Blaze (5 page)

she felt from him, his kisses remained slow and tantalizing. By the Spirit, he was teasing her with those intoxicating kisses! How could he control such desire? She felt like she would explode if he didn't devour her then and there!

Melody's hands slipped from his hair. She clutched his shoulders and back. Beneath her palms, the powerful muscles flexed as he tightened his grip on her. The man's body was like a perfect tool.

There wasn't a bit of spare flesh on him, only lean, powerful muscle. She remembered watching him in the exhibition earlier. Such energy, flexibility, and strength could only exist in a perfectly trained body. How she wanted him to make love to her! She needed to feel him deep inside her as she clung to him in the throes of ecstasy.

Pulsing waves of pleasure throbbed deep in her pussy and washed over her clit. The need to press even closer and rub against him almost overtook her, especially when she became aware of his rock hard cock against her belly.

Oh, yes! That's it! Damn, the man can kiss!

Tara
, get away from here!

But—

Now!

Fine. He's all yours! Lucky bitch.

Grasping her shoulders, Blaze broke the kiss. His lips parted as he drew sips of air and stared at her with intensity that thrilled her. "Sweet Music, passion threatens to breach locked doors."

Melody's brow furrowed. "Excuse me?"

"The defenses were erected long ago, but I fear they cannot withstand this newly discovered weapon."

Tara
?
Tara! Where they hell are you?

A look of understanding settled upon Blaze's face. "The bridge between my world and yours has fallen. She has abandoned you."

His words suddenly made sense. Bridge. Abandon. "Yes!
Tara's not here right now. She was interfering when we—with our—She's gone, but I'm sure she'll be back."

"Your thoughts about me now?"

She smiled. "Well, you're a challenge, but you were right when you said some forms of communication don't require words."

Melody slipped her arms around his neck and attempted to kiss him again, but he wouldn't let her.

Taking her face in his hands, he gazed deeply into her eyes. "Sweet Music, flesh without feeling leads only to emptiness."

His words doused her passion and she pushed away from him. "I'll have you know, Sir Blaze, my vows are as important to me as yours are to you. I am not some wanton warrior, nor am I desperate, even if I have been on an island for ten years. I—"

Grasping her upper arm with one hand and cupping her face with his other, he silenced her with a kiss, then said, "My admiration and respect is boundless for a healer such as yourself. In your kindness, I fear you would continue a game to which there may be no winner."

Melody stared at him, her pulse racing. "You thought I'd stay with you to be nice, even if I didn't understand a bloody word you were saying?"

He nodded, his large, pale eyes holding her captive.

"I know a good man when I see one, Blaze. Even if it takes me some time to understand you, I have the feeling it will be well worth it." Looping her arms around his neck, she covered his mouth with

a feathery kiss that left both of them longing for more. "I'll be waiting for you tomorrow at our fortress."

"And I will be there."

Melody smiled, slipping from his arms and heading for the door.

* * *

Tapping sounded on the door of Blaze's herbarium.

"Yes," Blaze called, placing aside the bowl in which he had been crushing a mixture of herbs.

Torn stepped inside, carrying a vial. "I'm out of clove oil."

"There." Blaze pointed to the center left shelf, then continued grinding herbs.

"Did you have a nice time at the fair yesterday?"

"Yes. And you?"

"Honey Wine and I always have a good time. The children love it, too, as long as we keep Vanessa from eating too many sweets."

Blaze smiled. "It's good that your lady could elude affairs of state to visit with us for a time."

"I'm glad Honey Wine was able to leave Sophianna for a while, too. Home will always be where she is, but sometimes it's good to stay at the fortress. It's like old times, when you, me, Rain, and Mahir

get together and play dice after dinner."

"And dream of heroics from long ago."

Torn winked. "Nothing like talking about the good old days."

Grinning, Blaze glanced at Torn from the corner of his eye. Even if he and the black-haired Knight had been blood brothers, they couldn't have been closer. Since childhood, they had been the best of

friends. Torn was one of the only people who had learned to follow Blaze's strange speech patterns with scarcely any hesitation. They'd endured life and death situations together. They'd trained,

laughed, and even cried together. Such friendship was rare, and Blaze had never taken it for granted.

"So what's going on with you and Dame Melody?"

"I imagine the same applies to us as to other potential mates."

Torn dragged one of the chairs away from the table and straddled it backwards, a grin on his lips.

"She seems nice enough."

"Nice? She is a rare flower. Sweet Music is a fitting name for her."

"Blood hell." Torn chuckled. "You are in love."

Blaze's brow furrowed and he cast Torn what he hoped to be a skeptical look. "Love? Me? A man of my years—"

"Is old enough to know exactly what he wants when he sees it. You're not hindered by the stupidity and ignorance of youth."

"At least you don't attempt to act as a teacher of the romantic arts. Mate of the Key is full of advice, and my own men have tried thrusting me at females of every form and demeanor."

Torn laughed. "Lock? He's about as subtle when it comes to handling women as a White Island yak during mating season. As for the rest of your faction, I'm sure they only want to see you happy."

"Only a man himself can truly see to his own happiness."

"Well said." Torn stood. "And I know you too well to think you need advice with women. Beneath all that eccentric phrasing and wide-eyed innocence there's a man who knows how to treat a lady better than any of these vow-breaking idiots. Do you know why? Because you study their likes and dislikes and you listen to what they say. When it comes to females, that can be hard to do."

Blaze cocked an eyebrow. "And does your bride know you feel this way? That understanding women is as difficult as catching a waterfall in a thimble?"

"Tell her I said that and you'd better be prepared to defend yourself on the training field." Torn headed for the door.

"Yes, but not today. Within the hour I leave for Femmeglenn."

"Have a good time with Dame Melody and thanks for the clove oil."

"You assume much, brother. Perhaps I am on my way to assist in training their healers."

"You have many talents, Blaze, but being a good liar isn't one of them. No wonder I never wanted you in my faction."

"I never desired to be among your spies. Should anyone require supplies while I'm gone, apprentice River will be presiding over my workshop until this evening."

"Give my regards to Dame Melody."

"I shall."

Torn closed the door behind him, leaving Blaze to his work. At dawn, he'd begun his rounds, then helped some of the Knights apprentice with their studies. As soon as he completed the mixture, he'd be off to the Opal Order's fortress for his meeting with Melody.

Other than if the spirits kept him awake, Blaze usually had little trouble sleeping, but last night he'd remained awake for hours before drifting off. Lying in his moonlit chamber, the scent of herbs wafting through the half open window, he thought of Melody. How good it had felt to hold her. The kisses they'd shared had been nothing short of dreamlike. She tasted soft and sweet.

Though small, her body was strong and firm from years of hard work and training with weapons. Not only did she possess a warrior's skills and a healer's intelligence, but she personified femininity. She was gentle, kind, and full of passion.

Scarcely able to control his desire, he had left his bed and opened the trunk that held almost all of his most personal possessions. At the bottom was a book made of parchment and bound in cloth.

Long ago, during his time with Master Etah, part of his training had been to copy the words of a sacred love book, creating a second volume in his own hand.

A warrior must also study art. Learning the beauty of pen and ink while at the same time learning the glory of lovemaking is a gift that I pass onto you, Blaze. Use both arts as well and with the same respect as your skills in empty handed combat.

Blaze had devoured the book's lessons with enthusiasm. After his first sour experience with a woman, he wanted to know how to please the right one when she came along. His first lover, if she could truly be called that, had mocked his inexperience. When and if he found a woman whose real desire was to share his thoughts and his body, he didn't want her to be disappointed. A man may be inexperienced, but he need not be ignorant.

Last night, he'd turned the parchment pages, pouring over the words and images he'd drawn in colored ink. With a pounding heart and a stirring in his cock, he imagined practicing the sacred techniques on Sweet Music. To give her pleasure would lift his own to unimagined realms. Sweet, sweet music…

Was Torn right? Was this love he felt? How could it be? He'd only just met her. They needed time to get to know each other better. Time to savor every touch, every kiss, every word.

Words. Without the spirit, Tara, to translate for her, would she grow tired of deciphering his odd speech? Her desire to understand him was profoundly touching, yet was it reasonable?

It had taken Torn, Mahir, and his faction years to smoothly communicate with him, and at times it still wasn't easy. Would a woman truly want to burden herself with a lover whose sentences often

had to be pondered before the meaning became clear? Perhaps he was overreacting and falling into a self-centered pattern he'd tried all his life to avoid. Each person was an individual.

Differences were meant to kindle interest among people, inspiring them to learn about each other and become closer. Not that it always worked out that way, but it was something to aspire to. As a child, he'd been persecuted for what he was, but life in the Ruby Order had changed that. Of course some people still mocked him, but such ignorance was to be pitied, even if it did test his temper at times.

What had this to do with Melody? They liked each other. The spirits told him she wasn't a woman who would tie herself to a man out of pity or kindness. If she wanted a relationship with him, it was because they could derive mutual pleasure and become a good match.

Blaze poured the herbs into a jar, sealed it, and cleaned the bowl. Glancing around his herbarium, he reached for the cloth bag resting on the table. He stepped outside at the same moment River and

Colt arrived.

"I thought I'd replenish my supplies and help River around here while you're in Femmeglenn,"

Colt said.

"If you should need me—"

Colt grinned. "We won't. Have a good day, Sir."

Blaze nodded and walked to the stable where he brushed and saddled his tall, big-boned chestnut gelding. He slipped the cloth bag into the saddle pack and mounted. Why the hell did he feel more nervous than if he was riding into battle?

* * *

Melody's attention focused on the bloody leg wound she was tending. Late that morning, she'd been preparing her herbarium—as well as fixing herself up—for her meeting with Blaze when a trainee had approached her with an urgent message. Several of the villagers from Reed Hill had been involved in a wagon accident when their horses became frightened and slipped off the edge of the ridge.

By the time she arrived, one of the animals was already dead and the other's injuries were so severe it had to be destroyed. By some stroke of luck, the four passengers had survived, though two had serious injuries.

The leg of the young man she worked on was so badly damaged that she believed amputation was the only course of action.

"Sweet Music, I will assist."

Melody glanced up for a second, surprised to find Blaze kneeling beside her.

"Thank you. I'm about to amputate his leg."

Blaze's brow furrowed as he examined the injury. "Let me try something first."

Melody and the trainee who had been assisting her exchanged glances.

"You think you can save it?"

He nodded. "With your permission and if your assistant will remain with me?"

"Of course." Melody stepped aside, glancing at him with curiosity as she moved to the next victim.

Though she would have liked to watch his technique, she knew that her skills were best used on others.

She wondered if Blaze was indeed as knowledgeable as his reputation claimed, or if he was trying to show off his healing skills, for she saw no way of saving the leg.