She started.“What?”
He raised his brows and looked pointedly at her linen handiwork.“’Tis beginning to look like a shroud.”
“Och.”
Flustered, she turned the loveliest shade of pink as she quickly reversed the winding and tied off the linen around his palm.Then, without a glance, she gathered her things and returned the basin to its place.
He couldn’t help but be charmed by her blushing naivete.And he fearedthat—more than her beautiful face and her delectable curves and the lust in her eyes—was going to make her hard to resist.Like an exquisite itch he was forbidden to scratch.
Which reminded him… Now that his arms were healing, the itch was unbearable.He started sliding his leine sleeve back and forth along his arm to rub away the tingling.
“Does it itch?”she asked.
He nodded.
“’Tis good news.That means ’tis healin’.”
He knew that.He was a warrior.He’d suffered countless wounds.Nonetheless, he replied, “Does it?”
“Aye, but ye shouldn’t scratch it like that.”
He knew that too.But it never stopped him.
“Here.Let me…” She started toward him, then changed her mind.“If ye’d remove your leine, I have some oil here that might help.”She wheeled about and started searching through several vials of oils on the table.
Hew hesitated.Removing his clothing was a bad idea.They were alone.It was one less layer between them.And he was well aware of the effect a naked chest had on women.
But he couldn’t think of an excuse that wouldn’t make things more awkward.Besides, it was a weak man who couldn’t control himself, just because he was missing an article of clothing or two.So without ceremony or fuss, he pulled the leine over his head and draped it over the chair beside him.
Surely she’d prepared herself for the sight of him.After all, she’d been the one to ask him to remove his leine.
Still, when she came near with the vial of oil, her step was halting, and her gaze skipped about like a gnat, deciding where to land.Then she closed her eyes.When her bosom rose and fell with a deep, steadying breath, he was instantly reminded of the peek he’d stolen down her leine.Her breasts had looked so round and soft and smooth.Like twin loaves of bread set out to rise.
Unfortunately, his loins were instantly reminded as well.He judiciously moved his arms between his knees then, blocking her view.
Carenza gulped.Had Hew grown even more massive since she’d last seen him without his leine?Perhaps it was only seeing him sitting up rather than sprawled unconscious on a pallet that made him seem more muscled.More forceful.More intimidating.
Her heart pounded.A sheen of light sweat formed above her lip.He looked to her like a dangerous animal now.An animal capable of crushing her.
Yet she felt more exhilaration than fear.She’d faced this beast before.Leine or no leine, there was no need to be intimidated.And she intended to get another kiss.So she shook off her self-doubt and held up the vial.
“Oil o’ newt,” she announced.
The look of disgust on his face erased all her fears.
A snort of a laugh escaped her.
“You’re a wicked lass,” he growled.
“Don’t worry.’Tis lavender.Perfectly pleasant.”
She pulled a chair close to his and poured a thin stream of oil atop one powerful shoulder.Then, setting down the vial, she let her fingers catch the drop.With a light touch, she spread the oil down his arm.
“Does that pain ye?”she murmured.
He shook his head and closed his eyes.
She thought it would be quick work.Then she meant to proceed on to the kiss.
