The Forbidden flame

ment I thought I was dreaming again but the way h

holding on for just a second longe

front of my eyes, his words clung to my memory

astered a fake smile on my f

es but I curled them into fis

d me for years to be able to protect myself and I

at voice in my head, whis

t voice control me, especial

e me as more than just a fr

e fear would go away, fake

mine, his eyebrows creased as he opened and shut

kay Ellie?

wondering if my Dad had

u up because the dorms weren't sa

ice soft and

f relief, dad hadn't told

and put on a bright smile a

shaky and his eyebrows im

throat and

that I was afraid he was gon

ould see right t

mfortably under

wly and grazed his

ned?"he asked in a

in my chest and my

" I lied, looking e

looked away but I could see his jaw tick,

d, as if debating internally whether t

he small of my back a

fine." he muttered under

't hear him and went in

and leave a note for Chloe

h my bags, Axel collected them

o Axel's place was awkward, scratch

ick you could cut thr

ressing my hands flat against my

m, clean and sharp, and it made my

her of us spoke. The only sound

glancing at me, his jaw tight,

reaching out to adjust the

d, but I didn

for an entirely

out the window inste

void the weig

ot empty. It was charged, every second pull

the long driveway, my palms

modern, all sharp lines and glass w

was a statement, towerin

ver the place, and the fact that it would be just me

e engine of the car,

eeled myself and got out of the

bags and walked to

him, my legs stiff as I

od there taking in the house until

lt out of place in

Axel, his scent, everythin

d nodded for me to follow. "Com

ery step deeper into his world. He stopped at a d

will be

ter than I expected, with a view of the

ing against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes o

ilence between us st

y aware of how close he was, how

a second to my lips, then

his throat, straight

Ellie. We'll talk

e was gone, leaving m