Hailey swallowed as her breathing picked up. Then she shook her head free of the blush she knew had turned her red-faced. He needed her help. After all, nurses did this all the time. And while she was no nurse, she knew people had done the same for her once. She wouldn’t let him, or her nerves, get to her.
After going through every washcloth in the bathroom, she changed to full sized towels. Kallian’s six foot three form nearly reached twice the weight of her hers. The pile of darkened terrycloth grew as he came clean. Hopefully these weren’t his favorite towels. Oh well. He has money. He can order more.
She adjusted her position under the water after retrieving the shampoo and a cup. Carefully, she slid her fingers under his head and placed it in her lap. Slowly, she stroked the plains of his cheeks with her fingers. Rough stubble peppered his jaw and upper lip. Hailey knew she should use the towel to wash him, but her touch was gentler. She didn’t want to wake him, just yet. Her hands moved down the thick column of his neck, over his collar bone, and back up. They caressed his ears, washing every crevice, thoroughly feeling for contaminations of his perfect canvas.
Her fingertips ghosted over his eyelids and down his strong nose. Once at his lips, she didn’t hesitate. A smudge on the corner of his mouth marred her view of the damnable, yet seductive opening. The enticing pink flesh responded to her touch. Unconsciously, his lips moved against her thumb. Parting slightly, his warm breath whispered over her hand, and kissed her. The hot, wet flesh of his mouth provoked tingling deep in her core. How she wanted to respond to his unconscious invitation…
Hailey bit back a groan. “Kallian,” she sighed. “Please…”
His tongue flicked across her skin before relaxing into a deep slumber again. Panting, she pulled her hand from his burning lips.
Her response shocked her. She wasn’t under the tonic’s effect. She knew she wasn’t. If she had been, she wouldn’t have been able to restrain her body. She remembered how her last kiss went with him. Short of a fire hose and chains, nothing could have held her back.
Gulping, she redirected her attention. His hair. All she had left was his hair. Her concentration focused on lathering his thick, brown locks. The bleach blond of her earlier prank had burned away at his death. The suds lathered black, and she poured water over his head to wash it clear and start again. This time they came out gray. Once more she massaged the shampoo into his scalp, taking care not to get any near his eyes. When washed clean, she finally stood and turned off the water.
Her pajamas hung heavy and cold on her, bringing a shiver to her limbs. She glanced down at Kallian and screwed her lips to the side. You better not peek, you butt. Her shirt and pants fell to the marble floor with a slap, and she wrapped the last unused towel around herself.
Leaning over his gleaming fresh form, she pushed a wet lock of hair from his cheek. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.” Her hand lingered a moment before she realized she touched him needlessly. Abruptly she stood and padded to her room.
She couldn’t fall for this guy, could she? He wasn’t even a guy. He was something mythical. Something unearthly. But then, so was she. Hailey gulped. And he belonged to her now, as a husband.
She remembered his flaming phoenix form as she pulled on her yoga pants and a sweatshirt. His raptor body filled the underground room in magnificence. The golden fire pulsed with brilliance. How was she supposed to stand up against that? If that’s what he really looked like, then that was the blood running through her veins? Would she turn into that? “It’s just too difficult to comprehend,” she mumbled.
As her feet took her back to Kallian’s room she racked her thoughts on what she knew about Phoenixes. Other than the fact that they rose from the ashes, she only knew that their tears healed. That was all. She couldn’t recall any stories of one. Were they good or bad? And what were they doing parading around as people?
Kallian lay on his side, curled and shivering when Hailey returned to him. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. Just, ah,” her gaze darted back and forth as she laid her towel across his body. “I’ll just go get some clothes for you.” She hurried across the thick royal blue carpet to the spacious closet. But the grim sight of the empty hangers made her heart drop. She’d burned all his clothes. The only ones he had were still dirty. It looked like the maid wasn’t coming this week. She sighed and jogged back to him.
“Okay, I feel really bad for burning all your clothes, now.” He didn’t stir. “Yeah.” She rocked back on her heals as she considered his naked form. “I guess I’ll just put you to bed in your birthday suit and do some laundry.” After another moment of corralling her drifting gaze, she slipped her arms around him and carried him to the bed. Left unmade from when he’d abandoned it earlier that night, the plush mattress welcomed him. His large body fit beside the rumpled sheets, and she tucked them tightly around him.
“Now,” she said to him, “I think it’s time to call Malachi.”
~***~
Hailey sighed as she pulled open the front door. "My hero." Her hand gripped the door handle. He smelled so good… No. It’s the stupid tonic. Jeeze, get ahold of yourself, woman. She had spent plenty of time in an enclosed room with Malachi. She knew she could act normal once the initial sensations passed.
Malachi grinned as he handed over a duffel bag. "This should be everything you need."
"Thanks." She moved to the side to let him in, but he just stood there. "Uh, would you like to come in?"
He cracked a half smile, similar to Kallian's. Why hadn’t she seen the resemblance before? "Naw, I'm good. If I come in you might ask me to do stuff for him, and he sounded like he really didn't want me around..."
Hailey set the bag down and crossed her arms. "And what's the real reason you don't want to come in?"
His brows raised. "I want you to take care of him."
"Really? You’re never gonna give up on me getting together with him, are you?" Never mind she was already taking care of Kallian.
He shrugged. "You're good for him. And I like you.” He chuckled at her eye-roll. “Like a sister. And I want to keep you in the family."
"Gee, Malachi, if you like me so much why don't you blackmail-marry me next?"
His bright smile dimmed a touch. "Yes, well, I've been down that road before. So I'll have to pass." He cleared his throat and artfully changed the subject. “At any rate, Kallian will be immobile for the first twenty-four hours.” His eyes peeked at the watch on his wrist. “Looks like you only have another five of six hours. He’ll be extremely weak tomorrow, but he should be able to do most things with help. Oh, and his voice is usually pretty rough for the first few days.”
Hailey scowled. She knew Phoenixes rose from the ashes when they died, but the way Malachi put it, sounded like death happened often. “My goodness, Malachi. How many times has he gone through this?”
He puckered his lips. “Every autumn.”
Hailey’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “But he suffered so much…” How could anyone go through life suffering and dying every year? She shook the thought from her head. “And you always help him?”
He nodded. “Most of the time. He’s my little brother after all. He looks out for me, and I look out for him. And I’ve decided I will continue to do so. Even with the animal preserve.”
Hailey groaned. “He really wants you to quit. He wants to protect you from whatever repercussions come from Eden.” Though it was the truth, Hailey was happy Malachi was man enough to stand beside his brother despite hidden hardships. She was starting to look at Phoenixes in a whole new way.
Malachi shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve never abandoned him before, even when things were bad. I won’t do it now.”
She blinked at him. “I think I might have to forgive you with how cool of a brother you are, Malachi.”
He bowed slightly and started back toward his car. "I’m glad someone still likes me. Kira’s waiting in the car, and I fear I’m about to get an earful for my ‘coolness.’” He
waved once. “Have fun with my brother, Hailey."
"Yeah, bucket-fulls," she shot back. As his roadster disappeared into the distance, she closed the door and headed back upstairs to her unconscious project.
Other works by Shelley Martin
The Shadow Fan Series:
SHADOW FAN
KEEPER OF THE SHRINE
JOURNEY OF THE DIVINE
FATE OF THE UNFAITHFUL
FORBIDDEN DANCE
Coming Soon:
The sixth installment of the Shadow Fan Series:
TORADORA
The Golden Brothers Series:
PHOENIX TONIC
Coming Soon:
PHOENIX MONARCH
Other Titles by the Author:
WINGLESS
GARGOYLE
SPIRIT TRACKS
About the Author:
ShelleyMartinFiction.com
Shelley Martin taught kindergarten and ran cattle; once upon a time. Now she lives in North Idaho, creating worlds where the unearthly is enticing. From her fantasy, romance or mythical adventures, you're sure to find something otherworldly to keep you entertained. Ready for an escape to the other side?
Phoenix Tonic Page 20