Page 50 of A Rebel's Shot

Tiikâan grimaced. “That’s understandable. But we can’t let fear stop us from doing what’s right.”

Gratitude rushed through her toward the man standing before her. She reached out, her hand coming to rest on his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath her palm.

“Thank you. For being here, for believing me. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

His hand came up to cover hers, his calloused fingers intertwining with her own. “I’m not going anywhere, Merritt.”

The words hung between them. The heaviness of them settled over her like a warm blanket, chasing away the chill that had seeped into her bones.

Merritt’s breath caught in her throat as his hand slid up her arm, his touch leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. His eyes, dark and intense, bored into hers, and she drowned in their depths. The air between them crackledwith tension, a magnetic pull that drew her closer, until the heat radiated from his body to hers.

Her heart raced as his hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip. She parted her lips, a soft gasp escaping as he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin.

Time seemed to stand still, the world narrowing down to this moment, to the feel of his touch and the anticipation building in her veins.

When his mouth finally met hers, a flood washed over her. His kiss was gentle at first, a tender exploration that made her toes curl and her heart ache with longing. But as she melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt, the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more demanding.

Merritt’s hands slid up Tiikâan’s shirt, her fingers tangling in the soft hair at the nape of his neck. She poured every ounce of gratitude and longing into the kiss, trying to convey with her actions what she couldn’t put into words.

In this moment, with Tiikâan’s arms around her and his lips on hers, all that had consumed her mind during the last several weeks quieted. There was just him and her.

When they finally broke apart, both of them breathing heavily, Tiikâan rested his forehead against hers, and her eyes fluttered closed. She savored the feeling of his arms around her and the way his heart raced beneath her palm.

“So, what’s our next move?” he asked, his rough voice breaking through her thoughts.

Merritt took a deep breath and pushed back just enough to see his face.

“We need to find out more about the geologist’s report, see if we can corroborate his findings. He’s meeting us at the hangar tomorrow morning. I’m thinking we’ll drop him off at the mine, get him set up, then head up to Barrow. Uncle Nolan is still there, but he’s planning on heading back to Texas tomorrow afternoon.”

Tiikâan nodded, his expression determined. “You’ll want to put security on Dr. Erikson, just to make sure nothing happens to him.”

Her eyes closed on a swallowed sob, and she went to step away. Tiikâan held her hand tight against his chest and wrapped his free hand around her hip, anchoring his fingers in her belt loop.

“Hey. What’s running through your head?” he whispered.

“I hadn’t thought of security for him.” She shook her head and rested her forehead against Tiikâan’s shoulder. “I feel like I’m throwing him into the lion’s pit. What if I’m dragging him into something that gets him killed, too?”

“We’ll make sure he’s safe.” He leaned his cheek against her head. “Besides, if he didn’t want to help, he would’ve stayed hidden.”

“Yeah.” She sighed, but the reassurance didn’t ease her worry.

“I can reach out to some of my contacts, see if they’ve heard anything about the mine or your father’s death. My sister was a trooper in the investigation unit.Maybe she can dig a little. And I’ll keep a close eye on things at the mine site, see if I notice anything suspicious.”

“Okay.” But even as they made their plans, a nagging fear tugged at the back of her mind.

She straightened, fiddling with the soft collar of his t-shirt. “Tiikâan, what if… what if we’re wrong? What if my father’s death really was just an accident, and we’re chasing ghosts?”

His grip on her hand tightened, his gaze unwavering. “Then we’ll know the truth, and you can put this behind you. But if we’re right, if there is something more to your father’s death, then you owe it to him to find out what really happened.”

Merritt nodded, the lump in her throat making it hard to speak. She knew Tiikâan was right, that the truth was worth fighting for, no matter how painful it might be.

As if sensing her unease, he wrapped both his arms around her, his embrace strong and steady. Merritt melted into his touch, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill that had settled over her.

For a moment, she allowed herself to forget about the danger that lurked just beyond the door, the secrets that would tear her world apart even more than it already was. At the moment, she felt safe… protected.

“I should probably try to get some rest.” She sighed. “We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

He nodded, his hand coming up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face. “I’ll stay here tonight, keep an eye on things. Make sure you’re safe.”

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