Unforgettable Lover (15 page)

Instead of getting rid of his rival, and taking his place as king of the Stiyaha and the Jixies, he’d saved Noeh’s miserable life and ended up in a coma. That had worked out great, hadn’t it? The only good to come from the deed was some clarity. Whatever was in that dart had paralyzed his body, but purified his mind.
I have much to atone for. 

“All right, Bet. If you can do this, so can I.” 

Blankets lifted off his body, and the cool air swirled over his exposed skin. The only garment he wore was a pair of loose briefs tied at his hips, courtesy of the Jixie tailors. 

“Oh, my,” Til purred.

“Your cheeks are red,” Bet said.

“I can’t help it. Look at those muscles. I didn’t realize Panthera were so…firm. I guess I expected a thinner build.”

“Okay, enough ogling, let’s do this before the water gets cold.”

Gentle hands lifted his head and placed a warm towel on his pillow. Water dripped into the bucket, as if someone wrung out a rag. A warm, wet cloth started at his brow and circled around his face and ears. The sensation should’ve felt good, but instead, a scream built in his throat. He didn’t like others touching him. 

Tepid water from another rag dripped over his feet. They tag-teamed him, and he dreaded where they would meet.

“What does Gaetan think will happen to him?” 

Bet didn’t respond right away, and a chill ran down Demir’s arms. He ached to know, yet, part of him didn’t want to hear her answer.

“He’s been like this for almost a month. If he doesn’t come out of it soon, Gaetan thinks he’ll get weaker and—” Bet stopped washing Demir’s chest and a stream of water ran down his side.

“Bet, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. Please don’t cry.” 

Bet’s crying? Over me?
He’d been nothing but rude to her. A wave of guilt raced down his spine.

Bet sniffled. “I’m ok, thank you. I just can’t imagine what would’ve happened to Noeh if… The Gossum are brutal creatures. I despise their evil, hairless hides.”

“Uh, Bet? What now?” Til’s voice wavered.

A lukewarm washrag lay draped over the top of Demir’s thigh. He pushed against his invisible shackles, desperation making him want to turn into his panther form and lash out. As much as he tried, his body remained still, lifeless.

“Let’s turn him over and untie the string. We’ll wash his backside first.”

The rags disappeared from his thighs and stomach. Footsteps converged on his right and small, strong hands pushed under his back and legs. Against his will, he rolled onto his left side.

Soft fingers tugged at his shorts. The string holding the two sides together fell away, revealing his buttocks to the two female Jixies. He tensed, waiting for the reaction he knew would come.

A quick intake of breath. 

Skin slapping, as if a hand had covered a mouth. 

Silence.

“C’mon. Let’s be quick. Don’t keep this warrior waiting,” Bet said.

“The…scars. There’s so many.”

“Til. Help me wash him.” Bet’s tone turned harsh.

Demir’s face burned. The disfigurement was a constant reminder of his failure. Bet and the females who washed him were among the few who had ever seen the tracks. Not even his once-beloved Eleanor knew of the blemishes that marred his body and soul. The female Jixies’ reactions brought back the embarrassment and pain as if he’d earned those scars yesterday.

Lukewarm water rubbed against his rough and mottled skin. The rag’s torture made him scream inside. His mind fogged. The pet frog he’d had as a child surfaced in his thoughts. He’d captured the small creature by the bank of a stream one night. The frog had lived for several days, until his constant touching killed it as surely as the lack of water. A new appreciation for what he’d put his little pet through raced across his mind. 

When they were done, they rolled him onto his back. As if he needed any more humiliation, they washed his groin. He endured the cleaning as best he could. What choice did he have? Soft hands retied the string at his hip, covering his maleness and giving him a modicum of privacy.

“He looks so peaceful. I wonder how he got those scars,” Til asked.

“I doubt we’ll ever know,” Bet replied.

“Should we trim his beard?” 

“Aramie likes to shave his face and clip his goatee. We’ll leave that for her.” 

Aramie, his second in command, had spent quite a bit of time by his side, taking care of him. Her constant chatter had helped ease the loneliness. 

When Til spoke, her words were soft, quiet. “Really? Isn’t that interesting.”  

Silence filled the room.

Bet cleared her throat. 

“What? I was just admiring. He’s a handsome male in a rugged sort of way.” 

“That’s enough. Time to go.
Now.
We’ll come back later and change his sheets.” 

“Okay—” 

Smooth fingers pulled the sheet up and tucked the soft material around his shoulders. The towel was removed from beneath his head. Now that the bath was done, his racing heart slowed back to its normal pace. 

Water sloshed and a squeaky wheel crossed near the foot of his bed. Clothing rustled and soft footsteps padded toward the exit. As the door opened, a cool breeze blew across his face. He relished how it tingled his skin. A desire to go with them rose to the forefront of his mind, but he couldn’t and that burned deep in his gut. The door closed behind them, and he was left alone with only his tortured thoughts to keep him company. 

To pre-order
Untamable Lover
, click
here

To my father…who always believed in me.

About the Author

After finishing a rewarding career in finance and accounting, it was time for Rosalie Redd to put away the spreadsheets and take out the word processor. She writes Fantasy/Science Fiction Romance inspired by classics from the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres layered with a good, hot dose of romance.

Her novel,
Untouchable Lover
, won or was a finalist in several contests sponsored by local chapters of Romance Writers of America.

She lives in Oregon, where rain is just another excuse to keep writing. When not at her computer, you can find her at Jazzercise, waterfall collecting in the Pacific Northwest, or relaxing with her husband and their pesky cat, Snookums.