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Blaze Within 69
Alaric took a week off work to be home with me. He planned to take another, but I assured him I would be fine. He waited on me hand and foot. He acted as though I was a fragile, porcelain doll and handled me with excessive gentleness and care. His antics brought back my smile and laughter, and slowly began to erase the nightmares and flashbacks. He danced around with his goofy moves, and every time my mind seemed to start to drift to those dark days, he would tell one of his cheesy jokes to bring me back. He was my hero from my kidnapping, and my hero now. He saved me both physically and mentally and I could never repay him for what he had done for me. Despite his hovering care of me, he would only kiss me quickly on the lips. He would kiss my forehead, my hand, or even my cheeks for much longer, but never my lips. He also never made love to me or even tried. Of course, I wouldn't want to either with how I looked. The bruises seemed to darken each day, and I walked around with a hunc
Blaze Within 70
I smiled and nodded my head. He raised his hands and gently wiped my tears away with his thumbs. He kissed my nose before taking a step back and pulling his shirt off. I stared at his bare chest. I slid my robe off and stepped into the hot water. I sat down as I watched Alaric undress. He stepped into the bath and sat down behind me. He pulled me back against him. I leaned into his chest, relaxing in the hot water and his secure embrace. We laid together, our bare bodies touching, as we relaxed but the sexual undercurrent between us made my heart pound. Alaric's fingertips traced up and down my bare arms beneath the hot water. He leaned his head forward and gently kissed my neck. I turned my head to the side, giving him better access as his fingers grazed higher up my arms and closer to my breasts. My breath caught as nerves pumped through my veins. I didn't want to be afraid of him, I didn't want to mess this up. My stomach meanwhile knotted into a tight knot of sexual energy. I bega
Blaze Within 71
I slowly woke up the next morning, safe and loved in Alaric's strong arms. The sunlight streamed from the balcony doors as I snuggled closer to him. He laid on his back, snoring softly was he slept. His hair was splayed all around him on the pillow. I studied his sharp jawline and perfect, red lips. My eyes slowly trailed to his tattoos on his arms and chest. How had I been so lucky to have him in my life? What I had done so right to deserve him? After the hell of my youth and the struggles I went through before him, he was something I never imagined having. He was more than I ever thought I deserved. And yet here I was, cuddled in his arms in our bed enraptured by him and his love. He stirred and groggily opened his eyes to look at me. He smiled lightly as his green eyes found me. It was me he looked for as soon as he woke up, and it was me who made him smile. The realization warmed my soul. He rolled toward me, his lips quickly finding mine. His hand raised and cupped my face as h
Blaze Within 72
Another month passed by as I forged forward with a life I had once only dreamt about with Alaric. I came home from working at the hospital on a random weekday and opened the condo door. I stepped inside and immediately noticed how eerily quiet the condo was. "Alaric?" I called out as I took a step forward. He was supposed to be off today. My stomach dropped as I wondered if he had been called in. "Alaric?" I took another step forward when something crunched beneath my foot. I lowered my eyes to the floor and looked quizzically at the rose beneath my shoe. I slowly bent down and picked it up. I inspected the red rose in my hand, wondering what on earth it was doing there, as my eyes gazed across the floor of the condo. My breath caught as my heart beat rapidly as I stared at the trail of red roses laid out before me. I trembled with an excited anticipation as I began to follow the trail, picking them up as I walked. I followed their path to the back patio door. I slid the door open
Blaze Within Epilogue
One year later ... I drew in a long, slow breath to calm my nervous excitement as I lit the candle atop the chocolate cupcake I had secretly bought. I had made arrangements for it to be delivered while we were out sightseeing. Never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined I would be in Hawaii, let alone be enjoying my honeymoon there. Alaric and I had said our vows on the beach just days ago, surrounded by our friends. Now, we were alone, just him and I to start our new life as husband and wife. He was my husband. Just the thought sent butterflies into flight in my stomach. We were married. He was mine forever. I closed my eyes as his vows whispered into my ears in his delicious British accent. He had stared at me with those gorgeous green eyes and declared his never-ending love for me. Somehow, I had managed to stay standing while I melted inside. I had opted out of a big wedding dress. Instead, I wore a knee-length white dress. It was sleeveless and cinched at the waist. It pu
Blaze Within 1
“All my friends think you’re lame.” I stared at Ace, my supposed boyfriend. He stood towering in front of me, tall and muscular. His jet-black hair was gelled up and back. His brown, nearly black eyes, glared all the way to my core. “Good thing I don’t give a shit about your friends,” I shot back as I pulled my arm from his painful grip. “Shut the fuck up,” he bit out as he yanked open a bedroom door. He put his hands on my back and shoved me forcefully into the empty room. “Get your hands off me!” I demanded, my voice rising as I spun around toward him. I flinched as he slammed the door shut behind us, trapping me alone in the room with him. “Shut your damn mouth!” he roared as he advanced toward me with rage in his eyes. My heart pounded as I stumbled backwards. I knew that wild look. My stomach churned as I frantically searched for a way out of this room, away from the out-of-control hunter in front of me. “I’ve told you not to fuck with me in front of my friends,” he continu
Blaze Within 2
Green eyes flashed before me as, with a gasp, I opened my eyes. I looked side to side, frantically trying to figure out where the hell I was and what was going on. Sterile cleaners burned my nose, along with whatever was stuck up into it. I quickly grabbed at it, feeling tubing running into my nose and behind my ears. I looked around the drab, beige hospital room. An empty chair sat in the corner. No one was here to see me, no one concerned if I was dead or alive. It was a depressing realization that sunk down upon me as a nurse walked into the room. “Glad to see you awake, honey. How are you feeling?” I stared at her as I took a moment to process her words, my brain apparently still lost within the fog of the fire. She was an older woman with graying hair tied up into a bun. “Tired,” I finally responded. “Where am I?” “The hospital,” she replied as though I should know as she logged onto a nearby computer and began typing. “I’ll just need your name and I’ll get some vitals from yo
Blaze Within 3
I walked into the apartment and glanced around silently. I didn’t hear any noise inside so I gently closed the door behind me and locked it. I glanced around at the open floor plan apartment. To the right was a futon in front of a TV hanging on the wall. Beyond that were vertical blinds with a sliding glass door behind it leading out to the small, concrete patio. To the left was a small dining room with a circular table with two chairs. Behind that was a cozy, white and wood kitchen. I walked over to the table as my eyes studied the vase of red roses upon it. My fingers traced over the flowers before picking up the piece of paper on the table. It was a handwritten note in Ace messy handwriting. Stella- I’m sorry I blatantly failed you again. I have more remorse than I could ever write you about, baby. I know I hurt you, and the fact you were almost seriously injured killed me inside. I’m begging for your forgiveness. I screwed up, and I want to fix this. I have to work until six, b
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