Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“I think we need to make sure she’s not caught on anything outside. You go check, and then I’ll pull her back in.”
“She’s gonna be like a little hellcat when we get her in.”
He nodded. “She’ll be furious.”
I shrugged into my coat. “Okay. I’ll go have a little conversation with her. Brace yourself.”
He rolled his shoulders. “I’m ready.”
I wasn’t sure I was.
The crunching of the snow under my feet alerted Skylar to my presence. She stopped her struggling and looked up, her eyes wide and panicked.
I stood, staring up at her. “Getting some fresh air, Skylar?”
“Getting away from you,” she snarled.
“How’s that working for you?”
“Get fucked.”
Grinning, I stroked my finger along my chin. “I think you’re the one fucked here.”
Glancing down, I started to chuckle. The plastic bags from the store were lying in the snow. One contained the blanket from her bed and the other the extra clothes Sean had bought. “You should have thrown the backpack out as well, MacGyver.”
“I didn’t want the books to get wet.”
That did it. I started to laugh, which only enraged her more. She began to struggle, trying to pull herself out of the window.
That was when I saw the blood.
My laughter ceased instantly.
“Skylar. Stop moving.”
Her efforts only increased. I lunged forward and grasped her hands, squeezing hard. “Skylar! Stop! Now!”
From inside, I heard Sean. “What is it, Cian?”
“She’s bleeding!”
She looked down, her voice shaky. “I think I cut my stomach. It hurts.”
I frowned at the blood I saw on her hands as well. Her panicked gaze met mine.
“We’ll get you out. Calm down.”
I held her gaze until I felt the panic drain from her and she became limp.
“I have to go get the ladder.”
All I got was the smallest nod.
Sean climbed down from the ladder. He’d been examining Skylar’s position and speaking with her quietly. “I think a piece of the window ledge broke off and is embedded in her skin.”
“Her hands?”
“She cut them trying to get out.”
Cursing under my breath, I looked back at her. Skylar wasn’t moving, head hanging down, her hair spilling over her face. Small drops of blood dotted the snow under the window. For some reason, knowing she was hurt, that I was seeing her blood, was causing me to panic. “How do we get her out with the least damage?”
“I’m going in and cutting the backpack open at the bottom. I can pull the books out. That’ll give us the room we need to help lift her up and over the ledge.”
Skylar started to struggle. “You can’t ruin my backpack! It’s all I have!”
Ready to scream at her, I started to open my mouth, but Sean held up his hand, stopping my tirade before it began. “Skylar, I’ll get you a new one. Remember what I said to you a moment ago?”
“Yes.”
“Cooperate, then.”
Her voice was resigned. “Fine.”
He shook his head, muttering about impossible women. “We need to be fast—but gentle, Cian. I don’t know if we’re talking a scratch or something more serious.” He fixed me with a stern look. “Can you do that? Or should you go in and cut the pack open, and I’ll lift her out?”
“No. I’ll do it.”
I climbed the ladder, getting ready for Sean’s instructions. Skylar was shaking, either from fright or cold—or perhaps some of both. “We’ll have you out in a minute. Stay still,” I instructed, my voice terse.
She looked up. “And then what are you going to do with me?”
The stark fear in her eyes made my anger evaporate. “Get you warm and cleaned up.”
“And then?”
“Then we’re going to talk.”
She frowned in disbelief, but before I could say anything else, Sean spoke. “Okay. Here we go.”
Skylar’s shoulders moved, and a few minutes later, the straps of her pack disappeared and her body sank slightly. “Okay, Cian. Try to slip your hands under her. Skylar, lift your arms around his neck. I’ll meet you in the middle, Cian, and we’ll see if she can pull herself out.”
She hesitated.
“Come on, Kitten. Work with us.”
Slowly, she lifted her arms and wrapped them around my neck. Cautiously, I slid my hands under her, grimacing when I felt the rough edges of the wood. When my hands met Sean’s, I spoke again, keeping my voice calm. “Pull yourself toward me, Skylar. Slow.”
Inch by inch, she moved, Sean supporting her lower half as her upper body became free. Once her hips cleared the window, I leaned back, pulling her totally clear, knowing the denim would protect her legs. Her entire body was pressed against me, tremors running through it constantly. I descended the few steps and hurried to the house, holding her tight and trying to ignore how right she felt nestled into my arms.
I held her arms as Sean picked out the splinters from the pale skin of her stomach, grateful her injuries weren’t worse. She’d been scraped badly, but the bruising would be worse than the cuts. Every time she flinched, I found myself flinching with her, hating the idea of her being in pain. She gasped when he poured rubbing alcohol on the cuts, frowning apologetically at her. “Sorry. I don’t have anything else to use. We can’t risk infection.” After wrapping some gauze around her small waist, he straightened, glancing out the window. “Can you look after her hands? The storm is coming, and I need to go stock up and grab a few things before it hits. I think we’re gonna be trapped for a few days. “