What the hell was she doing here? Greyson’s pulse raced as he watched her stretch for the next rung at a snail’s pace, but she was still climbing. Slowly. Too fucking slowly. He should’ve waited. But it had been three weeks since he’d seen her. He couldn’t wait any longer.
Greyson climbed out, telling himself it was because he wanted to get rid of her faster, but hell, even he didn’t believe that. Not really.
She looked up as he came down, and her gaze locked on his. For a second, he couldn’t breathe. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and never let her go again, to claim her lips, her body and soul, to laugh and fight and love…
Then he remembered the way she’d scooped his heart out of his chest with a dull spoon. Was he really naive enough to allow it to happen again?
He hustled down and stopped when he was next to her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
“I came to see you.”
“Bullshit.” He shook his head. “You were already in Savannah today.”
Her knuckles were white on the ropes, the only sign she might be afraid. “I need to talk to you.”
“I told you I didn’t have anything left to say.” He shook his head. “Now climb back down before gravity does it for ye.”
She shook her head, careful not to look down. “You don’t have to say anything.” She searched his eyes, and it was all he could do keep his hands on the lines and not reach out to touch her. “I just want to talk.”
He broke eye contact, staring out at the sinking sun on the horizon while he shored up the emotional barriers around his battered heart. He looked over at her again. “I could have saved you the trip if you had called.”
A spark of defiance shone in her eyes that had his ancient heart racing, but she didn’t give in to the anger he’d been baiting. “I did call last night.”
“And I remember telling you I was finished. There’s nothing left to talk about.”
The wind picked up, and the lines creaked as they swayed. Aura closed her eyes tight. “I know falling won’t kill me anymore, but I’d rather not try it.” She opened her eyes, looking up at the nest. “Can we talk up there?”
He glanced down. Drake and One-Eyed Bob were looking up at them. Whatever she had to say, he’d rather not do it with an audience. “Aye.”
She took a deep breath and stretched one hand toward the next rung. Her fingers were trembling, and knowing she was afraid but still climbing the lines just to talk to him, poked at the chip on his shoulder.
He took her hand, and electricity shot through his body like he’d caught lightning. “Hang on to me. I’ll take us both up.”
“No.” She shook her head. “I can do this.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’ll be dark by the time you make that climb.”
“We’ll fall.”
“No way.” He shook his head. “I’ve been climbing these lines for over two hundred years, and I’ve never fallen. I’m not going to break that record today. I’ll climb over to your lines and brace you while you grab on to me.” He started to move over to her ratlines. The ropes groaned in protest at the added weight.
She closed her eyes, cursing under her breath. He caught rungs on either side of her so that his body covered hers. His shoulders ached with the strain. “Okay, turn around and hang onto me.”
At first, he thought she hadn’t heard him, but finally one hand popped free from the rope to circle his neck.
“That’s it. One more,” he coaxed.
She got the other free, hooking her hands behind his neck. “Fuck,” she gasped.
“Aye,” he grunted, tightening his grip around her. “Now turn and get yer legs around my waist.”
“This is not how I pictured this conversation going.”
He laughed in spite of his mood. Gods, he’d missed this woman.
He looked up, readying himself for the climb. His muscles were screaming, but he’d make it. She slid her feet out of the rungs and twisted her hips until her legs were locked around his waist. Fuck, he’d forgotten how good her body felt pressed tight against his.
“Hang on.” He took a determined breath and pushed his legs up, stretching for the next rung. He found his rhythm, slower than normal, but steady. When they finally made it to the beam at the top, he hoisted them up and sat down with her still clinging tight to him while he caught his breath.
“I’m not opening my eyes,” she whispered.
He stared down at the tiny crew members below. “Good idea.” He waited for her to unclasp her legs from around him, and then gripped her waist. “Are you ready?”
She nodded. “I think so.”
He boosted her to the railing of the crow’s nest, and she caught it, climbing over. “Made it!”
He let out a sigh of relief before he remembered they still hadn’t settled anything. He got up on the beam holding the mainsail and reached up to catch the railing on the crow’s nest. He pulled himself up and over, landing right next to her.
The sea breeze blew through her dark-brown hair, the sunset adding a touch of fire to her green eyes. He shook off the spell she was casting over him and crossed his arms. “You got me alone. What do you want?”
“I was trying for a grand gesture.” She sighed. “I’m screwing this all up. I can come back later if you’re not ready for this.”
“You’ll come back?” He raised a brow. “Are you expecting some kind of supernatural scandal to break in Savannah and you’ll be knocking at my door again?” He shook his head. “If yer worried we won’t help you, don’t be. I’ve moved on. As long as you’ve got the gold, we’ll steal whatever you need.”
The wind caught her hair, blowing it across her face, but even the fine veil of her silky hair couldn’t hide the shine of tears in her eyes. He wanted to be happy about it, to know she was hurting like he was, but seeing her in pain only added to the ache in his chest.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Then I’m too late.” She swallowed and lifted her gaze to meet his. “But I’m going to say what I came here to say anyway. I wanted to tell you back in Scotland, but I didn’t get the chance. Then I got to Washington, D.C., and I tried to focus on work, but nothing filled the hole in my heart. Even target practice was…boring.”
He frowned. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because…” She wet her lips. “I’m trying to tell you…I’m in love with you.”