She snagged his hand. “I meant what I said. You’re the reason I’m still breathing, not the reason I got hurt.”
“If I’d been faster, you wouldn’t have gotten clipped.”
“Scratched, and I shoved you, remember? Hard to push me out of the way when I knock you off your feet.”
“Sweetheart, you did that the day we met, so no excuses.”
Sweetheart?
Either the fatigue and cold had gotten to him or Kash had subconsciously implanted the idea when they’d been talking on Foster’s boat. Because Zain had never been one to use endearments or pet names. But he’d be lying if he didn’t admit, it felt more than right.
She smiled, and his damn heart kicked over. Either too fast or too slow, and he had to force his lungs to expand from nothing more than her blue-tinged lips curled up at the corners.
Her hand landed on his shoulder, each finger anchoring him to her even more. “That sounds intimately dangerous.”
“Just like you.” He brushed his thumb along her jaw, then stepped back. “I’ll be right outside. Shout if you need anything.”
“Thanks. I won’t be long.”
He scanned the room, again, just to make sure he hadn’t missed someone blending in with the woodwork, then smiled. “Take as long as you’d like.”
He backed his way out the door, leaving it slightlyajar, just in case. Which he realized was likely overkill, but he couldn’t quite crush the voice in his head that lectured him every time he glanced at the bandage on her shoulder. It hadn’t been serious. More of a scratch, like she’d said — but it could have been.
Could have dropped her right there in front of him, and it would have been his fault.
Echoes of that fateful night sounded inside his head — memories better left buried — when Saylor called out.
The door practically bounced off the wall as he rushed in, scanning every inch of the room — searching for something worthy of the hint of panic in her voice — before he stopped in front of her. “You, okay? Do you need Chase?”
“Easy, nothing’s wrong. I just…” She sighed. “I can’t get my bra off. At least, not without messing up my shoulder, so…”
Heat burned along his skin. She was definitely going to kill him.
He leaned in, giving her a long, slow sweep. “I can absolutely help you with that… Unless you’d prefer me to get Chase?”
“Seriously?”
He held her gaze as he eased the lower band up then over her good shoulder before pulling it down the other, keeping his eyes focused on hers. His pulse kicked up, tapping double time in his head as he placed the bra on the counter, then handed her the towel. “Anything else?”
She swallowed, coughed a few times, then shook her head. “I can handle the rest.”
He nodded, fighting the urge to dip down and finally taste her mouth — see if she was half as wild as he thought she’d be — then inched backwards.
She matched the movement with a step toward him, getting in close, again. “Zain, I…”
He moved, hooked his arm around her waist and tugged her in close, crushing that towel between them. “There’s nothing I’d rather do than strip us both down and join you, but…” He pushed out a slow breath. “Let’s tend to your immediate needs, first. Once I know you’re not going to pass out or freeze to death, we can talk.”
“Talking isn’t what I had in mind.”
Zain closed his eyes, reminded himself that their first time needed to be more than just the byproduct of adrenaline and a near-death experience, before he stared down at her. “Then, I look forward to having another shower with you after dinner. Or whatever else you had in mind.”
He backed away, bumped into the door frame, then stepped into the other room. He’d wait. Do like he’d claimed and see to her other needs. Then, he’d take that leap of faith.
Whatever else she had in mind?
Had he actually said that? Because the only thing onher mind was finally acting on all the heat and need burning through her veins. She wasn’t sure if they’d end up in bed together, but she couldn’t deny she wanted to. Not just for the physical release. How much she wanted to run her hands all over his sculpted body — taste every inch of his skin. But because Zain made her feel safe.
The thought lingered in the back of her mind as she finished undressing, then stepped into the shower. The warm water eased some of the chill, and she closed her eyes, letting the steady spray wash away the stress. It had been a while since she’d boarded a ship or been involved in a gunfight, and today’s adventure had reminded her she was more than a bit rusty.
