"My beautiful spitfire monkey." My heart thudded against my chest when I heard him say my. He gripped the back of my thighs as he pulled himself up, groaning a little. How did he even do that? He was so strong. I could barely lift myself up holding a coffee cup. When he entered the maze, I realized what he had to walk through while carrying me. I told him I'd walk, but his grip just became tighter. "You weigh like a feather," he murmured in my ear. "I'd carry you anywhere, Kara." I smiled on his shoulder, savouring his words. He said he'd never been good with them. He was wrong. He might not say a lot, but when he lowered his walls and showed me a glimpse of his heart, his words dug deep. He was quiet and contemplative again as he walked us back to his cabin. I assumed he knew a shortcut in the maze because it didn't take long at all until he was walking us up to his porch steps and the light flicked on. I heard a series of short beeps as he put in his code to open his front door, and then a longer beep before the click of the lock released. It was dark inside. It smelled clean and new and woodsy. Good scents. Masculine scents. My eyes adjusted in the dark and I had an impression of high ceilings, open space, and generous wall-to-wall glass windows. He toed off his shoes at the entrance. He didn't bother turning the lights on but walked straight until he was gently laying me on the bed. But he didn't join me. "I need something to drink," he said. "You want something?" He was pulling away. I could feel it. Wrapping himself around his misery. We just talked about being open to one another, but I knew it would take time to get used to doing that. He was feeling vulnerable and the right thing to do was to give him space now, let him be for a while. I sat on the bed, watching him move around his place. He turned on a soft dim light before kneeling in front of a fireplace. I couldn't see what he was doing but I had a view of his back and arm muscles shifting as he worked to build a fire. The musky sweet scent of wood floated in the air as the fire started crackling. He rubbed his hands together, wiping them on his jeans. Then slowly he uncoiled his big body and rose. "It should warm up soon," he said without looking at me. I didn't say a word but followed him with my eyes as he walked to the small kitchen. The light from the fridge slashed a shadow on the hardwood floor as he pulled it open. He reached inside, then twisted the cap off a water bottle and drank. His throat muscles working. He grabbed another one and went to me, opening it for me. I reached for it and took a sip. I gave it back to him. He capped it and placed it on the floor. Kneeling in front of me, he took off my shoes carefully. I wanted to slide my fingers in his dark curls, pull him to me, but I resisted. He set my shoes beside the bottled water. He let out a sigh, rose, took off his shirt and socks then sat on the edge of the bed. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees as he rubbed his mouth and chin with his hand. Lowered his head. My heart ached for him. He looked so alone, so lonely. I had a feeling he'd been harboring all these toxic emotions inside himself and although he told me he had people in his life—probably Rick and Caleb—he didn't talk to them about his problems. How much did he share himself with them? I could be wrong, but I had a feeling not much. He seemed so wrapped up. "Cam," I said. "Don't go there by yourself. Let me in." I crawled in his lap again. He was warm now and his masculine scent—the cool blue scent of it was stronger. I inhaled it in. "I'm here now." His arms wrapped around me. No hesitation this time. No uncertainty this time, but just acceptance. Like he'd been expecting it and I was welcomed. It gets easier every time. "Kara," he said, his voice gruff with emotion. "I don't think I can let you go." I swallowed my heart back down. "Then don't." "Stay here with me," he whispered, his voice filled with need. "Just like this. Just right here. Just tonight." "I'm not going anywhere. Let's lie down." He slid up on the bed, taking me with him. He cradled me as he stretched out, pulling me on top of him. I shivered at the feel of his hard length pressed against me. His warm soft skin under my palms. I shifted so that I lay on the bed, but half of me was on him. He seemed to like that because he wrapped his wide hands around my waist and turned me so that my back was to him, then he pulled me closer, plastering me to his side. His arm snaked around my stomach, under my breasts. "Kara," he whispered. His lips softly grazed the back of my neck. "Right here with you, Cam. Go to sleep." He let out a deep, long sigh, his broad chest inflating then deflating. And then he was asleep in an instant. It must have taken all of his energy to tell me everything in the maze. Being mentally exhausted could be worse than physically exhausted. He wasn't used to sharing his thoughts or problems to anyone. I was the same, but we could start being more open to each other. I could trust him. He could trust me. The thought filled me with warmth, like submerging myself in a warm, warm bath. Only ten times better. I closed my eyes, sighing deeply, and fell asleep with a smile on my face. When I woke up, I felt confused. I blinked at the semi-darkness, at the sound of crackling fire, and then the glow from the fireplace. And then the heat coming off from Cameron's hard body wrapped around me. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of him beside me. He didn't snore. In fact, he was so quiet in his sleep. I turned my head slowly so I could see his face. I wish there was more light so I could see him clearly. And then... coffee... I slowly extricated myself from him, taking care not to wake him up. His arm was heavy as I lifted it off my stomach. When his fingers grazed my nipple, I gasped sharply and almost jumped. Damn. I snapped my eyes to his face to check if I woke him up. He didn't move. Finally I eased off him and stood beside the bed. And just stared. Naked from the waist up, he was sleeping with a frown on his brow. His body was so long and muscular—a warrior's powerful body. He was so beautiful. His dark curls stark on the white pillow. His tanned skin healthy.