Free Completely Smitten by Kristine Grayson

use power for things that I can do myself.”
    She nodded. “I guess that’s why I like camping. I feel as if I’m getting back to nature, even though I know I’m not.”
    “Yeah,” he said. “Back in those natural days, no one had aluminum pans.”
    “Or lightweight tents.”
    “Or water filters.”
    “Or dehydrated food.”
    “Well, I’m sure they were all sad about that.”
    She smiled. “Is that one of those biting comments I’ve heard so much about?”
    “That wasn’t biting. That didn’t even qualify as sarcastic. If anything, it was mildly amusing.”
    She stretched and leaned back on her pillows. “This is a great place. If I had a haven like this, I’d never leave it.”
    “Don’t you like civilization?”
    “Most of the time it’s all right. But I think it takes away our opportunities to test our limits.”
    He slid around so that he sat properly in the chair. “Actually, I think civilization gives people the opportunity to test their limits. Otherwise, they’d simply be struggling to survive. Life has improved a lot over the last few thousand years.”
    “There wasn’t civilization three thousand years ago?” she asked.
    “Of course there was,” he said. “I just meant—”
    “I know what you meant.” She smiled sleepily. She could banter with him all night, but the day’s events were beginning to take their toll on her. “I just wonder sometimes if we forget why we’re here.”
    He bent over, resting his elbows on his knees and turning the wineglass around in his fingers. “Do you think people should always do what they’re supposed to do?”
    “What do you mean?” she asked.
    He shook his head. “Too much wine. Now I’m not only serious but maudlin. You don’t need that tonight. You need to laugh.”
    “Actually,” she said, “I need to go lie down. My brain wants to keep going, but my body has had enough for one day.”
    “Found its limit, huh?” Darius asked with a smile.
    “Oh, I suppose I could push it farther, but I’ve never had the chance to sleep in Hemingway’s bed before.” Then she blushed. She usually didn’t say things like that. What had gotten into her?
    Darius set down his wineglass and stood. “Let me help you.”
    “No.” She sat up all the way and reached for the crutches. “I can’t haul you back to civilization and have you carry me from place to place. Imagine how that would look.”
    He studied her for a long moment, as if he were imagining that. “We’d attract attention.”
    “That we would.” She picked up the crutches, got them into position, and somehow got to her feet. She had no idea how people who weren’t athletic did this. It was hard enough for her.
    Darius hadn’t moved. His gaze met hers, and this time the sadness was gone. She got a sense of deep loneliness and strength.
    He cupped her face. His touch was gentle. He ran his thumb over her lips. She opened them just a little. She wanted him to kiss her. She’d never wanted anyone to kiss her like this before—so much that her entire being felt the longing.
    He leaned toward her, sliding his hand to her shoulder and bracing her. Then his mouth brushed hers. It felt as if he were going to move away, but she caught his lips. They parted and the kiss deepened. He took a step closer to her, putting one hand on her back to help her keep her balance.
    Then he pulled her against him.
    She almost dropped the crutches. The kiss took something from her, and made her feel as if she’d found something as well. She was no longer just her—she was part of a them, part of something greater than herself.
    She let go of her right crutch and slipped her hand in his golden hair, feeling the softness of his curls. The crutch fell sideways, knocking against his chair before clattering to the floor.
    His hands slid down her back, pressing her against him. His body felt marvelous against hers. For the first time, she was kissing a man who was the right height, who didn’t have to