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She nodded and returned to her work The dried woad, at one tireen color, but now dried into a dull black, crumbled in the bowl She took a handful of dried chamomile flowers from a different leather pouch and added the the hot water, and she gestured for hi care not to splash it, and when the water e scent filled the air

Maris brushed past hi his bare arm as she reached for the square of cloth He stiffened, stepping out of her way, and returned to his seat on the stool She stirred the contents of the bowl, unfolded the cloth into a long strip, then turned back to her patient The bleeding had slowed to aa flat wooden utensil, she scooped up the mass of herbs and water and murmured, "It will be warm" Dirick did indeed start when she smoothed the poultice onto his injury, but she felt hian to work to soothe the pain and cleanse the cut Maris placed the cloth over his shoulder, lifting his heavy, e

Once it was in place, she patted the poultice gently, checked that none of the herbs were leaking from beneath, and tied the cloth into place

Then, her hands did not want to leave him: they brushed his thick hair from the nape of his neck, pulled a few strands froe, and smoothed over his uninjured shoulder Dirick’s chest rose as he drew in a single, ragged breath, and then he stilled

"You have er over one scar, and then another, and another… His skin ar wherever she touched him

"And none tended as carefully as this one" His voice was rough Reaching over his good shoulder, he captured her hand and pulled it forward, turning his head to place a kiss on her knuckle, and pressing her palm to the center of his chest

The front of him was hot froh wiry hair over the hard swell of e of bone down his center The tingling that began in her fingers flushed through her body, cul in a pool in herHer chest rose, breasts pushing against his back, and her breathing became shallow and labored

She wanted more She wanted all of him

Maris gasped at the thought, pulling her hand away, and stepped back Before she could speak, to explain, Dirick whirled off the stool, turning onto her with dark, glittering eyes and a tautfor her He was beautiful, dark, masculine: allfire, towering over her

She did not resist when he pulled her flush to the long, hard length of his body Sinking against hi over his shoulders, she tilted her head back to receive his kiss His ry, and Maris felt herself swept into awhere she was, that she had to breathe…

The warmth of his bare chest, the texture of wiry hair and heated skin, the sleek bulge of h the thin cloth of her gown Her breasts felt tight, straining against hi and damp When she eased a hand up into his thick hair, and the other back down over his chest, he pulled away enough to look down at her

The intensity in his eyes, the deep need there, caused a great tightening in herup to touch his parted lips with treht," Maris whispered in a shaken voice

He wrapped his fingers around her hand, pressing his lips to its sensitive wrist His ently, sliding full lips over the inside of her hand His tongue slipped out to thrust slick and wet between two fingers, and Maris closed her eyes, sagging against him as the sharp stab of pleasure arrowed into the pit of her belly and lower

His fingers closed over her shoulders "I want you," his words were forced, harsh, as if wrung from his very depths "I have no claim to you, but God above, I want you"

She shook her head, forcing herself to ease away despite the need tras to the king"

His eyes darkened to black and his face settled, livid with shock "Henry?"

Maris realized his ," she pulled fir was too rapid, too shallow, and that her entire being suddenly felt bereft and e’s ward, to do hat he will And I e all to him on the morrow"

The fury drained frolittered with desire as his gaze swept over her "Maris," he said, low and deep