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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
Blaze Within 59
We stopped at a local deli on the way home and picked up sandwiches and chips. Once home, Alaric carried the bags into the kitchen and set them on the table. I followed behind him and went to the refrigerator to get some drinks. He came up behind me, his hands snaking around my waist as his lips gently kissed my neck. I tilted my head to the side so he had better access as I slowly closed the refrigerator. I relished in his touch and kisses and the fact I was here with him right now. He had been such a brilliant light in my life, such a source of kindness and a reminder that there really was good in the world. And now he was mine. I was the one he kissed and held and slept beside. I was the one to make him smile, to make him cry out my name, and the one who held him after a hard day at his job. I turned slowly in his arms, his lips moving from my neck, to my cheek, to my lips. My body sprung to life with forceful desire. Butterflies still set flight within my stomach and my head got
Blaze Within 60
I woke up late the next morning since it was Saturday and I didn't have to work until the afternoon. I had off next weekend. It was Alaric's birthday and he had planned a skiing trip with his friends in Colorado. He had insisted I go with him. I hadn't wanted to, as I was trying to save my money for a car, but he had been relentless. He had ended up paying for my part of the trip, a fact I'm sure Brock would simply relish in if he found out. I showered and dressed and slowly wandered down the stairs. As I approached the bottom, I could hear Alaric and Brock talking. Curiously, I slowed my pace and stopped on the bottom step. "Are you still coming to Colorado? “Alaric asked in his British accent and my heart fluttered at his voice. How I had grown to love his slower speech and accented voice. I wanted to rush into his arms and tell him how horrible Brock had been but I held back. Maybe Brock hadn't said anything. "Yeah, of course mate," Brock replied. "I just came through early for a
Blaze Within 61
A heard a knock at the bedroom door and rolled my eyes. I turned toward it, leaning back against the railing. I expected to see Brock but instead Alaric stood in the doorway. My eyebrows crushed downward in confusion at why he was knocking on his own bedroom door. "Can I come in?" he asked. His voice was gentle and cautious. I held back my swirling emotions as I took in the sight of the handsome man I loved in front of me. My eyes slowly drifted to the large rose tattoo I always adored on his abdomen. My mind wandered to how often my fingers traced over it, but I quickly pushed the thought aside. "It's your room." "It's our room" he quickly corrected. His green eyes searched over me as though unsure of what to do as he stood in place. "I thought you might like space." I looked off toward the side, the sun above blazing down upon me in the endless blue sky. Some birds chirped in the distance and a noisy truck rumbled by. "I don't want space" I drew out slowly, trying to keep my ange
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