All Chapters of Blaze Within: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Green eyes flashed before me as, with a gasp, I opened my eyes. I looked side to side, frantically trying to figure out where the hell I was and what was going on. Sterile cleaners burned my nose, along with whatever was stuck up into it. I quickly grabbed at it, feeling tubing running into my nose and behind my ears. I looked around the drab, beige hospital room. An empty chair sat in the corner. No one was here to see me, no one concerned if I was dead or alive. It was a depressing realization that sunk down upon me as a nurse walked into the room. “Glad to see you awake, honey. How are you feeling?” I stared at her as I took a moment to process her words, my brain apparently still lost within the fog of the fire. She was an older woman with graying hair tied up into a bun. “Tired,” I finally responded. “Where am I?” “The hospital,” she replied as though I should know as she logged onto a nearby computer and began typing. “I’ll just need your name and I’ll get some vitals from yo

I applied my make-up heavy, as I always did when working at Blue Hades. It wasn’t my dream job. It’s not like I grew up thinking I hope one day I work in a brothel. No, this job was one of necessity. That’s all it was, a job. It didn’t define me, or make me any worse than anyone else on this earth. I stared into my brown eyes in the mirror as I applied mascara like a pro. I curled my long, brown hair and sprayed it into place before running my fingers through the curls to give it that sexy, messy look. I never wore it this way except for when I was working at Blue Hades. I blew out a breath as I examined myself in the mirror. I tugged down on my tiny mini skirt and adjusted my slinky red top. The guys always loved red. I put a swipe of bright, red lipstick across my lips. I ran my fingers through my hair once more, trying to get as much volume as I could. I strutted down to the main living space of the house where myself and the three other women working this Friday night gathered.

I slowly sauntered toward the firehouse, internally debating if this was a brilliant idea or a completely stupid one. I placed Alaric’s forgotten hat atop my head as I approached the firehouse and hoped he was actually here. As I got closer, I could see him standing outside the firehouse speaking with a couple other men. One of the men had been with him at the restaurant and slapped his arm and pointed toward me. Alaric turned around, a broad smile spreading across his face as his eyes looked me up and down. “That hat’s never looked so good,” he hollered at me in his delicious accent. “Like it?” I asked as I tipped the brim slightly. “It’s new.” He said his goodbyes to the men he had been talking to and walked over to me. He slid his hands across my stomach and onto my hips as he lowered his lips to my ear. “I’d like to see you in just that hat.” His warm breath tickled my ear as my insides tingled at his words, my skin aflame at his touch. A fire ignited deep within me, my entir

I took the bus across town to my friend, Catherine’s, apartment. I knocked at her door and she quickly opened it, a smile spreading across her face when she saw me. “Stella!” she squealed as she wrapped me into a tight hug. “Honey, it has been too long” she drew out in her southern accent. “Get in here girl!” She moved her petite frame to the side as she held the door open for me. I stepped into the apartment and out of the hot Florida heat. The cool air conditioning felt heavenly. She closed the door, trapping the heat out of her large apartment as she skipped happily next to me and led me over to the oversized, brown couch with bright white pillows. Her living room was at least twice the size of mine, and beautifully decorated. I never understood why she didn’t go into interior design with the natural talent she had. “So” she drew out as she sat down next to me. Her blonde hair fell in large waves around her tiny face. She looked like a real-life Tinkerbell and had the voice to m

Ace surprised me when I came home and cooked me a delicious Italian pasta dish with homemade breadsticks. We relaxed together on the futon and eventually made-out before moving to the bedroom. I laid beside him in his arms after making love and stared up at the ceiling. For the first time in forever, I felt guilty after having sex. I should have felt guilty for my romp with Alaric. I should feel remorse or shame for taking his money in exchange. Instead, I felt guilty for being with Ace; as if I was somehow cheating on Alaric by having sex with my own boyfriend. It was ridiculous and insane and made no sense at all; but it felt like it should be Alaric’s arms I should be laying in. It should be his bed and his home. His broad smile kept flashing through my mind. The taste of his lips taunted me, growing a constant need inside me for him. The feel of his body on body on mine, of his hands exploring every single inch of me, set my body aflame with desire. I shook my head as I rolle