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Blaze Within 51
I went to work at Kiki's over the weekend, and to my horror Ace came in both days. He must have figured out I was working weekends, as the other waitresses commented that he hadn't been in all week. I refused to wait on his table, and besides his constant glare, I had no contact with him. I came home Sunday night to find a note from Alaric informing me he was covering another fireman's shift and would be gone overnight. It wasn't unusual for him to work overnight, but I always hated it. The condo was always too quiet and lonely. Tonight though was an exception. Brock was still visiting, and he seemed eager to unload his adventures with someone. After a long dinner of listening to his recent dart competition, I headed up to bed. --- I slowly opened my eyes, unsure why I was awoken. I rolled over, trying to go back to sleep when I heard the thumping. It sounded like something banging against the condo. I slowly sat up in bed, glancing around my dark bedroom when the doorbell chimed re
Blaze Within 52
I laid in bed that night rehashing all of my regrets with Alaric. Was it really too much to ask to be able to go back in time and have a redo? I would have kissed him on the stairs that fateful day when I confessed all my secrets to him and he declared his love for me. How did he feel about me now? Did he still feel the same way? I tossed and turned in bed, trying to find sleep but it eluded me. I finally wandered downstairs to get a midnight snack. I searched around the kitchen, ready to eat my feelings, when Brock came stumbling into the kitchen. I turned toward him as he fell into one of the kitchen chairs and laughed at his own clumsiness. It was clear by his lack of balance and laughter he had been drinking. He had come home just as I was headed to bed and Ally was leaving for the evening. I hadn't seen Alaric since Ally had ushered him upstairs. "Stephie!" Brock yelled as he threw his hands up in the air as if excited. "Steph," I corrected him in annoyance. "Steph, Stephie,
Blaze Within 53
I ended up catching the bus and going over to my friend Catherine's house. She wasn't home, but she had given me a key a long ago when I had been with Ace. She had wanted me to have a safe place to go whenever needed. I stayed at her house, internally brewing over Alaric until she came home and I unloaded the entire story upon her. She looked at me with a thoughtful expression as she wound her long blonde hair around her fingers. "You know, they have that saying distance makes the heart grow fonder." I blew out a breath as I leaned back into the couch in her living room. After my morning and afternoon of thinking, I had come to the same conclusion. I needed to move out. I needed to put some distance between Alaric and I. We were too close, too always there. "I kind of thought the same thing" I confessed. "Girl!" she squealed as she slapped my thigh. "You can stay here!" I cocked an eyebrow at her. "You and Fred are getting married next month. The last thing I want is to live with
Blaze Within 54
Alaric and I rode in the back of Frank and Alice's minivan to the screaming sound of Joni and Kimberly in their car seats. They were in the middle row, and we sat on opposite side of the bench seat behind them. I hadn't spoken to Alaric since I eavesdropping’s conversation with Ally. We arrived at the park as we unloaded from the car. Alaric stretched as though his muscles were cramped. My eyes involuntarily scanned over him, unable to be contained. He wore skinny jeans and a light blue button up shirt with very thin, blue lines going both vertical and horizontal. Atop his head was a black fedora. His brown, wavy hair fell in large volume from beneath the hat. His shirt was half unbuttoned and the sleeves rolled up, showing off his muscular and tattooed chest and forearms. He turned toward me and I quickly averted my gaze. In my jean shorts and t-shirt, I felt underdressed to him in his handsome glory. Why did my heart still have to flutter and my insides turn to mush at the sight of
Blaze Within 55
I didn't know what to say to Alaric after his confrontation. I replayed his words over and over again in my head. I knew they were truth. Every single word of them. I was a total hypocrite. I had stayed with Ace, while using the excuse of being a prostitute to be with Alaric. I had wrongly thought the entire time that Alaric had been using me, that I was nothing more than a sex toy to him. But I hadn't been. I had meant something to him, something much deeper than I had ever realized. As I watched him throughout the day with Ally, smiling and giving her his attention, I realized with heartbreaking realization I had been the one who had used him. He had shown me kindness and compassion. I was too fucked up to return it. Maybe I never deserved him, maybe I never would, but despite that he loved me. He loved me with my flaws and my past and my disgraceful occupation. He had loved me at my absolute lowest. He had never waived by my side, despite what the world or his friends or even his g
Blaze Within 56
Alaric didn't let go of my hand the rest of the evening and I had no complaints. My hand wrapped in his felt so right. We climbed into Frank and Alice's minivan and took our seat on the back bench. We sat quietly next to each other. Alaric turned my palm up and began tracing the lines as though it was the most fascinating maze he was determined to solve. As we sat in traffic, the girls soon began snoring, exhausted from the long day. Frank turned on a local radio station as he and Alice spoke up front. I was watching everyone in the van when Alaric's fingers grazed over my thigh. I turned toward him as he stared at me with hungry eyes. My heart pounded as my insides exploded in excitement. His fingertips put more pressure on my thigh as they skidded up and down. Alaric leaned down, pressing his lips to mine once more. As we kissed, his hand on my thigh slid up to my waist. His fingers pushed the hem of my shirt up as his hand slid beneath, rubbing over my stomach. I moaned into his
Blaze Within 57
Ace showed up once again during my shift, only this time he came toward the end. I clocked out and headed toward the door. In the corner of my eye, I saw Ace stand up. My pace increased as I hurried toward the door. Alaric walked in and was immediately greeted by Jessica. He looked deliciously handsome dressed in his skinny jeans, white undershirt, and cream-colored button up shirt left open. His brown, wavy hair fell out from beneath the deep brown fedora atop his head. He smiled politely at Jessica as I could see her rambling away to him, but as his green eyes caught sight of me, his face lit up. I returned his smile as I approached as butterflies erupted in my belly. I couldn't wait to be in his arms again, and in his bed. Jessica turned and headed toward the register. As she passed me, she whispered "this is so awkward." My eyebrows crushed down in confusion over what she was referring to. I turned to ask her what she meant, but my eyes told me the answer. Ace strolled behind m
Blaze Within 58
Life inched forward day by day. Life with Alaric was everything I had ever dreamt it would be. We meshed together perfectly. We made love everywhere and always seemed to be hungry for each other. We never went skinny dipping, despite his attempts to get me to go. The colder temperatures had moved in for winter and so I promised to indulge in his fantasy when it warmed again. I moved into his room. I fell asleep in his arms every night he was home, and woke up in his arms each morning. Life wasn’t perfect. We had our fights over trivial things. He would raise his voice to me, but he never lost his temper. He never called me nasty names, and he never raised a hand to me. The best part of fighting with him was the intense make-up sex afterwards. It made it all worth it. Alaric’s adrenaline search never diminished. He was still jumping out of airplanes, bungee jumping, cliff diving, and any other crazy stunt he could find. I went on a couple trips with him and his friends. Sky diving was
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