“What else can I do?” he asked, turning back to her, gaze full of concern. “Food? A hot drink? Do you?—”
“Ethan.” She touched his chest, feeling a million muscles flicker beneath her fingertips. “I’m okay. You go and check in with your team. I know the missing woman is on your mind. She’s on mine too. Find out if they found her.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
She cupped his cheek, running her thumb over his warm skin. “Go. I’ll be fine.”
He turned his head and kissed the inside of her wrist, making a tingle run straight into her belly.
“I’ll be back.”
She nodded and watched him leave. When the soft click of the door closing sounded, she wrapped her arms around her waist and caught her reflection in the mirror, finally letting the mask slip.
She’d almost drowned tonight. For a few seconds, fear and shock had rendered her completely helpless in the river, and the stream had pulled her down with such relentless aggression that she hadn’t been sure she’d make it out.
How she’d grabbed the tree root, she had no idea. Desperation? Sheer will to survive?
She quickly stripped, and when she stepped into the warm stream of water, her eyes closed.
It felt so good. But it also wasn’t enough. The cold was still inside her, bleeding out.
She took in deep breaths, but the memory of the waves pushing and pulling at her body felt real again. Like she was back there, completely helpless to the onslaught of the water.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there before a knock sounded. Then the door cracked open. “Maggie? Just checking that you’re okay.”
“Can you come in here?”
He stepped inside but didn’t look at her. His eyes were on his feet as he stopped on the other side of the glass. “What do you need?”
Maggie opened the shower door.
Finally, Ethan looked up. His eyes darkened to a green so deep, they almost looked black. “Maggie?—”
“You. I need you.” Her words felt like whispers in the water.
“Are you sure?”
She stepped forward and pulled at the base of his shirt. He helped her, yanking it over his head with one hand. Thentogether, without taking their eyes off each other, they shoved down his jeans and briefs.
Her abdomen flared to life. He was the same as she remembered, but also different. There was more power in his body. His shoulders were wider. He was just…bigger, in every way.
He pulled the glass door closed after himself, taking up so much space that she couldn’t move without touching him.
He gripped her hips. “Are you warm?”
She leaned her cheek against his chest right over his heart. The steady thumps brought her back to the present. Away from the river and the water and the cold. “I am now.”
His arms came around her, and God, the safety that was this man was like nothing else. She’d lived over a decade not knowing if she’d feel these arms around her again. How had she survived that? How had she thought that life without him would be even remotely okay?
“Did they find the woman?” she asked quietly.
His arms tightened. “No.”
Her eyes scrunched closed. “I’m sorry you had to look after me instead of searching for her. I didn’t think. I saw the crashed car and the footprints and wanted to help.”
“I understand that. But, Maggie…” He touched a finger to her chin and tilted her face up. “Don’t ever do that again. Okay? Next time, you get back into your car and drive to safety,thenyou get help.”
She swallowed and nodded. His green eyes were so intense. It was like they saw a part of her,knewa part of her, that no one else saw or knew.
