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Purplish blackness engulfed Eden just as vice-like hands seized her beneath the armpits and unceremoniously hauled her against a solid form whilst dragging her toward the embankment.
“I’ve got you, Eden,” A deep, velvety warm voice rasped in her ear. “I’ve got you. Don’t be afraid. You’re safe now.”
Lord Sterling?
Stiff from fear and cold, her icy limbs dead weight, she couldn’t lift a finger in assistance. A tiny, frightened whimper made it past her clamped jaw.
“Just a little farther,” he grated, his breath ragged and labored. “Stay with me, sweet.”
What a delicious notion. If only such a thing were possible.
Then he plopped her onto the shore, dropped to his knees and brushed his hands over her face, patting her cheeks. Tilting her head, he pressed his firm mouth to hers and blew.
Mmm, that’s rather nice.
He pressed hard on her chest.
Ow. Not nearly as pleasant.
A second powerful push. And a third.
Ouch. Not so hard.
She rolled to her side and vomited.
“That’s it. Get all the water out.”
Scraping sopping strands of hair from her face, he cradled her body against his splendid warmth.
Sweet God, she was mortified, not to mention freezing cold.
She wanted to climb on top of his lordship, burrow into his warm, fabulous smelling chest, and stay there until her limbs thawed. Shaking from toe to head, she clenched her teeth to halt their chattering. After a few moments, she forced her lids open, her gaze melding with Lord Sterling’s gentle yet arresting eyes.
“You frightened a decade off my life. I shan’t be surprised to find I’ve gone quite gray.”
He tipped his lips upward as he traced her cheek with his fingertip.
“Please tell me you’re all right, Eden.”
Groaning, she gingerly fingered her throbbing scalp. “My head . . .”
She coughed, clutching at her aching chest, and closed her eyes once more.
Using two fingers, she probed the tender spot at the base of her skull.
“I’m to blame for your head. You were being dragged downstream so fast, I grabbed your hair to stop you.”
Eyes still shut, she managed a wobbly smile.
“So being unfashionable saved my life, it seems.”
“Indeed.”
He chuckled, the sound resonating with relief, yet still held her tight to his chest. She made no effort to move away from the wonderful feeling.
She did manage to crack her eyelids open.
Mouth turned down, worry crinkling the edges of his eyes, he examined her scalp. The merest stubble darkened his carved jaw.
