Page 29 of Tamed By Her Touch

Something about the way he said it made her heart give a strange little thump and it occurred to her that she was still holding his hand in hers.

For some reason, she didn’t let go and neither did Kaelus.

His hand lay palm-up in both of hers, enormous and warm, and his golden eyes held hers with that same strange, intense look she'd seen when he'd caught her falling from the shelves.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Clair became painfully aware of how close she was standing between his spread knees. She could smell that warm, spicy scent of his again—it wrapped around her like something tangible.

His thumb moved…just slightly. It brushed over the side of her hand and the tiny touch sent an electric shiver up Clair's arm.

Kaelus seemed to be affected too. He inhaled deeply and his pupils dilated.

And just like that, Clair suddenly remembered that this enormous scientist sitting obediently on her lab stool wasn't only a colleague—he was a Beast/Blood Kindred Hybrid…a very large, very male Beast/Blood Kindred Hybrid.

And she was standing between his knees holding his hand.

Clair released him abruptly.

“There,” she said, clearing her throat. “All fixed.”

Kaelus looked down at the bandage and flexed his hand.

“You are skilled at wound care,” he rumbled.

“Well, I spent enough time patching myself up in field research,” Clair said, trying to sound breezy. “Plants are surprisingly vicious when they want to be.”

“The next time you receive an unidentified botanical specimen, you will allow me to examine it before you handle it,” he said, frowning.

Clair frowned at him.

“There he is,” she said.

Kaelus frowned.

“Who?”

“Doctor Bossy-pants. I was wondering where he'd gone and when he was coming back. Let me guess—you’re going to make a rule about it.”

“I might,” he said defensively. “I am merely attempting to prevent future injury.”

“You mean prevent me from getting injured.” Clair pointed a thumb at herself.

“Yes.”

The word came out so quickly and so naturally that Clair stopped smiling.

Kaelus seemed to realize what he'd said because his expression hardened.

“I do not wish to lose a competent lab partner,” he added stiffly. “Who knows what kind of fool they might replace you with if you were to expire from handling a dangerous plant.”

Clair raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, now I'm competent?”

He shrugged.

“I have never claimed otherwise.”

Clair put a hand on her hip and gave him a look.