Flame Thrower Read Online Free PDF Page B

she continued and while she waited for a response, she introduced herself. “I’m called Edda. This young girl is my granddaughter, Girdie. We’re the healers for village Horge down the road.”
    Tillian realized it was her turn to introduce herself and said, “I’m Princess Tillian.”
    “From Folkyn?” The older healer looked truly shocked. “The very one that has been missing?”
    “Aye,” Tillian replied demurely and with a mocking half bow from where she sat.
    “You’re a long way from home, dear,” was her only reply on that topic. Edda was swift in her craft and had her belongings spread out on a blanket in a matter of moments before she descended on Tillian.
    Her hands were warm and gentle as they removed the cloak the king had her wrapped in and displayed her naked body in order to search over every inch for broken bones, cuts or any other injury that only healers seemed to find. While this examination took place, Girdie collected water from the pitcher and placed it near the coals to warm for a sponge bath.
    Tillian felt very exposed and vulnerable as she sat naked on the bed. The air was rather warm since Ryan recently added fuel to the fire, so the feeling wasn’t entirely unpleasant; rather it wrapped her in comfort. However, she still hugged her arms shyly around her upper body to try and hide. It was an absolute contradiction for the drugs in her body drove her to be aroused by the warm air that brushed across her nipples. All of this made her even more shamed that she felt pleasure from that.
    Cautiously, she watched the two healers work around the cabin and did her best to ignore the world just outside. That included the man who she knew lurked just beyond the door.
    Edda watched though. She knew this woman desperately wanted to track King Ryan, but resisted the urge. Because her gaze was diverted, she missed Ryan’s nervous pacing. The man walked from window to window doing his very best to not protectively look inside and lost that battle. Obviously, he’d found it very hard to follow Edda’s order and showed his anxiety for what Tillian must be feeling. It slowly destroyed his ability to remain calm while the examination took place. For some reason, his behavior amused the matron healer
    When Ryan paced past the window yet again, she couldn’t hold her peace. “King Ryan is worried. Let’s we get this over with, so our King can relax.”
    Tillian’s head turned in her direction with a look of pure confusion. It wasn’t until she caught Ryan pacing back and forth passed the windows that a small smile lifted the corner of her lips. She nodded to Edda to begin.
    Tillian knew the faster she completed this chore, the faster she could be dressed and under a blanket asleep. With Ryan at her side, no less. Her head turned to watch him again accepting unerringly that her mind craved the safe haven he offered. Ghostly memories of his arms holding her, raised her anticipation of feeling that again. When he paused at the window making eye contact, Tillian smiled to ease his worry. She would be fine, or so she hoped and her smile wasn’t as forced as she would have expected. His motion provided a sense of protection which caused more of her anxiety to fade. Taking a deep breath, Tillian returned her gaze to the healer. Edda was right. She should trust this man, for he did seem to honestly care.

    * * * *

    As Ryan paced, he checked inside each time he past the windows. On one such tour, he skidded to halt. What he saw had him growling in frustration before he was able to shake it off. Tillian sat there, slumped on the bed looking every bit as if she wished herself somewhere else. Vulnerable, terrified and alone. When their eyes met and she delivered a smile, his heart lurched painfully in his chest forcing him to pace away before he burst back into the room.
    Who was this woman to steal my heart so fast
? In a matter of hours, she claimed something so elusive that hundreds of other women tried and