Page 22 of Forsaken Secrets

Perhaps the head injury was worse than it looked, though.

"Well, then — let's see that lump on your head." I leaned forward. "I'm sorry in advance."

He nodded, and I pressed my fingers through his coarse hair.

"What's your name?" I moved the hair to the side and gently prodded the lump. It protruded out, at least, rather than denting in.

"Ouch!"

"Name?" I hissed, leaning closer. A scab was starting to form across the wound, and it looked as if the bleeding had stopped.

He grunted. "Uh — Li … Eli. I like being called Eli. And you, my lady?"

"Kaiya. NOT a lady." I sat back again on my heels and sighed. "The gods must be looking out for you today, Eli. I don't see anything more serious than a concussion." I motioned to the cliff above us. "Maybe stay away from crumbling cliffs in the future, though?"

His lips quirked, and he cocked his head to the side impishly. "I don't know. If you're the one to rescue me each time, it might be worth it."

I stared at him, mouth agape. Seriously? He'd just fallen and almost died, and now he was flirting?

His gaze slid to my pack and then back up to my face, "In fact, I think we might make a great team. I need someone to help me explore the area and you, my lady, seem like the perfect person."

I couldn't even respond to that idiocy right now. "We'll discuss that ludicrous idea after you get safe." And by that I meant that I'd quickly disabuse him of the notion. I had enough to worry about without helping this reckless man get himself killed. "For now, we need to focus on getting back up that cliff."

"Are you done flirting, yet, or did you want to fall to your deaths together?" Lynk shouted.

I ground my teeth together. "Shut up, you barbarian."

Eli grinned, that dimple peeking out again. "And who might that be? A husband?"

His eyes dropped to my hand and my cheeks heated. "No. That is Lynk. He's supposed to be helping me save you, but he hasn't done much yet."

I let out a deep sigh. These men were seriously testing my patience.

"If we want to survive, we really do need to get off this ledge."

His eyes tightened as he looked from me to the water below us and back. "What do I need to do?"

"Just let me tie this around you and that barbarian up there will pull you up."

"What about you, though?"

"I'll be right here, so I can help belay you if needed." I motioned to the rope around my waist. "Just focus on yourself for now."

He didn't look convinced, but held his hands up while I wrapped the rope around his waist, then bent to pull it between his legs.

A surprised grunt made me look up. A deep red flush had spread across his chiseled cheeks, illuminating a smattering of freckles beneath his eyes. He was looking everywhere but at me.

How had I missed those freckles before? They were surprisingly cute.

"I — perhaps it would be better if you let me do the rest." He stammered.

I looked down at my hands and gasped.

No wonder he was uncomfortable. I’d practically been groping the poor man's cock!

Heat spread across my cheeks as I passed him the rope. "I'm so sorry!"

He grunted and struggled for a few moments to replicate what I'd been doing.

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