Precarious

“Leather,” he mutters.

He reaches back out and pulls me towards him. The freezing air hits my skin as the blanket moves, and I cry out. Krypt takes me into his arms, tucking my hand under his jacket and forcing my face into his shoulder. He’s so warm. My fingers are resting on his hard, muscled chest, and I can’t help but notice how damned nice that feels.

“Shit. You’re like a damned ice cube.”

“It’s not my fault. You were the one who dragged me up here.”

He mutters a curse, and uses his arm to furiously rub my free shoulder. I find myself getting warmer right away.

“You know what they say about gettin’ warm . . .”

“Don’t even think about it,” I warn.

He chuckles. “Can’t blame a man for tryin’ when he’s got a girl in his arms.”

“I bet I’m the only girl you’ve had in your arms that you haven’t fucked.”

“You’re right about that,” he snorts. “You talk the most, too.”

“Be grateful. I could be screaming at you.”

“Or—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off.

I know he’s grinning, and if it were light, he’d know I was, too. I tuck my leg in his, and my body slowly begins to defrost. My eyes get heavy and his breathing evens out—then, before I know it, we’re asleep again.

This time warm.

This time tangled in each other.

~*~*~*~`

The morning comes like a bad cold. My entire body hurts, and every muscle aches. I shift out of the hard, warm body I’m pressed against, desperate to pee. I roll and push to my knees, groaning quietly. Jesus, I’m never sleeping on the ground again. I look over to Krypt, who is sleeping quite soundly. He looks gorgeous during slumber, his big chest rising and falling softly. His dark lashes fan out over his chiseled cheekbones.

If I were a stupid girl, I’d take this chance and run. I’m not stupid, though. I know exactly how it would end: with me dead, or worse, mountain lion poop. Besides, with all this information that I’ve been fed in the last day, I’m not sure being home is the safest option for me right now. Something about Krypt makes me feel safe, like he’s exactly where I should be right now.

Either that or my thoughts are clouded with lust and I’m fucked.

I push to my feet and step out of the overhanging rock area. The fog is so thick this morning that I can’t see a foot in front of me. Great. I’m probably going to walk right into the jaws of mega lion. Swallowing, I tilt my head to the side and listen. I can only hear the sounds of birds, water and . . . nothing else. Thank God.

I walk forward, deciding to go with just walking in a straight line. I put my hands out in front of me, dodging trees. I turn back, hearing Krypt shuffling around. Nope, too close. He cannot, under any circumstances, listen to me pee. I keep walking forward. The trees thin out just slightly. I can hear the sound of trickling water.

I don’t realize that the water is so close until I’m slipping down a bank, screaming, my sore body flying over rocks and jagged pieces of branch. I land in the cold water with a splash. It’s freezing, as if tiny ice shards are stabbing me all over my body. I wail in agony, coughing and spluttering, splashing around as I try to find the surface. It’s too damned foggy.

“The fuck? Ash?” Krypt yells.

“Help!” I squeal.

I hear his boots crunching as I struggle to get out of the water. I manage to pull myself up the bank, shivering violently. I reach the top and fall flat on my face. My entire body burns all over. It’s so cold I can’t even feel my injuries anymore. Krypt’s boots pound through the silence, and I know he’s getting closer. The fog is starting to clear, but I still can’t see him.

“Where are you?” he yells.

“H-h-h-here,” I stammer, my lips trembling.

I pull myself forward just as he comes into view. He stares down at me and his eyes widen. “What the hell are you doin’?”

“I was trying to pee!” I yell. “I didn’t see the water.”

He presses his lips together and I shoot him a warning look. “Do. Not. Laugh.”

He clearly can’t help himself, because he barks a laugh as he reaches down, pulling me up. “There are plenty of trees near the cave, and you walk all the way out here to piss.”

“I didn’t want you to hear me,” I protest.

He wraps his arms around me. “You’re fuckin’ freezing. Come on, we need to get you dry.”

God, I’m cold, and my legs are aching so badly they actually hurt. Krypt takes me back to the cave and sits me down. He lifts the blanket and then hesitates before saying, “Clothes off.”

My eyes widen. “I . . . I . . . I . . . beg your pardon.”

He leans in closer. “I didn’t fuckin’ stutter. Clothes off.”

I stare at him like he’s lost his mind. I mean, he must have, right? He can’t expect me to strip.

“Either you do it, Ash, or I will.”

“I’m not showing my naked body to you.”

“Nothin’ wrong with it, so I don’t see why.”

Oh he’s being funny. I glare up at him. “There is something wrong with it. My ass does not look good outside of these jeans.”

He grins. Asshole.

“I think I’ll be the judge of that.”

“Trust me, buddy,” I snort, shifting, “you don’t wanna see what I’m packing. I am not one of your skinny little Barbie dolls.”