Then he noticed red splotches staining her shirt, and his lungs squeezed even tighter. She was bleeding. Just how injured was she?
He scanned the area, searching for options, and his sense of futility rose. Dense forest surrounded the rocks in every direction, leaving only the steep slope exposed. A chopper couldn’t land in these conditions. And even if it lowered a basket, the rotor wash could set off a slide.
Which meant they still had to hike to the road.
Suddenly, she let out a cry and stumbled again, and he instinctively lurched forward.
“False alarm,” she called out. “We’re all right.”
All right? When she’d been battered by rocks? Outrage filled his gut. How could she sound so cheerful?
She paused to stroke the dog’s ears, and suddenly he wanted to shake her. Damn that woman anyhow. Didn’t she have any sense? To put herself in danger for a dog! Crossing an unstable slope, setting off a rock slide…And when she’d thrown that rock…His heart constricted with remembered fear.
And injured or not, it was time he laid down some rules. This was the last time she hared off on some damn escapade and nearly got herself killed. From now on, she listened to him.
Long minutes later, she finally staggered to his side. Her face was flushed, her breathing ragged. Exhaustion pulled at her face.
Unable to control his temper, he grabbed her arm and dragged her back to firm ground. The dog shook the dust from his fur and wagged his tail, unhurt.
Unlike Jordan.
“Damn it,” he shouted. “Why didn’t you listen to me?”
She shook her arm loose and frowned. “Because Dusty was stuck. He couldn’t get away.”
“You could have been killed. Don’t you have any sense? That cat could have ripped you apart.”
“But Cade, he-”
“He could have killed you.” Why didn’t she understand that? He couldn’t have stopped him. He sucked in a shallow breath.
“And if I hadn’t done anything, he would have killed the dog,” she countered. Indignation flashed in her eyes. “What did you expect me to do? Just stand there and watch him die?”
“I expected you to follow orders.”
“Orders?” A red stain crept up her cheeks. “You’re not my boss.”
“The hell I’m not.” His temper flared even higher. “As long as we’re on this mountain, I’m in charge. I know more about this forest than you do, and more about how to survive. So when I tell you to do something, you do it. And when I say not to, you’d damn well better listen.”
“But Dusty-”
“Damn it, Jordan! Your life matters more than the dog’s. Can’t you understand that? You just about got yourself killed.”
She bit her lip and looked away. He sucked in his breath and struggled to control his rage.
She met his gaze again, her dark eyes huge. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His anger abruptly deflated. He dragged his hand through his hair. “God, Jordan.”
“I’m really sorry,” she said again. She stepped toward him, her chestnut eyes soft on his. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
But she had. He couldn’t even think about what might have happened. His throat clenched tight, and he shook his head.
“Cade, I…”
“Yeah.” He swallowed, grappling with unnamed emotions, shocked at the depth of his fear. Why was he so scared? Sure, she’d nearly died, but so had the rookie when that snag fell. And he hadn’t felt that gut-wrenching terror, that mind-numbing dread for the kid. Or lost his temper and yelled.
His gaze met hers again. A scrape marred her cheek beneath the dirt, and fatigue haunted her eyes. And suddenly, the need to touch her swamped him. The need to feel her, hold her, to prove that she was all right.
He closed the short distance between them. Then, hardly breathing, he lifted his hand to her face. He traced the scrape on her cheek with his thumb, felt the heat of her delicate skin. “You’re hurt.”
She shook her head. “Just bruised.”
“You’ve got blood on your shirt.”
“My hands got scraped, that’s all. I’m fine, Cade. Really.”
But she’d almost died. He’d almost lost her.
His heart drumming, he slid his hand to her neck. He drew his thumb along her throat, and felt the strong, hot leap of her pulse.
Her breath hitched in the silence. Her pulse trembled under his hand. And as he gazed into those exotic eyes, feeling that inevitable pull, he knew that he had to kiss her.
Hardly breathing, he tilted her chin and lowered his head, then slid his lips over hers.
The years disappeared in an instant. The bitter memories faded away. Time peeled back and stalled on a glimpse of perfection. On Jordan, the woman he’d loved. And she was finally back in his arms.
Her soft lips parted, granting him access, and with a groan, he pulled her against him. He drank in her heat, her desire, the incredible feel of her skin, and explored her hot mouth with his tongue.
He felt her free hand clench his shoulder, then slowly rise to his neck. And then her tongue twined with his, matching his heat with her answering hunger.
But then she’d always been that way, fitting him perfectly, matching his needs, stoking the unending fire.
He plunged his hand through her hair and cradled her head, deepening and lengthening the kiss. His body grew hard. Raw hunger drummed through his veins.
And he had to face the harsh truth. No other woman had ever felt this good-or ever would.
Even if she didn’t want him.
He jerked his head back and broke the kiss, then struggled to regain his sanity. This was wrong. Jordan had deserted him. And damned if he’d let her twist herself around his soul so she could do it again.
But her smoldering eyes locked on his, and she moved back into his arms. “Cade,” she whispered. “Please don’t stop.”
And despite knowing better, despite the warnings rocking his brain, he knew he was going to give in. He still wanted her. Damn, but he still wanted her. And hell if he could resist.
With a groan, he lowered his head and slanted his mouth over hers. He heard her small cry, felt her welcome as she opened beneath him.
A sense of finality filled him. Of rightness. As if he’d met his destiny and arrived where he belonged.
Tightening his hold, he kissed her deeply, invading her mouth with his tongue. Trying to ease the ache, the need he’d refused to acknowledge for years. The need for Jordan.
But it only fanned even higher.
Her hand crept through his hair, and her soft breasts brushed his trapped arm. Desperate to feel her, he widened his stance and pulled her lower body against him.
And felt that urgency rip through him, that electric rush of desire. The need to bury himself deep inside her and forget the pain.
“McKenzie.”
His blood thickened as he continued to kiss her. His mind blurred, while hunger twisted his gut.
“McKenzie.”
Irritated, he lifted his head. His brain still fuzzy, his breathing rough, he scowled around at the rocks.
Jordan’s eyes slowly opened and she blinked, looking as dazed as he felt. And as aroused. He wanted to haul her back into his arms. Even covered with grime, he’d never seen a more desirable woman.
“McKenzie,” the voice called again.
His radio. He battled the urge to ignore it. He wanted to feel her hot, naked skin under his. To slake this wild need clawing his gut. To lose control and make love to Jordan.
Shocked at himself, he dropped his hand and stepped back. What in the hell was he thinking? She didn’t want a smokejumper. She’d told him that point-blank. And no matter how strong the temptation, he refused to subject himself to that pain again.
Because this woman was different. They could never have an affair. Every time he touched her, he put his
