tempted her more. A shower! For two months she’d been washing off with water carried from the creek and heated in a kettle in the fireplace, which wasn’t very efficient. Washing her hair was a big deal and required waiting until she had the time to sit beside the fire to dry it. She worked hard at basic cleanliness, and now hot running water was the ultimate in luxury to her.
He almost smiled—not quite, but almost. “If you could see your face. I take that as a yes. Towels and washcloths are there.” He indicated the linen closet. “I don’t have any fancy-smelling soap or shampoo—”
“I don’t care!” she said hurriedly, already reaching for the buttons on her shirt. She stopped, blushed, and dropped her hands before she found herself stripping in front of him.
“Take as long as you want.” He went out and closed the door.
Sela peeled off her clothes so fast she almost tore them. A shower! She was going to have a wonderful hot shower!
Ben threw on his shirt, then took the dog and went outside. He didn’t quite trust himself to be in the house, knowing he had a naked woman in his shower—and not just any woman. Sela. Quiet, gentle Sela, who kissed him back with a fire that still had his balls aching. It wasn’t just the way she’d responded, but the concern she’d shown over the annoying but definitely not serious cut on his shoulder, and the gentleness of her touch as she tended to him. All his prior wounds had been treated either in the field—not gentle—or in a military hospital—still not gentle. She hadn’t been treating a wound, she’d been taking care of him. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d been taken care of as himself rather than as a soldier, part of a fighting force.
Talk about a surprising turn of events. From the second he’d seen her walking up the driveway, things had happened fast.
Shit. Sela had balls. Not actual balls, which he intended to eventually prove for himself, but when she wanted something she was apparently willing to do anything to get it. She hadn’t even been asking for herself, but for the people around her, who would never know what she’d offered and perhaps didn’t deserve that kind of sacrifice.
Sacrifice? He’d make damn sure it was neither a sacrifice nor a payment. He’d do what she wanted, no strings attached. Whatever happened afterward would happen because they both wanted it.
He didn’t want to deal with the townsfolk, community folk, whatever the fuck they were. Wears Valley wasn’t a town. Whatever it was or wasn’t, he still didn’t want to deal with them, but he was committed now and obviously they needed the help. Despite himself he was concerned about the old couple, the Livingstons. They’d have a tough time emotionally dealing with what had happened, and would need help getting past it and feeling secure in their home again.
He looked at the dog, bounding around and sniffing at everything. He hadn’t wanted the responsibility or the company of the dog, but he’d gotten used to both. He patted his thigh and the gangly pup bounded over to him, body wiggling with delight. Ben crouched down, scratching behind both ears. “I’ll miss you, boy,” he murmured, “but there’s a couple of old people who need you more than I do.” There was a concept; he hadn’t realized he needed the dog at all. “Reckon you could be happy being spoiled rotten? I don’t think you’ll get in much hunting, but you’ll have all the attention you could want.” Maybe the Livingstons wouldn’t want a dog to take care of, though having a mountain cur in the house keeping guard might be just what they needed to make them feel safe again. All he could do was ask.
And, fuck, that meant he’d have to do some hunting for them, to help them keep the dog fed. That was what was wrong with getting to know people. It was like getting caught in a damned spiderweb, with more and more strands getting wrapped around him.
One of those strands was in his shower right now. He kept stroking the dog, but his thoughts had zeroed back in on Sela. When he’d mentioned the shower . . . the expression on her face had been priceless—and arousing. He’d seen joy, wonder, and desire, her soft dark eyes filled with longing. For a shower.
He had a hard-on. Again. Gingerly he straightened