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‘Well, that’s nothing to do with you, so don’t go flattering yourself. Scorpions always get me going.’
‘It’s the venom. You need to tell me how you’re feeling. If necessary I’ll call the helicopter and have us airlifted out of here.’
‘No way. We need to find your virgin bride.’
Mal cursed under his breath and reached into his first aid kit for a bandage. ‘Stop calling her that.’
‘Sorry.’ She turned slightly, opened one eye and peeped at him. ‘Are you angry yet?’
‘No, but I’m getting there. Keep it up.’
She grinned weakly. ‘I bet the scorpion is angry, too. I flung him across the ground. Horrible creature.’
‘Actually they play a critical role in the ecosystem, consuming other arthropods and even mice and snakes.’
‘Too much information.’
‘They can control how much poison they inject into you. I think you got away lightly.’
‘So does that mean he liked me or he didn’t like me? Ow—now what are you doing?’
‘I’m bandaging the bite and lifting your arm. I want to slow the spread of the venom. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to call the helicopter.’
‘Could we stop calling it venom? And honestly, Mal, it’s fine. Stop fussing. Can we take the ice off now? It’s cold.’
‘That’s the idea.’
‘Scorpions don’t like their food chilled?’
But she didn’t feel cold to touch. She was boiling-hot and her arm was burning. ‘Have you ever suffered an allergic reaction to anything in the past?’
‘No, nothing. I’m as healthy as a horse.’
Mal felt a rush of exasperation that they hadn’t avoided this situation. ‘Why didn’t you come into the tent sooner?’
‘Because then we would have killed each other.’ Her response was glib, but her smile faltered. ‘Sorry. And this time I really am apologising.’
‘Apologising for what? For being aggravating? That is nothing new and you’ve never felt the need to apologise before.’
‘For messing everything up,’ she muttered. ‘For making things harder for you. I shouldn’t have come on this trip. I was worried about Kalila and I thought I could h
elp but I haven’t helped and it was all my fault anyway.’ Her apology was as sweet as it was unexpected and he felt something squeeze inside his chest.
‘I am touched that you cared enough to come,’ he breathed. ‘And you will be able to talk to Kalila and persuade her to confide in you, which is important given that I have failed so miserably to deliver in that area.’ And he blamed himself for that. For being unapproachable, for assuming that just because his bride to be hadn’t said anything, it meant that everything was fine.
They had no relationship, he thought bleakly, and it was impossible not to compare that with the feelings he and Avery shared.
‘You’ll make a perfect couple. I’m sure you’ll be very happy. And I mean that. I’m not being sarcastic. She’s very sweet and she won’t drive you crazy. That’s always good in a marriage.’ Her voice was barely audible and she turned her head, the movement dislodging her hair from the plait. It poured over her shoulders like honey and he stared down at the silken mass, fighting the urge to sink his hands into it. Once, he’d had the right to do that. And he’d done it. All the time. It had been the most physical relationship of his life.
‘Right now I am not thinking of Kalila.’
‘Don’t, Mal.’ Her voice was muffled. ‘Don’t do this.’
Was this the moment to be honest? He hesitated, wrenched apart by the conflict between duty and his own needs. And honesty would just worsen the situation, wouldn’t it? ‘This marriage with Kalila—’
‘Will be good. If she’s having second thoughts then it’s because you haven’t tried hard enough. You can be charming when you want to be. Of course the rest of the time you’re aggravating and arrogant, but don’t show her that side of you for a while and it will be fine.’ Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes long and thick against her pale cheeks.
Mal stared down at her, unable to think of a single time when he’d seen Avery vulnerable. It just wasn’t a word he associated with her. But tonight—yes, tonight she was vulnerable. He wanted to hold her but he didn’t dare take the risk. He wasn’t convinced he’d let her go.
