Taking a deep breath, I turned silently, only to see Flame’s huge frame blocking the doorway, hands fisted tightly at his side.
Stepping forward, and without looking up, I lay my hand flat to the bare skin of his heavily muscled stomach, gently moving my palm to run over the ridges and valleys of his abdominal muscles. Flame’s entire body tensed and a long hiss escaped from his mouth.
Lifting my other hand to join its partner on Flame’s hot skin, I drifted them up to his chest and pushed off the leather cut he always wore. The heavy material dropped to the ground, leaving only his fully inked and pierced naked torso. My hands stroked his hard body, edging over the scars and snakebite marks from his youth. As the pads of my fingers traced over those scars, Flame released a hard breath, skin twitching. But he did not stop me. Then as my hands continued north, I steeled myself to look up. And when I did, it was to find his dark eyes watching me with an expression so trusting, it almost brought me to my knees.
Flame’s lips parted and he whispered, “Maddie…”
Stepping closer until my body was flush against his, I tilted up my head, searching for a kiss.
Flame watched my mouth, then lifting his cold hands onto my face, guided his head down to mine. As our mouths connected, his lips were feather-light and they brushed so softly against mine.
I had never felt so treasured, so safe, as I did at this very second.
Flame’s mouth withdrew, and his forehead pressed against mine. Sucking in a breath, he rasped, “Are you afraid?”
My heart skipped a beat. “Yes,” I whispered truthfully.
“Me too,” he replied, so softly his voice was barely audible.
Laying my hands on his waist, I drank in his heat, then stepped backwards. Flame’s eyes stayed with mine the whole time.
Lifting my shaking hands to my messed-up hair, I began unthreading the pins that still remained, the ones that held up what was left of my bun. Six pins later, long black hair fell over my shoulder and I dropped the pins to the ground. Flame shifted from side to side as he watched me, nostrils flaring and lips tightening.
It was strange. I had always resented my beauty. Had always hated the fact that men found me attractive. But right now, standing before Flame so uncensored and unbarred, I wanted him to want me. I wanted him to be breathless at my face. I wanted him to want to touch my body, to cherish me like I dreamed it could be. Without the pain, and without the cruelty.
“Maddie,” Flame murmured. Spurred on by his plea, I lifted my hand to the back of my dress. Finding the zipper, I pulled it down. Flame’s eyes flared, when the top of my dress sagged, baring my shoulders.
My eyes closed as a sudden flurry of nerves accosted my senses, but then I heard him moving forward, feeling his body heat pushing toward me.
I felt a finger running along my neck, and it traveled down onto my newly-bared shoulder. It traveled across my collarbone, then stopped at the falling neckline of my dress.
On a deep inhale, I opened my eyes to see Flame’s head tilt to the side as he watched me. Although his face wore a blank expression, his soulful dark eyes told me everything I needed to know, everything I needed to feel.
He wanted this.
He wanted me.
Not once breaking Flame’s focus, I dropped my arms. With them came my dress and it fell to a messy heap on the ground. I sucked in a nervous gasp as the cold air in the cabin washed across my bare breasts. The only thing now protecting my modesty were my small white undergarments.
Flame’s finger was still on my lower throat, and I trembled as he viewed me. He was a statue, frozen to the spot. But his eyes were exploring, drinking in my body.