Free Aflame (Apotheosis) by Krissy Daniels

The physical pain was bad, but the emotional blow was downright devastating. He couldn’t fathom the amount of strength required to carry that much baggage around for so long.
    “Grayce, baby.” His voice trembled. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for scaring you. You have to stop. Look, look what you’re doing.” He gestured to the burning couch. Hair whipped around his face. The red energy consumed the entire room. He rose from the floor and locked gazes with her.
    “Look at me. You can’t hurt me. I won’t hurt you.” With caution, he stepped forward. She didn’t back away. Good. Her eyes reflected unspeakable pain. “I won’t hurt you,” he murmured softly. “I will never hurt you. I can’t.” Slow and gentle, Zander grasped her hands.
    Her chest heaved with heavy jagged breaths. “I’m hot. Oh shit. It’s so hot in here.” A layer of moisture coated her body. It bubbled and danced across her heated skin.
    “Keep looking at me,” he whispered warily. “Breathe. That’s it. Breathe, baby.” Her breasts rose and fell as she slowly calmed. He inched his arms around her, never breaking eye contact. Grayce stared up at him, utterly lost.
    “What have I done? Help me.” Pleading eyes begged him. “What’s happening?” His tears still fell but he wiped hers away with his fingers. The temperature of the room dropped almost immediately.
    “That’s a potent temper you have,” he breathed against her ear. His lips brushed her cheek. “We’ll have to work on getting that under control.” Drawing a deep breath, he dropped his arms. “Nikolas,” he shouted over the panel. “You got an extra shirt back there?”
    Grayce looked down at her naked body, then snapped back to Zander. She swayed, her eyes rolled into her skull and he caught her, just before she hit the floor.
    “Not again.”
    * * * *
    Grayce woke in a sweat, heart racing, legs tangled in the sheets. Zander burst through the door practically freeing the hinges from the jam. “What is it? What happened?” Two strides and he’d settled her in his lap, twisted bedding and all.
    Her first urge was to curl into a ball and protect herself, but he cupped her chin with a strong hand and lifted her face. There they were again, those eyes. It really wasn’t fair, the power his gaze held. She wondered what would’ve happened if she’d made eye contact with him weeks ago when he first made his magnificent appearance at the gym.
    “It was only a bad dream.” She tried to sound stoic, knowing he wouldn’t buy it. “Nothing to worry about.”
    “You were screaming. I could hear you down the hall.” His nimble fingers worked their way through her tangled hair. Head pressed to his chest, his heart beat like the sweetest lullaby in her ear. She tried, but couldn’t hold back an exhausted yawn.
    “You need to sleep.” His body shifted gently and he laid her across the bed. A pang of fear stabbed her chest. No. No sleeping. No dreaming.
    “Please don’t leave.” Surprised by her own words, a blush warmed her cheeks. “Please, stay here with me. Don’t go.”  
    Zander’s face lit up. “I would like nothing more than to stay with you.” His eyes sparkled. “Let me get the chair.” He pointed to the overstuffed cream lounger occupying the far corner of the room.
    No. Too far away. She scooted over and gestured for him to sit on the bed. “Please, I don’t want to be alone,” she whispered.
    Looking extremely pleased, he straightened the sheet and comforter and pulled them up to her chin. The mattress slumped when he lay down next to her on top of the blankets. Acting the noble gentleman, he stayed close to the edge. A feat not easily accomplished with a physique that spanned half the space. Desperate to be nearer, Grayce wiggled herself under the covers until she could feel his warmth. His breath caught and there was the slightest pause before he enveloped her in a hug and pulled her closer.
    Talk about epic progress. She couldn’t