He chuckled. “Can’t help it. So, how many of your food rations do I get this time?”
Gemma grinned, recalling his story about their encounter when they were kids. “None. I’m eating them all.”
She could feel his smile. “You’re not going to let me fall asleep any time soon, are you?” he asked a moment later.
“Nope.”
“Well, since the others will be sleeping...” Gemma lifted her head to peer at his face—his eyes danced with mischievousness.
She glared playfully at him. “Keep your mind out of the bedroom, Holm. I’m also not going to let you get your blood pressure up. Besides, you only have one arm.”
“And?” Christian gave her a look that said he knew enough moves that zero hands were needed.
Gemma’s cheeks incinerated as a tingly feeling burned inside her. She wouldloveto experience those moves, but she also had to make sure his brain didn’t blow up.
“I’m ignoring you,” she replied, returning her attention to finishing his cast.
He chuckled. “You’re so beautiful when you’re flustered. Helps with the pain.”
She shook her head as her heart fluttered.
Minutes later, the cast was in place and Gemma maneuvered his broken arm into a sling.
He growled and tipped his head back, a pained snicker escaping between his gritted teeth.
She reached into her backsack and pulled out a medicine delivery pen. “This’ll help with the pain, but it might make you sleepy. So, don’t get annoyed if I keep waking you up.”
He grabbed her wrist before she could stab him. “I’d rather stay awake with you. I’ve had worse.”
Gemma frowned. She hadn’t asked more questions when he’d shared about his training with the Falaichte. At the time, she’d been too shocked to pry. But now...
“How bad was it?” She couldn’t meet his gaze.
He swallowed, knowing what she referred to. “Nine out of ten times I was the one being hunted because I refused to play.”
Gemma’s heart sank. No wonder he was so good at map reading and terrain scouting. He’d had to excel at it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Ask whatever you want.” He squeezed her hand. “I told you I’d tell you everything.”
Gemma forced a smile, her eyes connecting with his at last. “You’ve told me all I need to know.”
He drew her close, wrapping his good arm around her and planting a kiss at her hairline. For minutes they simply sat there, the playful bickering between Imara and Hawk the only voices in the room. Gemma closed her eyes, relaxing into Christian, and rested her head on his shoulder.
An argument between the guys woke Gemma from her slumber. She crawled out of her shelter to find Hawk and Colton in each other’s faces while Christian sat on the ground, his free hand in his hair.
“What’s going on?” Gemma asked as she approached.
“This idiot wants to keep moving forward to find another exit,” Hawk said, waving a hand toward a pathway from the cavern in which they stood. “As if we have time to do that. We should use the rope, climb back up, and follow Christian’s original route.”
“I told you,” Colton replied, “those runners are still going to be there. We obviously entered their territory. Christian agrees. We’d be wasting even more time going back.Você é burro pra caralho.”
Imara crawled out of her shelter too. “Gentlemen, I am trying to get my beauty rest. Please desist, or I will cut off your balls.”
A corner of Christian’s mouth twitched upward.
Gemma sighed, flicking on her vest’s torchlight and marching into the opening at which Hawk had motioned.
“Where in the blazes do you think you’re going?” Hawk asked.
