“Cassandra!” He yelled, “You have to jump!”
Panic-stricken, she cried back, “I won’t make it!”
“I’ll catch you!” he promised, and he begged God not to make him a liar.
Tears fell from the corner of her eyes.
“I’ll fall!”
“I won’t let you fall!” he yelled. “Cassandra! Iwon’tlet you fall!”
With his eyes, he tried to portray a thousand promises in the span ofseconds.
The words settled, and determination etched into her face.
A modicum of relief.There’s my girl.
Closing in, he could catch her—hewouldcatch her—but she had tojump.
Muscles screaming, Seth secured his feet in his stirrups, dropped the reins, gripped Sabre with his thighs, and with both arms, he reached for her.
Fly, little bird.
“Now!
Time suspended as she jumped, arms open and flailing. One of his hands grabbed her arm while the other grabbed her waist. And with all the force he could muster, he yanked Cassandra firmly across his lap. Gripping the back of her dress, Seth kept her in place, even as gravity fought with his will to keep them steady as the thoroughbred slowed.
Without a rider, the mare reared up against the edge of the trees and fell onto its side with a pained grunt, then stood and limped into the forest. Sabre stopped completely. With a growl, Seth tore the detachable riding skirt from Cassandra. The heavy fabric fell to the ground in a heap. She wouldneverwear one again—he swore his life on it.
With her help, he awkwardly moved her to sit on his lap. He held her with one arm hooked under her legs, the other around her shoulders. Limbs shaking, Seth gripped her trembling form to him, sheltering her with his body as he struggled with his senses. His lungs heaved, every musclehurt. He smelled the lavender of her soap and the heady mixture of their sweat. Underneath his palm, Cassandra’s heart thumped erratically. Hair wind blown, tickling at his cheek, warm tears fell on his neck along with quiet whines of, “Can we please get down?”
As gingerly as he could, he dismounted, and she threw herself into his arms. Again, he caught her and tried to place her on her feet, but her knees buckled. Moving quickly, he controlled her fall, and shemelted,wrapping her arms around his neck. He held her closer, needing to feel her shuddering breaths as she burrowed into his shoulder.
“I have you, you’re safe,” he promised. Softly, his hands roamed over her, searching for injuries, before cupping her face. He lifted her head until she met his eyes. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
Thank God.
He could have lost her. Traded her for a lifetime of nightmares. He couldn’t lose her. He needed her. Heneeded—
“Cassandra.”
Her lip trembled, and his controlsnapped.
Crashing his mouth to hers, he took her bottom lip between his own, holding it there, breathing her in, so soft andsafe. She made a sound of distress and he pulled away. Squeezing her eyes closed, she grabbed his shirt and brought him back down to her lips. No finesse, but raw bruising force. His eyes widened, but in a split second, all thoughts were gone once more. Delving into her mouth, he dragged his tongue along hers, roughly taking what he had wanted for so long, what he onlydreamedof. He buried his fingers deep in her hair, and she moaned in his mouth. The sound vibrated in his throat, and he could havedevouredher right then and there, because she wasalive.Instead, he parted from her lips and tucked her under his chin, both of them breathing raggedly.
Not now.
Butsoon.
Chest tight, he held her to him. Even as another rider approached, even when she shifted in his arms to get him to let go, he didn’t releaseher. Hecouldn’t. He physically revolted at the idea of her leaving his arms.
Cooper lept from his horse and ran to them, panic in his eyes at the sight of the two of them on the ground.
“Has she been injured?!”
“I don’t think so, but I don’t know for certain.” Seth’s voice came out broken. “I… I got there in time, Cooper... I caught her in time.”
