TICEES (64 page)

Finally, on this morning, Chelan approached him, exposed his leg and looked carefully at his flesh. He watched her as she cleaned her hands with a fresh pelt. Then she glanced up at him. “I need to touch the area. It will hurt,” she stated.

Shan nodded and smiled.

Chelan took a deep breath. She had to palpate the puffy area to determine whether the abscess had returned or not, and she did not relish the fact that she might cause him pain. He had nearly taken her head off earlier simply for existing. The consequences to her if she hurt him made her shudder. But she had warned him, and he had given her his permission, and so she proceeded. The area was warm and tender, but the sponginess seemed generalized, with no localized areas that she could excise. She would give it some time, and she hoped that his body would take care of it on its own. After all, he did not appear to have a fever, nor was he complaining about it.

When she was finished, she sat back and took a deep breath. She looked up at him, surprised to see his head back on the furs, his fists clenched. Then saw the moisture that drenched his upper body.

Chelan felt sick, and her stomach roiled. She leaned over him and placed her hands on either side of his face. “I’m sorry,” she uttered hurriedly. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Shan took one long, slow, deep breath and then opened his eyes. “It’s okay. I’m fine. It’s just a little tender, but it will heal.” He looked into her pretty eyes, her distress over his discomfort tugging at his heart. He reached for her and drew her to his chest. But she did not resist, and he smiled to himself.

Chelan didn’t even try to process his embrace. She sagged into him, and then suddenly all her days of pent-up emotion and stress erupted. She threw her arms around him and cried freely.

Shan was surprised by her outpouring of emotion, but he held her tight, trying his best to comfort her.

Chelan finally stifled her sobs and hugged him closer still. “When I brought you here,” she began with a hiccup, “I knew that you were in dire condition, and from the first moment I laid eyes on you, I prayed that you would live.” Chelan took a couple of deep breaths. “And when your injured leg got infected, and … and I thought that I would lose you … I … I thought I would die with you … and … and when you came to, I was so happy.” Chelan sniffed. “But I never wanted to hurt you …” And she finally melted into him.

Shan held her tight as he remained quiet. He felt fresh tears on his chest, and he stroked her fine hair in attempt to console her. She felt as fragile as she looked, and he took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, Kayla,” he whispered. “I promise not to die on you.” He looked down just as she raised her head, and he caught her pretty smile.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He reached for her face, his finger feathering over her jaw as his thumb stroked through the moisture on her cheek. He could honestly not remember the last time he had seen tears, and they captivated him almost as much as the smoothness of her satin-white skin. He smiled back at her. “And you did not hurt me deliberately. Besides, I have endured much worse in my career.”

Chelan grimaced.

Shan drew her back to him and stroked her a while longer. When she seemed settled, he looked past her. “So when do I get to have a nice bath in your private spa over there?”

Chelan rose up off him and wiped away the remnants of her tears. “As soon as you can shuffle over there, my Lord.”

Shan nodded at her. “I’m not your Lord, Kayla. My name is Shan, and I’m an Imperial warrior, or rather, was.”

Chelan smiled. “You still are.”

“We shall see.” Shan nodded to her in appreciation and pushed himself into a sitting position. “Okay. Since the offer is open, I’m game.”

Chelan looked anxious. “I know your leg has taken this long to heal because of the infection, but I don’t know if you have any internal injuries. You must be careful.”

Shan looked up at her. “If it took me two weeks to gain consciousness, I not only had internal injuries, I had a head injury, also. But I can tell that all is fine now.”

Chelan clenched her hands to her chest. “How can you know that for sure?”

Shan peered up at her. “I simply know.”

Chelan backed way from him as he threw the fur off. He flipped onto his left side, resting his injured leg on his left leg. Taking his body weight with his arms, he dragged himself nearly effortlessly to the pool.

Chelan followed him over and sat by the pool’s edge as he slipped in. Shan sank below the surface and then came to the top, smiling at her.

“This is wonderful,” he commented.

Chelan beamed, and he beckoned to her. Chelan felt herself nearly responding but she stopped herself and shook her head.

Shan moved up to her and grinned. “I won’t look while you undress.”

Chelan immediately blushed and shuffled back from him. “Another time,” she whispered. She watched with relief as he moved away from her. Chelan continued to observe him, and after a short time, he hauled himself out of the water. He leaned back on his hands, his muscles tight, and Chelan knew his leg was causing him great discomfort.

She stood and moved quickly over to his bed, removing the under fur. Shan turned and watched her as she caringly replaced everything with fresh furs. Then she gathered all the old bedding and returned to the pool with it. She did not look at him as she began the long process of washing the large blankets, but Shan took in everything about her. The first thing he noticed was her excellent conditioning, and he wondered what she did to train. He would have to find out, for he, too, would have to begin soon.

Shan looked to his leg. He tensed his muscle, and a severe burn shot through his entire thigh. He relaxed. It was going to take time. His nerves were damaged, and not only did they need to regenerate, they needed to settle down. Getting his circulation going was going to be the best thing to speed the healing. He glanced back at her as she returned to his sleeping area.

Chelan laid out the furs, and when she was satisfied with them, she turned and looked at him. His azure eyes stared back. “What is it?” she asked.

“Would you prefer that I dressed?”

Chelan hesitated. “It is up to you, my … Shan.”

He smiled. “Yes, I suppose it is,” he said almost absently. He took a look around. “Do I even still have a uniform?”

Chelan sprang to her feet and disappeared briefly, returning to him with his neatly folded uniform.

Shan took it from her and looked it over carefully. His eyes widened. “You do fine work.”

Chelan smiled at him and watched as he folded it back up.

He looked back at her, his features mischievous. “It can wait, and in the meantime, you will just have to get used to my openness.”

Chelan smiled and nodded. She already knew she would have to.

Shan moved himself back to his bed, and Chelan followed him, presenting him with some meat and water. He took it from her and nodded. “Is this all you have had to eat over all this time?”

Chelan nodded. “It is enough.”

Shan stopped chewing. “I guess it would have to be.”

Chelan smiled at him and watched him until he had finished eating. Then he lay down, exhaustion overtaking him. Chelan immediately pulled the furs over him. He smiled at her and touched her cheek tenderly as she tucked it about him.

“You’re a very special woman, Kayla. I owe my life to you.”

Chelan smiled demurely and went to move back from him, but he touched her hand, causing her to falter.

His face became serious. “And you’re very beautiful.”

Chelan clutched at her tunic. “Thank you,” she whispered, and she retreated from him.

It was getting late, and he watched ruefully as she receded from him and returned to her bed. He sighed. He felt an unexpected wave of disappointment as she left him, but he was drained, and so he let her slip away. Almost immediately, he was asleep.

*****

Chelan awoke early and sat up. Shan was still asleep, and she needed to work out. She knew he would be exhausted from his activity yesterday, and so she felt confident that she would not disturb him. Her muscles were tight from all the tension that had plagued her since his awakening, and she needed to deal with it.

Silently, she slipped out of her tunic. She adjusted her two-piece sarong and moved to the far side of the pool. With fluid elegance, she began to take herself effortlessly through a series of stretches, her muscles appreciating every slow, delicious moment of extension. With every reach, she felt the strain of the past days releasing and equilibrium returning.

Shan had heard her stir, but he did not move. He opened his eyes and watched her as she trained. Suddenly, he was overcome with desire as he gorged his eyes on her supple and full femininity. He had always known that she was definitely a woman, even under the oversized tunic. But now he realized the garment had hidden a lot. More than he’d ever dreamed of.

Shan felt his throat dry as he continued to stare. The fine, soft leather hugged her curves tightly, barely concealing her ample breasts. Her firm nipples protruded sharply from the thin material, and Shan nearly lost his breath.

Her muscles were sleek and hard, yet she maintained an alluring softness. He watched as she continued to take her body through a sequence of sensual arches and Shan thought he was going to burst. He shut his eyes.

Chelan glanced over at him, relieved to see that he was still asleep. She was too self-conscious to do this in front of him, and she knew her times unobserved would be few and far between.

Shan opened his eyes once again, unable to resist feasting them upon her. She sat down facing him and spread her legs far apart. Then, in one supple, graceful move, she leaned forward, turning her head to the side, and Shan watched as her breasts kissed the floor.

He swallowed the growl that gathered in his throat. It was all too much to bear. Then he smiled to himself. He was definitely getting better; his erection concurred. He knew she was still working out, but he dared not look. He was already in too much discomfort. Suddenly, he was drawn back to reality by a soft splash, and he knew she had slipped into the pool.

His hands pulled the fur tightly over himself. “Oh, woman,” he moaned under his breath as he stared at the ceiling. But try as he might, he could not deny himself a peek at her picturesque beauty. Finally, he propped himself up and looked directly her.

Chelan came to the surface and glanced over at him. She moved to the edge of the pool and smiled. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” he returned dreamily.

Chelan thought very carefully about her next offer, but she decided that he was not a threat. “Coming in?” she invited.

Shan moaned and then fell back into the fur, his smile strained. “No. Not right now, Kayla. Not right now.”

Chelan was instantly consumed by alarm. “Are you all right?”

Shan threw an arm over his head. “I’m fine, Kayla. Just fine.” And he closed his eyes.

Chelan feared for his leg. She pushed out of the pool and grabbed her tunic. Not even bothering to put it on, she held it protectively in front of her as she darted to him, her body and hair dripping as she knelt by him. She reached out and touched his cheek, feeling for a fever. Shan’s eyes opened wide to her touch.

Immediately, he looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “I assure you that I am well, Kayla.”

Chelan eyed him suspiciously. “And your leg?”

Shan began to chuckle. “It’s fine, too, and I don’t suggest that you check it.”

Chelan glanced over the fur and she immediately turned red, but she was too flustered to move.

Shan looked at her and nodded. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. I never act on my impulses. It’s just that it is going to take me awhile to respond professionally to your workouts.”

Chelan took several deep breaths as she clutched her tunic tightly to her breasts. “I’m sorry.”

Shan shook his head. “I’m not, nor should you be. I guess I’m just not very good with control in my weakened state.” He chuckled.

Chelan finally smiled, but then she stood and began backing away from him.

Shan tracked her movements and, when she crouched by her clothing, shut his eyes.

Chelan took advantage of his obvious invitation for her to dress in peace, and she slipped quickly into her tunic and bound it with a tie.

Shan waited an appropriate length of time and then turned to her. He patted the fur next to him. “Come on. Sit down. I assure you that I have recovered.” He watched her approach him cautiously. He smiled inwardly, knowing full well that he had far from recovered, and he doubted he ever would.

Chelan eyed him warily as she sat beside him, and then she berated herself. He was Iceanean, and he was not Ticees. It was simple. She was safe. She looked deeply into his warm azure eyes. “At some time today … later … I should look at your leg.”

Shan smiled and nodded. “Any time.”

Chelan bit her cheek. “You’re sure?”

Shan nodded. “I’m sure.”

Chelan exposed his thigh, being very careful not to expose anything else. She looked over his wound closely and then touched his flesh. He flinched at her pressure, and she withdrew her hand. “You’re going to have to get up and walk soon. You have to get your blood flowing to clear out some of the bruising. There was so much damage to the muscles that I think a lot of the pain you are feeling is tightening scar tissue. The walking will speed the healing.”

Shan grinned, a deep rumble emanating form his chest as he rose up into a sitting position. “Get my blood flowing, hey?”

Chelan squinted at him slyly. “Yes, by walking, and to your leg. No more sitting in on my exercises.”

Shan looked at her, utterly bemused. “Okay. I concede. I’ll walk.”

Chelan smiled back at him. “Can I help?”

Shan shook his head. “I’ll try on my own first. I’m too heavy for you.”

Chelan stood back and watched as he bent his left leg up while keeping his right leg straight. Then he performed a flawlessly executed one-leg squat. Once standing, his furs fell away, but Chelan did not care. She was too concerned about him.

Shan winced as he took a hop to the wall for support and Chelan could tell he was in pain. Her eyes were wide as she moved to him, but he shook his head at her, and she was forced to retreat and watch him helplessly.