Free Tiger of Talmare by Nina Croft Page A

unpleasant, and she wondered what it would feel like if his thumb moved a little bit higher. She shifted restlessly, and his hand slid up to the juncture of her thighs, his fingers curling inside, pressing upward, and she groaned.
     
    He chuckled, a very self-satisfied masculine chuckle that had her bristling.
     
    "What do you think you're doing?" she asked.
     
    "Taking your mind off the pain." He flexed his fingers, and she shuddered against him. "Is it working?" he asked.
     
    She opened her mouth to answer, but at that moment, he came to a standstill. She raised her head from where it rested against his broad back. They were back at The Revenge . Darla was standing in the open hatchway, her mouth open. She caught Mel's eye. Mel glared, and Darla shut her mouth. Then she shook her head. "Are you okay?" she asked. "Leila said you'd been shot."
     
    "Obviously, I'm not okay," Mel said. "If I was okay I would be walking and not being carted around like so much luggage."
     
    "Actually, she said you'd been shot by Zach."
     
    "I was saving her life," Zach muttered. "Why does no one ever mention that bit?"
     
    Mel thumped his back.
     
    "Oomph!" he said. "What was that for?"
     
    "I think you can let me down now. I can make it to the sick-bay, and if I need anything, I'm sure Darla can help."
     
    "I'm not letting you out of my sight until I get my reward for saving your life," he said and strode past Darla through the open hatch.
     
    "Wait!"
     
    He paused. "What now? This is not open to negotiations."
     
    "Just a sec." She pulled the money bag from inside her shirt and tossed it to Darla. "Spare parts money."
     
    Zach didn't falter as he made his way through the ship. She wanted to ask how he knew his way, but realized it was a stupid question. After all, it had been his ship once. A long time ago.
     
    As they reached the sick-bay, Mel felt the engines fire up and The Revenge take off. She sighed with relief; she wanted to get as far away from Sanderson as possible. Zach lowered her gently to the floor. Once down and on her own feet, she realized just how much she hurt.
     
    Heat radiated out from the blaster burn, a deep throbbing pain, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She bit her lip to stop the whimper from leaving her mouth and swayed. Zach reached out to steady her.
     
    "Here," he said, "lean on the bed."
     
    He turned her gently, placing her hands on the bed. Crouching down, he took hold of her ankle. "Lift," he ordered.
     
    "Why?"
     
    "Can you never do anything without an argument? I need to take your boots off."
     
    She raised her foot and winced as he tugged off the boot. He repeated the action with the other foot, then straightened, his hands moving to her waist. Untying the red sash, he tossed it to the floor. Before she could even think, he was unfastening her pants, and she put a hand over his.
     
    "What are you doing?"
     
    He ignored the question, and she slapped weakly at his hand.
     
    "Hey, stop that," he said. "How do you expect me to treat you if I don't take your pants off? Besides, do you seriously think there's anything there I'm not going to see in the very near future?"
     
    She dropped her hand to her side and didn't object when he unclipped the fastener and started to tug them over her hips.
     
    Someone coughed. Mel glanced over her shoulders to see Darla hovering in the open doorway. "I just came to see if you need any help," she said.
     
    "No, we don't, thank you," Zach replied.
     
    Darla looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Are you all right with this, Mel?"
     
    Was she? When she hesitated, Zach leaned across and kissed her neck, the tip of his tongue, hot and moist, teasing her skin. He nipped at the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulders, then breathed in her ear. "Get rid of her."
     
    Ripples of pleasure shivered their way down her spine. She forced herself to concentrate.
     
    "Er, I'm fine," she said, "Zach's just going to..."
     
    "Make you feel better," he whispered