Page 31 of Possession

Jack shook his head and arrowed the light down.

I didn’t want to be rescued. I sure as shit didn’t want Blake to see me like this, but I was glad he’d found me. For once, I couldn’t complain about his high-handed ways. I pressed my face into his neck. The heat from his skin almost made me pull back. Compared to mine, his was feverish.

Behind us, Jack was picking his way out of the rocky cove. His voice was terse as he spoke into his cell. The moon was a few days from full, so I could see a bit better than usual, but his face was still in shadow. His shoulders were stiff. The white of his dress shirt glowed, showing off a lot more body language than usual.

Jack was the affable one. Blake was intense. They were a good balance usually—but something was off tonight. I was too tired to figure it out, but there was definitely something there.

Blake stumbled. Pain zipped through me like a lightning strike. He caught himself, and he palmed the back of my head to hold me closer. “I’m sorry, baby.”

I wanted to sob out my pain and embarrassment, but I decided on stoic silence instead. I couldn’t handle this side of Blake. Not right now when I was fairly sure hypothermia was making me hallucinate.

Because this man didn’t do tenderness. There were pockets of affection in the night, but we were more a clash of wills finally succumbing to passion. The only time he allowed me to breach his walls was when we were skin to skin.

“The ambulance is fifteen minutes out,” Jack called.

Blake tightened his hold. “We can get her there faster.”

“Yeah. Especially if I drive.”

“In that glorified tin can you call a car? I think not,” Blake muttered.

“Can we measure dicks later?” I said against Blake’s neck.

“Oh, I don’t need to whip out a ruler, sweetheart.” Jack’s white teeth slashed in the moonlight. “You picked the wrong team there.”

“I’m certain I exceed any and all measurements required to prove you wrong.”

I pressed my forehead into his shoulder. “Can I go back into the cave now?”

“No,” they both said.

I concentrated on not throwing up as we trudged through the sand. I tried to watch the horizon line, but we were bouncing so much it just made the nausea worse.

“Grace?”

“Hmm…”

“Stay with me.”

“I’m here,” I said groggily. I focused on the moon instead. My arm slid a little.

“Grace,” Blake barked.

“Look, buddy, if you want me to toss my cookies on your very spiffy tux, then you keep yelling. Otherwise, let me just do my thing.”

“Then hold on to me, goddammit.”

“I am.” Why was the moon getting fuzzy?

“Grace.”

The moon winked out. Funny, I couldn’t hear him anymore.

I couldn’t hear anything.

Warm again.

Nice and warm.

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