Free Fire & Ice by Lisa Logue Page A

challenged.
    “Oh, you can’t. At least not right now.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I’m not done with my story yet,” I chuckled.
    She sad oddly on the bed and hugged herself; nerv ousness spilled off her skin . I tucked the journal under my arm and sat beside her.
    “Why are you so nervous?” I asked sincerely.
    She scowled, “Like you don’t already know.”
    “If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking.”
    “I’m always this way around you.”
    “Not all the t ime. Why are you nervous now?” s he looked anywhere but at my face as she struggled with her answer.
    “It’s been a few hours that we’ve been alone. I’m waiting for you to make a break for it and leave me here alone again. I can almost feel it creeping up on me,” she whispered.
    “I stole you away for the day both to give you a break and to try to salvage what pieces of our friendship still remain. I don’t have any reason to run away.”
    “Not yet. Something will happen. It always does,” she smiled sadly.
    I draped my arm over her shoulders and pulled her into me. Her anxiety immediately kicked up a notch, but she then relaxed a little. I pulled us up to the pillows and lay with her in my arms a while. Neither of us spoke, enjoying the silence.
    “I’d like you to finish that story now, if you don’t mind?” she said into my chest.
    “I’m not sure I remember where we left off,” I nuzzled her hair.
    “You regained your memories after coming back home,” her voice shook. Sparks began dancing between us and I pulled her tighter to me. Not this time .
    “Right. There’s not a whole lot of excitement thereafter. At least not until I met you,” I chuckled.
    “Excitement? I think torture is a better word for it,” she wound her hands in my shirt.
    “Is that what you think?”
    “Isn’t it what you think?” she stared up at me with those big brown eyes and I melted.
    When she looked at me that way, I was mesmerized. No amount of fear or will power could take away what I felt in that moment. It was raw, unshakable even, as molten flames surged through her gaze capturing me irrevocably. I welcomed the swell of heat as it radiated through my entire being, washing away the frozen hollowness that had consumed me for so long. My breath came faster as her magic took hold and, for a moment, I swore I felt my heart beat again.
    “No,” I swallowed hard. “I know what torture feels like. I’d take this any day.”
    “And what is this exactly?” s he breathed in a shudder .
    Words failed me. I didn’t know what it was. That’s not true, I knew exactly how I felt and how she made me feel. I knew I didn’t want to be without her and also how terrified I was to say it all out loud.
    Locking my eyes with hers, I hoped she would see the answer. The question mark was almost evident on her face as she failed to understand my vague confession. Just as she began to speak, I placed a finger to her lips.
    “No more talking. I think we both know that words never get us anywhere,” I smiled and so did she.
    Slowly, I bent and placed my lips on hers, allowing the flames to engulf us completely. No matter what happened, I wouldn’t be able to let her go. We couldn’t be together yet, but when the time was right I would make her mine in every way possible. All along I was seeking to fill the void; to feel like my old self. I never thought the answer would be her. She was the fire to make me come alive.
    And I’ll never stop loving her…

Lisa Logue has written everything from poetry and short stories to her debut novel Cursed Secrets . Originally from Long Island, NY, she now resides in Tennessee with her family including her two sons.

At the age of seven, Lisa began writing short stories depicting dramatic scenes of abusive relationships and murder/mysteries. After several calls home from the teacher, Lisa made it clear that while the stories seemed real, her imagination created the drama. But it didn't stop there. After the short stories