Despite tremendous effort, Hugh’s eyelids closed as a whiff of lavender hit his nostrils. Clever fingers made quick work of removing his armor and pulling on his silk. When it couldn’t be tugged over his head, a blade tore the priceless fabric and cool air met his chest.
He struggled to sit at the familiar voice near his ear. “Damnation, m’lord. Lie still. Yer bleedin’ all over everythin’.”
Rose pressed a cloth into his wound and when he moaned she put a skein of water to his lips. “Drink it all. Understand?”
He tried to swallow but couldn’t manage.
With her hands on his cheeks and her soft nose against his, she insisted. “You will drink, m’lord or I will force it down ye.”
He nodded, swallowed, and opened one eye as she placed a piece of leather between his teeth. He gritted down and moaned at the excruciating pinch of the needle going in and out of flesh.
When the time came to cauterize the wound, he spat out the leather. “Where is Ali?”
“He is tending the rest of yer men. Would ye rather I call him?”
“You will not falter?”
“No, Destroyer. I will not. Ye have my word on it.” She squeezed his hand and placed the leather back between his teeth. Then, she walked to the fireplace and returned with a long white-hot rod with a flattened end. “Close yer eyes. I will be fast and sure.”
He screamed at the torturous burning and must’ve passed out for when he woke, she was by his side pressing a cool cloth to his forehead.
“Ye have a fever but will probably survive.”
“Probably?” He smiled.
“Or not.”
He grabbed her soft hand. “You came out of the wall. For me?”
“Aye. When I heard ye were injured, my insides churned and my heart began to drum in my chest. I could not bear the thought of anyone but myself tendin’ to ye. What have ye done to me, Destroyer? Why are you in my every most impure thoughts?”
“It’s the same for me.”
“Mayhap I can get a priest to exorcise the demon from us?” Her playing made him smile and he knew, should he survive, all would be well between them.
“We can call a priest, but for something else entirely. I will wed you, Rose Douglas.”
She stopped, her eyes glistening. “I should not say this, but I do cherish the time I was one with you. I love the touch of yer skin, how ye stretched and filled me, and the bright heavenly lights that followed.”
“Bright lights?”.
“Aye. When we joined, I’ve never felt such an overwhelming pleasure. Surely, it’s sinful but I’d beg on my knees to have ye again.” Her face blushed. “I would open my legs for ye and be your private servant, m’lord, for as long as ye find me beautiful. I’d only ask that when I’m no longer so, that ye allow me to stay in your keep and not send me to the innkeeper.”
“So, you’d whore yourself to me?” His face darkened. Again, she had refused to wed him.
“Aye. That’s how far I’ve fallen. This thing ye do to me, is beyond my ken. I just know, if I cannae have ye, life will not be worth livin’.”
Tiny tears formed at her eyes and Hugh wanted nothing more than to kiss them away but until he was sure he’d live, he could not have her so besotted with him. “Do not love me so deeply, Rose, for I’m a haunted man.”
She smiled sadly. “Sleep, Destroyer. Ye need rest.”
Just then, Ali entered and lifted the bandage covering the wound. Giving a grunt, he turned to Rose. “It’s an adequate job.”
At the tone, Hugh lifted his brows. “Jealousy does not suit you, my friend. Her healing skills match your own.”
“Jealous? I think not. I was merely deciding if I’d kill her for not calling for me to attend to you.”
“I, I… What were you saying?” Hugh’s eyelids refused to stay open and he got lost in a smoky forest of thoughts.
Meanwhile, Ali’s cool hand shot to his forehead. “Allah help us all. He’s too warm.”
Knowing this might be his final battle, Hugh reached up, grabbed Aliyar’s wrist, and said, “Promise me. Take care of her if I die.”
“Do not die, my friend, for I promise nothing.” Ali scowled at Rose. “How long has he had a fever?”
“It’s been stable since I burned his flesh and he’s been drinking my recipe. This is not my first wound, Sir Aliyar. I know what to do.”
Hugh chuckled as he fell back into sleep. She’d make a fine wife if she could mouth off to his commander. That and, God willing, if he managed to live through this damned cut.
That night he woke again, sweat pouring off his naked body and Rose was there with cool cloths, wiping him down. He was quite certain his cock was hard from a most explicit dream.
“Are ye awake, Destroyer?”
“You took off my clothes. Are you so anxious to bed me?”
She threw a linen over his lower half, blushing the brightest shade of pink. “Your wound gave you a mighty fever. You needed cool air.”
Her hands cupped behind his head and she put juice to his lips. After he swallowed, a spoon with warm broth demanded entrance.
“You muttered in your sleep about your father. Is it he that haunts you?”
“I’ve many ghosts, Rose, but you chase them away. If I live, will you let me have you again?”
“I’m still so verra confused. Ye make all my thoughts daft.” From the way she stared at his swollen appendage, she wanted him. Maybe that was the way to her heart.
“I’ll make you mine. Forever. Understand? Never run from me ever again for I swear I’ll find you, even to the ends of the earth.”
She kissed him on the forehead. “Shush, now. I’ve nowhere to go and even if I did, it’s as if I’m chained to ye. I don’t know why but I cannae leave yer side.”
“Crawl up next to me and sleep, girl. I’d not have you collapsing from exhaustion.”