Blaze (21 page)
Dusk had fallen over an hour ago. With the storm so close, it was dangerous to continue traveling, yet there was no place to take shelter. Their horses were restless, particularly Blaze's gelding.
Reaching the top of a hill, they paused.
"Look." Blaze pointed to the silhouette of a cottage in the distance. "Maybe the owner will let us wait out the storm."
"And the Raiders, too?" Melody didn't glace over her shoulder to give away her knowledge of the guards who had been following them.
Blaze's lips turned up in a half smile. "Not very good at keeping themselves hidden, are they?"
"Do you think they want to, or are they trying to intimidate us?"
"They want to keep hidden because they believe that if we thought they were following us, we might not lead them to our true destination."
Melody smiled, wiping rain from her face. As if she and Blaze would be stupid enough to lead them anywhere but Sophianna.
Blaze nudged his horse forward and Melody followed. Within moments they reached the cottage.
No light shone in the windows, and no smoke wafted from the chimney. After several moments of knocking on the door, no one answered.
"Do you think it's abandoned?" Melody asked, walking to a window. Its broken shutters dangled uselessly against the side of the cottage. "I just answered my own question. It's empty in there."
Blaze grasped the doorknob and pushed hard. The broken lock clanged as it hit the stone floor.
"Entering by force, Sir?" Melody teased.
"Better than being struck by lightning while riding across these open fields."
"Can't argue there."
They guided their horses inside. While Melody started building a fire from some old wood left in a corner of the room, Blaze removed the animals' tack and dried off the horses as best he could.
Soon a fire crackled in the hearth. Still, fierce wind and rain blew in through the open window.
"I'll fix the window before I changes clothes," Blaze said.
"I'll take care of supper. I think there's still some of that delicious raisin bread Mercy made."
With a sheepish smile, Blaze shook his head. "It's gone."
"Blaze!" Melody snapped, throwing one of her wet socks at him.
"I have other food in my saddle bag."
"Just go fix the window!"
Once he'd left, Melody couldn't repress a chuckle. She hoped he had something good in that saddle bag of his.
She changed out of her wet clothes and into a dry shirt and trousers, then she spread their blankets in front of the fire. Between his saddlebag and hers, she found the makings of a decent meal. He had a round of cheese and a bottle of wine. She had dried fruit and fresh apples.
Glancing at the window, she saw Blaze using a rock to nail one of the fallen shutters back in place.
He caught her gaze and winked at her before the second shutter cut off her view.
Blaze returned, closing the door. Suddenly the cottage seemed like the most romantic place in the world. Melody quivered with excitement. They were alone in a tiny one-room cottage with a blazing fire and a storm raging outside.
He brushed tendrils of rain soaked hair from his face and stared at her with affection and a spark of desire.
"It seems like forever since we've been alone like this, Sweet Music." His gaze burned into hers as he began discarding his wet clothes.
Melody nodded and stood. She approached him, her sock-clad feet moving silently across the stone floor. Hopefully her expression conveyed all the desire she felt. Reaching up, she began loosening the ties at the neck of his shirt. She slipped one hand inside the shirt and caressed his chest, damp
and cool from the rain.
Blaze bent and captured her lips with a searing kiss. Entwining her fingers in his hair, Melody pressed closer to him.
"Wait. Let me undress before you get wet again."
"Good idea." Melody tugged at his trousers.
Chuckling, he kicked off his boots and stepped back slightly. Melody discarded her cloths while walking backwards towards the fire, unwilling to remove her gaze from him for even a second.
Within moments he stood naked before her. Every inch of his long, sinewy body was so virile, so gorgeous. How desperate she was to feel his magnificent cock deep inside her.
A rather annoying thought crossed her mind. "What about the men following us? Do you suppose they'll come here for shelter? It is a bad storm out there."
"If they want shelter, they can ask." He approached and drew her into his arms, burying his face in her neck. "It's against our vows to deny help if they need it."
She gasped when he began licking and kissing her neck. "Right. Let them knock if they want to come in."
That's it, girl. Drag him in front of that fire and take that handsome hunk of man for all he's worth!
"
Blaze lifted his head. "Your spirit's back?"
"Yes." Melody gazed deeply into his eyes and noticed the longing there, not just longing for the pleasure they were about to share, but for his lost spirit guides. She caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry."
"No. I'm glad for you."
Oh, he is a sweetheart. Melody, honey, hang onto him because he really is one of the good ones.
Tara, I'm happy that you're back, but your timing is terrible.
Oh, all right. I'll leave you two alone, but I'll be around. Both of you be careful during this rescue you're planning.
Wait. Do you know if Blaze's spirits will return?
All will be as it should be, sweetie.
What is that supposed to mean?
"Damn." Melody sighed. "Why is she always so obstinate."
"Do you want to be alone with her?"
"No." Melody tightened her grip on Blaze and rubbed her nose against his. "I want to be alone with you."
Smiling, he tugged her toward the blankets. Melody lay on her back, her heartbeat quickening with anticipation. Blaze stretched out beside her. Raising himself on his elbow, he stroked her collarbone with the tip of a long, slim finger. He stroked and caressed her breasts with the utmost
gentleness.
"I love everything about you, Melody. Your physical charms pale when compared to the beauty of your heart."
Drawing a deep breath and releasing it slowly, she caressed his forearm. Touching him felt so wonderful, and being touched by him was just as marvelous. She edged closer and draped one of her legs over him. Her foot rested against his steely thigh. Little ripples of desire coursed through
her just from the closeness of their bodies.
"That means when I'm old and shriveled you'll still love me?"
"I'll always love you, Melody." He cupped her face and kissed her. "And me? When I'm gray and bent, will you still love me?"
"Always." Edging closer she kissed the pit of his throat and pressed her forehead against his shoulder. Though she loved sharing the pleasures of the flesh with him, their connection went far deeper than physical. Blaze was in her heart and mind. He was part of her, now and forever.
With the utmost tenderness, his mouth covered hers. Gently he kissed first her upper lip, then her lower. His tongue slipped into her mouth and stroked hers.
Moaning softly, Melody clung to him. He rolled onto his back, holding her close. Between nibbling kisses, she straddled him, loving the sensation of his rock hard body against her. He was like liquid steel, so strong, yet limber. The texture of his skin, smooth in places and hair-roughened in others,
felt so marvelous against her flesh.
Sitting back slightly, she closed her eyes and arched her back. The length of his cock rested against her buttocks. His velvet-skinned weapon was hard and ready. The thought of feeling him deep inside her sent waves of pure passion through her clit.
"I want you so much, Blaze."
"Oh, yes, Sweet Music," he purred, fondling her breasts. The pads of his thumbs brushed her nipples, teasing them until they felt ready to burst from sensation. One of his hands splayed against her back.
He lifted his head and captured one of her nipples between his lips. At the first luscious stroke of his tongue against the hard bead, Melody collapsed forward, panting, her hands braced on either side of his head. He licked and sucked first one nipple, then the other, drenching them with his saliva and pleasuring them with his teeth and tongue.
"Oh, Blaze. Oh." She gasped and curled one hand around the back of his head, offering his neck added support as he stirred her passion to unimaginable heights. One of her nipples, as swollen as a berry ready for harvest, rested between his teeth. He nipped it gently and used the very tip of his tongue to caress the slight indentation at the very top of it. Melody cried out, her heart hammering, and rubbed her clit against his taut belly. "Please, Blaze. Take me now. Take me fast. Don't make me wait this time."
Though she adored the long, slow lovemaking sessions he preferred, she was too far gone to postpone the inevitable. If he didn't claim her right now, she was going to rub herself to pleasure against him.
As if sensing her desperation, Blaze rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. Heat from the fire warmed their bodies that were already burning with passion. Melody gazed at him through half open eyes as he loomed above her. His eyes gleamed with pure desire. Using his knee,
he nudged her legs apart. Instantly Melody spread her thighs and raised her knees, opening wide to accommodate his tall, big-boned frame.
By the Spirit, he felt so wonderful. His touch, his expression, the sound of his excited breathing aroused her to stunning heights of passion.
"Oh, please. Fill me, Blaze. Fill me."
"My heart is pounding for you, Sweet Music. I'm desperate for you."
"Then don't torture us any longer."
The tip of his cock circled the drenched outer lips of her pussy. Melody's clit throbbed with anticipation. She thrust her pelvis higher and clung to him hard in an attempt to make him move faster.
With frustrating yet wonderful slowness, he slid his thick cock inside her. Inch by inch. Moment by moment.
"Oh, Blaze." She squeezed his neck and sank her heels into the backs of his legs.
Finally he was buried to the hilt, her pussy clenching around him.
Covering her mouth with his, he began kissing her while he thrust. For a moment, Melody couldn't breathe. His tongue was thrusting into her mouth in time with his cock ramming into her pussy. By the Spirit, this was exactly how she wanted to be taken. He was claiming her with almost animal
ferocity.
Melody's heartbeat echoed in her ears. She knew she was moaning and urging him on, but she wasn't exactly sure what she was saying. The sensations breaking over her were just too great to allow her to focus on anything but the powerful, sinewy hunk of man pounding into her. Her palms slid over his back, loving how his muscles flexed as he moved. His tongue circled her lips. The speed of his thrusts increased so that all Melody could do was hang on tight and enjoy the ride.
"Oh, Blaze, don’t stop. Don't."
"Come for me, Melody. Come, my Sweet Music.
Orgasm broke over her, rocking her from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. Her clit and pussy felt like molten lava. The waves of climax seemed endless, yet through it all, Blaze's thrusting never ceased. Another orgasm built inside Melody almost as soon as the first one ebbed.
There were no words between them now, only emotion and raw lust. Their pelvises ground together in a primitive rhythm. Their gasping breaths mingled. His flesh dampened beneath her stroking hands. Melody felt as if the fire in the hearth had swallowed her. She was so hot and lost
in the wildness of their love.
Crying out sharply, she gripped him even harder. The orgasm ripping through her was almost painful in its intensity. Her clit seemed to burst while her pussy squeezed the hell out of his cock, but she didn't care. It was simply too marvelous.
He tore his mouth from hers. With a ragged shout of ecstasy, he lunged into her with five more savage thrusts. His seed spurted into her. Panting, Blaze rolled onto his back and hauled her against him.
Melody rested her cheek against his damp chest, listening to his heartbeat slow to normal.
"Goodness." She giggled when she finally recovered enough to talk. "I have no words, Blaze."
"Neither do I. Nor do I think I can move right now. That was beyond magnificent."
For several moments, they rested in each other’s arms, enjoying the flickering of firelight and the pounding of the rain on the rooftop.
"I'm starving." Blaze sat up.
Melody smiled and raised herself on her elbows. "What a surprise."
"Want to eat?" He brushed a lock of hair from her eyes and trailed his fingertip over her lips. She kissed it, then sat up and embraced him.