He pulled some protein bars out of the pack and handed her one. She ate it quickly and then drank some more water. Resting back against the tree, her wet clothes clung to her and her teeth started chattering. It wasn’t actually cold outside, but she was wet and chilled and the fear of what they’d been through and what still might be coming made her even more chilled.
Aiden wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. “Cold?” he murmured against her forehead, rubbing his hands up and down her arms.
“I don’t know if it’s cold or terror,” she admitted.
He gently kissed her forehead. “You’ve done amazing, Melene. You’re brave and you don’t know the meaning of complaining. I’m so impressed with you.”
“Thank you.” She wanted to gush a row of compliments but settled for, “I think you’re even tougher and cooler and more handsome than Aquaman.”
He chuckled softly and kept rubbing her arms to get her warm. “You’d warm up faster with less clothes.”
Her entire body felt a burst of warmth. “Don’t you dare ask me to take my shirt off,” she shot at him.
Aiden laughed. He easily lifted her onto his lap and then surrounded her with his broad chest and arms. “I wouldn’t dream of asking that.”
Melene never wanted him to let her go. She was still cold, wet, and tired, but at least she wasn’t thirsty or as hungry. She realized as he held her that she wasn’t terrified. At least not at the moment.
“Can we pray?” she asked.
“I would love that. Will you?”
She nodded against him, closed her eyes, and prayed, “Dear Father, thank you for protecting us, thank you for Aiden, thank you for guardian angels, thank you for life. Please keep us in thy watchful care. We love you. Amen.”
Aiden echoed her amen, but then he released his grip on her. She instantly felt the loss. She was still on his lap and leaning against him. He pulled his bag closer and fished around for a few seconds, then pulled out a small plastic square. Ripping it open, he unfolded it and it became a plastic blanket. She recognized the emergency blankets that she usually had in her backpack for situations like this. Aiden tucked it around her and then wrapped his arms around the outside of the blanket to secure it tighter to her.
She burrowed into his firm chest, sliding her hands along the sides of his abdomen and glorying in the strength, warmth, and wonder of this man. He hadn’t wanted her to get too invested; she hadn’t wanted herself to get too invested. But it was far, far too late for that.
She loved him. Heart, body, and soul. She adored her Aquaman. They might die tonight and they might never escape the reaches of General Phillip.
She should ask him what the plan was. Try to keep her heart detached. She should do a lot of things. Instead, she looked up at him. It was still dark, but she was close enough she could see the depth in his blue eyes.
Then she kissed him.
Like earlier tonight, Aiden responded quickly and wholeheartedly. He seemed to pour himself into the kiss as he cradled her close. Aiden was a loyal and incredible man. She didn’t believe he’d kiss her like this unless he felt as deeply for her as she did for him.
The kisses took on a life of their own, but suddenly Aiden pulled back and ushered her head into the crook of his neck. “Try to rest,” he said in a husky, breathless tone.
Rest? She’d never wanted rest less than she did right now.
His heart was thundering against her chest and his breathing was irregular, just like hers. Melene instantly realized that he’d stopped the kissing to keep them under control. It was smart and rational, but she hated stopping. She wanted to trail kisses up his neck, across his jawline, and then capture his lips again.
Forcing herself to close her eyes, she begged for heavenly help for the hundredth time tonight. Here she went, asking far too much of her guardian angels again. This time she wasn’t in danger from outside forces, but from her own desires. She’d stayed virtuous her entire life, and she didn’t want to mess that up.
Suddenly, she had to know, though. She glanced up at Aiden and could see his jaw was clamped tight and his gaze was on her.
“Have you ever been intimate?” she asked him in a rush, heat filling her face.
Aiden blinked down at her. His jaw softened and his gaze was full of her. “No.”
She stared at him. “That’s impressive.”
“Thank you.” His gaze became penetrating. “What about you?”
She shook her head. “I’m saving myself for marriage.” Her doubts and fears of the future swirled around her. “If I ever do get married.”
He only stared at her, as if he had no clue how to respond to that. Finally, he said, “Can you rest?”
She probably couldn’t and she’d prefer talking to him or kissing a lot more, but she leaned her cheek against the smooth muscle of his shoulder and closed her eyes.