Page 42

Just watching him look at her breasts, all that hot male intensity directed at her, and she felt a rush of dampness between her thighs.

Was she out of her mind? They were fleeing from men who’d held her captive, the jungle was all around them, she was hurting. and her rescuer was a surly SOB who pretty much saw her as a pain in the ass…

He looked up.

Their eyes met.

The world seemed to stand still.

Then he shot to his feet.

“Okay,” he said briskly. “You’ll live.” He dug into the backpack, took out a navy T-shirt and tossed it to her. “Put this on.”

She shook her head.

“No. I mean, thanks, but you’ll need it.”

“I have another. Take it. I don’t want you putting your old stuff over the areas I disinfected.”

His tone was authoritative, his explanation sensible, and whatever nonsense she’d experienced a moment ago was exactly that.

Nonsense.

She took the shirt, turned away from him, let go of her own shirt and pulled on his. It ballooned around her, yards of soft cotton that she suspected would cover her from throat to knee once she stood up.

“Got the shirt on?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now get those pants off.”

Had she actually had even a two-second fantasy

about this man? A drill sergeant would have been a better choice.

“Yes, sir,” she said briskly.

She unzipped the cargo pants, or what was left of them. He took out another couple of antiseptic packets.

“Lie back.”

She lay back, her weight on her elbows.

He squatted at her feet.

His entire body tensed.

Her feet were a mess. That the bastards who’d held her captive had forced her to talk until her feet were bloodied and torn filled him with cold rage.

He dealt with them as best he could, but he needed water, sterilized water, to do the job right. He tried to be gentle, but he knew he had to be hurting her even though she took it all in silence.

“I’m sorry,” he said when she winced.

“No.” Her voice was raw with pain, but she managed a quick smile. “Don’t apologize. I understand.”

She gritted her teeth while he took care of her feet, then moved his attention to her legs.

Amazing.