Page 65 of Charming the Dragon
Tears pricked her eyes. “I was terrified. Seeing you fall with a giant stone on top of you? Don’t ever do that again. I mean it.”
He pulled her against his chest, and she held him gently, not wanting to cause him any pain but needing to feel his heartbeat against her cheek.
The experience had clearly shown her just how much the dragonman meant to her already.
Stroking her back, Nathan murmured, “Once we’re back aboveground, I’ll stick to computer-related assignments. The worst injuries I can get are sore shoulders and wrists.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m fine, love. I promise.”
She merely took in his heat and scent for a second, to reinforce that he was still alive and well. “Good, because if you die down here, I’ll bring you back to life so I can kill you myself.”
He chuckled. “Duly noted. Now, let’s get out of the cold water and dry off. I’m impatient to try our grappling hook and get out of this bloody place.”
She reluctantly released him, and they walked hand in hand to the shore. “Me, too. That way, we don’t have to worry about rocks falling from the skies, in addition to being trapped underground.” Wanting to lighten the mood a little, she added, “Not to mention I miss real food and milk in my tea.”
“Don’t mention food. I’ve been craving a bacon butty since the first day.”
“You can have that. I want a good bolognese, warm garlic bread, and some wine.”
“We really need to stop talking about food or I won’t be able to concentrate.”
She snorted. “First sex, now food. What can we talk about that won’t distract you?”
He rolled his eyes. “Most everything else. Start citing old laws to me, and my eyes will glaze over.”
She sniffed. “Some of the oldest ones can be quite interesting. You wouldn’t believe the things that used to be illegal.”
They reached their packs, Hayley shivered, and Nathan promptly said they’d change and worry about old laws later.
They both went to work getting dry and changed. Once done, Nathan moved the tripod from the tunnel back to the lake’sshore and checked it over. Thanks to his efforts, it should be easier to aim and hit one of the openings.
He glanced at her. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Since Hayley knew she wouldn’t be any good at aiming—she couldn’t even throw a ball straight when she tried—Nathan took his spot behind the device. After a few agonizing moments of him looking through the scope and adjusting the trajectory, he said, “Here goes nothing.”
She barely noticed the launcher’s noise and watched as the grappling hook went up, up, and up. But it hit next to the biggest opening and fell, splitting it into several pieces on impact.
Hayley nibbled on her thumbnail. “Two more tries left today.”
Nathan bobbed his head and focused entirely on his aim. Then he launched the second hook into the air. Up, up, up it went and through the hole! But then it bounced back into the center and crashed down, landing and breaking like the first one.
All they had left now was the old metal grappling hook they’d found in the treasure room.
Releasing her nail, she said, “Third time’s a charm, right?”
Nathan grunted before looking through the scope and making minute adjustments. Even though Hayley was merely the observer, her heart pounded, and she crossed her fingers. They could try again tomorrow, but she really hoped this worked.
After Nathan hit the trigger, the hook sailed upward. At first, Hayley wasn’t sure it’d reach since it was slightly heavier than the two improvised hooks they’d made.
But it just barely sailed through the hole and then nothing. It didn’t come tumbling down.
However, they still weren’t out of the woods, not by a long shot.
Nathan took a deep breath and walked to the dangling rope. “Wish me luck, Hayley.”
“Good luck!”
He took a few more deep breaths, and she did the same. They were so close to getting out of here, and a longing to see the sky crashed over her.
