The Rejected True Heiress (Liora) novel Chapter 82

Callum had one arm locked around the upper wire, his other gripping me, hard around the wrist. He’d caught me mid-fall.

“I’ve got you!” he shouted, before tossing me up withone arm like I weigh nothing. I was floating for a second, face to face, when his arm snapped around my waist, pulling me close.

I was pressed to his chest, my arms instinctively wrapping around his neck, gripping him like I’d die if I let go.

I probbaly would’ve.

The bridge crashed below us in a mess of metal and debris, people screamed and scattered in the chaos.

We dangled far above the stage, lightly swaying.

“I’m gonna pull us up,” he said, his breath brushing my ear, low and steady, despite the tremor in his arms. “Hold onto my neck. I need both hands.”

“Okay,” I whispered, tightening my grip.

His arm slipped from my waist and I felt the sudden absence like a drop in air pressure.

Then both his hands were on the wire, muscles flexing as he began to pull us up.

I didn’t breathe. Just held on.

One move at a time.

His body moved with mine, heat and tension between us. My fingers dug into his collar, head pressed into the curve of his neck. I could feel his heartbeat. It was fast, hard like listening to lion’s after hunt.

And then, he swung us.

I gasped, a sharp breath caught in my throat. His arms wrapped around me mid air, catching me in a sudden, breathless princess hold.

His feet hit solid ground with a light clunk of the metal. We were on the narrow platform, at the top of the spiral stairs.

He held me for a second, our eyes locked before he swallowed. He lowered me, slow, careful, his hand catching my elbow when my knees gave a small, embarrassing wobble.

I tried to hide it, but his eyes were already on me.

Locked.

“Thank you,” I breathed, barely audible.

He didn’t answer. His hand stayed on my arm, warm and steady, like he was afraid I’d fall again if he let go.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, stil getting his breath back.

I nodded, but it wasn’t convincing. My own breath was still came fast. My legs still shook.

“I didn’t think you’d catch me,” I whispered, eyes flicking up to his.

“I think,” he murmured. “You just never needed to be.”

We were too close, this plateform far too small.

His fingers brushed up to my elbow, then my shoulder, hesitating, like he didn’t have permission to want more.

“You’re strong,” he said, voice lower now. “But you’re not invincible. I need you to be more careful.”

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