Page 11 of Ride 'Em Hard
That gets me on my feet. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“I’m fine.” I go to put my arm around her, but she pushes me away. “I just feel a little weird, that’s all.”
“The painkiller I gave you also works as a sedative, remember?” Doc says, patting her shoulder. “No need to worry, you’ll just sleep a little more soundly. You won’t be waking up every time you accidentally bump your ankle in your sleep.”
Lexi blinks at me.
“Don’t worry, Doc, I’ll watch her. I could look at this gorgeous woman all night.” I’d rather not have her passed out while doing it... but I’m not complaining.
“The guest house is in the same place it was the last time you were here, Chase. Make yourselves at home. I’m going to bid you both a good night,” he says, shuffling to his bedroom and closing the door.
Chapter Five
It’s one thing to besafe with Doc in the cabin, but another to be alone out back with Mr. Alpha. Sure, I don’t trust him, but I don’t trust myself either. A dangerous anticipation is swelling up inside of me, making me wet for him. What the hell is happening to me?
He’s not going to try anything, is he?
Chase is holding the front door open for me. He raises a brow, obviously getting impatient. I pull in a breath and shift my weight, making sure the crutch is wedged under my armpit, and hop to the door. I stop when I get to the threshold and carefully take the step down to the porch. Chase shuts the door behind me, leaving us in the dark.
“Is there a light switch out here? Something?” I ask, feeling the chill. I peer in the direction of the yard, but I can’t see a thing.
A light blinks on. “There are steps here, you know,” Chase points out, standing close enough for me to feel his body heat. He shines his cellphone light on the stairs leading to the front yard.
“I’m aware of the steps, thank you.” I navigate my way to the top step and... wait just a minute—there’s no railing, and nothing to grab onto when I make my way down.
It’s just me, a crutch and hard wooden steps. The last thing I need to do is take a header.
I feel Chase’s strong arm wrap firmly around my waist. “No need,” I say in basic caveman language, trying to twist out of his hold, but Chase has a lock on me. “I’ve got this.” I have absolutely no clue how to get down the stairs. “There’s got to be a way down these things.”
Chase punches off the flashlight. “Oh, there’s a way. And it won’t take five hours either,” he growls, bringing his other hand around me to lift me into his arms. I hear my crutch bang against wood as it tumbles down the stairs.
“What is it with you picking me up? Who do you think you are, some kind of Tarzan cowboy or something?” I yowl into the night, bouncing as we go barreling down the steps. I knock on his rock-solid shoulder. “What about my crutch? Are you just going to leave it there?” I wallop his chest with all my might, but it only makes Chase’s hold around me tighter.
A cold wind hits my face, shaking the grogginess I felt in the cabin out of my system. I don’t know what Chase has in mind. His heart is pumping fast, jackhammering against my ear. Every muscle in his body seems wound up in a knot. He grips me tighter, and he picks up his pace.
Changing my tactic, I gulp down my nerves and look up at where I’m guessing his chin is. I can’t see a thing, but I do my best to sound civilized. “Will youpleaseput me down?”
