Page 69

Beth

“Do you mean it?” Ruugar’s voice rasped in my ear, his breath hot on my skin. My pulse thudded faster. He was so solid behind me, too hot, too big, but I didn’t want to move away.

“Yes.” The word escaped before I could hold it back.

He tensed, his arm tightening on my waist. For a long moment, he said nothing, only breathed. “Alright, then.”

A shiver ran across my skin.

“Alright, then,” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Neither of us spoke after that, and I felt every moment of silence keenly, stretched taut with the promise of something I didn’t understand but desperately wanted.

The hours passed in a blur, the rhythmic motion of Ebar's gait doing little to settle the longing simmering in my veins. Ruugar’s warmth at my back and the press ofhis arm around me kept my insides fluttering. His big thighs sheltered mine, and the memory of his voice in my ear left me restless and distracted.

When we finally crested a gentle rise and saw our next campsite, I gaped at the beauty. Everything about Lonesome Creek was amazing. It was going to hurt when I had to say goodbye. Maybe I wouldn’t have to. I felt like everything was changing, rushing ahead of me so fast, I could barely keep up.

The terrain had shifted from dense forest to craggy foothills, the ground uneven with scattered boulders and patches of wildflower-strewn grass. The river cut through the land on the right, carving its way between rugged stone, its water clear, reflecting silver light. Upstream, a series of waterfalls cascaded down, tumbling into pools before continuing onward in a lazy current. The sound of trickling water filled the air, mixing with birdsong and carrying the scent of earth and fresh pine.

Two sturdy wooden cabins for the couples nestled among the trees, their walls built of thick logs. A large cooking gazebo had been placed in the shade of a cluster of tall trees, and just beyond it, I spied the familiar shed stocked with supplies.

We dismounted, Ruugar leaping off Ebar and lifting me, then gently setting me on the ground. He looked me over, and I gave him a shy smile. When he returned it, my heart flipped over.

Mary slid off her mount with Ruugar’s help, groaning and rubbing her back, though she was smiling at Joel.The others got off their sorhoxes as well and grabbed their bags from Barg as Ruugar released the bindings.

The ride had changed things between us. What would happen next?

While everyone left to bring their bags to their cabins, Ruugar stayed behind to unsaddle and groom the sorhoxes, his big hands moving with an ease that made me ache deep inside.

After helping with that, I went to the shed and tugged out the tent, taking pride in the fact that I knew how to set it up.

The process went smoothly this time, unrolling the canvas, staking it to the ground, threading the poles through their loops. I stretched the sleeping bag open inside, brushing my fingers over the fabric, wondering what sharing this space might bring us now.

I finally made myself crawl back outside. As I started forward, my shoes snagged on something, and I froze.

Someone had coiled wire from one embedded post to another, though it was barely visible in the tall grass. Not dangerous, but enough to snag a foot or jolt an intruder.

My brows knit together. A trap. Around our tent. Aroundme.

Ruugar came over to stand with me, gesturing to the wire. “I placed that to protect you.”

My belly flipped. He'd done this for me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Mary stood near the firepit across the way with Carol. She sucked in a delighted breath. “Protective traps are a classic gesture.” Her voice might’ve come outhushed but her meaning came out quite well. Theywerematchmaking. It was incredibly sweet, but my face still got hot.

Did they suspect what we might do tonight?

I turned back to Ruugar, who watched me carefully, his expression unreadable, as if he was bracing himself for a negative reaction.

I met his gaze. “Thank you.” Hope and sincerity and the first touch of love lived in every syllable.

His nod was his only response, but something shifted in his posture, a quiet satisfaction settling over him.

I stepped carefully over the wire with warmth unfurling in my chest.

He was doing everything on purpose. He wasn’t pushing me away. He was presenting me withgifts.

And that made my heart sing like it never had before.