Flames and Feathers Book 1

A Beautiful Dream

The grass was soft and slightly moist under my bare feet. Wild flowers of various colors were surrounding me, and they smelled like a bottle of my favorite perfume, without the outrageous price tag. The sun was warm on my face. It was trying its hardest, to break through the canopy up above the trees. Being out in nature always made me feel free, like I could breathe, just as calm waters, made me feel complete. I felt like a child in my dainty little sundress, not the normal clothing I generally wore, but not that I didn’t want to one day. Being on the road made clothing sparse, they were a necessity and not a need, so I could look cute for now, it is a dream after all.

It is absolutely beautiful here and the path laid out before me, looked like an adventure I couldn’t wait to take.

With the soft grasses to pad my tootsies, I started on my walk to the unknown. To the right of me was a wooded forest of trees, to the left was a field of wild flowers, in front of me, a walking path between large stones. I decided to continue with what lied ahead, I already choosen the path.

As I made my way, in the distance I could hear the sound of running water, possibly a bubbling brook or stream. I took step after step, cool grass pressed into and bounced under my feet. A few feet away a white and grey rabbit appeared from underneath some bushes. It twitched its nose in my direction and frozen right where he stood. With a deer in the headlights look, he freaked out and took off before I could even get a change to say hi. He acted as though he’d never seen a human girl before in his life. He could have been my prince dressed in rabbit clothing. Or, maybe his bunny friends were merrily dwarves in disguise.

Darn it! Now I’ll never know..... How will I ever survive, never knowing? Bunny friend... you left..... Giggling to myself, I shrugged my shoulders.

I made my best impression of a love sick princess. Gosh, if the bunny had stuck around , he would have thought I was complete i***t.

If I were him I’d probably run for the hills too!

Wow, I must be out of mind today! It has to be because of lack of sleep, that has to be it….

A little further ahead towards the unknown, I came upon a small stream blocking my path. I dipped my toes into the crystal clear waters and it was extremely cold to the touch... wow.... cold..

I did not want to wade through it without some way to warm my feet afterward.

Downstream several feet ahead, I got to see a baby deer and her mama. They were bending their heads to take a drink, making soft ripples appear in the water. It reminded me of a painting, or a postcard.

The lighting was just right, it was casting a reflection of the deer against the water. It made me wish I had a camera in my hand so I could capture that moment. It was simply beautiful!

The snapping of branches and leaves underfoot made me freeze in place, just as the bunny did earlier but less " deer in the headlight "

more due to me being cautious than anything, just as the deer were probably doing at that exact moment.

It only took me a few minutes to see that it was a person..... someone human...

I knew it! It had to my prince coming to rescue me, who was recently in the body of a fluffy little bunny. Bunnyfriend.... I thought projected... You came back !

As the figure appeared from out behind some trees, he drew nearer and then realized it was the guy from last night, it was Hunter ! I could tell even in this light, it was him.. His eyes were so blue, they seemed to help light his path.

He looked even hotter than he did the night before. In the shadows of the moonlight, his muscles was really defined, I could see ridges and curves pushing through the white cotton t-shirt he was wearing. Mmmm, dreams do a body good, he must really drink his milk....

God... I am sorry, I am a dork! The thought ran through my head before I could stop it.

The sunlight was barely visible above but the light that did break through was leaving an almost angelic glow around Hunter’s face. His eyes were so bright blue that they resembled the color of the deepest blues of the seas. I wanted to bathe in them, only coming up for a breath when I had no more left to give.

What a lucky girl I was today !

Bunnies, deer, and now a hot guy! I could only imagine what might happen next.

Hunter above me, my back pushed into the grass, his eyes staring into mine, with such love and longing…..

Then Mr Buster rabbit bounces back through the bushes, his pink little nose twitching in disapproval. His fluffy bunny arms lifted high, in a rage, ready to attack... but then .... bouncing back flipping me off instead... dork!

Pause that, in a “poof “ my fantasy with Hunter disappeared, it would never ever, involve a bunny, only maybe if it were Easter and perhaps, stuffed.

I pressed my hands to my face covering my eyes. Emma, you got problems, focus!

This is a dream and there is an insanely gorgeous guy coming your way, the last thing you should be doing is day dreaming about dreaming about ....werid stuff...

This time, I smacked the palm of my hand to my forehead.

I Watched as Hunter drew closer, he was without shoes just I was, but disappointingly he had on too much clothing.

He was rocking a baby blue button down shirt and pair of acid washed blue jeans. His hair was no longer hiding underneath a cowboy hat. It was cut short at the sides and left long on the top. It was the color of warm honey with just a touch of reddish brown. I wished I could run my fingers through his wavy locks, I bet his hair was just as silky to the touch as it looked. It looked perfect on him, but then again he looked perfect to me, his whole body was rocking...

Reaching out I let my hand touch his arm, just the brush of my fingertips was enough to reassure me, that he was real. " Hello... " I whispered to my mysterious prince of forest.

His lovely eyes met mine and I instantly felt myself blush. He didn’t pull away and I could feel his muscles tense underneath my touch. As if he was thinking the same thing I was, he brushed his hand over the area where I had touched him, after I reluctantly pulled away. Warmth... I still felt his warmth where he had touched my skin.

“Beautiful aren't they?” He whispered pointed in the direction of the deer.

“Huh?” I was still looking at him, I had totally forgotten about the deer. I was more interesting in the beauty that was standing beside me. Muscular man....animal... hmmm..

Flashing me a quick grin he offered me his hand and gestured me to move ahead, “Let’s get a better look.” He briefly stood beside me as he seemed to take in all the sights around us. This place was so peaceful but it was getting hotter by the second as he moved closer to me. I was tempted to touch him again as I brushed his shoulder with my own as he passed by me.

Once again, warmth... it ran down my arm... it was a feeling of instant calm... longing even, for more.

If almost on cue, Hunter stepped away, guiding me through a bush and a few twigs, trying our best to avoid spooking the animals. The closer we got to them the more timid they became and soon they high tailed it out of there, prancing into the hidden foliage behind them.

The animals in the forest were very apprehensive of people, this was my dream, in my dreams,

I should have been able to pet them. Better yet, they should be talking in riddles by now.

I wonder, why they seemed, so real?

A few steps ahead, the sun cast a brilliant glow from behind the trees and I had to block my eyes.

Squinting, I moved my hands up to shield my sensitive eyes. “So, why? How are we here? I know I went to sleep and now I'm here, here with you?”

I looked toward him staring at the narrow slender arch of his nose, the strong angle of his jaw, and the single dimple that appeared on his left cheek as he smiled.

Wow, how could I have missed that dimple? I flushed at thought of my fingers touching, brushing the lines around his cheek, his amazing lips pressed hard against mine. Instant warmth filled my cheeks.

“My guess is as good as yours, this is your dream after all.” He whispered against my ear. The heat of his breath sent a shiver down to my toes, as his lips just slightly brushed passed the sensitive areas of my ear lobe.

Wow! This must be a dream... heat... pasted over me, down to my toes... feelings I hadn't felt, or wanted to feel in a long time..

Just the gentlest touch made the butterflies in my tummy flutter and come to life. It was as if, several winged creatures were fluttering and flapping against my insides, fighting hard to break free.

I’d never had this feeling before with anyone! I’d kissed a guy and well almost been close to the point of no return, but it never felt this right, and he hadn’t even kissed me yet.

Gosh, I must seem like the biggest dork! A Virgin dork!

I’m glad he couldn’t read my mind. I would be all the more embarrassed, not just at the fact that I was still a virgin but also the fact that I could feel so deeply about him but I didn't even know him....but yet I felt so comfortable with him... It just didn't make any sence....

If this is just a dream then I wanted to experience as much as I can before I wake up, I had to know him... Take every moment .... to get to know him..

“So, to put it into perspective, you’re saying that this is just a made up world that I created in my head and you happen to be in it?”

My nose did this little wrinkle thing whenever I was confused I was almost sure I was doing that now.

Hunter ’s brows lifted and he shifted his gaze, stairing right at my crinkly nose.

“Some dreams have some reality in them, depending on where it stems.

It could be from something you were thinking about before you feel asleep. It could be hidden deep within your subconscious, and we could both be on an alternative plane where we are both asleep, but yet fully awake. It all depends on how your brain infact, perceives it. “

He pushed away a strand of hair that fallen in my eyes and then pulled my hand to bend down to sit in the soft grass below our feet.

I tucked the edge of the fabric of skirt under me as I sat on the cool ground beside him.

“Well we are both here, which speaks for itself. If we both awake to remember, then all this could be another form of a supernatural reality that we share, somehow..... Our own special place! ” Hunter exclaimed, looking at me from out of the corner of his eyes.

Gosh, his eyes were so pretty! I wonder if he thought the same of mine but mine wern't bright blue like his...

I smiled to myself and thought I saw his lips do the same. Looking at me from underneath his thick lashes, he grinned.

“You have a beautiful smile, and I love how your cheeks blush up the color of pink rouge, every time I look at you.”

I had to be blushing three times a full on cherry by now, if he only knew how my insides felt!

I bet those butterflies fighting for release were working double time now, because I was feeling them all the way down to my toes.

He turned his full attention on me then.

Turning his body towards mine, he searched my eyes and he bought his hands up to my check brushing his knuckles across my jawline.

Instant heat... his fingertips, made every nerve in my body fire at once...

“You know you’re really lovely Emma. I just want you know that, don’t ever think ill of yourself. No one should ever make you feel scared or alone... With me, you will never feel like that !"

My eyes lingered at his soft lips and the delicate lines of his mouth as he grinned.

I wanted to touch him, to feel the stubble of his chin hair tickle my skin as it just barely brushed against me, when we kissed.

, I wanted to feel alive, and for one moment feel like, my life wasn't a compleate disaster.... That I wasn't going to break at any moment... Just normal girl, that likes a boy...

Without a moment of hesitation, which was a surprise on my part, I took his hands into my slightly shaking ones and brought them up to cup my cheeks. Calmness and warmth flowed through me..

“Would, you mind if I kissed you? “ I lowered my eyes to the ground.

I wasn’t ashamed but just a little embarrassed at my actions.

This is not something I normally do, I was just so drawn to him and if this was only a dream, what harm would it cause?

Shifting his body toward mine he bent his head down and rested it on my forehead just for a moment, before lifting my chin up slightly.

In not much more than a whisper, he cupped my face in his hands and said, “I’ve wanted to do this all night! “

His dark blue eyes were barely visible through his thick long lashes as he inched his way closer to me.

“I didn’t want you feel like you had to do something you didn’t want to because well, this is a “dream”. I wanted you to want to, because it’s with me.”

The dimple appeared along his cheek, and then a soft smile.

I couldn't move, I was frozen in place, my heart beating out of my chest... Anticipation growing by the mintue...

Hunter closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then took a deep breath letting out a soft sigh, he then caressed my cheeks again with his fingertips. My face tingled from his touch, the stroke of his thumb against my lower lip gave me goosebumps, and I was becoming a puddle of moisture at his feet.

When he drew closer to me, the closer he got, the more the anticipation grew. There was no need for more words, no need to explain.

I’d been wanting this from the moment he first say hello, just a few short hours ago, when we first met.

I closed my eyes as his mouth met mine, the light turned to dark, everything around me ceased to exist, and it was just us, in moment of compleate bliss. I felt the softer parts of his meet mine.. his tongue, gently caressing mine.

Pulling back for just a few seconds, he searched my face for the signs of doubt in my expression, there was none....

To show him how much I was enjoying myself, I pulled his mouth back to me with an intense hunger and need.

One small taste, would just not do and I was extremely thirsty for his kiss.

His lips, this time were more intense, as his arms pulled me close to him. I was already practically on his lap, and my little sundress did not leave much to the imagination.

I think I forgot to wear a bra with it too, oops!

My hands became entangled in his silky brown locks as his hands gripped my hips. I could feel his happiness below me growing.... I was doing this to him? Me, the biggest dork of all ... I was causing this intense need... wow...

The heat between us intensified as my lips parted, inviting him to explore my mouth more but I think I ended up being the one to pull away this time. Feeling breathless, I was beginning to feel like I would pass out, for lack of oxygen.

My braids had fallen out somewhere between the make out session and the touching...

I was feeling way overheated and it didn’t help that I could still feel his breath on my neck .....

Or was it the fact that he was looking so damn sexy as his tongue swept over the bottom of his lips.

I pulled my thick hair into a pony tail and twisted it until it was a bun on top of my head. I had to get the hair off my neck to help cool myself off.

He wasn't making things any easier... Man... he was a sight to behold and he wanted me.... Me...

“That was incredible! You are a goddess, my sweet Emma. I’ve waited so long to find you! “

Hunter ran his hand up and down my arm, his eyes must of have been a shade brighter than they were before.

They looked like they were almost glowing or maybe it was because mine were.

I watched as he stretched his strong arms above his head.. How wasn't sweating was beyond me....and even in a long sleeve shirt I could make out the muscles under the clothing. He was very toned and well built..

I bet working a ranch can Do a Body Good, if that is how the saying goes, or is that about, milk?

Either way, he had it going on in all the right ways! Yummy.... times ten...

Yawning into the inner most part of his elbow Hunter glanced in my direction with a serious expression on his face. This entire dream making out session was making me awfully sleepy too. As his redish brown hair fell across his face, his blue eyes lingered on my swollen lips before whispering...

. “So, Emma, if you don’t mind me asking, why are you always running?” Hunter took my hands into his but I pushed them away...

Coughing as if I'd just been kicked in the stomach. My facial expression said it all as he looked down regretting that he’d asked the question.