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m fine.’ She was shivering but goodness knew why. The tent was totally waterproof and windproof and was the perfect shelter.
‘Strip some more clothes off and get into the sleeping bag.’ Sean gave the bag a vigorous shake and threw a sleeping mat in her direction. ‘Spread that under the bag.’
She followed his orders without question, too cold and exhausted to argue, watching while he secured the tent and fished in his rucksack for the mobile phone.
‘You’re calling Jack?’
‘We gave him our route so he’ll be worrying soon. Let’s hope there’s a signal.’ Sean punched in the number and then grinned. ‘Jack? It’s us.’ He listened for a moment and then gave a grim laugh. ‘Tell me about it!’
Ally could hear Jack’s voice, but not what he was saying.
Sean’s eyes rested on her face. ‘No, she’s fine. Just a bit tired out.’ He listened again and this time his jaw tightened. ‘No need, but thanks for the offer. We’ll camp out here tonight and then I’ll get her down at first light.’
Jack must have said something else because Sean gave a short laugh and muttered, ‘In my dreams.’ Then he snapped the phone shut and dropped it back into the rucksack.
‘Right, then.’ He stripped off his jumper and thick shirt and raised an eyebrow in her direction. ‘I suppose you’re going to say I can’t share the sleeping bag.’
How could she possibly say that when it was his skill and preparation that was saving them both? She shook her head numbly and shuffled to the furthest edge to make room for him. Even so, it was a shock to her system when he slid inside with her, the warmth and power of his body filling the remaining space in the sleeping bag. Outside the wind screamed in anger and whipped at the sides of the tent, and Ally snuggled further inside the sleeping bag, a delicious feeling of safety creeping over her as she felt Sean next to her.
‘I ought to turn the torch off.’ Sean’s voice was gruff and she shifted her head so that she could look at him.
‘Can we keep it on a bit longer?’
He lifted a hand and brushed a strand of blonde hair away from her face as he searched her eyes with a frown. ‘Are you scared?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’ It was true. She wasn’t. But only because he was here and she felt totally safe with him. ‘I just don’t want it to be dark yet.’
He studied her for a long moment and then rolled onto his back, staring at the roof of the tent.
Ally gazed at his strong profile, hardly daring to breathe. Why didn’t he touch her? After all their previous encounters she would have thought that the first thing he’d do in this situation when they were both half-naked would be to carry on his seduction. But he didn’t. He didn’t touch her, and she found herself almost moaning aloud in frustration. This was ridiculous. Usually she was fighting him off and now, when she desperately wanted him to touch her, he seemed totally indifferent to her. She wanted him to touch her so badly. She needed to feel his strength, needed his comfort. She loved him so much—so much. Sean was right. It was worth the risk.
She was still lying on her side and unconsciously her left hand crept onto his chest, her fingertips feeling the hard muscle beneath the fabric of his T-shirt. Without even planning to do so, she slipped her fingers underneath, her stomach flipping as they tangled with the hair on his chest.
Sean sucked in his breath and shackled her hand. ‘You’re playing with fire.’
She lifted herself on one elbow, her breath catching in her throat as she met his burning gaze.
‘Sean?’ Her voice was a plea, and he closed his eyes briefly, the muscles in his throat working as he swallowed.
‘Let’s get one thing straight, shall we?’ His voice was husky. ‘I may have amazing will-power when we’re both fully clothed and cavorting around the health centre, but you’re half-naked in my sleeping bag, angel, and if you carry on like this I can’t promise not to retaliate.’
Ally moved so that her body was pressed against his and slipped one slim, smooth calf over his hair-roughened thigh so that she was half lying on top of him.
‘I think I want you to retaliate.’ Her words were so soft that she barely heard them herself, and for a moment she wondered whether she’d said them at all. Maybe she’d just thought them.
Then Sean stabbed his fingers through her long blonde hair and anchored the back of her head so that she couldn’t look away.
A muscle flickered in his jaw and his gaze was intent. ‘Say that again.’
She swallowed hard. ‘I want you Sean…’
He stared at her for a long moment and shook his head slowly, his expression grim. ‘No. No, you don’t. It’s just because you’re scared and you think you need me. You don’t need to worry, Ally. I promise to get you off this mountain safely.’
‘It’s not that.’
His eyes held hers, his strong fingers clamped either side of her head.
‘What, then?’
