Page 161 of We Drank the Dawn

Her heavy breaths soldiered on.

“We’re here Sarah.”

Her head lulled as I gave her a light shake.

“Dang. She’s out cold,” Bea said from the front seat.

“Is there anything in the passenger’s seat?”

“No. It’s empty. Why?”

“I’m coming out that way.”

Chuckling, Bea opened her door and got out. I tucked Sarah against the window instead of me then climbed over the center console, crouching down to fit through the space. Bracing my hand on the dash, I opened the door and hopped to the gravel. I knew as soon as I opened the door, Sarah would either fall out or wake up so I opened it slowly, sticking my hand through to hold her up.

She stirred as the door opened, her muscles activating.

“Are we here?” She whispered.

“Yeah, we’re here.”

She didn’t move.

Man, I wished I could see her. No matter how many details I listened for, I would never hear dark circles, tired eyes, or pale skin. And I hated that fact with my entire soul.

I reached into the truck, tapping the release on her seatbelt. “I’m going to carry you, alright?”

She must’ve been awake enough to hear me because she looped her arms around my neck, tightening them. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her to the edge of the seat. Her legs curled around me like they were spring-loaded, quickly settling over my hips. The koala-style hold put us face-to-face and chest-to-chest and I fought like hell not to grope her. Her squeezing thighs made desire bolt through my torso. I hadn’t realized she was wearing skinny jeans until just now, and I loved when she wore them. They made her look so lithe, all-leg.

The temptation to press her onto the nearest flat surface…

I realized I’d stopped breathing. So I puffed out a breath, forcing my brain not to completely derail. But I wanted her. What an idiot I was to deny her touch for so long. I bit down on my bottom lip, forcing myself not to dwell on the should haves and instead focus on what I could do right now. Which was love Sarah, exactly where she was. With everything I had. And everything I didn’t.

So I stopped thinking about what I couldn’t see.

And leaned into what I could sense instead.

I asked Bea, “Where are the stairs?”

Ahead of me, she tapped the bottom step with her foot. “Right here.”

I angled my body toward the sound, whispering my thanks as I stepped onto the metal stair and eased through the door, turning my body so I could carry Sarah through the narrow opening.

Bea didn’t enter. “Hollie texted me. She’s going to bring some food down in the morning. I’m taking Wren to bed.” She seemed to hesitate. “Do you want a ride to the bunkhouse?”

“Uh, no. I’ll go back on my own. Thank you.”

“Okay.” Her voice held a smile. “I love you.”

“Love you too, sis.”

With that, she softly closed the door and I made my way through the fifth wheel to the back bedroom. As always, the fifth wheel smelled of fruit and cleaning supplies. The bedroom door was narrower than the front door and I accidentally bumped Sarah’s leg on the frame as I tried to smash us through. She stirred again, lifting her head with a sharp breath.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

When the mattress bumped against my knees, I eased her down. For a few long seconds, she held me captive there, her ankles crossed behind my spine and her arms around my head. Her warm breath on my neck sent chills down my arms. I forced a groan back into my throat, forced my hips not to move, forced my weight not to sink into her.

When I braced my palms on the bed and pushed away, her limbs unlaced, falling to the mattress. “Can you take my pants off?” Her voice tripped over the words, lips mumbling.