Touch of Flame

​ Nazneen was looking through the chest, trying to find some new clean clothes for herself. She needed to take a bath and stop stressing over Ares because she had looked around enough. She could understand if he needed some time alone, but how could he be gone for so long and make her worry? Unless he left her, of course.

She paused. He wouldn't just leave, would he? She was beginning to feel utterly helpless and frustrated.

Picking out some clothes and jewelry, she was about to get up when she dropped the golden chain. She went down on her knees again with a sigh to pick it up when a pair of black boots appeared in front of her.

She looked up slowly already knowing who it was but once she met his gaze, she just stared.

He raised a brow. "Are you going to stay on your knees, darling?"

Her gaze dropped to his groin and he pulled his hands away, casually putting them behind his back as if to give her a better view. Nazneen pulled herself together and looked up. He wore a smirk on his face.

She was really not thinking about that, it was just... talking to Ravina put her mind in the wrong place. No! This was the last thing on her mind right now, she thought feeling agitated.

"Do you have a problem with that?" She retorted.

He tilted his head. His complexion was paler than normal, his lips looked drier and his skin dull. He looked tired and... he wore the same clothes as when he left this place. Her anger subsided.

"Not at all," he drawled.

She remembered everything she taught Ravina and then clenched her jaw. Now was not the time.

Swiftly, she got up on her feet, tossing the clothes back into the chest without caring about the few that fell out.

God! He was really pale. She could almost see the blue of his veins. She reached for his face, touching his skin softly and then she cupped his cheek as if to warm him.

A small sigh came from his lips as his hand came to rest on top of hers, seeking her warmth. His fingers were icy. "You are freezing." She said.

"I am."

"Where were you?" Typical men hiding somewhere with their feelings. "You could have come here and... let me hold you."

"Hold me?" He breathed.

He asked as if it was a foreign thing. It probably was.

She grabbed his face with both her hands. "Yes. Hold you like you held me when I was sad."

"What makes you think I am sad?" He frowned.

"Joel told me... about your parents."

His gaze dropped.

"What happened? What did you see?" She asked, somewhat forcing him to look at her.

He lifted his gaze slowly and the look in his eyes pierced through her heart. She could hear him swallow back whatever emotions rose to the surface. "They are dead." He spoke.

She shook her head. "Don't believe anything that the witch..."

"Nazneen... please..." he breathed, closing his eyes. She could hear the exhaustion and sadness cutting through his voice.

Saddened, she tiptoed and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was still for a moment but then his arms came around her, holding her tighter and tighter as he buried his face in her hair between her shoulder and neck. She knew he was trying not to cry.

Nazneen didn't know it was this bad. She hadn't seen him like this before. Knowing his personality, she didn't even think she would ever see him like this.

Ares didn't know what got into him. As soon as she hugged him, he couldn't hold back from the comfort she provided, from the warmth that came from her body. He'd never had anyone hug him. Console him.

He got a pat on the shoulder from time to time when he was a child but mostly, he had to fight back the tears. Take the punches and then swallow the pain.

Was this what he had been missing in his life? What had been taken away from him? Warmth, hugs, and comfort. Why did he have to know now when he was leaving anyway?

"Do you want a warm bath?" She asked.

He wasn't ready to let go yet but he eased his arms around her. "No. I just want to sleep."

He was hungry and thirsty, but he was so tired he didn't think he would be able to eat.

Nazneen took them to bed and then tucked him under the covers. She felt a strange way, something warm while taking care of him. She had never taken care of anyone before.

As he rested, she took the liberty to touch his face, gently brushing her fingers on his skin along the cheekbones and edges. She watched him in silence as he fell into a deep slumber. Closing her eyes, she decided to rest with him even though the sun was just setting and it was too early.

Having slept enough, Nazneen woke up in the middle of the night. Her heart skipped when she didn't find him beside her but she could sense him somewhere around. She heard his footsteps as he climbed the stairs and then he arrived at the room.

He had bathed. His rich brown hair glistened wetly in the dim light and his green eyes were mesmerizing. He wore a robe tied around his waist but no pants. She could see his legs below the knees and his chest where the robe met.

The darkness and the wet glow of his body caused her mind to run wild. She only needed to undo that belt and then she would love to have him beneath her and use her own advice. Except she wasn't a virgin. She wouldn't have to be subtle.

"I know you don't drink but just in case, I brought two cups." He said. He had wine with him. She could tell from the scent alone.

"I am not sure you should be drinking wine. Don't you need blood?"

She didn't miss the slight pause as he put the cups on the table. He fell back in the chair relaxed, and leaned his head back before looking at her. His eyes shined like true emerald stones.

"I do. But I need human blood." He spoke, his tone low.

"What is wrong with my blood?"

"It is not the same. Only human blood can truly quench our thirst."

Her hands curled into fists.

"Last time was fine." She argued.

"Last time I had to... touch you..." he began. She remembered his hand between her legs and her breath caught for a moment, but what did he mean? She looked at him questioningly. "I crave warm blood scented with arousal."

"So... you have to touch me before you drink from me?"

He didn't reply but she knew the answer.

"What makes you think I mind?" She asked.

"I mind." He said.

"Why?"

He looked closely at her. Curiously as if seeing something in her for the first time. "You would make me feel like a bad person," he almost whispered.

She shivered. Ares almost smiled and took a sip of his wine with a small shake of his head as if he couldn't believe himself.

He didn't want to use her, even when he was pale like that. She knew he truly needed blood. He was trying to quench the sadness and hunger with wine.

But why would he care? He had told her straight he had no intention of committing to her. He could do whatever he wanted when she was willing and then leave.

Nazneen began to rise from the bed. "Not really. I am the one not giving you a choice." She said, strolling toward him. "I don't want you to drink from anyone else, so I am the bad one here." She smiled, coming to stand between his legs.

He looked up at her and her stomach did some strange fluttering as she looked down into his eyes. He put the cup away as she slowly adjusted herself to sit on his thigh with her legs resting between his.

He was about to say something when she pulled her legs up and extended them across his other thigh; the fabric falling to the sides and baring her legs through the split.

She leaned back and his arm came around her, preventing her from leaning against the hard armrest.

"What are you doing, woman?!" His fingers dug into the side of her waist. Yes, she liked it that way.

"Darling." She corrected teasingly as she slid her feet under his robe, touching the inside of his thigh, brushing up slowly to remove the robe.

He grabbed her calf firmly and pulled her down from his thigh so she was seated between his legs. Then his fingers slowly caressed her up from her ankle. "You are indeed bad, darling."