He groaned and moved his hot mouth back to hers. “You are going to kill me, woman.”
She whispered, “Never.”
His hands slid down to her thighs, running the length of them until he had the hem of her slip in his fingers. He slowly pulled the slip up, his hands brushing against her bare legs.
She ran her hands down his hard stomach muscles; he ran his teeth along her jaw. She tugged at his waistband; he slid his hands under her thighs and lifted her so their bodies were even closer.
Scarlet was overwhelmed with pleasure and love and sensation and heat. She tilted her head back and her eyes fluttered open.
Suddenly the room lit up.
Bright blue light illuminated the room, glowing against the sparse furniture and Tristan’s large body above her.
They both froze, the only movement between them their heavy breaths and pounding chests. Tristan pulled back from her and looked as confused as she felt.
Where was the light coming from?
“Scar.” He searched her face in bewilderment and fear, his hands coming up to cup her cheeks. “Your eyes are glowing.”
“What?” She blinked.
Her eyes were glowing? Glowing?
She blinked again, trying to ease the burning in her eyes. “Why are they glowing? What is happening?”
Tristan cursed under his breath and lowered his hands.
Scarlet kept blinking until the light faded, completely confused and slightly terrified. She had no idea what was going on, but she was painfully aware of the fact that Tristan was no longer touching her.
Her hands started to shake.
What was happening?
He stepped back and ran a hand over his mouth, inhaling deeply through his nose with a panicked expression on his face.
She swallowed. “What do you suppose that was?”
“A mistake. A very big mistake.”
Fury lit her veins. “What just happened was not a mistake.”
“I should not have touched you until you were cured.”
“Why? What do my glowing eyes mean? Am I getting sick?”
“I don’t know.” He started pacing the room, running a shaky hand over his head as he muttered curse words.
Was she…was she dying? A swamping fear settled on her and Scarlet’s pulse started to race.
“Calm down, Scar,” Tristan said.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! You calm down. You’re the one cursing and pacing.”
“Because I’m scared!”
“I’m scared too!”
Tristan’s face softened and he took a deep breath. “Do not be afraid. I’m sure you will be fine. We just need to keep from touching—completely—until you are cured.”
Scarlet nodded, but fear still gripped her.
He swallowed.
“Don’t leave me,” she said, somehow feeling him slip away from her even though he hadn’t moved.
“I have to go back to my room, Scar.”
She was so afraid. And confused. And afraid.
Looking at her with emerald eyes filled with love and concern, he said, “I do not wish to leave you, but I cannot stay. It isn’t safe. Clearly, my touching you has done something. I need to stay away.”
She shook her head.
“I cannot stay, Scarlet,” he whispered, his voice pained. “Please don’t ask me to stay. I do not want to hurt you more than I already have.”
“Go,” she whispered.
He quietly slipped out her door and Scarlet’s eyes started to burn again.
CHAPTER 12
Scarlet bunched up another linen and shoved it into the top drawer of the small desk in her room. Her nose had been bleeding off and on for the last week. She’d managed to conceal it the first few days, writing it off as a symptom of stress or fatigue, but this morning it had bled nonstop.
She and Tristan hadn’t spoken a word since the night in her bedroom, keeping their contact to only passing in hallways and stolen glances across the room, but Scarlet could tell he was on edge. Always watching her; his brow always creased.
Their trip to the New World was quickly approaching and everyone—including Nathaniel—seemed anxious in some way. The last thing she wanted to do was parade a bloody nose in front of them, adding another worry to the long list of things that hovered over their heads. But she was starting to worry herself.
Her heart pounded in fear and she pressed a hand to her chest to keep the beating madness contained. She needed to tell someone about her nosebleeds, but she didn’t want to alarm Tristan. Perhaps she would tell Nathaniel.
Yes. That was a good plan.
Standing up, she wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt and opened her door to find a very upset-looking Tristan standing in the hall.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded, looking her over before glancing into her room.
“What do you mean?”
His eyes shot back to her. “I can feel you, Scar. I know you’re scared and you’ve been scared all morning. What’s wrong?”
Oh, damn the connection.
She stepped forward, forcing him to take a step back. “I’m fine.”
“Is it your eyes? Did they glow again?” The edge in his voice disappeared.
“No,” she said sternly. “This is not about my eyes. I’m fine.” Her palms started to sweat again and Tristan’s eyes widened.
“I just felt fear flood into you, Scar. What the hell is—” He sucked in a breath as blood dripped from her nose. Again.
She immediately tried to wipe it away, terror darting through her and making her angrier than anything else.
“Oh, Scar,” Tristan whispered as he stepped forward. “Oh, no.”
“I’m fine,” Scarlet said beneath the hand that was actively holding her nose up. Dear God, let the blood stop.
Tristan ran terrified eyes over her face. “Is this because of me? Did I do this?”
She shook her head and tried to reassure him so he’d stop looking at her like that. “I’m sure it’s something else.”
“We have to tell Nathaniel,” he said.
“Tell me what?” Nathaniel’s voice came from down the hall and Scarlet turned to see him standing outside his door, messy brown hair matted to his head and a curious expression on his face. But the curiosity vanished as he took in Scarlet’s bloody hand and, now, dress.
“What happened?” Nathaniel walked over to Scarlet, pulling her hand away from her nose. “Go find a rag,” he commanded Tristan as more blood fell.
Scarlet pointed to her desk where a stack of fresh linens still sat.
A burning sensation formed behind her eyes and Nathaniel gasped as blue light reflected off the walls.