Page 121 of Snow

The smell of smoke was stronger in the storage room. Much stronger. Then an alarm began screaming somewhere outside.

Nova froze for half a second before another alarm joined it, the piercing sound echoing through the platform and sending a fresh rush of adrenaline through her.

“Come on,” she muttered, grabbing the shelving again. “Move, you bastard.”

This time, when she shoved, the wheels finally rolled. Barely, but it was enough, and Nova threw her weight against it again, pushing until she had exposed enough of the hidden door to open it.

She turned the handle, and the door flew open so fast that Nova stumbled backward, and Snow came through it almost as quickly.

Before she could say a word, his arms were around her. He pulled her against him hard enough that her feet actually left the floor for a second, and Nova immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. For the first time since she had crawled into that duct, she realized just how scared he had been too. His breathing was heavier than it should’ve been, his arms were locked around her, and when he finally pulled back, his hands went straight to her face as his eyes searched hers.

“You’re okay.”

It wasn’t really a question. It sounded more like something he needed to hear himself say.

“I’m okay.”

His gaze moved quickly over her, checking for injuries. “Anything hurt?”

“My hip isn’t thrilled with me, and I’m pretty sure my ass is going to look like I lost a fight with a baseball bat tomorrow.”

Snow closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, some of the tension had finally left his face.

“So you’re okay.”

Nova smiled. “Yeah. I’m okay.”

“Jesus, Nova.” He pulled her against him again and pressed a kiss to her temple. “You scared the hell out of me.”

Something warm tightened around her heart.

“You’re the one who shoved me into an air duct.”

“I did not shove you.”

“You pushed.”

“I assisted.”

“That’s a very convenient distinction.”

Snow laughed softly against her hair before drawing back. “You did damn good, sweetheart.”

“I crawled through a metal tube, almost got eaten by a screw, and fell onto a pile of boxes.”

“And you got us out.”

Nova looked up at him, and the pride in his expression did something ridiculous to her chest.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “I guess I did.”

“You absolutely fucking did.”

For just a second, despite the alarms and the smoke and the fact that some psychopath was apparently trying to burn down the platform with them on it, Nova let herself enjoy the way he was looking at her.

Then a heavy boom sounded somewhere beneath them. And the floor shook.

Nova grabbed his arm as the moment disappeared instantly. “Please tell me that was something normal.”