Read Online Awaiting Fate by J. L. Sheppard - Free Book Online Page A

become—a voyeur, but he had no other choice. He needed her presence to soothe him.
    After his long shifts, when everyone was at rest, he appeared in her room and watched without her consent.
    He’d been there every night for weeks; regardless, he knew nothing of her room; couldn’t describe the color of the walls or furniture. He had no idea if she had an en suite bathroom or the size of her closet, but he had memorized the angelic features of her face, the glow of her skin in the moonlight and the small mole on the corner of her lip. He knew she kicked off her sheets often. It made her shiver moments later, but she still did it, and he knew she tossed and turned and mumbled incoherently in her sleep.
    His voyeurism was salvation, satisfying his minimal needs. It wasn’t enough, not for him. Honestly, he didn’t know how much longer he could withstand it, being so close and yet so far away. Torture of the worst kind, a torture he suffered gladly night after night because his mate needed time.
    As his gaze moved to her, he wondered once again how it was possible for anyone be so beautiful, so perfect, how it was possible any female had been created just for him.
    What he would give for just one touch, just to feel her silky skin against his?
    Anything and everything.
    But things remained stagnant, as they had for weeks. She didn’t know she belonged to him, granted to him by fate. She didn’t know she was his. It was his privilege to know, his duty to tell her, but he couldn’t, not just yet. She needed time.
    Only minutes had lapsed in her presence, yet he was overwhelmed with his desire to touch her, to feel her skin against the palm of his hand. A desire so deep and primal, his arm extended regardless of his will. His fingers so close, he could feel the warmth permeating her body. He caught himself before he was discovered, and slowly and regretfully withdrew his hand.
    She’s not ready , he reminded himself. She needs time.
    The battle inside him waged and he continued fighting his desire for her. Still, he tilted his head back as if in surrender and thanked God, heaven and fate for his precious gift—his Olivia.

Chapter 9
    Because it was a small island with only few roads, the drive to Fira seemed longer than it should. She was still in shock over his arrival and still couldn’t understand why he’d come.
    I came here to be with you, his words continued to replay in her mind. While they partially explained why he had come, they also surged emotions in her she wanted to forget.
    Her feelings for him were her reason for leaving home, but he’d found her. There was no escaping him now without telling him the real reason she left. It would hurt him to hear the truth, and she couldn’t stand to see the look on his face, the torment and pain she witnessed before.
    Something had happened to him while she’d been away, something he wasn’t revealing. He’d come to her needing a friend, and she didn’t have the heart to turn away the man she loved when he needed her the most.
    They were friends and had been for months. She wasn’t a fool to think he didn’t enjoy her company, but their relationship was what it had always been, a friendship, and it wouldn’t lead where her heart wanted it to go.
    Hearing his words though, every time he uttered, “I came here to find you,”or “I came here for you,” her heart fluttered with hope. That hope crashed and burned when her conscience reminded her, the inevitable truth: he cared for her as a friend.
    She knew because she was his friend as he was hers. Had he been attracted to her, he would’ve made a move months ago. It was for the better. Had he kissed her, she would have fallen much sooner only to be broken when he reminded her she wasn’t his.
    When they arrived in Fira, he once again opened the car door for her. They walked briskly and entered several shops. Cain purchased at least two weeks’ worth of clothes including swim trunks, shirts, jeans, shorts