Touch of Flame

“Tell me about yourself,” Ravina said after curtly answering some of Lord Steele’s questions. She just wanted to divert the attention from herself but to know more about the man she was getting married to.

“What do you want to know?” He asked as they took a walk in the garden.

“I know what you do as a governor. Is there something else you do?”

“I travel a lot for business and trading so I am rarely home. My plan is to take it easier now, settle down and have a family. I am not getting younger.” He smirked.

She looked at him. He was in his mid-thirties, in his prime age. But he looked just like the way he did when he used to visit them in his twenties. He seemed to be the kind to age well.

“I don’t think I am fit to be a mother.” She told him.

“Why not?”

“I am sure you have an idea.”

“I know you are smart, disciplined, and hardworking and that is the way I want to raise my children.”

“Children also need love and warmth.”

“And you think you are not capable of that?” He asked.

“I know I am not.”

“Then I would not marry you.” He said coming to a halt.

She stopped and turned to him.

“As your husband in the future, even I will need your warmth.” He told her straight.

Right. She was expected to…

She stopped herself and decided to think of it later but he suddenly took her gloved hand in his. Ravina wondered what he intended to do.

“I don’t think you understand the kind of heat that can ignite between a man and a woman.” He said slowly sliding the glove off her fingers.

Ravina’s heart picked up the pace.

Lord Steele stroked her now bare knuckles with his thumb before lifting it to his mouth and pressing his hot lips against her skin. Ravina could only stare into his intense gaze as he kissed her knuckles. Then he turned her hand and placed a lingering kiss on her wrist, his hot lips causing a tingling heat to travel up her arm.

Ravina was surprised by the sensation. Lord Steele seemed confident that his actions would have an effect on her and they did.

“Your Highness. Being my wife won’t be a task you will have to endure.” He promised her.

Ravina swallowed suddenly feeling like there was no air despite the fact that they were outdoors. She knew what he was promising. This man was too bold. She didn’t know what to make of this. She had never been in a situation like this before. She tried to think of something fast but her inexperience made her remain stunned and quiet. Better keep her mouth shut than say something stupid.

He dropped her hand but kept her glove.

“You are daring, My Lord.” She said when she could finally speak.

“I am guessing that is the reason you chose me.” He smiled roguishly.

He was right. Strangely she didn’t mind. This would allow her to be bold with him as well.

“My Lord. I would like to continue with my inventions after our marriage.”

“Of course. I have an inventory in my home where I make my own inventions.”

Ravina recollected that he used to come to the castle and spend hours with her father in the inventory. “You invent weapons?”

“Yes. Pistols to be specific.” He pulled out a pistol from his belt that looked quite unique. “This is my latest invention.”

He held out the flintlock and she took it to investigate what could be unique about it. It was lighter than the usual ones, but she guessed that it was the lock technique that was different.

“What is different about this flintlock?”

“This I call the snakelock. Everything is mechanical and it doesn’t need to be filled with anything but bullets. The barrel rotates automatically, making firing several bullets after another faster.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t an expert in pistols but it certainly sounded good.

“Do you want to try?” He asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

They went to the training yard, where she got to test the pistol on a target board.

She took off her other glove and then looked at the pistol wondering how to use the lock system in this one.

Lord Steele came beside her, “like this,” he said speaking over her shoulder. She could feel his hot breath next to her ear as his arms came around her to show her how to use the lock before firing.

“Thank you,” She breathed suddenly feeling hot and crowded.

She lifted her arms and aimed at the target before firing. She hit right in the middle.

“You are good.” He said.

She looked curious at this pistol. “This is easy to use. Must have changed many things for you.”

“Well, I am not a pirate anymore.” He smirked.

“You behave like one.” She told him.

He chuckled. “And when have you seen pirates?”

“I am only assuming by your behavior. Pirates take what they want.”

“That is true.” He said watching her with eyes gleaming with mystery.

“My Lord,” She said becoming serious. “I am looking for my sister.”

He nodded.

“I could find her with a dragon child.” She continued.

“You want me to take her under my protection?”

“Could you?”

“I could but I am not sure she would fit into the human world considering the hate for dragons.”

“I have to help her if she doesn’t want to stay there.”

“And if she wants to?”

Ravina took a deep breath and then exhaled. “Then I will leave her be.”

He frowned deeply.

“If she is happy where she is then I will pretend I never had a sister. At least one of us will be happy.”

“And what about you?”

“My goal is not happiness.”

He smirked taking the pistol from her. “When we get married we will have the same goals.” He told her firmly.

He thought he could make her happy or did he have other goals? She would have to study him some more. She wouldn’t be surprised if his aim with this marriage was something else. In fact, she hoped so. She did not want to be the aim and the fact that he looked at her that way already worried her.

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