Page 24 (2/2)

His hand came to the back of her head "Did I?"

"You know you did"

"Did you realize," he ainst the corner of her ainst roaned She did not have the strength to resist hi and so obviously delighted to have woken up to find hiainst hers, brushing slowly back and forth in a kiss that should have see innocent in the way her body arched toward his, eager for more She’d been half in love with this nized what her mind did not wish to admit--she wanted him, desperately, and in every way

If he were not ill, if he were not still so weak, heaven only kneould happen Because she was not sure she would have the strength to stop thee that did not even exist

"You are the best ainst her skin

"Don’t discount the laudanuhten the h to look into her eyes "Thank you for insisting that I take it I do think it was a help"

"You’re welcoe of topic was so

He stroked her cheek "It’s part of the reason I said that you are the best medicine I spoke with the people at the hospital, you know Yesterday, after you left"

She shook her head She wasn’t sure where he was going with this

"They told me hoell you cared for her standard of care than I ht have received otherwise"

"Of--of course," she sta his wife She would have done this regardless

"One of them even said he did not think I would have awakened if not for you"

"I’m sure that’s not true," she said, because she could not take credit for that And she could not let him think he owed her for it

"It’s funny," hean to pool in Cecilia’s eyes He reached out and brushed them away

"Don’t cry," he whispered

"I’ently "I think this irl and rateful for the distraction

This seemed to a to put a little distance between them But his hand slipped from her cheek to her shoulder and then down her aro, and she knew that deep in her heart, she did not want hilanced toward theShe’d long since pulled the curtains shut, but she could see around the edges that the day had fallen past dusk and was now soht?" he said

She knehat he was asking Would she sleep in this bed?

"You need not feel uncomfortable," he said "Much as I wish it were otherwise, I am not in any condition to make love to you"

Her face burned She couldn’t help it "I thought you said you weren’t tired," she ht She was exhausted She would have slept when he did, except that she’d felt she needed to watch over him He’d looked so ahen she’d put hi Worse, al happened to him, after all that had transpired

She could not bear to consider it

"Have you eaten?" he asked

She nodded She’d had a light et the broth

"Good We do not want the nurse to become the patient I assure you, I would not be nearly so proficient in the role as you are" His face grew serious "You must rest"

She knew this She just didn’t see hoas possible

"I’m sure you still wish for htly disco that he too saw the irregularity in their current situation

"I give you my word that I will turn the other way," he said

She just stared at hie into your bedclothes," he explained

"Oh, of course" God, she was an idiot

"I’ll even pull the covers over my head"

She rose to shaky feet "That won’t be necessary"

There was a pregnant pause, and then he said in a voice turned ever so hoarse, "It asp of surprise at his admission, then rushed over to the wardrobe where she’d unpacked her own, a serviceable dress of white cotton devoid of lace or frills Not the sort of thing a lady ht tuck into her trousseau trunk