Shameless - Sybil Bartel Page 0,29
was actually healthy now, I still felt the years of conditioning my father had drilled into me about being unnaturally thin.
But hearing Shade say I had a nice ass? It felt good. Really good. “Thanks,” I murmured.
“Pants, woman.”
I glanced behind me at the relative privacy of the back, which was a joke. I’d walked around South Beach in a string thong bikini, and I didn’t want to take my leggings off in front of him when my lace underwear covered more than my swimsuit?
“Already saw your ass, sweetheart. We’re out of time. Change here.” He pulled his short-sleeved shirt back on over his long sleeved one. “I need to get you up that mountain and come back to our ride before it’s snowed in.”
“It looks like we’re already snowed in.” Coming down in big, giant flakes, I had to admit it might’ve been pretty under any other circumstances. But being in the thick of it and feeling how bitter cold it was out there, I really, really didn’t want to leave the SUV. “Can’t you try to just get us back up the road, maybe even a little ways?” My fear of plummeting off the cliff in the Escalade now eclipsed by the actual snow, I pulled my boots off then shoved my leggings down.
“I’m jackknifed on a single-lane road, on an incline, in ten inches of snow with my rear wheel hanging over the edge. You shouldn’t even be sitting in here right now.” He tossed his jacket at me. “Put that on.” He fished out a pair of gloves from his bag behind his seat.
Goose bumps all over my legs, I pulled on the dry leggings, then the jeans. “I’m not taking your jacket.” Shoving my feet back into the boots that’d proved completely useless in the snow, I went on a campaign. “Just try to drive a little further. You can do it.” I had no idea if he could or not, but if anyone could make it work in these conditions, it was him.
His eyes narrowed. “No. Put the jacket on.”
Panic rising, but trying to appease him in case I could change his mind, I put my arms through the too-long sleeves of his jacket. “Can’t you just try? Please?”
Pausing two seconds, he stared at me. His chest rising and falling with an inhale, his dark eyes illuminated only by the eerie cast of the snowfall-covered night, he studied me.
Sensing his hesitation, I begged. “Please.”
“Get out,” he suddenly ordered.
Fear as cold as the snow seized me. “I’ll freeze to dea—”
“Stand five yards back from the vehicle.” His sharp gaze cut away from me, and he looked straight ahead. “Let me try to get the SUV back on the road. If I do, we’ll attempt it. If not, I don’t want you in here if I go over again.” His gaze cut back to me. “And no matter what fucking happens, do not come down the goddamn mountain after me again. Understood?”
My stomach somersaulted. “Understood.”
He nodded. “Good. Two minutes. Get out.”
Not wanting to stand for even two seconds outside, but understanding the compromise he was offering me, I pushed my door open.
Bitter cold blasted me, but with the heavy leather jacket and two pairs of pants on now, it wasn’t as bad as last time. Stepping on the running board first, I carefully lowered one foot then the other into the deep snow.
I turned to shut the door, and his dark eyes caught mine. “Summer.”
I shivered. “Yeah?” I could get lost in his eyes.
“If something happens, don’t hesitate. Follow the road up to the cabin. The unlock code for the door is nineteen eighty-four. There’s a sat phone in the upstairs bedroom and a shotgun in the front hall closet. Call Luna, then wait for him. Don’t answer the door for anyone except him. Understood?”
“Shade—”
“Do not come after me, Summer,” he harshly warned.
Dread filling every ounce of my being, I did the only thing I could.
I agreed. “Okay.”
“Good.” Giving me a short, clipped nod, his gaze left mine and he looked straight ahead. “Shut the door.”
I did as he said.
SHE GODDAMN BEGGED.
Throwing the SUV into drive, hoping like fuck I didn’t go over the cliff again, I slowly gave the beast gas.
The tires spun like I knew they would, but a blue-eyed teenager had begged me to try, so here I was, fucking trying when I should’ve had her halfway up to the cabin by now.
“Goddamn it,” I muttered, throwing the engine in Reverse and glancing in