Page 64 of Return to Me Always

Eventually, the storm started to let up. But the rain still poured down on us, and we continued on. I had never felt such exhaustion. Between almost drowning in icy water and the lack of sleep, food, and water, I was on the verge of collapsing.

I held out a while longer as every part of my body screamed with pain. And, finally, when my feet could not takeone more step, I stopped, leaning against the cliff for balance.

"I just... I just need a break," I managed to say.

Without any words, Tyler helped me to a sitting position, aligning our bodies with the precipice wall as support. He held me close while I nestled my face into his shoulder, breathing deeply of his rain-soaked sleeve.

Uncontrollable shivers racked my body, and Tyler lifted me onto his lap, his heat permeating my freezing wet clothes, his strong arms surrounding me. I curled up as close to him as possible, his warm body shielding me, protecting me.

His sweet actions caused a sudden lump in my throat, and I gave in to the tears that overwhelmed me at the anguish of almost losing him, the fear of drowning, the exhaustion from this whole nightmare. The sobs tore through me.

"It's okay," he whispered, his strong hand stroking my hair. "Shh. We'll be okay. I promise you."

I clung to him, trying to warm myself, trying to find comfort, trying to stop the flow of tears. But they kept coming and wouldn't stop.

"Shh. I know. It'll be okay. I promise you.I promise you."

His whispered words against the top of my head began to soothe me, fill me, with relief, with calmness. And soon, my tears turned to exhaustion, an exhaustion so deep it threatened to pull me under.

***

Sometime later, I felt movement and woke up to the still-dark sky, Tyler's face inches from mine. His hand brushed against my cheek, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"You all right?" he asked.

Embarrassment washed over me. I didn't think I had ever cried that hard before—ever—and certainly not in front of anyone else. "I'm fine. Sorry about that."

"Don't be sorry. It's completely understandable. Under the circumstances."

"Exactly. It's not every day a corrupt police officer crashes into your boat, tossing you into the icy ocean during an epic storm, and you almost drown. And then almost lose your..." I stopped, unsure what to call him exactly.

"No," he said. "Not every day."

Feeling suddenly shy about being pressed up against him so intimately, I tried to stand up, but his arms pulled me back down.

"Wait. I want to thank you."

What? Why? "Thank me? For what?" I asked, leaning back to look into his eyes.

"For putting life jackets on us. You saved us. If you hadn't done that, I think we'd be at the bottom of the ocean right now."

I shuddered at the memory of almost giving in to the demanding sea, the peaceful feeling that momentarily froze my limbs, shuddered at the thought of our lifeless bodies sinking into the depths of the water.

No words formed in my brain, and I didn't know what to say. It seemed so insignificant compared to all he'd done. So I simply mumbled, "Sure."

His eyes narrowed at me. "I mean it. Itreallysaved us. I should have thought of that."

The sound of remorse in his voice surprised me. Even though he had acted with supernatural strength throughout our ordeal, Tylerwashuman, an amazingly strong human, an incredibly determined human, but still human.

"Well, you can't think of everything, can you?" He didn't reply, so I continued, "I like to think we make a good team, you know?"

Holding my breath, I waited to see how he'd respond. Finally, he said, "I'm beginning to think so, lass."

I smiled at my stoic warrior's answer. It was a start.

"Come on, Ryder. We need to keep moving. You've been slacking off long enough."

I shoved him playfully as I attempted to stand up, every muscle screaming at me with pain.

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