Chapter 8
He’s in bed with Nora and doing his best not to move an inch.
Thankfully, his migraine subsided before it moved into unfixable territory, and he can actually enjoy this moment.
Doesn’t want to risk her moving away after he’s gotten so lucky, and there’s no doubt in his mind that he is.
They may have done this once before in the cave but that was different. This time it isn’t just about the cold.
No one’s ever looked at him the way she did when she thought he wouldn’t make it.
Like her life would be irreparably damaged without him in it.
Theo’s not used to being anything important to anyone except his brother, and even then, sometimes he’s not so sure, but now she’s landed in his life and begun filling an empty space he didn’t even know existed.
It’s scary because he likes it. Letting himself get attached to this, to her, even a little bit, may be the stupidest thing he’s ever done.
Then he thinks back on being pinned by the bear, her weight on his chest like an elephant, dislocating his shoulder as if he were a ragdoll.
Death seemed certain, and while a few different thoughts filtered through his mind in between screams, like regrets about Oliver and his mother, the one unexpected role went to Nora.
He couldn’t have been down there more than a minute or two, but that was enough time to wish he’d been braver. That he flirted with her more, tried harder, and stopped cockblocking himself at every turn.
More than anything, he wished he knew what it felt like to kiss her before he died.
Then, he survived.
A boost in bravery overcame him on the spot.
It’s still here, encouraging him to go with this instead of bracing against it.
Not many people get a second chance. Now that he’s gotten a third, that has to mean something, especially when she seems fond of him, too, which is a mindblowing concept in its own right.
Sure, she still finds him somewhat obnoxious.
And she wasn’t serious about wanting to sleep with him back at the cabin.
He’s fully aware of that. Of course she wasn’t, but part of him wonders if there’d been some sincerity lurking down deep since she’s curled up with him in bed like a sleepy cat, practically purring under the mountains of covers, her face nuzzled into his chest. That sort of thing doesn’t happen if the woman isn’t at least somewhat attracted to the guy she’s laying on. …
Or, so he thinks. He can’t be sure. Maybe it really is just about avoiding the cold.
He was miserable and writhing in pain. Odds are good that she felt sorry for him, and that lifted some of her hesitation.
He doesn’t wanna be that guy who won’t accept ‘no’ for what it is, but he also fears ignoring signals, and at this point, he’s so damn confused that the smell of burning rubber should be emitting from between his ears.
It doesn’t help that he’s hard again. Not just a little bit, either, but rock fucking hard.
Ready to go five rounds hard. His dick knows what it wants, and it wants Nora.
Shortly after she snuggled into him and fell asleep in the middle of the day, it started perking up.
The stress of what they’d been through has his wires crossing.
He was able to ignore it then in favor of his aching shoulder and head, but he hasn’t slept this whole time, and even the pain isn’t enough to keep him from drifting toward x-rated thoughts of her.
How she might feel naked under his fingertips.
How they could warm up faster in this ice-cold building that feels like a frozen tomb.
Allowing himself to go down this path again is the last thing he should do.
She’d been so worried and despondent after the bear attack, and then told him such personal things, trusting him with emotions he doesn’t think anyone else has seen in a long time, and here he is with his dick at attention and his thoughts fixated on how badly he wants her.
Rude. That’s what he is. Rude and impractical because if there ever was anything impractical to ruminate on, it’s his useless longing for Nora.
This is all pointless anyway. What he should be focused on is their current situation, stranded at the edge of the world with nothing but body heat, and the nearest town still a day or more’s hike away.
It’s not until the setting sun begins to brighten in a last golden spark before it sets, shining under the floor across the room, that he’s distracted enough to think of anything else.
Under the floor.
Through the walls.
Orange strips of light leak through what should be solid wood, but as far as he can tell, there’s another damn room on the other side of what looks like a tattered old bookcase.
Then Nora stirs, making a little grumble against his chest. His good arm tightens around her in a gentle squeeze, like he has any idea how to do that. It felt right, natural, and her barely there smile when she feels it is an even bigger surprise.
She blinks drowsily, eyes focusing for a long moment until reality crashes back in and she jerks away, half upright on one elbow. “Sorry. I think I fell asleep. Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“You needed the rest, and I’m fine. Good as I can be, all things considered.”
“I didn’t mean to smother you for so long.”
“I didn’t mind.” That doesn’t sound anything like his own voice whatsoever, but he goes with it.
It’s not long before her gaze travels to his crotch, where he’s deflating slowly but surely. It’s not completely down yet, though, and the tent in the blanket gives away exactly what he’d been thinking about while she slept.
“My turn to apologize,” he says, shyly.
“Don’t worry about it. It happens. Are you hungry?”
Yes. For you. That’s what he says in his head, but what actually comes out of his mouth is, “Um, yeah. We should check out the secret room first, though.”
Her brows raise along with the rest of her body as she sits fully upright. “Secret room?”
Theo points to the wall with its seams drenched in sunlight, and she gasps, nearly flying off the bed to investigate, her hands pushing on the wood panels and lifting up books and odds and ends. “Oh my god, I wonder what’s back there. How do we get in?”
“Dunno, there’s gotta be a trigger somewhere. Try the edges, give ‘em a good push.”
After a few failed attempts, one hard shove on the far edge has the hidden door popping open and Nora’s delighted face flashing him a beautiful smile he can’t help but return.
“Theo, wait until you see this.”
He has a bad view from the bed and is about to force himself out of it when she pushes the heavy door all the way open to reveal a stockpile of supplies from floor to ceiling.
Everything they might need is within that room, from toilet paper to toothpaste, canned food to boxed snacks, and bottled water.
He can’t figure out why it’s been hidden other than for amusement, but that’s not important when it seems like their luck is turning.
“We could stay here.” She watches him cautiously, as if even saying it out loud is silly. “Until someone finds us, we could stay. Right?”
“Damn right we could. That’ll last weeks, maybe months.”
“I guess we’re playing house after all.” She grins.
He swallows hard. “Guess we are.”
* * *
First thing on the agenda is breaking into the communications room, but after dragging his sorry ass out of bed despite her protest, they aren’t any closer now than they were before.
There are no windows outside leading in. The door is metal, and the lock is solid. They have no fucking crowbar to break it off. They could shoot it, but catching a ricocheted bullet to the face doesn’t sound like a fun time.
They stand side by side in the small hallway, scowling at the barrier that refuses to give way.
“Plan B?” Nora tilts her head toward the other, weaker door to their left that holds the maintenance room.
The rusted hinges on the lock tell him this might be a whole lot easier. He takes a hunting knife pilfered from the cabin and wedges it into the space between the lock and the door.
“Let me try first,” she offers. “Please.”
He’s using his good arm, but that doesn’t mean the rest of his body isn’t still on fire, so he agrees easily enough. Isn’t trying to prove anything to her anyway. When she takes up his spot and gives it a solid yank, working the leverage, the hinge pops right off.
They can’t get inside fast enough. Their joy only overflows when turning on the power and heat, along with running water, is as simple as flicking a few switches. Still no internet when they turn on the lone, dusty computer, but they’ve got plenty of fuel, so he’ll take it.
She grins at him as warm air begins to filter out the vents. “Things are looking up. We should celebrate.”
“How?”
“Well, first I’d like to take a hot shower and then maybe we can open that bottle of whiskey in the pantry.”
“Trying to get me drunk?” he jokes.
“I’m the lightweight. I think you’ll be just fine, don’t worry, I won’t take advantage.”
He wants her to take advantage, but doesn’t dare admit that. “You’re on.”
* * *
They both smell like flowers. Something called hibiscus in the bottle of soap left behind.
It makes him less weird about getting closer to her now that he’s clean, and when they take up the bed again with her back to the wall and his to the headboard, making a little triangle, every inhale is like heaven when it wafts off her skin.
She unscrews the cap from a bottle of whiskey and offers him a sip, but he lets her go first, laughing when she ends up in a coughing fit.
“Easy there, lightweight.”