To Love a Man by Karen Robards

Author:Karen Robards
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Warner Books
Published: 2001-03-27T22:00:00+00:00

XI

LISA awoke with the vague feeling that something was wrong. She lay unmoving for a moment, still in the same position in which she had fallen asleep. The interior of the rondavel had lightened to a gloomy gray—apparently she had slept straight through the night and into the morning. Outside, she could hear the rain still beating relentlessly against the thatched roof and sides of the hut. It sounded as if it would never stop.

Sam’s arm still curved around her waist, holding her tightly against him. Pressed close to the naked skin of her back and buttocks, she could feel the heat and hardness of his body. The mat of hair on his chest and belly and thighs provided a soft, sometimes prickly cushion between them. His breathing was loud in her ear, but almost too shallow and fast to denote a deep sleep. For a moment Lisa allowed a smile to touch her lips, thinking that he was awake and wanting her. Apparently his injury was not severe enough to interfere with his most basic natural instincts.

Then Lisa’s eyes widened and the smile fled from her lips as she felt a long tremor rack his body. He continued to shiver violently against her, and Lisa realized that this was the sensation that had brought her from sleep. Moving with difficulty because of the tightness of his grip on her, Lisa wiggled around so that she was facing him. He still held her clamped against his body, but his eyes were closed and she knew that he hadn’t the slightest awareness of what he was doing. She didn’t even have to work a hand free and place it against his forehead to ascertain that he was burning up with fever. The scorching heat of his body as he pressed her ever closer told her that.

“Sam!” His name came out before she could catch it. It would do absolutely no good to wake him up, she realized with the thinking part of her brain, but the emotional part of her needed the reassurance of his awareness. When he made no sign to indicate that he had heard her, she was frightened. Dear God, they were alone in a hostile wilderness under the most primitive of conditions, and he was clearly very ill. What in the name of all that was holy was she to do?

Reason temporarily fled; she tried shaking him, desperately wanting him to open his eyes, to somehow acknowledge her presence. At least if he was conscious, she rationalized, he could tell her what to do for him. But he remained oblivious to her efforts. Lisa could have cried. She had never felt so helpless, so inadequate. Was she totally useless? she railed at herself. Couldn’t she—just this once—be strong and capable for both of them instead of automatically turning to him for guidance and support?

Another long shudder rippled over Sam’s body. His hold on her tightened again. Lisa realized that he was clutching her so painfully close in an effort to share her body heat.

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