Loving His Fire

by Lily Thomas

  But after she clubbed him in the forest with a rock, he wasn’t keen on seeing if she would attempt to claw out his eyes.

  Lightly, he shook her shoulder a couple of times to wake her from her slumber.

  Eyes popping open, she jerked away, until she realized he was only trying to wake her. Nothing more.

  As she gave a stretch, Stryme's eyes couldn't help but fixate on the bodice of her dress. The fabric molded perfectly over her bosom allowing him to see their luscious size. It took him awhile to realize she was now casting him a worried look like she thought he might try to jump her at any moment.

  It had crossed his mind for a few seconds, but he wasn't that sort of male. She might just be a human female, but he wasn’t about to force her. It would be too much effort for something he might not even enjoy. He liked a willing and eager partner for his rougher lovemaking.

  He coughed, as he offered his hand to her.

  She took it hesitantly.

  He gently assisted her until she was standing before him. He watched and waited, as she straightened the skirts of her dress.

  As she bent over, he was faced with her small bottom being hugged tightly by her skirts. He knew she wasn't doing this on purpose, but she was about to drive him insane, if she didn't stop it. He was only a male, after all.

  She might be a human, but if she teased him too much he might contemplate having a female to warm his sheets before they reached the castle.

  From where he was standing he found their dresses to be impractical. He suspected the human males wanted to make their females useless and defenseless. The better to keep them from being able to make their own decisions, he supposed.

  He shook his head in disgust at the human males, as he led his human female to his tent. Giant females were given the same opportunities as the men. If they wanted to be a warrior, there was nothing standing in their way, except their skill. The same applied to the males though. To be a warrior they had to have skill no matter their sex.

  She followed him reluctantly to the animal skin tent, which amazingly enough was quite lovely looking. She was sure that had not been the intention but somehow the patchwork of different colored animal skins made a beautiful mosaic. Even in the dark, she was able to make out the different patches of fur.

  He held open the flap, as he motioned for her to go inside.

  Elizabeth leaned her head into the tent and glanced around. She scoffed. “Do you believe I’m about to walk into a dark tent with a fire giant?”

  A hand was pressed to her back and she was shoved forcefully into the tent. He followed close on her heels having to duck underneath the opening to enter.

  Elizabeth spun on her heel and braced herself, but he only stood there in the dark. She had been expecting him to force himself on her. Warily she put some more distance between them.

  Seeing him here in the dark allowed her the chance to realize she could easily mistake him for a tall human. Other than his height and crimson eyes there weren’t too many differences. From the stories she had heard growing up she would have thought they would be more repulsive.

  Taking her eyes off of the fire giant she scrutinized the inside of the tent. She needed to keep her mind clear. An opportunity to escape could present itself, at any moment.

  Her eyes centered on the one roll of skins lying on the ground. Elizabeth had thought this time might come. The time when she would be sleeping next to the fire giant, but she was hoping tonight he wouldn't press anything on her. She wasn't willing to give herself over to a fire giant. She still had hopes of getting back to marry the prince, so she could help her people.

  He moved to stand beside the furs and motioned her forward. She eyed the tent flap, but thought better about running. He would only come after her and drag her back by her hair. So she went to him reluctantly and waited for whatever was to come next. She would defend herself, if it came down to it.

  He gently laid his hands on her shoulders to turn her around. Alarm pulsed through her body, as it readied itself for a fight. She felt his hands start to slowly untie the laces that held her dress against her body. He was taking the only armor she had off.

  “Wait. Stop!” Elizabeth let out a cry and tried to turn around.

  His strong fingers wrapped around her arms, as he held her still. She kept wiggling, but he wouldn’t lessen his grasp.

  “Let me go. I demand you let me go!” Elizabeth vented. She didn’t want to do anything with the fire giant. This situation was too intimate!

  He growled down at her, and her spine went rigid as some terror spread through her.

  She was an imbecile, if she thought she could fight him off. Elizabeth had felt his weight, when he had taken her down in the forest. He was made of pure muscle. Now she was feeling his brawn again. If he had to, she was sure he would just hold on to her until she exhausted herself.

  She might as well save her strength. If she was going to beat him, it wasn’t with force. She would have to sneak away, if she wanted to get back to her people. The key would be how to outwit the fire giant.

  Maybe she was taking his intentions wrong? She could only hope so, because she was going to have to give in at some point. She forced her muscles to relax as she slumped a little.

  His hands left her arms to go back to untying the laces of her dress.

  Elizabeth felt each lace come undone, as the weight of the dress melted off her body. It fell down around her feet. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her almost see through under dress. This piece of clothing left nothing to the imagination. Waiting to see what he would do next, she held as still as she could.

  When nothing happened, she glanced over her shoulder. He was just standing there with his eyes closed tight. His chest would expand with a hard intake of air then deflate as he expelled it in a rush.

  It was as though he was trying to control himself. A thrill jumped through her, as she realized he must find her appealing. It turn she found it appealing that such a strong warrior would like her. Her suitors consisted of young nobles who were used to an easy life with plenty of scrumptious meals. Or she had the occasional older noble who had developed quite the girth, which the young nobles were bound to develop as well.

  She was surprised he was even trying to control himself. There had been plenty of men at court who had tried to trap her into marriage by trying to get her into compromising situations. He was being a gentleman?

  Then she frowned. He was a giant, not a man.

  “Is there something wrong?” Elizabeth asked still skeptical he wasn't going to jump her at any moment.

  Her voice seemed to wake him from whatever trance he was in, as he opened his fiery eyes to look down at her. Those crimson eyes that seemed to be transfixed on her every movement watched her silently and sent little quivers through her backbone. She could see the intelligence in those eyes. He might be a brute, but he was an intelligent one. Which made her fear she might not get a chance to escape him.

  His eyes travelled up and down her body. Elizabeth was able to feel her face heat with embarrassment. She kept her arms tight across her bosom, trying to maintain some sort of decency, which only ended up in making them more prominent. She heard him suck in another breath and a little part of her felt satisfaction.

  It dawned on her that she might not be able to beat him with strength, but she might be able to use her body to escape him. She didn’t want to, but if it was the only way what choice did she have?

  This could be a life and death situation. Then there was the bigger picture of her people who needed her to get to Sardarn.

  Inwardly, she smiled. She had never thought to use her body to help her escape. But she might be willing to do just that, if it meant she would get a chance at fleeing. He might have just given her an opportunity for escape.

  She felt like he was a hungry dog, with the way he was eyeing her. She was just a fleshy bone that had been tossed before his feet.

  Although nervous, she had to keep her eye on the
bigger picture. Now she had to think of her body as a weapon. She had to be ready to use it as a weapon to get what she wanted.

  He moved away from her, perhaps not trusting himself to be too close to her. He motioned for her to get under the covers.

  She didn’t need him to say it twice. Elizabeth was more than willing to hide her body from his penetrating gaze. She wasn’t used to being almost naked in front of a man. Then again she may have just been naked with how little the under dress covered.

  Darting to the furs she watched him as he prowled the small area within the tent. He looked like a caged animal trying to resist a juicy temptation inside his cage, and she was really praying he could resist.

  She still hadn't made up her mind completely about using her body to get away. She might be able to think about it, but doing it was a different story. It wasn’t like she had practice at being a temptress. Elizabeth had a difficult time seeing him as the gentle lover she had always imagined for herself.

  The thought of the other girls going through this same situation dismayed her. She was responsible for their safety.

  Elizabeth sat up, not caring that the covers had fallen to her waist. The flimsy under dress was the only thing covering her taunt nipples.

  Looking over at him she pleaded. “I know you probably don't understand me, but I need you to find it in your heart to spare the other women. Some of them are barely even women. Don’t make them sleep with any of your men. Most of them are young and shouldn't have to be put in this situation.” She tried her best to explain, to appeal to any kindness he might have in his heart.

  He had to have a shred of decency. She couldn’t make him do anything, but she could sure pester with the best of them.

  He showed absolutely no understanding of what she said to him. Instead, he just stared at her with those blood red eyes of his. She needed him to take pity on the other women.

  She was about to continue to plead the case of the other women when he turned on his heel. He left her to stare in shock, as he walked out.

  She yelled after him. “The girls are young and don't understand the world of men. Please, if anyone is to be used, let it be me.”

  Elizabeth hadn't wanted to go to that extreme, but if it would spare the other young women from unnecessary trauma then she was willing. She only prayed it would be enough.

  She sat there for a few minutes, but her accountability for their safety forced her to her feet. Elizabeth made her way to the tent flap.

  Was he going to spare them? If he did, it meant he understood what she had been saying. It might also mean that he had a conscious under all that honed muscle.

  As she peered past the tent flap, she felt her amazement grow.

  Soon enough she had her answer to what he was doing. He was sparing the young women. Elizabeth watched, as the women filed into a tent by themselves. He even posted fire giants outside the tent flap.

  He went one step further. He had placed guards.

  The fire giant turned and looked directly at her. Her breath caught in her chest. She could read his eyes. He would want what she promised in return for sparing the women. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to become his bedmate.

  After making sure the women had their own tent, he went in search for some fresh air to clear his mind. The human female in his tent was starting to tempt him, something he had never thought would be possible.

  She had even been successful in changing his mind about letting the warriors use the women. The warriors would listen to his command, but he knew their disappointment ran deep.

  It wasn’t just her promise of sleeping with him, but the fact that some of the females might barely be old enough for bed sport. He wasn’t a cruel male, no matter what the humans thought.

  Stryme eventually made his way back to his tent where the little female would be waiting for him.

  Standing at the foot of the animal skins he looked down at her small sleeping form. It hadn't taken her long to fall asleep. The day must have drained her of energy. Her brown hair was fanned out around her head and the fur blanket had come down to rest low around her waist. Her tight nipples moved underneath her paper-thin dress, with every slow breath.

  He groaned low in his chest. He would never have thought it possible to find a human female attractive, but here he was falling under what ever spell she was weaving. If she knew the thoughts floating through his mind, she would surely faint in fright.

  He needed to get some sleep, before they headed out tomorrow. There were a couple more days of travel ahead of them.

  Swiftly, he undressed, before slipping between the covers. He was sure to keep distance between him and the human female. No need to wake with him groping her in his sleep.

  Toasty and comfortable were the only thoughts floating through Elizabeth's mind. She snuggled closer to the warmth she was able to feel against her skin.

  As the sleep faded from her head, her eyes opened a crack to see what was so amazingly warm. Her eyes popped wide, as she realized what she was cuddling up against.

  She was snuggling up against the fire giant!

  Barely containing a screech she tried to ease her hip away from his hard member, which prodded her side. Well, he wasn't unhappy about having her sleep next to him.

  Elizabeth looked up to see if he was awake. His eyes were closed, and his breathing seemed to be even. Letting out a puff of frustration she tried to think of what to do.

  If she scooted away some more, would he wake?

  Deciding it was best to at least try, she scooted in one fluid movement. She held her breath, while she waited to see if he would wake.

  She found it considerably colder away from his body, but the cold was preferable to cuddling against a fire giant. Now she wouldn’t have his hard member pressing into her.

  She gave a shiver, as she tried to forget about it. It was the first night she had slept next to a man, and he wasn’t even a man.

  What would the prince of Sardarn think of her? He would surely have the same views as all other humans about the giants, but would he still be willing to accept her as his wife? He would assume the giants had used her. Then again he could be an agreeable man who wouldn’t begrudge her the situation she couldn’t control.

  No one would blame him for doubting her virginity. Everyone thought these giants were savages. Even she doubted she might make it out of here with her innocence intact. By the time she escaped, she might have already become the bedmate of the fire giant.

  She prayed the prince would still accept her. Her kingdom couldn't survive without the assistance of Sardarn. How could any of her people live with the rock giants hunting them down like vermin?

  Looking over at the fire giant her eyes skimmed over his chiseled face. A face she had never truly taken a good look at before now. There was a jagged scar running from his ear down to the corner of his flat mouth.

  Before she knew it, she was reaching out a fingertip to trace over the scar lightly. It was raised, and she wondered how he had been dealt the vicious wound.

  Elizabeth let out a shriek, when his hand clamped down around her wrist. He yanked her hand away from his face.

  Her cobalt eyes met his crimson ones, and she boldly stared into those depths.

  He didn't say anything to her. His eyes just zeroed in on her for a second like he didn’t trust her intentions. He threw her hand away from him, before he rolled out from under the covers.

  Elizabeth let out an incredulous gasp, as she turned away in shock. He had been naked!

  She hadn't expected him to strip all the way down before sleeping next to her. Goosebumps spread over her skin like wildfire. Elizabeth hadn’t seen many naked men in her life, but he was definitely a well-built specimen.

  As the sound of fabric sliding up flesh entered her ears, she turned to see he had dressed his bottom half. Her eyes locked onto the scars on his broad back. The flushed skin had raised criss-crossings over his back in random jagged lines.

  Elizabet
h sucked in a harsh breath, as she tried to imagine how painful that must have been for him. She found herself having trouble even contemplating what kind of pain he must have gone through. It looked as though someone had hacked at his back with a sword. Clearly, the intent hadn't been to kill but to torture.

  Who could have done that? The question circled in her head, as she stared at the fire giant. Some small part of her admired him for what he had survived.

  A snarl broke her out of her thoughts. He had turned around to catch her gaping at his wounds. A flush of color crawled up her face, as she averted her eyes.

  Of course, he wouldn't want her to see those. He probably thought others would think him an incompetent warrior. If anything, she felt her heart go out to him. Only a strong warrior would have been able to endure so many sword strikes.

  “Please, forgive me for staring.” She mumbled to him.

  He only gave her a grunt, as he finished dressing. He left the tent without a word.

  She frowned. She would never have guessed a fire giant could be so ashamed of something. To her, his wounds showed his great strength. He didn’t need to feel humiliation. She was sure there were very few soldiers who could survive such cruel treatment and still do acts of kindness, like making sure some human women were safe.

  She waited a little bit to make sure he wasn't about to re-enter the tent. After the embarrassment of waking to find him naked beside her, she didn't want him to walk in and see her, again, in such a thin underdress.

  She had felt his member against her. There was no need to entice him, until she thought of a way to use her body to escape.

  Getting out from under the covers, Elizabeth shivered. The brisk air tried to suck away any warmth the furs had given her. Dashing over to her dress she slipped into it quickly.

  It was a little sloppy, as she hadn't dressed herself since... well forever. There had always been servants to help her, but now she was on her own. It was good enough. She just needed something to cover her body from hungry gazes.