She smiled. “If you think it’s worthwhile.”
“You are worthwhile. I made that decision before I even started on this endeavor.” He knelt beside her. “And since Catherine has seen fit to champion your cause, I have no choice.”
“You make your own choices.” Catherine looked over her shoulder. “But Erin and I will be glad to have you along.”
Cameron gave a mock shudder. “I appear to be in isolation.”
She didn’t answer as she moved toward the chest. She was still angry with both of them, but Hu Chang belonged to her. She had to forgive and work with him. Cameron was an entirely different matter.
Different. Oh, yes, he was definitely different.
However, the gleaming white cold-weather gear that he had ordered for her was the best quality and worthy of the slopes of St. Moritz. Glamorous as was the outerwear, the undergarments were the same practical issue that Venable had ordered and that she was now wearing.
The first priority was to get out of the wet clothes she was wearing and into the clean dry garb. Privacy was not an issue. There was none in this tiny hut. Forget about it. The only person she might be concerned about was Luke, and he was turned on his side and clearly dozing. She dropped the blanket and stripped off the wet clothes in two minutes. It took her less than that to replace the bra, T, and tights. She towel-dried her hair, then rubbed her feet vigorously until it revved up the circulation. She put on the rest of the clothes except her boots.
Done.
She sat down before the stove and tried to finger comb her hair but it was too stiff from the chemicals of the hot springs to behave. She looked like a wildwoman and stank like rotten eggs, but this was the best she could do.
“And a very good best it is.”
Her gaze flew to the other side of the room. Cameron was leaning against the wall, sitting slightly apart from where Hu Chang was attending Erin.
“Peeping Tom, again? This time in more ways than one, Cameron.”
“It interested me that you had no false sense of modesty.” His smile was purely sensual. “And so I decided to benefit from it. Rotten eggs or not, you’re fantastic, Catherine.”
Heat. Her breasts swelling, tightening. A tingling in her palms and between her thighs.
“Not me,” he answered the question she hadn’t asked. “You’re a very responsive woman. I was lucky enough to strike the right note.”
He was probably telling the truth. She couldn’t deny that he’d had a strong sexual effect on her from the beginning. How could she when the bastard could read her mind? “I’ll get over it. That note will get very sour the longer you mess with my head.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I find I’m reluctant to have you get over it. Suppose I guarantee that I won’t ‘mess’ with you unless I find it necessary to save you or Erin? It worked pretty well traveling through the hot springs, didn’t it?”
“No, I always knew you were there.”
“Only because that’s what I wanted. I thought it might give you a feeling of safety. I didn’t want you to feel alone.”
“Look, I don’t need you to make me feel safe. In the end, it always has to come from me.” She added, “And it’s totally ridiculous for you to try to seduce me when we’re struggling just to get Erin out of here.”
“It’s not actually seduction. I’m just paving the way.”
“Then, stop. Go find out what’s happening with Kadmus.”
“In a few minutes. I have one of the villagers on the way up to the hut now.”
“How did—Never mind.” She paused. “Then let’s concentrate on Kadmus and forget about your libido.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll do my job. I was even considering devoting myself entirely to boring duty and discipline. But that was before I spent so much time with you. I’ve been entirely too good for too long. I’ve decided I need a reward.”
“And I’m the prize? Screw you, Cameron.”
“Oh, I do hope so.” His smile lit his face with mischief and humor. “And now I’ll bow out and leave your mind alone.” He got to his feet. “But you may find that you miss that kind of contact. It’s much more efficient.”
“Not a chance.”
He shrugged as he slipped on his parka. “Hu Chang did miss the contact after our time together several years ago. But he’s more cerebral and less emotional.” He headed for the door. “We’ll have to see.”
Catherine watched the door close behind him and felt an odd sense of loss. More mental hijinks? Or was that a natural aftereffect of dealing with a man who bewildered and challenged her more than anyone she had every encountered?
Hu Chang did miss the contact after our time together several years ago, Cameron had said.
Which meant that Hu Chang had become closer to Cameron than she had imagined.
And that Hu Chang was the one who could probably answer most of her questions.
And she wanted those answers now.
She got to her feet and crossed to where Hu Chang was still kneeling by Erin.
“How is she?” she whispered as she looked down at Erin. There was a faint flush on her cheeks, and she appeared asleep. “She looks better.”
“Of course, she’s better.” He closed his leather medicine duffel. “I’ve healed everything physical I can heal. She will need rest and perhaps a little additional surgery. He was very cruel to her. Her mind will take longer, but she’s very strong.” He drew the cover higher about her throat. “And Cameron will help her. Just being with him is a healing factor for her.”
“I noticed.”
Hu Chang tilted his head, his gaze on her face. “And you do not like it.”
“No more than I like his influence on Luke.” She met his gaze. “Or you.”
“Why?”
“It frightens me. Luke is a child, and there’s reason for him to fall under Cameron’s influence. But not you, Hu Chang.”
“You have nothing to fear. Cameron and I have an understanding. He won’t break his word unless I do something that threatens his objectives.”
“What word? What objectives? I need to know more, Hu Chang. Don’t push me away. Tell me.”
He stared at her for a moment. “You are very weary. You need to rest.”
“I’m tired and pissed off, and I’m worried. I won’t be able to rest until I get rid of two of the three.”
His gaze shifted to the door. “Where did Cameron go?”
Her gaze narrowed on his face. “Why do you think I should know?”
“He was joined with you while I was working on Erin.” He smiled faintly. “I’m familiar with Cameron when he’s in the joined state. I was with him for a number of months and allowed to get to know him fairly well. He was not joined with me or Erin. Therefore, it must have been you.”
“It was,” she said curtly. “He went to meet with the villager he’d set to watch Kadmus and his men.”
“And managed to irritate you exceedingly before he left.”
“He does that very well. I think he enjoys it.”
“He enjoys you,” Hu Chang said softly. “Beware.” He rose gracefully to his feet. “But since he will be gone for a while, we will have time to talk.” He moved to the stove and sank to the floor in front of it, his legs crossed tailor fashion. “Come. Sit with me.”
She sat down beside him. “Not too close. I still stink from the hot springs.”
“Yes, you do. Ask me if I care.”
“No.” The warmth of the fire. The closeness that always bound them together. She felt herself begin to relax. “But it scares me to risk offending you. You might throw it in my face someday.”