Page 59 of Sloth
She sat up, groaning. “Everywhere.”
“Come on.” Max helped her further away from the ledge.
Under the light of the full moon, they could see their surroundings. Their platform was halfway between the cliff bottom and top. A cave-like alcove dug deep into the recess of the wall. That would do fine.
“I just need to rest for a bit, then I’ll be okay,” she said, exhausted. “Give me an hour and I’ll be good. Got good genes.” It was an attempt at a joke, but neither laughed. “I think they got my rucksack more than me, and the uniform helped.”
Max didn’t look convinced and deposited her on a lump of rock good enough to use as a stool. She perched down, wincing as she stretched her sore leg out. Her pants were in tatters and she was afraid to lift the flaps to see what damage had been done. Her arms weren’t bad; they’d missed the brunt of the onslaught when she’d been climbing, and the stab-proof jacket protected the rest. The few bites that got through were superficial. But her legs… that’s where they hit her the most.
She squeezed her eyes shut. It’s fine. She’ll heal. Whatever it is, she’ll heal.
“Here.” Max’s soft, deep voice near her face. A gentle touch on her knee.
The man kneeled at her feet. He lifted the fabric at her ankle, tacky and wet with blood. The fabric resisted, sticking. He retrieved a canteen from his pack and opened it. Dripping water onto her leg, he peeled the fabric and squinted down.
“Do I have a leg left?” she joked.
“Actually, it’s not so bad.”
“Really?”
“I think most of this blood is theirs.” Max continued to check Sloan, running water over any wound he could find. “You could grow back a limb, right?”
“Don’t really want to test it.”
“Don’t blame you.”
The worst was on her right calf. Bite lacerations had dug deep, but no flesh was torn from her body. Just piercing stab wounds. Parker’s wonder fabric had saved her.
Knowing she would survive, that she wouldn’t lose a limb, she relaxed.
Max grinned at her, dimple in his cheek deepening. “Bloody hell, Sloan. If you wanted to prove you’re tough as shit, that was one way of going about it.”
A small smile tipped her lips. Shewastough. She was a woman, and damn it, she was just as mighty as her brothers. She didn’t know why she had to keep proving it to herself.
His humor dropped. “But don’t do it again. I can’t lose you, too.”
The heavy statement hung in the air and her heart tugged at her failure. She wasn’t there for him when he needed her most.
In the starlit night, warm wind rushed up the cliff and brushed their faces, lifting her hair from her sweaty neck. Birds squawked in the trees. Crickets chirped. The world passed in that moment and all Sloan could think was that she needed Max. All of him.
She didn’t want to lose him either.
Max cocked his head, gaze turning distant. “You hear that?”
Oh God, no. “What?” she whispered.
Please let the beasts be done. No more. Please.
“Dripping.”
She perked up. “Water?”
With a nod, he straightened. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
Panic squeezed her throat. “Max.”
Don’t leave,she wanted to say. But he gave her a warm smile, tipped down and left a lingering kiss on her lips. “I won’t be long.”
