Without a word, he carefully laid her down so that he could open her bandage and examine her wound. Sumi did her best not to think about the fact that no man had touched her this intimately in years. And never had one done so who was this handsome or this gentle. No wonder her sister had fallen so hard for Fain.

Andarions were exceptional beings.

In spite of Hauk’s immense size and innate ferocity, his touch was feather light and tender. Almost loving. The kind of caring touch she’d spent her entire life craving.

The kind that had always eluded her.

Before she realized what she was doing, she reached out to touch the hollow of his cheek. Freshly shaven, it was every bit as smooth and soft as it appeared. Until she reached his prickly, well-trimmed goatee and mustache that framed his handsome lips to perfection.

He locked gazes with her. His eyes were so strange compared to the human eyes she was used to. But even so, they were every bit as sexy as the rest of him. And for some reason she couldn’t even begin to fathom, the intelligence and compassion in those eyes made her blood race. She was so attracted to him that it was more frightening than he was.

I am losing it.

She was here to frame him, not screw him.

Damn, the legends were true. There was something innately alluring about Andarions. Almost like they put off some kind of ferocious do-me pheromone.

“Sorry.” She withdrew her hand.

Hauk couldn’t speak as a strange fire simmered in his body. He had no reason to trust her. She was human, and with the exception of the handful of humans he called family, he hated all things human. Never had one of their females ever held even a passing curiosity for him.

And yet…

He wanted to kiss this one so badly that he could already taste her lips. Her scent filled his senses, and the softness of her skin made his mouth water.

Think of Dariana.

Exquisitely beautiful and completely Andarion, she was to be his wife. He was pledged to her and had been since Keris’s death. No matter how tempting this woman was, he couldn’t dishonor his vows to his brother’s widow. He must take care of Dariana first.

Even if she hated him and begrudged him every breath he took.

Hauk forced himself to examine Sumi’s wound then cover it before he looked over the smaller cuts on her leg and arm. “They seem to be healing without infection.”

“Thank you.”

He inclined his head to her. As he started to withdraw, she caught his hand. That small contact sent a strange wave through him. One he’d never experienced before.

“Why does Thia call you Hauk, while your nephew uses Dancer?”

He released her hand. A smile twitched at the edges of his lips. “Thia likes me more.”