Free Set the Sky on Fire (Fire Trilogy Book 1) by L K Walker

the trail, hoping to reach the carpark before either of them caught up with her.
    She didn't know how long she had been running; maybe fifteen minutes, maybe less. She vaguely recognised where she was, and it wasn't near the end of the track. Her lungs burned, screaming at her to stop. She kept going, begging to see her car appear through the trees.

ten
    A blur of flesh and green registered on her retinas. It charged past, narrowly missing her. Once her vision cleared, she saw a crouched man in front of her, facing away, his knees bent to take the impact of his sudden deceleration. Ari put on the brakes too, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible. The broad shoulders of the man’s naked back bunched as he drew himself up before turning to face her. His khaki cargo shorts sat low on his hips. Her gaze slithered over his chest and up to his face.
    Two emerald green eyes stared back at her. His face was serene and his gaze penetrating.
    The feelings she had attempted to hide bubbled up inside her, trying to break free. They were electrifying, but she wouldn't let them escape, not now, not knowing what she might find.
    The first words he spoke to her reflected his concern, the soft notes dancing over the expanse between them. As gentle as silk, they caressed her ears.
    “Are you okay?” His face mirrored the concern in his voice.
    “Yes,” Ari replied between gasps. “I think so.” She wanted to stop sweating, stop panting like a dog. His breathing was even, and he looked spectacular. Ari gulped as he moved slowly towards her, his palms facing her as if a sign of surrender. The man with pale blue eyes was just as delicious, Ari had to remind herself, and he was dangerous.
    “I'm not here to hurt you.” She couldn’t place his accent, he pronounced the ‘you’ as more of a yee. It didn’t matter, she told herself, willing her feet to take a step away from him as she regained control of her thoughts.
    “I hate to tell you this, but using me as a bowling ball wasn't exactly painless.” Her body still ached.
    “I apologise for being rough with you. It was a necessity.”
    How was it that watching his lips form words could be so mesmerising? Ari had to make a decision. Could this man be trusted? Was he even a man? He had saved her, hadn't he? Her confusion scrambled any semblance of rational thought she had left.
    What choice do I have?
    “Thank you—I think.” She shrugged the compliment to him, not wanting to meet his eye, instead, settling her gaze on his chest. A stray thought popped into her head. She wondered what it would be like to touch him, to drag her hand down and onto those abs. She bit at her lower lip. Heat prickled her face at her outlandish imagination.
    “Who are you?” she asked, snapping out of it.
    He took another step towards her, arms extended.
    Ari mirrored the move, stepping backwards, knowing that, if he chose to grab her, he could cross the gap before she could react.
    “Let me help you.” He didn't try to get any closer. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    “Again,” Ari chipped in.
    “Again,” he agreed. “We need to get you out of here.”
    “No argument here.”
    Ari gulped down her fear. She closed her eyes for a moment and hoped she hadn’t made a fatal decision.
    “Who or what are you?” her voice wavered. “What was that thing that tried to grab me?” Then, with awe, she added, “how did you fly?”
    He cut her off before the list of questions grew longer.
    “Come on, I'll walk you back to your car.”
    He turned towards the direction of the car park and walked away, slowly, waiting until Ari was beside him before lengthening his stride. Ari, hesitantly, fell into step. Her head faced forward, but her peripheral vision was on high alert for any strange movements.
    “Well, how about I start with the basics. My name is Nathaniel but my friends usually call me Nate. “I’m pleased to meet you.” He offered Ari a hand to shake.
    “I'm Arianna,