Chapter 103 Reluctant Refuge
Alex: POV
I stood outside Daniel's tent, frozen in indecision. The desert night had turned bitter cold, stars blinking down at me with maddening indifference.
Every few seconds, I'd take a half-step forward, then retreat, like some ridiculous dance of hesitation.
What the hell was I doing? Less than an hour ago, Trevor had tried to assault me. If Daniel hadn't shown up... I shuddered, wrapping my arms around myself. The memory of Trevor's weight pinning me down, his hands touching me—it made my skin crawl.
But going into Daniel's tent? After everything that had happened between us in San Francisco? That came with its own set of complications. Sure, he'd saved me tonight, and he'd promised we could just be friends, but...
A rustling sound from inside the tent interrupted my thoughts. The zipper descended, and Daniel's face appeared in the opening, illuminated by the soft glow of a headlamp. His expression was a mixture of concern and amusement.
"Are you planning to stand out there all night?" he whispered. "Come on, it's freezing."
I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. "I'm still thinking."
He sighed, then reached out and gently pulled me inside. "Think in here before you catch hypothermia. If you wait any longer, the sun will be up." He paused, glancing toward the back of the tent. "Brian's already asleep in there."
The tent was small—much smaller than I remembered from earlier. Brian's rhythmic snoring filled the confined space. I stood awkwardly, hunched over to avoid hitting the ceiling.
"Where am I supposed to sleep?" I whispered.
Daniel pointed to a sleeping bag next to his. "I unrolled mine for you. Brian's a deep sleeper, and that snoring drowns out everything. You'll be fine."
I eyed the sleeping bag suspiciously. It was practically touching Daniel's. "That's... very close."
"It's a two-person tent with three people. Space is limited," he said matter-of-factly. "I can sleep outside if you're uncomfortable."
"No," I said quickly, remembering Trevor might still be lurking around camp. "It's fine."
I slipped into the sleeping bag fully clothed, not even removing my boots. Daniel watched me with a raised eyebrow but said nothing. Once I was settled, I turned to face him, my expression deadly serious.
"Listen to me," I whispered, keeping my voice low enough that Brian wouldn't hear. "Don't try anything while I'm sleeping. No cuddling, no touching, nothing. Got it?"
Daniel's face fell slightly. He reached out as if to touch my head, then seemed to think better of it and pulled his hand back. "I won't," he said quietly.
Something in his voice made my chest tighten. I nodded once, then turned my back to him, facing the tent wall. "Good night, then."
"Good night, Alex."
I closed my eyes, certain sleep would be impossible. Between the adrenaline still coursing through my system from the fight with Trevor and the hyperawareness of Daniel lying inches away from me, I felt wired.
But the day's exertion and emotional toll eventually won out, and I drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
I dreamed I was in the Arctic, surrounded by endless snow and ice. The cold was bone-deep, making me shiver violently. In the distance, I spotted a small fire, its orange glow promising warmth and safety.
I trudged toward it, each step requiring enormous effort. As I got closer, the warmth began to reach me, melting the ice that seemed to have formed around my heart. Just a few more steps and I'd be there...
I woke with a start, immediately aware that something was very wrong. For one thing, I was warm—too warm. For another, I wasn't lying on the ground anymore. I was on top of something that moved with steady, rhythmic breathing.
My eyes snapped open. Horror dawned as I realized I was sprawled across Daniel's chest, my head tucked under his chin, one of my legs thrown over his. His arm was around me, holding me securely against him.
"Fuck!" I yelped, scrambling away so quickly I nearly tore the sleeping bag. My sudden movement woke Daniel, who blinked at me in confusion.
"What's happening?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.
"I was—you were—we were..." I gestured frantically between us, unable to form a coherent sentence. My face felt like it was on fire.
Recognition dawned on Daniel's face, followed by a careful neutrality. "You were cold," he said simply. "You kept shivering, then you sort of... latched on."
"I don't latch onto things," I protested automatically, though a traitorous voice in my head reminded me that I always hugged a pillow while sleeping at home.
A soft cough from the tent entrance made us both turn. Brian stood there, already fully dressed, looking entirely unsurprised by the scene before him.
"Morning," he said casually. "Jack says breakfast in ten minutes. We're packing up right after."
I stared at him, mortified. How long had he been standing there? What had he seen?
"Thanks, Brian," Daniel replied smoothly. "We'll be right out."
When Brian left, I turned to Daniel with accusatory eyes. "What did you tell him?"
Daniel stretched, seemingly unconcerned. "Just that you had a bit of trouble last night and needed a safe place to crash. That's all."
"You didn't... embellish anything?"
A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. "Like what? Tell him we engaged in passionate lovemaking while his snoring provided romantic background music?" He arched an eyebrow at me. "What exactly do you think I told him?"
Despite everything, I felt a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. "Shut up."
We emerged from the tent a few minutes later, carefully avoiding eye contact. The camp was buzzing with activity as everyone packed up their gear. Jack stood in the center, giving instructions for the day's hike.
"Before we head out," Jack announced as we joined the circle, "I wanted to let you all know that Trevor had to leave unexpectedly. He had a family emergency and needed to return to Tucson."
I really didn't expect him to just walk away like that? But a wave of relief washed over me. Trevor was gone. I wouldn't have to face him again, wouldn't have to worry about being alone with him. I glanced at Daniel, who was studiously examining his hiking boots.
"Did he say anything before he left?" Megan asked, looking concerned.
Jack shook his head. "Just that he had to go immediately. Now, let's talk about today's route..."