Chapter 8

An alarm sound sliced through the silence at the far end of the room. Camila’s eyes snapped open, and she groaned, every nerve in her body rebelling against the abrupt alarm. Her fingers found the source of her misery—a pale blue wristwatch that had insisted on buzzing until now. In one swift motion, she yanked it free and hurled it at the opposite wall. The watch struck the plaster with a splintering crack, fragments skittering to the carpet. The noise faded, and finally, blessed quiet returned.

“Morning, honey,” he said, closing the laptop with a soft click and pushing it aside. His voice was gentle, amused. “I asked the maids to send our breakfast up, and I’ve already prepared the bath.” He swept across the carpet and came to kneel beside her, brushing a finger over the tender curve of her neck. His fingertips traced the swelling bruise there. “Does it still h