A year from now, she could see them doing something special to celebrate her sister’s twentieth year, her health, and their new life.
Taking in Morlie’s unmoved form, it seemed nothing had changed until Kai noticed all the smoke in the room was gone.
“Morlie.”Kai started to sit up, and she heard a soft thump of something hitting the floor.She glanced down and realized that there was a blanket covering her body.Shocked, Kai figured Tana’s silent efficiency had brought it to her.Recalling something had fallen, she sat up and glanced past her bent knees.Not believing her eyes, Kai leaned down and picked up the drab-green fabric.Holding it up, she became overjoyed at seeing her father’s jacket.
What?How?
Aodh had said her things were burned.She assumed the jacket was gone with everything else.
Pulling it into her chest, she held it.Envisioned, her father was there with her, and she was hugging him, not just the article of clothing.“Dad, I promised you and Mom I’d care for Morlie.I won’t let you down.”
She sniffed back the tears that burned her eyes.The jacket smelled good and looked clean.What?Who?Tana.
She’d have to thank Tana for cleaning and repairing it.Kai didn’t miss that the patches had new stitching around them.A few of the holes had been closed, while other rips remained.It made her smile.She had memories in each snag.Smiling, she started to check the pocket when she became aware of something else.What had awakened her?
Heat throbbed in her body.It could only mean one thing.She turned to the door, expecting to see Aodh standing there.When she didn’t see him by the entrance, she started to shake it off until she glanced in the other direction.There he sat.She saw him in the corner of the room behind her, yet off to the side.
Just like when she’d awakened in his suites and found him staring at her in the chair next to the bed, he was doing it again.Settled back in another chair, he rested his head against the wall, but Aodh’s turquoise-opal gaze remained fixed on her.
“Aodh.”She licked her lips.Instead of questioning his presence, she said, “The smoke is gone now.”
“Yes.”He didn’t even glance at the encased chamber.
She worked her arms into the cherished jacket, then shifted the blanket off and onto one of the chair’s arms.“I’d like to go in now.”She stood.
“As I figured you would.”He rose, and his large form took up most of the room.
Kai sucked in a breath as she observed him in his standard apparel of boots, thigh-hugging pants, and a vest that showcased his breathtaking markings.Would there ever come a time when the sight of him did not send heatwaves through her body?When she wouldn’t be impressed by the commanding way he filled a space?
Doubtful.Aodh was too impressive.And now that she knew what his mouth-watering body could do, she would never grow tired of being around him.
If she weren’t careful, she’d find herself scaling his tall form and begging him to carry her to his bed and keep her there for an uncountable amount of days.
Shaking herself and patting an imaginary hand along the wall she had worked hard to erect between them, hoping to keep her distance until she and Morlie could hit Splitsville, she straightened her back.
“Open the door,” she demanded.
A single brow arched slow and high, the expression proof that he’d be damned if anyone dared to question him, let alone a puny human order him around.
When Kai thought he would roar and growl at her that ‘the God of Fire’ a.k.a.the ‘Dragon King’ cannot be ordered around, one side of Aodh’s mouth quirked in a half smile.
Damn.That expression alone caused the arches of Kai’s feet to tingle and heat to spiral up her legs and into her sex.She clenched her thighs and inhaled quickly to shut down the moan that started in her belly and headed toward her throat.
“The door is open, little flame.”
She ignored the rough, sensuous delivery of the nickname, determined not to allow her desire for Aodh to chip at her barrier.Quickly, she turned toward the thick glass door.As he stated, it was open all the way.How did I miss that?
Aodh, her body whispered.
Her mind chose to disregard the confession of her weak body as she rushed forward.“Morlie!”
As she raced to the bed, calling out to her sister, Kai arrived beside her and saw that Morlie’s eyes were still closed.“What’s wrong with her?Why hasn’t she awakened if she is better?”
“Give it time.Keep talking to her.”His heat greeted her before he stepped up beside her.“Remember, besides Morlie being sick, she was in a deep sleep as her body healed.”
Kai nodded.Grasping her sister’s limp but warm hand, she rubbed up and down her arm.“Morlie, I’m here.Wake up.”
Aodh remained silent, a stalwart figure next to her.
