Aflame. Krissy Daniels

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СКАЧАТЬ no warning, she was trapped, arms pinned to her sides, engulfed in his embrace. Surrounded by warm, hard male, Grayce couldn’t move, breathe or think. Without asking permission, he lowered his head and kissed her. No easing into it, just a full blown, toe curling, tongue swirling kiss.

      Much to her dismay, she let him continue.

      There was no pulling away, no revulsion, or escaping to her dark place. Instead, every ounce of her turned to soft mushy goo in his arms. And there it was again—the adrenaline jolt, liquid electricity that jetted through her veins, churned in her abdomen and warmed her from the inside out.

      Blood pumped from her most guarded organ, rushed to her neglected private parts and beat heavy in her ears. A trail of heat followed in the wake of his hands as they slid down her waist and cupped her ass. In one swift move, she was lifted, spun, then pinned to the door with her legs wrapped around his waist. It all happened so fast. He kissed with fervent need. She’d never been kissed like that. Never believed it possible. He took her with carnal hunger, like he was dying of thirst and she was his first drink.

      Unaccustomed to being ravished and uncertain of the proper etiquette in the situation, Grayce could do nothing but grab his shoulders and hold on for the ride. As his hips rolled against her with a subtle rock, a hard erection pressed into the sensitive tissue between her legs, triggering unbidden ripples of pleasure. Oh shit, he wanted sex.

      Reality smacked her like a two-by-four between the eyes, or the legs rather, and the electricity fizzled. No. She so wasn’t going there. This wasn’t one of her fucked up fantasies. She placed her hands on his chest and tried to push herself from his grip with no effect whatsoever.

      “Stop.” Grayce mumbled through the sweet tortured assault on her mouth. “No. No, I can’t do this, stop.” With a disapproving groan, he released her lips. Eyes closed, he pressed his forehead to hers.

      “I knew it,” he groaned between clenched teeth. Grayce was still pinned to the door. Every nerve ending in her body on fire with his erection shamelessly and unapologetically pressed against her now moist and throbbing special place.

      “What? Knew what?” Grayce gulped and gasped, trying desperately to catch her breath. What the hell? Her cursed body betrayed her again.

      “It’s you. You’re the one. I knew it.” He eased her down the length of his arousal to the floor. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t a very gentlemanly thing to do.” With palms against the door, he braced her between his arms and lowered his head to capture her gaze.

      “I’m lost here. Please, do explain. What did you know?” she asked in a whisper, thankful for being propped against the door so her jiggly legs didn’t collapse. He pushed away from the door, engulfed her trembling hands in his own and led her to the couch.

      * * * *

      “Sit down. Please.” After she obliged, he knelt on one knee at her feet. Even kneeling, he towered over her. Intimidating as hell, but damn she felt safe. One hundred percent safe and protected.

      “Do you believe in fate? Or destiny?”

      Grayce shook her head, not quite sure what to say, or where this conversation was headed. Still reeling from the kiss, she struggled to believe this powerful man who had held her with such tenderness, was here in her apartment. Holy fuck. A man was in her apartment. What was she thinking?

      “I do. I believe in destiny.” His penetrating gaze pierced her fragile soul. “I’ll cut right to the chase.” Tension laced his voice. “I don’t believe you’re a girl who likes to beat around the bush.”

      Damned straight about that one, she thought, and nodded again.

      With a deep inhale, he continued. “I’m different from most people. I’m sure you’ve noticed.” She attempted to speak and he raised a finger to her lips. “I believe humans, but especially people like us, have soul mates, one person we are meant to be with for eternity.”

      People like us? Grayce let free an exasperated giggle. It was too strange hearing words like “soul mates” coming from the man who knelt before her, so big and strong. His eyebrows furrowed. Oh shit. He was serious.

      “You are my soul mate, Grayce. I’ve been searching for so damned long now.” Shoulders slumped, he ran a hand through his scruffy locks. “I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrating it’s been.”

      Grayce’s hands trembled and her head spun. She was pissed. Pissed because of the undeniable attraction to this man and pissed for putting herself in this situation. And why did she want to believe him so badly? God, how could she be so stupid?

      Really? Soul mates? Yeah right. Shit like that never happened in real life. Perfect men didn’t appear out of the blue and kiss a woman like his very existence depended on it. There sure as hell wasn’t a world full of hearts, roses and chocolate truffles where lovers went to live in bliss. Soul mates? Sounded like a pathetic fucking romance movie. Was the word imbecile tattooed across her forehead?

      She fell for that load of crap once. Been paying for it ever since.

      The memory of Tyr’s seduction all those years ago snapped her back to the reality that was her life. “Is this a fucking joke?” She spit. “Did Tyr send you? Did that mother fucking psychopath send you? How the hell did he find me?” Panic bubbled its ascent from gut to brain, stifling her ability to breathe. “Did he think I’d fall for this load of shit?” She punched him hard in the chest. “Ow, dammit.” May as well have been a steel beam.

      “Grayce.” Grabbing her shoulders, he tried to calm her. Electricity passed between them again, angry and violent this time. “Listen to me. This isn’t a joke. I...I...” He shook his head, disbelief etched in his eyes.

      “Oh God, please don’t take me back to him. I’ll do anything. Please.” Full blown panic mode set in. “I have money. It’s not a lot, but you have to understand. I can’t go back.”

      “Listen, nobody sent me. I found you. We found each other. Let me explain, please.” His pathetic attempt at offering comfort only fueled her fire. He reached around to hold her but she squirmed from under his grip, slid to her knees and crawled across the floor. After she’d cleared the dining area, she pushed to her feet, rounded the corner to the kitchen and grabbed her chef’s knife from the counter.

      “Get the hell out of my house.” Did she sound insane? Without a doubt. Could she stop it? No. Emotion had taken over the driver’s seat and steered her straight toward Crazyville. “Get out. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill myself before I let him get near me.” Clumsily, she pointed the knife at him. “I will not go back to that life.” Head throbbing, she wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Anger held the tears at bay. “No. No! Tell that sick, psychotic piece of shit I’m not running anymore. He can come after me with everything he’s got, but I’m not running anymore.”

      Everything turned red again. A warm glow surrounded her, urged her to continue. “I won’t let him touch me ever again.” Conviction carried that statement through the small apartment. Bravery replaced fear, and damned if it didn’t feel amazing.

      Zander’s demeanor changed in an instant. One second he was pleading and bewildered, the next, he radiated stone cold fury. A burst of heat pulsed through the room. In a flash, they were nose to nose. The blade of the knife bent like putty in his fist and flew across the room. Cupping her cheeks, he growled.

      “Did he hurt you?” He drew jagged СКАЧАТЬ