She stared at the stars again, shivering until her teeth chattered. Was he with a woman? If so, why had he brought her along? Jealousy felt like fire ants beneath her skin, and she didn’t like it. She took several deep breaths and calmed her heart rate, as she’d been taught. This was an adventure, even if Garrett abandoned her. She deserved an adventure before she died. Plus, she’d been warned by Garrett that many of the people around them were dangerous, so perhaps staying safe in the sleeping bag was what she wanted.
She missed him. How silly was that? She’d known him for less than a day, but she felt as if he’d been with her for years, ever since the dream. Riding behind him on his bike and touching him for so many hours had been more than she’d ever hoped to feel. He was more frightening than her dream man, and she knew he’d only brought her along because he wanted to solve the mystery of her initial statement to him, but even so, he’d been both kind and gentle with her so far.
And that orgasm. She’d never imagined feeling so close to the sun, but she’d reached that point. Not the heat but the absolute brilliance of the moment.
She wanted that feeling again, and right now, she felt bereft. A line from a Poe poem filtered through her mind. A dream. The heartbreak of life. She’d been heartbroken when she’d learned of her condition. Each time she’d been examined by a new doctor, she’d felt a slim hope. No more. Acceptance was the final step of any seven-step program, and she had reached that state.
Even so, her heart sped up as Garrett emerged from the copse of trees. She didn’t even know his surname. The firelight cast his features into contrasting light and darkness, so many sharp crooks and angles. His steps were sure, and the play of his muscles graceful, leaving no doubt of the predator living within his skin.
Her breath stuttered, and all poetry flew out of her head. The brilliant masters she’d studied for so long had never viewed this man. Never. Not one of their lovely lines neared the beauty inherent in him. Was he an angel? A dark one to take her to Heaven? A fleeting thought and a silly one. Even so.
He toed off his boots, the metallic glow of his eyes piercing the darkness. “You’re cold.” His shirt came next, revealing raw muscle highlighted by the fire. In one smooth motion, he removed his jeans, opened the sleeping bag and slid inside, bringing warmth and the scent of leather and motor oil. “Should’ve put you closer to the fire.”
She turned toward him, drawn by his warmth. His hand cupped her head.
“I should be afraid of you,” she whispered.
“You most certainly should.” A flash of his white teeth lit the darkness.
“Is your business concluded?” His tempting flesh was so near, and she’d never touched a man.
He sighed, his breath smelling of fine whiskey. “Not even close.” A shriek shattered the evening, and it took her a second to realize it was a cry of ecstasy. He grinned. “There’s some playing going on two camps over. We tried to put you and the kids where you wouldn’t see too much, but I can’t control sound waves.”
“I don’t mind.” She tentatively reached out and flattened her hand over his heart. His skin was heated and so silky, and the muscles beneath her palm made her stomach flutter. “Are you finished considering me a threat?”
“You’re definitely a threat.” He gently pushed a piece of hair away from her face. “Where did you get that knife, Destiny?”
Oh. This was an interrogation. Fascinating. She’d expected pain and fear. Not muscles and warmth. “You don’t like to hurt people smaller than you, do you?”
“No, and I really don’t like to harm females.” His fingers curled around her neck.
She tried to swallow, but her throat forgot how. “Seduction is your weapon?” Not that she cared. When one faced death in less than four weeks, being seduced sounded like a fine outcome.
A slow chill wandered down her spine, surprising her. The entire day had felt like another dream. But this was real. She was in a sleeping bag with a man. Not just a man. This one was twice her size and heavily muscled.
He propped himself up on one elbow to watch her. Even the moonlight seemed to gravitate to him, caressing his skin and illuminating those high cheekbones, while leaving the darkened hollows at peace. “You okay?” he rumbled.
She bit her lip. “I’m realizing my precarious position.”
His smile was slow, and his chest moved as if he’d chuckled. “Just now?”
“Yes.” She swallowed, acutely aware of the heat rolling off him. At least she’d stopped shaking. “I became caught up in the romance of racing away from all of my problems, and there was such an incredible feeling of freedom riding behind you.” But now conflicting feelings caught her. She wanted to know more about him, and she wanted to touch him. To have him touch her again. Yet what was she thinking? She might only have a month left to live, but she wanted those four weeks. He was much stronger than her, and if he wanted to hurt her, he’d probably succeed.
“We can go to sleep if you wish.” His legs were bare and her feet cold, but she remained still.
The urge to touch him was a physical burn. “Do you believe me? About the dream?”
“No,” he said softly.
She blinked. “You don’t?”
“It doesn’t make sense to me, so no, I don’t believe you once had a dream about me.” He didn’t sound too concerned.
Her spine stiffened. “You think I’m a liar, and you still brought me on this trip?” The truth hit her. “You brought mebecauseyou think I’m lying.” Wait a minute. It had been her decision to accompany him. Hadn’t it?
“Listen. Your reaction to seeing me was genuine. I’m definitely in your head—I just have to figure out how I got there. I think somebody is taking advantage of you to get to me.”
Heat flushed up her neck. Wait a minute. He not only didn’t believe her but thought she was some simpleton who’d been manipulated? The insult awoke her normally dormant temper. “That’s it.” She started to shimmy out of the bag.
