Page 9 of Rescued By the Brooding Mountain Hero

She pounds her fists against my back, but there's no real force behind the blows. "I'm not weak! I can take care of myself!"

Despite the gravity of the situation, I can't help but chuckle. Even now, with the storm raging around us and her ankle throbbing, she's still as stubborn as ever.

"Jade, for once in your life, you're going to have to listen to me," I tell her, starting down the trail at a careful jog. "I'm the expert here, remember? You’ll just have to trust me and do as you're told."

She makes an indignant noise, but I feel her body relax slightly against mine. "Fine," she grumbles, her breath warm against my ear. "But don't think this means you've won."

I smile to myself, tightening my grip on her as I navigate the treacherous path. "Wouldn't dream of it, city girl. Now, hold on tight. We're not out of danger yet."

9

JADE

Icling to Beau's broad, muscular frame as he practically carries me into my cabin, kicking the door shut against the raging storm outside. My clothes are completely drenched, molded to my shivering body like a second skin. I want to keep insisting that I'm fine and don’t need his help, but my teeth are chattering so violently that I can barely get the words out.

Beau gently sets me down on the bed, and I immediately miss the warmth of his strong arms around me. God, even soaking wet and windblown, he's absolutely gorgeous. Those chiseled features, the intensity of his blue eyes, the way his wet t-shirt clings to every ripple of muscle...

I shake my head, trying to clear away the wholly inappropriate thoughts. This man just saved my life, risking his safety to find me in that hellish storm. He warned me not to go out there, but I was too stubborn and arrogant to listen. Now here I am, a shivering, pathetic mess, while he's the calm, competent hero.

"You're in shock," Beau says gently, his deep voice soothing. "We need to get you into dry clothes and warmed up."

I nod meekly, too exhausted and rattled to argue. As Beau moves around the room, grabbing towels and blankets, I can't help but admire the coiled strength in his body, the purposeful precision of his moments. This man is at the absolute peak of physical perfection.

Embarrassment burns my cheeks as Beau immediately starts stripping off my soaked garments without warning. I want to protest, to maintain some semblance of dignity, but his urgency pierces through my pride.

"W-what are you doing?" I stammer, trying to cover myself as he peels my drenched sweater over my head.

"Getting you out of these wet clothes before hypothermia sets in," Beau replies matter-of-factly, staring for a second too long at my exposed skin. "Trust me, modesty is the least of our concerns right now."

I'm utterly at his mercy as he efficiently strips me down to my underwear, then wraps me in a cocoon of thick blankets. The rough texture of the wool against my bare skin makes me shiver, but slowly, blessedly, warmth starts seeping back into my bones.

"T-thank you," I chatter, huddling deeper into the blankets. "For coming to get me. I'm sorry I didn't listen to your warnings."

Beau sighs, running a hand through his damp hair. "I'm just glad I found you in time. You scared the hell out of me, Jade."

"I scared myself," I admit with a rueful laugh. "Guess I'm not as equipped for mountain life as I thought."

"You think?" He arches an eyebrow, but there's a glint of humor in his eyes. "City girl like you, you're lucky you didn't get blown off the mountain."

"Hey!" I protest, swatting at him weakly. "I'll have you know I'm very outdoorsy. I once went glamping."

Beau barks out a laugh, the rich sound filling the room. "Glamping? Oh, you're precious. That's barely a step above staying in a fancy resort."

"I slept in a tent," I mutter, but I can't help smiling. It feels good to joke around with him like this, the lifesaving urgency from before replaced by a comfortable camaraderie.

"Tell you what, Jade," he says, tucking the blankets more securely around me. "You stick to your novels, I'll stick to the mountains. Deal?"

"Well, at least I got some great material for my book out of all this," I say, trying to lighten the heavy mood. "Pretty sure this storm just wrote my bestseller for me."

Beau chuckles, the sound deep and rich. "Oh yeah? So you're saying I should expect to see a devastatingly handsome mountain rescuer in this book of yours?"

I grin, arching an eyebrow. "Devastatingly handsome? More like a total sex god."

I slap my hand over my mouth. The words are out before I can stop them, hanging in the charged air between us. I feel my cheeks flush hot, but I don't look away from Beau's intense blue gaze.

Beau smirks and bites his lower lip. I can't help but let my eyes wander over his rain-soaked thermal shirt, the wet fabric clinging to every sculpted muscle. Water droplets slide tantalizingly down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. I have the sudden, wild urge to chase those drops with my tongue.

What is wrong with me? I'm not the type of girl to have such blatantly sexual thoughts about a near stranger. But there's something about Beau, his raw masculinity and quiet strength, that ignites a fire low in my belly.

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