Dried dirt crumbles down from the side of the pit where Nova's foot slipped again. She clutched at the vine and stepped back, her breaths coming out uneven. She'd almost felt compelled to lean closer, to observe the large man slumped against the pike, his head flopped down, his long, messy midnight black hair falling over his features, shadowing them.
Nova gnawed at her bottom lip and brushed her sweat-drenched locks behind her ears as she scanned her surroundings. This was an eerie part of the forest, with little to no life, no sounds. Yet, there was a man tied up in a pit.
A pit that was filled with spikes that could kill. From here, Nova couldn't see if there were any other injuries on him. But for this to be some sort of trap to lure prey in... it wouldn't make sense. The entire pit had been covered, intent to kill whoever fell into it.
I shouldn't. Nova backed away a few steps. Even as she did, her heart clenched at the idea of leaving someone there. Why was he there in the first place? Had he fallen into the pit, couldn't get out and whoever created it then tied him up for some snack later?
Nova glanced around, shivering slightly at the idea of something even worse that likes to eat its prey later. Spiders? No, he wasn't covered in silk. She gnawed on that lip again.
If there was something watching and waiting, she was dead either way. The eagles wouldn't even fly in here, and they could easily escape quickly.
The man's low moan snapped her into action. He was in pain. Without pondering further about the man and this eery part of the forest, Nova pieced together a plan as she looked at the pit and how to get down there and hopefully provide some help.
Nova shoved her phone into her bra and bounced to make sure it stayed put. She looped the clipped heels over one wrist, grabbed the vine that had broken her fall, and gave it a firm tug to test its strength before tossing it down the pit.
She parasailed down the pit, focusing on the vine and trying not to swing from side to side and fall to her death, or slip and fall on a spike, also to her death. On top of her minor fear of bats, okay huge fear of bats, Nova wasn't particularly fond of heights either but once she focused on the task and was confident in her abilities, her racing heart and shortened breaths calmed.
She'd just evaded death multiple times in this jungle she wasn't about to die because she was a wuss and couldn't control her fear of heights!
Nova's grip starts to slip on the vine and her strength weakens with a slight head rush. "Oh no," she gasped, her heart thumping wildly, again, just when her fingers let go. Wind rushes up her skirt and-
"Oh." Nova blinked as her feet landed on the ground. She hadn't been paying attention to the ground because of her fear and any dizziness she'd encounter and make her lose focus. "Well, that's a damned relief."
Nova turned around and manoeuvred around the spikes until the man was in her sight again. She faltered and her breath whooshed out, startled. A pair of eyes burned into her, feral, intense, red and yellow bleeding together like a dying sunset. They held no warmth—only wild, unblinking hunger.
Why did it feel like an untamed beast was watching her?
She was frozen to the spot, drawn in by the sheer force of this beast. His untamed raven locks fell over his face, hiding his features but those eyes were striking in the dim light. She'd never felt such a raw, intimidating aura before.
Nova's legs trembled. She felt like a deer in headlights and simultaneously like a moth to a flame, drawn by the sheer force of this man, this beast. She couldn't move yet there was some magnetic force almost whispering to her to go to him.
There was a rumbling sensation on the ground and it snapped Nova out of her daze. Was this a tremor of an earthquake? No, the magnitude was way too low. It stopped and her gaze swept back to his.
"I'm here to help," Nova said gently as adrenaline was pumping through her body to mad degrees. Was this a fight or flight instinct? Yet even as her mind was being logical about this, Nova continued to step closer.
The man's eyes scanned Nova from head to toe. Tilting his head slightly. His interest was one of assessing a potential threat and seeing what weaknesses there were to aide in his survival.
Jokes on you, I'm utterly useless and a huge weakness! Nova internally cried. Yet, she still moved closer.
Another rumbling of the ground caused Nova's knees to almost buckle as she got closer to the man. This close, she could now tell, even whilst seated that he was huge. HUGE.
Nova knew he was tall and broad from afar but now, this close, the top of his head almost reached her chin. How tall did that make him? 6ft7? 7ft? More?!
The rumbling stopped as Nova knelt in front of him, tipping her head back to gaze up at those ethereal eyes. She had to refrain from looking at his body. His body that was completely on display except for his lower region. He was muscular, carved like an Adonis with earthy, golden skin, as if sculpted by light and shadow.
Stop. STOP.
Nova forced her restraint and swallowed. This close, she realised the rumbling ground was vibrating from his chest. The man, this beast that could possibly swallow her whole, was growling at her. But she knew enough that it was a warning, like a cornered injured animal wishing to lash out.
The intensity of those eyes, the thick tension of his powerful aura seemed to electrify her. Every nerve ending, every thin hair on her arms, the back of her neck stood on end. But Nova persisted, she remained, feeling her heart clench at the sight of his feet nailed to the ground and dried blood crusted over them.
"If I help you... You promise not to hurt me?" Nova asked, her voice stern as she stared back at the eyes of a beast. She wasn't stupid as to help him without a promise made. And if he was truly grateful, perhaps he might even help her in returning to the resort. He was a freakin' giant with muscles for days and an intense aura that could make anyone run in the opposite direction.
Why wasn't she? She had no idea. It was either a calculated risk or a foolish move.
The Adonis with wild, untamed hair nodded once in response, those striking eyes now watching her curiously.
"Do not eat me," she warned, rounding his body to untie the bindings on his wrists.
The man chuckled lowly, the rumbling of his chest making her toes curl and fan her face to the sudden heat she felt.
The ropes fell free and any attraction she might have felt stripped away as she waited with bated breath of what he might do.