Page 29 of Ghost

“Sorry,” he said with a grunt.“We need to move fast and get you warm.This is the easiest way to carry you.”

Mila let her body go limp, surrendering.Every step jostled her, but she didn’t fight as he stomped through the woods.

Adrenaline hummed through her, keeping her from passing out when all she wanted to do was slip away into the unknown.

Snow crunched beneath his feet.His hand lay across the backs of her thighs, holding her tightly.

“Doing okay?”he called.

She tried to reply, but only a squeak escaped her lips.Her feet stung and tingled.Whatever warmth had been in those socks had long since disappeared.

The trees fell away as he crossed the road.He didn’t slow.His heavy steps fell with purpose and without faltering.

The shop came into view.She recoiled at the idea of returning there.He hadn’t said much, but there was no way he was happy about her escape.He’d punish her.Probably worse than the last time.

Apprehension intensified her shakes.She waited for him to turn down the path to the shop, but he didn’t.

Instead, his boots clomped over the wooden porch of the cabin.

Shock hit her as he bumped open the door and warm air touched her skin.He kicked off his boots then slowly pulled her down from his shoulder.He didn’t drop her to the ground but cradled her in his arms, just as he’d done earlier.

He trekked across the foyer and climbed the stairs.

Questions burned her tongue but she didn’t dare ask them.She was too cold to speak.Too scared to challenge him.Did he have another torture chamber in here?

They reached the top of the stairs and he hit the light in what appeared to be the main bedroom.She spotted a king-sized bed before he steered them into the attached bathroom.Kicking the door shut, he sat her on the counter.

Chilly, unamused gray eyes landed on hers as he braced his hands on either side of her.

She shrunk under his gaze, her shoulders shivering aggressively.

“You nearly got yourself killed.”

“Isn’t that the whole point?”she spat.

He scoffed, shaking his head and dropping it down.After a beat, he lifted his gaze to hers and his mouth twisted into a wry smile.Butterflies danced in her stomach.

“You’re doing a good enough job of that yourself.”He straightened and grasped one of her feet.“Let’s see if you have any toes left.”

He peeled the sock down her leg and off her foot, which was red and throbbing.He turned it over in his hands then covered it with his palms.Heat enveloped her skin and she moaned—like actually moaned.

He glanced up at her, one eyebrow hooked.

“You’re warm,” she whispered meekly.

He lowered her leg and picked up her other.“And you’re lucky you don’t have frostbite.”

His hands enveloped her other foot and she shuddered in his hold.He was so close, so invasive.The small bathroom forced him into her personal space.The weird thing was she didn’t mind.

Probably because the guy was like a furnace.

He dropped her as quickly as he’d grabbed her and reached into the shower, flicking the handle.Spray erupted from the showerhead.He held his hand under the mist then reached behind his neck, grabbed a fistful of his muscle shirt, and slid the material over his head.

Mila’s mouth went dry.She looked at the bathroom door.Should she leave?Did he expect her to hop down and just sit in his cabin waiting for him to get out of the shower?

Leaving seemed the logical thing to do.

He hooked his hands into his sweats and shoved them down his legs.