Hers to Keep (Irresistibly Bound 3)

“Why did you take me to that party tonight?” It wasn’t what Lindsey really wanted to say. But she needed some hint, some inkling that everything between them wasn’t just a lie.

“Because I thought that you’d enjoy it,” Camilla replied.

“So it wasn’t so you could show your sugar baby off to your friends?”

“Of course not. Do you really think I’d do that?”

“No, I don’t. But I wanted to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” Camilla searched Lindsey’s face. “What’s going on?”

Lindsey’s voice stuck in her throat. Her heart was pounding so hard, she felt like it would burst. She took a few deep breaths. Because of Camilla, Lindsey had faced her fears once already, that morning in her sunny studio. She could do it again.

“Camilla,” Lindsey said. “I don’t want this to be pretend anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“These past months, they’ve been some of the best of my life. It’s all been like a dream.”

Camilla patted Lindsey's hand. “I’m glad you’ve been enjoying life here at the manor.”

“No, I mean… It’s not because of this house, or the expensive clothes, or the gifts. It’s because of you.”

“Because of me?”

“Yes. Is that so hard to believe?” Lindsey stared at Camilla’s bewildered face. Could it be that she really had no idea how Lindsey felt? That she was so determined to live her life alone that she couldn’t see what was right in front of her?

“What are you saying?” Camilla asked.

“I’m saying that I’m in love with you.”

“Oh.” Camilla fell silent.

A lump formed in Lindsey’s throat. She was wrong. She had read it all wrong. “Forget it. I never should have said anything.”

“No, that’s not… I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I never thought-”

“Of course you didn’t.” Tears fell from Lindsey’s eyes. “I’m just someone you’re paying, like June. How could I be so stupi-”

“Lindsey, stop.” Camilla reached out and cradled the side of Lindsey’s face. “You’re not just someone I’m paying. You’re so much more to me. You always have been.” Camilla brushed a tear from Lindsey’s cheek with her thumb. “What I’m trying to say is, I never thought that you’d return my feelings.”

Lindsey’s heart skittered. “Return your feelings?”

“Oh, Lindsey. These past few months have been like something out of a dream for me too. And all because of you. I feel the same way you do.”

“You do?”

“I do,” Camilla said. “It’s just that, I didn’t plan for this to happen. I’m not good at dealing with anything unexpected.”

“Really?” Lindsey blinked away the last of her tears. “I haven’t noticed.”

Smiling, Camilla pulled Lindsey in close. “I want this to be real too. From now on, no more pretending.”

“Mistress, I stopped pretending weeks ago.”

Camilla cupped Lindsey’s face. Her lips met Lindsey’s in a soft, steady kiss. Lindsey dissolved into her. Now that their feelings were finally out in the open, the kiss seemed so much sweeter.

But Lindsey was all too aware that not everything was out in the open. She’d told a little white lie the day they had met. And she still hadn’t told Camilla the truth.