before he could mask it. “Have a good day, Angus, and thank you for all your help.”
Looking bemused, he bowed.
Beth returned to Duncan’s side. “So, now it’s just you and me against the world, huh? Are you hungry?” When his brow remained furrowed she made eating motions with her hands.
“Aye.”
“I’ll see what the kitchen has to offer. Hopefully it’s not that dreadful haggis again.” She shuddered, picturing the sheep gut stuffed with oats and Lord knew what all else. She wouldn’t have been the least surprised to learn they packed a pig’s squeak in with its blood.
A few minutes later she returned with a trencher of diced lamb and porridge. When she finished shoveling the contents of the bread bowl into him, she gently dabbed the corners of his mouth.
Glory, you’re a handsome man.
She’d been so pleased to discover a beautifully crafted mouth and square jaw under all the hair. And his lashes were to die for, so long and thick they tangled as he slept. She sighed, reluctant to admit she hovered precariously close to a precipice, one she couldn’t risk falling over, of falling head over heels.
You’d better stop mooning and start focusing on the hard truth, Beth. Duncan might eventually feel gratitude, but he’ll never feel love. Besides, you’re going to find your way back to coffee, toilet paper—-she still couldn’t get over using Lamb’s Ear leaves--and your little black cases of much-needed Chanel.
“What ails ye?”
She cleared her throat. “Nothing.” She checked his temperature with her palm. “It’s time to sponge you down again.” He said nothing, which she took as consent and readied the bed.
As she placed sheeting under each of his limbs he started to scowl. When she soaked a cloth in cool water and wiped his face, his gaze never wavered from hers. What was he thinking?
She bathed his neck then his arms. Still he remained mute.
Realizing she’d put off the inevitable for as long as she dared, she lowered the sheet to his hips. Feeling a blush creep up her neck, she glanced away.
She’d thought nothing of touching his body intimately while he lay unconscious--it simply had to be done--but now her handsome husband-in-name-only stared at her, quite aware of where her hands and gaze traveled. She took a deep breath. Get a grip, Beth, and just do it.
If he has a problem with her bathing him, he’ll let you know in short order. Then you can get huffy and tell him it’s for his own good and to just shut up.
He said not a word as she sponged the broad, muscular planes of his chest and arms. As she readied another cloth to wipe down his well-delineated stomach she dared to glance up and found him staring at her through hooded eyes. She caught a slight twitch of his lips. Suspecting he was near to grinning, she cleared her throat and put on a stern face. Better he think her annoyed by having to do this, than suspect the depth of her embarrassment. Unfortunately, touching him while he was fully aware was a decidedly new experience. Totally unnerving, in fact, since his body was the first adult male’s she’d ever touched, seen naked outside of a movie. And he was breathtaking.
He murmured, “Dosth ye approve?”
Her face suddenly felt like a blast furnace.
She chewed her lower lip. What the heck should she say? If you were healthy, I’d kill to spend one night in your arms? Not likely. “Aye, you’re being very good, staying so still.”
This time his lips did curl into a grin.
Duncan, she wished, why don’t you just close your eyes and let me finish with this before I expire. Good gravy.
Her hands shook as she wrung cool water from the cloth. She grabbed a lung full of air and placed the cloth on his muscular abdomen. Her fragile confidence wavered when glorious muscle rippled under her hands.
You can do this, she silently chided. Hell, she’d done it for five days. Today should be no different.
Right.
Her hand grazed the fine, curly hairs on his
Looking bemused, he bowed.
Beth returned to Duncan’s side. “So, now it’s just you and me against the world, huh? Are you hungry?” When his brow remained furrowed she made eating motions with her hands.
“Aye.”
“I’ll see what the kitchen has to offer. Hopefully it’s not that dreadful haggis again.” She shuddered, picturing the sheep gut stuffed with oats and Lord knew what all else. She wouldn’t have been the least surprised to learn they packed a pig’s squeak in with its blood.
A few minutes later she returned with a trencher of diced lamb and porridge. When she finished shoveling the contents of the bread bowl into him, she gently dabbed the corners of his mouth.
Glory, you’re a handsome man.
She’d been so pleased to discover a beautifully crafted mouth and square jaw under all the hair. And his lashes were to die for, so long and thick they tangled as he slept. She sighed, reluctant to admit she hovered precariously close to a precipice, one she couldn’t risk falling over, of falling head over heels.
You’d better stop mooning and start focusing on the hard truth, Beth. Duncan might eventually feel gratitude, but he’ll never feel love. Besides, you’re going to find your way back to coffee, toilet paper—-she still couldn’t get over using Lamb’s Ear leaves--and your little black cases of much-needed Chanel.
“What ails ye?”
She cleared her throat. “Nothing.” She checked his temperature with her palm. “It’s time to sponge you down again.” He said nothing, which she took as consent and readied the bed.
As she placed sheeting under each of his limbs he started to scowl. When she soaked a cloth in cool water and wiped his face, his gaze never wavered from hers. What was he thinking?
She bathed his neck then his arms. Still he remained mute.
Realizing she’d put off the inevitable for as long as she dared, she lowered the sheet to his hips. Feeling a blush creep up her neck, she glanced away.
She’d thought nothing of touching his body intimately while he lay unconscious--it simply had to be done--but now her handsome husband-in-name-only stared at her, quite aware of where her hands and gaze traveled. She took a deep breath. Get a grip, Beth, and just do it.
If he has a problem with her bathing him, he’ll let you know in short order. Then you can get huffy and tell him it’s for his own good and to just shut up.
He said not a word as she sponged the broad, muscular planes of his chest and arms. As she readied another cloth to wipe down his well-delineated stomach she dared to glance up and found him staring at her through hooded eyes. She caught a slight twitch of his lips. Suspecting he was near to grinning, she cleared her throat and put on a stern face. Better he think her annoyed by having to do this, than suspect the depth of her embarrassment. Unfortunately, touching him while he was fully aware was a decidedly new experience. Totally unnerving, in fact, since his body was the first adult male’s she’d ever touched, seen naked outside of a movie. And he was breathtaking.
He murmured, “Dosth ye approve?”
Her face suddenly felt like a blast furnace.
She chewed her lower lip. What the heck should she say? If you were healthy, I’d kill to spend one night in your arms? Not likely. “Aye, you’re being very good, staying so still.”
This time his lips did curl into a grin.
Duncan, she wished, why don’t you just close your eyes and let me finish with this before I expire. Good gravy.
Her hands shook as she wrung cool water from the cloth. She grabbed a lung full of air and placed the cloth on his muscular abdomen. Her fragile confidence wavered when glorious muscle rippled under her hands.
You can do this, she silently chided. Hell, she’d done it for five days. Today should be no different.
Right.
Her hand grazed the fine, curly hairs on his
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