Chapter 29: Warmth

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Chapter 29

Perce’s POV

I sat rigidly on the stool, my back pressed against the rough wood wall of the cabin. Every bone in my body screamed for rest, but I couldn’t sleep—not yet. Not with her in that bed, barely clinging to life. My muscles burned from the exhausting effort of tending to the horse, shoveling snow, and keeping her safe. Yet none of it mattered when I could still feel the weight of her limp form in my arms, her body cold and unresponsive.

She thrashed in her sleep, muttering something I couldn’t make out, and I stiffened, my fingers curling into fists at my side. I didn’t dare look at her, not yet, not since I’d returned from cooling off. There was no time to dwell on the heat that rushed through my veins whenever I thought of her.

Leia shifted. She was shaking again, and this time her teeth were chattering. My jaw clenched, and I jumped up, my movements sharp and desperate. I grabbed the cup from the pot of melted snow and filled it with the warm liquid, then rushed to her side. As my hand brushed against her pale cheek, I sucked in a breath. Cold. Still too cold.

Frustration pooled inside. She wasn’t recovering, if anything, she was getting worse.

I lifted her up. “Hey darling. Drink this.”

“Leia…” I whispered, but she didn’t stir. I gritted my teeth, panic stirring in my chest. This couldn’t happen. I wouldn’t let it happen.

I lifted her with more force than I intended. “Drink,” I commanded, my voice low and urgent.

Her head lolled to the side. Her lips barely parted, but there was no response. “Wake up, little dove,” I urged, my tone rough.

But nothing.

She didn’t respond. My heartbeat kicked into a gallop. Was she unconscious? I lowered her and shook her even harder. “Leia.” My voice was hard with panic.

I had to do more to warm her. The only thing left was to give her my body heat. This was no time to worry about propriety. Her life was at stake and I needed to do whatever I could to save her.

I climbed in beside her, then peeled away all but one blanket, which I made sure was wrapped securely around her. While I knew that skin-to-skin heat transfer would be best, I would wait until she was more responsive.

Positioning myself between her and the wall, I acted as a buffer from the potential air that was making through the wall. I pulled all the covers over us and wrapped my arms around Leia, gathering her as close as possible. She trembled even in her unconsciousness. Frantically, I rubbed her arms and then her legs and back. The blanket caused the friction I wanted. All the while, I pressed against her, desperate to give her my heat. I only stopped to add more wood to the fire to keep it blazing. My body ached with exhaustion, but I couldn’t let go. I wouldn’t.

At some point, tiredness overcame me, so I just held her, wrapped securely in the crook of my body, alternating between dozing and rubbing her.

***

The shifting of a body brought me out of my slumber. I started rubbing Leia’s arms again, my hands moving with the same steady rhythm I’d used for the past hours. She released a soft sigh. Was she waking up?

“Leia?” I whispered into the dark, but my voice was raw, desperate.

She hummed, her body snuggling deeper into mine. I couldn’t hold back a small, relieved sigh.

“Are you warm now?” I asked, my voice rough, trembling with relief.

This time she snuggled against me, her back pressed to my chest. “Um-hmm.”

She was conscious. I fought back of wave of relief

“Perce,” Her voice was slurred, almost as if she was drunk. “I like this,”

“Like what, darling?” I continued to run her arms

“This closeness to you, like every time we’re in the woods together. Can we stay here like this forever?”

I paused. Happiness flooded me with her words.

“Please, Perce?” Leia curled into me, her body fitting against me like it was made to go there. “Can we live here?”

I wasn’t sure how to answer and figured going along with her was the best way to deal with this. I pressed a kiss into her long, silky hair.

“If that’s what you want.”

She released a contented sigh. “No one loved me like you do, you know that?”

Oh, I knew all right, and I was determined to make it stay that way forever.

“And you know what else?” Her voice was definitely slurred

“What?”

She hugged my arms and tilted her head back to me. “The truth is that I love you too.”

I froze. Was she telling the truth? Or was it the delirium talking?

I gently pressed her head back down, hiding the temptation to kiss her, and settled her into a comfortable position. Leia relaxed against me, her breathing growing even. Her skin was warmer and her heartbeat stronger.

Thank God

Closing my eyes, I kissed the back of her head once more. I loved her, the trouble was, it was scary just how much.

Leia’s POV

My body ached and my stomach gurgled uncomfortably, but blissful warmth spread through me. That dreadful; cold was finally gone. I wiggled my toes to find that I could move them again and released a relieved sigh. Immediately, arms tightened around me. Steady breathing filled the crook of my neck and I was aware of a cheek almost flush against mine.

Perce

Yayyy, I thought playfully, He’s here

I blinked, grogginess still clouding my thoughts. But then, as the haze cleared, I remembered.I was naked, pressed against him, in his arms. He was holding me like I was his, and I—

Wait

We were getting married. There was no shame in this. There never had been.

Perce. He was here with me. And I felt… safe. Especially when I noticed that he had kept a blanket between us.

I let out a small laugh, shifting slightly in his arms. “Perce?” I whispered, unable to help the smile that tugged at my lips.

“Hmm?” He sounded tired, but I could feel his heart still hammering beneath me. I had no doubt that he’d been awake longer than me, keeping watch over me as he always did.

“Are you alright?” I asked softly

“Only if you are,” He mumbled, “It ceased snowing hours ago, will you be able to travel?”

I nodded, not wanting to delay us any further from returning home.

Perce’s arms tightened around me for a moment before he reluctantly released me, helping me sit up with a quiet hum of effort. My body felt weak, but the warmth of his presence, the feel of his hands guiding me, grounded me. I held the blanket up, shielding me.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, my voice a little shaky, but firm. The sun was rising, shining through some cracks in the door.

“Where are my clothes?” I inquired, he slipped past me and retrieved them from where he placed them, spread out in front of the fire to dry. He turned, back to me as I shakily dressed.

Perce helped me heave to my feet as I finished, his hand steady against my back.

“You should rest for a bit longer,” he suggested, his thumb brushing across my shoulder.

I shook my head, a soft smile playing on my lips. “I’ll be fine. I can make it.”

“Stubborn woman,” He grumbled before scooping me up into his arms. He carried me out into the sunshine to the tether horse, ready to go.

Placing me on top, he heaved up behind me and gathered the reins in his hand. “Thank you,” I quietly said

“Hush now, save your strength.” He gently rebuked me as the horse started to move. We didn’t talk, just watching the scenery pass us slowly.

By midday, our stomachs growled loudly, making me laugh despite being hungry.

“We’re almost there,” Perce assured me as the horse rocked beneath us.

“Don’t worry,” I said, snuggling back into him as his arms tightened around me, “I like this position and am not wanting to move any time soon.”

He didn’t respond, only reacted by digging his nose into my dirty, oily hair, making a squawk come out of my mouth. I bent forwards, trying to escape him.

“Don’t do that! I’m dirty and stinky!” I cried at him.

He chuckled and grabbed me, pulling me back against him and his warmth

“There’s no such thing,”

This man….

Submitted: February 27, 2025

Romance strength fighting healing kidnapping time-travel