around the fact that these people had convinced themselves of such a thing. Not only convinced themselves, but fucking acted upon it.
Yes, Kandace needed to leave. But she needed a plan. She was in the middle of nowhere. She didn’t even know which direction to head. And even more concerning, she had a feeling the three girls who’d escaped had tried that too, only they were never heard from again.
Another chill went through Kandace and she brought her hand to her swollen belly again. “I’m going to figure this out,” she whispered into the silence of the room. “I’m going to get us out of here.”
She didn’t know how, but she’d just made a promise, and she intended to keep it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Scarlett opened her eyes, turning toward Camden in the dark and finding his side of the bed empty. She sat up slowly, catching sight of him standing at the balcony, his masculine form outlined by the glow of city lights. As her eyes adjusted, she saw he wore only his boxer briefs and held a water bottle at his side. She took the opportunity to watch him unaware, to drink in the athletic grace of his body, the beauty he seemed almost completely unaware of. She understood why now. He’d practically reached adulthood without ever being taught of his appeal. Instead, he’d been isolated, shamed, a terrible vision of what sex was presented to him in his tender, formative years. He was damaged, yes, but he was also strong. Stronger than he realized. He was good and honorable. Loyal.
Scarlett got out of bed, wrapping the bedsheet around herself and approaching him from behind. When she slipped her arms around his body, he startled slightly, then chuckled, the sound low and deep. She turned her nose into his back, breathing him in and then kissing the smooth skin of his shoulder.
“I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No. Well, maybe. I think I sensed you were gone, even in my sleep.”
He smiled down at her as she dropped her arms and came around his side. He lifted the bottle of water, still half full and offered it to her. “Thirsty?”
She shook her head and he draped his arm around her, pulling her into his side. “What are you doing out here all alone?”
She heard his smile even though he was turned away. “Just reliving what we did in that bed in there.”
“Yeah? What part are you at?”
“I’m stuck on the moment you did that swirly thing with your tongue.”
She laughed. “That swirly thing, huh? You liked that?”
“Like doesn’t seem like quite the right word.”
She laughed again, dragging a finger down his chest. “You know, there’s a small chance you can relive it in body, not just in thought.”
He grinned and her chest constricted. Even in the dimmest of light, he was so beautiful he made her heart ache.
“Come back to bed,” she invited.
He followed her into the room where they made love again, the sounds of the city drifting softly to them from the open balcony door, the cool night breeze whispering over their heated skin.
Camden gathered her in his arms and they lay in silence for several minutes, his fingers running up and down her arm. She sighed. “I assume this isn’t what they meant when they asked you to keep tabs on me,” she said wryly.
Camden let out a soft laugh that quickly faded. “No.” She looked up at him, his features etched in worry. “What’s going to happen when we get back?” she asked. She hadn’t wanted to burst their happy little bubble with talk of guilds and missing girls, but it was reality, it was his reality especially, the one he’d lived most of his life, and this was no time to bury their heads in the sand for too long either.
Camden sighed, unwrapping his arm from around her and sitting up. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and leaned forward, stretching his neck. “We can’t be seen together, Scarlett.”
She sat up halfway too, bringing the sheet to her breasts and leaning back on one elbow. “We can’t be seen . . . why not?”
He looked back over his shoulder so she could only see his profile. “Because if I have any hope of becoming a guild member, a woman like you wouldn’t make an acceptable prospect.”
Hurt spiraled through her and it took a moment to swallow down the lump in her throat. He turned before she could speak. “They’re not my rules. But