Just the thought of it made her breathing grow faster.
“Easy, baby. I’m here.” Eli sounded really close, but she still jumped in fright when he placed his hand on her shoulder.
“Argh!” she cried.
“Shh, it’s just me,” he soothed.
“I know. Sorry.”
“Stop saying sorry,” Kellan ordered.
He really didn’t seem to like the word ‘sorry.’
“Where are your flashlights?” he asked as Eli moved his hand down to hers, taking hold.
Okay, she shouldn’t like the feel of his hand around hers so much. Should she?
“Come on, baby. Come with me and we’ll try to find them.”
A light flashed and Kellan held up his phone. “Or we can use this.”
“For fuck’s sake. My phone has died, why didn’t you tell me yours had battery life left?” Eli said.
“Because I wanted you to bump your toe, of course.”
Eli started muttering as she hid her smile. Sometimes it was hard to tell when Kellan was joking or not. He just said everything in that same deadpan tone.
“You’re an ass,” Eli grumbled.
“I’ve got my phone somewhere too,” she said. “I think it’s on the nightstand by my bed.”
“You mean by your mattress,” Kellan replied. “On the floor. No one should sleep on the floor, Arabella.”
Right.
Of course it wasn’t ideal. And her back definitely didn’t enjoy it.
But what choice did she have?
“Can you get her phone, Kellan?” Eli said with exasperation. “And we need to find the fuse box and see if that’s the cause of the power outage.”
“W-wouldn’t it just be the s-storm?” she asked, her teeth chattering as Kellan disappeared.
Well, she assumed he’d disappeared since the light was gone.
Eli wrapped an arm around her, hugging her tight. “Are you cold, baby? Or scared?”
“I d-don’t know. I didn’t think I w-was scared of the dark. B-but here I am. S-shivering in the d-dark like an idiot.”
“Hey, you are not an idiot.” He turned her to face him. Well, she thought he did. A hand cupped her chin, tilting her head back.
Then lips brushed against hers.
She froze. Had he done that on purpose? Did he mean to kiss her on the lips or had he meant to kiss her forehead?
“Am I interrupting something?” Kellan asked, returning with the light. She attempted to jump out of Eli’s arms but he just tightened his hold on her.
“No. Just keeping Arabella warm,” Eli replied, taking her phone from Kellan. “We’ll head into the bedroom and get her wrapped in some blankets. Can you handle the fuse box?”
