Highland Thunder (Isle of Mull Series) by Lily Baldwin Page A

beside her and slowly reached for her hand.
    ***
    Hesitant fingers grazed Brenna’s arm, traveling down her skin over the top of her hand, causing her to shiver. With a hold like a whisper, he turned her hand over, exposing her injured palm. He leaned close. Then he dipped his head low, his lips hovering above her skin. She stiffened with surprise as he blew a gentle stream of air over her wounds, bringing instant relief wherever his breath fell.
    “Does that feel good?” he whispered.
    Her breath caught in her throat and she nodded, unable to speak.
    His black eyes locked with hers as he continued to blow soothing currents over her skin, his full lips curved and intimate. She shifted in her seat, unsure of what to do or say. She tried to look away but could not, held captive by his gaze.
    Her pulse quickened. His other hand descended on her arm, stroking her skin. Although calloused and rough, his powerful hands moved like a soft breeze that ignited a chain of sensation, causing her to tremble.
    Her body leaned toward him of its own volition like a flower turning from shadow. Finally, she could bear it no longer. With a gasp, she stood up and pulled her hand free. He looked up at her with wide eyes. Then he lunged to his feet, his chair falling back with a crash. A string of curses filled the room as he stormed outside.
    She could still feel the heat of his touch on her skin, burning hot, masking the pain of her wounds. She closed her eyes, yielding to the sweet fire. Then her eyelids sprung open.
    What in God’s name was she doing?
    She looked over at Nellore who had fallen asleep curled up beneath her blanket. Relief poured over her as she realized whatever had just occurred had not been witnessed by her daughter—short-lived relief as her mind returned to Duncan.
    She was no maid. She knew the name of the feelings he awakened with his touch. It was desire, but what sent her mind reeling was the intensity of feeling from the lightest caress. This was new. It felt like a wave washing from his body into hers, except the water was not cool or crisp like the ocean. Heavy, undulating currents seeped through his fingers, pouring warm honey into her veins.
    Sweet Jesus above, had he felt it too?
    Horrified, she laid her head on the table, hiding her face in the crook of her elbow, burying her head deeper when a worse idea presented itself: what if he hadn’t felt anything at all? He despised her, could not even tolerate the sight of her. He likely deplored the contact that had made places within her come alive.
    She started and sat up with a jolt as the door swung open, and he ducked inside.
    “Unwrap the other bandage,” he growled. The muscles in his arms and chest were flexed with tension.
    She sat unmoving as a chill crept up her spine. Dark emotion twisted in his eyes like seething whirlpools of fury. She had never liked Duncan. She did not trust him, but until that moment, she had never been afraid of him. She continued to stare with wide-eyed trepidation.
    “Damn and hellfire,” he cursed loudly.
    She stood pointing to Nellore, her instincts as a mother trampling her fear. “You will check yourself at all times when my daughter is near, Duncan MacKinnon.”
    He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. When he looked at her again, it was as though he was leagues away. Indifferent Duncan had returned. This Duncan she knew how to handle.
    She stripped away the bandages, tearing them off heedless of the blisters beneath. The sooner he was done dressing her
    wounds the better. Judging by how quickly he hurried over, he agreed.
    “This will hurt at first, Brenna, but it will clean the sores and encourage healing.”
    He did not look at her as he spoke, which she could only pray continued.
    “Just be done with it,” she said.
    He dipped a rag in the bowl with the sea water mixture then applied the saturated fabric to her blisters. She flinched but more because of his touch than the sting of the salt. Nothing