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‘Good. Right, I’m going to help you up. Will Duke follow us or do I need to send someone back for him?’
‘He’ll follow.’
‘Okay, I’ll come back for your bow and arrows later. Take this now.’ He gave her the riding boot he’d removed earlier. ‘Hold on to it with one hand and put your other arm around my neck. Yep, that’s it.’
Before she had a chance to work out what he was about to do, he’d lifted her into his arms.
‘What are you doing?’ she shrieked.
‘This is quicker and will be less painful for you. And the sooner you ice your ankle, the better.’
‘But I’m too heavy!’
‘Estelle. Look at me.’
She stared at his lips, seeming unable to meet his gaze.
‘Without meaning to sound like a dick, I can bench twice your weight. I’m really strong, so let me do this for you. Please?’
She nodded.
He gave an internal fist pump and set off down the hill.
19
Estelle tensed as James carried her. This should have been romantic, but she was currently covering his designer clothes with mud, was terrified he was going to drop her, and her ankle was throbbing with pain.
You absolute twat. You were just trying to show off, weren’t you?
The afternoon had been amazing, then she’d gone and ruined it.
‘You can relax, you know.’
She didn’t reply. He was being nice, which made everything more complicated. Living in a world of black and white, where she could lump James Hunter-Savage in the same category as mosquitos, dictators, and people who played music through their phone speakers on public transport, was far easier than having to deal with him being awful and wonderful.
Estelle liked to know where she stood with people, but with James, she was lost in a swirling fog of fifty shades of grey. Enjoying his company felt like she’d just snuck into the enemy’s camp with the intention of betraying her brother and shagging the commander.
‘When was the last time someone carried you like this?’
She shrugged. ‘I can’t remember. Must have been when I was a little kid.’
‘Hmm.’
‘Is that a good “hmm” or a bad one?’
She stared at his mouth as he smiled. In a body that seemed rock hard, James’s lips appeared very soft. Hers tingled with the need to kiss them.
‘Good, I think,’ he replied. ‘Because it will be memorable. And because it means I’m better than everyone else.’
‘Excuse me?’ Her voice went up along with her eyes, as they finally met his.
He was smirking at her, as if revelling in the fact he’d got her to look at him. ‘Did I say better? Maybe I meant stronger.’
Estelle took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the incredible scent of him. It made her heart race faster and a pulse beat between her thighs.
‘You’re infuriating.’
His smile got bigger. ‘As are you.’
