“I know. But we will get you better. We will make you strong again.”
“We?” he questioned.
I edged in the kitchen, but looked back to say. “Yes. We. I am here to care for you. I am here to help you feel better.” I watched him watch me and asked, “Do you understand?”
Flame nodded, his bearded cheek rubbing against the hardwood, and he said, “You’re to stay here with me. Until I’m well.” I smiled as I made to prepare food, when he added, “My Maddie.” My heart soared at the reverence in his rough voice, and hot tears stung my eyes.
He was calling me his. Claiming my heart as I had already claimed his.
The silence was heavy as it clung in the air, and without turning back, I whispered, “My Flame.”
I caught his sharp inhale of breath. But I kept my eyes fixed forward. I did not have the courage to face him. I feared I would break if I did.
I quickly busied myself with chopping the vegetables I had not reached yesterday and brought the water in the pan to a boil.
Cooking helped me keep my head clear. It helped me focus.
As the vegetables began to boil, I walked into the bathroom and stopped the faucet. Dipping my hand in the tub, I automatically wrenched it straight back out. It was freezing.
Suddenly, a sound from behind me made me flinch. I reared back to see Flame gripping the doorframe. His huge body was staggering forward, his teeth gritting together as he forced his weakened legs to walk, one slow step at a time.
And he was naked. Naked but for the dried blood coating his body.
I focused on his eyes, but when he stumbled forward, his legs giving out, I reached out to catch him. Flame’s eyes widened as I rushed forward.
“NO!” he shouted harshly, the force of his bellow freezing me mid-movement.
Flame panted with exertion, until he reached the bath and his hands gripped the edge. I moved to run past when he said brokenly, “I can’t… I can’t be touched. I can’t stand it, Maddie.”
My heart broke. “I know,” I replied, and promptly left the room.
Entering the small kitchen I pressed both hands on the countertop and took a deep breath. My hands trembled at the shock of Flame’s resistance to my touch. Then I shook my head in disbelief. I was going to touch him. And it had not repulsed me. He had need of my help, and my body had reacted accordingly.
Taking in a deep breath, I moved back from the counter. I heard a pained groan coming from the bathroom. Heart still trembling, I stepped backwards and looked inside. Flame was inside the tub. His body was arched and he was shaking profusely. But he was bathing. He was forcing himself to endure the pain.
I could not watch.
Checking the soup was fine, I let my gaze wander around the small cabin, my eyes landing on the large open fire at the end of the room. There were logs and a flint at the side, and a box of matches on the mantle.
The room was cold, the winter’s day chilling the air. But more than that, Flame’s body was already suffering with fatigue, persevering with the ice cold bath would only make things worse.
In minutes the fire was lit, flames beginning to climb. The sound of the firewood crackling, and the smell of soup boiling on the stove, immediately made me feel calm. Then I glanced behind me to the hatch in the floor. The one stained with Flame’s dried blood and seed. I wondered why he had to sleep there? Why it was so important to him?
The sound of sloshing water pulled me from my thoughts. Flame would be coming out soon. My cheeks heated when I thought of his naked body. And that if I was correct, he would reject the towel I had left out for him.
I thought of how he normally dressed and found myself in front a small closet near his bedroom. Opening the door, the only things hanging in there were a few pairs of leathers. Choosing one, I headed back to the bathroom and, still seeing Flame in the bath, placed them on the floor.
I then moved back to the fire, and sank to the floor.
And I patiently waited for Flame to appear.
Chapter Thirteen
Flame
I’d shouted at her. And she’d left.
I moved my fingers over my arm to dig my fingernails into the veins as I always did in the tub, but as I focused on my skin, I couldn’t feel the flames. Instead all I could think of was where Maddie was. Was she standing in the kitchen? All I could see were green eyes looking up at me through her long lashes, with cheeks blushing.
I liked her cheeks blushing. Because it meant she liked what I had said to her. It made her feel special.
Because she was special to me. She was everything. She was all I thought about, day and night. I had to be underneath her window just to be near her. And now she was in my cabin. My Maddie was in here, with me, now. Caring for me. She said she would care for me. No one had ever cared for me before.
Putting my hands on the side of the tub I forced myself to get out. My arms shook as I held my weight, but I managed to put my feet on the floor, skin stinging from the slashes. From the cold.
I stood with my head down waiting to dry. I saw a towel in the corner, that Maddie must have put out. But I never touched them. Instead I forced my wet skin to face the cold.
I ran my hand down my face and I closed my eyes. I was so fucking tired.
When I was dry, I went to move out of the door when I saw a pair of leathers on the floor. I stared at those leathers and my heart pumped hard.
Maddie. Maddie again.
I had to sit on the side of the tub to put them on, but I managed to push them over my legs, my teeth gritting together as the tight material scraped against my new slashes. But the pain reminded me what lived within me. Why Maddie could never get too close.