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Chapter Eight

Noah

Noah shivered as the cold breeze drifted through the pines, bringing with it the threat of snow on the horizon.They had been walking for close to three hours and were almost at the car, but in those hours, the temperature had dropped twenty degrees so it hovered around ten degrees above zero.Even with the trek through the mountains where he had on his thermal layers, heavy parka, insulated ski pants, two layers of socks, and snow boots, he shivered.

He glanced at Jade.Her head was down and pushed through the wind, but she looked as though the cold temperatures didn’t affect her, which they probably didn’t.

When he’d woken before the sun started to rise, he could feel the chill in the air, especially because he was naked under a layer of sleeping bag.But Jade had radiated heat and without thinking about it, he moved her on top of him.She was a lightweight and the warmth that came from her body lulled him back to sleep.

The next time he woke, Jade had her arms crossed on his chest, her chin resting on her hands as she watched him slowly come into consciousness.He could tell she was worried about his reaction to her after a night’s sleep, but nothing had changed his mind about her.He reached down and gripped her waist before he pulled her up for a scorching kiss.She gave a little squeal of surprise that turned into a moan and Noah deepened the kiss.

He could smell her arousal and when she tilted her hips, he could feel her wetness and heat against his stomach.

“Please, Noah.”

Her words snapped something deep inside him and he flipped her onto her back before he kissed her, putting all of his desire into that one kiss.

When they made love, it was soft and slow, lingering kisses and touches.Far from the untamable desire that exploded from them the first time.It was sweet and hot at the same time and when they found their release together, their names were whispered and carried off in the quiet morning.

Noah had no idea why this would have affected him more than their heady first time, but he found himself studying Jade.The way she walked, with destination and purpose in mind.The way she looked back at him often, making sure she didn’t leave him behind.And the small smile she would give him when she remembered making love to him, and the wicked one when he knew she wanted to do it again.

She was both a vixen and the most innocent woman he’d ever met.He could tell the first time he touched her.Her gasps and moans caught in her throat as his touch surprised her.Noah knew that he could have a lifetime with Jade and she would still surprise him.

Noah was pulled from his thoughts when big, fluffy snowflakes drifted down from the sky.At first, they were absorbed into the mushy, snow-covered ground and melted on their clothing, but within minutes, the snow had accelerated and they couldn’t see five feet in front of them.And to add insult to injury, the wind started blowing from the west.

“Noah, we have two choices.”

He nodded for her to continue.

“I carry you on my back to the car and we try to drive out of here before too much snow can accumulate or we find another place to camp tonight, having no idea where that might be.It’s your choice.”

Knowing their chances weren’t good at finding another spot like the cave they’d left, he put away his pride.“Let’s get outta here.”

Jade handed him her pack and he immediately dropped it in the snow.“How much shit did you pack?”

She laughed at his expression, but instead of answering him, she strapped the pack to her chest, turning around so he could secure the straps around her back.Jade glanced over her shoulder and nodded for him to come closer.

“Okay, time to hop on.”Her words were almost absorbed by the snow falling at a steady pace.

Without time to waste, Noah hopped on, hoping he wouldn’t throw off her balance and they would both end up in the snow.Miraculously, she reached for his thighs and wrapped his legs around her waist as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, allowing her the chance at movement.

Jade already started moving before she had adjusted Noah on her back.Although he remembered she was immortal and immensely stronger, faster, and an absolute badass, it still took him by complete surprise how easily she carried Noah.He calculated that they covered several miles in fifteen minutes.He couldn’t tell how close they were to the car, but Jade’s pace increased as the snow started coming down harder.

“I don’t know if we’re gonna be able to drive out of here.”

Jade looked grim as she took in the accumulation as she slogged through the thick snow.“Yeah, but it’s a Land Rover so we can raise the body and see if that will work.If not, we’ll try to get into Crested Butte and look for a hotel.”

He knew they were twenty minutes from town, but they’d taken all dirt roads to get to where they’d left the SUV.He hoped that it was snowing less where they were going.

“We’re about a quarter of a mile from where we parked.When we—”

Jade froze and Noah had no idea what she sensed.In the next second, Jade jerked her body and without warning, she fell backward, flipping at the last minute so her back slammed into the snow and her arms were wrapped around his torso.The moment she landed, she flipped him so her back was exposed and that’s when he noticed.

Blood.

A lot of blood.

Jade rummaged in the pack and pulled out his MP5 and shoved it in his hands.That was when he noticed the blood soaking through her white and pink parka at her right shoulder.He tried to surge to his feet and put pressure on the wound, but her hand opened on his chest as he went to move and she pressed him back down.