“What was that about?” she asked as she rubbed her upper arms where his grip had bitten into her flesh.
Without answering, Sin whirled about and it was then she saw the arrow that was embedded into his left shoulder.
Horror assailed her and as she stared at the macabre sight of the arrow, she realized what Sin had done. He had known the arrow was coming and had held her still to make sure the arrow struck him and not her.
Her husband had not only kept her from harm, he had saved her life.
“Find whoever did this,” Aster roared to the others before they could leave. “I want the head of whatever idiot took such a chance with Callie’s life!”
As the men ran about the yard looking for the culprit, Aster moved toward them. “Are you all right?”
“Nay, I am shot,” Sin said, his mouth wry. Other than grimacing, he seemed completely oblivious to the wound. “And in truth, I am quite vexed. When I find the coward who did this, I shall gladly give you his ballocks.”
Callie ached for the pain he must be in. “We need to get you inside...” Her voice trailed off as Sin stepped away from her and headed toward the wall.
She exchanged a puzzled frown with Aster. Whatever was Sin doing?
Aster shrugged as if reading her thoughts.
To her horror, Sin went to the wall and threw his back against it, driving the arrow completely through his body.
Tears welled in her eyes as she fought down a scream and watched Sin snap the head of the arrow off with his good hand. His face pale, he walked stiffly toward them, then gave Aster his back. “Pull it out.”
By his expression, she could tell her uncle had never seen anything like it. “Good God, man, how can you stand to move?”
“If this was the worst wound of my life, I would be very fortunate indeed. Now pull it out so the wound can be stitched.”
Aster shook his head in disbelief as he took the arrow in his hand and Callie bit her lip in sympathetic pain.
Sin’s jaw flexed.
Instinctively, she took Sin’s right hand in hers and braced her left hand against his uninjured shoulder. He leaned forward against her arm, tensing in expectation of Aster’s actions.
Callie held his right hand between her breasts and stroked his fingers, seeking to give him whatever comfort she could.
With a frown, Sin looked at their hands joined, but said nothing. His gaze held hers and she saw the pain and anger that burned deep inside him.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “But I wish you had just told me to duck.”
Her words succeeded in lightening his face.
At least until Aster braced one hand against Sin’s injured shoulder, then tugged the wooden spindle free. Sin cursed loudly as he staggered forward a step.
Callie pulled him into her arms, holding him tight, wishing she could take the pain from his body and make the wound heal instantly.
Sin didn’t know what to say as his shoulder throbbed. The fierce pain was overshadowed by the warm softness of her breasts against his chest, of the sweet feminine lavender scent of her hair. Closing his eyes, he inhaled the soothing smell and just let her comfort wash over him.
She had her arm wrapped about his neck, her small hand buried in his hair as she held him to her. It was the most wondrous thing he’d ever felt and for a moment, he could almost pretend to be her husband in truth.
His lips were so close to her delectable smell that all he had to do was turn his head ever so slightly and he could bury them in the curve of her neck. He hardened at the thought. Not even the pain of his wound could override the desire he held for her.
“I will find and punish whoever did this.” She pulled back to stare up at him. The sincerity of those light green eyes amazed him. He stared in wonderment and ached to show her just how much those words meant to him. “I will not see you harmed.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that. “It’s just a flesh wound,” he said dismissively.
“It could have killed you.”
“Pity it didn’t.” Aster’s barely audible words cut through him, quelling his lust instantly.
