Speechless Excerpt 1

The scene: Eva has fallen and broken her leg while hiking. Stone found her and brought her back to his cabin. The following takes place the first night Eva is there. Eva is mute. She uses a PDA with a thumb keyboard to "talk."

Note: This is an unedited excerpt and is subject to change.

Eva's sleep was plagued by dreams of falling off mountains, of having a crippled leg for the rest of her life, of Stone approaching and withdrawing, of having to chose between his care and the care she would get in a fully-equipped, impersonal hospital, of his face changing into that of some monster and finally of his arm around her, his hands massaging her, his presence keeping all her swirling fears at bay. That last dream shocked her into waking.

She heard nothing but the singing of insects and the chug of what must have been a generator outside. A weight lay across her chest, anchoring her to the bed. She opened her eyes. In the dimness of the still-lit lantern Eva saw Stone, naked from the waist up, sleeping face-down next to her. His head was turned toward her, his mouth open slightly in his sleep. His right arm was the weight she'd felt, holding her as he might a woman he was used to sharing his bed with. It was a casual, comfortable intimacy she thought, one meant only to communicate presence and affection rather than desire or possession.

Strangely, though the intimacy echoed her last dream, she felt none of the shock that had woken her. Rather, it relaxed the tension the dreams had built up inside her, easing most-not all-of her fears. Some fears, she knew, would never leave her. And that dream of Stone becoming a monster lingered yet and she wondered at how she'd forgotten all her father's warnings about men. She laid her hand on his, but whether to move it off her or simply to touch, she did not know.

Stone's eyes flicked open at her touch. As he realized how he lay, he started to pull away and Eva felt her fingers tighten almost imperceptibly, almost certainly of their own will, on his hand.

Stay, she thought.

Stone settled back next to her.

Eva closed her eyes, taking comfort from his warmth and sureness and the only tendril of the fears of a few minutes before was of her comfort with this man.

“Open your eyes,” he said. “I want to see what you're thinking.”

She obeyed, turning her head to look at him, to wonder again at her attraction to his rugged features. If just touching him brought her peace, what would kissing him do?

I was thinking about my fears and how you keep them away. I think they'd go away all together if you'd just kiss me.

“I can't. I shouldn't.” He paused. “You're right to be afraid.”

Eva's heart sped up, but she didn't know whether it was at his direct answer to her thought or at the threat implicit in his words and low voice. She heard the words he did not say echoing in the nighttime silence of the cabin, “of me.” She was right to be afraid of him. She let go of his hand and he withdrew his arm. Eva shivered.

Who are you?

He traced a line down her cheek and she suddenly realized just how dangerous he was. Just how much power he had over her.

“Fear protects you, Eva.” He raised himself onto an elbow and looked down at her. “I don't want you to be hurt because of me. The less we are connected, the less you know about me, the safer you are. I will do everything in my power to get you home safely. Don't ask me for more than that.”

You're not a consultant.

This thought, apparently, he could not read in her expression, for he leaned over and set a kiss in the center of her forehead. She took it as a rebuff, as his way of saying, “I care about you, but not that way,” without having to actually acknowledge that he knew what she wanted.

“Do you need another pain killer?”

Eva did, but she didn't want one or the wooziness it brought. But then, it might help her other ache-her ache for him to touch her, her longing for him to change his mind and bring his lips to hers. He read her like no man had ever been able to read her-like no one at all except perhaps her mother-and certainly faster than anyone. She felt open and vulnerable and she could not help imagining how he would read the rest of her body.

Stone moved suddenly, swiftly, rising to sit on the edge of the bed, his back to her. He ran a hand through his hair, rose and snatched up a shirt and his shoes.

“I'll be back.”

He was out the door before he'd pulled the t-shirt completely on. Eva stared after him, confused, lost, bereft.

Stone paused outside the door just long enough to pull on his hiking boots and wish he'd taken the time to grab a jacket. Then he started walking, keeping to the edge of the lake and judging his position by the soft splashes of the miniature waves that washed the pebble beach. He tried to identify what had driven him out of the cabin, but he couldn't follow what had happened, his tracing of events hitting a brick wall every time he reached the moment when he realized Eva knew he'd lied about his profession. Even in the dim light, he'd been able to read every thought on Eva's face, every conflicting fear and desire, the accusation that he was not who he said he was. He'd kissed her-a chaste kiss to be sure, intended to soothe, but a kiss all the same, moist lips against warm skin. He felt himself harden just thinking about the merest contact between them. He'd had his arm around her for God's sake. And he wanted to lie like that again with her safe inside his embrace, both of them peaceful, secure with each other. He bent to snatch a rock from the beach and he hurled it toward the lake with a roar.

She was just another woman! Why did he feel so connected to her? He felt as if she were wide open to him, like everything she thought or felt flowed directly from her to him. And he'd suddenly realized that she felt it too, that she would let him take advantage of that openness if he wanted to, that she feared and embraced it and would let him read not only her expressive face but her body as well. Exploring their connection, her every response and thought guiding his touch.

He flung another stone and another, as far as he could throw them, then continued his circuit of the lake, trying to put distance between himself and the woman he'd so foolishly rescued, between his rational needs and his physical desires. He suddenly wished he hadn't smashed her cell phone so some form of rescue could be called, even if it meant questions asked, names recorded, lies told.

He was a third of the way around the lake when he noticed the light strengthening. The water glinted with it, glowing rosy and gold as it reflected the sunrise. How long had he been out here? How long had he left Eva alone? He turned on his heel and started back at a quick walk, then an easy jog, alternating the whole trip between cursing himself for leaving her so long and reassuring himself that nothing had happened to her or he would have felt it. Panicky. For the first time in his life he actually felt panicky.

He slowed to a walk as he neared the cabin, pausing long enough to catch his breath before stepping inside. No need to let her know he'd rushed back to check on her. One quick look at her fast asleep in bed told him his fears had been for nothing. He felt like punching himself for letting her get to him. Instead, he ran a hand over his face and sighed in relief.

He fired up the propane stove for breakfast and coffee, but even without watching her, he knew the moment Eva woke. He turned and regarded her-her eyes were still closed and he waited for them to open before speaking.

“Coffee?”

She nodded and reached for her PDA. He crossed to her so he could read it.

“Bathroom.”

“Outhouse. I'll help you.” He reached for the stick he'd found the day before when he went looking for something to use as a crutch. It was strong and straight with a cross piece trimmed to fit under her arm. He helped her stand, gave her the crutch and supported her other side.

They made their slow, painful way out to the privy and back. Stone tamped down his reaction to being so near her, his satisfaction with having her arm across his shoulders and his around her back. He kept his mind on making a second crutch so he wouldn't have to help her move around, on what to fix for breakfast, on whether the food Carter had brought up three days ago—two-weeks' worth for one person—would be sufficient for the two of them. But Eva's body was warm next to his and he couldn't ignore it completely, couldn't control his own body's instinctive reaction. He cursed inwardly and bit back his impatience so he wouldn't inadvertently hurt her. It was none too soon when he settled her back on the bed, her bare legs covered again by the blanket and he could retreat as far as the small cabin would let him.

Eva was certain Stone realized that when he kept himself on the opposite side of the room, she could not talk to him. She drummed her fingers on the blanket in frustration. She wanted to apologize for her early-morning madness, but couldn't until he was close enough to read her typed words on the PDA. Instead, she could only watch from where she sat leaning against the wall, her leg straight out on the bed. She was sore this morning, but most of it was the stiffness brought by the fall and she knew the more she moved, the less it would trouble her.

Stone busied himself at the sink and propane stove and Eva relaxed a bit as she watched him, appreciating his fine physique, the easy way he moved, his long reach and quiet confidence.

Do you have any idea how appealing you are? Eva thought.

“You're one to…” Stone turned to face her, his voice full of confusion and wonder, “talk.”