As she opened her eyes, she looked up at him and felt an odd chill go through her. What was the future for
them? she wondered. Beyond this sequestered period of her convalescence? Her incapacity simplified things in a grand way. But that would end if she were well.
Would he have her then?
Payne reached out and clasped his hand. “You are a blessing unto me.”
“Because of this?” He shook his head. “This is you, bambina. Your body is healing itself. It’s the only explanation.” Bending down to her, he smoothed her loose hair back and pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. “You need to sleep now. You’re exhausted.”
“You are not leaving, are you?”
“Nope.” He glanced at the chair he’d used to get up to the ceiling fixture. “I’ll be right over there.”
“This bed . . . ’tis large enough for both of us.”
When he hesitated, she got the impression something had changed for him. And yet he had just treated her with such erotic perfection—and his scent had flared, so she’d known he’d been aroused. Still . . . there was a subtle distance now.
“Join me?” she asked. “Please?”
He sat down on the bed beside her and stroked her arm slowly, rhythmically—and the kindness he showed her made her nervous.
“I don’t think that’s a wise idea,” he murmured.
“Why ever not?”
“I think it’s going to be easier on everyone if the way we’re treating you stays between you and me.”
“Oh.”
“That brother of yours brought me here because he’ll do anything to make you better. But there’s a difference between theory and practice. He comes in here and finds us in bed together? We’re just adding another problem to the pile.”
“And if I tell you I do not care what he thinks?”
“I’d ask you to go easy on the guy.” Her healer shrugged. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m not a fan of his—but on the other hand, your brother’s had to watch you here suffering.”
Payne took a deep breath, and thought, Oh, if only that were the half of it. “It is my fault.”
“You didn’t ask to get hurt.”
“Not the injury—my brother’s consternation. Prior to your arrival, I requested of him something I should not have, and then compounded that with . . .” She slashed her hand through the air. “I am a curse upon him and his mate. For truth, I am a curse.”
That she had lacked any faith in the benevolence of destiny was perhaps understandable, but what she had done in asking Jane to help her was unforgivable. The interlude with her healer had been a revelation and a blessing beyond measure, but now all she could think of was her brother and his shellan . . . and the repercussions of her selfish cowardice.
On a curse, she shuddered. “I must needs speak to my brother.”
“Okay. I’ll get him for you.”
“Please.”
Her healer rose to his feet and went to the exit. With his hand on the knob, he paused. “I need to know something.”
“Inquire and I shall tell you anything.”
“What happened right before I was brought back to you. Why did your brother come and get me.”
Neither was phrased as a question. Which made her suspect he could well guess. “That is between him and me.”
Her healer’s eyes narrowed. “What did you do.”