Chapter 08

Roderick and Camille didn’t return home to the Villa until almost 8pm. The day had been unexpectedly magical. After Bella Italia, Roderick had taken her to the new art gallery she had mentioned wanting to visit months ago.

 Then they went to the botanical gardens where they walked hand in hand among the flowers, and later to a quiet bookstore café where he watched her browse through novels with a soft smile on his face. 

For the first time in their marriage, it felt like a real date.

When they finally stepped into the bedroom, Camille was still smiling. She turned to him, eyes shining with a mixture of joy and fear, and walked straight into his arms. She wrapped hers around his waist and hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek to his chest.

“Thank you for today, Roderick,” She whispered. “I really needed this.”

 “You had lots of fun, right?” He gently patted her hair, his large hand stroking down the length of it.

She nodded against him, not letting go. “Yes… I did.” Her arms tightened around his waist. “I’m kind of scared though.”

“About what?” He tilted his head. 

“That all this will go away soon.” She said, her voice cracking slightly. “I don’t want this to be temporary. This is the happiest I’ve been in years and…”

Roderick cut her off by tilting her chin up and kissing her. It wasn’t rough like he always did before, it was deep, slow and devastatingly tender. His lips moved over hers like he was savoring every second, tongue gently coaxing hers to dance with his. 

When he finally pulled back, he cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks.

“You don’t have to worry about that, wifey.” He murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m not going anywhere and nothing is going to change. I meant it when I told you that I'll do my very best to make you happy.”

Camille’s eyes welled up. She kissed him again, pouring all her fear and fragile hope into it. He responded instantly, kissing her harder, deeper, walking her backward until the back of her knees hit the edge of the bed.

 She fell onto the mattress with a soft gasp, and he followed, hovering above her.

He pulled his shirt off in one smooth motion, revealing the hard build of his chest and abs. Then he lowered himself over her, kissing her again like a man drowning. 

His hand slid up her thigh, pushing the hem of her gown higher.

“Roderick…” She gasped against his mouth.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. Theim gaze was intense, raw, and full of something neither of them had ever allowed before.

“I won’t make it hurt like before.” He whispered, voice hoarse. “I’ll be really gentle with you tonight, I promise.”

She searched his eyes for any trace of the old Roderick and found only sincerity. She nodded.

He kissed her again, slower this time, savoring her. His hands moved with reverence, sliding the gown up and over her head, then unhooking her bra. He kissed down her neck, her collarbone, the valley between her breasts. 

When his mouth closed over one nipple, sucking gently, Camille arched with a soft moan, fingers threading through his hair.

His hand slipped between her thighs, finding her already soaked. He groaned against her breast as two fingers slid inside her easily, curling slowly, stroking that sweet spot with devastating patience.

 He watched her face the entire time — every flutter of her lashes, the way her lips parted when she moaned.

“You’re so wet for me,” He breathed against her skin. “So fucking perfect, Camille.”

Camille’s hips rocked against his hand as the pressure built. His thumb circled her clit while his fingers worked deeper, faster, until her thighs began to shake.

“Roderick… I’m—” Her voice broke.

“Let go, baby. I want you to shatter for me.”

She came hard, crying out as she squirted over his hand and wrist, her body trembling violently. Roderick kept stroking her through it, murmuring praises against her neck. “That’s it… good girl… so beautiful when you come for me.”

He stood briefly to remove his shorts. His cock sprang free, thick and heavy, already leaking at the tip. Camille’s eyes darkened with desire as she looked at him.

He climbed back over her, grabbing both her thighs and guiding them to wrap around his waist. He kissed her deeply as he positioned himself at her entrance. Then, with his eyes locked on hers, he slowly pushed inside.

Camille gasped, her head falling back. He was big, stretching her beautifully. But unlike before when he used to thrust into her without any care, only chasing his own release - this time he moved with aching slowness, letting her adjust, watching every flicker of pleasure and discomfort on her face.

“Fuck… you feel like heaven, Camill.” He groaned, burying his face in her neck. “So tight… so warm…”

He began to move, deep, rolling thrusts that made her toes curl. Their bodies pressed together, skin growing slick with sweat. Every thrust was deliberate and intimate. He kept his eyes on hers the entire time, forehead resting against hers.

“You’re mine,” He whispered between kisses. “My wife. My woman. I’m so sorry it took me this long to see you.”

Camille’s eyes filled with tears as she moaned softly with every stroke, her nails digging into his back. The slap of skin against skin filled the room, mixed with their heavy breathing and whispered names. She wrapped her legs tighter around him, pulling him deeper.

“Shh, don't cry.” He murmured, kissing her tears away. “Just feel me, baby. Feel how much I want you.”

The pleasure built slowly, powerfully. Camille came first again, clenching around him with a broken cry, her whole body shaking. The sight and feel of her pushed Roderick over the edge. 

With a deep, guttural groan, he buried himself to the hilt and came hard, pulsing inside her as he held her like she was the most precious thing in the world.

They stayed connected, breathing heavily. Roderick rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him so she rested against his chest, still joined. He stroked her back tenderly, pressing soft kisses to her forehead, her temple, her hair.

After several long minutes, he gently pulled out of her, both of them hissing at the loss. He tucked her closer against his body, wrapping his arms around her like he never wanted to let go.

Camille lay there listening to his heartbeat, tears silently slipping down her cheeks.

For the first time in three years, she felt truly seen and that terrified her more than anything.