Page 55 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
"It feels like my bones are trying to crawl out of my skin, but also like my skin is trying to crawl into my bones. Does that make sense?"
"Perfect. Your body is literally rebuilding itself from the inside out." She smoothed his hair back without thinking, then caught herself. Professional boundaries. Right. "Try the broth. Nutrients for the reconstruction."
He stared at her. "You just petted me."
"I did not pet you. I was checking for fever."
"With your hand? Not even my mother did that. Medical professionals use a thermometer."
"Sometimes a hand is more handy."
"You wanted to touch my luxurious hair. Admit it."
"Your hair looks like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket."
"And yet you couldn't resist."
She shook her head. "You're impossible."
"I've been told that before. Usually right before someone throws something at me or storms out of a room."
"Good thing I'm paid to be here and not allowed to throw things at my patients."
"Ouch. Way to wound a man's ego."
"Your ego could use some wounding. It's taking up all the space in here."
"Touché."
"Are you going to eat?" She pointed at the broth with her chin. "Or do you need me to feed you?"
The sparkle in his eyes betrayed his response before his mouth started moving. "I need you. To feed me."
"Say please."
"Please, Hildie. I need you to spoon me. I mean, I need you to spoon-feed me."
She laughed. "Of course, you do."
18
ELUHEED
As befitting the warlord's concubines, the dining room was elegant and opulent. Crystal chandeliers hung over a table that could have graced any palace, set with china so fine it was nearly translucent and silverware that had been polished to reflect the light like mirrors.
Eluheed paused in the doorway, acutely aware that he was crossing a threshold he'd never expected to breach.
Seven ladies sat around the table, their beauty so perfect that it was almost painful to behold. Sitting between them, Tony looked like he didn't belong. As a human, he might be considered good-looking, but next to the female perfection he was surrounded with, he was painfully ordinary.
They turned toward Eluheed with varying degrees of curiosity, and he dropped his gaze to the floor as he'd been trained to do.
"Elias!" Tony called out. "Come join us. We saved you a seat."
When Eluheed lifted his head, he saw the American looking pleased to see him.
Tamira patted the empty chair beside her, and Eluheed's pulse quickened. Once again, she wore a deep blue dress that complemented her olive skin, but it wasn't either of the ones she'd worn the other two times he'd seen her. Did each of the ladies have her own signature color? He also noticed that her hair had a slightly reddish hue, and he wondered if it was a trick of the light or if she had colored it since he'd last seen her in the courtyard. It was swept up to reveal the elegant line of her neck, the long ends cascading down her back in perfectly styled ringlets. When she smiled at him, his chest tightened and then expanded.
"Thank you," he managed, making his way to the chair. The thick carpet muffled his footsteps, making him feel like he was floating in a dream.
