Page 180 of The Illicit Play

She’s in my arms.

She’s safe.

She loves me.

Shit, I never want to let her go. But as we sink a little deeper into the kiss, I become hyperaware of her quivering muscles. She’s been out all night in these freezing-cold conditions, adrenaline pumping through her, and she’s gonna crash soon. In fact, I think it’s already starting. I need to get her warm and hydrated. I need to check on her ankle.

So stop kissing her and do that!

Just one more.

I swipe my tongue against hers, holding her tight for one last squeeze before finding the willpower to do the right thing.

“I need to get you warm and hydrated, baby.”

“Yeah.” She keeps kissing me, peppering my chin with her shivering lips.

Pulling away from her, I wrestle out of my jacket and wrap it around her, rubbing some warmth back into her limbs.

Taking off my beanie, I nestle it over her curls, pulling it down past her ears.

“Now let me check out this ankle.” I ease her off my lap, keeping a firm hold on her arm until she’s settled safely on the ground beside me. Taking the time to do upthe jacket and making sure she’s snug, I then take a quick look at her ankle.

Now that I’m out of my relieved haze, I’m starting to think logically and feeling that pressure of getting her back to my Jeep as fast as possible.

Gently pushing up Blake’s pant leg, I frown down at the swelling, shifting her sock so I can press the tender skin. She winces as I gently prod it and go through the first-aid checklist in my head. I keep an eye on her reaction, my stomach clenching at the obvious pain slicing through her.

“Yeah, it’s definitely busted,” I murmur, dragging my bag toward me and taking out the first-aid kit. Handing her a water bottle, I help her take a few sips before asking, “Can you wiggle your toes?”

She gives it a try, but I can’t see because I’ve chosen to keep her sneaker on. With the threat of hypothermia lingering, I need to keep her extremities as warm as possible.

“Yeah, I think so,” she squeaks, wincing again.

“Good, that means the chances of a breakage are slim. I’m guessing it’s a bad sprain.” Digging a bandage out of the kit, I wrap it around her ankle and sneaker, securing her foot as firmly as I can before checking out the rest of her.

She’s got a few nicks and bruises, her hands scratched up from her trek through the forest. I brush my fingers lightly over the superficial wounds and resist the urge to tell her off for being so reckless. We can deal with that later, but I ammakingher promise to never do this to herself—or me—again.

“I know it was stupid,” she whispers, carefully watching my face.

I glance up, forcing a closed-mouth smile. She doesn’t need me adding to her regret right now, so I lean forward with a soft kiss and murmur, “You’re safe now. Let’s get you home.”

She lets out a soft snort. “Home? Where’s that?”

Resting my forearm on my bent leg, I give her a gentle smile and tell it to her straight. “It’s with me.”

CHAPTER 64

BLAKE

Those three little words, said with such conviction, send a warm smile whistling through me. My lips curl at the corners as he hands me a couple of pain meds. I take them without complaint, my chest still buzzing as everything he’s said to me starts to sink in for real.

He loves me

My home is with him.

When he stands and holds out his hand to me, I take it without hesitation.

Helping me up, Grady’s strong arm then comes around my waist and steadies me. It’s going to be a long hike back to the parking lot, but I can do this. I’ve still got the shakes and am feeling kind of wrecked, but a few more pulls from his water bottle boost my determination, and I cling to his shoulder as he supports me along the track.