“Okay,” she said again, but this time with a bit more confidence. She could do this!
Ethan came up to her with a rope in his hands, looking awkward.
“Uh,” he said, in a strange tone of voice, and Chloe’s interest was piqued. “There’s something that I can do to help you get down safely, but it’s a bit, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Indelicate.”
“Spit it out,” she said, even as her curiosity – and her body temperature – rose. Just what was he planning to do with that rope?!
“I can make you a harness,” he said. “But it requires ropes in places that are, uh…”
Chloe’s temperature was now at the point where steam was probably shooting out of her ears. “Indelicate, huh?”
“Yeah.” Ethan’s eyes were burning as the two of them locked gazes, and Chloe swallowed. Hard.
“Sure,” she said, trying to wave her hand with insouciant indifference, but probably just flapping it about like a crazed bird. “You can’t be too safe.”
“Okay.” Ethan took a measured breath, and slowly went down onto his knees. “Just let me know if you want me to stop.”
“Don’t stop,” Chloe breathed.
Did that sound desperate? That definitely sounded desperate!!
“I mean,” she continued very calmly, “proceed.”
Ethan carefully wound the rope around her waist, and even that light touch made her gasp.
He looked up at her then, his eyes hooded, and Chloe fought back a strangled sound.
“I, uh…” He appeared to steel himself. “Could you please spread your legs for me? Just a little.”
Could I!
“Uh, sure,” she squeaked, wiggling her legs apart.
He looped the two ends of the rope between her legs – and although he was obviously taking care not to touch her more than was necessary, one of his hands brushed her thigh.
Chloe, if she did say so herself, thought that she had done a very good job of not crying out at his touch, though she couldn’t suppress a shiver.
“Sorry,” murmured Ethan, a strained note in his voice.
“Don’t be,” she gasped. “Just… is this going to take much longer?” She thought that if this kept on going, she was going to lose control of herself, throw him to the ground, and have her way with him amongst the ferns, and probably hurl his fancy Laura Piano – or whatever he’d called them – suit pants down into the gorge as well, after tearing them off with her teeth.
“Almost done,” he said, and she dared to look down once more – only to see his facewaytoo close to her thigh.
Oh God, I can’t watch this,she thought, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as he continued to loop the ropes around.If he doesn’t finish soon,I’mgoing to finish.
There was a sudden weight on the ropes – she could only assume that he’d attached one of the clips – and then a few moments later, he said roughly, “Done.”
She opened her eyes, to see him still kneeling in front of her.
“You can stand up now,” she said weakly.
He stood up to his impressive height, and she shivered again. Damn, it really was cold up here in the mountains!
Looking down at his handiwork, she made a face. Nothing that had felt that good should look so unsexy, though she supposed it was probably for the best. This was not the time for sexy things.
Later, though…
Ethan stepped her through how to rappel down the side of the gorge, making sure that she understood everything she had to do. She didn’t even question why he knew these things, content to just use all of her currently somewhat limited powers of thought on paying attention to what he was saying, so that she wouldn’t die the moment she went over the edge.
