Free Desire Me by Robyn DeHart

assumptions. Things are not always as they appear,” she said.
    He said nothing, merely sat quietly with that seductive grin of his.
    She finished the last stitch and tied off the thread. “There you go.” She paused and looked up at him. She once again found
     herself trapped by his soul-stirring eyes.
    She looked away after a moment and tried to recover herself. “You need some salve,” she muttered. Gently she smeared a generous
     amount of the thick ointment over the stitches and the surrounding area. “This will help it heal.”
    “Thank you,” he murmured.
    “Regardless of why you were here tonight,” she said, “I do appreciate your assistance.”
    “You need to be careful. Someone is after you, Sabine, and though you won’t tell me, I suspect you know why. If you don’t
     have the good sense to let me help, then at least seek assistance from someone.” This time she saw no playfulness in his eyes,
     no teasing.
    His advice was sound; she could not deny that. But she had no one she could ask for help. “We can protect ourselves.”
    “Four women living alone should always be cautious,” he said.
    She busied herself by cleaning up the supplies. “We are cautious.” She had no one but her aunts. “We are perfectly safe here,”
     she insisted, despite the blatant evidence to the contrary.
    “Yes,” he agreed wryly. “Your aunt’s shooting accuracy not withstanding.”
    He stood then and tugged his shirt on. He cringed as he stretched out his arm to slide on the bloodstained coat. But she made
     no move to touch him again.
    Together they walked down the staircase in silence, then he turned to her and said, “Another kiss for my trouble?”
    “I think not,” she said, though the invitation and his wicked grin sped up her heart.
    “Pity.” He bent and pressed his warm mouth over her hand.
    Sabine shut and locked the door behind him, then turned for the staircase and nearly walked right into Calliope and her other
     two aunts, who weren’t far behind.
    She jumped. “Good heavens, you frightened me. What are you all doing sneaking around?”
    “We weren’t sneaking,” Agnes said.
    “We came to assist you,” Calliope said.
    “Assist me with what, precisely?” Sabine asked as they all made their way upstairs.
    None of them answered.
    “Did you check the amphora?” Sabine asked.
    “Yes, it is right where I left it,” Agnes said.
    And immediately she felt the fool for even asking. Of course Agnes had taken proper measures to ensure the safety of the elixir.
    “He’s the one with the map,” Lydia said, her arms crossed over her chest. “The one Madigan told you about?”
    “Yes,” Sabine said. They all followed her into her room. She sat on her bed, hoping they’d get the hint that she was ready
     to sleep. She didn’t want to fend off their questions.
    “Younger and more handsome than I’d have thought,” Agnes said.
    “Indeed.” Lydia nodded, her lips pursed.
    Calliope nodded enthusiastically.
    “I hadn’t noticed,” Sabine said.
    “And I suppose you didn’t notice how firm his body looked,” Agnes said.
    “Agnes, truly!” Lydia chided.
    “What?” Agnes tossed her arms up. “I’m old, not blind.”
    Sabine ignored them both.
    “He came into the shop this morning,” Calliope said. She eyed her sisters with a wide grin.
    Sabine shot her a warning look.
    “And you didn’t tell us,” Agnes asked. She tsked her tongue. “Keeping secrets from your aunts.”
    Sabine knew Agnes was teasing her. She’d been the very same aunt who had encouraged Sabine to have a part of her life she
     kept to herself. Still, Lydia was standing right there, and she would expect an answer. “There was no need to,” Sabine said.
    “What did he want?” Lydia asked.
    “He wanted to know why I wanted his map.” Sabine shrugged. “How I’d found out about it. Questions any person would have if
     a woman showed up out of nowhere offering you a wager for your prized