Touch of Flame

Ravina watched the brothers playing while she sat in the chair. Malachi’s brothers didn’t allow him to jump more than ten jumps, teasing him and ruining the count for him. He ignored them as the children began to jump with him, some asking him to carry them and jump with them in his arms.

There were lots of giggling and screams. There was something beautiful about having lots of siblings and good cousins. She only had a sister and one cousin who was her foremost enemy. Malachi was blessed with many loved ones.

They went from jumping rope to wrestling. Ravina was surprised the children wrestled. It was a strange kind of wrestling where you would bring down your opponent and cause them to be as dirty as possible with mud and grass. The one who was the cleanest won. The brothers were the coaches, giving advice and motivating them before the fight.

Ravina wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but the children respected the rules and were still friendly after except for two competitive boys who didn’t want to stop fighting because none wanted to accept defeat. Joel and Malachi came to pull them apart.

Malachi chuckled as he held away one of the boys. “Does this remind you of something?” He asked Joel.

“Us.” He smirked, holding the other boy who struggled in his arm. Joel only needed to carry him as a small sack with one arm as Malachi did the same with the other.

“Alright. Stop now!” Joel said, sternly.

Malachi turned the boy in his arm and placed him on the ground. He crouched in front of him, holding him in place by the arms. “It is good to be competitive. It is fun as long as you don’t take it too seriously. And remember that is your brother. No prize or praise is worth more.” He advised him.

The boy calmed down and then nodded.

“Alright. You are the older one. Now go hug your brother.” Malachi said.

Ravina watched the brothers reconcile and hug each other and Malachi and Joel gave smiled at each other.

After that she watched all the children going against the uncles and covering them with mud. “Why am I…” Joel was about to complain when Aaron threw mud on his face and it landed like a slap.

Ravina couldn’t contain herself and her hand flew shocked and amused to her mouth, stifling a gasp followed by a laugh. The children as he wiped the mud from his face and then when to chase his brother. The wrestling went all the way to the river and it looked like Joel intended to drown his brother.

The children and Malachi followed them into the river and he helped them get clean from all the mud. When the brothers were done with their fight they also joined to bathe the children.

Ravina watched Malachi as he took off his vest and began to wash the mud from his skin. He was all wet and dirty. Her gaze wavered as she leaned back in her chair but they found him again, following his hand as he washed his shoulder and arm. Her heartbeat became heavy. Perhaps because she held her breath.

Last night as he carried her she remembered some things from the previous night when he carried her after getting intoxicated and blurting out her whole life. She had touched him; his arm, his shoulder, and his chest. She remembered the feel of it as her eyes followed him the movement of his hand now moving to wash his broad chest.

She managed to force her gaze away for a while when she noticed the women on the other side of the river, watching the brothers from a distance.

Oh well, it was a sight to watch and this man not only walked around naked but he had to be wet as well as if he knew the combination somehow made her react. She didn’t even know why she reacted. It was just a wet body. When were male bodies ever attractive?

She could understand liking his smile, even his eyes or face but body..?

‘My body is yours.’ His words suddenly echoed in her mind.

She swallowed, now wishing she had not read those erotic books that gave her a few ideas.

She watched as his glowing skin came to the surface after washing himself. Then he cleaned his hair before stepping out dripping wet. His eyes fell on her, and she almost flinched afraid he could see through her.

He bends down, running his hands down his long legs over the pants to get rid of excessive water, and then pushed his hair back as he stood straight again. He strode over long steps. The children were quick to notice he was leaving and ran after him.

“Uncle! Malachi!” They shouted behind him.

He just waved without looking back. Then they took notice of her, their steps becoming hesitant, some of them hiding behind him until he came to sit on the doorsteps beside her and lean back to let the sun help him get dry.

He took notice of the way they looked at her. “This is Ravina. She doesn’t eat children. You can greet her.” He said casually.

“She looks like a ghost,” one of them almost whispered.

A ghost? Oh well, thank you she thought sarcastically.

“She looks like an angel,” another pointed.

Better.

“I said you could talk to her, not talk about her,” Malachi told them without sounding angry.

A few came closer. “Good morning,” they greeted.

“Good morning,” she smiled.

“Why is your hair white?” A girl asked.

Oh. This reminded her of herself when she was little. The simple yet difficult questions one could ask when they were a child.

“I am not sure why but it must be the same reason your hair is dark,” she replied.

The girl remained still, watching her with a small smile.

“Do you want to touch?” Ravina asked.

She put her hair forward and the little girl stepped closer. Hesitantly she reached out and touched her hair, running her small fingers through it. “It is so soft,” she said.

The other children got the courage to come forward as well, touching her hair.

“So long, so soft,” they murmured. “Your eyes,” one of them stared at her eyes. “They are blue. Like the sky.”

She was suddenly this fascinating creature to be studied.

“Alright. Don’t crowd her now,” Malachi said.

“So princess,” Joel came forward, all wet as well. He motioned for the children to move away.

“The first one who catches a spider will get sweets,” he told them to send them away. They went running. A spider?

He returned his focus to her. “Your leg hasn’t healed yet. What is Malachi making you do?”

Malachi who closed his eyes under the sunrays opened them and peeked at his brother.

“I was to give you your stallion but you are not healing. Are humans usually this slow?” He asked.

Aaron gave him a slap on the arm as he went to sit down. Joel cast him a glance and then ignored him.

“A black, strong, healthy stallion. That was it right?”

Malachi lay back and closed his eyes again when Joel gave him a look. She felt like there was something she wasn’t understanding.

“I have just found the right one for you. The most aggressive. He is a real stubborn one.” Joel continued. “He needs some real taming.”

Ravina nodded, trying to figure out what the teasing in his tone meant.

“It sounds like you found the right one,” she said.

“I think I did. You managed to tame my beastly brother here after all,” he said nodding toward Malachi.

She did nothing to him. She wasn’t even sure what he was talking about.

“And who will tame you?” She asked.

“I am quite tame,” he said.

Aaron scoffed. “Very tame. He is a sheep.”

“Not a sheep. Women don’t like sheep. Not even human females. She wants a stallion.”

Oh! Now she understood and her cheeks burned. “That’s…” Her face went up in flames, the words dying in her throat. “That is NOT what I meant.”

Joel laughed and Aaron tried not to laugh.

“That is enough!” Malachi said sitting up.

Joel stepped away. “I am sorry,” he said continuing to step back. “But our deepest desires know the truth,” he told her before hurrying away.

Ravina frowned, her face still on fire then she turned to Aaron. He looked away and stood up. “I should go change,” he excused himself quickly. He knew all this time too.

Betrayer.

Now she looked at Malachi. He met her gaze with an unwavering one. “You knew all this time,” she said.

“Well, it is a good choice. Would you like a sheep?” He asked.

Huh?

“Maybe.” She said flustered.

He raised a brow. “You can’t ride a sheep, princess.”

“Why would I want to ride a sheep?”

He chuckled. “Maybe you need time to understand this as well.”