His gaze fell to her arm and again, he felt the adrenaline surge that begged him to go back and slap the corpses of every assassin who had endangered her life.

Taking her hand, he kissed her knuckles.

Sumi tried not to let his actions soften her. But it was too late. Especially while he looked at her with that adoring expression.

It made her ache to kiss him.

Most of all, she wanted to choke him over the amount of damage he’d taken for them. Yet, it was hard to be angry at him when he looked at her like he was already tasting her. Hard to stay angry when he touched her with such gentleness.

Still red, those eyes followed every move she made.

She sat back and frowned at how many wounds lined his torso and arms. “You really need an MT, Dancer.”

He squeezed her hand comfortingly. “I’ll be all right.”

She shook her head. “You’re not invincible.”

“Damn near.”

She rolled her eyes at his arrogance. Though to be honest, it wasn’t. He really could stand stronger and take more damage than anyone she’d ever heard of. Was it an Andarion thing? Or was he just that strong?

Her stomach tightened at all the injuries on him. “Didn’t at least one of them miss when they shot at you?”

He laughed then grimaced. “Yeah, I always wanted to be that hero in a movie where no one can shoot straight except me. Never happens. I seem to always walk into the school of award-winning sharpshooters.” He dropped his hand to the injury she had on her biceps. “You okay?”

“Told you. Flesh wound. Throbs, but I can handle it.”

He smiled. “My tough mia.”

Tears filled her eyes as she bandaged his ribs. Without thinking, she lay her head on his chest and carefully held him. He wrapped his arms around her and for several minutes neither of them moved as she listened to the strong beating of his heart underneath her cheek.

Sumi lifted her head as she realized he was sound asleep. She pulled her poncho out and made a pillow for him before she finished cleaning and dressing his wounds. Only then did she remember that they weren’t alone.

Ah crap…

Terrified of what she’d inadvertently done, she went to check on Bastien first.

Like Dancer had first attempted, he brushed aside her help. “I’ve had worse from bar fights. Trust me. Beatings I can take.”

“You sure?”

Bastien nodded. “Hand me a cloth and I’m fine.”

She hesitated.

Glancing over to Dancer, he gave her a sardonic grin. “Sumi, I learned a long time ago, you don’t touch or get touched by an Andarion’s female. They get really hostile over it, and I’m not physically able to keep Hauk from killing me right now. So no offense, let’s maintain at least a five-foot no-touch zone. ’Kay?”