Page 79 of The Laird’s Sinful Claim

"You saved me," she said quietly.

"Barely."

"You did." She lifted her hand, then hesitated, remembering the rules. No touching in private. That's what she'd demanded. "David."

"Third time," he muttered.

"What?"

"This is the third time today I'm touchin' ye." He glanced up at her, something almost like humor flickering in his eyes despite the tension. "When we both ken ye've got a nay-touchin' rule."

Despite the attack, the fear still thrumming through her veins, the sting of the cut on her neck, Elinor felt her mouth curve slightly. "Are you keeping count?"

"Someone has to." He returned his attention to her neck, his touch impossibly gentle as he pressed a clean cloth against the wound. "So ye can figure out how tae… punish me. Because I'm nae plannin' on stoppin'. Nae when ye're hurt."

The word punish sent an unexpected shiver through her. But she pushed the feeling aside, focusing instead on the warmth of his hand against her skin.

"I don't want to punish you," she said softly. "I want to thank you. For taking care of me."

David went very still. Then, slowly, he lifted his eyes to meet hers. "Ye dinnae need tae thank me fer that."

"Yes, I do." She held his gaze. "You could have let someone else tend to this. A healer. A servant. But you're doing it yourself."

"Because I wanted tae check it. Needed tae ken ye were alright." His voice was rough. "The sight of that blade at yer throat… "

He didn't finish. Didn't need to.

Elinor understood what he wasn't saying. The fear beneath his anger. The desperation that had driven him across that courtyard.

"I'm alright," she said. "Because of you."

David held her gaze for a moment longer. Then he cleared his throat and returned to cleaning her wound. "We need to bandage this. Keep it clean."

"Alright."

She watched him work, noting the careful way he dried the area around the cut. The gentle pressure as he applied a salve that smelled of herbs. The way his brow furrowed in concentration.

"There." He sat back slightly. "That should dae it."

But he didn't move away. Didn't stand. Just stayed there, kneeling before her, his hands still resting on her shoulders.

"David?"

"Aye?"

"What about the other rules?" The words came out before she could stop them.

"What other rules?"

"The no-kissing rule." Her heart was pounding now, but she forced herself to continue. "You said this was the third time you'd touched me today. But we also have a rule about kissing."

His eyes darkened. "Aye. We dae."

"And right now—" She leaned forward slightly, closing the distance between them. "Right now, I'm very close to breaking that rule."

"Are ye?" His voice had dropped lower, rougher. "Because it seems like I may be the one tae break it. Is that what ye're waitin' fer?"

"Maybe I am."