Love in Flames Read Online Free PDF

pain filling his eyes as his mouth opened on a silent scream of agony. Esther stumbled sideways, her head spinning. Impossible. What she’d seen was not possible.
    “James.” Her voice was barely a whisper as she tried to break away from the women on either side of her, but they held her hands tighter, not wanting to break the ring. Her stomach roiled and her skin was clammy. She could feel the world getting darker and darker. Her feet tangled and she fell, striking her knees against the hard-packed ground. Several other women stumbled around her before they finally came to a halt.
    She felt as if she might lose the contents of her stomach and wrapped her arms around her belly. “Esther?” James knelt beside her, concern in his voice and posture.
    “Take me from here.” He neither asked any questions nor demanded an explanation. Scooping her into his arms, he stalked away from the fire and the crowd. “Too much excitement and celebration,” he tossed over his shoulder. Many in the crowd nodded and some laughed. By morning, Esther knew that all would suspect she was with child.
    James kept walking, holding her tight in his embrace, the soothing tones of his voice washing over her, promising her that everything would be all right. She clung to his shoulders, resting her head against his chest, calmed by the strong beat of his heart.
    The sounds of the raucous celebrations faded more the farther he walked. Though her eyes were closed, she could hear the whoosh of the leaves in the trees as they brushed against his shoulders and knew that James had taken her to the nearby woods. She didn’t care where she went as long as she was with him. A night owl hooted as if voicing his displeasure at their untimely intrusion. A small creature skittered across the forest floor.
    Finally, he stopped.
    Esther opened her eyes and blinked, allowing them to adjust to the dim light. The moon was waxing and was more than half full, and the stars were shining bright so there was enough light for her to see his face. He sat beneath a large tree, still cradling her in his arms.
    “I had a vision.” Fear turned her blood to ice as she realized she had been given a portent of things to come.
    “Tell me.” His voice was strong and steady, but his hands were incredibly gentle as he stroked her hair away from her face.
    She feared that the image had been seared onto her brain for all time, and her voice shook as she spoke. “I saw you through the flames, yet it was not you as you are now. You had been burned almost beyond recognition and were in agony.” Burying her face against his chest, she clutched his shirt tight in her hands. “You were dying.”
    James carefully pried her hands from his clothing and tipped up her chin. “None of us knows what the future may hold, my love. We can but live each day the best way we can. Perhaps this was but a warning. I will be careful, but there is naught else we can do.”
    Esther wanted to scream and cry and shout at God. Why give her such a love only to take it away from her? She desperately wanted to believe that James was right. Perhaps it was a warning and not a portent at all.
    Cupping her face in his hands, James lowered his mouth. His lips were warm and soft as they skimmed across hers. Threading her fingers though his hair, she tugged him closer. James was life and happiness, and she needed him to drive away the darkness.
    Parting her lips, she coaxed his tongue inside. Heat swamped her as he explored the dark cavern, pooling at the apex of her thighs. Her breasts swelled, pushing against the coarse fabric of her dress. His hands slipped from her face, sliding over her neck and upper arms, setting her skin afire with his touch.
    His palm covered her breast, squeezing gently. Esther pushed herself farther into his hand, urging him on. His cock was lengthening and hardening against her hip and she longed to take him inside her.
    “Let me love you.” He voiced her very thoughts as he tore his