Phoenix Tonic

by Shelley Martin

  Hailey leaned back in her chair. She couldn’t have him any closer with all that skin right there for her to touch. He just couldn’t come any closer like that. “Put a shirt back on, first.” She flicked her fork at his naked torso, accidentally causing a stray noodle to launch into the air.

  Markham stopped mid-step when the saucy rectangle slapped onto his chest. He stared at it until it slowly peeled away and fell to the tiled floor. His eyes zeroed in on her with a raised brow. “Really? First water, now noodles?”

  She gulped. “Put your shirt back on.”

  “The food will be cold by the time I go upstairs, walk to the other side of the house, and get back here again.”

  Her breathing picked up. “Then put the wet one back on.”

  “It’s going to be even wetter now that it’s been the sink with the towels.”

  Her lips turned down as her mouth moistened. She needed him dressed. Now. “I don’t care, Markham. Get dressed.”

  His brows rose. “Well, I do care. And call me Kallian.” He scooped the sauce off his chest with his finger and licked it. Oh… to be that finger. “What’s the big deal, anyway? Is my lack of clothing bothering you?” His voice came low and seductive. A sultry smile turned his lips.

  She was trying so hard not to lunge at him, and the jerk was smiling. “You said ‘Not tonight.’ Just put something on, I don’t care. Anything.”

  “No.” He inched closer.

  Her heartbeat raced and her toes curled. “Markham!”

  “I said I’d let you come to me, but I never said I wouldn’t try on my end.” He smiled devilishly. “You used to run your hands over my stomach when we were in the hot tub. And you loved it when I nibbled on your ear.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Make me.”

  That was it. Last straw. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, take any more of this. Hailey scooped up her plate of fettuccini, marched over to Markham, and dumped it on his head. The noodles and sauce oozed down his neck and shoulders, some of them falling to cover up his mocking chest and six pack. She wanted to stay close to him, but thankfully the scent of the pasta covered his, and she was able to hurry back to her chair. She smugly looked over her shoulder to see his challenging gaze unchanged. Only a little daunted by his statuesque resolve, she said, “Well, at least you’re covered up now.”

  She grabbed his plate of fettuccine with one hand, and the bread basket with the other. “Thanks for dinner.” She didn’t look back as she strolled up to her room.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kira set the breakfast tray on the coffee table in Kallian’s room. He folded the newspaper and raised an eyebrow. “What is this?”

  “It is breakfast, My Lord.” She wiped her palms over the ruffles of a cute pink dress, as if scooting off imaginary crumbs.

  “I see that. But you don’t cook, Kira.” He leaned forward to inhale the scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links and cheddar smothered hash browns.

  “Hailey asked me to bring it as an apology for last night. She asked me to relay that she only wanted you to put your shirt back on.”

  He shook his head. “She must have done something to it…” He took a small bite of the eggs. Once satisfied it wasn’t tainted, he sampled each item on the plate. But, everything tasted quite good. Maybe she really was sorry? He was rather ornery toward her last night. He hadn’t meant to be. But when he saw that look of desire in her eyes, and that blush on her cheeks, something just took over. He wanted her to remember what they had last year.

  He began to dig into the feast when he noticed the tall glass of chocolate with a strawberry speared on a stirring stick. “What is that? A protein shake?”

  Kira didn’t bother to look. “I wasn’t present when she made the food. But, when she handed me the tray she complained about not knowing what you ate for breakfast.”

  He smiled while chewing, and picked the glass up. So this was the red flag in the meal. He stirred it and took a deep whiff, wondering what she’d put in it. The taste and texture would hide most anything.

  He pointedly looked right at Kira. Without hesitation he put the glass to his lips and drank the whole shake in three gulps. After wiping off his chocolate mustache he went back for the hash browns. “Please tell Hailey I am very grateful, and will eat every morsel of this delicious meal.”

  He knew Hailey would ask Kira if he’d tried the shake. This way, Kira would deliver the message that he had, in fact, accepted her punishment.

  Kira nodded and turned to leave. As she was closing the door, she cocked her head. “My Lord, it seems you have something white and crusty in your hair. By your ear.”

  Figures, he didn’t get all the sauce out from Hailey’s attempt to “cover him up.” He’d have to wash his hair again. “I’m sure I do.”

  ~***~

  Hailey took a few test pictures of her room with the new camera. The quality and focus lived up to its price. Kira had gotten a really nice one. A knock at the door made her sit up. It couldn’t be Markham, her body wasn’t reacting. “Come in Kira.”

  The door opened and she shut it behind her. “He ate the food and drank the protein shake.”

  “Awesome.” She grinned devilishly.

  Kira sat ramrod straight on the bed. “He told me to tell you ‘I am very grateful, and will eat every morsel of this delicious meal.’ What, may I ask, did I serve him?”

  Hailey held up a brown bottle with a purple label as she continued to play with the camera’s functions.

  Kira took it and read out loud. “Syrup of Ipecac. Consume by mouth one to two tablespoons for adults and teenagers. Wait twenty to thirty minutes for results.” She lowered the bottle. “And how much did you have me give him?”

  She clicked a few pictures and adjusted the lens. “Two tablespoons. And another for good measure.”

  Kira dropped the bottle on the bed. “You put three tablespoons of vomit inducer in his food?”

  Hailey paused and looked at her. “Do you think he knows?”

  “Did you put them in the protein shake?”

  She nodded.

  “He knows.” Kira raised an eyebrow. “He looked directly at me while drinking the shake.”

  She frowned. “Then, why did he drink it?”

  Kira just stared at her. “I did tell him he had crusted sauce in his hair. He should be getting in the shower right about now.”

  Hailey jumped up. “Right now? Where is his room?”

  “Down the hall, fourth door on the left.”

  She ran out of the room, leaving Kira behind. She had to get this done today. It was the only chance she had. If not, she’d lose her trump card.

  Her pace slowed as she came to the fourth door on the left. Willing her pulse to slow, she tried the handle. It turned. She bit back a grin. Of course he wouldn’t lock it. He was waiting for her to come to him.

  The door swung open quietly and his scent engulfed her. She shook her head and tried to focus. The silence worried her. Maybe she’d missed him? But the spray of water hitting tile filled her ears. He’d just turned the shower on.

  Her body slipped in and she closed the door behind her. The tonic flared beneath her skin, drawing her toward him like a beacon. Kallian’s cedar and ash scent blanketed the whole room. The strongest came from directly in front of her.

  A grand bed, too big to even be called “King size,” dominated the room. Its four dark posters spiraled upward, and the headboard boasted similar scroll work. Off to the right another doorway stood open. As she crept closer, she could see it was a giant closet around the size of her room. To the left sat a toffee colored couch and two upholstered chairs surrounding a coffee table in the same color wood as the bed. And the breakfast tray sat empty upon it.

  On the farthest left corner stood an arched opening. Light spilled from this door. And steam. She had found his bathroom.

  Handling the new camera carefully, she crept to the wall and peered around the corner. She almost gasped at the beauty of the bathroom
. She’d seen spa retreats less luxurious. A Jacuzzi tub the size of her bed gleamed with rustic rockwork. The counters boasted full slab marble and hello… So did the shower! The rough rock face higher up gave way to a sleek, smooth cut along the wall. The water trickled down, mimicking a waterfall. She knew, because not a door or glass wall obstructed her view. The expanse of the shower was completely open. And Markham was standing with his back to her, under the water.

  She gulped and held the camera up.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Kallian grimaced as he leaned over the toilet. So this is what she came up with? Great. As sick as he was, he knew she would be rolling in laughter somewhere in the house. She could also wander freely, knowing he was locked up in the bathroom. The question now was, did he continue to suffer?

  Another stomach cramp made him pitch forward. He knew he deserved it. He wanted to think he was humble enough to take the punishment through its entire course. But after an hour, the torture to his stomach continued. And his legs had fallen asleep under him.

  He flushed one more time. As his head lolled on his arm he decided he wasn’t strong enough to let this go on. But he wouldn’t take her satisfaction away from her, either. He would let her think he suffered.

  Kallian focused on the pit of his stomach. He let his phoenix fire slowly heat up, rising his temperature throughout his body. He concentrated, keeping the temperature rising until his skin radiated a reddish glow. Even the toilet began to groan under the change. His power raced through him, begging to be released. But he would not let it. His unknown abilities could bring forth any kind of strange happenings. And until Hailey gave herself to him, he didn’t want her to know what he was.

  A moment later, his stomach started to calm. Kallian let his temperature level out. His stomach grumbled once more before the effects completely disappeared. Whatever his loving wife had poisoned him with, had been burned up.

  He sighed as he slowly brought his temperature back to normal and stood on his pained legs. He knew Hailey would never try to kill him, but that was a little too close to crossing the line.

  As he shoved a tooth brush in his mouth he wondered how long it would take before she wanted him again. He owed it to her to seduce her correctly, which was why he posed for her while in the shower. He knew she watched him from the doorway, but she didn’t join him as he’d hoped. He kept his back to her, or his eyes closed the whole time, so he wouldn’t scare her away. According to their vows, his body belonged to her now. All she had to do was claim it.

  He smiled as he pulled up a pair of flannel pajama pants. But, if she wanted to watch, that was okay, too. For now.

  As he slid into bed and clicked on the TV, he thought about what she was planning next. Her punishment towards him would certainly make it difficult for him to seduce her. Going along with her would not be easy. He wondered how cruel her other pranks would be, if this was only her first.

  ~***~

  Kallian smiled as Hailey snuck into the kitchen, still clad in her red silk cami and PJ bottoms. Even with disheveled hair she looked amazing. “Good morning, Hailey. Are you hungry?” He flipped the bread on the stove.

  She only blinked at him before going to the cupboards. “I’m just getting a bowl of cereal and heading back to my room.” Nothing could be more adorable than his new wife with the box of cereal tucked under her arm.

  “That’s too bad. I made all this extra French toast, too.” He checked under one to see the golden color, and slid it to a plate. He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist. She loved his french toast. She used to beg him to make it for lunch or dinner sometimes.

  Her sounds ceased behind him. If she was still intending to eat the cereal, she should have opened the refrigerator to get the milk by now. Without missing a beat, he scooped up both plates and headed to the table. “The maple syrup is on the top shelf above the cereal.” He glanced at her as she put the cereal back, and opened the top cupboard. He pulled out an assortment of fruits he’d cut up earlier from the fridge and placed them in the middle of the table.

  After sitting down, he smiled at his adorable wife as she joined him. “Butter?”

  She nodded and he cut a pad onto her toast. After adding the syrup he paused to watch her take the first bite. She closed her eyes and breathed in as she ate. A sense of joy settled over him as she unknowingly smiled at what he’d made for her.

  “It’s very good,” she said at last.

  “I’m glad I can make you happy.” He took a bite.

  As she nibbled at the fruit, he let her study him, pretending that the newspaper was more interesting than her gorgeous hazel eyes.

  She pushed the melting butter around her toast. “So, how was your day, yesterday? I didn’t really see you.”

  Kallian forced the bored expression, trying desperately not to smile. He knew she’d be curious. “I had a bug of some kind, so I stayed in bed.” He didn’t bother to explain that phoenixes didn’t catch colds. “How about you?”

  She shrugged as she bit into a chunk of pineapple. “Just wrote some letters. Nothing, really.”

  He took a bite of french toast. “Ah.” After another silent moment he turned the page of his newspaper. “Kira mentioned you seemed quite taken with the arboretum. She said you ate dinner and stayed in there half the night.”

  “I was reading a book,” she said simply.

  “I hope it was a good story.” He pretended to read as he chewed a piece of cantaloupe. “Are there any plants or flowers you’d like me to add to the arboretum? Maybe a nicer set of chairs for you to read in?”

  She didn’t look up from her food. “It’s fine.”

  Kallian’s small talk wasn’t getting him anywhere. Time to bring out the big guns. “I was thinking of going for a hot air balloon ride, if you’re up for it.”

  He couldn’t resist a glance as her hand stopped mid-bite. “A hot air balloon ride?”

  He nodded. “I know it’s not flying, in the way of hang gliders, but it’s floating at least. If you don’t want to go, I understand.” She probably had half the day tied up on her next plan of torture directed at him.

  “You suck.” She shoved the bite in her mouth. “You’re a complete and total jerk, and you suck.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a yes?”

  She sighed. “You have to keep your mouth shut. If you upset me I’ll blow the thing up and kill us both.”

  Not likely, he thought. “Your proximity to me should keep those tendencies at bay. Or I could just give you a shirt if you’d rather.”

  She thought about it and nodded. “When do we leave?”

  “They’re setting up now. We can leave in about thirty minutes.”

  ~***~

  As the blue and purple balloon rose into the air, Hailey’s face lit up. “How do you know how to fly one of these things?”

  He shrugged, happy she actually wanted to make conversation with him. “I learned some years back. You just need to know when to let the fire loose, and when not to.” He pulled the chord again, and the huge flame shot straight up, warming the air and taking them higher.

  Hailey leaned back. “I never would have thought it was so hot.”

  “This, hot?” He chuckled. “You need to look at your own read outs some time. You put this baby to shame.”

  He tried not to stare as a blush fell over her cheeks. She held the shirt he’d worn this morning tighter to her chest. “So if we run out of fuel you just need to make me mad and I’ll save us from crashing.”

  “Yeah, until you burn a hole through the basket.” They both smiled, sharing a quick connection of their eyes, before she turned back to the view.

  “Wow. That lake is huge.”

  He pulled the cord again, and waited for the roar of the fire to die down before answering. “It’s called Lake Pend ‘Oreille. It’s so deep, the Navy used to test their submarines here.”

  “Really?” She scanned the horizon again. “The forest just goes on and on. Oh, there’s the
town. Wow, what a bridge. That thing is long.”

  He nodded. “That’s why it’s called the 'Long Bridge.' But be careful if you have to drive over it in the upcoming months. It can get pretty icy sometimes.” He turned his attention back to the landscape and something on the ground drew his attention. “Look, a moose and her calf.”

  Hailey leaned over the basket and searched wildly. “I don’t see anything.”

  Kallian stood next to her and pointed to a small clearing where a marsh stood near the lake. “There, in that swampy part.”

  “Oh, now I see them.”

  He could almost feel her excitement, and the sudden tense of her muscles. He looked down and realized his arm had grazed hers. “Sorry.” He back away.

  She slowly eased her posture and Kallian turned back to firing the balloon.

  “So, Malachi said he used to be married. I was wondering if you could tell me what happened?” Her question surprised him, and he thought about how to answer it without giving away too much sensitive information. He may have dodged a bullet with the human authorities, but his kind would frown at her unmated state. Now was not the time to push the truth.

  She sighed. “Never mind. It’s okay. I shouldn’t pry.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Kallian rested his arms on the side of the basket. “It’s just hard. She was murdered.”

  Hailey’s hand went to her mouth. “I’m so sorry. Poor Malachi.”

  Kallian nodded, remembering how his brother knew the moment she died. They’d been out of town and he suddenly went full phoenix form, and shot straight home. He’d never seen one of their kind dead, and he’d never seen anyone grieve the way Malachi had. If it wasn’t for him and Kira, who knows what would have happened to Malachi? It was as if he became nothing more than a vegetable. He even tried to kill himself at one point. If it wasn’t for Kira wrestling him to the ground, his brother wouldn’t be here. “It was a long time ago, but he still hasn’t gotten over it. Abelina was great. She was the best sister.”