Page 178 of The Illicit Play

My hands are shaking as I place them on the ground and very slowly turn my body around. I’m now on my knees, facing the rock and cautiously trying to straighten myself up.

He can’t reach me unless I put in some effort, and there’s no way I’m risking his life for mine.

I don’t want him coming any farther away from the ledge he’s on.

“That’s it. Nice and slow. Nice and?—”

A gasp flies out of me as the jacket slips off my shoulders, tumbling down the edge and showing me exactly what’s gonna happen to my body if I don’t take care.

My breath catches, my heart about ready to explode as I rest my head against the cold rock face and beg my body to work for me.

“I know you’re hurting, baby.” Grady coaxes me to look up at him. “But you can do this.”

I snap my eyes in his direction to see him lying on his stomach, positioning himself perfectly so he can reach down for me. His big, strong hand is stretched out just above me.

All I have to do is take it.

“Take my hand.” He wiggles his fingers. “Use the wall to balance yourself and rise up on your good leg. You can do it.”

Clenching my trembling jaw, I slither up the wall, waves of fear-filled nausea surging through me.

My legs protest as I put weight on them, my bum ankle stabbing me with a sharp complaint.

I hiss and lift my foot off the ground, the sudden movement making me flail, then lose my balance.

“Blake!” Grady’s shout is overrun by the terrified scream popping out of my mouth as gravity does its best to end me.

CHAPTER 63

GRADY

My heart catapults into my throat as I thrust my hand forward and just manage to snatch her wrist.

She’s still screaming, and I swear I think her mind is tricking her into believing she’s falling to her death.

“Blake!” I shout, ignoring the strain on my arm. My iron grip on her wrist is locked in place, but I need her to stop struggling. “Blake! Look at me!”

She stills, her blue eyes wild with fear as she glances up.

“I’ve got you,” I assure her. “I’ve got you, baby. See?”

I squeeze her wrist and notice the cloud of terror starting to clear from her eyes.

“That’s it.” I smile down at her, the strain on my arm starting to hurt, but like fuck I’m showing her that. Trying to keep my voice as smooth and easy as possible, I keep talking her out of this panic. “I know you’re scared, but I’m not letting you go. You’re not gonna fall, okay? I’ve got you.”

She starts to nod.

“All I need you to do is stay calm and help me pull you up, okay?”

She nods again, her vision obviously clear enough to see and understand everything I’m saying.

“Gimme your other hand. Reach up. That’s it. Reach, reach, reach.” I snag her other hand and grunt, using all my strength to drag her up the rock face.

She digs her knees in, half climbing as I tug and wrestle her out of this precarious position. As soon as she’s beside me, I grip her hips and lift her up the steep incline, pushing her up the last part until she’s crawling onto the flat ground above us.

Ragged sobs are punching out of her, and I quickly scramble up, crawling behind her until I can reach her again. My hand lands on her back and she quickly spins to face me, launching herself at me with such speed that I lose my balance and topple onto my butt.

Wrapping her legs around me, she clings tight, whimpering against my neck. “I thought I was gonna die.”