Page 33 of Wilde Flame

“Lilibeth!”

My eyes opened, and I saw Caden. I had to blink a few times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. It was really him. He’d found me.

I jerked awake when I felt Caden moving behind me. We were in a small barn. One I hadn’t been in before. Once he was on the ground, Caden reached up and helped me down, then carried me over to a bench. He walked away quickly, coming back with a blanket, which he wrapped around me.

“Th-thank…you.” My entire body was shaking.

“Let me get Orion settled, then I’ll get you to the house. The barn’s heated, so you should start to warm up.”

All I could do was nod as I slowly lay down on the bench and watched as Caden cared for Orion. I closed my eyes but forced myself to stay awake. I could hear him talking, telling Orion that he was a good horse, and he’d get extra oats and a few peppermints. The animal softly neighed his response, and I felt myself smile.

Then he was back and helping me sit up.

“Come on,” he said, as he swept me up into his arms yet again. I wanted to protest, to tell him that I could walk, but being in his arms sent warmth racing through my entire body, and I decided to just let him carry me.

“It’s just a short walk to the house,” he said quietly, as I nestled my face closer to his throat.

And he was right. Because it couldn’t have been more than a minute or two before he spoke again.

“Here we are.”

He walked through a back door that led into a small mudroom, gently sitting me on another bench. He took off his jacket and hung it up before bending down to pull off my sneakers.

“Why in the hell are you wearing sneakers?”

I shivered. “I wasn’t…I wasn’t expecting…to go riding,” I said. “Or to get stuck…in a…storm.” My teeth were chattering as I tried to speak.

“Fuck, your socks are soaking wet.”

He took them off as well, then pulled me to my feet. He took off my jacket and hung it next to his, along with his scarf. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he led me through the house and to his bedroom. He urged me to sit on the side of the bed, then he quickly got a fire going. When flames were crackling in the hearth, he turned to face me…and pulled off his shirt, dropping it to the floor.

My eyes took in his hard muscles and perfect abs as he stripped down to his boxers.

He walked over, took my hand, and helped me to stand. “We have to get you out of those wet clothes, Lilibeth.”

I was so tired, and I had one hell of a headache, but I understood his words and knew he was right. I raised my arms, and he pulled my long-sleeved shirt over my head, then worked on my jeans. My legs felt weak, so I held his shoulders while lifting each leg so he could peel the wet fabric off. Finally, I stood there in nothing but my bra and panties, which had managed to remain dry.

Caden pulled the heavy quilt and sheet back and motioned for me to get in. I did so without hesitation. He climbed in after me.

“Roll onto your side, facing away from me.”

I did as he said, and felt his strong arms pull me close. Caden Wilde was spooning me, and the warmth of his body was nothing short of heavenly. The more I shivered, the closer he held me, until my body slowly stopped shaking and his heat engulfed me.

“Is that better?” he asked. His voice sounded both strained and husky.

“Yes.”

My own voice sounded brittle, and my eyes felt heavy, but I forced myself to stay awake. My headache slowly began to ease as I warmed up.

“Thank you, Caden. For looking for me.”

He held me a bit tighter. “You’re welcome, Lilibeth.”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I tried to ignore the way my name sounded on his lips.

I wasn’t sure how long we’d lain there in his bed, but the sound of Caden’s slow breathing started to relax me completely, and before I knew it, I’d drifted off to sleep.

Opening my eyes, I felt Caden’s arm still around my waist, but it was heavy now. The feel of his warm breath hitting my neck sent goose bumps over my skin, and I shivered involuntarily.