Page 43 of Her Tempting Traitor
She wanted this. She wantedhim.
It took two tries to make her voice work. “You…need a friend.” A deep breath, and she straightened her shoulders. “And you said I could examine your leg.”
“Och, aye.” One corner of his lips twitched. “Good with yer hands, I believe ye said?”
With that Cassian stepped back, the invitation implicit, and crossed to the little sitting area arranged around a rug beneath the window. He sat on the couch, plunked his whisky down beside him, and bent forward to unlace his shoes.
Cautiously, Gabby closed the door behind her without taking her gaze from his sure movements. How had she never noticed how strong his fingers were? He’d held her with them—just remembering the way his fingertips had dug into her scalp made her shiver with need now.
She wanted those fingers on her.Inher.
In the time since that kiss, she’d wrestled with her feelings for Cassian Grey. He was a good man, a kind man, a man who wanted what was best for his son. And shehadto assume, judging from his stories, what was best for his country.
Perhaps what he thought was best.
It was difficult to imagine him a traitor.
Or was she just telling herself that to justify her response to him, her arousal?
Either way, she would soon find out.
Gabby wasn’t leaving this room without learning more about his last mission…or kissing him again.
Why not both?
He kicked off one shoe and went to work on the right one. When he pulled that one off, she could see the prosthetic beneath. Without looking up, Cassian rolled up his trouser leg until she could see the entirety of the thing—well made, smooth grained wood, but cold-looking.
She moved closer as he began to unstrap it from the stump of his leg. When he tossed the prosthetic to the side with a dismissive flick, his movements too quick to be casual, and sat back, the emotion he was holding in check was etched across his face. Was it anger? Pain?
Gabby crept closer and stood over him. Cassian held her gaze and stretched out his right leg until his toes brushed against her skirt…as if daring her to make the next move.
She swallowed. “Would…would you roll up your trousers further, please?”
Her calm tone—how had she managed that?—must have fooled him into thinking she was nonplused by the interaction. By the thought of touching his naked leg.
When he did as she asked, she sank to a crouch beside him and Cassian sucked in a breath.
At the unorthodox positioning? Or the knowledge that she could reach out and stroke him so easily from this angle?
Because that’s whatshewas thinking.
“I ken it’s ugly,” he announced suddenly, his voice gruff…and Gabby blinked. Isthatwhat he’d been worried about?
Without looking up, she smiled softly. “Truthfully, it is healing wonderfully.” She stroked her fingers over the healed wound, the scars still angry and red. “These will fade to white within the year.” Her other hand joined the first, and she encircled the leg right below his knee. “It is themovementyou need to focus on. Your prosthetic is well-made, and you clearly have been exercising well.”
When she slowly but steadily pressed her knuckles into the back of his knee, Cassian groaned low and flopped back against the chaise. Gabby sank lower until she was sitting on the floor, her legs tucked beneath her skirt, as she continued to knead his muscles.
“This knee is in danger of suffering greater wear and tear over the years,” she warned as she massaged the sides of it with her thumbs. “Assuming you continue to push yourself. If you focus on your right leg to carry the majority of your weight, you will harmthatknee.”
She moved her massage up to the muscle directly above his knee, pressing her thumbs deep, eliciting another groan. Gabby glanced up to see he’d thrown his forearm over his eyes. His lips were parted, and he seemed truly at ease.
Determined to make him relax fully, she slid his trousers up higher and continued to rub the tight muscles.Just treat him like any other patient. But with less fur. In places.“The human body has evolved to carry our weight evenly on two legs, the same way dogs—for instance—have evolved for four. And just like dogscanwalk with three legs, humans can carry their weight with one…but not at risk to the remaining limb, which is forced to bear the brunt of their weight.” She was just speaking to hear herself talk now, keeping her words as soothing as her touch. “A well-made prosthetic will alleviate that burden. I have noticed that you walk without a limp already.”
“Only when I’m concentrating,” Cassian mumbled around his arm. “I still use the cane.”
Shehadseen him with a cane that first day out on the lawn. Had he used it since then?
“I can imagine that relearning to walk must have been a challenge. You are doing well.”
