Page 1 of Fire Touched

Chapter One

Katie

Fabric slips over my eyes, startling me awake, tied roughly at the back of my head. Before I can speak, a hand comes down over my mouth. ‘Shh.’ Warm breath tickles the fine hairs on my neck, sending tingles all over my body.

Any initial flicker of panic dies away as my mate’s warmth washes over me. I smile into the darkness, at wherever he is, looking down at me. ‘That’s new,’ I whisper.

Killian exhales, his hot breath stirs my lashes. ‘I said shh,’ he chides, though the love in his voice is clear.

He gathers me to his chest and hauls me up as I reach up to touch the blindfold. I don’t try to take it off. Actually, I kind of like it. A comforting wave of heat spills from Killian, washing over my still-sleepy body as he gathers me into his arms.

I turn my head, unable to see, my other senses awakening. I inhale deeply, the familiar scent of damp, cool earth accompanied by the chill of early morning. I have to admit, I’m not used to waking up quite like this.

I turn my head this way and that. ‘You’re lucky I didn’t headbutt you.’ I blink into the blindfold, morning light softly piercing the dark fabric, scattering it with pinpricks of light, like stars in a night-sky.

He holds me, one arm supporting my upper back, the other under my knees. ‘Always a morning person,’ he says, amused. I flap about in his arms. All I wear to ‘bed’ is my underwear and my mate’s shirt, so I’m cold, my bare legs exposed to the brisk morning air. My toes curl, chilled. He holds me closer. ‘I’ve got you,’ he says, despite telling me to be quiet.

I nuzzle into his warmth, my nose tickled by his chest hair. We must be the first ones up, and I’m already holding back a grumble about it.

Moira and Elijah are no doubt canoodling in their tent. Ella and Carter are probably still asleep in their own corners of our camp. I kick excitedly, squirming. I won’t take the blindfold off. What fun is that? Excitement bubbles low in my belly. I turn toward him, my nose catching something—his face, probably.

Killian laughs. ‘It’s like trying to hold a wet fish. Baby, stop,’ he chides. ‘I don’t want to drop you.’

I let my head tip back, my other senses heightening. I inhale. The air is clean and crisp. Early morning. Dawn, even. The fabric covering my eyes slightly rustles over my ears, distracting my hearing. The smooth rise and fall of my mate’s chest, of breathing, catches at my ear, in time with the footfalls carrying me.

I squirm in his arms, trying to figure it out. I can’t tell which direction we’re headed. Where am I? Where are we going? I tilt my head far back, trying to smell.

Killian laughs. ‘Settle down,’ he hisses. ‘We’re nearly there.’

I writhe in his arms impatiently. ‘Where are you taking meeee?’ I whine, forgetting to be quiet.

My mate’s lips come down on my cheek. ‘I’m trying to surprise you, Katherine.’ His voice is a low, playful growl.

I still in his grasp, my bottom lip sticking out. ‘Fine.’ I fold my arms over my chest. ‘There’d better be coffee.’ I don’t actually expect there to be coffee, but a girl can dream. We’ve been roughing it in the woods, or, you know, outside for days. I miss beds.

Killian draws me closer to him. ‘What, is this my first day as your mate?’ He leans down, nibbling my ear. ‘Of course there’s coffee.’

‘What?’ I whip my head toward him, and this time I actually do headbutt him. I wince. ‘Sorry.’

‘Ow,’ Killian says mildly. He presses a soft kiss to where my head is sore. ‘It’s okay, beautiful. We’re here.’

When he sets me down on the ground, I don’t squeal or fret. He’s careful, placing me delicately on—SAND! I yank the blindfold off—or, I try to—it gets stuck in my hair, behind my ear. I make a series of desperate, annoyed noises, yanking too fiercely—

Killian laughs, bending to help me as I nearly rip my hair out trying to lay my eyes on the oceanic view. ‘Easy, baby.’ He presses kisses to my chin, over my jaw, untangling it, and finally, the blindfold falls free. Killian sits behind me, his arms wrapped around me. ‘What do you think?’

A beach sprawls before me, a luscious blanket of sand that stretches out toward the ocean. Waves reach far into the distance, crashing against the sunrise blooming over the horizon in pale pinks and purples. I sigh, as though all the breath has been sucked out of me, and sink back against him. ‘It’s beautiful.’ My head falls against his broad chest.

Killian nuzzles into me. ‘You deserve some peace and quiet.’

My hand finds the back of his head, his soft, auburn hair gliding through my fingers. ‘We deserve some peace.’ I turn slightly, reaching up to press my lips against his. Privacy has been hard to come by this last week. ‘It’s nice not to have an audience.’

Some of the tension eases from his shoulders. It’s good to see him relax a little. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’ Killian spins me, turning me to face him, our lips soft and tender against the other’s.

As the sun wakes, bathing us in soft rays of light, I stare up at my mate in wonder. I touch his cheek, watching the way the sun gilds the red of his hair, his lashes, framing his beautiful, red-brown eyes. It’s been weeks since Killian and I realised we were fated mates, and I still can’t quite believe it sometimes. How could I be so lucky?

He’s been stressed since our final escape from the Water Pack estate, and things have been a bit strained between us.

Killian reaches out to stroke my hair, still gentle, his fingers barely there. ‘I wanted us to have a little alone time. I’m sure Moira and Elijah wouldn’t mind some, too.’