Page 10 of Marked by the Mountain Man

“Hadleigh.” I level my gaze on her, trying to reassure her.

She shakes her head again, breath coming faster. “You should go on without me, Hudson. I can’t.”

“We’re in this together,” I reply resolutely, watching agitation streak across her face. “End of story.”

“No, you’ve already done too much for me. Stuck your neck out way farther than you needed to. I feel ashamed for all the trouble my brother and I have caused you.”

The roar of the rising water leaves no time for arguments.

Gruffly, I order, “We’re either going together, or we’re staying here together. You’re not getting rid of me.”

“You are so damn stubborn,” she hisses, her face conflicted.

“Far more stubborn than you. Trust me.”

Her face blanches, taut and fear-stricken. “Okay, but I gave you an out, Hudson. Free and clear.”

“I don’t want an out with you,” I retort, the most honest thing I’ve said since meeting her.

Her brown-sugar eyes tick to mine, narrowing. But we’re out of time for explanations.

“Deep breaths and one foot and handhold at a time. You or me first?” I ask.

“You,” she says breathlessly.

“Quick and confident. Without second-guessing. Okay?”

“Oh, God,” she laments, face twisting.

“Deep breaths.” I inhale and exhale slowly, encouraging her to do the same. “Keep your eyes on me. You’ve got this, Hot Stuff. Okay?”

“Alright, Hudson. Together.”

Words evaporate as we concentrate. Going in front of her, I point out hand and footholds where I can, modeling slow breathing as she begins to cross. Fear animates her face, along with adrenaline, as she hurries so fast behind me that I have to increase my pace.

We reach the other side, breathing hard. Before I can think, Hadleigh clobbers me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck and leaning up to kiss me. The dizzying heights enveloping us keep it innocent, but I still sense a hunger beyond my own.

“What’s that for?” I growl, looking down to hide the affection swirling in my eyes. I’ve never been good at hiding my emotions, and what I feel for this woman is so intense that I imagine my face reads like a love letter.

“For refusing to give up on me.” Tears fill her eyes, and she bites her full bottom lip, working hard to hold back a sob. “Apart from my dad, no man has ever stuck with me like that.”

I wrap my arms lightly around her, so fucking in love that I don’t know what to do with myself. All I know is she would thinkI’m some kind of crazy if I admitted these inexplicable emotions to her. Or any of the romantic thoughts thrumming through my head.

Instead, I grunt, nodding up the trail further to our objective.

Chapter Six

HADLEIGH

“How are your feet holding up?” the handsome mountain man asks, entangling his fingers with mine to help me up a steep break in the trail.

Tiny shivers of desire shuttle up and down my arm at his touch, and my lower core tightens. The animal magnetism of this virtual stranger remains undeniable. I want to feel his strong hands other places, everywhere, claiming me as his.

Get your brain on straight and focus, Hadleigh. This man’s your rescuer. Quit objectifying and lusting over him.

But the closer we get to the top and safety, the more my body surrenders to unadulterated yearning. Swallowing loudly and straining to focus, I say, “I’m trying not to think about my feet.” In truth, every step is another rush of adrenaline until we reach higher ground and safety from the river raging below.

Thunder booms overhead, and lightning cracks. Far too close for comfort. I don’t know much about survival in this kind of weather, but hanging from a rocky cliff above fast-flowing water probably isn’t a great idea.

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