Touch of Flame

For the first time, Ravina actually wished she could sleep. She just wanted whatever she was feeling to stop and where her thoughts went. It was impossible. That was just the way it was. When someone told themselves to stop thinking about something, then they thought more about it.

Now she couldn't help herself. She reminisced his fingers around her jaw and then slowly trailing down her throat, followed but what just happened now, his fingers continued to trail down her stomach, grazing her skin as he peeled the paint off.

She could still feel the heat of his fingers where he had touched her, but truth was, he had touched her everywhere. Undressed her with his gaze. She had seen his eyes. The way he looked at her. There was no mistaking what he was thinking. What he wanted.

Ravina knew the lustful gaze. She had seen many men look at her that way but Malachi's was different. It was intense. Raw, ravenous, and frightening. She could feel its intensity deep into her bones. It made her shiver from the inside.

She shut her eyes tightly, trying to forget both his gaze and his touch. Well, it went the opposite way. Now she was using what she read in Ester's erotic books to wonder what Malachi would do if she let him fulfill whatever needs his eyes showed. What would he do with her with that incredible body of his?

Her body began to pulsate in forbidden places. No. She couldn't be thinking about him that way. It felt wrong somewhere deep inside like she was being unfaithful. Guilt began to creep into her chest and then she felt appalled by herself.

How could she be so easily swayed and affected, especially by a man who planned to destroy her people? She felt like she was betraying her people, her parents, and... Ares.

Rejecting any thoughts of him, she went to sleep.  For the third time, she didn't have a nightmare. Instead, she had some strange dreams of mountains, of floating or falling.

When she opened her eyes, she wasn't sure if it was the air but she thought she was floating for a moment, especially when she saw the sunrise, right in front of her. Clear, big orange circle. Then there was the dark silhouette of a man.

Malachi.

A shadow in the sun. The view was mesmerizing. It was like a painting.

She sat up to see things upright. Malachi was also watching the sun. He stood still, as the cool morning breeze crept into the temple.

She rose from her seat and walked outside to watch the view close by as well. Malachi turned around when he heard her footsteps. She remained standing at the door, unable to see his face because of the sun that shone from behind him.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning."

"Did you sleep well?" He asked.

She felt strange talking to him without seeing his expression so she stepped outside moving closer.

"Yes." She said squinting her eyes to see his face. "And you?"

He was silent for a moment and she walked around him so he would turn and she could see him. "I slept well, too." He said turning with her.

Now she could see him. He walked away and went to sit sideways on the broken railing of stones that was made. For a moment she thought he could fall but then remembered he was a dragon.

She went to sit with him on the railing, not afraid to fall off. They watched the morning sun in silence for a while. She had never seen it so up close. The beauty of it mixed with the tranquil morning where she could only hear a few birds sing, made her feel something strange inside. Maybe there were certain things she could like and enjoy.

"I can see why temples are located on mountains." She said

He shifted his gaze and watched her with his dark eyes. "Your hair looks orange now," he said.

She looked down at her hair. It reflected the orange sunlight. "It does," she said, lifting her gaze to look at him again. He wore a slight frown as if troubled by something.

"Was the night enough or do you need more time?" She asked.

"Would you stay if I needed more time?"

She nodded. "If you need."

His eyes searched hers. "Why are you suddenly agreeable?"

She shrugged, thinking back of her father. "It is difficult being a king and you need a clear mind to rule and make wise decisions."

He watched her curiously. "You learned a lot from your father. You were close."

He wasn't asking, but she nodded. "And you... were you close to your father?"

He nodded but she didn't miss the way his face hardened. He didn't like the topic. "We were close. You now wonder why I killed him then?"

She didn't reply, but she did wonder.

He sighed. "I wonder too. I wonder if it was the right thing sometimes," he said looking away.

She frowned. If he had regrets about killing his father then it must be painful. Even if he didn't, that was just such an abnormal thing to do. Painful either way.

When he said nothing else, she guessed he didn't want to share more. "And your brother, Saul? You two seem close?"

"We are. There is only one year difference between us which is rare in dragon families so we were always close. Sharing everything."

"Please, don't tell me you shared women too?"

He chuckled. "No. Luckily we have different preferences."

"I can see that." She said.

He narrowed his eyes and she realized what she said. "I don't mean that I am of your liking," she hurried to correct herself. "I know it is just your instinct."

His eyes continued to hold hers. "Right," he said nodding but it felt like he meant to say something else.

"Well," he stood up. "Let's go back. You didn't eat last night."

They cleaned after themselves in the temple and then went outside to find Rani. She realized she would have to sit close to him again.

"Do you want to sit at the front or back?" He asked her this time.

She wasn't sure having her arms around his bare body was better than him having his arms around her.

"Front." She said.