He reached down and threaded his fingers through hers. He raised her hand and cradled his cheek in her palm. He rubbed back and forth until the pleasure was nearly too much to bear.
“I want you near me.”
“I’ve already said I won’t leave,” she chided softly.
The door opened again, and Alaric cursed when Keeley all but leapt from his arms. She straightened her skirts and busied herself with putting the trencher and goblet away while Gannon handed Alaric the tin of water.
He drank thirstily, wanting Gannon to be gone as quickly as possible. When he had drained the tin, he thrust it back at Gannon. “Be sure we aren’t disturbed. Keeley must rest.”
“Me?”
Keeley’s mouth dropped open and her eyes narrowed. “If I’m not mistaken, ’tis you who have suffered serious injury.”
Alaric nodded. “Aye, and you’ve gone without rest ever since.”
She closed her mouth and he smiled at the weary set to her eyes. She was fierce with regard to her duties, but she was also exhausted and she wasn’t going to further argue the need for her rest.
Her shoulders sagged and Alaric motioned for Gannon to come closer.
“Have a bath drawn for Keeley,” he murmured to his man. “You can have the tub brought up here and placed in the corner so she has privacy.”
Gannon raised one eyebrow but didn’t argue. He turned and left the chamber and Alaric settled back onto the bed, content to watch as Keeley puttered around the room doing this and that in a clear effort to avoid him.
When another knock sounded, Keeley frowned but went to answer. Alaric grinned when she backed away, eyes wide at the men who carted the large tub into the room. They were followed by a parade of women, each bearing a steaming bucket of water.
Keeley shot Alaric a frown. “You cannot wet your stitches.”
“ ’Tis not for me.”
Keeley’s brows drew together. “Who is it for then?”
“You.”
Her eyes widened and she glanced between where the water was being emptied into the tub and Alaric, as if she had no idea what to say. When she opened her mouth, he brought his finger to his lips in a motion to silence her.
She marched across the room and perched on the edge of his bed. “Alaric, I can’t bathe in here!”
“I won’t look,” he said innocently.
She glanced longingly at the tub. Steam rose as the last of the water was poured in.
“If you don’t hurry, the water will grow too cool,” he said.
Gannon came in then with a tall wooden barrier that folded in the middle. “I’ve borrowed Mairin’s privacy board,” he said to Keeley.
Alaric shot him a glare, but Gannon made certain not to meet his gaze.
“Privacy board?” Keeley stared at the contraption in puzzlement.
“Aye, she had it built to shield her tub so she could bathe in private,” Gannon explained.
Keeley smiled in delight as it was set up and completely obscured the view of the tub. “It’s perfect!”
Gannon returned her smile and then extended a bundle of clothing toward her. “Mairin sent you a new dress to change into. She said to tell you that on the morrow the ladies will have more to give you.”
Warmth suffused Keeley’s eyes and cheeks. “Thank Mairin and the other women for me,” she said softly.
Gannon nodded and turned to follow the women out, shutting the door behind him.
Keeley fingered the material of the dress, a wistful expression on her face. Then she glanced up at Alaric. “I’ll hurry.”
Alaric shook his head. “No need. Take as long as you like. I’m feeling much better after taking sustenance. I’m just going to lie back and get comfortable.”
He broke into a cold sweat when Keely ducked behind the screen and moments later her dress flew over the top, hanging on the edge.
She was naked behind that piece of wood. He cursed Gannon for his interference because now he was stuck in bed imagining long slender legs, perfect breasts, and curvy hips shielding curls that were likely as dark as her hair.
He closed his eyes when he heard the splash of water. Her sigh of contentment tightened his scrotum and his cock strained relentlessly upward, so hard and erect that he thought he might split his flesh.
He reached down with his left hand, shoving impatiently at his laces. His fingers bumped into his rigid flesh and he circled the base, gripping tight. Up and down he worked, nearly groaning aloud at the wicked tightness.
She made little humming noises, and he closed his eyes as he imagined her picking up one leg at a time and running a washing cloth down the length and back up again.
Jesu. He couldn’t finish this.
The hell he couldn’t. He’d take her leftover bath water. He needed to scrub the blood from his side anyway. She’d done an excellent job of keeping him clean. Even his hair. He remembered every minute of her washing his hair. Never before had a woman tended him in such an intimate manner.