Page 21 of Peaked Desires

I swear my life flashes before my eyes as I search up and down the riverbank. A sudden gust of wind blows me off balance and that’s when I see it.

A log has fallen over the river, the dark shape of a woman holding on for dear life as the raging torrent splashes around her dangling legs. If she lets go, she’s done for.

I move without thinking. My weight causes me to slip and my stomach flips inside of me. I’m sliding in free fall down the muddy slope, heading straight for the raging river. If I fall in, I’m done for.

“No!” I roar out, unable to control where my body slides.

I feel a sharp rock slice my leg open, pain shooting through me. My hands manage to find a hanging branch to cling onto and I pull myself up. Desperate to get to Elise, I crawl along to the fallen log, locking eyes with her for the first time.

“Huxton!” she cries out, her eyes wide with terror. “Help me! Please!”

“Hold on!” I command, moving towards her without hesitation.

Everything is a blur, adrenaline coursing through me. My eyes won’t focus the blood is pumping so damn fast.

I’ll do anything to save this woman. Anything.

I don’t know how I do it, but I pull Elise up onto the log. It takes every ounce of strength, and I toss her over my shoulder, reaching the safety of solid ground. We collapse together in an exhausted heap, shivering cold and soaked.

“Elise,” I grip her face with both hands and kiss her mouth. “Oh, baby. You’re ok. You’re ok. You’re ok.”

I keep saying the words, convincing myself more than anything.

“My precious girl,” I hold her close, my grip promising to never let go. “What were you thinking?”

There’s no anger in my voice. Just relief.

“I had to help,” she gasps, tears welling her eyes. “I couldn’t let you do this alone. I couldn’t watch you lose everything.”

“You are my everything, Elise,” I say. “Without you, none of this matters.”

“Huxton, I didn’t want to see your dream be destroyed.”

I clutch her hands and hold them to my chest. “You don’t see it, do you? The moment you stepped into my life, you changed everything. You are my dream. You are everything I want in my life. Forever.”

“But what about your father? You were doing this for him, not me. I wanted to help you achieve that.”

“And I still do. But without you…” I lean up on my knees, begging her to listen as I hold both her hands tighter. “Without you, Elise, none of this matters anymore.”

She swipes at her eyes.

“I mean it. I love you. You’re my family now. I want to marry you, have kids with you and start our own dream.”

“I want that, too,” Elise says, tears streaming down her face.

I lean in and press my mouth to her lips, a fierce, desperate kiss. I pull her close to my chest. I’m never letting her out of my sight again. Never.

“You scared the hell out of me, baby,” I say, kissing the top of her head.

She whimpers against my chest, and I just hold her there. I’ll stay like this forever if it means she’s safe. We need to get back to warmth and safety, but I’m not moving from this position. Not yet.

***

The storm lasted all night.

Everyone camped out in the safety of the restaurant, huddled and silent for most of the night. No one got much sleep. It wasn’t comfortable, but we were safe.

Elise stayed wrapped in my arms. I’ve promised to never let her go again, and I damn well mean it. I’ll have nightmares for the rest of my life after seeing the fear in her eyes yesterday.

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