A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(75)

“Mother.”

Fatima gasped and looked at her son. They had been speaking and had not realized he had been listening. Ariana had thought him caught in a stupor of pain. For some reason she felt guilty. She didn’t know why.

“My son. You were fortunate today,” Fatima said, bringing her sons fingers to her lips and kissing them repeatedly.

“I was fortunate to be with a woman who can not only care for herself, but has the strength to see others through as well.” Sin stared at Ariana steadily. “I have chosen well.”

Sin groaned and tried to shift in his bed.

“You must remain still,” Ariana said hurriedly, choosing to ignore his personalized comments.

“I do not do well with stillness,” he said grimly.

Ariana could see how that would be. He remained active, be it mind or body, constantly. He was going to make a terrible patient.

“I will remain still only if you get into my bed with me,” he said, gazing hard at Ariana.

“Nonsense. You do not need me sitting beside you making you even more uncomfortable than you already are,” she said.

Sin let go of his mother’s hand, grabbed the covers and threw them off of his body. Ariana gasped as he exposed himself to his mother and moved as though to rise from the bed.

“Stop! Please get back into bed!” Ariana begged him.

“My son, Ariana is right, you cannot move about in this condition.”

“The doctor said you weren't to move at all!”

“Get into this bed with me and I will be still.” He held her gaze, challenge in his eyes. She knew without a doubt that he would get up if she did not agree, no matter what it cost him in pain.

“Very well,” she said on a harsh sigh. “If you must be held like a child then I will hold you.”

He chuckled and let his mother tuck the covers back across his body. Ariana circled around to the opposite side of the bed and gingerly climbed in beside him, trying her best not to disturb him too much. He blew her efforts to hell when he lifted his arm and draped it about her shoulders, drawing her into his side with a grunt of pain. She took hold of his arm and undraped it from her shoulders, settling it down between their bodies.

“I’ll stay only if you rest and take care of yourself.”

“I promise you that I will. But I will need you to entertain me.”

He grimaced and groaned and she bit her lip.

“Don’t you use laudanum here? It would reduce the pain.”

“And it would reduce my capacity to think clearly,” he said with a frown. “The ability to be here for my people. As it is I will be stuck here for a few days.”

“Weeks,” Ariana corrected.

“Days,” he shot back. “There is no way I am staying here for more than a week.”

“Do not worry, Ariana. His body will reduce his bravado over time.”

As if on cue, Sin groaned soulfully and placed his hand against the wound on his chest.

“Damn. I have never felt pain like it. Every breath burns. Movement is excruciating. It is almost more than a man can bear.”

“Then that is why I should not be here,” Ariana argued, making to move from the bed. He quickly grabbed her hand, though the fast movement cost him in pain.

“I said almost. I will get out of this bed if you do.”

“I cannot stay here constantly.”

“Perhaps not constantly, but close enough. You will sleep beside me. Eat with me. Perhaps read to me. Keep me generally entertained so I do not scream from boredom. Would you do that for me?”

He sounded so hopeful she could not deny him.

“It is not as though I have anywhere else to be,” she reminded him softly.

She didn’t know if his grimace was from pain or contrition.

“I will need someone to keep me apprised of all things. You are…free to move about as you need to.”

“Without a guard?” she asked.

He lowered his gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

“Very well,” she said. “But if I am free to come and go, I want that to be made general knowledge. I don’t want to be waylaid or confronted over everything I do.”

“It will be done. When you are not here you are to have the run of the temple. But I do not want you leaving these walls without me. I know…you have proven yourself able to handle yourself in a dangerous situation,” he allowed, “but it would make me feel better.”

“Don’t worry. I have no desire to leave. Although…I may want to walk with Mariah around the grounds. You have the beginnings of a lovely garden with all its walkways. The plantings are not finished and the trees and shrubbery are young yet, but it will be a garden to be proud of once it has grown up.”

“I see no harm in that. You must have a little fresh air. Very well, with Mariah or my mother…but always with a guard.”

She didn’t know why it should hurt her that he didn’t trust her, but in a way it did. Of course, given the opportunity she would escape the temple and head back home…wouldn’t she?

She bit her lip as the thought wrestled in her mind. Of course she would go. She didn’t belong here. But…could she make herself leave him? They were lovers now and although she told herself it was only a physical connection…she feared that wasn’t entirely true. She was quickly growing attached to him…to this place. To this country with its wounded and robust people. She was growing fond of Fatima. She was such a strong woman. She had ruled a people and raised a fine son until he was old enough to rule on his own. She had set an example for him in more ways than one. She had shown him how to be a benevolent and thoughtful ruler, and she had shown him what it meant to be part of a loving couple. So much so that he wanted it for himself.