Let Me Love You by Mary Wine Page B

was as hot as a poker pulled from the fire, sending another rush of agony down her back.
    “Don’t you dare close your eyes, Brianna.”
    Her lips wouldn’t cooperate enough for her to answer. She couldn’t get them to form any words. All that escaped her throat was a jumble of sounds that betrayed how much she hurt. Every patch of flesh was ablaze with pain that slashed deep into her joints. He grasped her wrist and bent his knees. With another yank, Sloan flung her over his shoulder. He straightened up without a second of hesitation and moved across the dock at a brisk pace, his boots making sound because of his hurry. She should have been horrified to have her fanny facing up, but it felt like ice was moving through her and it hurt too much for her to worry about anything else. She tried to grasp the black fabric of his duster, to steady her head, but her hands refused to close into a grip.
    A door opened and Sloan kicked it shut behind them. The air in the room burned her cheeks, it felt so warm. She gasped as Sloan let her down. “Try and stand, honey. I’ve got to get your dress off.”
    “B-b-but—” Her teeth knocked against one another as Sloan placed his rifle against the wall. He took hold of her shoulders and steadied her.
    “It’s full of ice.” He stroked a hand over her head and through her hair. Ice hit the floor with a rattle that startled her. She looked down in confusion right before she hissed as Sloan’s fingers touched her neck.
    “You’re h-h-ot.”
    “No, honey, you’re cold. The kind of cold that kills.” His voice was hard but not angry. He grabbed the top of her dress and opened the first few buttons. Disbelief spread through her as she tried to wiggle away from his touch.
    “Your face is blue.” He caught her shoulders and held her steady as he locked gazes with her. “A dip in an icy river can stop a man’s heart. Your dress needs to come off. Now.”
    He finished opening the front of her dress as she tried to think. Caught between the horror of dying and the idea of being undressed in front of him, her mind was completely overwhelmed. He slid her open dress right down her torso and over her hips before she mustered a response. She tried to push his hands aside, but her muscles weren’t obeying her brain’s commands. She still shivered violently, clenching her teeth together to keep them from chattering. Each touch from Sloan’s fingers felt hot enough to sear her skin.
    “I’m sorry, honey, but I only know one way to warm you back up.” His voice was thick with determination. “The clothes come off.”
    Brianna looked up to stare into his eyes. A second later he grabbed the tie lacing her stays. A hard jerk and she felt the garment begin to slacken. He pulled at the cord until her corset dropped to the floor.
    “Oh no…” Her words were whisper soft and full of embarrassment. Her chemise was plastered to her wet skin, leaving very little of her body a mystery. Never once had she ever considered being viewed by a man, even a husband in such a way.
    “Body heat is the only way to keep you from dying on me.”
    The harsh note in his voice frightened her. It was the same tone he’d used on Joseph while aiming his rifle at the man’s gut. She wiggled once more but he followed her and hooked his fingers into the shoulders of her last garment. He pulled her chemise right over her head. He gripped her hips, and her knickers, along with her petticoat, went down her legs so fast she wasn’t sure when he unbuttoned them. A shower of ice hit the floor, filling the small cabin with a rattling sound. Looking down, she stared at the harsh truth of just how dangerous a situation she was in. Her clothing was frozen. Getting free of it was the only way to warm back up.
    But that left her nude.
    A little sound of horror escaped her lips as she found herself standing bare in front of a man. Her brain flatly refused to grasp the complete idea of it. Sloan didn’t give her any time