Chapter 14 #2
"Who needs a gym membership when you've got an inn to maintain?" I said to myself, trying to distract myself from the heights as I worked my way along the edge. My movements were mechanical, systematic, as I refused to look down or let my mind wander to what would happen if I lost my balance.
The gable end loomed ahead, the one part of this chore I always left for last. It required climbing onto the roof, and I'd be lying if I said the prospect didn't send dread through me every time.
I steadied myself against the ladder, feeling the metal frame wobble ever so slightly beneath my weight.
"Steady," I whispered, casting a brief glance skyward.
The blue expanse offered no comfort, no promise that gravity would give me a pass.
I focused instead on the task at hand, reaching as far as I could without leaving the safety of the ladder, scraping away the remnants of last season's foliage, forcing myself to ignore the height, the risk, and the fear.
With a deep breath, I prepared for the final stretch. Just get it done. Then I could get to the ground where I belonged. With that thought anchoring me, I pushed the fear to the back of my mind and forged ahead, ready to conquer the last of the gutter and the day's most daunting challenge.
The last gutter beckoned, and there I was, perched precariously at the edge of the roof.
My heart pounded a staccato beat against my ribs, urging caution with every throb.
I inched forward, cursing under my breath for not hiring this out despite the cost. The ladder felt miles away as I made the transition onto the sloped surface.
"Almost done," I told myself, reaching for that reassuring solidity beneath my feet. Then I slipped. My foot landed squarely on a wet leaf camouflaged against the shingles. Time seemed to slow as my boot skidded, my arms windmilling in a desperate attempt to regain balance.
"Ah!" The scream tore from my throat, a primal sound of fear. I fell backward, the ground rushing up to meet me, and I knew—this was it. I braced for impact, for pain, for the end.
The crash never came. Instead, a jolt ran through me as powerful arms wrapped around my body, halting my descent. My lungs burned, starved of air from the shock and the abrupt stop. Dazed, I blinked, struggling to process that I was still alive.
"Erin? Erin, look at me. Are you okay?" Ashton's voice cut through the haze of my mind, his face swimming into focus above mine. His eyes were wide, the blue of them darkened by concern.
I tried to speak, but my throat was tight, my chest refusing to draw in a full breath.
All I could do was shake my head, a tiny, jerky motion, and hope he understood I was alive but not yet okay.
His grip on me was both protective and steadying, and, I simply clung to him, grateful beyond words for his unexpected presence.
He carried me inside with careful steps, navigating through the hallway that suddenly seemed too narrow, too cluttered. The familiar scent of my bedroom, lavender and vanilla, washed over me as he gently laid me on the bed. Instinctively, I lifted my feet, hovering them in the air.
"Shoes," I gasped out, my voice a hoarse whisper. My gaze fell to the mud still clinging to my feet, threatening to stain the pale comforter.
Ashton chuckled softly, the sound somehow reassuring amidst the calamity of my racing heart. "You can barely breathe, and you're worried about your comforter?"
I drew in a shaky breath, relief mixing with embarrassment. "I am who I am," I said once I had enough air to form the words. "I don't want to have to wash this comforter."
He kneeled, gentle fingers working to free my feet from their dirty confines. Once the shoes were off, he looked up at me, his brow creased with concern.
"What in the world were you doing on the roof?" Ashton's tone was tinged with disbelief.
I shook my head slightly, trying to dispel the lingering feeling of vertigo. "Forget why I was on the roof... Where did you come from? You weren't there when I fell."
His eyes met mine, steady and calm. "I was just coming around the corner to see what you were up to and to offer my help when you fell. Right place at the right time."
"Right place..." I said, letting the reality of what could have been sink in. "I can't thank you enough."
Lying there, the panic began to fade, and I realized Ashton was closer than I had first thought. The bed dipped under his weight, and as I sat up, our faces were just inches apart. His eyes searched mine, concern etched deep within them.
"Thank you for saving me," I whispered, my voice barely a thread in the thick air of the room. "I thought I was going to die."
His response came in a low, husky tone that seemed to vibrate through me. "You are most welcome."
The moment stretched out, charged with something unspoken.
Then, with a slowness that felt like time itself was holding its breath, Ashton leaned forward.
His lips met mine in a kiss so gentle, so deliberate, it didn't need anything more to convey the depth of emotion behind it.
It was the most sensual, erotic experience of my life, and it was just a simple press of lips.
"Dinner is on me." Ashton broke the electrifying silence that followed the kiss. "You rest here for a minute and let me know if you need anything." His lips brushed against my forehead, a comforting, tender gesture, before he stood up and walked out of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind him, I lay back against the pillows, trying to steady the rapid beating of my heart.
The sensation of his kiss still lingered on my lips, sending waves of unexpected arousal through my body.
I closed my eyes, half-expecting to feel the rush of vertigo that had overwhelmed me during my fall.
This time, it wasn't fear or panic threatening to make me pass out—it was pure, unadulterated erotic tension.