She gulped down more tea. “I’m so thirsty. As if I wasn’t nearly drowning earlier today. How long was I out?”
“An hour? Two, maybe? It’s hard to say. Long enough for me tofind this place, start a fire, find some calla root to pack your wound, and make you healing tea.”
She froze with the mug halfway to her lips. “This is calla root tea?”
“Yes. Why?”
She tilted her chin up and met his gaze. Her green eyes were doe-like, her pupils blown wide. “How much did you use? It was smart to use it because it has almost supernatural healing effects, but you only need to use a small dose. You have to be careful not to take too much because of the strong aphrodisiac effect.”
Teddy froze.
“Teddy, how much did you use?”
He moved away from her, letting her sit on her own, trying to prepare himself for her reaction.
She fanned her flushed cheeks with her hands. “How much?”
“All of it. I didn’t know how much to use so I used three stalks.”
She groaned. “Men! Why do you always think more is better in all things?”
Teddy arched a brow, and she looked at the mug.
“Oh my gods. I’ve probably had a full stalk. No wonder I feel so—” Stella shivered and rubbed her hands down her arms.
A mixture of panic and fascination crept through Teddy’s mind. “What do I do?”
She gestured to the empty pitcher on the table. “I’m probably going to be?—”
“I know.” Teddy rubbed a hand down his face. He couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid.
“It’s supposed to get really bad unless you can—” She cleared her throat and looked away. “Unless you can find release. Usually more than once.”
Teddy stared at her. “No.”
She winced, hurt blooming in her eyes.
“You misunderstand,” Teddy said. “I would, but I’m not comfortable touching you when you’re under the influence.”
“I’ll be in pain.”
“Can’t you just…touch yourself?”
Her cheeks went fiery red, and she looked away. Gods, that was fun. He hadn’t anticipated that Stella McKay was shy in bed.
He held her gaze. “Have you never touched yourself, Stella?”
Her cheeks burned brighter. “Of course I have. I just haven’t—” She abruptly stopped talking and stared into the cup.
Teddy grinned. “You normally have so much to say.”
“I’ve only ever been with Arden and I’ve tried to—oh, forget it. This is private,” she snapped.
Teddy placed a finger under her chin and guided her gaze to meet his. “I’m not making fun of you. I think you’re cute when you’re embarrassed because you’re usually so bossy. Please tell me what you meant.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ve never been able to make myself finish. It’s like I hit a wall. It gets too intense and then I can’t keep going.”
Just thinking about her alone in her bed trying to solve the complex puzzle of her body heated Teddy’s blood. This was not how he thought this was going to go. He thought he’d heal her, and she’d sleep it off, but now she was a few minutes from completely being under the spell of a powerful aphrodisiac.
