TOUCHED BY DANGER excerpt
Essie opened her eyes to darkness. Stretching, she knew instantly where she was, as she had spent many nights sleeping in this chair. Getting to her feet she made her way to the fire to stoke it to life, and then went to check on her patient.
Placing a hand on his forehead she cursed softly.
Tremors wracked his large body. The fever had taken hold. Checking the wound she found it inflamed. His pulse was rapid, and he was rolling his head from side to side. Tucking the blankets around his body, Essie then hurried to heat two bricks. Running into her surgery she gathered more herbs to bring down the fever.
She spent the next few hours forcing herbal infusions down his throat, and placing bricks around his body but nothing seemed to be warming him up. She feared for his heart if he did not stop shaking but could think of nothing else to do.
Moments like this made her realize how important her family was to her. The connection they shared would make her stronger, and give her the strength she needed to heal this man. She tasted fear, it washed threw her mouth like acid. Would she be forced to watch him die this night?
“H-help m-me.”
These were the first words he had spoken. Not giving herself time to think, Essie stripped of her dress, shoes and stockings. Clad only in a thin chemise she then lifted the blankets, and climbed beneath. Careful to avoid his bullet wound, she lowered herself gently on top of him. Slipping her fingers through his, palm to palm, she gripped his hands tight.
“Try to calm your breathing,” she whispered resting her head on his chest. “Let me warm you.”
He was like a block of ice, his shivers shook her but she held on to him and kept talking about nothing and everything. Telling him of her family’s mounting excitement over the upcoming arrival of her first niece or nephew. Finally, the large, muscled body beneath her began to warm. Closing her eyes she gave thanks for the miracle. Yawning, Essie thought she would wait a few more minutes and then find her own bed.
The breath hissed in Max’s throat as he moved. Fire burned down his left side, from the bullet he had taken yesterday. At least he was warm now, in fact whatever was pressed along his right side was keeping him that way.
Opening his eyes, he saw curls the color of midnight draped across his chest. Essex Sinclair, he remembered then. The beautiful healer had saved his life. Visions of her climbing onto the bed and laying full length on top of him flashed through his head. She had warmed him with her body and soothed him with her gentle words. Telling him stories of her family, and the hopes and dreams she had for her little home he lay in. Max had focused on her voice as her body drove the ice from his veins.
She slept now. One leg draped over his thighs, and a hand on his chest. Something softened inside him as he studied the long elegant fingers tipped with short clean nails. Such strength flowed from those fingers, and she had used them to heal him, it was a humbling thought. The woman had never met him before yesterday, and yet she had taken him into her home and cared for him with her body and her mind.
Max had vague memories of her forcing vile concoctions down his throat until finally he had begged her to help him rid his body of the chill that consumed him. Seconds later he had felt the blessed heat of her lying on top of him.
Taking care not to wake her he pushed the hair from her face. She slumbered deeply,
and he could see the exhaustion in the dark smudges beneath her eyes. Her skin was tinged with gold no doubt from many hours spent outside tending the herb patch he had fallen in. He traced the sweet tilt of her nose and full lips. She was a beautiful woman this Essex Sinclair. His eyes studied the delicate curve of one ear then continued down to the tip of her chin and below. One of her breasts was pushed high, the creamy swell rising above the edge of her chemise, and Max’s fingers itched to touch the flesh. His body was suddenly very aware of the fact that he had a near naked woman in his arms. He fought the urge.
She woke slowly like a petal unfurling to the sun’s rays. Her lashes fluttered, her fingers curled into his chest, and then she stretched slowly, inch by delectable inch of her body moved sensually against his, and it was like an erotic form of torture. He realized the exact instant she became aware of her surroundings because all the softness fled her body to be replaced by tension. Tipping her head back she looked up at him.
He had travelled miles over waters the same color as those eyes. Blue-green and rimmed with darker blue they held his for several seconds. Her mouth opened and before she could speak he had lifted her up his body and kissed her. She was soft and sweet and her lips were made for kissing. Brushing his over hers he urged her to open for him, and when she yielded he deepened the contact. Cupping her head he explored her thoroughly easing back only when he knew that if he continued there would be no stopping.
They stared at each other for seconds and then she blinked.
“Dear Lord!” she whispered and then she was scrambling backward. Burrowing through the covers frantically searching for the edge. Max guessed she found it as seconds later there was a thump.
“Are you all right?” he questioned, edging gingerly across to the side to peer down at her. Her chemise had ridden upward showing him the delicious curve of her thigh, and he looked his fill before she slapped down the hem and quickly climbed to her feet.
“Please avert your eyes, Sir.”
“Not if you handed over ten gold pieces.”
Touched By Danger – coming soon!