Wild Flame (7 page)

There had been no sign of the Hell Hounds, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they came for her. She had no wish to die, but she didn’t like putting everyone helping her in danger either.

She didn’t know how much time had passed since she’d awoken, but she gradually removed Christian’s arm from her waist and got to her feet. It took her a few minutes to find her clothes and put them on.

Ivy straightened from putting on her boots to find Christian awake and propped on an elbow, watching her. For once she didn’t worry about what to say. They had decided on things from the start.

“Awake already?” he asked.

Ivy smiled and patted her stomach. “In need of food, actually.”

“Listen, Ivy,” Christian began.

She stopped him before he could go on. “There’s no need. We agreed to this. We needed each other. But no strings, no ties. No need to make up excuses. It was a one-time thing.”

“That’s...a first for me.” He flashed a grin. “I’m never very good at the excuses anyway.”

“There’s no need to worry. I promise not to fall in love with you.”

There was a ghost of a frown, but it was quickly covered by his smile. “That’s good then.”

“Want any food?”

“No, thanks. I’m going to stay out here and listen to the rain without having to be suffocated by the couples in the house.”

Ivy laughed, watching how his muscles rippled when he laid on his back and placed his hands behind his head. “See you in the morning.”

“See ya.”

Ivy walked out of the shed with a smile, but her expression quickly changed. It wasn’t the rain soaking her that made her frown. It was the strange, unnamable feeling within her that suggested she had made a mistake brushing Christian off so suddenly.

Though she didn’t know why she felt that way. Neither of them wanted any kind of relationship.
 

Right?

Ivy reached the porch and shook off as much of the rain as she could. She removed her boots before she walked into the house. The blast of cold air from the air conditioning gave her a chill.

A glance around the kitchen uncovered a dishtowel by the sink that she used to wipe the rain from her face and arms. It was while she was putting the towel back that she realized she wasn’t alone.

Ivy turned her head and met Beau’s blue eyes. He was at the table with a tall glass of milk and a stack of cookies.

“There’s food in the fridge,” he said.

She nodded, feeling as if she were a teenager getting caught sneaking back into the house. “Thanks.”

“I should warn you that Christian likes women. He enjoys their company and their bodies, but he isn’t the kind of guy who will give you a future.”

Ivy’s hackles immediately went up, even though she told herself it was just a brother looking out for his family. “No need to worry. I don’t have designs on Christian. He’s a good guy, but that’s where things stop.”

Beau frowned, his head cocking to the side. “Really?”

“Really.” She laughed then and turned to open the fridge. She peered inside and found the foil-covered plates. She took one out and set it on the counter. “Even if the Hell Hounds weren’t after me, my life is hectic enough without adding a relationship to the mix.”

She took off the foil and looked at the large portion of etouffee spooned over rice. Ivy popped the plate in the microwave and heated it, feeling Beau’s eyes still on her.

“Why?” Beau asked.

The microwave beeped. Ivy opened the door and stirred the food with a fork before testing the temperature. She removed the plate and set it on the table, then poured a glass of sweet tea and sat across from Beau.

“My health. If my mother did sell her soul to make me better, who’s to say the illness won’t return?” She shrugged and took a small bite. “My mother’s life came to a halt when she needed to take care of me. I won’t put someone else through that.”

“And if you never get sick again?”

Ivy gave him a rueful smile. “Let’s be honest here. We both know I’m not going to get away from the Hell Hounds. I have one more day. Maybe.”

His frown increased as he sat forward, putting his forearms on the table. “You’re going to give up so easily?”

“I don’t want to die,” she stated. “I’m just trying to be realistic. In all the research each of you have so graciously done, no one has found a way for me to get away from the Hounds.”

Ivy took a bite of food and stared at her plate as she chewed. She didn’t want to give up. But she knew what she had read. There was no getting out of this. She figured Beau would be rejoicing since she would be gone.

Beau picked up his milk and cookies and stood. “We’ll find a way, Ivy. Christian risked his life to help you. The least you can do is give him some time.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Christian didn’t sleep after Ivy left. He watched the rain the rest of the night until it finally tapered off and the sun rose.

Only then did he gather his clothes and dress. His thoughts had been on Ivy the entire time. He had been happy, and then confused by her quick dismissal of their lovemaking.

Though he was puzzled about why that made him angry. He should be ecstatic. He didn’t have to lie to get away from a woman for once.
 

He should be clicking his heels in joy. Instead, he felt...sad.

He knew he had been made to taste Ivy’s kiss, to know her body. They were meant to come together and know each other so carnally.
 

Christian’s arms missed holding her against him. Her arms hadn’t just held him in return. She had shattered him then put him back together with a simple touch.

He stood in the doorway to the boathouse and looked out at the bayou. For once it wasn’t him pushing a woman away. It was Ivy doing the pushing. He wanted to be closer.

How the hell had that happened? When had it happened?

Christian ran a hand down his face and sighed wearily. He knew how to woo women to his bed. He was a master at rejecting them. What he didn’t know how to do was win one over.

He fished out his cell from his pocket and scrolled through his favorites. He dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.

It rang four times before a sleepy voice came from the other end. “Hello?”

“Riley?”

There was a beat of silence, then his sister said, “It’s early, Christian.”

“I know. I’m sorry to wake you. Are you doing okay?”

“Yeah.”

He closed his eyes briefly. “That’s good.”

“What up?” she asked, her voice coming through clearer as she woke. “You sound troubled.”

“Just the usual. Thanks for finally answering my call. I’ve left you several messages.”

“I got them.”

He nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see him. “Good, good. I’m sorry, Riley. We didn’t do it right, but please understand that we were just trying to protect you.”

She sighed loudly. “I’m a Chiasson, you big idiot. There’s no running from what is part of my DNA.”

“You deserve a normal life.”

“Did it ever occur to you morons that I would rather be with my family facing the supernatural every day, than having what you consider a normal life?” she asked, her voice deepening in anger.

Christian felt like a heel. None of them had bothered to ask Riley what she wanted. “No, sis. We didn’t.”

“I know what y’all did was out of love,” she said in exasperation. “I went away because it’s what each of you were pushing for. Only I foolishly thought I’d be able to return home afterward.”

“I don’t want to make you angry. I didn’t call to hash out what we did wrong.”

“Then why did you call?” she demanded.

Christian leaned back against the doorway. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Bullshit. I know you, Christian. I know that tone. Something’s happened. What is it?” she urged.

“I...well, I’ve been given the brushoff from a woman.” He frowned when he heard a bubble of laughter drift over the phone before Riley smothered it.

“Wow. I never thought I’d hear you say that.”

Christian rubbed his forehead. “Look, I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. It’s all confusing.”

“Answer me this. Do you want to see her again?”

“Yes.”

Riley whistled. “You’ve got it bad. You never sleep with the same woman twice.”

Christian prayed for patience as Riley spoke. He hadn’t intended to talk to her about Ivy, but it just all came out before he could stop it.

“If you want to see her again, then make it happen,” Riley said.
 

“I don’t know how.”

She laughed. “Oh, but you do, Christian. You’re charming. Win her over. She’ll never be able to withstand you.”

“What if she does?”

“Then she’s not worth your time. Though, I’d love to meet the woman who made my brother reconsider everything just to spend more time with her.”

Christian couldn’t help but smile as he thought of Ivy. “Her name is Ivy. She’s confident, brave, and beautiful.”

“She sounds perfect for you,” Riley said with a smile in her voice.
 

He released a breath. “Come home, Riley. Please.”

“Soon,” she said and ended the call.

Christian pocketed the phone and leaned his head back against the doorway. He did want to see Ivy again, and not just to make love to her.
 

After so many years of knowing he would never settle down, it felt odd to crave someone so much. If he let Ivy into his life, she could die.

“Who am I kidding?” he asked himself. “She’s already in danger with the Hell Hounds after her.”

He hadn’t wanted to care about a woman and be put in such a position where he worried about keeping her safe. Yet, somehow, he ended up doing exactly that.

“Stupid fate,” he grumbled.

He was perfectly fine before Ivy.

Liar. You were empty, hollow. There was a void inside you that you refused to acknowledge.

Christian squeezed his eyes closed. He had been all of those things and more, but it had been worth it not to feel for someone so deeply. Then along came Curls. With her confidence and pluck. He hadn’t stood a chance.

Somehow, he had known when he saw her in the bar. It’s why he had waited until he was sure she’d left before he went out to his truck.
 

So much for taking matters into his own hands and putting her safely out of reach. Nope. Fate had stepped in and had made sure they met.

Kismet.

Christian heard the rumble of thunder. With the hurricanes brewing in the gulf, they would likely be getting more rain. Last he checked, the storm was headed toward Florida, but it could turn at the last minute, as they were known to do.

He opened his eyes and pushed away from the doorway. After another look at the floor where he had made love to Ivy, Christian walked out of the shed and up to the house.

As he opened the back door, he spied her boots. He took off his own and went inside. The house was still quiet as everyone slept, but it wouldn’t be long now before they woke.

Christian moved silently out of the kitchen and ascended the stairs to his room. He shut his door and immediately started undressing as he made his way to his bathroom.
 

~ ~ ~

Ivy heard the water turn on next door. She knew it was Christian. She sat cross-legged on the bed as she combed out her wet hair and thought of him taking his shower.

She closed her eyes, imagining her soap-covered hands running over his hard muscles. If only she were with him. She could imagine him pushing her against the shower wall and kissing her. Her lips tingled just thinking about it.
 

“Stupid, stupid,” Ivy said as she opened her eyes and tried to push Christian out of her mind.

It was impossible. She shouldn’t still be thinking about him. Yet, how could she not? They were in the same house together. It wasn’t like she could leave him behind as she did other men.

What would it be like to have someone like Christian around all the time?

Ivy stopped her thoughts instantly. She knew better than to go down that road. It was better that she was alone. Now more than ever with the Hounds after her. Even if by some miracle she managed to survive them, there was still the threat of her past illness returning hanging over her head.

The worry and fear had taken their toll on her mother, aging her seemingly overnight. Then there were the nights her mother spent at the hospital so Ivy wouldn’t be alone.

Even when Ivy was released and had returned home, things had been hard. She couldn’t be left alone since she was too weak to do anything herself. Her mother had worked odd jobs just to keep a roof over their heads and pay for a nurse to help care for Ivy.

Ivy could never put someone else through that. She might have been ill, but she’d watched everything unfold from her bed, helpless to do anything for her mother. How many nights had she heard her mother cry herself to sleep?