Emmy pressed her lips together, feeling helpless. How could he still have thoughts like that when he was so banged up?
“I wasn’t thinking that at all!” she blurted out, cheeks burning with embarrassment. She gave his chest a gentle punch. “I just wanted to check your wounds…”
James suddenly started coughing, his breaths ragged and strained. Emmy panicked, instantly sitting up and awkwardly patting his back. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. I swear I didn’t hit you that hard… Where does it hurt?”
Before she could figure out what to do, James pulled her straight back into his arms, hugging her even tighter.
“Don’t move,” he murmured, taking a few seconds to steady himself. “It’s nothing. Really. I just got winded, it’s got nothing to do with my injuries.”
Emmy went completely still. She barely dared to breathe, afraid that even the smallest movement would hurt him. “Really? You’re not just saying that, right?”
James let out a soft laugh, his chest rumbling under her cheek. “I promise, it’s just a scratch. I’ve had worse. If I couldn’t handle this, I would’ve washed out of this job a long time ago.”
He made it sound like it was nothing, his tone light and easy, but Emmy just felt her heart sink even more. She looked down and absently twisted his shirt in her fingers.
“You must be exhausted,” she whispered. “Come on, try to sleep. I won’t bother you anymore.”
James didn’t look the least bit tired. Truthfully, he didn’t want to close his eyes, not with her in his arms. She was so warm, her scent so familiar. Just holding her was better than any painkiller. Besides, after years in special ops, he knew how to grab sleep whenever he could. He’d already dozed through most of the helicopter ride back. Right now, he felt wide awake.

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