| you’ve got your medication and a supply of firewood, you could fare on your own until help arrives.” “Are you leaving?” She was stunned by how fearful she was that he would go again. He snuffled a bitter laugh. “I’m tempted, but no. Now that my name has been broadcast, every hillbilly with a deer rifle is going to be on the lookout for me. My hide would be the hunting trophy of the season, and in my present state I’d be easy prey. “No, until I can get some food and rest, you’re stuck with me. But I won’t have you cringing every time I come near you. So if you want to handcuff me to the bed again, I’ll go peacefully. Not exactly willingly, but I won’t put up a fight.” She ducked her head and looked down at the floor, at her own stocking feet, then over at his bare toes, poking from under the wet hems of his jeans. It didn’t take her long to make a decision. “That won’t be necessary, Tierney.” “You’re no longer scared of me?” She looked at him and said simply, “If you were Blue, you wouldn’t have come back.” “But don’t you see, Lilly, I would have had to come back, for my own survival. I would have died out there, one way or the other.” “But you didn’t have to revive me. Blue would have let me die.” “Where would be the thrill in that? Watching you die wouldn’t |
sofa, his arm across her shaking shoulders. “It’s okay now. I’m back, and you’re alive.” She fell against his chest. He lifted her onto his lap, cradling her like a child, enfolding her in his arms and bending his head over hers. He felt her reflexively clutching handfuls of his sweater. “Shh, shh.” He rubbed his lips against her hair. “Don’t cry, Lilly. You’re not supposed to cry, remember? You don’t want to bring on another attack by crying.” He tipped her head up and smoothed back her tangled hair. Thank God her complexion no longer had the gray cast of death. Cupping her head between his hands, he ran his thumbs across her cheeks to wipe away the tears. Looking directly into her eyes, he said, “Short of dying out there, nothing could have kept me from coming back.” His gaze lowered to her mouth. Her lips were soft, full, pink now, slightly parted, tremulous, damp from drinking water, possibly tears. At the base of her throat, the smooth skin throbbed with each beat of her heart. Curbing the impulses dunning him, he stood up, lifting her with him, and carried her to the end of the sofa, where he lowered them both onto the mattress. He sat with his back against the armrest of the sofa, his feet stretched toward the fire, Lilly on his lap. He guided her head back to his chest, where she rested her cheek. He reached for one of the blankets and pulled |
