Touch of Flame

Malachi was ready to hold her down if she decided to get up and fight him, but all she did was harden her gaze. Alright. Perhaps not a fight. Then a threat?

“Maybe I should let everyone know you drew it,” she said.

He knew it but it just occurred to him that he painted her. Everyone would know he did it. He would have cared if he wasn’t enjoying this torture so much.

He had her laying in front of him, watching her stomach quiver now and then as he drew on her, hearing the unsteady rhythm of her heartbeat and heavy breath. Feeling the heat of her body and seeing her face flushed. It was torture for her and he enjoyed it because she tortured him so much.

“Let me finish,” he said and went back to draw on her. She stiffened again.

It was so satisfying to watch the black pigment against her white skin. He wanted to run his fingers down her stomach. How much would she quiver under his touch?

Malachi was only holding back in fear of her running away. Strangely she seemed more fearful of him today. He wondered why. Did anyone tell her something new about him that scared her?

She was a little more open, probably because she was intoxicated but she was still on guard.

If she wasn’t afraid that he would hurt her then he could only think of one thing.

“It is done,” he said when he finished and leaned back to take a look at what he had created. It looked beautiful on her. Sensual.

As if he wasn’t already burning, now he was breathing fire. His lungs turned to ashes releasing smoke from his nostrils. He never had to exercise so much self-restraint. This was more painful than being shot with obsidian.

She became aware of how he was looking at her. It frightened her. He could not blame her. It frightened him how much she affected him.

He had been known for being a beast in his younger ages. He had been worse than any of his brothers when it came to women. He had both enjoyed chasing and just doing his business fast in any close corner. But he had never hungered for anyone like this. This was madness.

She moved and he stopped her. “It still has to dry.”

“How long?”

“It will take some time,” he told her.

She sighed as she tried to relax.

“You are afraid today.” He said.

“Of what?”

“I am not sure. You tell me.”

“I am not afraid,” even as she said so, her heartbeat betrayed her.

She wasn’t like this earlier even when he drew her closer or when she sat on his lap. Something had changed since and he could only think of the people she spent time with.

He lay down beside her, propping his head up on an elbow. “I saw you with some new friends.”

She turned her head, her blue gaze getting caught in his. “I saw you not enjoying the women competing about you.”

“I would if you had joined the competition.”

“The prize wasn’t tempting enough,” she said.

“No?”

She held his gaze as if afraid to look anywhere else. He knew she was aware of his body.

“I thought you wanted to become a queen? Or… were you thinking of another prize?” He raised a brow.

Her face became red. Her lips parted to defend herself and she became speechless for the first time. She turned away from him.

“Is it dry now,” she asked frustrated.

“Probably, but it should sit for a while. Otherwise, it will be too faint to be seen.”

She sighed. “But we should get back. We have been gone for too long.”

“Is someone waiting for you?”

“No, but they are waiting for you. It is insulting to leave the princess behind who is here for you. You might get in trouble.”

It was but he just wanted to forget all of that for a moment.

“You sound like you suddenly care.”

“Well, as a future queen am just showing my assistance.”

He chuckled.

She turned him, looking at him seriously now. “I saw the messengers.” She said.

He didn’t want to talk about it now.

“Let’s leave the world below where it is tonight,” he told her.

Her heart skipped. God, what was this woman thinking about?

“Then… are you suggesting we stay here tonight?” Her eyes widened.

“Yes.”

“No!”

“I am suggesting we sleep. I don’t know what you are opposed to.”

“Just remove this tattoo,” she said getting agitated again.

Lord. She had problems. He was seeing a pattern. Anything that suggested closeness made her panic. He would have to take it easy.

He held her down as she tried to get up again. “Alright. Calm down. Let me help you. I will peel it off.”

He used his finger to try to peel it and she jolted when he touched her stomach. Her hand flew to grasp his and stop him. “I am just peeling it off.” He told her.

Slowly, she let go of his hand. He got the chance to run his fingers down her waist as he peeled off the paint. She went from being uncomfortable to reacting to his touch differently. She wasn’t immune to him. Just scared.

Although he was done peeling it off, he ran his fingers down one side and she shivered. Her skin was smooth and his drawings looked perfect on her. His hunger grew again. His body heating up and hardening.

“Are you done?” she breathed.

He pulled his fingers away. “Yes.”

She sat up as if in hurry and looked at him.

“I just want to be away for a while,” he told her.

He saw the panic fade away from her eyes, then she nodded slowly. “You should grab a mat then.”

He smiled. “The floor is fine for me.”

“But it is not for me when I am sleeping on a mat.”

“Alright, princess. As you say.” He said and went to grab a mat and a pillow.

He created some distance between them just so she wouldn’t panic and then he lay down, facing her.

Despite the door still being open, he could feel the heat in the room. Coming from her and from inside of him. She turned away, but he knew she was awake. Watching her bare back and the curve of her body wasn’t helping him. He turned away as well, but his body remained as hard, especially when his thoughts went to other places. He had teased himself.

He stayed awake, waiting for her to fall asleep but she kept turning, her heart beating, and… he clenched his jaw. Whatever she was thinking about was making her smell sweet.

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Bonus chapter dedicated to Reader2022. Thank for the supergift <3