Page 4

THREE

IMOGEN

I say nothing because I’m speechless and as I stare into his bright blue eyes, I lose myself in the process. I am drowning. I can’t breathe and yet there’s a lightness to my spirit I haven’t felt for quite some time.

I can only stare and only when his fingers trickle against my skin, do I realize exactly what an idiot I must look like right now and I gasp, “I’m sorry, I, well, I wasn’t looking and um, tripped.”

His eyes flash with concern.

“Does it hurt?”

I wince as my ankle throbs. “Kind of.”

His strong hands reach for my ankle and as he lifts it onto his muscular thigh, his fingers untie my laces and he eases the sneaker off my feet, his touch surprisingly gentle.

“It’s sprained.”

I try desperately not to pant as he massages the ankle with a strong, reassuring touch and gazes at me with concern.

“I don’t think it’s broken, but we should get some ice on it.”

“We?”

“I’m not going to leave you to deal with this alone” He raises his eyes and as his gaze connects with mine, it floods my entire body with a surprising reaction.

I catch my breath and he peers at me with concern. “We should get you to the doctor.”

“It’s fine; just a sprain.”

He shakes his head. “You’ve turned as white as a ghost. There’s no reason to hide your pain. I’m here to help.”

He studies my ankle with a worried frown and says firmly, “I’ll bind it to prevent it from causing you any further discomfort.”

I say nothing as he removes his sweat soaked t-shirt and rips it into shreds with his insane muscles. I swallow hard as I stare at a chest scripted in black ink that travels down over his shoulders and note the sweat glistening on his toned abs as he binds my ankle with what remains of his t-shirt.

I can’t breathe as my body reacts in desperate lust to a person who is one hundred percent male kneeling before me.

The concentration on his face distracts him from realizing I am openly staring at his chiseled features that are set in stone as he tends to my ankle.

I am insanely attracted to this man despite knowing he’s my teacher and I excuse that because he can’t be many years older than me, anyway.

“I’ll help you up. Don’t put any pressure on your foot and I’ll take you back.”

His husky voice disturbs the fantasy playing out in my mind where he forces me to the forest floor and helps me off with all of my clothes before showing me exactly what happens to little girls who wander foolishly into the forest alone.

“Back?” I have obviously lost the power of rational speech and he must think I’m an idiot as he stands and pulls me up with him as if I am a leaf from the forest floor.

“You have a choice. I can carry you back, or you can try to hobble. It’s your decision.”

Merely the thought of him holding me in his arms makes me dizzy because it hasn’t escaped my attention that he is nearly naked.

His broad chest is gleaming with sweat as he appears to have been on the same mission as me.

Just imagining my face pressed to his hard muscles causes my entire body to fold and I gasp a deep breath, as I say hastily, “It’s okay. I’ll attempt to walk.”

The excruciating pain that almost causes me to cry out is unbearable and I clamp my teeth on my lower lip to hide the fact it hurts like hell.

Then, before I can register what’s happening, he lifts me effortlessly from my feet and swings me into his arms like Hercules, and every wish I ever had is granted in one single act of chivalry.

“I–” My protest is cut short as he tightens his hold and says sternly. “No arguments. It will be quicker this way.”

As he sets off at a brisk pace, my face burns because aside from the fact I’m in man heaven right now, this is also the most embarrassing moment of my life.

“So–” he chuckles. “Are you always this accident prone?”

Despite the circumstances, his question causes me to giggle. “Not normally, only when you’re around, obviously.”

“Do you often run on your own?”

His deep voice rumbles against my cheek as I rest my face against his chest. “I do. I love the freedom it gives me.”

“Same.”

He sighs. “Life can be overwhelming and running offers an escape from that. When you are alone, you are in a safe place.”

His words surprise me. “What do you mean by a safe place?”

“Nobody can reach you. They don’t want something from you, and you can process your thoughts and make plans.”

“And recharge and make sense of the shit life throws at you.” I add and he chuckles softly, the low rumble vibrating against my cheek causing me to smile.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His gentle voice soothes and the fact I can’t see his face removes any barriers and I surprise myself by whispering, “Sometimes we do what is expected of us rather than what we want.”

“As in?”

I check my answer and sigh. “It’s nothing, really.”

“It doesn’t sound like nothing.”

I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or not, but he appears to tighten his hold.

“Peer pressure, I suppose, and the hatred of letting anyone down.”

“Then be honest with them. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I pause before whispering, “Because I would be alone again.”

He doesn’t reply and as we head out of the trees, I realize that we have reached the river and he says softly, “We’ll sit here for a moment and catch our breath. It’s not far from civilization, but I have a feeling you could use a little space.”

As he lowers me gently onto the ground, he sits beside me and I’m touched when he lifts my ankle onto his lap and says huskily, “It’s best to keep the ankle elevated.”

“Of course.” I’m not sure where to look because now I have no place to hide. When he carried me, I couldn’t see his face, and it brought with it an easy acceptance of the situation. Now he is staring at me with concern and it’s a little overwhelming because this man is freaking gorgeous.

Conversation stalls as we sit silently gazing at the river and after a while, he says in his deep husky tones, “This is a beautiful place.”

I note the sparkling river surrounded by lush greenery, the sun catching the gentle waves as the river gurgles toward its destination. Birds flutter overhead, their sweet song serenading the moment, and a gentle breeze causes the leaves to dance in the trees.

“I love nature.” I admit, and he smiles.

“Nothing compares to its beauty.”

His gaze burns a trail through my body and I must admit that nature was having a very good day when she created him.

Up close, he is a perfect example of mankind. I’m guessing he must be in his late twenties. Tall, dark and handsome were words invented to describe him, from his gorgeous blue eyes to his strong jaw, his mouth set in an easy grin and his body the result of meticulous training.

It’s awkward as I surreptitiously attempt to sear this moment into my mind for eternity without appearing too interested in a man who is strictly off limits.

“You mentioned peer pressure.”

His statement comes from out of nowhere and I nod, my despondent sigh his only answer.

His eyes burn into mine as he whispers huskily, “You only get one life and there is no point in using it to please others above yourself. If you do, you will be cheating yourself and them by covering the truth and altering your destiny.”

I swear I could listen to his husky voice all day and I am desperate to learn more about him, but it would be overstepping the boundary.

Instead, I nod my acceptance of his statement.

“I know you’re right, but it’s complicated.”

“Not really.”

There is nowhere to hide from his searing gaze, as he apparently reads every thought in my mind.

I don’t miss how he is holding my ankle carefully in his strong hands as he stares deep into my eyes and as moments go, this one will be revisited several times as a memory I still can’t believe I can call mine.

As I smile back at him, I notice a flicker of concern, or is it apprehension, that quickly passes when he says with regret, “We should go. Your ankle should be strapped and you could probably use some painkillers.”

“I suppose.”

As he stands, my breath halts as I stare at his awesome body and before I can object, he swings me back into his arms and heads off at speed, as if I weigh nothing at all.