Worth the Risk(50)

She managed to return the smile—just. ‘Can’t we just push on and make it down? We’ve got torches…’

Sean shook his head. ‘No way. The wind’s rising. We’ve loused up badly, sweetheart, so we either make the team drag themselves out to rescue us or we camp and sit it out until morning.’

Ally stared at him. ‘We haven’t got the equipment.’

Sean gave her a saucy grin. ‘You keep refusing to let me show you my equipment.’

How could he flirt and be so relaxed when they were in danger? ‘Sean, please…’

Something in her voice must have penetrated because his smile faded and his eyes were gentle. ‘We’ll be fine, angel. Trust me.’ Gently disentangling her hand from his jacket, he checked the map and the compass. ‘OK, let’s set up the tent on the lee slope. Can you walk just a bit farther?’

She nodded dumbly, staring at him in amazement. Tent? He had a tent? They walked on for another ten minutes and then he stopped abruptly and swung the rucksack off his massive shoulders. In a remarkably short time—and with no help from her— he’d set up a dome tent.

‘Right. All wet clothes off quickly and into that polythene bag, and then get inside fast.’ Sean helped drag off her dripping wet jacket and over-trousers and left her to undo her boots while he sorted himself out. She stuffed her wet clothes into the polythene bag so that they wouldn’t get the inside of the tent wet, and crawled inside.

Seconds later he joined her, his dark hair glistening with a mixture of rain and snow.

‘OK?’ He paused as he tugged some more gear out of his rucksack, a frown touching his dark features. ‘You’re shivering.’

‘I’m fine.’ She was shivering but goodness knew why. The tent was totally waterproof and windproof and was the perfect shelter.

‘Strip some more clothes off and get into the sleeping bag.’ Sean gave the bag a vigorous shake and threw a sleeping mat in her direction. ‘Spread that under the bag.’

She followed his orders without question, too cold and exhausted to argue, watching while he secured the tent and fished in his rucksack for the mobile phone.

‘You’re calling Jack?’

‘We gave him our route so he’ll be worrying soon. Let’s hope there’s a signal.’ Sean punched in the number and then grinned. ‘Jack? It’s us.’ He listened for a moment and then gave a grim laugh. ‘Tell me about it!’

Ally could hear Jack’s voice, but not what he was saying.

Sean’s eyes rested on her face. ‘No, she’s fine. Just a bit tired out.’ He listened again and this time his jaw tightened. ‘No need, but thanks for the offer. We’ll camp out here tonight and then I’ll get her down at first light.’

Jack must have said something else because Sean gave a short laugh and muttered, ‘In my dreams.’ Then he snapped the phone shut and dropped it back into the rucksack.

‘Right, then.’ He stripped off his jumper and thick shirt and raised an eyebrow in her direction. ‘I suppose you’re going to say I can’t share the sleeping bag.’

How could she possibly say that when it was his skill and preparation that was saving them both? She shook her head numbly and shuffled to the furthest edge to make room for him. Even so, it was a shock to her system when he slid inside with her, the warmth and power of his body filling the remaining space in the sleeping bag. Outside the wind screamed in anger and whipped at the sides of the tent, and Ally snuggled further inside the sleeping bag, a delicious feeling of safety creeping over her as she felt Sean next to her.

‘I ought to turn the torch off.’ Sean’s voice was gruff and she shifted her head so that she could look at him.

‘Can we keep it on a bit longer?’

He lifted a hand and brushed a strand of blonde hair away from her face as he searched her eyes with a frown. ‘Are you scared?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’ It was true. She wasn’t. But only because he was here and she felt totally safe with him. ‘I just don’t want it to be dark yet.’

He studied her for a long moment and then rolled onto his back, staring at the roof of the tent.

Ally gazed at his strong profile, hardly daring to breathe. Why didn’t he touch her? After all their previous encounters she would have thought that the first thing he’d do in this situation when they were both half-naked would be to carry on his seduction. But he didn’t. He didn’t touch her, and she found herself almost moaning aloud in frustration. This was ridiculous. Usually she was fighting him off and now, when she desperately wanted him to touch her, he seemed totally indifferent to her. She wanted him to touch her so badly. She needed to feel his strength, needed his comfort. She loved him so much—so much. Sean was right. It was worth the risk.