Page 24 of Stuck with My Bossy Protector

“Damn, that feels good,” I groan with pleasure.

I don’t hear her say anything and look down to make sure she’s still conscious. She’s staring into the flames, but she’s awake.

I sit close to her, rubbing her arms to get the blood flowing. “You’re going to be okay,” I say, trying to reassure her. “You’ll be warm in no time.”

She nods weakly, her eyes half-closed. I shrug off my own blanket and pull hers away. “This is strictly about survival,” I tell her.

“What?”

I pull her nearly naked body against mine and wrap us both up in her blanket. I can feel the chill from her body seep into mine.

“Thank you,” Mia whispers, her voice weak but grateful.

“For what?”

“You know what. You saved me.”

I laugh. “I don’t know about that. I think we saved each other. I was very ready to give up out there. I think I knew that once we laid down, we were going to fall asleep, and that would be it.”

“That’s dark.”

“But true,” I reply softly, my breaths steadying in rhythm with the soft crackle from the fire. I tighten my hold around her, feeling her gradually grow warmer against me. “The cold does things to your mind. Makes you see things... feel things you never thought possible.”

She’s silent for a moment. I wonder if she’s drifted off to sleep. It’s fine if she has. I know she’s out of danger now. Sleep would do us both good. But then she turns to face me, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the flames.

“I saw something too,” she murmurs, a hint of vulnerability seeping into her voice.

“You saw something?”

“It’s silly,” she sighs.

“What did you see?”

“It wasn’t what I saw; it was a glimpse of the future. Without me in it.”

I nod with understanding. She thought we were going to die. Her worries weren’t unfounded.

“But we’re going to have a future. We’re safe. We made it.”

The fire continues to blaze, and warmth soon fills the cabin. Outside, the storm still rages, but here, we’re safe. She’s warming up, but it will take time for her to recover fully—for me as well. I keep the fire stoked and make sure she has plenty of blankets.

“Noah,” she says softly, her voice stronger now. “I really am sorry. For everything.”

I shake my head. “You need to stop apologizing. We’re in this together. Shit happens. We’re moving on.”

She smiles weakly. “I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“You would have made it,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “You’re stronger than you think.”

She looks at me for a long moment, then nods. “Maybe. But I’m glad I didn’t have to find out.”

We sit just enjoying the warmth and the fact that we’re alive. It feels like a different world. Safe, secure, and warm.

“Hungry?” I ask her.

“Famished.”

“Do you think there’s any food in this place?” I ask hopefully.

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