Flame Thrower (3 page)

Grateful for his respectful privacy, Tillian watched him straighten to his full height. He didn’t press her and didn’t intrude. He gave her space to find whatever composure was possible in this situation. Her neck craned up when his six foot plus frame looked down at her before he added more fuel to their blazing fire. She couldn’t resist the smile she felt forming on her lips in response to the look of kindness that blazed in his warm brown eyes. It was a much needed distraction and for the first time since she really awoke, she looked around at her surroundings.

The room was a small hunting cabin, basic in all designs. The floor was planked and well used, the walls covered in a layer of plaster. It felt homey and safe. It was obviously visited enough because it had that feeling of occupancy. There were creature comforts scattered about that announced this, rather than it being just an empty shack. It also carried a thick feeling of happiness. Scanning the space, she immediately saw three beds pushed up against one wall, side by side. One was large, probably King Ryan’s and the rest were made for one man alone.

“Why am I on the floor if you had three beds to choose from?” Tillian asked, confused because a bed was probably more comfortable than her stone of the hearth.

“You were cold. I wanted to ensure you got warm before I moved you.”

A loud noise rumbled in her stomach and caused Tillian to blush with embarrassment. “How long have I been asleep?” If she were this hungry, she must have been asleep awhile.

Ryan’s handsome face quirked into what she accepted now as his smile on his bearded face. He moved to the only space that could be called a kitchen and tore off a piece of bread. He then grabbed a mug of water from the table. “You’ve been sleeping for a full day. I found you towards sunset yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” Her eyes darted to the window which was darkened with night. “What time is it?”

“The sun just set,” he replied. After approaching slowly, he handed both the bread and the water to her without breaking eye contact. He read every minute flicker of confusion that flashed in those sensational green eyes of hers. “I’ve been watching over you until you woke. I wanted to ensure you were well. Obviously, you needed the rest, so I just let you sleep.”

As her arm extended to accept the offering, she first saw her bare skin, which prompted her to look inside the cloak and a torturous sound erupted from her mouth. Tillian was mortified when she realized she wore no clothing underneath. “Oh no.” Her face burned with embarrassment and she turned away from King Ryan again. With a thump, she set the mug down while she clutched the bread in her lap, shredding it in her nervous fingers.

Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“I have no clothes.” Tillian burned red with a healthy blush when she realized he must have seen her naked. If he was the one who found her, who knew what else he saw.

Ryan smiled. “Well, no, because I found you with none.” He bit back the retort ‘
but I’m not complaining
,’ and left it unsaid.

He busied himself and tinkered with the fire to make sure it would not go out. He then walked across the room and leaned against the table and evaluated her critically. “I’m sure when you are ready to remember what happened, you will. I have a vested interest as to what transpires on my land, so if you remember anything, I’ll not hold it against you.”

She wasn’t ready to talk about this yet. She let her eyes dart everywhere but on him and her gaze settled on their packs lined up against one wall near the fire. Other than the beds and the packs, the only other adornment in the room was a small table that seated four towards the middle of the room. The same table he leaned against.

“Thank you,” Tillian finally whispered. She collected the mug from her side and paused when their gazes met. She dropped her eyes from his caring stare immediately. The flush of shame spread through her the longer he continued to silently evaluate her. It was as if he saw through her ruse of not remembering. She fumbled with her mug, not daring to look back up. “You must think so little of me,” Tillian whispered. “I’m sure your mind is running wild and I can only imagine what you think of me. Especially after finding me like…this.”

“Peace, you have nothing to worry about,” he said calmly.

Tillian’s eyes continued to evaluate her surroundings and she felt a worry settle in her core. “Where are your men? You said you found me on your hunting grounds so did I disrupt your hunt? Will they be sleeping in here tonight?”

Ryan watched the worry flash through her eyes when she thought of his men being near. He understood her predicament. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, Princess.” Ryan assumed one of the seats at the table and watched her closely, noting her skittish appearance when she kept checking the windows.

She was incredibly beautiful with long black hair and dramatically foreign eyes. His heart swelled just looking at her, but he managed to control any outward sign of emotion. Barely. He crossed his legs and had to stifle a groan, because his heart wasn’t the only thing to swell. Suddenly his breeches felt too tight.

“You have the room all to yourself.” He waited for his words to sink in. Ryan caught the tentative glance in his direction before he continued. “You are correct about the hunting.” He snickered suddenly before he looked at her pointedly and added, “I won’t blame our failure to find a boar on your rescue. Actually, I should say thank you. You saved me the embarrassment of yet another failed hunt. So no, you didn’t disrupt the hunt at all. In all honesty, we were on our way back to the cabin when I came across your body and your situation gave us something to do. I’m glad we found you, though. Your Father’s plea for assistance and the story of your kidnapping has reached far and wide. You are not to blame for what happened or how I came to find you.”

Ryan spoke with such an open and friendly tone that Tillian couldn’t help but smile. The moment she recalled how he found her, the shame of the situation tore through her like an avalanche.

Again, he mistook her reaction to be pain caused from the injuries that marred her skin and cracked her lips. “I’ve sent for a healer from the village, Princess. She should be here soon.” He paused. “How do you feel now that you are awake?” It took everything in him to remain at the table and not rush back to her side.

She let him think she was in pain instead of shamed, and sighed. “Just tired,” she replied. She shyly watched him through her lowered eyelashes, trying to recapture some composure. He didn’t fit the description of the man that was so feared in her lands; his very name brought nightmares to small children, but seeing his strong arms and legs that displayed his chiseled definition through his breeches and tunic of soft silk, Tillian couldn’t understand why. He was breathtakingly gorgeous and he was showing her nothing but kindness. Becoming bolder, she raised her chin higher and met his strong face, which currently watched her with a surprisingly gentle expression. There was nothing but admiration in his warm brown eyes.

Ryan leaned back in the chair and rested his ankle across his knee. He tried to present a relaxed presence. “Well, you have as long as you need. We can remain for however long is required. Please don’t feel you are being an inconvenience.” He softened his words with a smile. “Finally, to clarify my answer about my men, I’ve asked them to camp outside to give you privacy.” He indicated the front door with his head. “As I said, the cabin is yours.”

Tillian absently nodded and focused her attention on a string she plucked off the cloak. She had a hard time gathering her courage to speak. This man was the opposite from what she understood him to be and she felt extremely conflicted with her overwhelming desire to be back in his strong arms. Her gaze drifted to them and she accepted that he made her feel so very safe. Tillian had no reason to believe anything he said to be false, and tried to let his words sink in without falling apart.

Ryan patiently watched her from across the room, concerned that he saw that sadness reappear again. He felt the strong impulse to dash to her return, and this time it nearly overwhelmed him. From somewhere, he once more found some hidden strength to refrain.

What saved him was that Tillian found her own courage and spoke, breaking the spell her silence wove. “The people of Folkyn are sheltered, but I’ve heard of you through my Father.” She snorted. “Well, the stories he chose to tell that is. I would have thought you had red hair? The stories he told have a nickname of Flame Thrower, so I assumed without reading the full account of how you earned that name, it meant the color of your hair.” She spoke more to change the subject away from her.

This made Ryan chuckle, “Red hair? Is that so? Sorry to disappoint you, Princess.” He shrugged. “That nickname has to do with something else entirely, and not related to my coloring. That is a tale for another time, however.” He chuckled again to himself as his hand subconsciously touched his short cut blond hair.

Tillian became bolder in her appraisal. He wasn’t forcing anything from her or forcing himself on her as her captors did. It was very strange to sit conversing with someone and not fear they would coerce her to unknown vile acts.

She guessed since he was on a hunting trip, all the fanfare of court was left behind, because this legendary king sat before her in casual tight leather breeches, riding boots and an untied tunic which exposed his muscular chest. Tillian couldn’t help but appreciate the view and felt a heat spread through her body. She let her gaze play across his frame, finding little fault. The shame that followed generated a brilliant blush, because she shouldn’t have such a reaction.

When her eyes finally traveled back up to his face, Tillian frowned suddenly. He’d read her sensual appraisal and smirked knowingly without shame. He didn’t even try to hide his amusement behind his thin beard and mustache as his smirk turned into a wide smile.

“What’s so amusing?” she challenged. She immediately winced for she had not intended it to come out so harsh. He just caught her off-guard and it was unnerving the way he affected her. After what she’d been through, the amusement and desire she read in his eyes should be repelling her. They had the opposite effect, actually. The interest pulled her to him like a beacon.

“You. You’ve caught me off-guard, I must confess Princess.” Before Ryan could add anything more, the door of the cabin flew open, allowing entry of a large man wearing a sword at his hip and a bow over his shoulder. He wore a heavy cloak fit for travel, which he tossed over his shoulder when he entered.

Ryan’s eyes flew from the rude intrusion back to Tillian and witnessed her flinch away. His eyes narrowed dangerously when an intense protective need flashed through him. He felt that increase when she quickly turned from the door with a look of pure terror on her face. Her body language screamed panic, but she was trying to be brave. He could only guess at the intense emotions that most likely rolled through her at the moment. Ryan’s chest vibrated with a low rumble before he slowly turned to glare dangerously at Wallace.

“What?” he said in a tone that threatened punishment.

“Your Highness, I have the healer,” the man announced. Wallace took in the two in the room. The woman was obviously awake and currently sat before the stone fireplace, huddled in Ryan’s cloak. She stared everywhere but at him, which suddenly made Wallace feel as if he just intruded on some intimate moment. The waves of annoyance rolling off Ryan further supported that train of thought.

“Give us a moment and then please bring Edda in,” Ryan said more softly. He returned to watching Tillian with concern. She had not yet recovered from Wallace’s arrival and it was clear his presence was disturbing. Wallace had not moved so Ryan added, “That will be all.”

Ryan watched his Captain leave and waited until the door was closed before he approached and knelt before her. She didn’t even look at him. Ryan reached out to gently turn her face to his, drawing her out of whatever hell she’d tumbled into. “Tillian, no one here will harm you. You have my word. That man is Captain Wallace and he ensures your safety even as we speak.”

She continued to stare at the wall blankly. The fear still gripped her with a firm hold and he began to get nervous. “Tillian,” he tried again. He failed at resisting a caress of her cheek and saw her eyes flutter a few times before she blinked. Those green irises focused on his face and he saw the fear in her eyes. This was too much for him to bear, and she found herself quite ensconced in his arms when he wrapped them around her in a strong embrace.

The moment his arms hugged her securely, Tillian lost her own battle to control her emotions and fell apart. The room filled with the sounds of her uncontrollable weeping.

The depth of her despair told Ryan just how broken her spirit really was, regardless if she put on a brave front.

“Shh, it’s all right to cry. I’ve got you.” His heart broke with each tear and Ryan was willing to do just about anything to make her stop. He knew she needed to let it out though, and he wanted her to feel safe enough to around him. “Tillian, please tell me what I can do to help you,” he whispered against her ear, letting his lips graze her lobe lightly. “Please.”

Being right here, in his arms the world seemed safer, less painful. Tillian felt a need to be near this man and against her better judgment she voiced it. “Don’t leave me alone. Please,” she moaned against his chest. “You are the only good thing that has happened so please don’t leave.”

Ryan growled deeply in his chest and pulled her tighter. “I won’t.” He placed another gentle kiss on her ear and whispered, “You have my word.”