Page 34 of Tamed By Her Touch

Their eyes met and for once, she didn't tease him. She didn't call him honey-bun or sugar-booger or sweetie-pie. She simply looked at him and Kaelus looked back.

The silence between them felt different somehow, Clair thought. It wasn’t uncomfortable or irritated—it was just…nice.

Clair pulled his lab coat more tightly around herself, enjoying his warm scent far more than she should.

“You should go back to your suite and get some sleep,” Kaelus said finally, but his voice was quieter than usual.

“So should you,” she pointed out.

“I will.”

“When?”

“When I finish my work,” he rumbled.

Clair rolled her eyes.

“Which means sometime next week.”

His mouth twitched up slightly. There it was again—that almost-smile.

Clair pointed at him.

“I saw that.”

“You saw nothing.”

“You smiled.”

“I did not,” he protested.

“You absolutely did.” Clair grinned at him.

Kaelus rose from his stool.

“I believe exhaustion has impaired your visual perception.”

“Oh, bullshit,” she said, laughing.

She gathered her things, but when she started to take off his lab coat, Kaelus stopped her.

“Keep it.”

Clair frowned.

“What? Why?”

“Because you are still cold. I don’t want you to catch a chill.” Kaelus frowned. “If you get sick, I will need to tend you.”

“But the coat is yours,” she pointed out, ignoring his justification.

He nodded.

“I am aware.”

“Well…” She shrugged. “I guess I can bring it back tomorrow.”

He nodded again.