by Lexi Post
She stopped struggling and the tension left her, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he held her, soothing her, putting his conviction into his words, silently willing her to hang on.
“I can’t.”
Her mumbled words, had him loosening his hold.
She pulled her head from his shoulder. “I can’t. I can’t do this.”
He looked into what he knew were dark brown eyes, despite their black appearance, and a chill raced through his heart.
Lifeless.
It was as if the mine had sucked all of her psyche into its depths and left a soulless shell.
Desperate to save her, he angled his head and kissed her.
Her unresponsiveness didn’t deter him. He had to reach her. Pulling her closer, he breached her lips, teasing her tongue, coaxing her to feel. She stood in his embrace, limp, with no reaction at all. Moving his hand into her hair, he ran his fingertips against her scalp, slanting her head to better taste her.
His heart pounded in his chest as if he were in the middle of a burning forest, using every ounce of energy to battle the flames. But he had no flames to battle here. He had to stoke the flames. Instinctually, he moved his other hand to cup her ass and squeezed.
Her mouth opened wider, and he wrestled her tongue with his own before squeezing her again.
A cry low in her throat sounded like part despair and part passion just before she thrust her tongue into his mouth.
Relief, triumph, and excitement filled him as her arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed closer to him, as if she could climb inside him. There was no shyness in her actions as she ground her hips against his growing erection, and her tongue explored his mouth. Her passion was like her, straightforward and strong.
He ran his hand down her back to the edge of her tank top. His finger buried under it and moved up her side, under the stretch bra, until he touched the softness of her breast.
Her moan filled his mouth as she turned her body to give him better access.
The invitation too enticing to ignore, he moved his fingers over the round plumpness until he brushed across her hard nipple. Raw desire tightened his balls, reminding him how long it had been since he was with a woman. But Riley was no ordinary woman, and a glimmer of hope started deep in his chest.
Suddenly, her hand cupped his cock.
He grabbed her wrist and tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let his mouth go. Finally, he had both her hands in his and stepped back.
“What’s wrong?” Her brows lowered in confusion. “I want you.”
His cock jumped at her words. His own insecurity and his conscience combined to give him some control. “I don’t want to take advantage of our—”
“Don’t go all cowboy on me. I need that smoking hot firefighter right now.” Her gaze slipped from his and the haunted look came back. “I don’t believe in tomorrow anymore.” She closed the distance, her gaze focused on his and yet not. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “I need to feel alive.”
He couldn’t refuse if he wanted to, and he didn’t want to. He wanted to give her everything she needed and more. He closed the distance between them and cupped her face in his hands. “You are alive. You’re a beautiful strong woman with a fire of survival inside.”
Her gaze switched from one of his eyes to the other. “Make me feel it, Garrett.”
She didn’t say please, but her eyes begged him.
He lowered his head to gently brush her lips with his own, let her know he cared, then he gave her what she wanted.
Riley’s heart skipped a beat at the same time excitement rushed to her core as Garrett backed her against the wall and devoured her mouth, his scruffy chin a reminder that he was all male and then some. She closed her eyes and let the feelings flow through her. Yes! I want this! No, not this ―him.
His hands pushed up her tank even as his legs leaned into her, keeping her pinned. As he stroked both her breasts, his tongue swept through her mouth like a forward scout team, leaving no spot unexplored.
When his thumbs and forefingers lightly squeezed her nipples, she arched, wanting more. He didn’t disappoint, alternately squeezing and pinching both, causing her sheath to moisten with desire.
His hand left her right breast, and she moaned in disappointment, opening her eyes to see him looking down. At his touch on her stomach, she sucked in a breath. He understood it for the invitation it was and made short work of unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans.
His hand slipped beneath the elastic of her panties but stopped when he found her watching him. He gazed into her eyes for what seemed like forever before his hand continued downward and his finger found her clit.
The spike of excitement shot right to her core, and she wanted to close her eyes and enjoy, but his gaze held hers as if daring her to look away. She’d never backed down from a dare. She grasped his muscular shoulders and didn’t blink.
As if he knew she accepted his silent challenge, his lips moved into a slow small smile just before two of his fingers made tiny gentle circles over her clit. Staring into his eyes as he brought her body to the edge of orgasm had to be the most erotic experience she’d ever had. Her own stubbornness helped, her whole body tingling with heat and need.
A slight shift in his eyes was the only warning she had before his finger moved swiftly between her folds and sunk deep inside her sheath. The feelings sent her to her toes and she caught her breath, but kept her gaze pinned to his.
He raised his eyebrows slightly as if he took her stubbornness as a challenge. Just the thought had her squeezing his fingers inside her. He lost his smile at her movement and a short surge of triumph whistled through her before his thumb found her clit and lazily played with it.
Though she kept her eyes on his, her body continued to tighten as the exquisite shards of pleasure spiked through her until her body betrayed her. Her orgasm swept through like a dust storm. She had no use for traitors, but as her eyes closed, she gloried in the uplift of satisfaction in his expression that both pleased and overwhelmed her.
When she opened her eyes, she found her hands holding tightly to Garrett’s shoulders, her rock among the chaos of feeling. He didn’t smile, but the knowing in his eyes had her imp coming out of hiding.
Without thought, she moved her hand to his belt buckle.
He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t. You’ll rip open your scabs.”
She blinked, having completely forgotten about her hands and the damage she’d done them. “Then you do it.”
He didn’t shake his head, but she could read the denial in his body language. When had she begun to know him so well? “If you don’t, I will. My fingers be damned. I want to feel you inside me. Make me feel you.”
His nostrils flared. He gazed at her as if to determine if she really meant it.
She did.
Finally, he unbuttoned his jeans.
She pushed her own jeans off her hips, but didn’t get far before his cock rubbed against her mons. She snapped her head up.
His eyes were focused on her own, and despite the limitations of her jeans, she bent her legs, and he pushed his cock between her folds to her entrance. There was no smile on his face now, just steady concentration. Was he going slow on her account?
She stared into his eyes. “Now.”
Despite her command, he slowly slid inside her until he was fully sheathed.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the rock, the feeling of him inside her filled every need she had and some she didn’t know she had.
His hands bracing against the rock on either side of her had her opening her eyes again. He leaned his forehead against hers as he slowly pulled back his hips. “Only for you.”
She wasn’t sure if it was his words or his body as he thrust into her, but every part of her melted as he started the buildup that would satisfy them both this time.
As a lover, he was everything he promised to be, bringing her with him, holding his own release until she began and then pr
olonging her pleasure as he joined her. When they both were done, she had her head on his shoulder as he held her against him, their bodies still one.
He lowered his head to speak in her ear. “Do you feel alive now?”
She grinned and nodded against his shoulder.
A soft chuckle vibrated in his chest. “Me too.”
She should probably move away and pull herself together, but really, what was the rush?
Garrett’s stomach rumbled.
Ah, and there was the rush. She lifted her head. “Do you want another mint?”
“No, it will go away. But we need to turn off your phone light or we won’t have it when we need it.”
She pushed back from him, though he kept them anchored at the hip. “Shit. We need to do that now.” She looked over his shoulder to see her phone sitting on its side, facing the other wall. In front of it was Copper, watching her.
It was an odd sensation. “I’m not sure Copper approved of us having sex when we should be working.”
Garrett shrugged. “Good thing he’s not our captain then.” His smile was wide, but as he separated them, irritation flashed through her. Why did survival always have to get in the way of actually living?
Quickly, he scooped up the phone and turned it off.
In the pitch blackness, she pulled up her jeans and straightened her tank. “So now what?”
He moved next to her. “I suggest we sit down and re-evaluate our plan.”
She was all for that. Her knees felt like rubber at the moment. Sitting down right where she stood, she leaned her back against the wall. “Copper. Come here boy.”
The sound of the dog’s feet stepping on the gravel relieved her, but when he tried to climb in her lap and lick her, she was back on guard again. “Really, Copper?”
Garrett took a seat next to her. Very close, in fact. Told you he’d forgive you.”
“True, but it doesn’t really matter if I can’t keep him alive long enough to return him to Whisper.”
He chuckled. “That’s if he wants to go back to Whisper.”
She finally wrestled Copper onto her lap with his head facing away from her. “He won’t have a choice. I can’t keep him.”
“Why not?”
At the surprise in Garrett’s voice, she turned her head to face him. “Because I move around too much. It would limit the ranches I can work at. I’m sure some have their own dogs.”
“Then don’t move around. Stay here at Last Chance.”
That sounded far more tempting than it should, but it wouldn’t be good for her or anyone else. Hadn’t he noticed what a mess she was? He’d certainly seen and learned more about her overseas adventures than anyone else. Even more than her Army shrink before her discharge.
Sure, she received an “honorable” discharge, but the shrink had basically said she wasn’t fit to return to service. What the hell did he know? She was lucky she had ranch hand experience to fall back on. She’d heard of other service people being completely lost when returning to civilian life and blowing their brains out. She didn’t mention that to Garrett. One member of her unit from her first tour had gone back three more times, surviving intact until he came home. His funeral was the last time she’d seen anyone from the Army.
“I know Cole would appreciate you staying here. If I were you, I’d ask for hazard pay after all this.” Garrett’s voice brought her back to the present.
It was better to focus on the present, not the past or the future. “Do you really think the wet dirt will hold up better? Because if it will, we should try digging a smaller tunnel through it. It would get us out of here faster. Plus, we would wouldn’t want it to dry or it might cave in on us again.”
He took her change of topic in stride. “I do. We can go back to a two foot by two foot and see how far we can get. How are your hands holding up?”
She touched the tops of her fingers. Her nails were sharp enough to cut something, but her fingertips were just a little sore. “They’re fine.” She checked the wrap on her arm. “But your sleeve on my arm is a little loose.” She wasn’t about to tell him that it stung quite a bit. There wasn’t anything he could do about it, and he’d try to keep her from working.
“I’ll fix it when we start working again.”
That worked for her. “No time like the present.”
“No, let’s wait a bit. I think Copper needs some attention. We’ve ignored him for most of the day.”
Was he recovering from the sex they had? Hmm, that could be it. She could wait. She just hoped it wouldn’t be too long. She’d already proven that the longer she was in the mine, the more she slipped into craziness.
Chapter Eleven
“Coming out.” Garrett backed out of the narrow tunnel he’d been digging. Riley’s removal of the dirt behind him made it easy to do. It was a bit tight, but they didn’t need a highway to get out of there.
“Calling it quits for the night?” Riley’s voice sounded relieved.
He should have quit earlier. She never complained, so it was easy to forget she was wounded. She may not say anything, but he could tell her injuries were sapping her strength. It didn’t help that they had no food. “Yes. I’m ready for roasted rabbit. Do you think we could get Copper to run for take-out?”
“Only if you tip him with a nice juicy steak.” He could almost see her smirking.
After a day of talking, he could tell exactly what mood she was in and even more importantly when she was slipping into the past again. He’d been told that people who’d experienced trauma should talk about it to “process” it. They made him do that while he was in the hospital.
But with Riley, every time her last cave-in came up, she started to go back to that time. It might be because this was far too similar. She’d slipped back only twice all day.
She turned the light on, and he slid down from the moist pile of dirt.
“What I wouldn’t do for a big snake right now.”
At her words, he stilled. She’d talked about eating a snake, a bird, and beetles in her last experience. He didn’t want her to slip back again. “I think we should change it up. Let’s chew on my gum tonight.”
“That will make us hungry.”
“Yes, but we’ll be asleep when we’re hungry so we can look forward to a mint in the morning.”
She put her hand on her hip. “Well, you certainly know how to wine and dine a woman.”
He smirked at her. Oh, he knew how to do that, but it didn’t help in the end. So where did that put him with Riley? He’d tried not to, but he’d be fooling himself if he said he didn’t have feelings for her. And he’d been doing so well to avoid getting his heart broken again. He was an idiot.
“I’m taking Copper down to the bathroom. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“Don’t forget your stick.” He pointed to the piece of wood she used to follow the cave walls in the dark to their bathroom. She’d used it a couple times during the day. There was something normal about it now that bothered him.
“I wouldn’t leave without it.” Obviously, in a good mood, she called the dog and moved to the right wall. Getting into position, she turned the light out and started down the tunnel, talking to Copper as if he understood every word.
Feeling his way to their camp, he sat on his bed and pulled out his gum. He only had a couple sticks. It wouldn’t be long before working in the dirt all day would be impossible without nourishment. Though he kept a positive view, he was worried. He didn’t actually have faith in Cole finding them in time.
She’d made it eleven days last time, but she had food. While they could last a number of days, digging would be out of the question. They had very little water left in the single water bottle and the only chance of finding water was if they went down a shaft. His concern was whether they could get back up.
He had no choice but to dig tomorrow until they reached fresh air. It was the only plan that had a chance of success. They’d both have more staying power if he hadn’t given int
o her plea for sex. It went against his grain to make love to her in the dirt, but he didn’t regret it. He had brought her back with his kiss and had enjoyed every moment of being with her.
Now that they’d been together, would she sleep with him tonight? He hoped so. It had been an unexpected pleasure finding her laying on him when he woke. Though he knew he was torturing himself with the normalcy of it, he still wanted it while he could have it. Once they left the mine…
Her voice far back in the tunnel had him anticipating her entrance. She had no clue that she’d be keeping Copper. If the Whisper woman was even half what Riley said she was, she’d make Riley keep the dog. At least he’d know she had a good companion.
He could make out her words now.
“Just wait until we’re out of here. I’m sure Annette will have something in the house for you to eat. Just don’t eat too much. That won’t be good for you. Maybe you should play with a rock or something to keep your mind off eating.”
He waited until she was closer then spoke. “Did Copper do well?”
“He did. I think he’s tired. That’s a long walk for him.” As she drew close to him, she turned on the light, facing it away from them. “Here you go.”
He took it and stood. “Here.” He handed her a stick of gum.
She promptly unwrapped it and put it in her mouth. She had a beautiful mouth with full lips that he loved kissing. Shit, now who was losing it. “Be back.” Turning out the light, he headed for the small bathroom, his fingers on the wall guiding him. Her idea to designate it as such, along with the towel pieces and ore cart of dirt just proved how much she had gone through by herself.
The thought of her alone for eleven days buried alive had his stomach turning in on itself. At least he was with her this time. Though she regressed back in time on occasion, her strength in functioning at all had him in awe. He wasn’t so sure he could handle it if something like this happened to him again.
Arriving at the bathroom, he used it quickly then headed back. He didn’t like leaving her alone too long. As he drew closer, he heard scraping. His heart thudded in his chest that she was scraping the wall again. Turning the light one so he could run to her, he instead found her emptying her gold pan of dirt onto his “bed.”
