Page 14 of Duty Bound

“That’s it. Come as far forward as you can before angling up. Try to stand too soon and your back won’t be clear.”

Lily put one hand on his knee. Another on his thigh. She gasped and let go of him.

“You okay? Did you scrape your back?”

“I’m fine.” Her voice carried a small tremble.

“Alright, then. Time to work your way up the shaft. It’s a tight fit, but it’s doable.”

“I don’t know if I can.” Her voice was tight and high pitched. She was seconds away from panicking. “There isn’t enough room.”

“Listen, Lily. The only way we’re going to get you out of here is if you climb up my body. I can help you, but you’ve got to get to your feet first. Don’t worry about hurting me. Push against me as hard as you have to, but stand up.”

Whether it was the urgency in his voice or her own fear, he couldn’t tell, but she shuffled forward. He pressed tighter against the wall to create as much space as possible.

Her head banged into his knees, then his thighs, and then into his groin. He tensed, willing his body not to react to her closeness in case he put her off. It was almost pitch dark. He’d switched off his headlamp when he’d stood so as not to attract any unwanted attention from above. The milky glimmer from the unseen crescent moon was their only light source.

Grunting, she turned her face sideways, so it wouldn’t be plastered against his stomach, but his T-shirt was rising along with her head. He felt her hair on his skin. Slowly, she got to her knees then finally to her feet. She’d filled out since he’d last seen her, which admittedly was almost a decade ago. Her curvy hips dug into his and her plump breasts pressed against his torso. With every breath, he felt the softness of her chest expand into his.

“Are you sure about this?” she whispered, her face less than an inch from his. Damn if he couldn’t feel her breath on his lips.

“I’m sure.” He kept his voice calm and steady, even if inside he was anything but. Her hair cascaded around her face and tickled his neck, like it would if he woke with her in his arms.

He swallowed. Where the hell had that thought come from?

Lily tilted her head to glance up at the hole, but her nose bumped his. She whispered, “Sorry.”

He sensed infinite discomfort in those two small syllables.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Enough was enough. He couldn’t handle the close proximity. His body was seconds away from getting the wrong idea—and that would not be good. “I’m going to lift you from the waist as far as I can. Use your knees and feet to climb me, your hands to pull you up the walls. When you’re high enough, stand on my shoulders, from there, you should be able to reach the top and haul yourself out of the shaft.”

She nodded, her nose rubbing against his again almost like an Eskimo kiss. Their breath mingled in the darkness, and he felt so close to her that for a fleeting minute he considered leaning in to let their mouths meet. It wouldn’t take much, less than an inch. What would she feel like? Taste like? Would she respond?

What the hell?

Get a grip, soldier!

This was Spade’s nerdy girlfriend, except she wasn’t so geeky anymore. Her lush body played havoc with his senses, and for some reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

“I’m ready,” she whispered.

He placed his hands around her waist then lifted her, her body flush against his. Her breasts bounced into his face, and he nearly came undone. Sucking in a harsh breath, he twisted his head to the side. It wasn’t to avoid embarrassing her nearly as much as to avoid embarrassing himself. Fuck, they were incredible breasts. He inhaled deeply. It took all his willpower not to bend his head and nuzzle them.

What the hell was wrong with him? Sure, it had been a while since he’d been laid, but this was totally unprofessional behavior. She was a hostage and his best buddy’s girl. He needed to stay focused—not react like an adolescent teenager on prom night.

Her petite frame weighed next to nothing, so he was able to lift her high enough so that her hips were level with his ears. He grimaced as his back scraped against the hard rock. “Can you grab onto anything?”

She bent her knees and hesitantly placed one on each of his shoulders, stabilizing herself. Her groin was right in his face, but she was too busy looking up to notice. She was wearing lightweight cotton trousers, and damn if he couldn’t feel the lace from her panties right through them.

Lace, for fuck’s sake.

That conjured a bunch of inappropriate images, which was crazy since he’d never found her attractive before. He exhaled. The sooner he got her out of here the better.

“I can feel a plant or a root or something.” She stretched higher, tilting her pelvis so her crotch was right in his nose.

Fucking hell.

“Grab it.” Quickly.

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