Byron held her fast. She could smell him now, the scent of rain, the way the wind smelled when it came from the west. The attackers passed by.
“They’ll double back now,” he whispered. “Why the hell did you try to make a break for it?”
“I have to get out of here,” she insisted, keeping her voice low.
“You’re going to get killed out here. Those guys don’t care that I’m trying to keep you alive. They can’t see the bigger picture. You’re not safe.”
“You’re the one who doesn’t see the bigger picture,” she whispered harshly.
The pursuers did double back, hunting along the sides of the tent row. If she’d run out there, if Byron hadn’t stopped her, they would have seen her when they returned.
They passed by as she and Byron stood in the darkness. She became aware of his proximity, his chest pressed against her, the strength of his arms around her in the narrow space, the warmth of his body. She’d never been this close to someone for this long. It made her feel odd and slightly dizzy. His hand rested on the back of her neck, pressing her face into the crook of his neck, and she could smell his warm skin.
“I think they’ll go back to their post now.”
She looked in that direction, but saw only the narrow aisle between the tents. “And the two other guys?”
“Probably get drunker and forget everything five minutes.” He looked down at her. She could see his eyes gleaming in the firelight. “Now are you going to come back with me?”
“I have to get back on the road.”
He slapped a hand to his forehead. “You’re so goddamn stubborn!” He gripped her shoulders with both hands, and gave her a stern look. “Look. I’m sorry I’ve ruined your day and taken your car. But you have to help us. It’s important.”
“I don’t see how it can be more important than saving the planet from imminent destruction.”
He exhaled. “How about doing both?”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe we can figure out a way to do both. I just need your skills right now.”
She rolled the thought over in her head. “If I help you, do I have your word you’ll send me on my way after?”
He looked away, then ran a hand over his face. “That wouldn’t really be entirely up to me.”
“Then who else is it up to?”
“Firehawk,” he said gravely. “He might need you for more work.”
“Then help me get out of here now.” She knew she was taking a chance, but she felt a strange understanding with him.
“I can’t. I just can’t.” His eyes looked genuinely regretful. “If it wasn’t so important . . .”
“What’s so important?” she demanded, still whispering.
“Lives are at stake. Our people are being decimated by PPC troops. We need your help to stop them.”
“Is that before or after I get flayed alive on a spit over a fire?”
He grinned. “I’ll do my best to prevent that.” He took her arm, gently this time. “C’mon. Let’s get back to my tent. They won’t mess with you in there. We have our own codes, and that’s part of it. Our tents are our homes. No barging in.”
She let him lead her back that way. When they got to his tent, he held open the flap for her, and she bent to pass under his arm. Damn. Back again. He’d lit a dim UV lantern, and she could see the rope on the ground where she’d left it.
He walked in behind her. “You’re bleeding.”
She could feel the sting where the sentry’s blade had cut her on the neck.
He walked over to the washstand, pulling out a clean cloth. Then he returned and softly cleaned the blood off her neck. “It’s not bad.” His hands felt warm on her neck. She’d never felt someone touch her hair like that. It sent a pleasant shiver of chills down her back.
When he was done, he placed the cloth on the nightstand and turned to her. “This time I’m tying you to me in the bed.”
She gave a small laugh.
He didn’t smile back. “I’m not kidding.” He picked up the rope and took her elbow, leading her over to the bed. He tied one end around his hips, the other end to her waist. When he got close, she smelled a hint of rain once more.
He stripped off his top shirt, leaving on his well-worn pair of jeans and black tank top. “C’mon,” he said, motioning her toward the bed.
She pulled against the rope. “This is ridiculous.”
“Only because you made it so.” He pulled her over to the cot and lay down on it. She reluctantly let him pull her down beside him.
The cot turned up at the edges, forcing them to lie flush together. She’d never lain next to someone before. He turned off the lantern and moved his arms around, at last draping one over her. “Sorry,” he said. “Don’t want you to make another great escape.”
He shifted to his side, turning toward her. She could sense the proximity of his face, his mouth, tried not to think about it. A wave of new emotion swept over her; she became all too aware of the length of his body, of the feel of his strong legs next to hers, of the scent of his warm breath on her neck. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest and stomach as he breathed next to her. She’d had dreams of this kind of thing before, but hadn’t known what to make of them, so she tried to just forget them. They’d only filled her with an empty ache when she awoke to her real life. Now she tried to shut off her senses, to
