Amy Blankenship - Dark Flames

Pushing himself up from the wet sand, Guy quickly closed the distance between them and stood over Zachary for a moment. He unconsciously fisted his hands before falling back to his knees beside Tiara and gazed lovingly down at her soft face.

“I didn’t hurt her… I swear it. I would never hurt her.” Guy said in a deep voice, meaning every word. He reached out and ran the back of his fingers across her soft cheek and almost growled when Zachary’s arms tightened around her body but gained control of himself. “She gave me the one gift no one else could and I owe her everything for that.” Guy tried again.

“I asked what the hell you did to her that knocked her out.” Zachary demanded, pushing Guy’s hand away from Tiara’s cheek, not trusting the warlock to touch her. He’d already made that mistake once. “She’s not like us when it comes to healing. She’s human you idiot, and that makes her fragile.”

Guy let his hand fall to his side understanding Zachary’s protectiveness but didn’t back away. “I combined a spell Carley and I found a few years ago with the necromancy power that was emanating from Tiara while she was allowing Carley to use her body as a conduit.” He reached out for her again only for Zachary to knock his hand away a second time.

“Back off,” Zachary ordered.

“It’s because of her that I can now see Carley anytime I want.” Guy continued, ignoring the demand. “Tiara gave my sister back to me… and for that reason I will forever be in her debt.”

“If Tiara doesn’t wake up and tell me she’s alright, then I’ll send you to be with your sister the hard fast way.” Zachary threatened only to flinch when soft fingers ghosted across his lips.

Both men jerked their gazes down to the small woman but it was Zachary’s eyes Tiara sought out.

Zachary was nearly knocked breathless when he saw Tiara’s true eye color up close for the first time. They were full of shattering flecks of vivid gold and green that seemed to move at random, almost hypnotizing him, and they stared back at him with tantalizing innocence.

“I’m alright,” Tiara whispered finding herself wrapped in Zachary’s overwhelming protectiveness.

She quickly became infatuated with Zachary’s perfection. Wanting to touch the man that had visited her thoughts so many times over the years, she let her fingers trace his lips once more before she trailed them down his chin and neck in a caressing motion. When he inhaled sharply, she realized what she was doing.

Tiara abruptly pulled her hand back and sat up in an attempt to scramble off his lap.

Zachary’s brain had shut down when he felt her touch linger on his lips for a moment before grazing over his chin. He repressed a shiver when those same fingers delicately caress his neck and moved toward the back of his neck where the skin was unbelievably sensitive. When Tiara started to move, he had to force himself to let go of her so she could rise to her feet.

The second she was out of Zachary’s arms, Tiara barely had time to sway on unsteady legs before Guy pulled her into his embrace. She blushed when she felt him pressing every inch of her body against his in a bear hug.

She could feel the small flare of hunger that had started while she was in Zachary’s lap begin to burn brighter. Being held by a man was something new to her because no one except her mother had ever been allowed this close to her before.

“I can see Carley now,” Guy exclaimed, lifting her up higher until her feet were dangling at least a foot off the ground. “Thank you.”

Guy was happy he had his sister back but that feeling of desire for this little woman was starting to build once more. The urge to do more than simply hold her swept over him. When Tiara squirmed a little bit, he gazed down at her with hungry eyes. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Tiara looked up at the big man holding her and placed her hands on his broad shoulders. He was ecstatic… she could see it as well as feel it. She had felt his magic as soon as it hit her… the amount of power Guy housed inside of him was unbelievable. She had been wrong in turning him away when he’d offered to join her team.

“You didn’t hurt me,” she said softly knowing it was a lie.

He hadn’t meant to hurt her and she knew this. Her mother had told her more than once to choose her team wisely and she hadn't been talking about sleeping partners. Even though Guy hadn't asked permission to combine his power with hers, being faced with his sister’s ghost was enough that she could forgive him.

“I want you,” Tiara leaned backwards and put her fingers up, touching his lips the moment he started to lower his head toward her, “as part of my team.”

Guy felt a momentary rush of disappointment when she finished speaking and kissed her fingertips instead. “You can want me for anything and I’ll do it,” he whispered seductively.

Tiara felt heat flash across her midsection to match the look in his eyes. This was another warning her mother had given her and Tiara knew she could not ignore it. Soon she would have to choose more than just team members if she wanted to survive. Her very life depended on finding a sexual partner to keep her alive if the call of the darkness became too much for her to handle.

Making sure someone was always available for that purpose wasn’t going to pose a challenge at this rate.

Zachary’s stomach was on fire and his body temperature had risen a few degrees. He felt like he was about to spontaneously combust when Guy lowered his head to kiss Tiara. The feeling vanished when she elaborated on how she wanted Guy and Zachary had to fight the urge to smirk at the presumptuous man.

When Guy didn’t immediately let go of her, Zachary decided at that point he was damn tired of being a spectator. Rising to his feet, he stepped forward in order to break up their annoying intimacy.

“Fine,” Zachary growled, “you’ve proven yourself worthy to be on the team… at least in Tiara’s eyes. But thanks to what you did, Tiara's weakened now and needs to rest so she can handle what’s coming tonight.”

Guy glared at Zachary wanting to tell him where to shove it, but again stopped himself. He didn’t know all of the ins and outs of the relationship Tiara had with Zachary, nor did he really think he wanted to know.

“He’s right, I am a little drained,” Tiara said and locked eyes with Guy, waiting on him to put her down. She felt like such a child in his arms… small and helpless.

“Good idea,” Guy agreed and cocked an eyebrow while looking toward all the steep steps leading back up the cliff. “You should rest.”

Much to Zachary’s chagrin, Guy lifted Tiara’s legs and carried her bridal style up the path to the castle. He caught her quick glance when she turned to see if he was following them.

Growling silently to himself, Zachary followed not entirely sure why he was angry to begin with. It didn’t matter to him one bit that he wasn’t the one carrying Tiara… although he did watch to make sure Guy’s hands stayed in respectable places on her body. Guy’s power merging with hers had weakened the necromancer… so Guy could damn well carry her.

Tiara smiled softly and relaxed her head against the curve of Guy’s neck. She figured he had carried his sister around like this sometimes and let him continue to carry her. It was probably soothing some of the emptiness Carley’s death had left in his heart. Minutes later, she found herself inside her room.

Zachary leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded over his chest as he watched Guy lower Tiara to the mattress. “So I guess we have a team of four instead of three tonight?” he asked.

Before Tiara could confirm it, Guy answered for her, “Her mother used to have six people with her at all times. Tiara lied about the headcount because she was avoiding me.” He winked at Tiara causing her to blush and sit up.