Page 33 of Saving Scarlett
He leaned into my touch, covering my hand with his before pulling himself onto his knees. “We have to keep moving before they pick up our trail again. And we need to find a way to get dry.”
Chapter 29
The Survivor
Leaving the churning river behind us, Bane and I pushed through the dense underbrush, thorns and branches tearing at our clothes and skin. The forest seemed never-ending. The trees were clustered so tightly together it was difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. He led the way, using a large hunting knife to hack away vines and clear a path. I followed closely behind, stumbling over roots and rocks, my legs burning with exertion. The farther we went, the darker and more ominous the forest became, but at least there were no bullets flying past us. Shadows deepened between the trees, playing tricks on my exhausted mind. I flinched at every snapped twig or rustling bush, imagining lurking dangers that probably weren’t there.
Pausing, Bane turned to face me, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you doing okay?”
Although I was barely holding it together, I nodded. I refused to be the weak link—the one who slowed us down.
He studied me a moment before dipping his head. “There are some cabins not far from here … a campground. I’m sure one of them is empty that we can break into so we can rest in for a while.”
Just the thought of stopping was bliss. Relief washed over me, my legs wobbling with the promise of respite.
Wasting no more time, we continued on with renewed urgency. The promise of somewhere to hide from our pursuers, if only briefly, gave us the energy to push forward through the hellish terrain. Finally, the campground came into view, the small wooden structures scattered throughout the forest for people to rent. Sanctuary.
With it still being the off-season, there was more than one empty cabin, so he was able to pick the lock in the outermost building, allowing us inside. The moment the door opened, I collapsed onto the floor, every muscle in my body screaming. We were both filthy, exhausted wrecks, but we had survived the river, and at that moment, we were still free.
Closing the door, he stacked logs in the fireplace, lighting the fire before he slumped down beside me, dropping his head into his hands. I could see his powerful shoulders rising and falling as he caught his breath.
“You think we lost them?”
He lifted his head, his piercing eyes meeting mine. “For now, but we can’t stay long. We should dry off in front of the fire while we can. I don’t want you getting hypothermia.”
With a gentle squeeze to my thigh, he stood and pulled off his shirt, hanging it on the rack in front of the fireplace. I followed suit, not caring that he saw me in my bra. After having his face between my thighs, we were past that point. As much as I needed rest, the urgency of our situation left no time for indulgence. “What’s the plan?”
His jaw tightened. “We keep moving. Head north through the mountains. With some luck, we can make it to the highway and find a car.”
Setting his jeans aside, he closed the distance between us, moving a strand of wet hair from my face. “Hey. We’re gonna make it through this. I promise.” His voice was firm, but his eyes were soft. And despite everything, I believed him. If anyone could get us out of this, it was Bane.
“Here, sit down before you fall down.” Wrapping a quilt around my shoulders, he guided me onto the sofa in front of the fire. I sank down beside him, too numb to resist. We were both down to our wet underwear, his black boxer briefs doing little to hide his assets in the firelight, and I couldn’t help the heat that swirled low in my belly.
“I need to contact Phantom. My phone may have survived the river with its protective case, but my laptop wouldn’t have. If I have a signal, then maybe he can get us out of here.”
“First, let me see where you’re hurt,” he said, sliding off the sofa and kneeling before me, his large hands delicate as they examined the small gash on my arm. I winced as he cleaned away the blood and then wrapped it with a scrap of a clean dishrag he found in the kitchen. His touch was comforting, despite the sting. Craving the reassurance of another human being–of him—I found myself leaning into it.
His eyes met mine, his gaze intent. In the dim light of the cabin, his face seemed to soften. Neither of us spoke, the air heavy between us. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his body and pressing his lips to mine.
For a moment, everything else melted away. The danger. The fear. All that mattered was that moment—the warmth of his lips, the heat of him against me, and the softness of his tongue as it explored my mouth. The kiss was gentle at first, a soft exploration of one another that soon turned into something more.
As if they had been longing to touch me all along, his hands were everywhere at once. His lips caressed mine with every breath I took, his hands roamed down my back and pulled me closer until there was no space between us left to fill. He groaned as he deepened our kiss, a low rumble that vibrated through us both.
The heat of the fire licked at us as we clung to each other in the warmth and safety of the cabin, our bodies alive with a desperate hunger, exploring and tasting until I thought my heart would burst from my chest. His arms were strong around me, the urgency between us was undeniable, both of us wanting more despite knowing the moment could not last forever. But that moment was ours alone, just him and I, in the midst of a perilous journey taking what solace we could find in each other’s embrace before having to return to the world outside the cabin. And because of that, every moment until then was one to be treasured.
Chapter 30
The Savior
Pulling Scarlett into my arms, I lifted her, claiming her lips as I carried her to the bed, all my previous hesitations burning away. I’d thought I’d lost her in that river. Experiencing something like that was enough to scare anyone’s priorities into place.
The warmth from the fire reached us in the one room cabin, the dancing flames the only light as I laid her beautiful body down on the bed in front of me.
For a moment, all I could do was look at how stunning she was, running my fingertips over her curves, the swell of her breasts, and the flat plane of her stomach. Her lips were red and swollen from our kisses and her nipples hard from arousal. I wanted to touch every part of her, but I knew our time was limited.
“You are so damn perfect,” I whispered.
“Bane…” Her voice was a breathless whisper, her dark eyes hungry for more.