warmer expression than I had seen her wear in the last two months, “Camille, I had a lovely day with you today.”
Her thoughtful comment nearly rendered me speechless; I was able to choke out, “I did, too, Grandmother. I look forward to our lesson tomorrow.” If Beau could see me now, he’d never again question my acting abilities.
She gave me a thoughtful smile. I was worried I may have put it on too thick, but she seemed genuinely pleased with me. “We may suspend your lessons for a while. Gage is an excellent influence on you, and I’m sure you’ll want to spend the day together. The weather should be exceptional. Get your rest.”
“Thank you, Grandmother. Goodnight.”
Gage held out his arm for me, and my guard followed in tow. We were halfway up the steps when Gage turned to the guard, “I need just a minute with my fiancé.” We stood in full view of the guard, but he was unable to hear Gage’s whisper. “There is nothing you could do or no action you could take that would be disobedient to me. Sleep well, Camille.” Gage pressed his lips to my forehead. I knew this was his way of reminding the necklace that my time with Drake was done with his blessing. Gage held my door for me as I slipped into the dark room. He shut the door behind me. From the shadows under the door, I could see that the guard had taken his position in the hallway directly outside my room.
Chapter 31
(Camille Benning – Florida)
I took a deep breath and walked the few steps to my closet. I had no sooner put my hand on the door knob than it swung wide with Drake on the inside. He took me in his arms and swung me around like a child. When my feet touched the ground, I was fully wrapped in Drake’s arms. Careful not to alert the guard, Drake exhaled the words, “I missed you so much, I thought I’d burst today, Love.”
My mouth opened on his, and I felt like I was spinning again.
When we stopped to breathe, Drake’s excitement shone on his face, “I bought you a gift today.”
“A gift? Why?”
“It might have been more of a gift for me.” He wore a mischievous grin, and I felt my heart doing its sprint just like it had last night. He reached behind him and pulled out a cardboard box, “I saw it today and have been dying to see what you’d look like in it.” He motioned for me to go into the bathroom, and I could only imagine what I would find in the box.
As I stood in front of the mirror wearing the ivory satin nightgown, my nerves began taking control of my body, and I wasn’t sure I had the courage to go out half-dressed. The length was only to mid-thigh, the front was cut low: I looked like a mannequin at Victoria’s Secret. I saw my shorts and a t-shirt that I normally slept in lying beside the sink. I nearly switched into them when I caught my reflection in the mirror. If my shorts and t-shirt were enough to make his heart speed up, his arms wrench tight around me, and his throat murmur those deep sexy sounds — I couldn’t wait to see his response to this ensemble. After the last six weeks, I wanted to be wanted. I wanted to see Drake’s eyes pop out of his head. I wanted to hear the groan of desire I knew would come from deep within him.
Drake made me feel beautiful, sexy even, but walking out to his waiting eyes – I wasn’t sure I could. I found a bathrobe hanging on the back of the door and wrapped it around myself before I stepped back into the bedroom.
Drake’s hands found me in the dark as his voice exhaled, “Did you wrap yourself up in that robe like a present for me? Are you trying to torture me?” He stood in front of me wearing only a pair of shorts. His shirtless body called to me. The moonlight through the window shimmered off his muscular shoulders and tight abs. The sight of him, even in the moonlight, took my breath away.
I wanted to feel his skin on mine. I buried my face in his chest as my arms wrapped around him. He smelled wonderful, he felt incredible – his muscular frame and warm skin invited me to lose the robe. I loosened the tie and let the robe fall to the floor. Drake took a couple steps back, taking me in. He leaned in toward me, scooped me up in his arms, and carried me to the bed, his lips pressed lightly to mine. I didn’t know how far he intended to go, and I wasn’t sure I possessed the willpower to put any brakes on.
Drake lay me gently on the bed and slid in behind me. His hand stroked my arm, from the top of my shoulder to the tip of my fingers, up and down, countless times. His touch generated goose bumps all over my body while he kissed the back of my neck just under my hairline all the way to my shoulders. His caresses were tender, and without words I could feel the turmoil in his touch. I could hear his breathing was heavy, and I felt like he had poured an accelerant on me — I was on fire. When I thought I could take no more, he exhaled a warm breath by my ear, “Remember that day at Andolini’s? — I told you I would combust? That was me being sweet.” I did remember his words just before I drove away, and his admission made me smile. Drake added, “I’m not being sweet. I seriously feel like I’m going to combust.”
“Oh sure, you’re going to combust?”
His breath was haggard, his voice strained, “I had intended to be a perfect gentleman, but intentions sometimes go by the wayside.”
“You will be a perfect gentleman. I’ll go switch this getup for some sweatpants if I have to. We both know my fiancé is across the hall.” I tried to be funny, but missed my mark by a long shot.
His lips froze in position on my shoulder. I knew my words struck a nerve. “We need to figure out how to get that damn necklace off you. I want to disappear with you, Camille.”
“I’m all ears if you have an idea.”
“If you could, would you run away with me?”
I didn’t have to think of my response. “Faster than an Olympic sprinter.”
Drake hugged me hard from behind. It felt like his arms were a vice, and I was so tight against him, I could feel his muscles flex behind me. I had found my heaven right here on earth in Drake’s arms. I was surprised when he blurted out, “Break your engagement with Gage.”
“You know I can’t. I’m not the one who set it up to begin with.”
“It’s still your choice. Choose me.”
“Drake, you hardly know me.”
“What do I need to know that I don’t already know?”
“Lots of things.” I struggled, before my mouth started spewing random things about me. “I like to sleep in the middle of the afternoon. I like to snow ski on the bunny slope, and I’m terrified I’m going to fall off the lift chairs. I hate baseball, not dislike — hate. I miss Starbucks White Mocha Latte. I can’t ride a bicycle. You don’t know anything about me.”
“You think because I didn’t know that, I don’t
know you well enough to marry you?”
“I think if life were fair, I could choose to go back to my old life: no mind reading, no knowledge of the future, no magical powers. I’d be free to go to the movies, lay on the beach, laugh at YouTube videos, and do everything I used to love.”
His voice was pleading, “We can do that, Camille.”
“That’s the thing, Drake. Why does it have to be all or nothing? I’m being forced to marry a guy I hardly know, who is in love with someone else. You’re asking me to break the engagement I never wanted, so I can choose to marry you. I’m twenty-two. There are too many things I haven’t done yet.”
“So we’ll do those things together.”
“What if I want to do them myself?” I could see my words stung him. I tried to lessen the hurt by explaining, “Maybe it would be different if I had grown up knowing what I was or at least what was expected of me. But I didn’t. I grew up my way. I couldn’t care less if my family’s bloodline doesn’t go on. I don’t need someone else to be happy; I just need not to be a prisoner.”
Drake eased himself away from me. He didn’t look at me when he answered, “But you couldn’t be happy with me?”
I shook my head. “Maybe you. Or maybe a high school history teacher, or maybe a commercial fisherman. Life can’t be scripted, Drake.” It felt good to say to Drake what had been boiling under my skin since I found out about all these crazy traditions. “I’m willing to make a deal with you.”
I knew I’d hurt him, but it was only fair he know the real me. “If we get out of this mess, we’ll date... my way. No escorts, no supervision, none of the crap everyone’s been trying to shove on me. We’ll go to the movies. If we have a good time and we both want to, we’ll go on a second date, then a third. If – and that’s a big if – years later we both get to the point that we can’t live without each other, then we talk about forever. Deal?”
“I don’t need years to know you’re the one I want, Camille.”