Grounded By Love (The Giant Wars #2)(5)

At first, he sputtered and choked on the liquid, but then he sucked in the liquid until the cup was empty. With how thirsty he was, she wondered how long he had been on the battlefield. She made several trips between him and her bucket of fresh water. Eventually, he had his fill and wouldn't take anymore from her.

Stretching her arms above her head she tried to stretch out her back muscles. With the rock giant out for good, she only had to worry about the villagers finding out about his presence.

Now that she wasn’t being one minded with her healing, she turned her attention to herself. She was still in rain soaked clothing. If she didn’t want to catch a sickness, she would want to change to dry clothing.

With the amount of tea, he drank, he would be out for quite some time. She didn't need or want him waking to see her naked. She wasn’t accustomed to being naked around another person, but she needed to change out of her wet clothing.

Slowly, she let her dress slip off her shoulders. Grabbing a clean cloth, she dampened it and began to wipe the blood and dirt from her skin. When she finished, she reveled in the feeling of being squeaky clean. She slipped on a new dress, one of the very few she owned. Claira needed to be careful with how many dresses she ruined or she would soon be walking around in the nude.

She didn’t make much from those she healed. The villagers could only give so much, when they decided to give her anything at all.

Now came the giant’s turn. She needed to get him out of his wet armor and take all and any weapons away from him. She didn’t need him waking up in a panic and reaching for a sword. Claira was positive a giant warrior was trained to strike first and ask questions later.

She’d seen many naked men as a healer, but she’d never seen a naked rock giant before. Claira had to confess she was insanely curious. This was her chance to study a rock giant up close.

After stripping off his heavy armor, she found him very similar to human men. The only difference was the height, eye color, and muscle build.

She had no dry clothes that would fit him. For now, he would just have to wear a blanket, and hopefully he wouldn't kick the blanket off. He needed all the warmth he could get, at this point.

Walking back to her chest of herbs Claira dug through them again. She put different leaves and flowers into her mortar and pestle. While she ground them, she added a little water until it became a thick paste.

While she waited for it to harden a little, she looked over at the rock giant lying on her bed. Strangely enough, having him here in her cottage made her feel less lonely. The villagers had never accepted her, which was the reason she lived by herself on the outskirts of town.

She had no family to speak of, and just the presence of another being, after all these years, made her feel content.

She shook her head. There was a patient to be tended to. She didn’t have time for lamenting her loneliness through all these years. Grabbing the bowl of paste, she made her way over to his bedside. She applied the pleasant smelling paste to the deep wound on his chiseled chest. Taking a long strip of cloth, she wrapped it tightly around his chest.

She needed to stop his blood loss, at all costs, while keeping infection at bay.





Chapter 2


Claira jerked awake in her chair. Shaking her head and rubbing her eyes, she looked around. She must’ve dozed off during the night.

It’d been two days, since she’d rescued the rock giant, and she was impressed with his recovery, though she kept him well sedated.

Claira rose and went to check on her patient. His breathing was normal, but he was still running quite the fever. The freezing rain may have taken him too far out of her healing reach. He was doing better, but in his condition, that didn’t mean much.

Before getting ready for the day, Claira wiped down the rock giant's body with a cool cloth. Then got him some warm broth to drink. She was determined to keep him hydrated with fluids, while she was gone for the day. The village would need another checkup from her.

She was in the middle of packing her supplies for a visit to the village, when a knock sounded at her door. Her heart skipped a beat, but she told herself to calm down. She had no idea who was at the door and for what reason. They probably just needed her healing and nothing more.

Yet, she still rushed over to the rock giant and tucked the blanket up and around his shoulders only leaving his head exposed.

Straightening her dress, she put on a straight face and yanked open the door.

“Claira.” Robert said, as he smiled down at her.

“Robert… what brings you to my cottage?” Claira asked wishing it hadn't been him.

He’d been interested in her for years, but she didn't feel the same way about him. He wasn't the man for her, and she wasn't about to pretend like he was. There was no need for him to waste his time pursuing her.

He put on his most dazzling smile. “I came to check on you. After the recent battle so close to your home, I was concerned about you being here alone.”

Claira was touched by his thoughtfulness. Even if he wasn't the man for her, he was still a kind soul. He was the only one out of all the villagers that enjoyed her company. She just wished he could settle for friendship.

“Thank you, but as you see Robert, I am fine.” She smiled kindly, but hoped he would just leave. She had no idea if she could trust him with her rock giant secret.

“I was hoping to come in and sit with you, perhaps to discuss your hand in marriage.”