Justice Falling (Falling #3)(59)

We both laughed and I hugged her to me. She draped a naked thigh over my groin. “What happened with Ty, Camille?”

She groaned and pushed her hair out of her face. I gripped her waist and hauled her completely on top of me. Skin to skin. She clasped her hands on my chest and leaned her chin down. “What do you want to know?”

So many things, I wanted to reply. Instead I started with the burning question. “Why doesn’t he know about Tanner?”

“It’s not a pretty story, Nate. I’d hoped to save you from it.”

“I need to know if we’re ever going to move forward.”

She nodded and leaned in for a kiss. I returned her kiss then settled back down to wait.

“A couple days after I turned eighteen, I met Tyler. We hit it off right away. I was taken by his looks and he seemed nice, interested in me. He talked me into bed after only two dates, and took my virginity roughly in a hotel room. We only ever met in a hotel. At the time I didn’t think much of it as I was trying to find a job, figure out what to do with my life. I didn’t have much to my name and no friends. He made me feel cared for and wanted.”

I let her think about the past and figure out how she wanted to share it.

“Then I missed my period. After a week of waiting for it, I finally took a test. It said I was pregnant. I went to Tyler’s office because I couldn’t wait any longer. I was scared but excited about bringing a life into the world with the man I thought I loved. I was so wrong.”

Her eyes misted, but her tears never fell. I hoped she was done crying for the prat.

“I told him I was pregnant and he claimed it wasn’t his. He knew I had been a virgin but didn’t care. He called me a whore and manhandled me a little.”

My arms tightened around her and I gritted my teeth, ready to throw some clothes on and go beat the living hell out of the bastard.

“You were so f*cking young. He took advantage of you!” I was unable to keep my opinions to myself.

Camille put her fingers to my lips. “Let me finish. You don’t know everything. What I say next may change your opinion of him and me.” Her lip quivered.

I sucked her lip into my mouth soothing the ache. “Nothing will make me not love you.”

She took a deep breath. “He told me to get rid of it, that he didn’t care what I did. And then…”

Anger filled all the little pockets of my soul and I wished he was here right now so I could tear him apart the way he had my sweet Camille all those years ago.

“…he gave me ten thousand dollars. Told me that’s all I was ever going to get, to leave and deal with the issue.”

“Christ! Rat f*cking bastard! He should have taken care of you, Camille. Helped you.” Now I knew why she’d never had a relationship after Ty, and why she’d run from one between us. It was likely the same reason she hadn’t told me she loved me.

I wouldn’t pressure her for the words. She told me in the way she looked at me, the way she smiled when I entered a room and the way she made love to me with her whole body, heart, and soul.

“Don’t you hate me for taking the money?” Her face was tight her bottom lip tucked tight between her teeth.

“No, no I don’t. The opposite in fact. He gave you that money to keep you quiet and to dispose of his responsibility. You needed that money to survive. I could never think poorly of you. I love you, Camille. Nothing you say or do is going to change that. I love you. Do you hear me?”

She nodded.

“Can you feel how much you mean to me?”

Her hands cupped my cheeks. I turned my head and kissed each palm. “I love you so much, Nate. I’m so sorry I haven’t said so. I’m just so scared to love you and lose you. There’s still so much we need to get through.” Tears trickled down her cheeks again. At least this time they were because of her love, not because of her fear.

“We have time. We have all the time in the world.” I hugged her and kissed her more times than I could count. Slowly I pulled back and held her gaze with mine. I wiped the tears from the apples of her lovely cheeks. “Knowing you love me…it’s everything, Camille. It’s all I need.”





Chapter 15





The better part of two weeks passed by in complete harmony. For once in my life, I felt everything was moving as it should. After three years of dancing, I was leaving Justice, my alter ego behind.

I wouldn’t miss her or the various men who adored her. I’d be heading out on a high note, too. Tonight, I would work my regular stage shift and a private booking. The owners said it would be a real money maker. Apparently, a group of Richie Rich’s heard their favorite dancer was leaving and booked a private show. Since it was my last night, the owners made sure they paid double for the privilege of having me all to themselves. It would be my highest earning night ever. I couldn’t wait to use that money to pay off my next set of online courses. It would put me ahead of the curve and back on track with my studies.

True to his word, Mr. Jensen signed me on full-time and Tanner and I had full medical benefits now. I couldn’t be happier. A heavy burden lifted knowing I’d be saving that expense and Tanner was protected.

Aside from Nate’s near constant prods about moving in with him, things were going so well I hesitated to change it. He wanted Tanner and me with him, officially; period, end of discussion. I still wasn’t convinced it was a good idea. We’d only known each other for a few weeks and most of those were tumultuous. Things had recently been beyond amazing but that didn’t change the newness. I’d agreed to stay with him on the evenings I didn’t work at Gems, but so far I still had my space. I worried about what to tell Jin. I was concerned that she’d be devastated if I told her I was moving in with my boyfriend. It turned out I was wrong. Nate told her.