miss me, other than those after my neck. All I need is standing in front of me, giving my existence more meaning than ever. Not that I would ever sabotage our chance of rescue for selfish gain.
I shake off the murky darkness always ready to swallow me. “Okay, I’ll be positive. Today could be the one that changes everything.”
“That’s the spirit.” Blakely pinches my sides.
“At least we have plenty of wood cut.” I stride to the stacks of branches already split and prepared for sacrifice.
She follows my trail. “Planning ahead so we could sleep in was an excellent idea.”
“Which was all yours,” I remind her with a chuckle.
“I’m willing to share credit.”
“All right, I’ll accept that was a joint effort. The way you woke me up is the true winner, though.”
Blakely smacks her lips. A phantom suction cinches around my dick at the reminder. I get fully erect in less than a second. Her gaze cuts a hot path to the hidden bulge in my pants. “Figured it was long overdue. You’re always so generous with the hard stuff.”
I wink at her. “That’s what she said.”
“Hey! That’s my joke.”
“Even I know that honor belongs to Michael Scott.”
“Well, well, well, how the turntables.” At my blank look she adds, “Not familiar with that one?” Then she swats my ass with a giggle.
Before I can retaliate, Blakely begins scooping chunks of bark into her arms. I mirror her actions in the next beat. Finding a supply of dry brush is more tedious than splitting logs. It takes us the better part of an hour to gather enough for the smoke to rise high above the trees and mountains. The shallow pit we created waits for a fresh serving to begin the chore of alerting anyone passing over these parts. Once the flames begin to billow, we resume collecting anything likely to build a bigger signal. Blakely has become quite the scavenger. She never complains about the amount of manual labor we’ve been putting in on the daily.
When we’ve compiled three large heaps, I grab one of our bowls that’s brimming with water. I drain the contents in two gulps. After scrubbing over my mouth, I pass the other dish to Blakely. She sips as if the urgency of thirst isn’t clawing at her throat. This woman has gained a higher tolerance than me in an impressive fashion. Maybe that’s due to the alleged strengths we started with, but I’m in awe all the same.
Sweat itches on my forehead, and I wipe it away with a grunt. Once the moisture dries, I’ll have a crusty layer seared into my skin. If only the lake wouldn’t freeze my balls off if I jumped in for a dip. Getting slippery and wet would be a damn blessing with the woman across from me. Blakely’s face has a rosy flush that hauls me in faster than a siren call. I press my lips to her clammy cheek, smiling into our warm exchange when she leans toward me.
“And now we wait.”
I bury my face against the hollow between her shoulder and neck. “Are you tired of that yet?”
Her shrug bumps my chin. “It’s not so bad since we’re together. What else are we gonna do?”
“You’re so patient,” I whisper across the pebbling skin of her throat.
She stretches to give me better access. “I’ve heard it’s one of the most important virtues.”
“I’ll reward you for showing restraint later.” I’ve learned distraction doesn’t have to be a hindrance, especially between us. That might be a pivotal factor in keeping our sanity from flipping to the dark side.
“And we’ll get to see the Northern Lights,” she murmurs.
That discovery was highly satisfying, especially Blakely’s reaction to the twinkling constellations. Out here, there’s no pollution or smog or treetops to hinder the view. It’s almost scary how clear the sky is at night. The simple treasures we’ve uncovered cannot be measured. “I’ll never complain about you bundled in my arms under a blanket of bright stars.”
“It does help to ward off the chill.”
“Conserving body heat with you is by far my favorite part of this trip.” Falling hopelessly for the girl of my dreams pairs well with that statement, but I’m still uncertain if she’s ready to hear it. Or if I’m man enough to admit I want her to choose me when this is all over.
Blakely props a fist on her hip, showing off some of the sass I’ve grown so fond of. “I’d certainly hope so. We’re sharing enough to