Page 60 of Keeper of the Flame: Orrick

“Here’s where we stop,” he told her, reining in the horse next to a creek. The area in front of the water was covered with beautiful wildflowers on both banks. Just in front of the water were flat stones that were used for sitting on.

“This is lovely,” she said, settling on the rock and removing her shoes.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“I’m hot and want to dip my toes in the water.”

He chuckled when she placed her feet in the water, still clad in hose.

“What’s so funny?” she asked, leaning back and soaking up the sun.

“You are,” he said, pulling a bottle of wine from the travel bag along with some fruit tarts the size of her palm. He brought them over to the rocks, placing them down and settled himself next to her. “I’ve never seen anyone soak their feet with their hose still on.”

“Well, it wouldn’t be proper if I removed them,” she told him, feeling a flush rise to her face. “After all, I am a lady.”

“Of course,” he said. “And you are a very beautiful one at that.” He reached out and caressed the side of her cheek lightly. His touch sent a spiral of ecstasy through her. Being far away from the flame now, she knew the feeling wasn’t coming from magic or any dark lust hidden inside her depths. This was real. She was truly attracted to Orrick and she’d never felt this way about any man before.

Her eyes were closed when his lips settled against her mouth in a soft but sensuous kiss. She drank in the warm, exciting feeling. And when she opened her eyes, he was staring at her intensely, as if he could see into her very soul.

“What is it?” she asked him with a smile.

“I was just wondering.” He dropped his hand from her face and uncorked the bottle. “I told you I had feelings for you but I’m not sure if you have any for me.”

“I assure you I do, and they are real.”

“I like that,” he said, taking a swig of wine and handing her the bottle. “Have a drink.”

“I would enjoy it.” She drank right from the bottle. When she put it down, he was holding a peach tart up to her mouth.

“Take a bite, my lady. These are made from some of the finest peaches in all of Devonshire.”

“Oh, all of Devonshire,” she said with a giggle. “Not all of Christendom or all of England or perhaps the world?”

“Nay, just of Devonshire. Or mayhap I should say all of Steepleton since the peaches came from Lord Corbett’s orchard.”

They took turns feeding each other by hand which, to her, was a very erotic thing to do. And together they sipped at the wine, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. Then, when he got up and she thought he was ready to go, he held out his hand and surprised her.

“Let’s go back to my chamber,” he said.

“What?” she asked, taken aback, not sure what he meant.

“You said you wanted to make love to me and I was afraid to do it again. I was afraid that I might fall in love and, because of it, be hurt like I was so many years ago.”

“So, you want to make love to me, Orrick? Is that what you’re saying?”

“I do. If you want to make love to me. But I have to warn you that when I find the boy and collect the Eternal Flame again, I’m going to be immortal once again.”

“And what does that mean?” she asked him.

“It means I might end up with a broken heart again, but it is a chance I am willing to take. Because right now, I can’t think of never having made love to you again, when I knew you wanted me to.”

“I see,” she said, thinking that he’d never get the flame back from Noah, because the boy didn’t have it. She’d be the one who was immortal this time around. Instead of him falling in love and having his heart broken when he lived forever and she died, it would be her in that position. Could she handle it? She didn’t know. But one thing she did know was that if she turned Orrick down, he was never going to ask to couple with her again.

“Let’s go,” she said playfully, running for the horse. This was something she wanted more than anything in life, and she wasn’t afraid to do it. She wasn’t afraid because she had a feeling that she and Orrick would end up married before too long and that is exactly how she wanted it to be.

Chapter 17

Orrick carried Hope into his tower room, kissing her as he walked, not able to wait until they even got into the room. Something about the woman brought him to life. He loved the way she smiled and the way her eyes twinkled like stars when she became playful.