Page 14 of Goddess of Storms

“Maybe. All the hiking wore me out, what about you?” Nile asks.

“Gotta talk to Stone, we split the night and stay up in two shifts. Someone has to make sure that no animals try to carry you two off.”

“You guys must be worried about animals,” Phoenix says.

“That and with the rain coming in, you never know when or if another fire will start due to lightning,” I say.

“How do you know it will rain?” Phoenix asks.

“It’s just what I do. What did I throw to you two? I got spaghetti, it’s not my favorite. Anyone want to trade?”

“I got roast and mashed potatoes, I’ll trade,” Stone butts in, standing behind me.

“Perfect,” I say, raising my food to him.

“You two seem to make a good team,” Phoenix notes.

“We have to, the boss throws us together because he is afraid he won’t get Stone back in one piece if he partners him with another ranger.” I laugh.

“It’s not my fault. I was hired to do a job, not all the rangers,” Stone counters.

“Eww, can we talk about anything else? I want to keep my food down,” I complain, turning to Stone. “You want to take the first or second shift?”

“First, I’ve slept since you have and since we got here a little earlier, we can both get a little extra shut eye if you head off soon.”

“Once I’m done with my feast,” I say holding up my MRE, “I will turn in. It will be nice to kick off these boots for a couple hours.”

Returning to stare at the fire, my eyes travel over the flames and meet Nile’s eyes. Once I finish chewing the bite in my mouth, I ask, “What have you been doing since you left? Last night was the first I’ve heard from you and now you’re sitting in front of me.”

“You said you needed space, so that's what I was doing. I work as a captain on a cruise ship. Not a bad gig, out at sea a lot and I get to travel the world.”

“Sounds like you got your dream job, water and travel. I’m happy you found it,” I smile and take the last bite of my meal. “Well, that’s all folks. I’m going to kick back for a few hours, Stone, here’s my trash you know what to do. Wake me when it’s time for my shift.”

I don’t give any of them a second look and I crawl into my tent and zip it up behind me. Kicking off my boots like I said I was going to, I wiggle my way into the sleeping bag and fluff my pillow just a bit. And I’m gone just as the rain starts hitting my tent.

Sleep came easy but the dreams she brought were a different story. The first one was a memory of the night Nile and I broke up, only bits and pieces. All the emotions from that night came with it, the anger in his voice and eyes, the tears from both us and then the slam of the door as he left. I bolt up as the sound from my dream coincides with a strike of thunder. My heart beating fast, I get my bearings and glance at my watch, it's only been an hour since I laid down.

From inside my tent, I can hear the laughter of the guys. For some reason, that brings a smile to my lips as my head returns to my pillow. Sighing, I roll onto my side and wait for sleep to take me once again.

“My love, come back to bed,” I call to the figure in the dark.

“As you wish,” a male voice calls back, that is one I know.

He slips back under the covers, his rock-hard body next to mine. He pulls me close to him and trailing kisses along the nape of my neck, heading lower when I moan his name as those kisses light my body on fire. “Stone.”

I awake this time to Stone yelling my name, but there is pain and worry in his tone. Once my eyes open, I know why. My tent is on fire, as are my clothes. I shimmy out of the sleeping bag as the tent is ripped open and strong arms pull me from the wreckage.

Stone

My heart sank when the bolt hit her tent; without her powers, I wasn’t sure if she would survive. The red cast on the moon told me this was the night we were here for. Without a second thought about her tent on fire, I ripped it open and pulled her out to discover her clothes on fire. I pull her to her feet and tear them off of her. Wordlessly, she lets me touch her, but my hands don’t stray from their task. Once the clothes are off, Nile throws one of my extra tees over her head.

“Harper, are you alright?” I ask her, my hands on her arms.

She doesn’t flinch when I caress her cheek. “This whole time, you knew me, what you meant to me. Why didn’t you tell me? I remember it all.” A small tear rolls down her cheek.

I pull her to a log and set her in my lap while Nile and Phoenix put out the tent fire.

“You are my heart, your mother told me to keep my distance for your safety. There were many times that I wanted to tell you. The words on the tip of my tongue but I bit them back. I have counted the days until you were to come back to me,” I say.

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