Touch of Flame

Ravina was unusually tired. She never thought of going to bed and wanting to sleep because of her nightmares but now she had hope after having a few good night sleeps.

She was oddly thinking of her pink bed sheets and... Malachi. Yes, he would be warm too. Heat rose to her cheeks and she fought hard not to remember the embarrassing mention of her body.

"How are you feeling?" Georgia asked.

She had been at Georgia's home, being her physician self again. A few dragons needed some help and although she had guests at home and Nazneen worried her, she decided to keep herself busy. Hopefully, Nazneen would eat what she had served her. She could understand her worry but there seemed to be something else going on as well.

Malachi told her that Nazneen could have figured out her relationship with Ares.

"He didn't tell her?" She was surprised.

Malachi had chuckled. "I can't blame him. I don't think you understand yet that possessiveness is in our bones. We are very territorial and we don't take it well when someone comes into our territory. It makes us irrational and uncontrollable sometimes."

Hmm.... she could understand some of his reactions now.

"You think she would hurt me?"

"Anything can happen. She is extra unpredictable and also very powerful."

"Still, he should have told her." She felt bad now and she was defending Nazneen while Malachi agreed with Ares. "He could help her calm."

"I don't know. He can tell her once they leave this place."

He wasn't very fond of Nazneen.

"I don't think she is bad. She seems nice and... she hasn't done anything to me."

She had watched him as he began to work on building the swing for her. Her eyes watched the muscles in his arms strain and relax as he carved out the tree.

He chuckled. "This is the difference between a dragon and a human. You can be rational and see that she is nice but she wants to strangle you. I promise."

He didn't look up at her. He was focused. She was focused too but on his arms.

"Did the prisoner tell you anything?" She asked.

"No. He is stubborn. Maybe I should send Nazneen there to release her anger but I am afraid she will simply kill him."

Ravina smiled. He was really not going easy on the poor woman. "Right now she is very stressed."

He just nodded and continued with his work.

Ravina had already been feeling hot since the morning but watching him work had fanned her flames. Why was he so concentrated? He looked so... she had yet to find the right word because it wasn't handsome. Something more...arousing.

This was NOT fair! Why was she reacting like this and he could easily know? She had been happy when Georgia came to find her and gave her something else to distract her. But now that distraction was gone and she looked at Georgia who came to sit on the sofa with her.

"Just sleepy," she replied.

"Do you know that are in your fertile period?"

She was? Ravina didn't keep track of her period because they were very irregular due to her malnutrition.

Fertile period? She began to put the pieces together. That was why Malachi spoke of her scent.

"Do you feel... something?" She asked.

"Like what?" Ravina wondered.

Georgia smiled mischievously. "More... irritable or bothered?"

"I feel hot..." she said feeling like her clothes were sticking onto her body. But bothered and slightly irked she had been as well.

Georgia chuckled. "That is one way to put it. This is just the beginning."

"What do you mean?" Ravina wondered. More? No, thank you.

Georgia moved closer to whisper. "Do you... have any experience?"

Ravina's cheeks flushed.

"A kiss?"

Uh...

"Yes."

"More?"

"Just a little..."

She looked at her as if she was the most innocent child she had ever seen. "Well, then there is more to explore."

Explore?

'Tell me, do you want to experiment?' she remembered a familiar voice. 'There is a lot left to explore.'

Then her mind flashed through everything that she had read. Not the time! She stopped herself. And then she remembered Malachi on top of her...

No... she cleared her throat.

"It is late. I should go home." She said.

Georgia gave her a gentle smile. "I will walk you."

"No. It is fine." She hurried to say. She really needed to stay away from these people and their sensitive noses although she truly adored Georgia. She reminded her so much of Corinna.

Ravina knew Georgia would protest since it was late but Aaron arrived at her home.

"Aaron is here. I will tell him to take you home," She said and before Ravina could protest she hurried out of the room. Ravina followed her and found Diaz and Aaron chatting in the parlor.

"Aaron! Are you here to take Ravina?"

"Actually no, but I can do that." He smiled.

"Great!" She said turning to her with a smile.

Great indeed.

Georgia gave her a hug as they said goodbye and then Aaron walked her home. Ravina did her best not to think of anything but that only made her think.

Aaron chuckled suddenly and she looked at him feeling conscious.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Why are you so quiet?" He asked in turn.

"I am just tired."

"And flustered." He added.

"What do you mean?" She frowned.

He chuckled again. "Relax. You just look like you want to hide."

"Well, when you can sniff me like a dog, then I do want to hide."

He smiled. "Everyone smells everyone here. No one would bat an eye and you often smell like this."

"Like what?"

"Like a walking temptation to any man who wants to breed."

That was blunt.

"Thank you. That makes me feel better."

He laughed. "And it certainly makes Malachi feel better." He teased.

"You enjoy your brother's torture?"

He shrugged. "I am sure my time will come, so I will enjoy his. By the way, he is letting you be out so late? He must be enjoying some fresh air."

Ravina knew what he meant, but this time she smiled at his teasing. It must be so nice to have brothers. Despite their differences, when it came to tough times, they stood by each other, and Ravina truly admired that. Even Saul could put aside his broodiness.

Speaking of the devil, he was right at the front door and he seemed to be staring at something on the floor. Malachi came right outside as they neared and Saul pointed with his fingers at what looked like a train of blood.

"What is happening?" Aaron asked.

"The man just left," Saul said with a serious tone. Then he turned to her. "Wasn't his leg broken?"

"Did you see him walk?"

"No, but I doubt he left crawling."

"Maybe Nazneen helped him."

"No. She just rushed out looking for him."

Malachi hurried down the stairs. "I will be back," he said.

"Where are you..." Before she could finish her sentence he hurried away and then saw him shift. "Where did he go?" She asked his brothers in case they knew.

None of them answered her.

****

Malachi thought this was his chance to figure out his suspicion. This could be his only chance and he didn't want to miss it. Once he spotted her from afar, he shifted back to be more discreet. He wanted her to lead him to whatever secret they were hiding.

The sea? She was flying toward the sea.

Strange. Did she think Ares left her?

When she slowed down and began to land, he did the same. He still needed to keep his distance. He landed in the woods, and then he took mud to cover his scent, rubbing it all over his body and hair. The scent of the sea was strong so that could also help, then he began to head toward where she landed, navigating through the trees.

His senses alarmer him of something. An animal perhaps but he still looked around and behind him. When he turned back again, he saw the dark silhouette partially hiding behind the tree as if they didn't care to be seen. A woman, he thought from the curve of her body, and long hair.

"Who is there?"

Slowly, the body stepped out. A woman with long hair, but... she was naked? He could only see her silhouette, but he could also clearly see the shape of her legs and body.

She stepped out of the shades and her scent reached him. She smelled of the sea and salt and when he saw her he realized why. She was wet... and naked. Her blue eyes looked him up and down, almost with a predatory look and a smile curved her lips.

"Who are you?" he asked.

She stared into his eyes and then began to whistle a melody. A calm hypnotic melody that soon set him into a trance. She motioned for him to come with her hand and his feet moved by their own accord. A smile settled in her eyes as she continued to whistle the melody.

He walked closer and closer to her, and she waited patiently, taking him into her arms, and wrapping them around his neck. She stopped whistling, and her blue eyes swirled mysteriously before she leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Then she pulled back and smiled wickedly, "Sweet dreams."