Page 75 of Red Captive

“We should do one more circuit,” I tell Steel as I wipe my forehead with the bottom of my T-shirt.

His eyes are on my naked midriff when I drop my shirt. It gives me a small thrill, even though it really shouldn’t. Apparently, I’m an idiot because I can’t stop thinking about that night. About the sex. About doing it again.

It can’t happen.

It can never happen again. My focus is on getting to know the candidates. Soon, I’m going to have to pick one.

Steel is breathing hard. He looks at his watch. “We should get back. You need to start getting ready for your next meet and greet soon.”

I laugh. “You’re tired. It’s not that hard to admit.”

He rolls his eyes, the sides of his mouth starting to lift in what could grow into a smile. “Not even close.” He glances back at the four guards trailing us and then forward at the group who areahead. They’re all in full uniform, including their masks. “I think we should give them a break.”

I giggle. It rained half the night, which means that it’s even more humid than normal. That, coupled with insane heat, has the guys doubled over and trying to catch their breath. I don’t have to see their faces to know that they are under a lot of strain.

I nod. “You’re right. Let’s go back.”

Steel nods.

I adjust my cap, checking to see if my ponytail is still okay through the gap at the back.

Steel starts to walk, but I touch his arm. I quickly pull back, realizing that it’s the first time I’ve touched him since…since that night.

Not thinking about it.

He turns his dark eyes on me; they’re slightly narrowed in confusion.

“I just wanted to thank you for this.” I look around us, feeling the light breeze on my face and the sun on my skin. “It feels good to do something that feels normal, even if we are being trailed by a bunch of guards and we’re jogging the circumference of the palace grounds. I never thought I would say something like that in my lifetime, but here we are.” I laugh. “I guess it’s as close to normal as I can get right now.” I sniff and lick my lips. “I just wanted to thank you…that’s all.”

“My pleasure. I’m sorry I was such a hard-ass before. I shouldn’t have been quite so…” I can see he’s wrestling with finding the right word.

“Mean,” I insert. “Assholerish.”

He laughs. “That’s not even a word.”

“Yes, it is, and it’s what you were to me when we first met.”

“Okay…fine…you’re right. I acted assholerish.” He’s still grinning broadly, and I can’t help but think how sexy he looks when he smiles.

“Oh, and annoying,” I tell him. “You were seriously annoying. You’re still a little annoying, if I’m honest.”

He chokes out a laugh. “How am I annoying?”

“You just are. You can’t help yourself.” Steel is the perfect specimen of a man, and I find that exceedingly annoying. I can’t tell him that, though. I won’t!

“Thanks.” He shakes his head, still smiling. Then he turns serious as we enter the palace. “Are you ready to meet another candidate today?”

“Yes.” I nod.

He grunts, pushing the button for the elevator.

The last two candidates were really nice. There were no sparks, just like with Logan, but they were sweet, kind, and easy to be with.

It will all work out. I know it will. It has to. I have to focus on my family, on their well-being, and it will end well for all of us. If I pick a good person, I’m sure he’ll help me get my family to Mistveil. The more I think about it, the more I feel that getting them here would be the right thing to do. It would be the best thing for all of us. We have no other family on the Mainland. It’s just the three of us, and we have to stay together. I have to be there for them. I’ll make a relationship work. I think it will be easier once Steel is out of my life. I keep thinking about what he said, namely that he would remove himself from this assignment. Although there’s a part of me that feels it would be terrible because I meant it when I said that I could trust him. I highly doubt I would feel as safe with anyone else. Having said that, I think it would be better if he left now. I am in danger of falling for him. Of sleeping with him again, which would lead to me falling for him. I’m torn. I just need to stick to the plan, that’s all.

We step out of the elevator and go down the hallway.

“What the hell?” Steel says under his breath as we round the corner. There must be over twenty guards lined up in the hallway. They’re all in full uniform, including masks.

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