He squatted on the freezer floor and hugged his knees, making the overall area of his flames small. I stepped past him and grabbed some bags of ice, tearing them open, then pouring the contents down his back. The blocks melted in an instant, but it didn't matter. What that did was get his core temperature down so that he could have some hope of regaining control.
Gradually, the flames subsided, until they were little more than fireflies dancing across his skin. I poured the last of the ice down his back, then tossed the bag on the floor beside the others and knelt behind him. I wrapped my arms around his still-shaking shoulders and held him tight. I was soaked to the skin—we both were—but I wasn't cold. The flames might be practically out, but the heat in his body was still enough to warm an entire battalion of people.
After a while, he took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Don't ever do that again, Risa."
It seemed to be my day for getting told that. But there was no anger in Tao's voice, only resigned weariness. I said, "You know it's pointless telling me that, so why even waste the words?"
"Because I keep hoping one day you'll actually listen to someone."
I snorted softly. "And how long have you known me?"
He made an odd sound that stood somewhere between laugh and groan. "Okay, point taken. But it was still one hell of a risk. I wasn't in control, and I could have hurt you."
"As I've already pointed out, you were the only thing alight in the kitchen." And that alone meant he had some level of control, even if he couldn't immediately douse the flames. I dropped a kiss onto the back of his neck, then pushed to my feet. "I knew you wouldn't let the elemental hurt me."
"Next time I might." He took my offered hand and let me haul him upright. As a werewolf he was naturally lean, but these days, thanks to what resided within him, he could only be considered skin and bone. Not abnormally so, not yet, but not far from it, either. "And the fire trucks have just about arrived."
I cocked my head a little and caught the wail of the approaching fire engine. "You want to go out the back and reassure Linda and Rachel? I'll go talk to the firemen."
His smile was a little on the wan side, but it nevertheless warmed me. He was going to be okay—at least this time. "You always did like a man in uniform."
"Most women do." I gave him a grin. "And some men."
"Not this man."
"Well, no, not unless you'd walked in on one of Ilianna's potion-making moments." I hesitated. "Once this mess is all sorted out, you'd better meet me upstairs and tell me exactly what happened."
He nodded, his expression suddenly grim. Prickles of concern danced through me, but I shoved them aside, then hit the freezer door release and headed out not only to meet the firemen but to see what could be done about the mess.