The woman that walked into Skinner's two weeks later wasn't the one Camden had met almost a month before.

Yara wasn't scared, angry, or alone. She wasn't even the global superstar that he'd spent countless hours researching, looking for clues as to who this woman really was. What had happened to her.

He knew now.

He knew her now.

And he wanted to know more. Wanted to know everything.

Cam couldn't shake the idea that he was tethered to Yara somehow, and didn't understand when it had happened. Or how. There was no one moment he could point to and say 'there. That's the second I fell.'

"Hey," she spoke quietly as she removed her sunglasses. It was just after three o'clock and the pub was quiet.

The sun poured through the glass behind her, framing her in gold.

"Hi." Cam leaned on the bar as Yara walked over, a guitar case in her hand. She looked rested. Happy, though a little unsure.

He was in the same boat.

Yara glanced around. "Looks like I missed the lunch rush."

"Yeah."

She set the guitar down and climbed on a stool directly in front of him. Eighteen inches of polished oak separated them, but Camden could still feel her pull.

"I thought you were in Miami."

"I was," she replied. "All packed up and moved out."

"And where will you live now?" He tried to keep the suggestion out of his voice, but she smiled anyway.

"I'm considering my options."

"I see."

They stood there grinning at each other, and Cam was content to do just that. But...

"I got a call from Warner Brothers. They..." Yara dropped her gaze to the bar top. Tracing the woodgrain with a fingertip, she seemed to be gathering the strength to say something. Something Cam would like hate to hear.

"Good news or bad?" He prodded, needing to be put out of his fucking misery.

Yara looked up at him from under her lashes.

The need to kiss her was almost overwhelming.

"They offered me a deal," she said, almost apologetically. "They bought out my contract from Kaine's label, and they want to support the new record with a worldwide tour."

"Oh." Shit. Fuck. Damn. "That's...that's good, right? Or...?"

She nodded. "It's amazing."

"You don't sound like it."

Another small smile. "I told them I'd think about it. The truth is, I don't want to have anything to do with that record."

"The multi-platinum album that everyone's in love with?"

"It's not me, Cam. Not the kind of music I want to make." She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "I sound so ungrateful right now."

"No."

Camden jogged to the end of the bar and around to where she was.

"Not ungrateful. You sound like someone who knows who they are."

Yara nodded, but she didn't look convinced. "They know I'm not happy with the record, which is why they've given me the option. Really, they don't have to. Not the way the original contract is worded."

"It wouldn't look good if they forced you to tour, after everything you just went through with the, you know, accident, and with Kaine."

"Yeah," she said in a small voice.

"What do you want, Yara? Do you even know?"

She sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair. It moved like water atop her head, inviting him to dive in deep.

"I know what I want. I just...I don't know how to want what I want. I don't know how to make what I want okay to want."

She smiled. It was his smile.

"What would make it okay to want what you want?"

Her eyes, those mesmerizing eyes, they shined for him. “If you wanted it too."

Well, damn.

"I do." His hand shook as he brushed the hair out of her face. "I do, love."

Hope sat on his shoulders like morning mist waiting to dissipate. Love was never easy. It was never, ever this easy.

"What could we really have, though?" She asked, his hope reflected in those gemstone eyes. "The way we began, we can't expect this to last."

"You're wrong, lass."

Camden took her face into his hands, gently caressing her cheekbones with his thumbs. Yara felt like home to him. She had since the night they met.

"We've had the kind of beginning that makes it impossible to see the end."

Her mouth was on his before he could draw another breath. Cam sank into the kiss, pulled her roughly against him and she came willingly.

He was desperate. Too desperate. Needed her too much.

And Yara shivered in his hands.

"Cam..."

"I know. Fuck..."

Grabbing her hand, he pulled her toward the back.

"Wait," she wriggled away and picked up her guitar. "This is my baby, I can't leave it."

She smiled, and Camden laughed.

"Can't leave your baby."

They stumbled through the office door, lips locked together, banging into everything along the way. Yara set the guitar down on the floor and then jumped into Camden's waiting arms.

He kicked the door shut behind them.

"What about the bar?"

"Kitchen staff is here," he answered between bites and nibbles. "And Kris will be in soon."

Long legs wrapped around his waist. Her jeans were so tight, Cam thought he might need to take a pair of scissors to them. There was no way he wasn't going to have her. No way.

Not when she was panting and mewling and whispering his name like a prayer. Already.

He managed to make it over to the small sofa before tripping over his own feet.

Yara stretched out beneath him, her eyes dark and hooded.

Cam lowered himself over her and was rewarded with a soft sigh as delicate arms circled his back. His lips found their way behind Yara's ear, and her breath hitched.

Her hips grew more insistent as his cock rose to full attention behind the zipper of his suddenly too tight jeans. Yara ground up against him, and, yeah. Yeah. This was good.

"Have you ever christened this love seat?" Her voice was low. Husky.

"No. Never."

Camden found himself staring down at two glistening jewels set into a face so beautiful he could only just stare sometimes. Yara was everything he wanted.

Just fucking everything.

Gorgeous, talented, smart. Smarter than him, that was for damned sure. And kind. She was so damn kind.

"Cam?"

He braced himself over her and dipped his head to claim that sinful mouth.

Yara arched into him, giving as good as she got.

Cam dropped kisses along the curve of her jaw, pecking her lips before making his way down her throat to heaving chest.

He glanced up. "Yara?"

"Want you."

Her eyes in his, Yara took his hand and guided it to the button on her jeans. Together, they popped it and slid the zipper down. He was invited to touch her feverish skin, so soft.

Cam slid his fingers down at her quiet insistence and found her hot, wet, ready for him. He slipped a finger between her slick folds and Yara's eyes snapped shut.

He could feel her pulsing against his hand.

"Fuck."

The sound she made spurred him into action. Cam made quick work of her jeans.

Yara, as eager, as desperate as he was, lifted her hips to help.

Cam jumped up and lunged for the door, locking it, before stripping down and getting back to her faster than humanly possible.

Yara was nude. A vision. Smooth, tan skin and curves for days. She smiled up at him, stretched her arms above her head and just smiled.

Everything in his mind went quiet, and then there was nothing but skin-on-skin as he lowered to his knees, settling between her parted legs. Cam circled her waist with his hands, pulling her to him. He used his broad shoulders spread her trembling thighs.

"Cam..."

He paused. "Yara?"

"Hurry."