growled, snatching it from her grasp. “It is my fault you dropped…whatever that is, and only fair that I clean it up.”
With amazing dexterity, he swept up the broken glass with his one good arm, fetched a dustpan, and removed the mess, only experiencing momentary awkwardness with the last. “Does it have to be so goddamned bright in here?”
Cassandra stiffened. “You could ask me nicely to turn them down.”
“I apologize, Cassandra.” Something flashed across his features before his countenance softened. “I was dwelling on some unpleasant news.” He strode over and extinguished one of the lamps before she could reach it. “I’ll leave the others on for whatever you intend to do with me tonight.”
Not knowing how to respond to his odd shift in demeanor, Cassandra moved a chair into the light and got straight to business the moment he sat. “W-well, Rafe, I would like to try something, but I’m afraid I will need to cut you.”
One black brow rose. “ Cut me?”
Biting her lip, she nodded. “Not too much, only a tiny incision on your left extensor carpi ulnaris .”
Now both brows lifted. “My what ?”
“Roll up your sleeve and I will show you.”
Rafe complied and Cassandra choked back a gasp at the still formidable muscles displayed under his scarred flesh. Tentatively, she reached out and caressed a section of his forearm. “This, right here.”
“Very well.” Rafe sighed. “And do not worry about hurting me, I have little sensation there.” After a long pause, he frowned. “Won’t you require a blade?”
Cassandra glanced down. Her finger was still trailing lightly up and down the muscle.
Cheeks burning at the inappropriate contact, she snatched her hand away and crossed the room to fetch a small table and a clean scalpel. “Now, rest your arm on the table and keep it still. I do not want to cut anything vital.”
Taking a deep breath and whispering a silent prayer for steady hands, she made the incision on his forearm. Not daring to meet his gaze, she retrieved the fresh vial of Anthony’s blood along with a dropper.
“That appears to be blood,” Rafe commented, though he sounded more perplexed than disturbed.
“It is,” she said agreeably and began dripping the ruby liquid into the incision. Immediately the cut began to knit back together.
Rafe placed his good hand on her shoulder, squeezing it with almost enough pressure to hurt. “ Whose blood is it?”
“Anthony’s,” she whispered, worry curling in her stomach at his intent gaze. Had she caused him harm?
Her alarm deepened when he froze for what seemed to be an eternity.
“ Cristo ,” he breathed at last. “I should have considered something so simple.” Suddenly, he went rigid, eyes widening. “ Dios mío !”
Cassandra placed her hand on his. “Did I hurt you? I swear, I did not intend—”
“ Hurt me?” A harsh burst of laughter escaped his lips. It was a rusty sound, as if long disused. “I can feel it! Hell, I can move it. Look!”
Sure enough, the tip of his ring finger was bending back and forth. This time, it didn’t twitch. This time, it moved with purpose . Not only that, but the scarring had diminished slightly where she’d cut him.
“ Saint Jude .” Triumph swelled in her breast. “It worked!”
Gleefully, she fetched her notebook and jotted down the success of her procedure.
“You have my eternal gratitude, my lady.” Rafe’s voice was laden with wonder. “For this, I will rescind my demand for payment.”
Cassandra’s gaze whipped back to him, taking in his silken mass of obsidian hair, cinnamon-tinted skin, amber eyes, and wickedly sensual lips. What woman in her right mind would not want to kiss such a striking man?
“Nonsense,” she replied, surprised at the low, throaty cadence of her voice. “We had a bargain.”
Those exotic eyes flickered with heat. “Are you certain you still wish to honor it?”
Ignoring her quaking legs, she managed a level nod. “I
With amazing dexterity, he swept up the broken glass with his one good arm, fetched a dustpan, and removed the mess, only experiencing momentary awkwardness with the last. “Does it have to be so goddamned bright in here?”
Cassandra stiffened. “You could ask me nicely to turn them down.”
“I apologize, Cassandra.” Something flashed across his features before his countenance softened. “I was dwelling on some unpleasant news.” He strode over and extinguished one of the lamps before she could reach it. “I’ll leave the others on for whatever you intend to do with me tonight.”
Not knowing how to respond to his odd shift in demeanor, Cassandra moved a chair into the light and got straight to business the moment he sat. “W-well, Rafe, I would like to try something, but I’m afraid I will need to cut you.”
One black brow rose. “ Cut me?”
Biting her lip, she nodded. “Not too much, only a tiny incision on your left extensor carpi ulnaris .”
Now both brows lifted. “My what ?”
“Roll up your sleeve and I will show you.”
Rafe complied and Cassandra choked back a gasp at the still formidable muscles displayed under his scarred flesh. Tentatively, she reached out and caressed a section of his forearm. “This, right here.”
“Very well.” Rafe sighed. “And do not worry about hurting me, I have little sensation there.” After a long pause, he frowned. “Won’t you require a blade?”
Cassandra glanced down. Her finger was still trailing lightly up and down the muscle.
Cheeks burning at the inappropriate contact, she snatched her hand away and crossed the room to fetch a small table and a clean scalpel. “Now, rest your arm on the table and keep it still. I do not want to cut anything vital.”
Taking a deep breath and whispering a silent prayer for steady hands, she made the incision on his forearm. Not daring to meet his gaze, she retrieved the fresh vial of Anthony’s blood along with a dropper.
“That appears to be blood,” Rafe commented, though he sounded more perplexed than disturbed.
“It is,” she said agreeably and began dripping the ruby liquid into the incision. Immediately the cut began to knit back together.
Rafe placed his good hand on her shoulder, squeezing it with almost enough pressure to hurt. “ Whose blood is it?”
“Anthony’s,” she whispered, worry curling in her stomach at his intent gaze. Had she caused him harm?
Her alarm deepened when he froze for what seemed to be an eternity.
“ Cristo ,” he breathed at last. “I should have considered something so simple.” Suddenly, he went rigid, eyes widening. “ Dios mío !”
Cassandra placed her hand on his. “Did I hurt you? I swear, I did not intend—”
“ Hurt me?” A harsh burst of laughter escaped his lips. It was a rusty sound, as if long disused. “I can feel it! Hell, I can move it. Look!”
Sure enough, the tip of his ring finger was bending back and forth. This time, it didn’t twitch. This time, it moved with purpose . Not only that, but the scarring had diminished slightly where she’d cut him.
“ Saint Jude .” Triumph swelled in her breast. “It worked!”
Gleefully, she fetched her notebook and jotted down the success of her procedure.
“You have my eternal gratitude, my lady.” Rafe’s voice was laden with wonder. “For this, I will rescind my demand for payment.”
Cassandra’s gaze whipped back to him, taking in his silken mass of obsidian hair, cinnamon-tinted skin, amber eyes, and wickedly sensual lips. What woman in her right mind would not want to kiss such a striking man?
“Nonsense,” she replied, surprised at the low, throaty cadence of her voice. “We had a bargain.”
Those exotic eyes flickered with heat. “Are you certain you still wish to honor it?”
Ignoring her quaking legs, she managed a level nod. “I
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