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“Paige?” he whispered frantically, barely able to make out her shadowy shape in the dark. “Are ye hurt, lass?”
“I don’t think so.” She shifted, moaned, and stilled. “A little scratched and dented, maybe. My ears are still ringing and I’m a little queasy, but overall, surprisingly…okay.”
Relief surged through him as he rushed to her.
“I can’t believe we made it,” she gasped, slowly rising to a sitting position. “I honestly wasn’t sure if—”
“Nor I.” Taran yanked off his backpack and knelt on the thin, patchy grass to help Paige remove hers. Cradling her face in his hands, he peered through the darkness to assure himself she was truly unharmed. Her lips parted to say something, but her words were lost in his kiss.
He poured all his relief, fear, uncertainty, frustration, and desire—built up from the moment he’d met her—into the kiss, needing to tell her all the things he couldnae say with words. In the process, he ripped open all the defenseless places in his heart he thought he’d shut away forever.
He knew he should be gentler, but he couldnae get past nearly losing her. And try as he might, he couldnae get close enough, or kiss her deep enough to erase his fear.
She must have felt it, too. Her hands gripped his shoulders, meeting his kiss with equal fervor, giving and taking in turn.
Slowly, the kiss gentled, turning soft and tender. When Taran finally broke away, he kissed Paige’s cheeks and forehead, settled on the ground beside her, and gathered her in his arms.
She slipped hers around his waist and hugged him close. “Jumping in after me was a crazy, foolish thing to do. But I can’t deny how grateful I am you’re here with me.”
“I confess I dinnae ken either of us would come out of that…nothingness…alive, so wherever or whatever this place is, I’m thankful we’re together.”
Relishing the feel of her in his arms, Taran gazed at the mantle of stars studding the cobalt sky and savored the soft breeze, laden with scents of pine and earth. “So far, our luck has held. And from what little we can detect, this might be a decent place. At least the seasons seem tae line up wi’ ours. Do ye smell the summer scents? Grass and pine and a hint o’ wildflowers? Fresh and clean, just like Scotland. We can imagine ’tis, for now, and pray we find it as pleasin’ come mornin’.”
“What do you mean?” Apprehension heightened her voice.
“Just that we cannae take anything for granted. We dinnae ken who or what might be out here, or what kind of world we’ve fallen intae. So, we need tae speak quietly, stay hidden and take precautions until we can assess our surroundings in the light of day.” He eased her back a little. “I see the outlines of some large boulders. We’ll be safer there. More protection.”
“You’re right, of course,” she whispered, glancing around as she stood along with him. “But how can we detect anything in this dark? I lost my flashlight, but you still have yours, don’t you?”
“Aye, but we cannae use it.” He kept his voice soft and low as he gathered their backpacks. “ ’Twould draw attention tae us. We’ll have tae wait until morning tae see what we’re dealing with.”
“I should have thought of that. Sorry. I’m just so… This has all been a lot to take in.” She followed him inside the circle of boulders. “How much time do you think has passed since we left the cave? How long before morning?”
“ ’Tis hard tae tell, lass, with no moon tae track across the sky. And I’ve no sense of how long we were in the…tunnel, or whatever that was. We cannae even be sure if this is the same night.”
Taran settled with his back against the largest stone, making sure he had a clear view around them before spreading the end of his tartan out beside him. “Come lass,” he held his hand out to her. “ ’Twill keep ye warm while ye sleep. We’ll both be better able tae greet our new world after a wee bit o’ rest.”
Sighing, she settled beside him and laid her head on his chest. Pulling her close, he brought the tartan around her shoulders and laid his head atop hers. “Sleep, Love.”
Listening to the returning night sounds; crickets, insects buzzing, the breeze rustling through the leaves, relaxed Taran’s guard enough to think about the kiss they’d shared. In those moments—with their mouths pressed together, his soul had awakened to something previously unexperienced. He’d like to think the same had happened to her. Either way, they’d each revealed more than either of them were likely to, otherwise.
Did that mean she cared about him, or was it her relief to be alive that caused her to respond so passionately? But the one thing he’d learned about Paige was not to second guess her. Every time he had, she’d proven him wrong.
He listened to her rhythmic breathing for several minutes. Hopefully, she’d fallen asleep. Tomorrow, in the light of day, they’d face a whole new reality. But in this moment, and beyond, protecting her was his top priority. Hopefully, he’d measure up.
“Do you have any inkling at all, where we are?” she whispered, startling him.
“Nae.” He ran his hand over her silky hair. “But we’ll ken soon enough. Try tae sleep, lass.”
“I’m frightened, Taran,” she admitted, snuggling closer. “What if we’re not in… Scotland?”
“Well, now, that would take some strong magic, wouldnae it?” he teased.
He heard her soft snort. “Magic? What would you call falling through solid stone?”
* * *
Taran blinkedthe grit from his eyes, horrified that he’d dozed. His place was to watch over Paige, not sleep with her curled in his arms. Who knew what dangers awaited them?
