Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Quint realized the bandages he looked at were the only things he wore. He was completely naked beneath the blanket, though it did feel good. He recalled feeling a tremendous heat and struggling to get layer after layer of garments off him, but gentle hands stopped him, a soothing voice telling him everything would be fine. He had believed her, but then her touch had been gentle and cool and had felt wonderful.
The healer.
He turned his head and saw her sleeping in the chair facing the bed. She was slumped over some, her head almost reaching her shoulder. He had tried to tend to his own wounds, but he had been wise enough to know he needed help when he felt the warmth creeping over him.
She was attractive enough with a fine body and he recalled the sweet scent of her long auburn hair that fell loose from the braid that had attempted to tame it. He did not recall being that close to her to remember the scent of her hair, but he must have been.
Another recall caught him off guard. In exchange for her healing him, she expected him to bed her. He let his glance roam over her. It would be no chore to couple with her and he had not been with a woman in a long time. It might be a fair exchange. That he even gave it a thought surprised him. He turned his head away from her. His need had been growing, though he wondered if any woman could ever satisfy him again.
“You’re awake.”
He turned to see her stretch herself out of the chair, easing the ache out of her body, her full breasts becoming more prominent as she drew her shoulders back. He felt a tingle in his groin. That she stirred him even in his weakened condition made the prospect of repaying her that more pleasant.
“Feeling better?” she asked as she approached the bed.
“I feel as if I just got beaten in a battle,” he said.
Shade smiled. “I can assure you that you were the victor in last night’s battle.”
“I am usually the victor in any battle,” he said, trying to ignore the fact that he found her soft smile and soothing voice pleasant. He had no time for pleasantries. He needed to be done here, though he was wise enough to know he was not sufficiently healed to go anywhere just yet.
“You may need to battle again if your fever returns,” she said and stopped beside the bed. “May I feel your brow?”
“You seek permission for something so unintrusive when you have disrobed me and viewed me naked?” he asked.
“It was a choice I made in helping to bring your fever down and I kept your bottom half covered. Though you threw the covers off yourself when you thrashed around hot with fever.”
“It was that bad?”
“Bad enough that I feared I might lose you.”
Feared she would lose him.
She sounded as if she did care if she lost him. But then a good healer would care if she lost anyone who came to her for help. “You will not lose me. I am too stubborn to die just yet, and you need no permission to feel my brow.”
“Thank you, it makes it that much easier for me to tend to you.”
He shut his eyes when her cool hand rested on his brow, and he almost pulled her hand back when she removed it, it felt so good and brought with it a modicum of relief.
“You are warm again,” she said. “I have a brew for you to drink that hopefully will continue to keep the fever at bay. You also need to rest and give your wounds time to heal.”
“I will do as you advise, drink your brew and rest, but first I need to step outside for a few moments,” he said, “and see to a pressing need.”
Between the chamomile brew and the one to chase his fever, she expected he would have a pressing need when he woke. She went and retrieved his cloak from where she had placed it on a chest near the door.
“You need to be quick about it,” she said and turned to see him throw the blanket off himself, sit up, and swing his legs off the bed far too fast. She hurried to him, seeing him about to topple to the side.
Shade sat beside him, her arm going around his back as she leaned into him so that her body supported him and stopped him from toppling over. “You are weak from the fever and moved much too fast,” she said. “Sit still for a few moments and do not move fast when you stand.” She dropped his cloak over his lap, covering his private parts to afford him some privacy and stemming her embarrassment over sitting beside a naked man who was not her husband. Something that was not at all proper for her to do.