Page 27 of Never Enough

“Oof!”

Distracted by her attraction to her running mate, she hit the ground with a thud, no time to prepare herself for the faceplant into the forest floor. It was probably better that way, all things considered. If she’d had time to prepare for the fall, she probably would have tensed up and seriously hurt herself. As it was, she’d given her ankle a severe wrench.

A pair of hands touched her shoulders and began to run themselves over her body from head to toe.

“You okay?”

“Get your hands off me, you git. I’m fine! Just tripped.”

“Aww. It’s okay if you’re fallin’ for me, tiny. I don’t mind.”

She heard the teasing smile in his voice, and she rolled her eyes. “Falling like a lead balloon,” she muttered. “Was so busy thinking how to ditch your arrogant ass, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was putting my feet.”

“I’ve heard I have that effect on women,” he admitted.

“Oh, whatever!”

He helped her to her feet, but with the first step she took, she sucked in a scream. If he hadn’t had his hands close, she would have gone down in a heap.

He knelt down to feel her ankle. Even his gentle probe caused her to wince and yelp. “Already swelling. Up you go, on my back.”

“No, thanks. Just give me a minute, and it’ll be fine.”

“Don’t be stubborn. Your ankle’s hurt, and we need to keep moving. Hop on. You’re such a tiny little thing; I doubt I’ll even notice you’re there. You’ll be my own human backpack.”

“I said I’m fine,” she ground out.

“Look, either hop on my back, or I’ll pick you up, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you. That would give you a great view of my ass as a thank you for the spectacular view I’ve had of yours while we were running, although I doubt you’re in a very appreciative mood right now.”

She screamed behind clenched teeth and stamped her foot, forgetting it was injured. Tears pooled in her eyes at the pain.

“Bloody, stubborn female,” he muttered under his breath. “What’s it going to be? Telling me where to go or staring at my ass?”

“I’ll tell you where to go. For the love of… You are such a cunt!”

He winked at her in the moonlight. “Love a girl who talks dirty, but I’d prefer to get a little farther from our friends before we explore that filthy mouth of yours.”

“Oh my god, you are amazing.”

He sighed. “I know. It’s a cross I have to bear.” He turned his back to her. “C’mon, tiny. Let's get out of here.”

Sighing in suffering, Haskell knew she wasn’t getting out of this forest without him carrying her. Not unless she wanted to spend the night on the cold, hard ground, hiding under bushes and praying thePolicia Localdidn’t find her. And even then, she’d probably wake up stiff, sore, and unable to walk very fast.

“Fine,” she grumbled.

Hobbling up to his backside, she launched herself at his hips, knees grabbing on like she was about to bareback ride one of the farm’s horses. His hands curved comfortably around her thighs and hitched her tight. He gave them a quick squeeze before trotting in the general direction they’d been headed when she tripped.

“Where am I headed, tiny?”

She reached down and smacked his ass. “Stop calling me that. Argh! Are you always such a dick?”

“Make up your mind, sweetheart, am I a cunt or a dick? I think it’s anatomically impossible to be both.”

She buried her head in the back of his neck, huffing in frustration. “Neither is desirable,” she replied.

“I dunno. I’ve heard my dick’s pretty marvelous, and I wouldn’t mind getting up close to your c?—”

She clamped her hand over his mouth. “Don’t. You. Dare.” She snatched her hand back when she could feel him kissing her palm through his balaclava. She wound her arms around his neck, squeezing him like a python to show her frustration. “Justjog, burglar boy. I’ve got a flat across from the marina in Valencia. You can drop me off there and be on your way.”

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