Chapter 498

Chapter 0498 Nicholas lifted me up from the hole and then yanked me into the safety of his arms. With my new weight, his feet slipped in the mud and we both stumbled backwards.

Nicholas landed on his butt in the mud.

But with me cradled against him, I landed safely in his arms.

He wore shorts, boots, and a rain jacket. The hood was done, his hair was awet mess, sticking out in every direction.

He had never looked so handsome to me.

He golden gaze searched me over. “Are you alright?” I couldn’t reply. At least, not how I

wanted to. “V-Veronica?” “Safe.” Nicholas’s gaze lifted to my face. “I'm more worried about you.” The world was shaking... no. I was trembling. “C-cold.” The warmth of his embrace was almost too much. It felt like I was hugging a burning furnace. “Tired.” “Ibelieve it. But you’ve done well.” Well? All T did was manage to fall in a hole and stay there. Well would have been pulling myself out and not needing a rescue.

But I was too exhausted to argue. All I wanted in the whole world was a hot bath and a soft bed.

Unfortunately, as Nicholas rose, then pulled me up into the safe cradle of his

arms, I noticed we were not heading back toward the beach. Nicholas surely knew the way, so I didn’t understand what he was doing.

He glanced down and saw my quizzical look.

“The storm moved in suddenly. It’s a fierce one. Most of the ships have left the vicinity. I have a boat for us, but it would capsize in these waves, We’d never make it back home.” So we were trapped on the island, just like I'had been trapped in the hole, “We’ll have to stay here tonight,” Nicholas said. I strained to hear him over the torrent of water and the howl of wind that rustled through the trees.

I didn’t want to stay here. I wanted a

bath and a bed. But, the positives were that I wasn’t in a hole anymore, and I wasn’t alone. a I Nicholas, it seemed, had risked personal injury to come and find me.

He was here with me. Even now, holding me, he was bending his shoulders forward to protect me from the worst of the pelting rain.

He was such a good man, and he seemed confident that we would survive this. I could trust him. It was so easy to.

If anyone could get us through the storm, it was Nicholas.

I curled in towards his chest, and pressed my ear right over his heart. It was pounding quickly, but strongly. He was in full survival mode.

He began walking, eyes glancing this way and that, taking in all of his surroundings. He didn’t complain, didn’t even utter one word, as he trekked ever forward.

The storm raged overhead. The winds were getting worse.

Shivering, I curled in tighter to Nicholas. He more fully wrapped his arms around me.

“Hold on just a little longer, Piper. Give me a bit more time to find us some shelter from this storm.” I didn’t know what kind of shelter there was to be found on a jungle island, but I found my answer soon enough.

Nicholas followed a trail of rocks until it surged high enough to form an

outcrop. And there, at the base, was a small cave. ) “It’s not a palace,” Nicholas said, “But it’s safe and dry.” Anything that would shield us from this torrential downpour looked like a five-star hotel to me. I clung to Nicholas tighter as he walked us there.