Touch of Flame

Ravina sat with her back to Malachi and held a shawl to her bare chest while he took care of her wounds. Her entire body was still on fire and the damp cloth he used to clean her wound was soothing against her burning skin. She wanted it on her face to soothe the heat on her cheeks as well.

“I am sorry,” he suddenly said.

Ravina frowned. “Oh.. it is not your fault. I just don’t feel it sometimes.”

The pain.

When he stopped she first thought that it was because she kept pushing him away or fighting against him but that wasn’t really what she meant to do. She just reacted that way, pushing away when it became too intense and then pulling him in for more.

God. She surely lost her mind. She hated not having control over things and now she created this bloody mess. That was why he had stopped because he didn’t act like someone who would any time soon.

She shivered, her nipples still stiff and tingling from the rough play of his tongue.

“Is it too cold?”

“No!” She blurted. She needed the cold.

Her gaze fell on the closed window ahead. It was getting brighter outside and during this time it should be a little cold.

“I meant to be more gentle,” he spoke softly. She heard regret in his voice.

“I am not that fragile,” she told him.

Oh, God! What was she saying?

“I know.” Now she could hear the smile in his voice. “Sometimes a rabbit, sometimes a lioness.”

She scoffed. “I don’t know what rabbit you are talking about.”

“A white soft small rabbit with big eyes.”

“Haven’t seen it.”

He chuckled and then a silence followed. “I know you are strong. I still want to protect you.” He then said after a while.

Protect her? She was confused. In a moment like that, what would he protect her from?

“I want you to feel good and safe.” He added.

Oh… now she understood or she thought so. He was talking about being a bit… aggressive?

He had surprised her with that “you are mine,” and then the way he slammed his lips onto hers and kissed her like he was starved and angry but in that moment she couldn’t think. His kiss was wild but she found it thrilling as well. He made her lips sting but what could she say? She had always enjoyed some pain. It seemed like her odd habits didn’t entirely go away.

Ravina licked her lips, feeling a small wound on the inside of her lower lip, that she bit open. But she was surprised to only find one. Her lips and hands were often covered with bruises and scars but now they were healing.

“Where do you have bandages?” He asked putting the bowl away. The water was now red.

Ravina pointed at the drawers of her dresser. Malachi stood up, walking over to the dresser. He opened the top drawer and looked through it while she watched him as if looking for something.

His hair covered his face as he leaned forward. It had grown past his shoulders now, but the ends still looked perfect, unlike hers.

Pulling out everything that he needed he turned around, his eyes meeting hers for a moment before he walked back. Ravina took notice of the sadness in his eyes before he looked away and also the distress in his expression.

It couldn’t be just her wounds. What was bothering him? Just a moment ago he had kissed her with all that energy and fierceness, and now the aura around him was gloomy.

“Is something wrong?” She asked when he began to bandage her wounds.

“No.”

“You look sad.”

“I am just tired.” He replied.

It was a long day and it just hit her now that she had been doing this while Ares was sleeping upstairs. It felt like someone suddenly splashed cold water on her face. She went from imagining kisses to a broken leg.

“It is done.” He said when he finished.

“Thank you,” she said standing up to find a robe to wear.

Malachi removed the stained sheets meanwhile and tidied up her side as she came to bed. “Be careful not to sleep on that side,” he said speaking of the wound.

She nodded and carefully lay on her healthy side. Malachi got into bed with her after blowing out the candles and then put the covers over them. He didn’t come close to her but the splash of cold water was already out of her system and she was feeling hot again.

Ugh.. she forgot to open the window and the scent of him surrounded her. “Good night,” she said as if that would help her calm.

“Good night,” he replied and then closed his eyes.

Ravina looked at his face now that he wasn’t looking at her. Her gaze fell on his lips and her body remembered everywhere that he had kissed her. The silken fabric of the robe teased her now again sensitive peaks.

She drew in a sharp breath and then closed her eyes and pressed her lips into a thin line. She pulled up her knees which were clasped together tightly to stop the tingling between her legs. Keeping her eyes closed only made her recall everything and when she opened them he was right in front of her. She wished to turn away but her wound had opened on the other side.

Feeling hot, she carefully pulled the blanket down and tried once more to sleep. After a while, she heard Malachi turn in bed. He turned away from her and she wondered if he was also still awake.

She didn’t ask and tried again to lull herself to sleep. In an almost successful attempt when she was almost dozing off, she felt him move again, and then the mattresses rose on his side.

He was leaving. She listened to his footsteps and then he was gone. He was clearly bothered by something.

***

Malachi couldn’t sleep for many reasons, the first being her scent and not only the fact that she was going into her fertile days but she was still thinking of what they did and it left the scent of her aroused state looming in the air.

He hadn’t meant to take it all the way with the kiss. Hell, he didn’t even think it would go this far and he certainly didn’t plan it. He allowed his rage and frustration to take over and it wasn’t the way he had wanted to do it.

Malachi wanted to ease her into it. He wanted her to know him and for him to know her before doing anything drastic. He wanted her to yearn for him although her scent and the way she was unable to sleep told him something, but again she was in her early fertile days so perhaps just like dragon females she was easily aroused during those times. He wasn’t sure.

The other reason he couldn’t sleep was because of Nazneen. He couldn’t tell what she was doing but she was too noisy for his sensitive ears and now she was going somewhere.

Where would she go and leave her breedmate in this state?

When he came out he found, he found her seated near the river on the grass. She looked over her shoulder slightly, just to let him know she was aware of his presence.

“Will you just stand there?” She asked.

He needed fresh air anyway so he went a sat a distance away from her. “Should you leave his side?” He asked.

“I couldn’t watch him like that anymore.” She said, staring at the river.

He said nothing and they sat in silence for a while.

“Why are you here? I thought you were having fun.”

Of course, she heard.

When he didn’t reply, she smiled. “Oh, a virgin. Must be difficult to control yourself. Gentle is not our strongest trait and they are more fragile.” She chuckled amused but it didn’t last long. Her lips were quick to droop again and she looked back at the river.

“You two seem too close to be only knowing each other for two weeks,” he said digging for information.

She shrugged. “I have no one else, you know. He released me and I have been with him since then.” She then turned to him. “Now, why do you dislike him so much? It can’t be because he is human.”

It felt as if she was fishing for something and he wasn’t sure what. “I don’t dislike him. I just don’t trust him. I think he is the one who doesn’t like me.”

She chuckled. “Well, I am sure he dislikes many of our kind.”

She didn’t seem bothered by it.

“How did you feel when you first found out he was your breedmate?” He asked.

Malachi felt such relief to be able to ask such a question. He never thought he would meet someone in the same situation.

“I was so angry. I felt betrayed. In a moment of rage, I almost killed him.”

That sounded like her but he had felt the same way.

“Do you feel guilty about it?”

She shrugged. “He shot me. Twice. So.. no.”

Malachi almost smiled and here he thought he was the only one shot by his breedmate.

“At least your breedmate is a female who doesn’t make weapons aimed to kill our kind.” She shook her head. “Those things are painful.”

Malachi laughed. If she only knew. Wait? That meant Ares didn’t tell her about him and Ravina.

“What is funny?” She asked.

“Hairpins exist,” he told her.

“Oh, so she is that type? I like her.” She nodded.

How long would that last?