“Yes.”
“To tell you I was missing?”
“Yes?” I repeat, wondering where this is going.
“Then I guess she cares more about your feelings than mine!” Alisha folds her arms across her chest and glares up at me.
“What makes you say that?” I ask, exasperated.
“She called you before she looked for me.”
“Would it have mattered? You’re halfway up the north ridge already. If you actually gave a fuck about her feelings, you would have said something, instead of sneaking away like a kid having a tantrum.”
“Oh, so this is a tantrum, is it?” she snaps, her voice rising. “It’s got nothing to do with the fact you fucking kidnapped me?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” I cover my face with my hand. “I told you, I had no choice about that.”
“And I told you, I can take care of myself!”
I know that even if that’s true, she’s definitely in need of help right now, and if I hadn’t found her in the woods the other night, the situation could have gotten desperate within hours.
The biggest problem, though, is the military maneuvers going on. And a giant, fiery snake lurking in the hills.
God knows what it would do to a random human entering its territory.
“Alisha,” I mutter, shaking my head. I’m tempted to tell her just how dangerous these woods are, but I don’t want to scare her, and I don’t even know where to start.
There’s this big snake, right? Well, it might not be a snake. It’s made of fire? Maybe? It’s an ancient god and says it’s going to grant magic powers, but actually, it just blows shit up.
“What?” she says, sticking out her chin defiantly.
“I want you to trust that I am doing this for your safety. There’s a lot going on out here, and I need you to be really careful. Do you have any idea where you were going?”
Her deep violet eyes waver, just a little, as she breaks my gaze and looks at the ground.
She really has no fucking clue!
“I would have been fine,” she says tersely. “I’m always fine.”
“You weren’t fucking fine when I found you!” I yell, all my fear and frustration peaking again. “You were about to stumble into some of the most dangerous terrain in the state, and you didn’t even have any supplies!”
“I’ve been on the run for a long while now,” she shoots back. “And I’ve taken care of myself for years since you left. All you’re doing is getting in my way!”
As we yell at each other, our faces get closer and closer together, until I can feel her breath rush across my lips. My fear and my anger are still colliding in my guts, twisting in my chest. All I can think about is all the horrible things that could have happened if I hadn’t made it in time.
Maybe I should just tell her everything…
“Alisha,” I mutter, her name almost getting caught in my throat. “I just want to keep you safe.”
“Oh, yeah?” she huffs. “Well—”
A deep, powerful urge takes me over, and I grab her shoulders, tugging her towards me and kissing her. I can’t stand to be so close to her, so full of fear that I might lose her, and not reassure myself that she’s real, she’s safe, and right in front of me.
Immediately, Alisha relaxes in my arms, melting into my embrace. Her arms slip around my waist as she presses her body against mine, tilting her head back and inviting my tongue into her mouth.
Yes, this. Forever.
I run my hands down her arms, teasing her with my fingertips. I can feel arousal running through us both, begging to be satisfied as the kiss deepens.
