Touch of Flame

Ravina felt like she had to know what disease had infected her to be able to cure it. She told Ester about her dream and how she had been feeling lately, except for a few small details about the prisoner. She only told her about the part where she saw him almost naked.

Ester's expression became one she couldn't understand but it looked like she was trying to hold back a burst of laughter while being surprised and excited.

"My Lady, you are behaving as if you just came of age." She giggled with a hand over her mouth. "There is nothing wrong with that. Even at this age, I do feel like that sometimes. Or many times. I am weak at heart." She admitted.

"But I am not," Ravina said. "Anyway, how do I get rid of those feelings?"

"Why would you? You are getting married and about the prisoner…" She shrugged. "You have just never seen a man naked before. It is a normal reaction. I would certainly blush as well."

"Forget why. I just want to do it. Tell me how if you know."

"Hmm," Ester became thoughtful. "I think… you need to satisfy your curiosity."

Ravina frowned. She didn't think this was a solution.

"Don't worry. You will do it alone." She leaned forward as if she was going to tell her a secret. "I have books." She told her.

Ravina became confused. What did books have to do with this?

"Erotic books."

"Huh?" Her eyes widened.

"They are written by women who sell them to other women in secret. I and my friends got hold of a few. You need to read them, My lady. You will enjoy them."

"No," She frowned disturbed, waving with her hand as if she was hitting a fly away. This was the most stupid idea.

"Then if you don't want to satisfy your curiosity through reading, there is only one other way left."

"No.." Ravina said. "You are not helping at all, Ester."

Ester giggled. "You are asking me how to get rid of natural feelings."

"It is not natural to me which means I can get rid of them. I just need to return to my old normal self."

The smile faded away from Ester's face and she looked at Ravina with a serious expression. "Your new self is more normal than your old self." She said getting out of bed. "I'll bring you the books. You can decide whether you want to read them or try out the experience." She winked at her before closing the door behind her.

Once Ester brought her the books that looked like normal notebooks, she stared at the three of them layed out on her bed. Maybe Ester was right. She should just get it over with. Satisfy her curiosity and see that this wasn't as exciting as she thought it to be, once she discovered everything.

Picking up one of the notebooks, she lay down on her stomach and opened the pages to read. It started out normal.

A woman living in a village found a knight wounded in the woods one day. She tended to the knight and after a few conversions filled with tension, they gave in to their desires and made love in the woods. The scene was described in detail and as Ravina continued to read, her mouth fell open in astonishment and her face burned.

When she was done she used the book to fan herself. What woman wrote this? Did women really imagine such things? How much time did they have on their hands?

Once she recovered, she went on to the next story. This woman was a maid in a powerful lord's household. There were mostly hot glances and light touches exchanged between the two until the tension became unbearable and then one night….

Oh lord. Feeling hot and bothered Ravina's eyes skimmed through the words, her heart pounding in rhythm with the maid's heart. The author had gotten bolder with her words and left Ravina's throat dry.

Ravina exhaled when she was done. It couldn't get hotter and more explicit than this. She was still surprised someone wrote this. Why?

The author lost her mind as she continued. The next story was about a woman interested in two men. One was a childhood friend and the other was her father's friend. Ravina became curious about who the woman would choose and make love to but….as she continued to read her eyes widened and widened and widened then ….

Ravina shut the book and threw it away. This was nonsense! Utter nonsense! She couldn't believe what she read. She was furious and bothered and baffled…

She took a few deep breaths to calm down then went to pick up the book. It was Ester's and she didn't want to ruin it. She hid all books under the mattress knowing it would be scandalous if anyone else found them then she went to sleep.

In the middle of the night, she was awakened by a knock on the door. She got out of bed and went to open it. Ares stood on the other side, his hair released and falling down to his shoulders. His green eyes looked darker in the dim light and settled on her with mysterious intent.

He stepped inside without invitation and closed the door behind him without tearing his gaze away from her. Then he took a step forward and she a step back, and he a step forward and she a step back… until she was trapped between him and the bed.

He gave her a light push and she fell down on the bed without making a sound. Suddenly two strong hands gripped her wrists from behind and pinned them above her head.

Ravina looked up to see who held her down. She found the enemy looming over her, his dark hair falling around his face and a wicked smile curved his lips. "Like to be chained, princess?"

She struggled to free herself but to no avail. He chuckled. "You like experiments." He continued with his deep dark voice.

Her attention quickly returned to Ares crawling on top of her. "There is a lot left to explore," he smirked. "Did I not promise to make you enjoy yourself."

No! She didn't want to. She struggled again but the prisoner's hands were like shackles of steel around her wrists and Ares trapped her between his thighs.

She tried to speak, but her lips refused to move. Ares reached for the straps on her nightgown and swiftly untied them.

"What do you enjoy, Ravina?" He asked leaning down to kiss her on the chest.

She stiffened, still unable to speak.

Ares continued to cover her with kisses, his mouth moving up to kiss her collarbone and further up to lave her neck with heat. Ravina gave in to the sensation as his mouth left prickles of fire up her jaw and finally covered her mouth.

When he pulled back, she saw him. The prisoner. He was still almost naked. "You will be my breedmate." He smiled deviously and then crashed his lips against hers.