Page 37 of Harboring Shantae

"Wes isn't known for doing things halfway. When he first started, half the building wasn't even being used, but now that my team is back in the States and he's had to expand the daycare plus give more people offices, we’re nearly full," he explained in that deep timbre she loved to listen to.

Sometimes she couldn't believe it when he told her he didn't like to speak much. A man with a voice like that should want to talk all the time.

"How did the discussion with Wes go?"

She was a little worried he would say no. Trista seemed confident and even Camron assured her he would agree, but she'd heard stories about Wes. He was grumpy and spent half his time grumbling about the women his employees married. Surely he wouldn't want another one running around.

"He told me to take you to Nancy so she can get you set up."

She couldn't believe it. Just like that, she had a job, doing something she actually wanted to do.

"And he wants you to take her because he knows Nancy is ready to kick his ass for messing up her computer," Missy added.

"That would be correct. I walked in on them arguing. I was sure Nancy was moments away from strangling him and we all know Wes would be screwed without her. He probably assumes it's best to give her some time alone."

"He would be right. Nancy showed me what he did. It will take an entire day to fix his mess, and while Nancy's not nearly as busy as she used to be before I arrived, no one wants to redo all their hard work."

The conversation Missy and Camron were having around her did nothing but confuse her. Nancy was the office manager. That much she knew, but Wes was the boss who owned the company. In her mind, that would mean he was ultimately in charge.

The strange conversation ended just as quickly as it started and she was led to Nancy's office.

Nancy was a sweet older woman who didn't look like she could hurt a fly or ever get mad at anyone. That only further confused Shantae, but she didn't want to ask. Sometimes things were better left alone.

She filled out the paperwork quickly and was told she could start whenever she was ready. Since she was ready to start earning money and stop spending all her time locked in the house, she chose the next day. No one seemed the least bit surprised by her declaration.

It wasn't until they were driving back home that Panther spoke again.

"How does relaxing in front of the TV sound tonight?"

Perfect, and yet slightly nauseating, all wrapped in one. She didn't say that of course. The last thing she wanted Camron to know was that she craved time with him even if it meant breaking her heart all the same.

Panther wasn't sure which was worse. Having Shantae locked in her room, hiding from him, or her sitting so close that he could feel the heat of her body. He wasn't supposed to want her. She was his friend. His confidant. The only person he trusted with the secrets of his past.

Marriage to her was only supposed to be temporary. A solution to her problem. He hadn't thought much about how it would end, other than that she would walk away because he couldn't give her what she needed.

Yet here they sat. A nice relaxing evening full of laughter and comfort. All the tension since the moment they saidI dowas forgotten. But in its place was a longing he needed to push down, to fight off, because complicating things wasn't an option.

It had sounded like the perfect solution, this marriage. Then a sleeping Shantae rested her head against his shoulder and all was lost. The image of them like that every evening teased him, knowing he could never have it. That life would get in the way, and sooner or later, Shantae would leave him for something better.

Not able to stand the torture any longer, he turned the TV off and slipped out from under her. When she didn't wake from his gentle probing, he lifted her up and cradled her in his arms. Panther pushed down the feelings it evoked, ignored how right she felt tucked against his body.

He willed his body to turn off his feelings as he carried her up the stairs and set her gently in bed. She looked so peaceful with her hair fanned against the pillow that he couldn't stop the pull. With a brush of his lips on her temple, he wished her sweet dreams.

Chapter 18

Maybethewholelivingwith Camron and being married to him wasn't so bad. That was, if she didn't mind taking things at a snail's pace. Sure, they spent every night together. They found a show they both didn't mind binge-watching. Some nights, she fell asleep, and he carried her up to her room because apparently, she slept like the dead in his presence. She never remembered him carrying her up, but those nights she always woke up, alone, in her own bed.

The nights she didn't fall asleep, Camron walked her to her room and kissed her forehead before saying goodnight. It was those nights that killed her. Forehead kisses were like potato chips; there was no way one would ever be enough.

She wanted more.

No,neededmore.

Years of sexually pent-up frustration was ready to blow like a dormant volcano. Shantae cursed her rushed packing before leaving her townhouse. In her haste, she forgot to pack a fewessentials, aka her vibrator and dildo. She was kicking herself for overlooking them, considering they had been her only companion for far longer than normal.

She wouldn't have a need for them if she could just seduce Camron. She knew he was attracted to her. The heated gazes he gave her when he thought she wasn't looking had her thinking as much. However, she wanted more than just attraction. She wanted to show him that he was worthy of love. What Samantha did was unforgivable. He had to know that it wasn't a result of his actions, but hers alone.

She had to get out of the house. That was her solution. If she could spend some time with someone other than Camron, it would give her body time to reset, to stop craving him.

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