Touch of Flame

Darcy’s heart was beating fast as she waited for the Phantom to continue. She was nervous about what he would say. Scared.

“I hope I didn’t startle you, last night.” He spoke.

She breathed, relaxing a little. “No.”

“I hope you didn’t mind either?”

He hoped?

“I didn’t,” she said feeling flustered.

She was suddenly shy, which was unlike her. Maybe wearing the dress she turned into a lady or maybe it was just him.

“I have wanted to kiss you,” he confessed, his voice reaching her like a whisper of temptation. “For a long time.”

Kiss?

She recalled his lips on her neck, the heat of it, and the way it made her feel. She had imagined many things about him, wondered about many things but she never thought of anything physical. Never in her imagination did she think a touch or a kiss would feel good. Not to her anyway. Until last night.

“Why didn’t you?” She asked.

“I did not wish to scare you.”

Because of what she had been through?

“You do not scare me. You saved me.” She reminded.

She stood up, hesitantly closing the distance between them. How long was a long time? As long as she had been curious about him? Was it since the day he saved her? When? And did she give such a strong impression of not liking his kind that he kept a distance for so long?

She stopped when there was a little space between them. “I have been wanting to know you for so long,” she also confessed. “Since the day you saved me.”

She looked at his shadow as he rose from his seat. He stepped closer, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing across her skin. She closed her eyes briefly.

“Darcy.”

“Yes,” she could not ignore his call. If only she could look into his eyes when she opened hers again. If only she could call his name as well.

Insanity, something in the back of her mind insisted only until she felt his breath against her lips.

Darcy’s eyes fluttered close again and his lips touched the high point of her cheek, brushing down slowly. She moved her head, her own lips seeking the heat of his, feeling the delicious tingle right near her mouth, and then with a slight tilt, their lips met.

Darcy had never kissed before so she didn’t know what to do. She waited, his mouth teasing hers with soft brushes that made her tingle all over. She leaned in, almost falling into him and he caught her with one strong arm around her, pulling her closer with another hand in her hair, and then he took her mouth.

Tremors went down Darcy’s spine as heat engulfed her. His mouth was like hot sweet liquid against hers, moving in strokes that ignited flames from within. Her heart trembled in fear and excitement at the intensity of it all. Her legs gave, causing him to hold her up, crushing her chest against his.

Oh, the friction between their bodies made hers pulsate in strange places and coaxed a moan from her lips.

He broke the kiss abruptly with a pained breath, but his lips remained touching the side of her face. He was breathing as heavily as she was, his arm slowly easing around her.

Darcy’s lips stung sweetly and her body ached. Her heart craved… for more. But she had to pull herself back and together. She didn’t know this man.

“I don’t even know your name.” She breathed. “Or seen your face.”

He took her lips again, just briefly but that one tug clouded her mind again. It was as if he wanted more yet was held back. Still. Why?

“I want to see you,” she said. She could not keep kissing him without seeing him. She knew that would require him to trust her but they had kissed. That had to mean something. It did for her anyway. She didn’t just kiss anyone.

He took her hand, leading her further into the dark room. He opened a door she hadn’t seen and they stepped into further darkness. It was a little colder here and then he opened yet another door and they were met by the light and the cold night breeze.

He released her hand, descending the few stairs below and stepping into the garden. He was going to show her his face! Her heart skipped and she remained standing at the door, now watching his back.

He wore black pants, cut short by high leather boots, and a white chemise. His hair was as dark as the night sky, shinier than the stars, and looked softer than the night breeze. He remained standing with his back to her, and she could see him clench and unclench his hands.

Darcy stepped down the stairs and then kept her distance, waiting for him to show himself with anticipation. She was sure that whatever she saw, she would find him beautiful.

She heard him take a deep breath and then he turned around slowly. Darcy felt as if the night became still when she laid eyes on him. He had a face chiseled, the high sharp lines covered in the glow of honey and casting shadows across the planes of his face. In all the harshness, there were lips, soft and sensual with promises of leg-weakening kisses.

Lifting her gaze, she finally looked into his eyes. She had seen nothing like them before. Gold and silver. Smoke and fire. Breathtaking. He had absolutely nothing worth hiding unless he was afraid of attention.

“You are beautiful,” she admitted.

Those lips curved upward. Also, the first time she saw him smile and her heart fluttered.

“Thank you,” his voice sounded even better now that she could see him. Very fitting of his appearance. She could see what he meant now.

He did look more dragon. The sculpted face, dark hair, full lips, and honey skin. Only his aristocratic nose was more human and perhaps the mixture in his eyes. She guessed a bit dragon and human or something else entirely.

She took a few steps toward him. “And your name?” She asked greedily.

“My real, birth name is Ephraim.”

“Ephraim.”

His chest expanded as if liking his name on her lips and the gold in his eyes glowed inside the smokey silver.

“I have been waiting for this moment, Ephraim. Now I think knowing your name and seeing your face, I can thank you for saving me.”

The way he looked at her made her breath hitch. Now she knew why she could feel the intensity of it even in the darkness.

They sat on a bench in the garden beside each other. She couldn’t help but glance his way and he looked at her at the same time, Her face flushed and she was about to look away when he stopped her with a finger on her cheek.

“You wanted to see me,” he said softly. “You can look.”

He dropped his finger and held her with his eyes instead. It was pure temptation to have him so close, knowing what his kiss felt like and when his gaze slowly dipped to her lips before looking at her eyes again, she felt her self-restraint waver. She wasn’t sure who leaned in and kissed the other but couldn’t care at the moment.

It was only their lips that met and eventually, their bodies turned toward each other, their knees colliding. His legs were too long, preventing her from being closer than she wanted. Perhaps for the better. She was afraid of what she might end up doing.

Darcy pulled away, her body feverish. Ephraim was leaning sideways against the backrest with one arm resting on top. His eyes opened slowly as if savoring the moment. That did something more to her than the kiss itself. His head was still slightly tilted as if allowing for another kiss.

He did not touch her even when his eyes said something else.

“How long did you wait?” She asked.

“Since the day I saved you.”

That was insane.

“Then why did you not try more? You could talk to me.” She said frustrated.

His eyes looked down a bit sad and his lips curved up slightly with the same expression. “I could. I am just… very used to loneliness. Allowing people to come too close is difficult for me.”

Used to loneliness. She didn’t like the sound of that.

“I tried to stay away,” he admitted and then looked up at her again. “But Darcy, staying away from you has been the most difficult task.”

“You won’t do that anymore?” She said afraid that this would end with a kiss and then he would go back to hiding. But then, what was she suggesting he do? She was going so fast that she couldn’t even keep up with herself.

Yes, this was insanity and she had no explanation for why it felt so right.

“Will you then be by my side?” He asked.