Helping her to her feet helped clear his head slightly of the flood of mental images that were absolutely not appropriate to the current situation. This girl was clearly hurt, hunted, and needed help, not...

Not what he was going to think about right now.

He gave an amused chuff. "You're really not a burden." He paused, knowing how alarming it could sound to a young woman, alone and hurt with a stranger, especially considering the thoughts he'd just banished from his head. "I can carry you, if you don't mind it. I'm a lot stronger than I look. There's no reason to push through if you're hurting."

He made sure his expression was the very picture of pure intent.