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James peered into the gap, trying to judge the distance to the ledge where Lileas stood. “I can only put ye so far down. Can ye climb the rest of the way?”
Davina’s face whitened. “Perhaps, if I can find a foothold. If not, ye’ll have to let go and I’ll drop to the bottom.”
God’s blood! That certainly sounded like a ridiculous plan. But he had none better to suggest.
“Remove yer gloves,” he instructed. “Ye’ll get a tighter grip with bare hands.”
Obediently she did as he commanded. Her lips tightened whitely with nerves, yet her gaze was steady.Trust.The expression in her soulful eyes struck him hard. And melted a piece of his frozen heart.
“Ye must stand very still, Lileas,” Davina shouted. “I’m coming to get ye.”
James gripped Davina’s hands tightly and helped guide her into the opening. Slowly, carefully, he lowered her down. “Try to find a foothold.”
She nodded, biting her lower lip in concentration. James could feel her body tense as she struggled to comply, but it was clear that she was having difficulty.
“How far am I from the bottom?” she asked, her voice straining with effort.
“Too far,” he grunted. “And I fear I cannae let ye down any more.”
“I’ll be fine,” she declared, and before James realized what she was doing, Davina let go of his hands.
“Bloody hell!” he shouted.
Arms flaying, he reached down, but all he felt was air. He heard the sound of tearing cloth and then a loud thud and he realized that Davina had reached the bottom.
“I’m fine,” she called out. “Just give me a moment to catch my breath and I’ll lift Lileas.”
Cursing gruffly beneath his breath, James shifted his position and waited. Davina yelled that she was ready. He could feel his muscles straining as he reached down, stretching as far as he was able without losing his balance. There was a moment of triumph when he touched the tips of Lileas’s fingers, but it was fleeting and too quickly gone as she once more moved out of reach.
“Just a few more inches and I’ll be able to grab her,” he grunted.
He heard Davina take a long, deep breath. “I’m going to hold her feet and lift her over my head.”
“Wait!” he shouted. “Do it on my count. One. Two. Three.”
Davina let out a yell as she pushed Lileas higher. James nearly shouted with relief when he touched the child’s fingers. Quickly, he wrapped his hands firmly around Lileas’s wrists, hauled her out, and placed her on the ground beside him.
The lass didn’t make a sound. She stood there, utterly still, her eyes round and wide in her pale face. Worried, he ran his hands gingerly over the little girl’s shoulders, arms, and legs, searching for injuries, but miraculously there were none. Nary a scrape, bruise, or cut was visible.
“I have to help Davina, now. Dinnae move a muscle, Lileas,” he commanded.
The child nodded. She looked limp and dazed. “I promise.”
“Good lass.” Confident the child would do as she was told, James turned his attention to Davina. “Ye need to climb up several feet before I can help ye.”
“I know.”
He could see her vigorously rubbing her hands together. Then she stepped forward and ran them along the side of the boulder, searching for something to grip. Her smile broke through when she found what she was looking for.
Letting out a most unladylike grunt, Davina hoisted herself off the ground. James held his breath as he watched her slowly climb, waiting for the moment she was close enough to grab. It seemed to take forever, as Davina was cautious and deliberate with each step.
Finally, her hands were within reach. James yanked hard, pulling her upward until he could catch her firmly around the waist. Davina let out a squeal and clung to him, her feet dangling in the air. He swung around and gently set her down.
They each let out a sigh of relief.
Her breath was warm on his cheek, her hands resting comfortably upon his chest. She was standing much too close and his treacherous body responded. The womanly scent of her hair tantalized his senses. He felt his cock stirring to life, even as his conscience battled with his desire.
Unwittingly, his eyes were drawn to her mouth. More than anything he longed to dip his head down and press his lips to hers, to steal her breath with a bold, uninhibited kiss, releasing the pent-up emotions inside him that had been building since he had first laid eyes upon her.
