Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
I leap off of the desk so fast, my feet tangle on themselves sending me to my knees on the carpet. “Scout! Oh my god, Scout!”
He’s motionless.
Think, Aria!
ABC… Airway, breathing, clothing?
No! No, that’s not it. Airway, breathing, circulation. You know CPR, for Christ’s sake.
I’m a trained rescue diver.
But this… this is freaking me out!
Hands hovering over him, I can’t figure out where to touch him. I whisper, “Scout, can you hear me?”
He sighs.
Is that good?
I lean over, hold my wet hair back and put my face as close as I can to his face.
His eyelids flutter. Soft, warm puffs of air cross my skin.
He’s breathing. Thank, god.
“Are you okay?”
His sigh is deeper this time, rumbling from somewhere deep in his chest. I think this is a good sound, but…
What if I’m wrong?
Panic makes my heart rate spike again. My hand is trembling when I rest it on his back. The muscles beneath his wet T-shirt are warm and sculpted.
“Are you sleeping?”
“Exhausted.”
One gravelly word.
I sag and close my eyes. He’s so tired he collapsed.
I’m right there with him. If you’re listening, God, no more scares tonight. This girl needs a break.
Carefully, I pull my hand back and look at Scout. Really look at him. As if you could when a lion was locked behind glass.
Thick, dark beard covers a strong jaw. His lashes are short, dense and black as ink. A faint white scar crosses the bridge of his nose. Another on the crest of his cheek. Small crinkle-lines fan out at the corners of his eyes. A deep furrow scores between two masculine brows.
I fight myself for a few seconds, avoiding looking at his lips.
I already know they look soft, but hard. A contradiction.
So fitting for him.
When I cave to the urge and study the lines of his mouth, a tingle builds in my own lips.
What would a man like Scout kiss like ?
Slowly with precision or would he attack, knocking the senses right out of your brain?
He’d kiss like an animal, I decide.
All snarls and nips, and commanding thrusts of a tongue that takes what it wants.
I close my eyes and a little groan slips out of me. Heat pulses in places that have been cold for hours. A welcome tingle sets up shop in my lower belly.
How can I think about kissing a man? I swore I was going to be celibate forever.
Squeezing my eyes closed, I expect to be assaulted by terrifying memories. But that’s not the vision that appears.
It’s Scout looking at me through those icy, mesmerizing eyes. So cold they burn right down to the center of me.
I scoot away from him, needing the space.
When I stand up, my wet clothing binds against my skin. Cold and unforgiving. I need to get out of these.
Scout has clothing in his truck.
With one more glance to make sure he’s okay, I see something different. An exhausted man that’s so wiped out he doesn’t even know the world exists right now.
He needs me now.
I needed him earlier.
It’s my turn to take care of him.
It takes less than five minutes to rummage through his truck and find what I need. I’m wrapping up my raid when I hear a phone ringing.
The number on the screen is instantly recognizable and sends a wave of relief through me.
“Griff! Are you okay?”
He lashes out. “Aria, what are you doing on Scout’s phone?”
“It’s a long story. Are you at the hospital? ”
He’s silent long enough for me to know he’s winding up to unleash. “Aria?—”
“Griff, please tell me what’s going on.”
With a grumble, he relents. “I’m in a city called Carollia. It’s the closest place with a specialist. I’ve gotten something for pain, I’ll be seeing the ENT in a few hours. Now where the hell are you?”
“I’m…” Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m at the airport. I’m fine. Look, I need to go.”
“What the hell are you doing answering Scout’s phone?”
“He’s busy.”
Sleeping.
I grimace. Griff sees through lies like they're made of Saran Wrap.
I need to get off this phone.
Trying to sound cheery, I say, “Get some rest, brother. I’m fine. I’m safe. I’m going to try to get some sleep so I can start planning the dives as soon as I can meet with the rest of the Agile Security team.”
I can hear his extreme unhappiness through the line without him saying a word.
Then he lets loose. “Fuck, I can’t believe this is happening.”
Well, neither can I, but I don’t say that aloud. “Just rest. You’ll get well more quickly.”
“I guess.” He snorts and mutters, “Remember what I said about Scout. I’m really angry right now that you’re with him. He’s the last person I want you to be around.”
I feel compelled to point out one very important fact. “Griff, he saved my life.”
“He’s a fucking SEAL, that’s what they’re trained to do. He does that shit in his sleep. ”
Oookay. This is a pointless conversation. “Griff, please, take a breath. I’m fine. Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“You need to watch your back around him. I’m serious, A, he’s a liability. I won’t take any chances with you. The way that fucker was looking at you made my blood boil.”
God. Griff is over the top. And he doesn’t even know about what happened with Adam. If he did he’d really lose his mind.