Highland Temptation by Jennifer Haymore Read Free Book Online Page B

door.
    “You’re welcome,” he said. Goodness, the low rumble of his voice was doing all sorts of pleasant things to her insides.
    Warmth, safety, comfort. All those things that had seemed so distant to her only yesterday. She could thank him a thousand times and it would never be enough.
    The boy came up with their luggage, though it took him two trips to lug it all upstairs. Soon after, the innkeeper’s wife came bearing a tray with their dinner. It was simple fare—roasted mutton with vegetables—but when they sat down to eat, Emilia found her stomach rumbling with hunger, and it tasted delicious. A plate of cheese and apple slices made a pleasant dessert, and a pitcher of good ale—which Emilia had never drunk before—washed it all down.
    Finally, she sat back, her stomach comfortably full, her blood tingling through her veins—perhaps from the ale. She looked from her empty cup to Sir Colin, who gazed at her with his usual serious expression.
    “Did you enjoy the dinner?”
    “Oh yes,” she said. “Probably too much.”
    “Nay, I dinna think so. You’re but a wee thing. You could use a bit of meat on your bones.”
    Her cheeks heated for about the millionth time today.
    “You should go to bed, lass,” he said quietly. “We’ve a long day of travel ahead of us tomorrow.”
    She nodded and stood, stretching until she felt the pull on the wounds in her back. Sir Colin stood as well and began to rifle through their luggage. He found the satchel she’d brought—filled with Lady Claire’s clothes—and withdrew her nightgown.
    Another extreme intimacy. A single man touching her unmentionables. And so familiarly, too. Her heart beating hard, she licked her dry lips and snatched the nightgown from his hands when he offered it to her. “Ah…” she said breathlessly, a riot of heat on her cheeks, “thank you.”
    “Aye, of course. Do you need help with your dress?”
    “No, thank you. It is a round gown, see, so it wraps and ties in front.” She gestured at the large green ribbon at her waist, which concealed the ties. Claire had been thoughtful in the choices of garments she’d offered Emilia. Everything was simple but new and clean, easy to don without a maid’s help, and they fit her perfectly. She was so thankful for all of it, but Claire had acted as if it were nothing. As if they weren’t near strangers, but sisters who shared everything.
    “Verra well.” Sir Colin cleared his throat and gazed at her, his eyes sparkling amber in the lantern light. “I must see to your back, then. If you dinna mind removing the top of your gown and petticoat.”
    “Of course,” she breathed. She set the nightgown on the bed and went to work on the ties, then glanced up to see him staring at her. He turned quickly so that his back was to her. She turned also, so they were back to back, and quickly untied the front of the gown before slipping the sleeves off her arms. Finally, the bodice of the dress fell over the skirt, and she stepped out of it. She took off the petticoat; then, dressed only in one of Lady Claire’s nearly transparent shifts, she untied the neckline, pulled it over her shoulders and down, bunching it at the waist. Now her back was bare, so he could check the dressing, but her front was also naked, and cool air washed over her breasts and made her shiver.
    “All right.” Managing to keep the fabric of the shift bunched at her waist, she crossed her arms over her chest. She didn’t turn around, but sensed Sir Colin turning.
    He made a gruff, incomprehensible noise, then came close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. Gently, he touched the wrappings, and sighed.
    “You’ve bled through them, lass.”
    “Oh,” she whispered. “Have I?”
    “Aye. I’ll have to take the bandage off and redo it.”
    “All right.”
    “Are you in verra much pain?”
    “No,” she said truthfully.
    He unwrapped the bindings, his hands bigger and stronger and also gentler than