Fighting a losing battle

Would it be playful and just as teasing as his caresses of her hand earlier, she stared at his firm lips as if expecting the answers to be transparent for the world to see.

Instead she found that knowing gaze, that twinkle of merriment in his eyes as if he read her mind.

Fiona would be traveling in his company again across dangerous unknown territory but still she felt no fear.

Only a strange excitement that seemed to excite the blood coursing through her veins.

"Would you care to go for a walk with me?" he asked.

The question itself was harmless but his tone was edgy, seductive and Fiona was half tempted to lean in closer towards him.

That would be a foolhardy decision on her part for the moment she let down her guard he would surely seize the moment and take advantage of her weakness.

Fiona further glanced at him, she should probably think twice before accepting what seemed like an innocent invitation because she came to realize that nothing was ever simple when it involved the legendary Black Flame.

He waited patiently for her response meanwhile his gaze dropped to her lips Fiona blushed crimson even as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"I'm not yet sleepy so perhaps a walk may be just what I need before going to bed," she said carefully.

Trying to hopefully make it sound like she had already had that intention and his joining her for a walk would not inconvenience her in the slightest.

He needed to understand that her world did not revolve around him and she would be perfectly capable of surviving without him.

"Lovely, I'm glad we are finally in accord about something," his tone sounding complimentary even to her own ears but why did she detect a faint trace of mockery beneath his glib words.

In fact she would venture to say he was teasing her and at that thought, she flung her fat black braid to the side feeling annoyed to say the least.

She, like Torque, felt like she was being outwitted by the Black Flame and fighting a losing battle one that she never wanted to partake in the first place.

Since she made a decision to go for a walk with him she had to be the one in control and steer their course in the light and company of others.

While she might not want to go the route of marriage in this world, since she doesn't believe that she will be living in this realm for long.

It wouldn't do for her to grow attached to this world and then get snatched or sent back to her own time, she had no clue how she ended up in this new world much less if her stay would be permanent.

Especially after she completed her mission of stopping the chaos orb from destroying this world.

That didn't mean she wanted to develop a reputation as a shameful hussy either.

She was after all taking care of innocent Seth and wouldn't want any shame or ridicule to fall on the little boy because his caretaker was out of her depth.

He offered a hand to help her to her feet in a gentlemanly manner and she graciously accepted his outstretched hand.

Even after she stood he never let go of her hand, only turning to gently lead her away from the dining area and she had no choice but to follow, taking more than a few steps to match his stride.

Of course, over a hundred gazes watched them depart and there was a hum of excitement in the air.

It felt like Fiona's heart skipped a beat with every step that she took while waking beside him.

All was going well until they passed Torque and his companions that made her falter in her steps.

Torque winked at her and she looked away even as she felt Tiamat's grip tighten on her hand. It was too dark to see who but one of Torque's men wolf whistled and it sounded so lewd it made her skin crawl.

A smack from the back hand of Torque and the resounding, "ouch that hurts," ensured that no more displays of vulgarity followed the couple as they toured the keep.

"You're hurting me," she said.

As she pried her hand from his grip using the moment to walk ahead of Tiamat and he let her.

In turn he used his dragon eyes in the night to watch her shapely derriere as she strutted away from him.

The dining hall's sounds faded as they took a path that led to the castle gardens, the wind ruffled through the trees and Fiona stopped dead in her tracks as she caught a glimpse of not one but two beautiful shimmering moons.

She was struck speechless by their luminescent beauty and if it wasn't for Tiamat's insistence to go for a walk she would probably never have gotten the chance to take in such a spectacular view of the twin moons.

To her dismay the further they walked towards the gardens the more it seemed that they were alone; it felt as if they had left everyone behind in the dining hall for some alone time.

Is this where Tiamat would pursue some amorous intent?

Even with her parents gone, she had never been alone. After her parents death she had been shipped off to boarding school.

When she finally got into the university of her choice only then had she decided to take a solo trip before resuming her studies.

She would have thought twice about taking a solo trip if she had got a premonition that she would be alone with a notorious dragon lord who openly admitted to anyone that would listen that he was after her virtue he wanted to claim her as his wife.

How did she get herself into these messes and why wasn't she afraid to be alone with him.

It was what she should be asking herself for the first time since she left her world. She felt something for a man other than her father if she was being truthful with herself.

When there was a slight breeze that made her shiver, she wasn't surprised that he moved in closer.

He gently pulled her in closer his arms encircling her and making her feel the warmth of his nearness.

She should have been protesting loudly his taking advantage of her but how could she when he was not forcing her to do anything against her will.

Instead his teasing seduction inflamed her senses and made her irritated that he was moving so slow with such a gentle seduction.

Fiona wanted him to speed things up but she couldn't ask without appearing desperate, it would only make it more obvious.

It was all happening first hand, all these new sensations from his caresses, everything exhilarated her because it was a new experience.

That she was not accustomed to another man's touch at her great age of twenty one years and she couldn't help but wonder where his amorous touch would lead to next.