Page 13 of No Escape

Without further comment, Sarah slipped her wet sneaker into his palm, placing her hand on his shoulder to brace herself for the boost up. He glanced up just as she looked down, and for a moment, his eyes were at level with her breasts. They slowly rose to meet hers.

“On the count of three.”

Sarah dismissed the rush of awareness heating her blood. Lord, what is wrong with me? For a moment, she’d wondered what it would be like having his mouth on her breasts. Maybe they should take their chances on the ground, where there was more room for them to move around. She was about to suggest it when Clint’s voice broke the silence.

“Grab the first limb and haul yourself up.”

She did as instructed, stretching until she reached the lower limb of the tree, barely, struggling with an effort to get a good grip. But that was getting her nowhere fast, except for scrapes and scratches from the rough bark. The next thing she knew Clint assisted by putting his hands on her rump and shoving her upward.

“Thanks,” she breathed, glancing up when he joined her on the same limb. “So, where’s our bed?”

“Eager?”

She didn’t take the bait. “No, tired enough to appreciate a bed anywhere, even if it means sleeping with you.”

A chuckle escaped him. “Just follow me, and for God’s sake, don’t fall. I don’t want to be stuck carrying you out of here with a broken leg.”

“Your concern is touching,” Sarah muttered, yawning.

They climbed until reaching a large fork in the tree, the trunk so wide you could indeed lie down on it. But it was only big enough for one person. Sarah examined the netted contraption he’d arranged. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Crazy was more like it.

“It’s safe,” he assured her. “I’ve used this device several times.”

She glanced back at it with a frown. “It doesn’t look very comfy.”

Clint actually laughed, the deep, rich timbre slicing through the forest on the wind. “It’s not supposed to be comfy, angel. It’s supposed to keep you from falling while you’re sleeping.”

Sarah’s eyes ran over it doubtfully. “I think I’d rather take my chances on the ground.”

He stepped onto the fork, lifting a section of the net he’d placed there. “It’s simple really. Come here.”

Surprisingly, she did as he asked, stepping closer to him. “Now what?” She wrapped an arm around a smaller branch to control her balance.

“Now you lay down. Our combined weight will hold down the net I’ve spread over the trunk. This half of the net,” he explained, indicating the piece he was holding in his hand, “will be pulled up and anchored on the other side of you, forming a wall against your back.”

Sarah glanced down toward the ground but couldn’t see through the branches and because it was dark. Nevertheless, she knew they were pretty high up. She looked back at the contraption, then at Clint again.

“You have to trust me, Sarah.”

“Trust comes from years of knowing someone,” she pointed out. “It’s something you earn.”

“Do you trust Susan?” he surprised her by asking.

Of course she trusted Susan! She answered him with a nod.

“She’s the reason I’m here,” Clint reminded her.

He had her. After several seconds of contemplation, Sarah cautiously lowered herself until she was situated in the split the way he wanted her. Noticing his duffel bag where he’d dropped it, she pulled it beneath her head to use as a pillow, leaving half of it for him. She peered up at Clint but he was already checking to make sure it was anchored securely.

Once he seemed satisfied with the results, he grinned down at her. “Comfy now, angel?” He dropped a blanket over her.

“Oh, yes,” Sarah yawned loudly, curling on her side. “Just make sure you don’t hog the blanket when you come to bed, darling.”

Sarah thought he hadn’t heard her until his voice drifted down to her. “You know angel, sooner or later your sassy mouth is going to land you in hot water.”

Sarah felt him drop down next to her, laying his head on the other half of his duffel bag but leaving the blanket alone. Good.

The last thing she needed was to be curled up beneath a hot blanket with a hot man.

---