Page 30 of Possession

Maybe the combination of their hot breath in my vicinity was giving me a little clarity. Or maybe I was just living in Bizzarro World. Better yet, I was probably still dreaming.

Of course, my nightmare would include two gorgeous men rescuing me, only to bitch at each other until I ended up drowning anyway.

Blake reached down into the water again and came out with a tool in his shaking hand.

“You sure you can do this, son?”

“Just pull her up when I get her foot free,” Blake said with a growl.

Jack inclined his head. “Go cut the damsel free, James.”

“Fuck you,” Blake said before gripping the tool between his teeth.

I laughed. How could I not? Blake’s hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a full tux. My very own James Bond.

He slipped under the water. His hand was firm on my thigh. I could barely feel what he was doing, but the tightness around my ankle and calf suddenly let up.

Thank God.

Then there was nothing but white-hot pain. I thrashed, but he held me still under the water, and there was no forgiveness in his grip.

“Gracie. Honey, stop.”

I couldn’t stop.Just let me free. Please, let me free.The water was up to my chin. I didn’t remember calling his name, but Jack’s wide-eyed gaze dragged me back into myself. Blake’s name still echoed in the cove.

He’d been down there too long.

Suddenly, my foot was free. I shot above the surface like a cork. Jack dragged me out of the water. He stripped out of his tux jacket, then he pulled it around me. “All right. There’s a girl.”

“Blake,” I screamed. I struggled away from Jack, and I got to the edge of the ledge before Jack hauled me back. His arms were huge and strong, but they weren’t the ones I wanted.

An arc of water sprayed my face as my boot went flying over my head. Then Blake gripped the ledge.

I tried to help him up, but Jack eased me aside to stand and haul him up.

I curled into a ball under Jack’s suit coat. Wool. Gloriously fine wool, but it wasn’t warm. Nothing seemed like it would ever be warm enough again.

Blake crawled to me. He cupped my face. “Sweet Jesus.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “You have some explaining to do, Ms. Copeland.”

“Later,” Jack said. He reached to lift me off the floor of slick rocks, but Blake body-blocked him. “All right, all right. You get the hero card today.”

“Fuck that. Just don’t touch her.” Blake lifted me against his chest.

“Enough.” I drove my hand into Blake’s shoulder. Okay, so it was more like a glancing blow and I was pretty sure it hurt me more than him.

Could a hand shatter from being cold?

“I don’t know what the hell’s gotten into you, but I’m here for one reason—to help Grace. You know why? She’s my friend. So, pull out whatever boulder-sized bug is in your ass, and let’s get her to the fucking hospital.”

Blake seethed, but he finally nodded.

“I can?—”

“Shut up, Grace,” they both said in unison.

“Let me take her, Blake. You’re soaked and just making her colder.”

He gathered me higher until I had no choice but to curl an arm around his neck. I wasn’t sure which of us was shaking more. “Just hold the goddamn flashlight down at our feet so I can get us out of this fucking cave without breaking our necks.”

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