PYKE
“You’re screwed,” Dad mumbles under his breath.
I can’t believe Dad said that word. Sighing helplessly, I shake my head repeatedly as I watch Camila walks away. Megan follows after shooting me a glare.
“You need to do something before you will lose her, Pyke,” Dad continues.
My head snaps at him. “Do you think I don’t know that? You just worsened the scenario.”
“I called you here to explain not to blame me,” Dad whispers through gritted teeth.
“Whatever.” I jerk to my feet still glaring at him. Unconsciously, I slow my pace toward the hallway when a soft hand grabs my arm.
“Let her get some rest, Pyke—she needs it. Her sleep had been deprived lately,” Issa says, sounding bothered.
“Why doesn’t she get a good sleep?” I also noticed the dark circle under her eyes earlier. The most beautiful chocolate eyes I’ve seen are now sorrowful and frightened.
“The doctor suggested a therapist, but she said to think about it.”
“Can I talk to her? I might be able to convince her,” I ask hesitantly. I really want to be with her and cuddle her to sleep, but I doubt if everyone will allow me, especially Camila.
Issa studies me for a while then nods slowly.
“Thank you.”
Her apartment is just the same floor plan as mine, the only difference is the interior designs, hers is modernized. I know exactly where to go if the master bedroom is hers.
Before I can knock, the door swings open. Megan’s glaring eyes lock mine as she closes the door behind her carefully.
“What are you doing here?” she asks in a low tone.
“I want to talk to her,” I answer truthfully.
“About what?”
“I know you hate me as much as Camila does right now, but I have reasons—” I sigh and look down the floor then sink my teeth on my bottom lip.
“And what are your reasons?” she cuts me off.
“That’s why I want to talk to her, Meg. If she doesn’t want me after I tell her everything, then I have to respect her decisions.”
“So, that’s it? Aren’t you going to kneel and beg or give her the moon and the stars? If she says, you can go to hell with your reasons, that’s it, you will go to hell?” she asks that freezes my brain.
I look at her for a few seconds to let her words sink in.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head and look down, unable to looks at her in the eyes again.
“Don’t insist if she doesn’t want to talk to you.” She smiles faintly and walks away.
Nodding, I grab the doorknob. I breathe deeply, pushing the door open and lock it slowly to avoid her from freaking out.
Camila is already lying under the huge white blanket. Without breaking my gaze on her, I step slowly toward her bed and sit beside her. Her body freezes.
I place my hand on her arm and whisper. “Babe, it’s me.”
“I know,” she coos without moving. She doesn’t look bothered I’m in her room, otherwise, she already throws a fit as soon as I enter her room.
“Are you mad at me?” I ask and rub her arm.
She turns her head to look at me, moves slowly to sit, and leans against the headboard.
“Why did you not tell me? I was so mad at you for shutting me out on New Year’s Eve, Pyke—just right after we kissed.”
“I know, Babe. I know.”
“Do you? Do you have any idea how I felt after you did that to me? I thought we had something. I thought you like me. There’s this connection we had that makes me believe the impossible. Then, you said something to convince me that I was just having illusions.”
“I don’t want to put you in danger again, Camila. If it takes for you to be far from me, I will do that just to keep you safe. That’s what I mean by protecting you. Even if I have to watch you from afar as long as I know you’re safe and happy.”
“Happy?” She laughs sarcastically. “Happy? When you crashed my heart, said you don’t want me and slammed the door on my face!”
“I can’t remember I said I don’t want you.”
“It tells the same thing when you told me you don’t want to fuck me and you don’t want to fuck the same woman again.” She rolls her eyes.
A smirk spreads across my lips. “You’re really sad because of that?”
“Shut that smirk, Pyke!” Camila commands.
My smirk instantly fades. “I’m sorry for hurting you. I just want you to stay away from me for a while while I’m trying to figure out how to clean my messes, Babe. You know it almost killed me when I found out Athena came to your office with your mother to get into me because she probably knew that I was involved in the investigations somehow. I’m sorry if I drag you into my mess, Camila. I’m so sorry.”
“You could’ve just told me about your plan, you know.”
“I know, my bad.”
“I don’t know how did she found out about my mother.” Her shoulders droop as if her energy is drained from her.
“I should’ve asked someone to find her first, but it was too late when my PI found her. She was already taken. Your mother admitted that Athena offered her cash.”
She snorts. “Of course, when talking about money. Did you forget she sold me for a hundred grand?”
“Everything will be okay now, Babe. Athena will not bother you anymore. Aaron is gonna be locked up in jail for a long time.”
“Thank you for helping them captured Aaron, Pyke.”
“I just wanted to help, Babe. I thought that it might lessen the guilt inside me. I also wanted to help the family of the victims. And I made a promise to you—and maybe one way of forgiving me for what I did.”
A faint smile spreads from her lips. “Can I get a hug now?”
My heart stops beating. That’s the last thing I expected from her, but this is Camila—a softhearted and feisty woman that I’ll do everything for her.
“That’s what I ever wanted since that night I met you. You in my arms, Babe.” I move closer to her, wraps my arms around her tiny body, and press my nose into her shampoo-scented hair. I close my eyes and inhale her smell deeply into my soul. Her arms snake around my body while her warm palm rubbing my back. I can stay like this forever—this is where she truly belongs anyway—in my arms.
“Pyke,” Dad’s voice and a soft knock startles us and pulls us away. Our gazes lock, I can see a glint of wickedness in her eyes.
“We’re not done talking, Camila. Be right back.” I kiss the top of her head, stand up, and walk toward the door.
“Dad,” I call in a low tone as soon as I close the door behind me.
“You’re not staying here, are you?” His tone is enough for me to know it’s disapproval.
“I will if she’ll let me.”
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. You know she’s still frightened.”
“I know that, and that’s why I’m here.” What’s with this man minding my love life? Doesn’t he suppose to be happy I’m making progress? He just interrupted us.
“That’s not what I mean when I said to do something.”
“I know and I’ll start by making up to her. Without your constant interruption.” I cock my brows at him.
“Don’t do something stupid again.”
“Like what, Dad? Getting her knock-up?” My voice raises a little bit. Now, I can see the amusement in Dad’s eyes.
“That might be the best idea, don’t you think?”
“Wait, you want me to knock-up my girlfriend?” my eyes widen when I realize what I said. Did she hear it? I hope not.
“I’ll see you tomorrow. She requested you to be there.” Dad turns and walks away.
I mentally hit myself on the head. I almost forget tomorrow will be the decision of the judge for her surname. I get back to her still in the same position as I left her.
“You probably realize by now that I don’t mean what I said on New Year’s Eve, right?” I smile mischievously and sit on her bed in front of her.
“Which one?” she asks with an innocent look.
“You know what I mean,” I groan and roll my eyes. I know she knows what I’m saying.
“Well, you said many things.”
“Okay, let me show you.”
My heartbeat jumps when I capture her sensuous soft lips before we will continue discussing the New Year’s Eve’s incident again. I hear a moan, that’s probably mine because as always, Camila’s mouth is as sweet as ever. I feel her kissing me back, coaxing my lips. Feeling her tongue at the seam of my lips makes my throbbing cock jerks. Her tongue ravages and devours my mouth—she’s consuming me, taking my essence, my every being, and bringing me to euphoria.
It’s crystal clear, this woman is my air—that I’ll die without her in my life.
No doubt, I’m fucking in love with her.
I’m in love with Camila.