"Hold on to me," Mitch said.
I wrapped my arm around his bicep, hugging myself to him. His free hand gathered the reins.
Zeus shifted beneath us, tossing his head.
"Easy, boy," Mitch murmured. "Let's go." He clicked his tongue.
As Zeus moved forward at a steady walk, Mitch kept one arm locked around me, holding me securely as he guided the horse through the pack.
The dingoes didn't attack. They watched us pass, heads low, hackles raised, but they kept their distance from Zeus's hooves.
We moved away from the dying fire, away from the tree, into the darkness beyond. As my eyes adjusted, the landscape emerged in silver-blue light. The moon hung low and full on the horizon, casting long shadows across the scrub, while above us the Milky Way blazed across the sky in a river of stars. The sounds of snarling faded behind us, replaced by the rhythmic thud of Zeus's hooves and Mitch's steady breathing near my ear.
"Are you hurt?" Mitch asked.
A knot the size of the moon wedged in my throat, making it impossible to answer. I shook my head. My chin dimpled. A sob spilled from my throat.
"Hey, it's okay. You're safe now."
"They were going to eat me." My shoulders shook as great heaving sobs burst from my lips.
Mitch pulled Zeus to a stop and let go of the reins. He wrapped both arms around me, one warm hand cupping my cheek as he held my head against his bare chest. As I cried, really, truly ugly cried, he just held me, as if knowing that was exactly what I needed.
He ran his hand over my hair, murmuring things I couldn't hear.
After an eternity, I sniffed back my stupid emotions and eased away from his chest. "Sorry," I blurted.
"Hey, don't you say that." His hand still cupped my cheek, and he wiped away a tear. "You're incredible."
I shook my head. "I thought I was going to die."
"I should’ve got to you sooner." His jaw tightened.
"You didn't know."
A frown drilled across his forehead as he shook his head. "If anything had happened to you…"
I looked up at him. Moonlight silvered a few hairs in his short beard, and concern shimmered in his eyes. "You saved me. Again."
His gaze dropped to my mouth. His expression shifted to so damn sexy my breath hitched. He slid his hand into my hair, angled my face toward his, and crushed his lips to mine.
This wasn't a gentle kiss like last time. This was need and fear and relief all tangled together. His kiss was fierce, demanding, and I parted my lips for him. He kissed me as if he was claiming me, like he'd almost lost me, and now he was making damn sure I knew I was his. His other arm hugged tightly around my waist, crushing me against his bare chest.
I kissed him back just as hard, curling my fingers around his neck, holding on and anchoring me to the world. Because right now, he was.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing hard. I didn't see a question in his eyes. I saw desire and need.
His thumb traced my bottom lip. "Charlie." My name was a rough whisper. A promise. A yearning.
My heart twisted in my chest. I was falling for him. Hard. Fast. Recklessly.
But he belonged out here under vast skies and endless red dirt, with dust in his veins and sun-scorched earth beneath his boots. I didn't even know where I belonged anymore. We lived in different worlds. Different lives.
This, whatever this was, it was temporary. A moment stolen from reality and driven by pure chaos.
And that made his kiss, his tender touches, and every heartbeat against his bare chest both precious and devastating.
Chapter 27