Page 26 of Gripp

“I think we only have two options here,” Gripp said, gazing over the ravine. “The first would be to walk around one side, cross over the rapids, and then walk up the opposing side.”

April was gazing over the side, too, the wheels in her mind working hard and fast.

“And the second option?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Gripp smiled, adoring her curiosity. “Remember when you said you wanted to be a monkey shifter?”

April merely smiled back. “Of course.”

“Well,” Gripp began, walking toward a tree behind them. “The ravine is only about eight feet across. I’m pretty sure we could make it across by swinging.”

As he spoke, Gripp reached up and grabbed hold of a thick vine. He tugged on it using shifter strength which was far more intense than that of a human. April, as predicted, did not recoil.

Her smile morphed into a smug smirk which made Gripp’s knees weak.

“So you’re telling me that we have to be like Tarzan and Jane?” she responded.

Gripp yanked at the rope again, guaranteeing that it wouldn’t snap. He then pointed a finger at himself and then her with a flat, dumb look on his face.

“Me, Tarzan, you, Jane.”

April’s laugh was beyond charming and bewitching. Gripp felt like he was on a date with her and that they would soon go back to one of their homes, have a glass of wine on a romantic balcony, and have incredible sex.

But that wasn’t the case at all.

Why is she making me feel these things?

Gripp showed April how to get momentum from running up the edge, then taking a leap. She watched him and nodded, seeming more enthused by the prospect than scared.

“Do you want to go first or second?” he asked.

She tilted her head at him, then gave him a wink. “Second will work best for me,” she said.

Gripp was dizzy with attraction but cleared his throat and adjusted his pack while taking one final, massive tug on the vine. He narrowed his eyes and planned where his feet would plant and exactly how he would grab hold of April when it was her turn.

He hoped it was by the hips.

“Bon voyage,” Gripp said.

Gripp ran and used his strong legs to leap over the short jump, easily landing his feet on the cliff beyond. Leaping over ravines never made him hesitate. It was more the concern for April. But she was capable, and he had all the faith in the world that she would do just fine.

She clapped sarcastically across the way at him, and he gave her an equally sarcastic bow.

“Very graceful!” she yelled.

Gripp smiled from ear to ear. She had such power over him. It was amazing. And scary.

“Now your turn, acrobat,” he yelled.

Gripp launched his arm backward, firing the vine at April. She caught it, then backed up the way he showed her.

“Remember,” Gripp yelled through cupped hands over the raging waters. “Jump up with your legs in a deep squat once you reach the edge. I got you!”

Without another word, April narrowed her eyes and ran at the cliff. She didn’t give herself a practice start, which wasn’t surprising, but Gripp wished she had when she flew through the air.

She held on tight as she landed with the front of her toes on the cliffside. Because she hadn’t given herself enough of a running start, her toes easily slipped, and she tilted backward.

Gripp reached out and brushed her shirt with the tips of his fingers. Her hands moved down the vine with a scraping sound, and he watched as her teeth clenched with horror.

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