Avoidance? Most interesting.
Vadim was content to sit in silent contemplation and bask in the warmth of her presence. While Seth and Martha laughed and talked together, his eyes reacquainted themselves with the woman of his heart.
Can she truly feel the same way?
The early symptoms were encouraging. But he would not risk her bolting from him again. Not until he was fit to chase her, at least. Martha certainly liked to run, and thus far, she had led him a very merry dance.
At last she looked at him. “You’ve hardly eaten anything.” Her blue eyes narrowed, and a delightful little crease marred the fairness of her brow. “D’you want something else?”
Vadim shook his head and quickly popped a piece of bread into his mouth. In truth, its texture was as appealing as a piece of horse harness, but he chewed doggedly. He wanted to be himself again, not the shadow man he had become.
“That’s better.” Martha rewarded him with a smile to melt winter. “Now try some of the cheese. It’s good for you, full of protein.”
Protein?
She must have read his mind. “It’ll help you get strong again.”
Seth picked up a piece of cheese and stared at it curiously, as if wondering at its magical properties. But he ate some, Vadim noticed, amused.
“In fact, I really must go shopping and get some decent food for you.”
“No!” Vadim did not want her to stray from his sight again. “Stay. Seth?”
Seth beamed his familiar grin. It was good to see. “Lord Vadim has spoken, m’lady. Tell me what you require, and I will bring it.”
“Oh, that’s kind of you, Seth.” Martha squeezed the older man’s hand. “I don’t really want to leave him now. Okay, he’s going to need lots of milk, eggs, fish—if you can get it. If not, chicken will…”
Did she intend to feed an army? Vadim smiled as her list of demands lengthened. Seth would need a mule to carry all of that back up the hill.
When lunch was over, Martha asked Seth to do one more thing before he returned to Darumvale.
“You want me to remove his beard?” Seth visibly shuddered. “Whatever for?” He fingered his own beard as though fearing she might demand that next.
“Because it’ll make him feel better.” She laughed as she rose from the table. “Don’t worry, Seth. Your beard really suits you.”
To Vadim’s surprise, she came and stood behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her touch seemed to burn his skin through the thin protection of his shirt.
“Just think of it as phase one of Martha’s master plan,” she said.
Seth cast a worried glance at Vadim. “M’lord?”
He shrugged, indicating he cared not either way.
“Very well.” Seth shook his head. “But I fear you will miss it.”
Martha found a blade lying forgotten on one of the cabin’s dusty shelves. After stropping it vigorously on a leather belt, Seth set to work.
When the task was completed, he called to Martha, who was busily boiling water, filling up an old bath tub she had found outside.
“Well? Does your husband meet your approval, m’lady?”
“Oh, wow!” She hastened to where Vadim sat at the table and gently trailed her fingertips over his clean-shaven cheek. “You’re back,” she said with wonder.
He smiled. Martha’s approval was plain. As he held her gaze, a familiar heat flared between them. Her lips were slightly parted. Unable to help himself, he grazed the pad of his thumb over the fullness of her lower one. Her eyes closed in response, long lashes flickering. The urge to taste her again, to see her mouth glistening with his kiss, overwhelmed him. Surely she would welcome it?
“Ahem.” Seth’s intrusion was never so unwanted.
The spell was broken, and Martha stepped away.
“If you require nothing more of me, then I will bid you both farewell until the morrow.”
It was difficult to gauge whose blushes burned the fiercest. Both very red in the face, Seth and Martha competed to sound easy and natural.
“All right. Be careful going back down the hill, won’t you?”
“Of course. Is there anything else you require me to fetch?”
“Erm…you might ask Bren to give you my saddle packs. Oh, and you could bring Forge back with you. He’ll be driving her nuts by now.”
Vadim chuckled and stood up. “Walk…you…out?”
Seth nodded, beard a-bristling and almost ran from the cabin. Vadim sent Martha a wink and slowly limped after his friend.
***
After they’d gone, Martha sank down onto the bench and exhaled. Holy feck. What was that? He’s supposed to be sick. She rubbed hands over her hot cheeks and willed her heart to slow down.
It was her own fault. That fight with Orla had fired her up way too much. Maybe that was why she’d gone and told him she loved him. Oh, she’d seen him there, hiding out in the trees with Seth. But it was as if a demon had taken over her mouth, and she’d been so damn angry she hadn’t cared.
She took another breath to steady herself. Whatever happened, at least he knew now. The L-word was out there, floating around the cosmos, free at last. The way she’d done it meant Vadim wasn’t obliged to say it back or—even worse— to politely decline the contents of her heart.
It’s all good, Bigalow. You finally told him—in a roundabout and slightly cowardly way. What happens next, or not, is down to him.
By the time Vadim returned, Martha had the bath all ready. The steaming contents filled the cabin with the scent of lavender. The little wooden tub only lacked an occupant.
“Ah. Bathe?” Vadim frowned and prepared to leave the way he’d come.
“Wait. It’s not for me, it’s for you.”
“Me?” He turned back to look at her. “Why?” He smiled crookedly and raised one arm to sniff at himself. “Smell?”
“No.” Martha laughed. “It’ll relax you.” She went over and took his hand. “Call it phase two of Operation Martha.” As his fingers curved around hers, her heart missed several beats.
“Yes, wife.” Amusement shone from his eyes. “Stay?”
Oh, God. Operation Martha wasn’t going to get very far if she couldn’t stop blushing. Something told her she wasn’t going to be a very good nurse. Perhaps she should have asked Elsbeth to stay? At least she seemed trustworthy. Unlike Orla. Or herself.
“D’you need help…undressing?” She was determined to help if he needed it, embarrassment be damned.
Vadim chuckled. “Go.” He gave her hand a squeeze then gently pushed her towards the door. “I can…manage.”
“You’re sure?” She frowned, torn between going and staying. “Okay. I’ll be out by the steps, but I’ll leave the door open a smidge so I can hear you.”
Twitching like crazy, she paced around outside, her ears straining for sounds of Vadim in distress. Then she heard a loud splash.
Mother of God!
She bounded up the cabin steps two at a time and pressed her ear to the crack of the open door.
“Are you all right? Did you fall…Vadim?” She felt breathless. “Vadim?”
No answer. Shit!
Flinging open the door, she raced into the cabin, sick with dread.
She stopped dead and exhaled. To her relief, she found Vadim sitting in the bath, his skin glistening in the firelight.
He waved the bar of soap in his hand, a lazy smile curving his lips. “Dropped it.”
Anger quickly replaced her relief. “Ooh. You fecker! Why didn’t you answer me?” She strode over to him, too enraged for modesty. “I thought you’d hit your head or…or…”
“Or?” He arched one dark eyebrow at her.
She couldn’t think of anything bad enough.
He calmly handed her the soap then relaxed against the bath’s high back, eyes closed. “Phase three?”
She couldn’t believe her luck. He wants me to bathe him? He didn’t need to ask her twice.
Sinking to her knees b
eside the coffin-shaped bath, Martha dipped her hands in the warm water and lathered up the soap. The scent of warm lavender filled the room with summer. Vadim inhaled and sighed. His eyes stayed closed.
My poor love. He’d lost so much weight. Her heart ached to see him this way.
Her hands shook, finally roaming the places she’d long dreamt of exploring. His ribs felt like a macabre xylophone beneath her fingers. Tears pricked behind her eyes when she remembered how he’d been before she left him, bristling with lean, defined muscles. Only a ghost remained, like the negative of a photograph. A tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
Don’t. This is fixable, remember?
She glanced at Vadim. He hadn’t moved. Eyes closed, his sooty eyelashes twitched upon his cheeks. Maybe he’d fallen asleep?
Gliding her hands over to the left side of his body, Martha lathered soap over his neck and exposed throat. Despite his recent shave, stubble grazed the pads of her fingers. She moved on, sweeping down to his arms which were balanced on the edge of the bath. She paid particular attention to the exquisite runic band tattoo at the top of his left arm, submerging the ink runes beneath a cloud of fragrant bubbles.
As she worked, Martha chanced a sly downward peek. But she was to be disappointed. Damn it! Wisely, perhaps anticipating her lack of restraint, Vadim had arranged a folded linen cloth over his most intimate region.
The soap was getting dry. Almost as dry as her mouth. Martha dipped the slippery block into the water and rotated it between her hands until it frothed. Then, sucking in her lower lip, she turned her attention to his chest and the dark scattering of hair on his pecs, swirling gentle circles around each nipple until they hardened in response.
Vadim’s breathing sounded rather fast. Good. She was more than a little miffed about the positioning of that linen cloth.
Biting down on her lower lip, Martha attempted to concentrate on her task and not think about jumping him.
Be cool. Pretend you’re a nurse.
More soap. The little bar was dwindling fast, such was her attention to detail. She slithered a figure of eight over his heart, but it pounded so hard beneath her hands she stopped.
She darted another glance at him. Nope. His eyes were still closed.
It was quiet. Just the crackles of the fire in the grate and the sounds of their breaths interrupted the silence. Quiet enough to hear the soap bubbles crackling on her hands.
Feeling braver, she moved her hands lower, massaging lazy circles over his lower abdomen, bypassing the old scars, reaching down to the surface of the water.
Vadim hissed, sucking the air between his teeth, his muscles tensing beneath her fingers.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Remorse banished her lustful thoughts. “Did I hurt you?” Her voice sounded so husky that it didn’t sound like her voice at all.
“N-no.”
Martha felt uncomfortably hot. Touching him like this was easily the most sensual moment of her life to date. She glanced down and gasped. To the right of his belly button was a small raised patch of red, puckered skin. Obviously it was a recently healed injury.
Vadim’s eyes flickered open. He sat up and leaned forward, exposing his back so she could see the rest of the wound. “Look.”
How could she not obey him?
“Oh, shit!”
Low down on his back, she saw a corresponding wound. But this one was larger than the one on his abdomen, roughly the size and width of a sword blade. It still looked angry and sore.
Martha glided her hand down his back, her fingers glancing lightly over the wound. “D-does it hurt?” She bit her lip again. Hard. How could someone do this to him?
“Not now.” Vadim tilted his head and looked at her. His hair hung down his back like a sleek dark pelt, the ends dipping into the water. “Do not…weep.”
She hadn’t realised she was.
Vadim touched her face with his wet hand. He caught one of her tears and balanced it on his thumb. With a tiny smile, he raised it to his lips and kissed the tear away.
“Better now.”
Martha stared. Her tear supply abruptly disconnected. A sudden ravenous hunger consumed her. But not for food. Her stomach clenched. Somehow she managed not to growl at him, though she seriously wanted to. For once, no inner thoughts governed her actions. Her mind was silent, her body free to act as it desired. Her fingers tightened their hold on the side of the bath.
Sick or not, she wanted him. Wasted and weak? Not an issue.
Martha picked up a wash cloth and dabbled it in the bath. Then she raised it, dribbling warm water down his back like a poor man’s shower, washing the soap away. Then she leaned over and brushed her lips over the wound. She heard Vadim’s swift intake of breath.
Straightening up, she slid her hand up his arm and gently pushed him back against the bath. Now that she had access to the other, smaller injury on his abdomen. It lay dangerously near the water line, and what lay beneath. Martha wasn’t afraid. She bent over the bath, her dangling hair floating in the water.
“All…better…now.” She applied her personal prescription to his wound, each word punctuated by a kiss. Then she raised her head and looked at him. What she saw pleased her.
Vadim’s eyes flared. The tic was back, pulsing away in his firm jaw line. He grasped her arm, water soaking through the fine woolen sleeve of her gown. She smiled and stroked the hair back from his face. It felt like heavy silk beneath her fingers. Leaning closer, she bracing herself against his wet chest with her free hand. His breath played hot and fast over her lips.
When he looked at her like that, she felt like the sexiest woman alive. Martha the bold, the brave, the beautiful. The bad. “Will that be all, my lord?”
Vadim frowned, obviously teetering on the edge of control. His lips moved in soundless speech, as if searching for the right words.
“Hmm?” Martha’s index finger danced a lazy spiral through the hair on his chest, accidentally encountering a hard nipple. “Is your water growing cold? Shall I fetch you a bath sheet?”
His fingers pressed harder into the soft flesh of her arm, preventing her from going anywhere.
“Then perhaps—”
Cupping her face between his hands, Vadim drew her to him, silencing her with his mouth. She sighed, surrendering to the joy of his kiss, her tongue greeting his. Her arms slid about his neck, while tepid water soaked through the bodice of her gown. She didn’t care. She closed her eyes. He tasted just as good as she remembered. In his arms, she found the same happiness as before.
And more besides.
This time, there was no anger to accelerate passion. No deceit. No pretence. This time it was real. Just them.
Eventually they drew apart, panting. Martha giggled then nuzzled up against his ear. Vadim stroked her back.
“You…are…wet.” Vadim growled.
How does he… Oh, my dress. Right.
“I don’t care.” She was too happy, half submerged, sharing the tiny bath with him. She didn’t ever want to move.
Vadim seemed equally content to hold her there, his arms folded around her back. “Did you…mean it?” His halting voice was husky, and all too seductive.
Of course, she knew what he was referring to. “What I said to Orla?” She kissed the sensitive skin behind his ear.
“Mmm.”
Dare I say it again? She raised her head and looked into his eyes. They looked as black as storm clouds. I want to say it.
“Yes, Vadim. I love you.” Before he could speak, she placed two fingers over his lips. “Don’t say anything now. There’s no need. Just get better first, huh? Please?”
“And…then?”
Martha smiled. She couldn’t stop smiling. “And then?” She took his lower lip into her mouth and sucked gently on it, making him groan. “Then, we’ll see.”
***
To Vadim’s surprise, she disentangled herself from his arms and began washing his hair, humming softly to herself. The lover turned into a mother. How cou
ld she be so calm when he was aching for her so badly?
Afterwards, Martha fetched a bath sheet and assisted him as he stepped from the bath. Then she started to unlace her sodden gown. From his place by the fire, Vadim watched in astonishment, grateful that the sheet draped over his hips concealed his body’s reaction to her.
As she wriggled herself free of the soggy garment, all the time, Martha kept her eyes locked on his, baiting him. Temptress. Let her have her sport while she may. I will not be an invalid forever.
At last the gown lay in a pool at her feet. She stepped out of it and carried it to where he sat beside the fire.
Vadim caught his breath. The shift she wore beneath her gown was equally wet. Whenever she moved it clung to her, tormenting him with its transparent quality.
“M-Martha?”
“Hmm?” She regarded him with sultry eyes.
He cleared his throat and pointed to his own chest, not wanting to point at hers. Fortunately, she understood. On a previous occasion when he had seen her like this, her embarrassment had been acute. Now, however, she only shrugged and smiled.
“Oh, yes. I know. But I haven’t got anything else to wear. Not until Seth brings up the rest of my stuff.” She shook out her gown and hung it to dry over a chair.
“Shirt,” he said, pointing to a trunk at the other side of the room.
“Oh, thanks. But I’ll have a quick bath first. I’m so hot and sweaty.” Her fingers moved to the tie of her shift.
By all that is sacred!
Holding the bath sheet firmly about his middle, Vadim rose from his seat.
“You don’t have to go.” Her innocent look did not fool him at all.
“Yes…I do.” Placing his index finger beneath her chin, he tilted it upwards and brushed her lips with his. “Shameless…witch.” Her eyes had darkened, mirroring his own desire. But he knew his body had not the strength to match his need. Not yet.
She slid her arm around his waist and reached up to kiss him again. Then, with a laugh, she sent him outside to sit in the sun.
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