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Joe doesn’t listen. He pulls her across the floor leading towards the fireplace. I can’t reach her; I can’t reach any of them. Memories of Laia and Grams fill my head, only they’re no longer the ones dying in the fire. It’s going to be Blake, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

“NO!” I scream as Joe drenches Blake in whiskey. I thrash harder against the restraints, tipping the chair over. The air gets knocked from my lungs. Joe glances over at me, pulling a cigarette from his pocket.

“Should’ve taken the fucking deal!” Joe barks, laughing as he flicks his ashes towards Blake. I shake my head, tears falling down my cheek as he flicks the cigarette down. Blakes body catches on fire, only she doesn’t scream.

She neverscreams.

My eyes fly open as someone rips my mask off. My hands grip their wrist, twisting before I realize it’s Blake. Seeing her alive, standing in front of me with my own two eyes sends relief through my body.

Glancing over, I find Jace watching me carefully, as if I would snap. He’s seen me after my nightmares, and I’m usually ready to murder anyone in sight.

But one look at Blake and I just want to wrap my arms around her and beg her to never leave.

Shaking my head, I shove Blake away, getting up from the seat on the jet. My body aches, and I feel every scar on my body as if I’m on fire again.

“Ryker,” Jace calls out. Ignoring him, I slide the door of the back room closed. Of course, Dimitri would have a fucking room on this stupid jet. Though I know that’s not why I’m upset. I might not be as rich as that fucker, but I could never work again in my life and be fine.

Blake is my problem.

I love her so much that I’m not sure I can let her go.

I drank two glasses of whiskey before the plane even took off. Minutes later, I passed out and a fucking nightmare had to weasel its way in.

The door slides open and Blake steps through before closing it behind her back.

“Leave, Blake, I don’t really want company,” I lie. I don’t want her to leave and if it’s her company, I crave it.

She shakes her head, stepping forward. I hold my breath as she presses her palm against my cheek. Holding my eye, she swings her leg over, straddling me. Gently tracing my lips with her finger, a tremor of arousal runs through me. My inner muscles clench, trying to think of anything but my cock getting hard. But with Blake sitting on me wearing nothing but a thin pair of leggings and a shirt that’s tighter than normal, I can barely control myself.

“Blake,” I say, my voice raspy and filled with need.

The pure desire I have inside for this girl, the all-consuming obsession that continues to grow. It’s toxic, but so fucking good. I don’t just want hersexually. It might have started out that way, but now, I want to hold her demons in my hands. I want to crush those that hurt her.

The fight inside to let her go, to save her the trouble of anyone else from our past coming to hurt her becomes smaller and smaller every time she’s near me.

“It was you this time,” I mumble against her finger.

Blake cocks her head to the side, waiting for me to explain further.

I swallow hard. “The fire that took Laia and Grams. They weren’t there this time; it was you instead. And I couldn’t save you. I was tied down again. I…” Trailing off, I bite my tongue, hating the emotions that get trapped in my throat. “Luna almost killed you and I couldn’t do anything about it. It was like I was watching them die all over again, only this time it was you I was watching,” my voice cracks.

“I can’t lose you.” My forehead drops to her chest, my arms wrapping around her waist. I’m so tired of fighting against the emotions that tell me she’s better off, and that Blake is the only one for me.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says, her voice so rough and raspy, I barely catch it.

My head snaps up, not believing the words and sure as shit not believing they came from her.

“Pet…”

She smiles, her fingers brushing the side of my hair before gripping the back of my head. “Please tell me I didn’t just imagine you speaking. Please tell me it’s real.”

She doesn’t say anything, the disappointment creeping in. Until she leans forward, pressing her lips against mine. “I’m here, Ryker. I’m alive.”

I hear her loud and clear this time. The smile stretching across my lips can’t get any wider before I slam my lips against hers. Needing to feel her under me, around me, in my soul. Her mouth opens as my tongue demands entry. Blake’s fingers pull hard on my hair, thrusting her tits against my chest, her hips slowly making circles against my cock.

Standing up, I twist Blake around, her back hitting the bed. The last thing I want to do is to stop kissing her, but I want her naked. And I can’t think further than that.

“Fuck,” I breath out, standing back. Her hands drop above her head, lying there. “I want to see you,” I growl out. Grabbing the top of her leggings I rip them down her body, causing her to hiss when the fabric hits her thigh. Dropping to my knees, Blake stares at me as I carefully tear the tape off the bandage. She bites down on her lip, her legs trembling as I press a single kiss below the wound.