“Ensuring,” he said as he caught her arm, “that you dinna run.”
The paleness on her face transformed to an angry red. She tried to pull free.
He held.
“You have nay right to barge into my room, much less make demands.”
“Why didna you visit yesterday?” he asked, far from intimidated. “Orthis morning.”
Lavender eyes narrowed. “As if you dinna know.”
“I know,” he said, keeping his voice void of the emotions brewing within, “that what happened between us was unplanned, and isna a reason for you to keep away from me.”
“You saw me naked!”
Saw, touched, and tasted her. Bloody hell! “Aye, but ’tis done. Nor is anyone aware of what transpired.”
“I know,” she stated. “How am I supposed to act around you when you have seen me…”
“Naked?”
“’Tis unseemly.”
“God’s teeth, you are a healer and have seen many people disrobed.”
Her eyes blazed. “What we were doing wasna medicinal.”
Thomas doubted she’d approve of his notion that touching her raised his spirits. “From this moment,” he said, proud of his calm when his body burned for her, “I willna touch you further.”
Hurt darkened her gaze. “Are you saying that you didna want me?”
Bloody hell! “Nay.”
At the rough desire in his voice, hope ignited. “Then you did?” Alesone asked, and then wished she’d remained silent. But his declaration that he wouldna touch her further when for the past two days memories of their intimacy had filled her every thought, had forced her reply. He stared at her in disbelief, and she felt more the fool.
Mayhap moments before she’d heard naught but frustration in his voice. Ashamed, she again tugged her hand to break free.
He held tight.
“Release me.”
Thomas glanced at her wrist but didna let go. When his eyes lifted to hers, she caught the struggle within. A part of her thrilled at the discovery, another grew wary of the heat. However much he made her feel, they came from two different worlds. He, the son of a powerful noble, and she, the discarded bastard of his enemy.
His thumb skimmed along the sensitive skin of her wrist, throwing her further off balance. “I want you,” he said, his voice rough. “More than is wise.”
Dangerous awareness pulsed within, urged her to throw caution to the wind and say the words that would bring him closer, his mouth upon hers until lost in his taste she could only feel.
And then what?
Would intimacy with Thomas be a decision she would regret? The feelings he evoked went far deeper than lust.
With almost a fortnight having passed since they’d met, that should be impossible. Except thoughts of the day when he’d leave made her heart ache. However much she wanted him, if he came to her bed, ’twould change the situation, a transformation she couldna risk.
Moments before, regardless of his feelings toward her, he’d given her a vow to keep his distance.
A request she should honor. Too much stood between them to hope for anything more. She released an unsteady breath, glanced to where his fingers held her wrist. “You can let go of me.”
His eyes lowered to her mouth, lingered, then lifted to hers.
