Camera Shy: a grumpy sunshine romance about learning to take risks (The Photographers Trilogy) by Julia Boggio

Author:Julia Boggio [Boggio, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Home By Midnight Publishing
Published: 2024-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

12

At the very top of the stairs, Jess saw two doors illuminated by the dim orange glow of the hallway lights: one closed and one open at the end of the hall. She chose the open one and found herself in a grand bedroom, a four-poster bed dominating the space, the walls painted a tasteful warm grey, and her suitcase waiting for her next to the refurbished, antique wardrobe.

Jess grunted with displeasure and plopped onto her bed, sinking into the feather duvet. What had just happened downstairs? Had she read the situation between her and Gabriel all wrong? What had caused him to push her away?

She stood up and paced the room, the floorboards creaking under her feet. She didn’t care if he heard her. Let him! He was being ridiculous. The attraction between them was so sizzling hot that it would warm an entire colony of penguins and yet, he’d just run away from her like she had a disease. Why had he brought her out to his chateau if not to seduce her?

Nope. She wasn’t having this. It had taken her a while to come around to the idea of sleeping with a man she hadn’t been dating since birth, but now that she had arrived, she wanted it. Her body thrummed with pent-up desire, robbing her of any thoughts of sleep, especially knowing he was just down the hall.

Generally, she didn’t swear, but what the actual fuck.

Why was he hiding from her? All she wanted was to give him pleasure and take some in return, right? The only reason it would become a problem is if feelings became involved…

She came to a sudden stop.

‘Is it?’ She remembered his face when he said those words to her, his eyes haunted.

He’s trying to protect himself. She slapped her forehead.

Jess used to think Fatima was the one holding him back, and she was…in a way. He had lost so much when he lost her: his friend, his foot, his sense of security, his joy for life. Elodie’s words echoed in her head: ‘He’s just biding time until he dies.’

It dawned on Jess that Gabriel had cut himself off from real emotion for so long, he’d forgotten what it felt like to want somebody like he wanted her. If it was half as much as she craved him, then of course he was struggling. This connection between them…it was powerful. Heady. Intoxicating.

But it was also invigorating. It reminded her of the richness and pleasure of life in a primal, natural way.

How could she show him there was still so much to live for?

Jess’s eyes migrated to her suitcase and she strode to it, flipping it open. Tucked into a discreet tote bag was some expensive lingerie she’d bought from Oh! Paulina in expectation of wearing it for Krish.

She stroked the bag as a plan formed in her head. She’d show him just how much she’d bloomed since she met him, how he didn’t have to keep his walls up around her, how they could find solace in each other.

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