should’ve slammed the door in my face and told me to go to hell for good measure. It was an asshole move, kissing her like that, but I’d been so engrossed in the nightmare, and then relieved when I’d woken with her in my arms. The glimpse of a future I’d once wanted more than anything in my entire life had shaken my resolve not to touch her.
I situated my hat and camera over my head, glaring at the damn sunrise, cursing it for making everything look different. I wanted to go back to the darkness, where I could forget my rules, my reasons for keeping Rain away from my heart, and just let her heal me.
Harrison had blamed me in the nightmare. Always had, and rightly so. The picture was so clear in my mind, reliving it over and over again until my gut twisted in my sleep. I hadn’t had a nightmare in a couple of years, though they used to wake me and send me rushing to the bathroom to empty whatever meal I’d had for dinner. Getting closer to the cave that had taken Rain’s father from her, and my mentor from me, must have forced the damned thing back into my brain, giving it free rein to fester and explode.
The exhaustion didn’t help, either. Or the fact that I hadn’t had a drink of water since we’d left the hotel in Neve Ativ.
I heard Rain breaking down the tent behind me, and I slowly turned around. She had her back to me, her long, blond hair tucked back into a tight ponytail that stuck out beneath the brim of her hat. She’d changed into a breathable cotton T-shirt and a sturdy pair of khakis with plenty of pockets, which somehow still managed to show off what an incredible ass she had. After she secured the tent to the bottom of her pack, she turned around. I locked on to those beautiful eyes that were nearly as refreshing as getting a taste of the water I so desperately craved.
“Good morning,” I said, fully aware how lame it sounded. Seriously? I’d had my tongue in her mouth not five hours ago, and my hands all over her body as she’d ground against me in the most delicious way. My dick twitched with the thought, and I mentally forced myself to lock it down. Again.
“Morning.” She flashed me a small smile, and again her kindness shook me. She didn’t glare, or accuse, or even take a drink of the water I knew she had in her pack. My crew had never hidden the luxuries afforded to them. Not that they needed to—it just put Rain on a different level. After packing up, she walked to where I stood close to the mountain’s edge and surveyed the area.
“You ready?” she asked, waiting for my cue as I stood there staring at her. I snapped out of it and nodded.
I led the way farther east and made sure to hug the path of trees that had offered us a bit of shelter from the winds last night. I stopped after a few paces, turning to face her, and looking straight at the camera on her head.
“Today’s objective is to continue to lead the opposing crew to the wrong location and pray we find a water source along the way.” I pointed to my lips and leaned closer to the lens to give the audience an up-close view. “As you can see, my body is already showing the effects of dehydration even after only a little over twenty-four hours without water. Because of the strenuous climb and hike up the mountain, much of my energy is being depleted quicker than if I stayed put. I always advise any hikers or adventurists to stock their packs with an efficient amount of water for the trip, but I want to show you what to do if you find yourself stranded without gear, or lost for days longer than what you’d initially planned for. Finding water is essential to survival, and if we don’t find a source today, I’m going to have to get creative, or risk dying in a matter of days.” I turned back around, continuing the trek along the narrow path ahead of me. My quads burned with each step, the terrain becoming steeper the farther northeast we went.
After a few miles, a sledgehammer had taken up a sick beat in my
I situated my hat and camera over my head, glaring at the damn sunrise, cursing it for making everything look different. I wanted to go back to the darkness, where I could forget my rules, my reasons for keeping Rain away from my heart, and just let her heal me.
Harrison had blamed me in the nightmare. Always had, and rightly so. The picture was so clear in my mind, reliving it over and over again until my gut twisted in my sleep. I hadn’t had a nightmare in a couple of years, though they used to wake me and send me rushing to the bathroom to empty whatever meal I’d had for dinner. Getting closer to the cave that had taken Rain’s father from her, and my mentor from me, must have forced the damned thing back into my brain, giving it free rein to fester and explode.
The exhaustion didn’t help, either. Or the fact that I hadn’t had a drink of water since we’d left the hotel in Neve Ativ.
I heard Rain breaking down the tent behind me, and I slowly turned around. She had her back to me, her long, blond hair tucked back into a tight ponytail that stuck out beneath the brim of her hat. She’d changed into a breathable cotton T-shirt and a sturdy pair of khakis with plenty of pockets, which somehow still managed to show off what an incredible ass she had. After she secured the tent to the bottom of her pack, she turned around. I locked on to those beautiful eyes that were nearly as refreshing as getting a taste of the water I so desperately craved.
“Good morning,” I said, fully aware how lame it sounded. Seriously? I’d had my tongue in her mouth not five hours ago, and my hands all over her body as she’d ground against me in the most delicious way. My dick twitched with the thought, and I mentally forced myself to lock it down. Again.
“Morning.” She flashed me a small smile, and again her kindness shook me. She didn’t glare, or accuse, or even take a drink of the water I knew she had in her pack. My crew had never hidden the luxuries afforded to them. Not that they needed to—it just put Rain on a different level. After packing up, she walked to where I stood close to the mountain’s edge and surveyed the area.
“You ready?” she asked, waiting for my cue as I stood there staring at her. I snapped out of it and nodded.
I led the way farther east and made sure to hug the path of trees that had offered us a bit of shelter from the winds last night. I stopped after a few paces, turning to face her, and looking straight at the camera on her head.
“Today’s objective is to continue to lead the opposing crew to the wrong location and pray we find a water source along the way.” I pointed to my lips and leaned closer to the lens to give the audience an up-close view. “As you can see, my body is already showing the effects of dehydration even after only a little over twenty-four hours without water. Because of the strenuous climb and hike up the mountain, much of my energy is being depleted quicker than if I stayed put. I always advise any hikers or adventurists to stock their packs with an efficient amount of water for the trip, but I want to show you what to do if you find yourself stranded without gear, or lost for days longer than what you’d initially planned for. Finding water is essential to survival, and if we don’t find a source today, I’m going to have to get creative, or risk dying in a matter of days.” I turned back around, continuing the trek along the narrow path ahead of me. My quads burned with each step, the terrain becoming steeper the farther northeast we went.
After a few miles, a sledgehammer had taken up a sick beat in my
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