Ruby’s turn.
She hesitates for a second, like she’s making sure everyone else is really okay before she grips the rope. I adjust the bird again, locking her into position.
The second she’s off the rock and in the air, I don’t blink. Don’t breathe. I follow her with my eyes all the way to the platform, watching as Danny pulls her up, unclips her, and helps her inside.
And then, she’s right here. In my cockpit. Dripping wet, cheeks flushed, breathing hard from adrenaline or relief. But she’s damn well the most gorgeous thing in the universe.
She drops into the seat beside me and I watch her fumble with the buckle. She raises her eyes to mine with a sheepish smile, a soft blush spreading her cheeks.
I grin, barely resisting the urge to lean over and kiss her senseless. “Welcome aboard, sweetheart.”
A sound escapes her lips, half sob, half giggle. Then she covers her face with both hands for a second like she’s overwhelmed, and when she looks back up, her eyes are glassy but shining.
“I knew it was you,” she whispers. “I just knew you’d come.”
“I’ll always come,” I say, voice rougher than I mean it to be. “You’re mine, Ruby. And I don’t leave what’s mine behind.”
She stares at me like she can’t believe I said that. But I mean every goddamn word. And when we take off, flying back toward base, I reach over and take her cold hand in mine.
Just to remind her, and myself, that I’ve got her. And I’m not letting go.
The second we touch down, I’m unbuckling before the rotors even fully stop. Danny’s already climbing out, hollering for medics and retreat staff to meet the others, but I’ve got one priority and she’s sitting right beside me with wide eyes and shaking hands.
I reach for her.
“Come here.”
She doesn’t hesitate. Just falls into my arms like she’s been waiting all damn day to do it.
I hold her tight. So tight I think I might never let her go. I bury one hand in her hair, rubbing her back with the other. Her soaked clothes cling to me, but I don’t care. I bury my face in her neck and just breathe her in.
“I thought I was gonna lose you,” I rasp, voice low and raw against her ear. “Ruby…Jesus. I can’t… I know this is fast, butyou’re the most important thing in my life. I mean it. You mean the goddamn world to me.”
Her arms tighten around me even as her body vibrates against mine.
“I feel the same,” she whispers. “Jake…I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, and I hated it. I hated being that far from you.”
I pull back just far enough to look at her face. Her hair’s a mess, her eyes red-rimmed, cheeks pale. But she’s beautiful. She’s here. Before I can say another word, an obnoxious voice cuts through the emotional fog.
“Well, that explains why you wouldn’t go out with me.”
I glance up. It’s the douche-looking guy. “Who the fuck are you?”
“The guy she should be screwing instead,” he replies with a mocking sneer.
Motherfucker.
He’s standing by the tail end of the chopper, wrapped in a thermal blanket, a smug grin plastered across his face like he thinks he’s clever.
Rage spikes in my blood like a fuse being lit.
Without a second thought, I let go of Ruby, close the distance, and punch him hard. Right in the jaw.
He stumbles back with a yelp, clutching his face. “What the hell, man?”
“Say something like that again,” I growl, “and I’ll do a lot worse.”
Ruby’s behind me, breath hitching in shock, but I see the fire in her eyes when she glares at Doug like he’s a piece of trash stuck to her boot.