An enormous pressure lifted from Spencer's chest as he swung the truck onto Rosewood's main street. They were out of the woods, figuratively and literally. But as Toby blew past The Brew without any indication of stopping, a disquieting realization struck her—he was taking her home.
"Toby, I think we should go to your loft."
The clenching movement in his firm jaw caught her attention. "You need a change of clothes. Unless you're eagerly welcoming the prospect of pneumonia, I think its best I take you home."
His croaking tone set her heart on edge. She knew what it felt like, that crippling fray of worry. "I know, Tobes, but I don't think...I—I'm sca—"
Spencer trailed off, her stammering admission of fear being too much to express. She hated the way her vocal chords were betraying her emotions. The warmth of Toby's hand settled on the damp denim stretching over her thigh. He didn't say anything, just simply flicked on his turn signal and cut into the alley that ran parallel to their previous course.
"Thank you." It was barely a murmur, yet she knew he heard it by the way his thumb stroked over her leg in reassurance. She yearned for more contact, the frozen set of her rattling bones becoming harder and harder to ignore as she tried to sit still. He was always so warm, so stable; she needed that right now, needed it more than her typical claim of self-sufficiency. She felt like a brittle snapping twig and here he was, the imperishably solid oak tree.
He slid the vehicle into the back lot, yanking his key from the ignition without a word. She dragged herself out of the truck's cabin and dropped both feet to the concrete below. A precarious wave of vertigo nipped at her brain and she thrust a hand out against the truck frame in an effort to balance herself.
"Spencer? You coming?" He was already to the steps, his head angled back at her with a fretful glance.
"Yeah, sorry." She gulped in a calming breath and thrust forward with a few labored strides. The oppressive coldness crowded against her, numbing her head and distorting her vision. Determined to push past a second surge of lightheadedness, Spencer carefully aligned the toe of her boot to the metallic step and forced her way upward. Her eyelids just felt so heavy…
"Spence!"
The panic in his tone jarred her back to reality as she lurched sideways. Toby's arms shot out around her, crushing her to his chest in an iron grip that kept her upright. Before she could utter another apology, he dipped low enough to sweep an arm underneath her knees and haul her into a secure hold against his broad torso.
"Hey, I can walk just fine, mister." Her attempted sassiness came off feebly, even in her own ears.
He snickered, but a glimpse up into those vigilant blue eyes and she knew he was far from amused. "I'd say 'prove it,' but you already had that chance. I'll take it from here."
A weighty exhaustion seeped through her as he mounted the staircase with ease. He wriggled the key into the lock and kicked the door closed behind him. Spencer buried her head further into the crook of his shoulder, already dreading their imminent separation. But Toby surprised her by moving past the living room and straight to his bed. Another ruthless shiver scattered through her as he gingerly set her down on the soft duvet.
"Come on, let's get you warmed up." He knelt gallantly before her and began to tug off one of her boots. The friction of the saturated leather against the equally sodden fabric of her jeans made the process more difficult, but he worked swiftly to peel the shoe from her foot. She wanted to make a joke, accusing him of getting her between the sheets or something, but the chattering of her teeth blocked all efforts of lightening the mood.
Toby gasped as he removed her woolen sock, his hands instantly locking around her foot. "God, Spence…"
She peeked down at her toes, blanching at the startling purple tint that colored her skin. Toby met her eyes in shared disbelief as he attempted to rub some heat back into the lifeless appendage. He repeated his actions, moving to uncover her left foot as well. Spencer didn't look this time—his shaky inhale and curt shake of the head was enough to let her know that this one was just as bad.
"Stay here." He dropped a short kiss to her brow and vanished into the bathroom. As if I'm going anywhere fast…
The squeak of pipes and sudden whoosh of water sounded from the adjoining room. He ambled back in, already pulling his own shirt over his head. In just a blur of a moment, Toby had stripped each soaking layer from her clammy figure and left them in a dripping mound on his floor. After shedding his own remaining articles of clothing, he scooped her back up into his arms.
"It won't be too hot, but it's still going to hurt a little, okay?"
"Okay," she purred, her head ducking into the protection of his neck.
He stepped over the rim of the shower stall and nudged the door shut. The sting of the warm water blazed over her protesting body. She curled up tighter in response, trying to think past the shocking contrast of combatant temperatures. Toby adjusted his arms fractionally, bringing her closer into the shield of his toned abdomen. "Are you alright?"
Spencer nodded, his faint whisper acting as a soothing balm in the pound of water pouring down around them. They stayed like that for longer than she could track in her unfocused state, nearly lulled to sleep in Toby's quiet embrace. She blinked sluggishly as he murmured into her ear, "do you think you can stand?"
Cautiously sensing the loosening of her limbs and the thump of improved circulation to her fingers and toes, she nodded again. "I can try."
He lowered her slowly, watching as her feet found the floor but still keeping both arms stationed around her middle. "You got it?"
The sweet patience evident in both his voice and actions launched a smile across her lazy features. "Yeah, I'm good."
He smiled back and kissed her gently. His large hands planted themselves on her shoulders as he turned her to face the opposite wall. He started to knead her aching shoulders, earning a long satisfied sigh from deep in her throat. She frowned when he released her, but his hands promptly moved upwards, fiddling with the end of her braid and freeing the strands from the elastic that held them captive. Spencer's eyes shuttered closed at the bewitching feeling of his sturdy fingers threading into her hair and massaging her scalp. A fruity scent filtered through the steam as he gradually lathered shampoo into the tangle of her wavy locks. Her knees went weak for a much different reason than her earlier bout of dizziness.
A moan escaped her as his lips sought the back of her neck, her shoulder blade, her spine. "Mmm, Toby…"
Her vocalized appreciation seemed to have a strange reversing effect on his behavior. He pulled away immediately and began rinsing the suds from her hair. As the last of the frothing white bubbles circled the drain, Spencer whirled back around to find his eyes. She framed his face with both of her hands and stood on tiptoe to press her mouth to his.
His rough hands landed on her delicate waist. Pulling back just a centimeter, his eyes were distant as he spoke quietly. "Spence, I got caught up for a second…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take advantage."
"You aren't. I am your girlfriend, you know." Her lips tilted to take his dimpled chin in custody.
She could feel his body's pleased reaction to the intimacy of the moment, yet his words were reluctant. "But this isn't the reason I…It wasn't my intention to—"
Spencer grinned at his difficulty in speech as she sidled nearer, her hands resting on his collarbone. "I know that, sweetheart. You are always a perfect gentleman. But I'm feeling much better now, I swear."
His voice was hoarse as he mumbled, "You really scared me tonight, Spence."
Her expression sobered as she took in the blustering sadness of his blue gaze. "I know, Toby, I'm sorry." She hugged him tightly then, knowing that exacting brand of fear a little too well. He returned the gesture, his capable arms fastening around her as they swayed in the rhythmic cascade of water. His mouth marked a slippery line across her shoulder as her hands worked to alleviate the tension in his knotted back muscles. They held each other, both needing the heartbeat of the other as much as they needed their own. When his lips finally descended on hers, it was with the molten fever of an all-consuming release.
She let out a moan of approval as he trapped her against the slick tiles and kissed her with heated passion. The dank coldness of the outside world seemed to be miles away now. His hands were everywhere, spurring a quick crescendo of need throughout her whole nervous system. Clinging to him, her true pillar of strength, Spencer gave herself over fully to rely on his intoxicating influence. This unrelenting connection was a lifeline, a beacon of love that could outshine all other darkness.
And in hindsight, she knew that these last moments of relative peace and refuge would be her steadying salvation in the storm to come.
Reviews are love, people :) The next chapter has Spencer's explanation of how she ended up in the woods. Stay tuned.
It may motivate you to know that I am about 5 chapters ahead in my writing, so there is certainly more on the way!