Page 41 of Mountain Void

But he wanted Charlie to like it. More than anything, he wanted her to feel safe here. Particularly after what had happened tonight.

He cleared his throat, suddenly aware of the silence stretching between them.

“Since our team moved over from Annecy,” he finally replied, tugging on his tie. “You can take the bedroom, right through that door. Let me get some sheets for the sofa, then I’ll make you some tea.”

Charlie turned from the window, her arms folding tightly across her chest. Lorenz made a determined effort to keep his eyes on her face.

“I don’t want tea,” she said. “I don’t want to be tucked in. I certainly don’t want to take your bed.”

Lorenz stilled.

“Okay,” he said carefully.

She wandered slowly around the room.

Her fingers brushed the spines of the handful of books on the shelf—climbing memoirs, guidebooks, a few airport thrillers. Her gaze lingered on the climbing ropes hanging from a hook by the door.

She stopped in the doorway and looked up at the wooden hangboard he’d installed there. He wondered if she’d remember she’d given it to him, to help him strengthen his grip and forearm strength when he was training for the PGHM exams.

“Is that the same—“

“It is. I’ve taken it with me everywhere I’ve lived.”

She smiled faintly. “I remember.”

She turned around to stare out the window, and he saw her shoulders begin to shake. His hands clenched into fists. He’d never felt so useless.

“Do you think I could get that tea now?” she whispered.

He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. It felt cold—colder than it should have. “Charlie. Please. You don’t have to hide. It’s okay to be upset.”

Her shoulders shook harder. “I … I want to be strong …”

“You are strong.”

“I don’t feel strong. I feel scared. And confused. And angry.”

Her admission twisted something inside him. There wasn’t anything he could say to make things better. But he could be there for her. He pressed himself against her back, holding her gently. Eventually, she turned around until she was facing him, pressing her forehead against his chest.

“I can feel your heartbeat,” she said. “Slow and steady.”

“I feel yours, too.”

Eventually, her body relaxed against his.

“Thank you for holding me,” she said.

He barked out a laugh. “You wouldn’t thank me if you knew how much I want this.”

“What? This?” she asked, pressing her hips and the lower half of her body tighter against his body. His erection, which was already at half-mast, filled up immediately.

“Not what I had in mind,” he said. “But that, too.”

He held her for a few beats longer. “Would you like that tea?”

She raised her head, looking him straight in the eye, and moved her hips forward, so there wasn’t a molecule of space between them.

“I don’t want tea, but I wouldn’t mind a repeat of what happened last week.”