Hide and Seek

Game

Because not even the sinful, magnetic, beautiful Warrior and Clan's Son was going to get in the way of my freedom.

Mate? Whatever.

I took a deep breath after that mental pep talk and picked up the ointment I'd prepared. I couldn't put this off any longer.

Calm and cool, calm and cool, I told myself.

As I entered the room, I found his companions standing and sitting around the room, laughing and talking. Myers was by his bedside chatting with him. The conversation lulled as they saw me. I felt grey-silver eyes on my face but deliberately kept my eyes on Myers.

"Good morning, Myers." I said, inclining my head at him. He smiled back.

"Good morning, Ri. I just dropped by to see our guest. He seems to be on the mend?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I nodded at his unspoken question and could see his face relax slightly.

"He is on his way." I said no more, but would update Myers privately so he could keep the higher ups informed.

"I suppose you need to change his dressings." He gestured at the bowl in my hands. I tilted my head slightly. "Then we should leave--"

"Some can stay." I interrupted him. I really didn't want to be alone with Damian right now, not when things were still so raw for me. And I was uncomfortably aware that those silver-grey eyes had been steady on me ever since I walked into the room. "I mean, everyone doesn't need to go."

"Leave us." That low voice sent an involuntary shiver down my spine and my eyes met his. There was the hint of amusement and then they were impassive again. I looked down as naturally as I could, noticing the skin on my arms. Ah crap, he'd given me goosebumps.

"We'll be outside." Nix said, smiling at me as they shuffled out. Evidently they obeyed everything Damian said.

"I'll leave you to it, Ri. But I'll catch up with you later." Myers said as he turned to Damian. "See you later, my Lord."

My Lord? I did a mental eye roll as I neared the bed with the ointment.

"I hate it when people do that." I kept my eyes on the ointment bowl as he spoke, setting it down on the sidetable and drawing it to the bedside. I realised I had to reply or it would be strange.

"Do what?" I busied myself with stirring the ointment a few times, testing the thickness with the tip of my finger.

"Call me 'my Lord'." I glanced up at him. Those damned eyes, fixed on mine. For a second I couldn't breathe.

"Don't worry, then, I won't." I said, beginning to peel off the gauze and poultices on his torso. He laughed and then winced. "Did that hurt? I'm sorry."

"No, it didn't hurt." I could feel his eyes on my face again. God, would he just stop looking at me.

I worked in silence, wiping off the dried ointment from the last application and cleaned the wounds again, resolutely ignoring his gaze, focusing on doing my job, but aware - so aware - that this was my mate. Once the fresh ointment and dressings were in place, I tossed the used material into the refuse bin and was turning away to the sink when I felt his fingers close around my arm. I jumped at the humming current that ran through me, then swore in my head. He'd noticed that.

"Do I scare you, Healer?" He asked and my pulse began to do a little jig at the sound of that smooth voice.

"No."

"But you're uncomfortable."

"Yes." I answered. Might as well be half-honest with him.

"Why?"

"It might have something to do with the fact that you're Clan's Son and there's every chance that if anything goes wrong, I'll end up chained in the dungeons with only a rat named Basil for company." He stared at me for a second and then began to laugh, really laugh, and what a sight that was to see, his head thrown back, those grey eyes dancing with amusement, his mouth wide and this tiny dimple in his left cheek. Stop it, I told myself. STOP.

As his laughter slowed to a gentle chuckle, I noticed him wincing. I poked his arm.

"I'm glad I amuse you but that little bout of giggles has winded you. Breathe." His eyes were back on my face, but still merry.

"You're bossy."

"It comes with the territory." I said my back to him as I washed my hands.

"We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Damian." I wiped my hands, stuck what I hoped was a neutral look on my face and turned around.

"Damian. I'm Marien. Ri." He tilted his head as he looked at me. And then he smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Marien-Ri." I nodded awkwardly at him. Nice to meet him? NOT. He'd just managed to singlehandedly fry my brain with that smile.

"You're young for a Healer." He commented.

"Funny, this young child Healer somehow sewed you up." I remarked drily. I'd heard these comments too often to get annoyed by them. Sarcasm, the best weapon.

"It's just that the Healers at Clanholme are older and definitely don't look like you." He said, as his eyes travelled slowly down my form and back up again to my face, and I felt that look as if he'd laid hands on me. I kept my face impassive as I reached for the empty ointment bowl.

"That wasn't an attempt at flirting, surely?" I said in my most bored voice. "You need to get more game, Damian." I heard him chuckle behind me as I went into the stillroom. I leaned on the table, my hands gripping the edges. He didn't need more game. I'd been with the man for half an hour. If this went on, I'd need alcohol by the end of the day. Get a grip. Get a grip, Ri. I grabbed the jug of tea I'd brewed, the powdered herbs and a honeysnap and went back.

"I'm sorry if I offended you." He said as I came back in.

"You didn't." Short answers, that was the key, short answers. I poured a glass of tea and mixed the herbs into it. "Drink this. It's bitter, be warned." He took the glass from me and swallowed it down. I had to swallow a few times myself as I watched his throat. It's the stupid mate attraction, that's all. Just stupid hormones. It isn't real.

He made a face as he handed the glass back.

"Honey?" I waved the honeysnap at him and cracked it before holding it out to him.

His eyes on mine, he leaned forward and close his lips over the honeysnap and my fingers, and I felt him suck gently for a tiny second, the briefest of touches, before he drew back, the honeysnap in his mouth. Those eyes never left mine.

"Game enough for you?"