Case in point: She had decided to jump the gorge. It had been a lot bigger than it had appeared on the map. He thought she’d been kidding around. But the woman had guts of steel. He’d instantly realized that jumping the gorge had been their only real chance at survival. He didn’t kid himself when it came to a fight. And that fight was one they couldn’t have won.

The only thing he could do was hold on and trust her. And one risk later, they were safe. A pure ecstasy beyond any he’d ever experienced had filled him then, almost to the point of bursting. He’d kissed her, trying to convey all that she was to him.

Life with Harper was going to be one wild ride. And he suddenly realized he wanted it to last forever.

But they didn’t have forever. Harper’s life was a ticking time bomb. Plus, though they’d been through a lot, he wasn’t sure he’d regained her trust.

Rome shook the unsettling thought away. They had more immediate problems. Such as their damn injuries. So Rome figured he’d better get their asses inside to start the mending in order to find a way to make forever happen.

He bent to one knee, briefly wondering whether he’d be able to get back up, and fished through the weeds and cobwebs to pull out a little metal box. He retrieved the old brass key, then put the box back under the stairs.

It took all his remaining strength just to stand. The muscles in his legs cried out in protest at the motion. He was losing it. Fast.

Turning around to check on Harper, he saw her standing there quietly, waiting for him with a quirky smile. He nearly swooned at the sight of her, partly because of his fatigue, more so because she looked like a sexy battleworn goddess surrounded by mighty Mother Nature.

Her T-shirt was covered with dark stains of blood, sweat, and dirt under her unzipped coat. Angry scrapes and splotches marred her weary face, and her blonde locks were mussed like a pile of strewn hay.

But she’d never looked better. He’d known her only a short time, but he was sure he’d seen her at her worst. And that didn’t even compare to anyone else’s best. The raw energy and natural essence of Harper were thrilling in a way he’d never experienced.

“Can we go in?” she asked with her eyebrows raised. She held their duffel bags, one in each hand.

Rome realized he was staring like an idiot and blinked to snap out of his haze. Rubbing a weary hand over his face, he nodded and waved her forward.

Every one of the four wooden stairs was like a mountain hike. Reaching the door, he heard the creak of the weathered wood of the porch, and then felt the comforting warmth of Harper’s body beside his.

He slipped the key into the sturdy lock and twisted the knob to push the door wide-open. He cautiously peered inside the shadowy room, the only light coming from the windows and the open door. Everything was just how he remembered it.

The cabin was basically one large room, built of hearty cedar planks from the forest outside. In fact, the founding trees that built the cabin had stood in the same spot, providing a sheltered and natural aura.

A sturdy kitchen to the left was outfitted with stainless steel appliances and white tiled countertops. An island sat in the middle of the kitchen area with wooden stools standing on the open side.

Behind the kitchen in the corner was the sizable bathroom, complete with an inviting octagonal shower. The one closet just outside of the bathroom housed a stacked washer and dryer.

On the right side of the cabin, just inside the entryway, was a sunken living room with a cozy fireplace and cushy sofa. A bedroom in the back right corner held an enormous bed with a thick down comforter.

Rome smiled at the thought of spending time here, in this haven, with Harper, even if it was for just a day or so.

“C’mon in,” he said, sweeping his arm in a grand gesture, instantly regretting it when a dull twinge trickled up his forearm. Was there any place on his body that didn’t hurt? Strange. He’d never let anyone see his pain before, but in front of Harper, he didn’t feel the need to be so damn tough. She never doubted he was.

She had to have the same draining aches, if not worse ones than he did. He knew by now she wasn’t the type of gal to really worry about pretense. And he very much appreciated that right now.

“I had the power turned on when I called,” Rome said, closing the door behind her after she dropped the two bags on the sofa. He tossed the key on the island and moved to the wall to turn on the lights.

“Does that mean there’s hot water?” Harper asked hopefully.

“It should.” He chuckled. Honestly, as much pain as he was in right now, he had almost told her she’d have to wait until he was done with the shower to find out. Damn manners. “Go ahead. There should be plenty of towels in there. I’ll get the rest of our stuff.”

He left her inside and walked out to the car to bring in the rest of their supplies and the laptop. And a gun from the small but effective arsenal kept under the hood in a hidden compartment.

After gathering what he needed, he slammed the hood shut, then returned to the cabin to find Harper stooping by the fireplace, arranging some kindling around a couple of logs.

Her filthy jeans were pulled taut against her firm thighs and rear. Admiring her curves, as dirty as she was, he easily remembered the feel of her grinding against him. The perfect way she fit in his arms. The wetness of her mouth.

A spark snapped and he nearly jumped out of his skin. She had struck a match and was lighting the fire. How was it possible that he was very close to collapsing, but he wanted her with a hunger he’d never tasted?

Rome watched her poke the fire around, then stand and turn to warm her backside. She rubbed her forearm, something he’d noticed her do in the car as he had floated in and out of consciousness. Walking over to stand in front of her, he gently clasped her arm and held it up for his inspection.

She flinched as he peeled apart the fabric of her sliced coat. Looking inside the flaps, he saw a sweeping gash, maybe two inches long. Prodding it with his fingertips, relief warmed him as he saw it wasn’t deep. She wouldn’t even need stitches.

As a matter of fact, as he peered a little closer, he noticed the skin was already closing.

He glanced up from her wound, questioning her with his gaze. A chagrined expression graced her lovely face. They’d stopped at a gas station restroom to wash off the obvious blood, but he’d been in so much pain himself, he hadn’t even noticed her serious injuries. Or lack of them. Sure, she had scratches, but now that he looked closely, those were healing, too.

“Pretty handy, huh?” Harper half grinned. He couldn’t tell whether she was happy about it or not. But he was ecstatic. Hot damn, she could self-heal at record pace. Wasn’t that a good thing? A great thing?

“Harper,” he whispered, raising her hand to brush his lips across her lightly scraped knuckles.

She shifted her hand out of his grasp and placed her palm against his cheek. Her touch comforted him like hot chocolate with marshmallows, warming him from the inside.

He couldn’t help himself and leaned in to capture her lips in a much-needed kiss. But his audible wince made her pull back. Damn those bastards.

“Rome, we need to check you out.” Harper took his hand, and he allowed her to lead him to the huge bathroom. Why would he want to fight it, anyway?

He noticed the tremble in her touch and wondered whether she was scared. Scared about things her body was doing without even trying. Hell, he’d kill for her newest power right now. He stood still while she turned on the bright light and faced him with suffering in her eyes.

“Harper, I think I’ll live.” Rome gave her a reassuring smile and took both of her trembling hands in his, holding them loosely. “I think you will, too.” He wanted so much to believe that.