Flame’s eyes darted to the front door, then back to me. “Yeah,” he replied, but his voice was graveled and unsure.

“You will be fine, Flame. And your friends have been waiting to see you. You are well now, and you need to go outside.”

Flame’s head dropped. I could not help but stare at his wide chest, at the colorful pictures staring back at me. Especially the bright orange flames climbing his neck.

Smiling in support, I walked toward the door, when I noticed Flame had not followed. Turning round, I noticed his focus was on the door behind me.

“Flame? Are you okay?” I asked.

Flame’s eyes had grown larger—a sign he was upset. “When we walk out of that door, will you be going back to Styx’s house?”

My stomach fell at the thought of leaving him.

“Maddie?” Flame asked again. From my position I saw Flame’s hands clenching into fists, then he rasped, “I don’t want you to leave me.”

The gruff timbre of his voice sent shivers of sadness shooting down my spine. But then as his confession seeped into my bones, hope sprung in my chest.

He wanted me to stay.

I stayed silent, trying to rein in these new feelings overwhelming my senses, when he called my name again. “Maddie?”

This time his voice had lowered in pitch, a sign that he was sad, defeated… losing hope.

Inhaling a deep breath, I raised my head and nervously confessed, “I do not want to leave either.”

Flame’s nostrils flared and he inched closer until, with too deep of a breath, our chests would brush. Flame stilled. I stilled. And I worked on fighting the heat suddenly roaring through my body.

“Then you’ll come back here. To me,” he said with finality.

I felt a smile tugging on my lips, and I replied, “Yes. I want to see my sisters. I have not seen them for days, but… but I will return, here. To you.”

From the corner of my eye, I caught Flame’s fingers tense, and his eyes closed. I knew what these movements meant, and every time he did them, I simultaneously felt paralyzed with fear, and intoxicated with anticipation. For I knew this was Flame fighting his urge to touch me. I often wondered what he saw in his mind? Was it like my sketches—innocent and sweet? Or was it more? Was it like when a man takes a woman?

I waited for the devastation those thoughts would bring. Of being taken in such a way by a man. But it did not render me motionless, like I feared. Instead it… it… warmed me.

Lifting my gaze, it was to see Flame watching me. Needing to gain composure and inhale fresh air, I stepped away and to the door. Bright light filled the room as the door opened, and a warm breeze swept across my face.

And I smelled the trees.

I heard the rustling of the leaves.

I felt the hot sun on my cheeks.

Flame stood behind me, his large protective frame filling me with peace.

“Flame! Fuck!”

A voice from our left pulled our attention. Striding across the clearing toward Flame’s cabin was AK.  “Vike! Get the fuck out here now!” he shouted over his shoulder.

The door of the middle cabin then burst open, and a half dressed Viking rushed out. His long red hair was wet and hanging loose, and his leathers were unfastened. But as he ran toward Flame barefooted, his state of undress did not upset me, because the look of pure relief when he viewed his brother, almost brought me to my knees.

He was loved.

I wondered if he knew that these two men would do anything for him? I wondered if he understood that he had never really been alone?

AK came to a stop in front of Flame and I, Viking stopping just behind. AK ran his hand through his hair and rasped, “Fuck, man, we thought we’d lost you.”

I glanced up and Flame stared at them blankly. AK and Viking did not seem perturbed by this. Viking studied Flame head to toe. “You okay, brother? You feeling good?”

“Yeah,” Flame answered and Viking’s lip hooked into a smirk.

“Hell, man! It’s fucking good to have you back. Nothing’s been the same with you down. Me and AK have had to go on runs, just me and him, and it was fucking boring without you there to scare the fuck outta folk. AK’s too much of a fucking pussy to make folks piss themselves on sight. It’ll be good to have y’all back.”

Flame nodded his head, and AK said, “We got church soon. You coming? All the brothers wanna see you.”

Flame’s eyes flashed to mine. I could see his teeth grazing over the piercing in his tongue. He was anxious.

“I am going to my sisters. I shall wait for your return with them.”