Page 83 of Her Ivory Flame

Kaden pushed gently around her and climbed the rock ahead, his hand extending down to help her up. She gave him a playful glare and reached for his hand, jerking as he pulled her up faster than she anticipated.

He placed a hand on her hip to let her steady, her skin feeling like it was on fire from his touch. She distracted herself by looking around the small cave, her eyes stopping on the wall of water feet from them.

“It’s beautiful!” Raine yelled, the roar of the water making it hard to hear.

“Yes, it is.” she yelled back.

Kaden stayed behind her, his hand still holding her and she casually leaned back into him. The cold air from the cave was starting to cool her skin, and she knew his bare skin would be warm.

She tried not to read into whatever was happening between them, and decided to just live in the moment. The warmth from his skin radiating behind her was welcoming, and as she leaned against him, his head lightly leaned against hers in response.

“Reminds me of home,” she said loud enough for him to hear, her head tilting back slightly against his chest.

“You will see it again someday.” His lips next to her ear and she instantly tensed, her insides roaring with heat.

He let go of her hand and wrapped his arms around her, one across her chest and the other around her stomach. She felt herself shiver from the cold and realized he was trying to keep her as warm as possible. It was easy when he was so much larger than her and could wrap himself around her with little effort.

“We should probably head back!” He yelled towards Raine and Finnley, who were trying to reach out and touch the water.

Finnley just nodded and walked towards them with Raine in tow.

“I’m sure the others would like to come clean up as well.” Kaden added, his arms not moving around her.

“It’s getting cold too.” Raine shouted, her own hand rubbing her arm to get warmth.

They started back towards the water and to their clothes they had left on the bank. The rain soaked them by now and would have to change at camp to get into something dry.

She didn’t complain when she pulled the damp clothes over her already wet body and they all started back to camp. She also didn’t complain when Kaden offered his hand and she didn’t let go of him the entire way back to camp.

Chapter 30

“Feel better?” Raine asked as they exited the tent in dry clothes.

“Much.” She smiled and placed her damp clothes on a log next to the fire.

Kaden was standing over by the wagon, his eyes out towards the road and she knew he was on watch. Finnley was sitting by the fire, Raine joining him and she hesitated to sit.

“You can go talk to him, just don’t distract him too much.” Finnley smirked and she glared playfully before heading towards the wagon.

The horses were still in their small corral, most seeming content munching on the pellets they had packed for them to eat.

She reached into the apple bag and snuck Zuri a snack, the mare nudging her in thanks.

“We are going to run out of apples at this rate.” Kaden’s voice sounded behind her and she turned to see him leaning against the wagon facing her.

“Sorry.” she shrugged.

He just smirked and turned to look back at the road. He was back in his normal fighting leathers, cloak around him to keep warm and sword across his back. He was ready if they were to be attacked, but at this point she figured they were pretty safe.

“Will you tell me something else about you?” she asked with hesitation.

He turned partially towards her, his eyes looking over his shoulder at her with a questioning look. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything,” she said far too quickly, her nerves getting the best of her.

He turned back to the road, but kept his body relaxed which meant he wasn’t upset that she asked. She stepped around the wagon and stood next to him, her eyes watching his face.

“I prefer my steak with some pink left in the middle, I hate dancing, and my favorite color is red.” his eyes looked down at her for a minute, nothing but a casual expression looking back at her.