Page 21 of Up In Flames
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, then turned me toward a solid chest. “I've got you, love,” Taroc said, then he picked me up, cradled me close, and carried me out of the room.
“Taroc!” Xaedren called after us.
“Fuck off, Ladrin!” Taroc shouted back, then nuzzled my face. “I'll take care of you, Ember. Whatever you need.”
“Taroc,” I whispered, my voice breaking and my arms going around his neck. One of my hands still held that damn letter. I refused to let it go.
“It's all right. You don't have to behave in any way for me. We're not playing right now. I'm your man, here to be what you need. Fall apart or rage or say nothing. I will still hold you and love you.”
Taroc took me into his bedroom and kicked the door shut behind us. Then he sat in a chair near the window, and he settled me across his lap like a child. Broad hands stroking me soothingly, he began to sing.
I looked up at Taroc in shock, but his stare was focused out the window, giving me privacy even as he held me. I hadn't known that Taroc could sing, much less that he had a deep, rich voice that sounded as if the very world were singing to me. It vibrated through me, soothing me even more than his hands did, and I nuzzled in against his chest at last, holding my love letter to my heart.
When Taroc finished his song—I didn't understand the words since it was in the Tytra tongue—I sat up, and he looked at me at last. He didn't speak, didn't demand that I explain what had happened. Just waited.
“I don't know what came over me,” I whispered. “I should go back and apologize.”
“For what?”
“You heard me. I said some horrible things.”
“They pushed you instead of letting you walk away and cool down.”
I blinked. “Yes, exactly.”
Taroc cupped my cheek. “What do you need right now, Ember? Tell me.”
“I just.” I chewed my lip and looked down at the letter. “I got a love letter.”
“Did you?” Taroc grinned. “Was it anonymous?”
“Yeah.” I grinned back. “And it's my first. I told Rath about it because I thought he would, I don't know, be happy for me. Yeah, I guess that was insensitive of me. I just, you guys are more than my lovers. I thought we were friends.”
I had a sudden thought that this was why I confided in Death. I needed a friend who wasn't a lover. One whose opinion wasn't colored by our relationship.
But then Taroc said, “Wearefriends.” He brushed my hair back. “We also love you and can get jealous. But I'm not threatened by an unsigned letter.”
“Good.” I let out a harsh breath. “Thank you for understanding.”
“You understood me when I needed you. I will be whatever you need in return. I will support you as no one else can. That's how this works. That's how we show our love for each other.”
I tossed the letter to the floor and grabbed Taroc's face. “I think I need to show my love for you in another way, Daddy.”
Taroc grinned but he also took my hands from his face. “Ember, you were just raging about how we demand too much of you sexually.”
“I was angry. I didn't mean it.”
“I think you do mean it.” He lifted one of my hands and kissed it. “This time is for you, my love. Not me. Let me be what you need now.”
“And what if I need you to drive that big dick into me?”
“Ember,” he said, his tone going firm.
I sighed, my stare going to the letter on the floor.
“Ember, my heart, you're making this very difficult,” Taroc whispered as he stood up, cradling me again. He carried me to the bed and laid me down, then stretched out beside me. “Come here.”
I went into his arms immediately and eagerly, assuming that Taroc was giving in and going to fuck me. But he just tucked me in under his chin and held me close.
