Page 71 of The Sinner and the Gunslinger
“Of course I do.” She scowls. “You don’t know the difference between a ripcord and a ribbon.”
“Don’t go without me,” I beg, feeling my heart strangle.
Her eyes widen. “I wouldn’t do that.”
I would.
“Good,” I reply. “Because I’d jump after you anyway.”
Something passes between us. For most of the journey, we’ve kept our conversation to a minimum and focused on our plans. Asmodeus shocked her. The fire demons and Flauros freaked her out. Then it all freaked me out. The only thing keeping me sane right now is her being with me.
I have the sense that even if we’re really dropping into hell, it wouldn’t matter as long as she’s by my side. I think I could weather any storm with her. She takes control of the situation and tethers me to earth. She checks my pack and chute. I’m so in love with her it hurts. I need her to say it back.
This can’t be our life—catching frozen moments from a paradise with teeth. We deserve better.
“We’ll tandem jump,” she tells me. “Your backpack doesn’t even have a chute in it.”
My cheeks heat as she points out the straps on her own suit.
“You really knew from the start.”
Her wry smile leaves a twinkle in her eyes. It makes me warm, despite the icy air biting my face.
“Come on, Huck,” she says, gesturing at her front. “Strap in.”
My heart soars.Huck. Then my stomach flips. We’re going to fucking jump out of a fucking plane. Into snow. I didn’t think I had any phobias, but now I’m unsure.
I take her face between my hands. “If we survive this—”
She plants her lips on mine, swallowing my words. I’ve forgotten now. All I have is her intoxicating taste flooding my body with more endorphins than I need. While I’m embarrassingly stupefied, she manhandles me to fit against her front.
“Turn. Arms up,” she orders. Tugs hard on a strap, squeezing us together. My spine pushes against her soft chest, and I stifle a groan. “Arms down. Good. Stop fidgeting.” She reaches around my body and pats me, testing that all ties are secured properly.
Fuck, I love it when she gets bossy. Never thought I had this kink, but she’s behind me and making the decisions. I’m so fucking turned on that I can’t think. She latches us together using the tandem ties and shuffles us to the hatch.
“Oh shit.” I glance down, snapping out of my daze. White. Gray. Clouds. Can’t even see the ground. How will we know where we are? Panic strangles my lungs as I realize what we’re about to do.
She pinches my ass and shouts in my ear. “You’ll be fine, pet. Just don’t breathe.”
“What?”
She pushes us out of the hatch. Icy wind punches my face. We fall face-first into clouds. Terror floods my system, but then Leilayeehawsbehind me.
* * *
“See?” Leila grins as she unstraps us from each other. “Nothing to worry about.”
We’re already lying on the snow, but when the straps release, I fall onto my face with a groan. Ice cold seeps into my skin.I’m unsure if my muscles are stiff because of the landing, my recent injuries, or the temperature. I roll onto my back and blink at the blue sky, trying to work out if I’m beyond repair.
“I think my knees are broken.” I grimace, trying to bend them. Honestly, it’s my ribs aching more.
Leila’s beautiful face appears over mine with concern. “For real?”
My lip curves on one side, and she punches me in the arm.
“Ow.” I rub the spot. “Go easy on me, slugger.”
“You’re such a wimp. Suck it up.”
