‘That’s it.The spring.’Porter set her down gently, then crouched low, using the rocks and roots to steady himself as he leaned in.On his knees, he cupped a handful of water, sniffed, then sipped.
Finally, he gave a small nod, then scooped in again, taking a deeper mouthful.Even splashing some across his face and through his hair.
‘I’ll take that as a yes,’ she rasped, her throat parched.She pushed up onto her good foot, trying to inch closer.
He caught her, steadying her weight before she could topple.‘Easy.Small, slow sips.Don’t rush it.’
She scowled, licking cracked lips.‘Why?Can’t you tell I want to dive face-first into it?’
His grin flickered wide.‘Believe me, I want to do that, too.But if we dive in, we’ll stir up the mud—and trust me, Montrose, drinking that’ll give you something worse than a hangover.’
He left her to sip slowly, where she eagerly, yet awkwardly cupped at the water with unsteady hands, and brought it to her lips.
The first taste was… odd.Cool against her tongue but heavier than she expected—minerally, like the earth itself clung to it.Not clean or crisp like bottled water, but fresh in a way that felt ancient.
Either way, it was soothing as she swallowed, washing away the bulldust still lodged in her throat.She had to sip some more.
‘Don’t rush it,’ Porter warned again as he unbuttoned his shirt, jumping over the rocks and tree roots, moving further around the waterhole to crouch at its edge.There, he gently laid his shirt across the surface without so much as a ripple, letting the white fabric soak through.
Then he wrung it out over his head, letting the water trickle across his bare torso.Dipped it again, slower this time, then brought it back to her.
Even in the low light, she could see his windswept hair was tangled, but her gaze dragged lower, over lean lines and hard ridges of muscle glistening with sweat and water.Strong, capable—even out here in the rugged wilderness, Porter moved like he belonged—the hunter who knew this land.
She’d never met a man who stirred something so primal inside her, where a soul-deep pull mixed with raw appreciation and bucketloads of warm, gooey gratitude.Few men would’ve carried her across the country in the dark like he had.And from the look in his eyes, he’d keep going until she was safe.
‘Here,’ he said, holding out his wet shirt, freshly wrung dry.
All that remained of his suit was his trousers, which did wicked things to his impressive thighs.And the necktie, loose around his neck, tempting her to tug on it and drag him down for a kiss.
But she couldn’t.
Even if her pulse had picked up, sending a surge of electricity to ripple beneath her skin, as her gaze drifted over his bare chest of muscle and quiet strength.
There was no gloss or polish to Porter.Just the man that was real and unapologetic.
And that rugged, primal appeal of his masculinity had scrambled her brains, while bringing up all those late-night fantasies hidden within her.The place where she used to keep her dreams.Where her heart and soul had been locked away, but were now rising, like the dawn of a new day, free from the shackles of her past.How did that happen?
‘Use my wet shirt to wash your face.’
‘What about you?’she croaked.
‘Take it while it’s still white.I’ll only make it worse.So, ladies first.’He shared that grin that used to annoy her, the way he’d tilt his head right before he’d tease her.‘If I had my camera with me, this’d be the perfect shot, Montrose.’He held up his hands like a movie director, with his thumbs and fingers framing her.
‘Behave.I look like a train wreck in a ballgown.’
‘You don’t see what I see.’He gently wiped the dirt from her cheek, and along the curve of her jaw with his damp shirt.
His touch was so incredibly tender, that she was seriously close to passing out from the overwhelming rush of emotions that swamped her.Things she’d never felt with another human before—but did with Porter.
‘You’ve still got your tiara on,’ he murmured.
Their eyes locked.
She didn’t move, but could feel the heat radiating from his skin.
The frogs had gone silent, as her pulse pounded in her ears.One breath closer and she’d kiss him.
A ripple stirred across the water, that was soon followed by a heavy snort.
