From the ring, Esh walked straight to their apartments, doing his damndest to keep any hint of limp out of his gait. He didn’t need Lian or anyone else going for him, thinking he was weak. Yeah, there was the rule of no fighting outside the ring, but strange how easily that could be forgotten by someone when they saw easy prey.
Nalah was sitting on the sofa, once again reading. She glanced up with half-smiling eyes that widened with worry as she took him in. The book was down, she was up, and he was sitting in less time than it took to open his mouth to explain. “I heal fast,” was all he got out before the gauze was brought out and her fingers skimmed over his skin with healing intent.
Touch was always good, and if he had to sit around and accept it, sure, why not?
“This is worse than from your fight with the Skin Dweller.”
He shrugged. “Guy knew how to fight. That thing didn’t, relied on his armor. What is a Skin Dweller, anyway?”
“It’s probably more accurate to call a Skin Dweller an it than a he, and they’re small league baddies, more a race that follows orders than does anything on their own.”
It was hard to concentrate on mundane conversation when she was so close and smelled of comfort and sunshine. His body still buzzed with adrenaline, and though he was beaten enough it was muted, it along with the promise from that earlier kiss had him ready for other activities. Long experience taught him, though, that until he was patched up, Nalah would not let herself be distracted. “The ring?”
“Yeah. The only question I have is if it’s connected to the evil I’ve been feeling or if it was sent from someone else.”
“I really wish the Guild had given you a clue what was going on. I’m going to have a serious talk with someone.” Her eyebrows rose to her hairline and though she didn’t comment, it was plain what she thought about that possibility. Esh continued with the earlier conversation. “Once I got the armor out of the way, it had no defenses and nothing was left but destroy it.”
A soft, wet cloth was run over his skin, and he stayed still, obeying her to turn this way and that. “Lian give you any grief today?”
“Yeah, he was watching me.”
“I wish I knew what that was about.” Ointment was rubbed into his knuckles, her touch tender and sure. “In our one conversation, the contact said Lian had an obsession with you even before I stirred up trouble, but he didn’t elaborate. Don’t know if he didn’t know or he ran out of time to talk.”
“Don’t worry. Guarantee he’s not the only one. The title brings lots of those types to my door.”
She hummed in vague agreement as her hands continued to work medicine into his skin. The buzz was getting stronger, harder to control. He loved that she wanted to heal him, but right now, healing took second place to getting his hands on her and getting her under him. He needed the taste of her again, wet and ready against his tongue.
She picked up the bandages and started to place them over various cuts. “Beylor took it easy on you.”
Her tone picked up at the end, giving the statement a hint of question, and of course her brain would pick up the talk went smoother than it should. “He wants me as one of his men, spoke about it before the fight. He’s not going to run me out until that’s settled.”
Nalah’s face showed no change, which meant she’d already considered that. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Knew it would happen if I accepted their invitation to come.”
That caused her head to jerk up, eyes wide with a hint of confusion. “And you came anyway?”
“Yeah.”
Her eyes shifted back and forth, like she was reading from an invisible book for answers. “But why?”
The truth of what she was to him still didn’t register with her. He’d hoped that kiss earlier meant it did, but they weren’t quite there yet. “You were going to be here. No way you were coming without me.”
She huffed, grabbing up the supplies and moving to put them away. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a few years now.”
“No, you haven’t.” Before she could interrupt and make a retort, he hurried on. “You’ve been back-up, or you did research. This is different. This is you in the front lines, and not where you should be.”
There was only one area on Nalah that darkened when she blushed, the tips of her ears, and right now they had the red hue that spoke of her embarrassment. “I’ve still been on my own.”
“Don’t take it badly. Doesn’t mean you aren’t brave as hell. Always were, even if you gave me and Jac heart attacks sometimes. You never ran when we told you to run.”