8. Shirtless Summoning

They waited until evening, and met in the stables. Aleksander helped Katya up on his own horse, and with her arms wound tightly around his waist she rode behind him. Her heart pounded with excitement over what they were about to do.

It was a bit uncomfortable to sit behind the saddle, but she enjoyed his closeness, and it felt good to rest her head against his back. His black cloak was rough against her cheek, but his masculine scent made her heady.

When they reached the old wishing well, Aleksander spread his cloak over the fallen leaves. "This will be cold," he warned.

"My fire will keep us warm," she countered.

Together they built a fireplace surrounded by stones, and gathered some branches to begin with. When it was lit, it crackled merrily and a pleasant smell of wood smoke reached their nostrils.

Aleksander crept close to Katya, and the appealing smell of him mingled with the smoke. She stroked his broad shoulder. "You need to take that off, Amplifier."

He grinned and began to unbutton the garment, while she did the same with her blue kefta. She removed the clothes she wore underneath too, but kept her underpants for now, noticing he had done the same.

In the flickering firelight Katya regarded Aleksander's body. He was surprisingly smooth for someone that dark, with only a thin trail of black hairs towards his navel. His stomach was flat and his chest broad, and on his arms the muscles bulged. He had goosebumps, she noticed, and without a word she summoned more fuel for the fire. It blazed tall and bright, and its warmth caressed her face.

"I love fire," she said.

"I love darkness," he replied, and now she saw he had begun to summon as well. Outside the circle of firelight the night had grown compact. Even if someone walked right by, they would not be able to see anything now.

Still keeping her fire hot and strong, Katya rolled closer to him. "Touch me."

He closed the distance between them. The shock when his skin came in contact with hers made her almost stop breathing. Power seeped into her everywhere and it felt so intense she could almost not bear it.

Aleksander wrapped his arms around Katya and their legs intertwined. Raw energy filled her veins and every cell in her body, and further away the fire flared like a beacon.

When he began to kiss her, the stones around the fireplace cracked in halves by the insane heat, and its flames had such a pale blue hue they were painful to look at.

Katya hugged him closer, until she could not tell where her body ended and his began, as if they were a single, powerful unit. She could feel his ecstasy mingling with hers, threatening to burst her heart.

"This could easily become addictive!" His voice was husky.

She felt him press his abdomen against the only place where there were clothes between them. Even so, the sensations were so strong it almost hurt. It hurt with pleasure, however that was possible.

"I don't think I can... keep... summoning," she panted. "Not if we... do... it…!"

Aleksander glanced over his shoulder, following the flames with his eyes. Looking there too, Katya saw the darkness still remaining solid behind it. She had made the hottest fire anyone had ever seen, but it was not a sun.

"You'd better not," he agreed, kissing her forehead. "We don't want to start a forest fire. Let it go for now."

Slowly releasing her hold on the fire, Katya felt her heart rate calm. The disappointment was a bitter taste in her mouth.

"Can I still be with you if I'm not a Sun Summoner?" Her voice was slightly hoarse.

He stroked her cheek. "Did you think I'd let you go that easily? I need a Sun Summoner to expand the Fold, but not for this." When he kissed her, her senses were still heightened from before and she responded with a new hunger. "Besides," he added when pausing to breathe, "you have only just begun your training. Don't give up so soon."

She nodded, feeling grateful tears burn behind her eyelids. "I won't."

He leaned on one arm and nodded at the fire, now back to its normal size. "Look at those cracked stones. With that kind of heat, you make quite an amazing weapon." Turning to look at her, he slowly traced her arm with his fingertip. "Imagine what we can do together. To our enemies."

"Together," she agreed. Feeling a burst of affection soar through her heart, Katya silently vowed to fight for this man as long as she lived. She would stand at his side, and make sure nobody dared hurt a Grisha ever again.

She was his now.

Aleksander's finger had reached her collarbone in its exploration, and now he steered it downwards. "I hope you didn't spend all your energy before." His voice was deep and silky.

"I think I might manage a little more exercise."

"A little? Ha. Tomorrow every part of your body will hurt." He bent forward to let his lips make his finger company on her chest.

"I'll take that as a promise."

A/N:

This is my first time writing a romance with a villain (and with the main character breaking bad too...). I must say I've enjoyed myself immensely so far. I hope you have too!