“This will sting,” she said, pouring aliberal amount of spirits over the open wound.“Such a waste offine whiskey.”
His sudden hiss of pain brought a smile ofsatisfaction to her lips.“Did I not warn you of the pain, mylord?”
“Aye.”
She felt his quick intake of breath as shepoured even more liquid on the wound.
“Enjoying yourself, my lady?”
“Aye.It has always given me satisfaction tominister to the injured.”
“Have many of them lived?”
“A few.”With quick practiced movements shebegan to wind clean linen strips around his shoulder and chest.Asshe bent to him her hair swirled forward, tickling the flesh of hisnaked chest.
Jamie inhaled the soft woman fragrance of herand found himself swamped with feelings that had nothing to do withbattle.How easy it would be to pull her close and bury his lips inher throat.Even in his weakened condition, she would be no matchfor his strength.He struggled to dismiss such dangerous thoughts.He had come here to seek her clan’s support.The last thing heneeded was to incur their wrath by soiling their woman.Besides,she was not nearly the kind of woman who appealed to him.There wasnothing soft or sweet about her.So far she had shown him only anacid tongue and an ungentle touch.
When Lindsey had completed dressing hiswounds, she lay him back against the bed linens.A servant hoverednearby, awaiting her mistress’s orders.
“Fetch our guest some broth,” Lindseycalled.
“Aye, my lady.”The servant hurried from theroom.
Jamie lay quietly, his eyes closed, listeningto the occasional hiss and snap of the fire.It seemed to him, inhis pain-clouded mind, that the fire had spread to his body and hadcentered on his shoulder and chest.What had this damnable femaledone to him?She had taken hot coals and heaped them upon his body.And in his weakened condition he had been unable to stop her.
He moaned softly.Alarmed, Lindsey perched onthe edge of the bed and touched a hand to his forehead.He burnedwith fever.Wringing out a cloth, she began to sponge his forehead.Within a few moments he became still.
Setting the damp cloth aside, she walked tothe foot of the bed and struggled until his boots had been removed.Standing over him, she studied his soaked breeches.They would haveto come off, as well.Bending over him she reached a hand to thehilt of the knife tucked into his waistband.Strong, work-wornfingers instantly closed over her own.She was stunned to findherself lifted off her feet and hauled roughly against a wall ofmuscled chest.For a moment her breath was knocked from her lungs,leaving her speechless.
“So.You would render me helpless, lass?”
“I...”She struggled to regain her breath.“Imerely intended to undress you.”
“Ah.”The pain in his eyes was replaced witha hint of laughter.“Then by all means, I am your willingservant.”
“You—tricked me.You led me to believe youwere too weak to move.”
“And you were going to take advantage of myweakness, lass?”
“I thought to make you more comfortable.”
“And you have.”He drew her closer, enjoyingthe flush that suddenly reddened her cheeks.“I am exceedingly morecomfortable than I was just moments ago.”
“You are despicable.”She pushed against him,but he merely tightened his grip on her.She was amazed by thestrength in his hands.
He looked at the woman in his arms.Wisps ofhair tumbled wildly across one eye and cheek.Her bodice gapedopen, revealing the soft swell of her breasts.Her skirts weretwisted around her knees, revealing a fascinating view of shapelylegs.
It would seem that beneath the disheveledappearance was a very soft, very womanly creature.
In his fevered state all Jamie’s pain wasforgotten, as was his reticence toward this female.In that momenthe could think of but one thing.He had to taste her lips.
Lindsey felt his gaze burn over her andsettle on her mouth.Color flooded her cheeks.She touched a tongueto her dry lips and realized her mistake when she saw the way hisgaze followed the movement.A tiny shiver of alarm raced along herspine.Fear?Aye.It must be fear.What else could she possiblyfeel for a man who had frightened her, attacked her, used her toget to her father and brothers?
Jamie’s fingers tightened on her arms,drawing her inexorably closer.His look devoured her.And though hecursed himself for every kind of a fool, he could not deny hisneed.
“Nay.”Lindsey reached out a hand to stophim.As she did, he caught her palm and lifted it to his mouth.
With his lips pressed to the soft flesh ofher palm, liquid heat pulsed through her veins, setting her limbson fire.The protest died on her lips.Never, never had she knownsuch wild, tumultuous feelings.
