When she reached those far-away lights, Josie promised herself she would get another chance. But first, she needed to sleep.
Chapter 18
“Is she alive?”
Knox ignored Gage’s question and bypassed him to maneuver through the door.
“Go turn on the shower, not too hot. We have to warm her.”
His arms screaming, Know kept Josie as close to his body as possible even knowing she couldn’t feel his heat through his coat. Her face was so pale, almost translucent, and her lips had a tinge of blue. As they’d made their way from the lake to the cabin, her body had stopped shaking and he’d pushed himself like never before, until he felt his heart almost ready to burst with the effort it took to save her.
When steam started to billow, Knox didn’t hesitate and entered the shower with his precious bundle still in his arms. Even not directly under the spray, the water still stung, but only because of the temperature difference. Placing her under the spray, he tried to remove her layers of clothes but as they were soaked with water, it was a struggle.
Gage fell to his knees beside the shower. “Let me help.”
His reaction wasn’t logical as he tightened his grip, moving her slightly, preventing Gage from touching her.
Gage rolled his eyes. “Man … come on. She’s hypothermic.”
Knox sighed and relaxed his grip. In no time, Josie was down to her underwear, and Gage helped him remove his coat, sweater, and shirt. His friend sat back then, just outside the shower stall.
Skin to skin, Knox couldn’t look away from her. “Baby, please. Open your beautiful eyes for me.” He tried to soften his voice to coax her out. “It’s me, Knox. Spencer. The fool who hurt you. The imbecile you said…” His voice caught, but he had to keep talking. “You said you loved me, fool of a woman. I don’t deserve love. I’m a criminal who thought he was honorable. I gave you my word I’d protect you. Help you. Even told you I wouldn’t touch you. Each and every time, I betrayed my word. How can you love me? And more importantly, why do I love you?”
His fingers pushed her dark wet hair away, tracing every line, from her eyebrows to her cheekbones down to the graceful curve of her neck, that had invaded his dreams since he last saw her.
“When you closed that door on me, my world fell apart. I fell to my knees for the first time in my life. Me. Spencer Knox, who inspired fear in the most dangerous men all my life. But that thrill only took me deeper into darkness. I never knew that until I saw you.”
Slight pink now colored her cheeks. He looked at Gage who looked as lost as he was. And as desperate.
He lowered his face, rubbing his cheek against hers. Water slid from his hair down her face, his hands ran over her skin. He didn’t know what to say, the words clogged so tightly in his throat at the idea of losing her. He licked at the droplets over her mouth before peppering gentle kisses over her face. Then he felt a tremor, a slight exhale as her lips parted. Unable to resist, Knox deepened the kiss, careful not to impede her breathing.
Her eyes fluttered open, her voice faint when she spoke. “Knox. I did it. I reached you. The lights…”
He nodded, and smiled at her, even though it must have looked more of a grimace.
Gage cursed and leaned back, but Knox couldn’t look away. He knew if he did, all he’d prayed for would vanish. “We found you in the snow. I thought you were dead. I should have gotten to you sooner…” His stomach tightened at the thought of what could have happened if he hadn’t listened to his instincts and the sense of urgency in his gut and waited until morning to go to her. When he’d seen her lying in the snow, his heart had almost stopped beating.
He watched Josie blink before frowning. Her entire body tensed and she started to sit upright, shivering at the same time. Fear overtook her quickly as she scurried back in the small space. “Ken. He’s out there… He’s dangerous, we should call the police…”
Knox tried to divert her attention by bringing her back into his arms and he exchanged a quick look with Gage.
The man nodded. “I’ll go check, but with this weather, he probably went back to your cabin. Or if his brain hasn’t frozen, he probably jumped back into his car and left. Don’t worry, Josie, you’re safe here. I’ll make sure of it.”
Without another word, Gage left, but Knox wasn’t worried about the threat. Not anymore. Knox held her close as the warm water pummeled them. “Are you okay? The snowstorm may have blocked the roads, but…”
Her small hand touched his chest. “I’m fine. Less sleepy now. Better by the minute. But my skin is itching.”
“I thought I’d lost you forever.”
Her eyes went to his. “I thought you didn’t want me.”
His hands touched every bit of skin available to him. “I still believe you’d be better off without me. But I don’t think I can live without you.”
Josie was immobile for a moment before she got on her knees and straddled his soaked pants. Her palms cupped his bearded cheeks. “I want you as you are, Knox. Don’t change for me, and don’t hide from me.”
His hands went to her hips as he licked his lips, impatient to take her. “Last time I took you, I lost control and hurt you.”
Combing her fingers through his hair, she unexpectedly fisted it, pulling his head back. “I loved it. I felt alive. I don’t care about scratches and bruises if you’re the one giving them to me. And if I’m the only one giving them to you.”
