AllFreeNovel
Share Us
9
Blaze
Everything comes to a head on an unusually cold day in December. I have a hellish day at work. I lose two straight cases when they go to court, meaning all my work to prepare for them was for nothing, and then I get absolutely reamed out by the Captain, for a whole variety of things, including both the court losses, and giving up on the prostitution ring. My favorite lunch place gets my order wrong, and then when I go to leave for the day, my tire is flat. By the time I finally get home, feeling exhausted and fighting a burgeoning headache, all I want is Ari. It's not even that I want to have sex, either. I want to see Ari's smile up close, chocolate dimples sinking, beautiful, thick lips spreading into a glorious sight. I want to lay with my head in Ari's lap and listen to her tell me that tomorrow will be a better day. I want all of her.
I take a single second to marvel at how well and truly fucked I am. Then, I pick up the phone and hit dial. Ari answers after only a single ring.
"Hello?" her sweet voice purrs on the line.
Even the sound of her voice is comforting. It washes over me, bathing me in warmth. I close my eyes and take several breaths, letting myself finally relax.
"Blaze? Are you there?" Ari asks.
“Yes.” I glance over at the time. It's so early in the evening. It doesn't seem like an appropriate time to ask her to meet me. Still, I swallow up my pride and say, "I need to see you." It comes out in a rush. "I'm sure you're busy, but I need to see you."
I start to tell her I will pay her for any time lost with her clients, but she answers,"I'll be there soon. I just need to wrap up at work."
That makes my stomach lurch—the constant reminder of Ari's work. If Ari is leaving a client early for me though, then I need to be happy about that. That’s the best I’m going to get with a woman in her profession. I knew what I signed up for before I fell for her. But still, it doesn’t stop the pangs of jealousy from biting at my manhood.
Less than thirty minutes later, there's a knock on the door. Ari is on the other side, hands tucked into the heavy shell of her jacket.
"Fuck Ari," I breathe out, blinking at the sight. There's snow dusting Ari's brown curls. She looks ethereal, otherworldly, with her honey brown skin contrasted against her glowing hazel eyes. "I can't believe you came this fast.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” she asks. “You said you needed to see me.”
I close the short distance between us, curling both hands around the back of Ari's neck and letting both thumbs brush Ari's jaw. Then, I kiss her until I can barely breathe anymore, feeling all of the tension melt out of my body.
This isn’t about shielding Ari from the law anymore. I’ll do horrible things for her—would break even more laws for her, besides the one she’s already made her peace with. It would scare me a little if I didn't see the same magnitude of feelings reflected in Ari's eyes when she steps away, catching her breath.
“I missed you,” I tell her.
Ari reaches up, laying a hand over one of mine resting on my neck."My name is Yandy," she says quietly. "Yandy Martin."
"Yandy?" I repeat, liking the way it rolls off his tongue.
“Is Ari a work name or something?” I ask her. I had figured she would use a different name for her clients, and I feel honored that she told me the name of the real person beyond her profession.
“Yes. I use it for work,” she admits.
I kiss Yandy again, heartfelt, fully able to appreciate the magnitude of the trust it shows for her to be so honest with me. I keep kissing Yandy, too, until I feel the sharp sting of a punch to the arm.
"Ow!" I complain, rubbing at the spot. "What was that for?"
"Since I’m being honest, I want you to be honest too. What's your name?" Yandy demands. “Blaze is a hot name, but what’s your real one?”
I grin. Right, I'd kind of forgotten Yandy didn't already know this. She probably thinks I gave her a fake name, too.
"It actually is Blaze," I say. "Blaze Wells. You’ve been calling me the right name all along."
Yandy snorts a bark of laughter, even though her eyebrows knit with something strange.
"You should pick a better pseud next time, Blaze."
"There won't be a next time," I tell her sincerely.
She takes the hidden message from what I’m saying. “I hope not. I don’t want there to be anyone other than you either,” she mutters.
“Stop working then. Stay with me,” I whisper near her ear as I bite down on her earlobe. “I will take care of you, now and forever. All that I have, I will share with you.” None of what I’m saying is planned, so I know it’s coming from a sincere place. I want this woman here with me, and I want her forever.
