The tears coating her cheeks dried and made her skin tingle. Affection? She wanted Vaughn’s affection? When had that become a concern?
“Perdita?” She flinched when he touched her shoulder. He moved his hand, and she immediately missed him.
She sniffed. “Vaughn, please don’t pull away. I’m still rather jumpy after…” She couldn’t face the awful horror of what almost happened. He stood beside the bed, his eyes glowing and his hair falling over them. His hands were still bloodied, and she realized his skin was broken in a few places.
She sat up and reached for his hands, catching them before he could pull them away. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s only a scratch or two.” He pulled his hands away from hers and walked over to the washbasin, dipping his hands into the water.
“Damn, it’s cold,” he mutte
