He shook himself and turned away, keeping watch on the carnival and the surrounding woods. Several minutes passed. They had to hurry. The longer Kellsie was inside the more chance there was of someone catching them here. Marko didn’t want that to happen.
A twig snapped behind him. Sensing he didn’t have much time, he glided toward the trailer door. He opened it and slid inside, pulling the door gently shut behind him.
Kellsie kicked off her sneakers and ripped off her clothing the minute the door closed behind her. For once she didn’t worry about her belongings or being neat. God, her life had changed so much in the past twenty-four hours. Done a complete one-eighty.
When she was naked, she hurried to the bathroom and used the toilet first. When she was finished, she wet a cloth and dragged it over her body. She might not be able to get a shower, but she could certainly get a quick sponge bath. She cleaned herself up as quickly as she could. Marko wouldn’t wait for long.
She grabbed her brush and dragged it through her thick hair. Several twigs and some dust flew to the floor around her. She cast a longing glance at the shower but fought the urge. Instead, she braided her hair and slid an elastic band around the bottom to hold it in place. It would have to do.
Fearing he would step into her trailer at any minute, she hurried to her closet, pulled out some fresh underwear and donned it quickly. Black jeans and a dark, long-sleeved shirt came next.
Her heart was racing from the blast of adrenaline and fear charging through her. When they were outside, she’d heard something, a voice on the wind, chanting and singing. Maybe she was nuts. Marko certainly hadn’t acted like he’d heard anything at all.
She almost laughed aloud at her observation. Of course she was nuts. This entire situation was out-of-control crazy. Her breathing was getting dangerously fast. Any quicker and she was in danger of hyperventilating.
Kellsie took a deep breath and held it for a moment before slowly releasing it. Then she did it again. She had to calm down and get control of herself. No one knew they were here.
But that didn’t mean someone couldn’t come along at any minute. The sun was up and the set was coming alive with people. The director would be back today. Assuming there really was a director and everything Brittany had told her wasn’t all lies. At this point Kellsie didn’t know what was truth and what was fiction.
As crazy as it was, she trusted Marko.
“I’m nuts,” she muttered as she sat down on the side of her bunk and tugged on socks before pulling on her sneakers. She stood and grabbed a hunter green jacket and slipped her arms into the sleeves. She didn’t want to be caught on the run without a coat.
Glancing around, she tried to decide what else she might need.
The door handle didn’t make a sound but Kellsie suddenly knew someone was in the trailer with her. She started to spin around just as a large male hand clapped over her mouth. His hand was so large it covered her mouth and the entire lower half of her face.
Terror filled her and she struck out without thought, driving her foot back in an attempt to kick whoever was behind her. The angle was awkward and she couldn’t get much force behind it. He shifted, wrapping his free arm around her torso, effectively changing him to her.
Shit. Someone had found her. And where was Marko?
She drove her elbow back at her attacker. She struck solid muscle. There wasn’t a sound, not even a grunt from whoever was behind her. Okay, now she was officially beyond scared shitless.
A low noise finally penetrated her panic.
“Shhh. You must be quiet, Kellsie.”
She sucked air through her nose and caught a whiff of earth and trees and familiar male. Marko. She slumped in his grasp and he let his hand fall from her mouth. A flood of relief was quickly followed by a torrent of anger. He’d scared her half to death for no reason. She tried to turn in his arms. She was going to blast him for what he’d done. He was crazy and she was even crazier for believing his over-the-top story.
But he tightened his arms around her, keeping her back plastered to his front. “I’m sorry,” he said in a toneless whisper. “But there’s someone sneaking around outside.”
Kellsie froze and listened. She couldn’t hear anything, but she knew Marko could. He’d surprised her time and time again during their hike through the woods with his ability to smell and hear things that weren’t visible to the naked eye. She knew it was the animal part of him. The bear.
She heard it then, footsteps walking slowly around the trailer. Behind her, Marko tensed. He lifted his right hand and a four-foot sword appeared from out of thin air. Kellsie’s knees went weak. For as much as she’d seen, she was still having a hard time with his poofing things out of thin air. She only wished he could do the same with them and get them out of here. But that, she surmised, was probably beyond his abilities at the moment. Otherwise he could have poofed them back down here without them having to walk.
Tension rose around them until it filled the tiny trailer with its stench. God, she was so afraid. She didn’t want to die. There were too many things she hadn’t done yet. She’d wanted to travel across the country and visit every single state. She wanted to write her book. And as much as she’d like to deny it, she wanted to fall in love and maybe even have a family someday. It wasn’t too late. She wasn’t too old or cynical…yet.
Marko’s forearm pressed against her torso just beneath her breasts. She rested her hand on top of it for balance. His muscles were taut and ready. She could sense his determination. Feel the power coursing through him like magma flowing through a volcano that was ready to blow at any moment.
The footsteps paused just outside her trailer door. She held her breath, not even daring to breathe. Seconds ticked by. Her scalp prickled and a bead of sweat rolled down her back.
Marko didn’t move a muscle. His sword was held high and ready. The thing had to weigh a ton, yet his arm didn’t waver. It was rock solid, just like the rest of him. If anyone could get them out of here alive it was Marko.
Kellsie had no idea where such blind faith came from. It was diametrically opposed to everything she thought or believed in. She didn’t trust anyone, not completely. Okay, maybe her agent, Maury, but that was it. Yet she was trusting Marko with her life. She had every confidence in his abilities and his determination.
And she wasn’t exactly some weak-willed female. She might not have his strength or skills but she would fight. She’d grown up in foster homes and on the streets and was a scrapper and a survivor.
After what seemed like an eternity, but in truth was probably only a few seconds, a voice rang out and whoever was outside the trailer moved away. The footsteps receded into the distance.
Kellsie let out a sigh of relief, all her muscles turning to jelly as she slumped in Marko’s embrace. He was still staring at the door as if he could see through it. He didn’t believe the threat was passed.
Tension crept back into her limbs as they stood there waiting. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Marko’s sword disappeared and he slowly released her.
She dropped back onto the side of her bed, her legs unable to hold her without his help. She took a deep, calming breath. “That was…intense.” And that was an understatement.
“We have to go. We can’t afford to get caught inside.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, leaving a tingling behind.
“You scared the crap out of me,” she told him as she stood and gathered her tote bag. Her netbook was inside, along with her wallet and keys. If they could get to the parking lot without being seen, they could take Betsy and get the hell out of here. She didn’t care if she never saw her clothes again. She could replace all that stuff easily.