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“Yeah…but I’m tired,” Nicole yawned.
“Get some sleep,” Paige said kissing the top of her head and hugging Tami then pulled out a blanket for them to cuddle. She ran her hands up and down her arms where the drops of water had seared her skin.
“Come here,” Joel told her as he brought her up against his back and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re shivering.”
“I’m okay, just tired too I guess,” she stated trying to ignore the ache that seared through her arms.
“Bull,” he whispered against her ear. “Your arms hurt like hell, don’t they?”
“So-what if they do? I’m sure you and Jesse are sore too. You pulled Tami up the entire pass and we’ve still got more of a climb before we reach the peak.”
“Do you know what I’d do if we were home right now? I’d go run you a bath hot as you could stand it and then slowly undress you,” he said so softly she barely heard him. “Then I’d help you into it listening for your sigh of bliss as the heat surrounded you. Then I’d undress myself and join you…slide in behind you until our bodies were pressed tightly together and let my hands wander from your neck to your shoulders and down your arms until the only thing you felt was the heat pooling deep inside you.”
“Joel…” she sighed turning to face him as her face flushed. “Would you stop it? We’re not exactly alone here.”
“But you’re all warmed up now, aren’t you?” he asked glancing down into her eyes.
“You’re evil and you know it.”
“Gotta take my chances somehow Paige, I figure if I get you addicted to my body enough, you’ll eventually give in and stay by me forever.”
She sighed resting her head against his chest. She wanted to do exactly that but today more than ever told her she couldn’t. Nothing had changed. She loved him…that much she’d admitted to herself, but it wouldn’t mean anything when he finally realized that he couldn’t live without kids after all. He’d been great with Nicole the entire day and seeing him carrying her, had broken her heart all over again. The thought that it could have been him with their daughter kept creeping through her mind and destroying any chance of contentment that she had found.
“We should get some sleep,” she said unable to meet his gaze fearing he’s see the truth in her eyes.
He nodded and slid down the wall holding his hand out to her, “Come here Paige.”
She knew she shouldn’t. She should make a break right here…right now…but she couldn’t. One more night sleeping in his arms, that’s what she wanted, well she wanted more than one, but it was what she would have to settle for. One more night and then she’d push him away for his own sake as well as hers, she mused as her eyes closed and sleep overtook her.
∞∞∞
“Come on Paigey, time to wake up,” Joel whispered against her ear giving it a light nibble.
She sighed and stretched as she sat up flushing slightly when she realized she was the last one awake. Tami’s eyes met hers and she grinned despite the pain that was fresh behind her gaze.
“Mmm…sun’s up?” she asked.
“Just barely, the wind’s picked up and so have the fires. We need to get going,” Jesse answered with his own smug look.
“Lead the way,” Paige said as Joel pulled her up dropping a light kiss on her lips. “What was that for?”
“For not running away, sleeping in my arms all night. That’s a first for us Paige.”
“Whose fault is that?” she countered waspishly trying to stick to her plan of pushing him away.
“Okay so someone didn’t wake up on the right side of the cave, no need to rip my head off baby.”
“Sorry, I just want to get Tami and Nicole home. Tami needs her arms checked out to keep an infection away.”
“We’ll get them there. You found them that was all you Paige.”
“Helped to know where they were to begin with,” she shrugged as they followed the path as far up as they could without climbing.
She was keeping a close eye on the timber burning below them, one good gust of wind and the fire would no doubt jump the pass and ignite the top section of the mountain on fire. They were still an hour away from the peak when it finally did and the section below them began to sizzle as the flames searched for more fuel. Jesse stopped at the top of the section and activated the tracker for the others to come get them before he and Joel pulled Tami up.
She followed aware that the flames were spreading further towards them, and she moved faster taking chances on her footholds she shouldn’t have. She placed her foot into an opening and went higher looking for a handgrip. She found one but it wasn’t as sturdy as she’d thought and before she could adjust her grip, the rocks were sliding down her body. She twisted to keep Nicole safe and felt something slam against her foot.
“Paige…Nicole,” Tami shouted glancing down at them.
