“Feel better?” I couldn’t fight a cocky grin from spreading across my face.
I had expected her to lay there and fall asleep; I would tuck her in once settled. Instead, her heavy lids opened to reveal hungry eyes. She lifted herself to her knees, moving so that her breasts leaned into my ribs.
“Mhm.” She tilted her chin up and pressed her soft lips against mine. My eyes widened in surprise. Part of me was afraidto believe our relations could be anything beyond tending to her needs. Maybe she needed to come again?
I returned her kiss, greeting her tongue with my own so she could explore the unique shape of my Pyran anatomy while tasting herself on my lips. I was desperate to experience physical affection with her. My defenses once again failing, warmth shot through my body in exhilaration. I pressed my hands into my thighs to keep them somewhere safe, while she ran her dainty fingers through the dark hair framing my face.
Lost in the significance of the moment, I was unaware that her hands had made their way to the collar of my shirt until the first button became undone.She’s undressing me. No matter how much I wanted to, I wouldn’t feel comfortable claiming her body for myself, knowing the depth of complexities between us. But I wanted to enjoy this connection just a moment longer, then I would set the necessary boundaries and tend to her needs.Gods give me strength.
My shirt fell open and was promptly pushed off my shoulders, my arms angling for convenient removal. How could I deny her access to my body when she had just trusted me with all of hers? She was welcome to explore for her own pleasure, then I would return to my post to take care of her. Her fingers traced over every ridge of my form while our lips continued their dance.
Reality struck me over the head when I felt a squeeze around the girth of my cock. When had she undone my pants? I yanked my head back to stare down at her wrist disappearing into the black opening of my trousers. Her hand instinctively stroked my length to the extent the confined space allowed, and I groaned hoarsely at the same moment panic and heat shot through my veins.
There was a second I thought I was glowing again due to the increased brightness, before a shriek ripped me into clarity. Faeryn had fallen back onto her ass and was scrambling away from licks of fire spreading up my thighs where my hands had been. Without thinking, I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. The biggest risk was my clothing catching everything else in the house, if I could contain it on myself, the rest would be fine.
I jumped into the claw-foot tub and cranked the faucet, slapping at the flames in tandem with the running water, dousing what I could. Faeryn appeared in the doorway, terror twisting her expression.
“I need a bucket, the bed is on fire.”
“Bottom shelf.” I nodded to the right.
Fireproof sheets were standard in any Pyrans home, so although the blankets would be lost, the destruction wouldn’t spread. That specialized bedding, paired with a metal bedframe and high ceilings, provided decent protection against all-consuming arson in the event of a night terror. Or in my case, in the event that you are lost in the throes of desire beyond your wildest dreams.
I stepped to the side so she could fill the bucket. My pants were entirely disintegrated, but she didn’t seem to notice my nudity in her panic. She ran back to the bedroom with water sloshing onto the floor behind her.
I grabbed a nearby towel and tied it around my waist as I made my way to the bedroom. If she was going to see my cock that was so eager to make her acquaintance, this wasn’t the way I wanted it to happen. Faeryn was making no progress with the flames, but she did look cute trying.
“Open the window.” I didn’t mean to sound so unbothered when she was clearly addressing a perceived crisis,but it wasn’t my first time preventing my house from setting ablaze.And it certainly wasn’t the worst.
She looked confused for a moment before making her way to the large panes and unlatching them into the chilly winter night air. I grabbed the crackling ball of blanket in my hands and jerked my head to the side in a request that she clear the way. Her eyes were wide as I tossed the wad of flames out of the window and into the snow, where it sizzled to ash.
My head finally hung in shame, and I let out a heavy breath. “I am very,verysorry,” I grumbled. “Are you hurt at all?” I fought the urge to lunge forward and scan every inch of her exposed body for damage, worried she might feel vulnerable with the mood sufficiently interrupted.
“N-no.” Her eyes traced over me. This time I suspected it was to check me for my own injuries instead of in appreciation.
“Good.” My shoulders relaxed in relief.
Humiliation twisted in my gut. Lighting the bed on fire wasn’t uncommon for the first time lying with another, but with that came its own stigma. Experienced Pyran’s controlled their fire. I could only hope she hadn’t obtainedthatbit of cultural context just yet, lest she draw the wrong conclusion. Iwasexperienced.
“What now?”
I grimaced sheepishly. “I’m honestly not sure how to… conclude our lovely evening at this point. But I’d like to invite you to sleep up here. The bed is undamaged, we can get blankets from the living room.”
“I would enjoy that.” My self-conscious musings came to a halt. I hadn’t ruined everything after all. “I can go grab them while you, um, get dressed.”
My hand tightened around the knot of the towel, maintaining the last of my modesty. “Thank you. I’ll get a fire going while you’re gone… in the designated area this time.”
She cracked an amused smile. “Leave the window open if you don’t mind. It’s a little smoky in here.” She turned to exit and paused in the doorway. “You can keep me warm, right?”
My heart burst through my chest as I watched her naked body saunter down the hallway. How significant that she was requesting not only to stay here after nearly being harmed, but to benefit from the very fire that threatened her.
I quickly replaced the charred sheets with a clean set from the closet, tossing the removed linens out the window to join the blanket remains. I pulled on clean pants, heated the room, and waited at the foot of the bed for Faeryn to join me.
She returned in her baggiest shirt and a pair of white panties, an unusual choice for staying warm through the night. “Did you want to borrow some pants?” I bit my tongue the moment I asked it.
Her face flushed. “I thought this might be more comfortable. But if you’d prefer—”
“Absolutely not.”Subtle. “I just want to make sure you have what you need to be comfortable.”
