Eternal Fire (2 page)

After practicing for hours, Victor turned to me with a gleam in his eye.

I smiled. “What?”

“
Your progress is amazing,” he said. “I think you’re ready for something…a bit more difficult.”

I cocked a brow as the wind fluttered through my hair. “Hmm. I’m up for any challenge. Tell me, Victor, what is it you have in mind?”

“
A lightning storm,” he said.

I grinned. “Meh. Piece of cake.”

He had discussed the steps with me before, and I’d been dying to try it.
What could be cooler than summoning a storm?
I shifted my stance and concentrated, and a brilliant energy shot through me. Channeling the power surging through my body, I pictured the storm brewing above our heads.

With his strong arms wrapped snugly around my waist, Victor nuzzled my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “Try harder, Sarah.”

The wind whipped stronger against my skin. Focusing, I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. I’d been Immortal for over a year, ever since I had unknowingly slipped on the ancient wedding ring to get back home to my own world. Though Victor had showed me how to handle my powers, I still couldn’t believe I possessed such unique abilities. They were linked with emotion and surged whenever I encountered trouble or became upset. Liz, my sister, also helped me adjust to the fact that I had supernatural powers. In fact, Liz was the reason I’d ended up there in the first place. She’d disappeared some eleven years earlier, and I refused to give up on finding her. During my relentless search for my beloved sibling, the clues had drawn me back to Sabrino Cave, and it was in that cave that I accidentally stumbled through a portal and into the world I’d learn to call home. It was hard for me to believe my sister was alive and well after all that time, let alone an Immortal.

In my defense, I never would have dreamt any ring could possess that kind of power, in spite of all of Tolkien’s carrying on about them. It wasn’t the life I’d planned for myself, but a case of mistaken identity ensued, and it was as if fate destined me to meet my husband. I married Victor for one reason—to get the ring back so I could go home—but my plan completely backfired when I fell in love with my Immortal king. He didn’t just kiss my lips on our wedding night; he kissed my soul, my essence, my life. We developed a magical love and friendship that my lonely heart could never possibly have imagined.

Victor gave me a reassuring squeeze. “Come on, love. Conjure up the lightning storm like we discussed.”

I found it almost impossibly difficult to concentrate with his big arms wrapped around me, his manly scent assaulting my nostrils. Damn, he smelled good.

His hands caressed the hollow of my back as he urged, “We’ve been working on your powers for over a year. I think you’re ready for this, milady.”

“
But messing around with Mother Nature…well, she might not like that so much.”

“
I have faith in you,” he breathed into my ear, his voice as soft and husky as his alluring, manly aroma.

I concentrated on a lightning bolt in my mind, and a burst of light and heat spread across my body. Thunder rumbled, and black clouds rolled across the sky, and my heart jumped. “I-I did it!” I declared, almost in disbelief.

“
I knew you could.” His voice was soft but triumphant.

Focusing intently, I struggled to keep the connection. When a sudden, sharp pain sliced through me, the image faded from my mind. It was like trying to hold on to a live, hot wire, seemingly with 10,000
volts of
electricity shooting straight to my core. The powerful energy surging through me was too much, and my eyes fluttered open. “I-I can’t. I just…I lost the connection,” I gasped between breaths. “It’s too hard.”

“
It takes practice,” he whispered into my ear, stroking my arm. “Try again.”

His soft touch electrified me and a jolt raced straight for my heart. I yearned to feel my body pressed closer to his rock-hard, muscular frame.
Forget the lessons! I just want to get lost all over again in one of his amazing kisses.
I spun around, unable to fathom creating a rainstorm. “Let’s see what you’ve got, darling.”

He closed his eyes, and as he lifted his face toward the sky, the growing wind blew around his midnight-black hair, swirling it around his shoulders. He looked so confident as he took control of the natural elements. Brilliant shafts of light began swirling like his glorious locks, then broke off into tiny dots and shards of yellow light that dissipated into the air. It was like watching fireworks display or some kind of wonderful laser light show. The wind picked up momentum, filling my ears with its roar and making my long hair dance around wildly.

I looked up as I heard the familiar rumble of thunder, followed by a brilliant flash of light, and the biggest grin lit up my face. “You did it!” I congratulated, holding out my hands to catch the falling droplets.

The steady beat of the rain echoed all around us. As more drops fell, my rain-soaked dress clung tighter to my body. I glanced up at my towering husband as the cold rain splattered across his face. His drenched shirt was molded to every muscle in his broad chest, and his dark hair, dripping wet, hung like a plush drapery over his gorgeous eyes; he was so damn sexy, so irresistible in that moment that I could hardly contain myself. I stared hungrily at his strong cheekbones and sharp, angled jaw. He was built to defeat enemies and conquer lands, a warrior king through and through, and he was all mine.
How could I be married to someone so…beautiful?
It was a question I’d asked myself a thousand times since our nuptials.

Thunder exploded shortly after lightning zigzagged across the sky. Victor’s blue eyes burned with desire, glistening like ocean waves with each illuminating strike. Our gazes locked, and in that moment, I knew he could feel what I did. I felt him more deeply than I ever had any of my lovers because of the connection we shared through the ring. Heat and electricity simmered between us, and I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him. I shot him a flirty glance. A slow, sexy smile spread across his lips, and I was sure he’d read my naughty thoughts. That was all it took to ignite a fire that no power on Earth—or in any time or space—could stop.

Passion hit me like a tidal wave as my hunger for him magnified. Pulling him closer, I
felt the electric jolt of contact when our tongues met and danced with each other in perfect unison. The taste of him intoxicated me, and I couldn’t get enough.

Deepening the kiss, he pulled me close and scooped me up in his arms. He ran his hands through my tangle of wet hair as the rain trickled over my skin. He assaulted my mouth and my very soul long and hard, devouring me just as I longed to devour him.
Intense need surged through me.
I want him…now!
Like a helpless prisoner to some primal urge, I tore his shirt off, exposing his perfectly sculpted chest. My fingers traced the ripples of his washboard
abs
and the hard
muscles on his chest.
His thumb circled my hard, excited nipple through the soft fabric of my flimsy dress, and I let out a soft moan.

Through the flashing lightning and booming thunder, Victor had every nerve within me on high alert and I could feel the caress of every raindrop falling on my body.
There’s something about rain—the way the water kisses your skin here and there, the sound of the drops echoing all around you. For me, the best part was finding myself pressed up against a wet, slick body that I adored.

An electrical storm brewed above us, but more than anything, I wanted to make an electrical storm of our own. As if I was caught in some young girl’s fantasy of her first love, Victor laid me gently on the soft grass and helped me slip out of my soaked garments. My tongue slipped into his mouth, and a
flash of heat twisted my stomach.
I ran my hands up his hard abs, then his chest, dancing my fingertips across every one of his muscles; he was so perfect that not even the world’s greatest sculptors could have created such an enticing male physique, more delicious than any piece of art. He expertly and patiently trailed his tongue down my neck, sending shivers through me. My pulse skyrocketed as his
sweet little kisses continued down my chest and belly, then up to my neck again. I felt the heat of his breath and moaned as his strong hands roamed over every inch of me, tingles of pleasure and warmth flooding through me with every touch. I loved the way his rough, callused hands touched me; the fiery but gentle contact was phenomenal. As our bodies moved against each other in a perfect rhythm, as if we were made for one another, I let out another soft moan, inviting him to continue. I closed my eyes in pure ecstasy as his mouth crashed hungrily into mine, a passionate collision if there ever was one.

It felt like I was inside of him. I could feel his heart racing wildly, and I sensed every emotion he felt, from passion to desire to the deepest love. I’d fallen in love before, but I had never experienced anything like what I had with Victor. My husband had shown me the meaning of true love, one that went beyond words and fairytales. The emotions absolutely consumed me. We had an amazing connection, one I couldn’t have explained if I’d tried. I could feel his heartbeat, his excitement, his arousal. We looked into each other’s eyes, both of us in complete awe. There was an eternal fire burning between us, and I knew that flame would never die.

Suddenly, Victor’s lips began to caress my heated skin, moving down
my body, slowly nipping and sucking my neck, and circling my nipples, joined by his teasing tongue. He thrust his hips forward, and I felt the undeniable bulge of his eager manhood against my thighs.
My pulse hammered beneath my ribs, and a
n aching
heat
pulsed between my legs. I wanted so badly to feel his body inside of mine, to echo the feeling of our merged souls. I let out a long moan as I kissed him long and hard while his body pressed between my thighs, demanding an invitation. The scorching kiss consumed me, and my nails dug gently into his shoulder blades that were slick with rain. His shoulders felt so strong and powerful beneath my fingers, and in that glorious, unforgettable moment, I was seized by a rush of emotion—a sensation so
intense
I couldn’t contain it.

“
I want you…Victor, I need you! I need you now!” I whispered.

And, like the good husband he was, he gave me exactly what I needed.

Right then and there, in the rain, I made the most passionate love to my wonderful husband, the unexpected love of my life. I knew we’d be together forever, and I was absolutely certain that Victor loved me just as much as I loved him.

Long mind-blowing moments later, the rain stopped, and the scent of wet leaves, sweet herbs, and damp, freshly laundered earth hung heavy in the air. The sun peeked out and shimmered across the muscles that were bulging from his chest and arms. He cupped my face and grinned; I loved his white, dazzling smile. No words were necessary. We simply stared lovingly at each other, and our eyes said it all. I’d thought myself a thief since I’d tried to steal a ruby wedding ring as a key to get back home, but the truth was, Victor was a far better burglar. After all, he’d stolen my heart, and I didn’t think I’d get it back any time soon.

“
I love you so much,” I said.

“
I love you too.” He brushed wet strands of hair from my face.

When he said those special words, I felt like the world stopped for a minute. My heart pitter-pattered like a little girl’s on Christmas morning. I’d learned a lot from Victor about his world and surviving in it, but the most valuable lesson he’d taught me was that love wasn’t about trying to find a perfect match. Instead, it was all about finding someone I couldn’t live without. Over the few months we’d spent together, I’d seen Victor at his best and at his worst. He had flaws, and in spite of his looks, he wasn’t always perfect. Nevertheless, he would always remain my dark, brooding hero. At times, he could be silent, moody, and distant, as he was still tormented by his past. At other times, he was quick-tempered, jealous, and territorial. I couldn’t judge him, for I was far from perfect myself. I could be bull-headed, bossy, emotionally insecure, and defensive. The important thing was that we accepted each other as we were—faults, flaws, and shortcomings included.

“
I don’t want to let you go. I just want to hold you here forever. This is all like some dream, so happily-ever-after, and I…well, I’ve never had that before. My life before was always filled with pain and gloom, but you’ve turned that all around, Victor. I’m scared to death of losing you.”