Loving His Fire

by Lily Thomas

  She let out a shaky breath. Her heart still beating rapidly against her chest,as her body returned to normal. Elizabeth rolled onto her back and let out a sigh. All of her muscles felt nice and loose.

  He had just shown her a glimpse of what could exist between a man and a woman. It was a tantalizing glimpse.

  She took a deep breath to calm her still pounding heart. If she didn’t act normally today, Sarah would know something had transpired. She didn’t need Sarah to be causing any trouble with her fast temper. Elizabeth knew Sarah would raise hell, if she learned about Stryme touching her intimately.

  Deciding she had lazed about for long enough she popped a leg out of the covers, and quickly she retreated back underneath the furs. The air outside of the covers was freezing!

  Elizabeth looked at her clothes laying a few feet away from her. It seemed like such a long distance with how cold the air was in the tent. She couldn't wait for the sun to warm everything back up. These mountains might be beautiful, but they were quite chilly when night fell.

  Finally, she decided she was going to have to face the mountain air. At least, she would be able to dress without Stryme being in the tent with her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to show off her body so soon after the feelings Stryme had activated this morning, she was feeling a bit off balance.

  This whole situation was throwing her off.

  Quickly, she scrambled out from under the furs. Yanking the cold satin under dress over her head she knelt down to pull the fabric of her outer dress up over her frame. She was struggling with the laces on the back, when Stryme strolled back into the tent.

  He took one look at her struggling with the ties, gave a bellow of laughter, and came to stand behind her. He held out his hands. “I will assist you.”

  Elizabeth handed them over, and he was able to get her laced up within a reasonable amount of time.

  She was thankful that unlike her castle servants he left her room to breath in the dress. A fashion where women weren't able to breath wasn't much of a fashion, in her opinion.

  “Thank you.” She said as she turned around. She was unable to hold back the light blush crawling up her neck. Now that she was fully awake, she was feeling a little uncertain of what they had shared.

  She was still a princess with a duty to marry, and he was still a fire giant warrior. No matter what she felt, she would still have her responsibility to save her people.

  When she looked up at him their eyes locked, and neither one of them was able to look away. Before she knew what was happening, his hand grasped the back of her head, and his lips descended towards hers. A sizzle went through her, as their lips met. Her eyes closed slowly, as he deepened the kiss, opening her mouth with his lips.

  A small moan escaped from her, and his tongue slipped between hers to play a duet with her. Smiling against his lips at the feeling of his tongue brushing against hers, she gave a chuckle.

  All too soon, he ended the kiss, and she was left wanting more.

  Elizabeth was amazed by his restraint. If he felt half of what she had this morning, he must be going insane. She knew it was only a matter of time before their bed play grew more serious. He wouldn’t be giving her such intense pleasure if he didn’t think he would get something in return.

  Pressing his forehead against hers he seemed to have to catch his breath.

  She had made a man breathless. A thrill of exhilaration went through her. It was a delightfully wicked feeling.

  He rubbed the back of her neck with one of his hands for a quick second, then gave her a small kiss on the tip of her nose. Putting space between them he went to hold the tent flap open for her, as he beckoned her to come forth.

  Shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight, she made her way out of the tent. Elizabeth turned to see where he would lead, but he had already made his way over to his warriors, so Elizabeth made her way over to all the other young women. Sarah caught sight of her and met her halfway.

  “Are you alright?” Sarah asked concern lacing her words.

  Elizabeth gave her a quizzical look. “Why would I be unwell?”

  “You slept another night in his tent and not with us. It makes me worry he might have ideas about you being easy.”

  Elizabeth tried to stop the blush rising to her cheeks. She was an easy target. All she wanted was to fine love and to explore life.

  “If you are asking if anything happened, nothing did.” Well, something did, she admitted to herself. She found out she was attracted to Stryme, but there was no way she was about to tell Sarah about it. Sarah wouldn’t understand, and Elizabeth didn’t feel like fighting about it with her.

  “I was only worried. That was all.” Sarah eyed her. “What should I think, when he seems intent on having you spend nights in his tent?”

  “I would assume the same as you have, but do not fret so. Nothing has happened.” She smiled reassuringly. At least, nothing had happened that would ruin her chance of marrying the prince. “And at no point have I felt frightened for my safety. I think he is only trying to keep an eye on me. I am, after all, the proven trouble maker of the group.”

  “You would tell me, if something happened?” Sarah inquired.

  “Yes, of course I would.” Elizabeth knew very well she was lying through her teeth. She wanted to bite her tongue until it bled, but Sarah would never be able to handle the truth. She knew her friend despised the giants just as much as every other human.

  She didn't even know her own feelings for Stryme. He clearly wanted her, but she wasn’t having any delusions. She was a human, and he probably wanted her because she was something new. His attention may not last, and then where would she be?

  “Then let us join the other girls while we wait for the giants.” She leaned in towards Elizabeth and whispered in her ear. “Have you seen those strange lights in the tree branches? I’ve caught sight of them a couple times.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Yes. I have encountered them before.”

  “And?”

  “The bright lights ended up being little faeries.”

  “Faeries?” Sarah’s eyes gleamed.

  “According to my giant, they are devious creatures that just want to lead you to your death.”

  The spark of light in Sarah’s eyes disappeared. “Charming. These mountains may be beautiful, but they seem to be holding one deadly creature after the next.”

  Elizabeth gave a nod of agreement.

  The giants finished up their conversation and got everyone mounted up and ready to go within just a few minutes. She was able to feel the energy of the fire giants. Wherever they were headed, they were getting a lot closer.

  Stryme was feeling the same excitement as his men were. They were close to seeing their home and castle. In just a few short minutes, they would be there. After being gone for so long, he longed for the comforts it held. He was ready for a bath and a comfortable bed. He might be a warrior, but he still enjoyed the finer things in life.

  Looking down at Elizabeth he found her asleep. He felt bad waking her up, but he didn't want her to miss seeing the castle, as they left the forest. This would be the most spectacular view of the castle one could get.

  Ever so gently, he shook her shoulder, until she looked up at him with disorientated blue eyes. He pointed ahead of them.

  Elizabeth watched as the trees before them slowly thinned and eventually faded away. In their place was a view of a dark stone castle standing within the valley. It's walls fit to the sides of the mountains on either side and tall watchtowers stood out against the background of the grey sky. The castle looked ominous in such foggy weather.

  She looked back at Stryme and found him grinning from ear to ear. He was clearly thrilled to be home, but to her it looked like a place where a demon might reside.

  Gulping she turned back to look at the castle. She tried to imagine how many giants lived there. From the size of the castle, probably every single fire giant in the kingdom lived in there.

  Elizabeth feared th
e fire giants within the castle wouldn’t be delighted to have humans among them. Would Stryme be able to protect them from any malice other fire giants might hold towards them?

  Then a thought hit her.

  They had to have a king or something along those lines. How would he welcome them? Would he have Stryme send them back or get rid of them by any means necessary? Or she might be able to talk to the king. She should have paid more attention to the way her mother and father talked to people of significance.

  The party grew closer to the castle, as they winded their way down the side of the mountain. Her heart beat a hard rhythm in her chest and anticipation built. They would be the first humans to enter a giant castle that she knew of, and she wondered what their world would be like.

  Once in front of the castle, Elizabeth was able to get a sense for how enormous the castle truly was. This castle was more of a fortress than anything else. It looked like it was made to survive the most brutal of attacks. For all she knew it had withstood savage assaults in the past.

  Though anyone who decided to take on such a task would be insane. She had the feeling fire giants were bred for being ferocious warriors. Stryme had taken on two mountain cats and won, after all.

  When they stopped, Elizabeth glanced around wondering what they were up to now.

  A giant appeared at the top of the gate and yelled something down to them. Stryme growled right back up at him. Although their language was guttural she was sure nothing they had been saying to each other was anything other than a normal conversation.

  The giant at the top of the gate disappeared for a few seconds, and then the gate creaked open. The metal spikes of the gate lifted up off the ground, allowing the party to pass through.

  Her eyes widen, as she took in everything around her. They had a whole city within the walls of the fortress. There were houses built out of the same black stone the castle was made out of. If she wasn't mistaken, the houses seemed to actually go into the mountains on each side of the fortress. It was spectacular, almost breathtaking in its glory.

  Elizabeth felt dread build in her stomach. She was going to have a difficult time escaping from the giants, now that they were inside this fortress. This might be where their journey ended. She would have to keep her eyes open, in case there was an opportunity for an escape.

  They kept winding their way through streets, as they went further into the fortress. Eventually, they arrived in the courtyard for the castle.

  Stryme dismounted, just as giants came flooding out to greet the returning warriors. Some were women who were welcoming husbands, brothers, or fathers back.

  Shaking her head Elizabeth thought of all the stories she had heard throughout her life. All the stories had trained her into believing the giants were nothing more than barbarians. Yet, she was seeing more similarities than differences. Here they were welcoming home their soldiers just like her people would.

  One striking difference was how the female giants showed off a lot more of their skin. Their fur clothing was cut short around the arms, legs, and chest.

  Quickly, she took a look back at the other human women, and they all had the same expression on their faces. Many were looking at the giant women a bit appalled.

  She couldn't help but crack a smile. She had also been surprised by their lack of attire. Though short, their clothing did look more comfortable than what was worn at the human court. She almost envied them for what they were allowed to wear.

  A giant woman came rushing up to Stryme and planted a huge wet kiss on his lips.

  Elizabeth stiffened. He had a woman, yet he had been trying to bed her? She saw red. She felt scandalized, since she’d allowed him to touch her so intimately! She felt shame crawl up her spine, as she looked over the giant woman. She hadn’t known or she would never have let him fondle her so.

  She wanted to smack both of them, Stryme because she hated him for his obvious womanizing ways, and the giant woman for already having a claim on him.

  Here she was falling under his spell only to have reality crash down around her. How could he have done that? She had just come to terms with having decided she actually liked him.

  Chapter 7

  As Elizabeth ranted inside her head, she missed the expression of disgust on his face, as Stryme pushed the female away, so he could greet his mother.

  “Hello, mother.” He kissed her cheek as she did the same.

  “My son.” She said with all the motherly love she held. “I am glad you have come back safely. I noticed you brought back humans.” She looked up at him clearly puzzled, since he had only been going out on what should have been a simple scouting mission.

  He shrugged his broad shoulders. “They were part of a human group passing through our mountains. I decided to spare the lives of the females and brought them with us.”

  She looked over at the female on his horse. “And her?” His mother inquired watching him carefully.

  Lele, the giant woman who had kissed him responded for him. “She means nothing to him, after all, we’re to be married.” Lele turned to look at Stryme adoringly. “You wouldn’t be unfaithful to me. Would you?” She beamed up at him. To her annoyance he didn't reply to her, but instead ignored her presence altogether.

  “These humans are under my protection, mother. I don't know what to do with them, but I am sure we can figure something out.”

  “I’m sure we will.” She patted his face and kissed him on the cheek again. “Your advisors are waiting for you in the meeting chamber. You might want to settle the human females into a few of the rooms on the empty wing of the castle and place a guard. Some may not be as tolerant with the arrival of humans, even if they are just females.”

  He looked down at her. “I was hoping you might see them settled in.” He knew he could trust his mother to see to their safety, and the human females might enjoy the kindness of an older female.

  “Of course.” She smiled up at him giving him a small pat on his cheek. “You need to give yourself a shave, my son. You’re looking like a barbarian.”

  Stryme chuckled, as he made his way back to help down Elizabeth. She had a strange expression on her face almost like his touch was abhorrent to her, but he thought nothing of it. She was probably unhappy about being here among even more fire giants.

  Gathering the human females together he turned them over to his mother.

  “Although it is your decision, I don't believe keeping them here is the right answer.” His mother always voiced her opinion, and he loved her for that.

  “We’ll see what happens. Perhaps it’s inevitable I will have to let them go back to their people, but for now they need rooms to stay in.”

  She nodded, before leading the human females to the stairs of the castle.

  Stryme watched as they entered and then disappeared into the castle. He wished to show Elizabeth the castle himself, but he had to see to his horse, and then meet with his advisors. He had so many meetings with those old men. Stryme was grateful for their sage advice, but it could sometimes wear on a man. He needed a break every once in a while.

  He knew the advisors would want to hear his report from the border as soon as possible. His people were scared the rock giants were stirring the waters without thinking about their actions. The humans had kept to themselves, except for a few scattered incidents.

  He set off with a sigh; thankful Lele had finally left him alone. What had inspired her to plant a kiss on his lips? She grew bolder by the day. That female would be the death of him. He shook his head, as he shivered. How had she ever come to believe he would marry her? She was a conniving fiend who just wanted the power he would bring with marriage. He couldn't even imagine bedding her without bile rising to his mouth.

  But he could imagine himself between Elizabeth’s soft thighs. The sounds she had made this morning showed him there was passion hidden within her curvaceous body.

  The women followed the giant woman closely. Some were still understandably freaked out about bein
g in the middle of a fire giant fortress.

  Elizabeth tried her best to calm them. She understood though, it was a little overwhelming being surrounded by people that did not enjoy their existence.

  By the time Elizabeth and the girls arrived at the first room, she was so disoriented she had no idea how they arrived there. They had taken so many stairs and hallways she was having a hard time keeping them straight.

  The older giant woman motioned for two of the girls to take the first room. Then they continued down the hall, until every girl had been paired with another and given a room.

  Elizabeth and Sarah took a room together. It was sparse, but there was a fireplace and plenty of wood lying beside it to chase away the cold. Clearly, they had been unused for quite some time, if the slight layer of dust said anything.

  Elizabeth looked down at the bed. Furs covered it, and she wondered if she would feel comfortable sleeping between so many furs. Stryme had furs in his tent, but he had been a warrior traveling through the forest. Elizabeth had been hoping there would be some silk sheets on the bed. She was used to silk caressing her skin, when she slept.

  Swallowing her disappointment she glanced at the foot of the bed. There was a small chest. Curious, she opened it and took a look inside.

  Nothing.

  At least, they would have somewhere to put things, but hopefully they wouldn't be here long enough to collect anything. Elizabeth was still trying to be positive about their odds of escaping. The fire giant castle was a fortress, and she feared she might be deluding herself, but she would try.

  Sarah was able to get the fire started, and they both settled down in front of it. Being inside a castle rather than a tent felt good, even if it wasn't their home.

  The giant woman returned for them, as evening descended on the valley. This time she led them to what Elizabeth assumed was their great hall. It was lined with wooden tables and chairs, which were all occupied by fire giants. Food was piled atop each table, and the giants seemed to be enjoying everything.