Chapter 7
DARA
By the time the small cabin comes into view, my thighs are aching and it's hard to lift my feet for each step.
Aiden has me wait while he does a quick check in the area around and then scans inside before nodding at me that it's okay to enter.
When I ask what he's looking for, he simply shrugs and says, "Bears. "
My camera bag slips from my fingers, and Aiden catches it before it hits the floor. "There are bears?" My mind is spinning. I never even thought about bears. How had I not thought about bears?
"There are." When he sees my wide, frightened eyes, he shakes his head. "They tend to stay in their own territories. Doesn't hurt to be safe, though."
I can't move. Maybe it's the fire, the fire or the exhaustion weighing me down, but my feet are rooted into the ground.
Aiden searches my face, then makes his way back to me. "I promise you, Dara. It's safe in there. All you have to do is walk inside and you can rest."
He offers me his hand, holding it out palm up, and I hesitate before taking hold of him. He squeezes my fingers gently, hands me my camera bag, and then guides me into the small shelter.
Inside, relief hits me and I lean back against the wall. I tug down the fabric covering my nose and mouth, dragging in a deep breath. There's still the hint of smoke, but it doesn't burn my throat.
The crackle of a radio makes me turn. Aiden stands by the small window, the small black device in his hand.
"Safe. Sheltering in Hudson's Hunting Cabin."
There's static, then a deep voice responds. "Good to hear. Keep us posted."
Aiden slides the radio into his jacket pocket.
His gaze stays trained out the window and I take in the full size of him.
His shoulders are broad, even more than I realized, and his jeans cling to the thick muscles of his thighs.
He's a big man and the space instantly feels smaller.
He pulls the fabric wrap off his face and grimaces as he turns to face me.
Scars wrap around the left side of his throat, pulling the skin at the edge of his jaw tight. He freezes for an instant, then angles his body so his injuries aren't visible.
"You can wash up in the back." His voice is rough, hoarse, and again it sounds painful. I'd thought his speech was affected by the smoke and ash, but now I wonder if those conditions only made things worse.
I don't move, debating what I should do next. It's clear that Aiden's uncomfortable, but I don't want to leave him feeling that way.
"Who was that?"
He shoots a quick glance my way, then looks back out the window. "Hunt. Works at the resort. He'd tell you he just fixes things. Which he does." He swallows and I can see the way he struggles just a little bit with the motion.
"He sent you out there to find me?"
Aiden nods. Silence descends again in the small space. What more can either of us really say?
So, I don't bother with words. I just cross the distance between us and wrap my arms around his middle.
He's big, broad and muscled, my hands barely able to meet at his back.
I hug him, burying my face against his shirt.
The scent of him layered with smoke fills my nostrils.
Leather and musk, the sweat of hard work, and of course, the acrid tang of smoke.
I bet when he's clean, I'd want to breathe him in all the time.
Speaking of clean, I probably smell awful to him. I push back, rocking on my heels, and peer up at him. He looks stunned, like he's not sure what to do.
"Thank you. For saving me. Thank you."
He doesn't say anything in response, and I leave him behind to go wash away the soot that stains my skin.