Healing Fire

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Healing Fire Page 6

by Angela Castle


  He chuckled. "Not once have you steered me wrong when it comes to food or play, little Blossom. I look forward to loving this Charlie's as much as you do."

  "We'll go shopping too and pick up some more Fruit Loops as you two are obviously so fond of them. Go get ready baby, and we'll head out directly."

  Summer smiled at her daughter's energy, as she danced and twirled her way into her bedroom to get her dance costume.

  "How's your shoulder? I'm sorry. I should have tended to your wounds." She touched his shirt lifting it to peer down. She laughed to find it covered in fairy band aids.

  "Blossom is a good nurse." Melor's grin was infectious.

  Summer ran her fingers over his jaw line. "I'm sorry I've been acting out of sorts lately. I hope you can forgive my rude behavior. You've been nothing but…but wonderful to Blossom and me."

  He nuzzled his face into her hand. When his lips touched the palm, a hot wave swept into her belly, and her whole body tingled with longing.

  "There is nothing to forgive, my lady. I would give my life to protect you both."

  "Please, no more life giving. It is meant for living not dying. I don't think I could stand losing anyone I…I cared about."

  Undefined emotion swirled in his dark depths. "Does this mean I do not have to leave?"

  Summer smiled wider still. "No, you don't have to leave; I would never hear the end of it from Blossom if you did. You are welcome in our home for as long as you wish."

  Melor rose to his feet, making her tilt her head to look at him. Damn, the man was fine, sexy, tall; his gaze intense, burning with raw desire as he stared down at her. He leaned in closer, and gently brushed his lips against hers.

  "Thank you."

  "Ready to go!" Blossom's cheerful call broke the sensual spell surrounding them.

  They stood for a moment, and she realized they were both breathing a little hard.

  "Blossom had best not be late for her lesson." Melor stepped back first.

  "We're coming, baby."

  ~ * ~

  Everyone, especially the other women, turned to stare at Melor wherever they went. His dark sensuality drew others like a moth to the flame. The mothers in the dance class whispered to each other, their jealous gazes directed at her and the tall, sexy man sitting by Summer's side.

  Insecurity and doubt flooded her. What if he found another woman more attractive than her? Would he leave of his own volition rather than her pushing him out of the door?

  When his comforting arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to his side, everything melted away but him and his divine scent. She glanced up into his dark smoldering eyes which looked at her as if he wanted to devour her right there on the bench. Hell, she wouldn't care if he did.

  In the supermarket it was the same. He pushed the trolley with Blossom sitting inside while Summer placed the items in. Blossom chatted happily. It was a euphoric sensation.

  Summer shook the foolish thoughts from her head. She didn't know how long it would last, but was now determined to hang on to it with everything she had.

  Friday evening at Charlie's was full of families. She found them a booth and ordered several large house specials and sodas while Blossom dragged Melor off to the play area.

  It was a sight to see the big man sitting in a ball pit tossing balls to Blossom and other children; his deep laughter cheerful and infectious.

  "He yours?" The waitress placed the drinks on the table, her head nodding in Melor's direction. Was he hers? Melor glanced at her with a sexy grin. Summer's heart fluttered in her chest. It was a good thing she was already sitting down or she would have melted onto the floor.

  "Yes." A new sense of possession settled over Summer. "He's mine, so hands off." She eyed the waitress.

  "Hey, just askin'. You're a damn lucky woman. Does he have a brother?"

  "No, he doesn't." Summer yanked out five dollars, shoving it towards the waitress.

  "Fine then." She snatched the money and her tray, walking away.

  She wasn't sure if luck had anything to do with it. Melor believed it was fate that brought him into her life, even if she did hit him with her truck. Maybe there was something in that after all.

  ~ * ~

  Melor extracted himself from the giggling playful children. Making his way over to Summer, he folded his long legs under the table.

  "Having fun?" Summer's smile was beautiful; humor lit up her stormy blue eyes. He was pleased to see he could still keep an eye on Blossom while she played with the other children.

  "Aye, Blossom brings joy to my heart. There are so many children in your world."

  Memories of a time before the Drac raid when the children played in the streets and ran through the palace halls made his heart ache. It was every Kell man's wish to see them filled once again with the musical laughter of children.

  Already he thought of Blossom as his, but he also wanted to father a child with Summer; a healthy baby boy to whom he could teach the blade.

  "You look a little lost in thought." Summer's soft voice broke his musings.

  "I did not always desire to be a warrior for the Kingdom," he confessed. "I have a great love for the stag, the beast which we ride upon in Kell. Before I came here to earth, between my duties to the King, I have been working hard to restore my family's domicile. For too long I have neglected it to live in the palace. I would very much like to raise and train stags, to see my family live and grow there as well."

  "If I remember Blossom correctly, a stag is similar to a horse?"

  "Aye." He regarded her; pleased she was more accepting to his talk of his home.

  "No one wants to fight all their lives. Tyler had finished his tour in Afghanistan and was on leave in Darwin when I met him one afternoon on the beach. He wanted a home and family. Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself married and whisked away to the U.S."

  "Blossom told me she has grandparents living in Australia. Why did you not return and live there with your family?"

  Summer shifted in her seat. He watched her swallow before fiddling with the paper on the table.

  "We were visiting Tyler's mom the night of the accident. We had left Blossom with her while we went out to dinner. At the restaurant we argued because I wanted to take Blossom back to Australia and raise her there. Tyler wanted to stay here in Humboldt, in the country. I was angry and refused to talk to him. A split second later, from what I was told, a truck driver on too many drugs swerved into our lane."

  Tears spilled down her cheeks; the paper in her hand was torn to shreds.

  Melor put his arm around her.

  "I never said sorry. He died without knowing how much I loved him."

  He pulled her tightly against his chest as she sobbed softly.

  "You are a woman full of giving generous love. There is no doubt he knew you loved him, even if you never said the words. I would have no doubt of it if you were mine. No matter what angry words were spoken in the moment, it can never erase the deep love you have for the other in here." He placed his hand just above her breast.

  He felt her draw in a shuddering breath before pulling back and gazing up, her lashes wet and spiked, her eyes clear from her tears. With the pad of his thumbs, he wiped away evidence of the tear tracks on her cheeks before bending down to kiss each of her eyelids.

  "You have a beautiful daughter; such great evidence of your love for your husband. I only hope one day you can find it in your heart to love another."

  She nodded. "Thank you, Melor. You're the most wonderful crazy man I've ever met."

  He gave a chuckle. "A pleasure to be of service to you, my lady." Again he bent and took her lips, but the brief kiss quickly turned heated, carnal. The sweet flavor of her mouth and the softness of her lips threw fuel on his already simmering fire. He wanted her more desperately than a man dying of thirst in the San-ra Desert.

  Giggling behind them brought Melor back to awareness. They were in a public place surrounded by children and families. He pul
led back and turned to a grinning Blossom.

  Behind her a woman came carrying trays filled with delightful smelling foods. Blossom wriggled into the booth beside him. The serving woman set the foods down, her gaze filled with lust, as she looked him over.

  "Anything I can get for you, sugar?"

  Melor paid her no heed. No other woman on earth could compare to his Summer; he wanted no other than her.

  "I have all I desire here," he stated with his arm possessively around Summer's waist. The waitress huffed and flounced away.

  "It seems she did not take too kindly to my rejection."

  Summer gave a snort. "I don't care."

  Melor felt his grin widening at Summer's jealous tone.

  "Are you going to marry my mom?"

  He and Summer both stared at Blossom. He liked the girl more with each passing moment.

  "Blossom! It's not polite to ask such things," Summer scolded, her face flushed red.

  He simply chuckled in amusement. "I would like to be your mother's protector. I even have this." He tugged the bracelet out of his back pocket.

  "It was once my mother's, and I want you to have it now. If you wear it, it states to everyone you have promised to be mine, and I am your protector."

  Even though her gaze never left the bracelet, she shook her head. Melor knew she wanted it.

  "I'm not sure what that means, but it is far too valuable. You can't give me something like that."

  "It would give me great joy for you to accept." He would persist until his claim was formally upon her. "It brings great offence in my land not to accept." It was a half lie; women were free to reject their suitors, but she did not have to know that.

  "Go on mom, it's so pretty."

  "Well, I wouldn't want to bring anyone offence, especially the people of Kell."

  Melor took Summer's right wrist and with the small key unlocked the bracelet and snapped it around her wrist. A surge of pride and possession gripped him; at last, he had a protected. Summer now truly belonged to him, even if she was not fully aware of it yet. She would be soon enough.

  "It looks very pretty on you mom. If we go to Kell, can I have one?"

  Blossom turned her bright blue eyes on Melor, and he knew many a Kell man would be seeking a promise for her hand when she came of age. He shook his head. "In time you may." Not for another fifteen years would he allow anyone near her.

  He'd just taken on the roll of protector and father. While there was breath in his body, he would always protect his family.

  Chapter Eight

  "Stop the car!"

  Melor's sudden outburst made Summer slam on the brakes. The car came to a skidding halt. Blossom would have jerked forward against the seatbelt if not for Melor's secure grip around her.

  "What's wrong?" Summer peered out into the dark forest surrounding them, before glancing down at her daughter unaffected by the sudden stop. Gently, he shifted her over to Summer's shoulder, unbuckled his seat belt and opened the car door.

  "Please wait here. I saw something I need to investigate."

  He vanished into the darkness. Summer worried what he was up to. She realized this was the exact same spot she'd first hit him four nights ago.

  The motor vibrated as she put it into park and waited. Blossom stirred slightly before nestling into her shoulder.

  "Thank the twin moons."

  Summer jumped in fright as Melor re-appeared, sliding back into the passenger seat.

  "What did you find?"

  "This." He opened the palm of his hand. Sitting in the center sat a tear shaped swirling blue Sapphire gem. It caught and drew the light at every angle he moved it. It had to be worth a fortune, along with the bracelet adorning her wrist.

  She watched as he tucked it into his pocket.

  "It is the Portal Gem I lost when I fell through. It can take me home to Kell."

  Pain sliced through her chest. He wanted to leave her already? Not that she still believed this Kell stuff but was more open to listening to his stories.

  She licked her lips nervously and met his dark gaze. "Why don't you use it? Why don't you go home now?" She gritted her teeth hoping she didn't sound as bitter as she felt.

  "Firstly, I will not return to Kell without you both by my side. Secondly, I am uncertain it is stable to use. I would not wish for us to end up in any place."

  His words calmed and comforted her pounding heart; he didn't want to leave them. How had she become so attached to him in such a short time? She was just as crazy as he was. But hell, she didn't care.

  Melor closed the door, and Summer shifted Blossom back over to Melor. Summer changed gears and put her foot on the gas pedal to get them rolling again.

  "You really have magic healing gems?"

  "Aye. When you are ready, we will journey to L.A. They keep the gems there."

  Summer kept her eyes trained on the road. Yes, she really was crazy to be even thinking about believing he could cure the pain in her leg. She was a sensible, practical woman; seeing was believing. Mystical healing gems; she shook her head. She might as well stamp hippy on her forehead, dance around a camp fire and chant.

  Melor already told her he was willing to stay with them if she didn't want to go. Perhaps she was being selfish, but she wanted him to stay.

  "I'll think about it; it's a long trip to L.A by road."

  Melor's response was to gently brush the side of her face with his hand, before moving Blossom off her shoulder and into his arms in a more comfortable position for her to sleep.

  The rest of the trip was made in silence. The closer to home they got, the higher the sexual tension in the air grew. She could feel the damp juices between her thighs. Her breasts felt heavy, her nipples hard, needing attention. She knew Melor would prove an exceptional lover from the small taste of his talent the other night in the kitchen. The thought of him thrusting into her neglected pussy made it clench and her clit pulse.

  Goodness, get a grip woman; he hasn't even touched you yet. What about your scars?

  Melor carried Blossom into the house and laid her on the bed, leaving Summer to strip her and get her into her night clothes before tucking her in.

  She emerged from Blossom's bedroom to find him putting the last of the groceries into the cupboards.

  "I have already locked the house."

  The deep gruff tone of his voice both startled her and sent a tingling down her spine. She stood at the end of the kitchen bench not quite knowing what to do or say.

  Please touch me, love me and don't be revolted by my scars.

  It took every ounce of courage to stop her from turning and running. Still she wanted him, needed him.

  "You tremble like a leaf in the breeze." He set aside the paper shopping bag; within two strides he stood before her.

  She licked her suddenly dry lips. "I want you, but I'm frightened…I have…scars. They…they are ugly."

  He cupped her face, brushing his thumb along her bottom lip. "I have scars too, but they are a part of me as yours are of you. I find everything about you beautiful, so why don't you let me be the judge of what is ugly or not. Do you trust me to do that?"

  Did she? Trust this strange yet breathtaking man? Opening herself to him in every way made her vulnerable. There was every chance he could take it and crush it with his large hands. Still, her gut instinct told her he would never do such a thing.

  It was now or never. "I trust you."

  His smile devastated her defenses. He bent down; she closed her eyes expecting his kiss but found her world tilted as he lifted her off her feet. She hooked her arms around his neck. Burrowing her nose into his neck, she licked at his salty skin. Oh goodness, he tasted good. She licked again; he gave a deep needy groan.

  "By the twin moons woman, what you do to me."

  She almost laughed as he set her on the bed, her feet hanging over the side. Quickly he closed the door. She tracked the movement of his fingers as he grabbed at the hem of his shirt and peeled it off, revealing all t
he hard muscles and delicious, caramel skin. She giggled at the sight of the fairy band aids. He paused to lean back against the door while he tugged off his boots, leaving him in nothing but the dark leather pants he always wore. It wasn't hard to miss the large straining bulge at the front of his pants.

  Again she licked her lips, wondering how one man could ooze so much raw sexuality. His dark eyes smoldered as he held her gaze. Her clothes suddenly felt restrictive and hot; her fingers trembled as she reached for the hem of her own top.

 

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