Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92771 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
The clouds gathered in his eyes once again. “I prefer honesty. If you want me to stay to warm your bed for the night, I will oblige you, but I can stay one night only. Though, I can assure you that it will be a most satisfying night.”
Shade dropped the cloth in the bucket and stepped away from him. “You can leave right now. I cannot abide ill-mannered men or men who think so highly of themselves.”
His eyes roamed over her as if he was reassessing her. “I don’t mind warming your bed. You are not a beauty, but you are attractive enough and you have a nicely shaped body, plentiful breasts and a nice curve to your hips. I like that in a woman.”
Shade took another step away from him, a bit fearful. He was too muscled, too powerful. She was wise enough to know that she could never defend herself against him. “Leave now. You are not welcome here.”
He stared at her, then dropped his head back against the cottage wall and closed his eyes. “Give me a moment and I will leave.”
Shade shook her head. He had a fever. It was possible he didn’t realize what he was saying. Or he did know, and he assumed she was lonely and in need of a man. What then would he do if she refused him?
His groan settled it for her. He was hurting and she was a healer. She could not refuse to tend to him. She rushed inside and pulled back the blanket on her bed, then laid several clean cloths on the sheet before she returned to him and leaned down to help him up.
“Come with me,” she said softly.
“To your bed?” he asked.
“Aye, to my bed.”
“I need to rest some first or I will disappoint you and I must see to my mare, Gillie.”
“Aye, you will rest, and I will tend to your wounds and see your mare settled,” she assured him.
“I will give you a memorable night of coupling for seeing to my wounds.”
So, he thought it compensation and that annoyed her. She got even more annoyed and silently scolded herself for feeling her stomach flutter at the prospect. It was not a reaction she should be having, and she chased it away.
Shade got him into bed just in time. His body seemed to give out. She removed his boots and looked at the daggers on his belt. They would have to go. She stood debating on whether she should remove his plaid to keep him cool and his fever down.
She made the decision quickly and got to work.
CHAPTER 2
Shade stretched her shoulders back to ease the ache between them. She dropped the soiled cloth in the bucket of water with the other cloths that would get a good washing tomorrow. It had taken time, but she had managed to clean and tend to Quint’s wounds.
His name fell easily from her lips now, referring to him by it so often while she worked on him that it almost felt as if he were her friend. On closer inspection of his wounds, she realized a section of his arm would require a few stitches. She had given him a small amount of black henbane to keep him sleeping so he would not suffer the pain of being stitched. Luckily, his shoulder bone hadn’t been impacted by the dagger, though she packed the wound with sphagnum moss to help heal it. It was his fever and a section of his wound that she feared might be beyond her help that worried her the most. She had made a paste of betony and heart-of-the-earth and applied it to his wounds before bandaging them. Both plants worked remarkably well in healing stubborn wounds.
Once finished, she had gotten busy trying to rid him of his fever. There were certain situations where fevers were left to run their course and other times when they could prove dangerous. Quint’s fever was a dangerous one and she had made a brew of elderflowers and thyme that she spoon fed him. Cold, wet cloths applied to his brow and neck followed that and thankfully the fever had faded but not vanished entirely. She would need to keep a watch on him throughout the night.
Now that he rested comfortably, she intended to do the same herself, knowing she would not get much sleep tonight. She filled a bowl with the kale and onion soup she had managed to hurriedly throw together in between caring for him. Experience had taught her to not neglect herself when healing or she would be of no help to anyone.
She sat at the table, enjoying the soup along with the reprieve, her glance drifting often to the man in her bed. Quint was a fit man, defined with muscles, and scars here and there that acknowledged his warrior status. She had viewed naked men before now, helping local women prepare their husbands and sons for burial, so a man’s naked body was not a foreign sight to her. However, she had never seen a body quite as fit as Quint’s or a flaccid manhood of such generous size.