His Eternal Flame

by Valentine, Layla

  That was an unexpected direction for her to take. My smile faded and I leaned in to study her face.

  “There’s something deeper going on, isn’t there? Something that happened to you.”

  She nodded and a glimmer of tears welled in her eyes.

  “You don’t have to say anything to me, okay? You know that, right?”

  “Yeah, I know that. But…I kind of want you to know.”

  I took both of her hands and squeezed them.

  “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Thank you.”

  She took a deep breath to compose herself. Then, she began.

  Chapter 11

  Samantha

  After exchanging such personal stories, I felt like I could trust Dustin—I knew I definitely wanted to. So, I decided to let him in on the biggest secret in my life. Not that I’d meant to keep it a secret, but it wasn’t something I easily shared.

  “Listen, this thing I want to tell you. It’s something that I think might change how you see me, or at least, maybe understand some of my hesitation.”

  “It won’t change how I feel about you,” he replied immediately.

  “It’s something that would’ve come up if we’d kept seeing each other before.”

  He squeezed my hands a bit tighter.

  “Something I wish had happened, back then. But we’re here, now. And maybe that means something. Which is why you can tell me anything, Samantha, because I’m not planning to leave you again.”

  His speech bolstered me, and I took a deep breath before beginning.

  “Okay. Here it is. There was one thing that made me nervous when we met—that still makes me nervous now.” I bit my lip before continuing. “It’s…your job.”

  His eyebrows raised in surprise. “Firefighting?”

  “Yeah. It’s just…”

  I swallowed the sudden lump in my throat, surprised at how easily tears sprang into my eyes, even all these years later.

  “When I was fifteen, my parents…”

  I trailed off again, unable to continue. Dustin reached out and took my hand, squeezing it gently.

  “You told me your parents were gone.”

  “Yeah. You see, they died because one night, when I was fifteen, our house caught on fire,” I finished simply.

  His expression widened into shock.

  “A fire…killed your parents?” he breathed, completely taken off guard.

  But, despite his surprise, he didn’t make a single move away from me. That one detail allowed me to continue my story.

  I tilted my head to look into his face, but I wasn’t seeing Dustin. I was looking back, visualizing my past. The memories that clung so tightly, even so many years later.

  “I had gotten up to go to the bathroom, and that’s when it happened. I don’t know how it started or why it moved so fast—something to do with old wiring, I think. I never wanted to know. But I do remember there was smoke…so much smoke. I cried out, pounding at the door, but I couldn’t get out—the doorknob was too hot. I hid in the bathtub, and that’s how I survived. I was rescued, but my parents never even had a chance.”

  Tears dripped down my face.

  “The paramedics told me they found them still in bed, sleeping with their arms around each other.”

  Dustin slid out of the booth and came to sit next to me. He draped his arm carefully around my shoulders and leaned his head against mine. I hadn’t told the story in years, so I wasn’t that surprised by the tears that slid down my face.

  “Samantha, I had no idea. I am so sorry.”

  I shrugged feebly.

  “It’s not something I bring up, really. But with you, and the constant talk of what you do…I have a deep, paralyzing fear of fire, and it’s hard for me knowing what you do and that you live to face it every day. I mean, I wouldn’t ever want you to quit your passion, but I don’t know how I would handle it every time you went out just to do your job.”

  I realized he was gently rubbing his thumb across my shoulder.

  “I’m sorry,” I apologized. “That was a lot.”

  He lifted my chin in his hand so I could look him in the eye.

  “Don’t apologize. Not for how you feel, not after a loss like you had. You earned your grief. But this fear you’re carrying around…it’s crippling you. Now I get why you chose a safe, boring job. But you’re at a point now that this fear will only lead to more frustration with your career, because it’s keeping you from taking any risks. But the thing is, living life fully means there will be risks.”

  I stared into his dark eyes, my heart swelling. He really understood.

  “So, what do I do? I don’t know how to change,” I admitted in a small voice.

  He placed his hand gently on my cheek.

  “I’ll help you. Let me be the one to show you how to break free of this self-constructed box you’ve wrapped around yourself.”

  “Even though I’m in Philly?” I asked, trying to hide how much his words affected me.

  “See? You’re already trying to make everything fit neatly into this perfect order, but haven’t you realized yet? Life is messy. I don’t know what the answer is to the distance between where we live, but I do know I want to try.”

  We stared at each for a long moment before I answered.

  “I’d like that.”

  He leaned forward, and I waited in anticipation of his kiss.

  Chapter 12

  Dustin

  I wanted everything to be right this time, so I wasn’t going to rush. As much as I wanted to kiss her, I held back. Which is why, instead of suggesting we head back to my place, I pushed back my arousal and glanced at my watch.

  “It’s gotten pretty late,” I told her. “You’re probably exhausted, especially with the time change.”

  She shrugged.

  “I guess so. I mean, I am, but I’m not. That probably doesn’t make sense,” she chuckled lightly.

  “No, I get it. Time flies when you’re having fun and all, but tomorrow morning, it’s gonna hit you.”

  She laid her free hand on my arm.

  “When it’s worth it, sometimes sleep seems like a waste of time.”

  Samantha looked up at me, her eyes shining, and I fought every instinct in me to kiss her.

  Not yet.

  “Yeah. I totally agree.”

  The moment stretched out as my awareness of her nearness heightened until I felt every rise and fall of her chest as if I was the one breathing. Heat swept through my body before settling between my legs.

  Another moment, and I’d push her back against the table.

  “Anyway, allow me to take you back to the hotel.”

  She wrinkled her nose.

  “Maybe Alistair is asleep. He certainly drank enough.”

  “Well, if he tries anything, you know you can call me, right?”

  She cocked her head. “Do I even have your number?”

  “Good point.”

  She grabbed her phone and handed it to me.

  “Is this one of the fancy new ones from your work?”

  “Ha! No, it’s last year’s model. Don’t know if I’ll be able to afford one of the new ones, whenever they come out.”

  “Really? You get it all developed and they don’t give you one to try out?”

  I handed her phone back and she shrugged.

  “Meh. They might. I’m not holding my breath, though. Lots of higher-ups than me who’d get one first.”

  “A discount at least?”

  She laughed and typed on her phone. Moments later, mine buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and looked at the screen.

  This is Samantha Blissett.

  I tapped out a quick reply.

  Dustin Waller, at your service.

  I hit send and a moment later, her phone buzzed. She giggled as she read it.

  “Okay, okay. Enough of that. Let’s get out of here,” I said.

  I waved at the waiter, and he brought our bill.
r />   “I can pay—” she started to offer.

  “Uh, no. I invited you out on this date.”

  “A date, huh?”

  “Isn’t it?”

  I handed the waiter some cash.

  “Keep the change,” I told him.

  “Thank you, sir. Have a great night.”

  With that, I slid out of the booth and offered my hand to Samantha. She took it and I pulled her up. Keeping a firm grip, I led her back to the front of the diner, where Ray watched us with a rather satisfied expression on his face.

  “Everything was good?” he asked, looking between Samantha and me.

  “Yes. It sure was,” I answered.

  Samantha smiled at Ray, a hint of shyness in her gaze, but continued holding my hand tightly.

  “That’s good to hear. You two enjoy the rest of your night, then.”

  “Thank you, Ray.”

  “Thank you. It was so nice to meet you,” Samantha added.

  Ray took her free hand and shook it profusely.

  “I do hope you’ll come back.”

  “Me, too,” she agreed with a glance up at me.

  With that, we were out of the restaurant and headed to my car. It was a beautiful, balmy Californian night, as different as can be from the weather this time of year in Philly. From pretty much any night in Philly.

  “I love the weather here,” I commented.

  “For someone who loves the sun like you, this place is perfect.”

  “Oh, come on. Surely you don’t like gray weather all the time.”

  “No, definitely not,” she agreed. “But I don’t have as many chances to go outdoors as you do.”

  I laughed. “I think I just make time.”

  She nodded. “I think I have to start doing that, too.”

  We reached my car and I let her in before hopping to the driver’s side and sliding into my seat to start the car.

  “This has been really fun, Samantha.”

  “For me, too.”

  “Thank you for giving me this second chance.”

  “Thank you for stopping the elevator, I guess,” she laughed.

  “Was that a question?”

  “Might’ve been,” she quipped. “But seriously, I had no idea I would ever see you again. I didn’t quite know what to expect.”

  “Hopefully, I didn’t disappoint,” I teased as I merged onto the road back to her hotel.

  “So…what happens next?”

  “Next? You go get some sleep, young lady.”

  “Ha, thanks. I meant…next, for us. It’s not like we live close to each other.”

  “I know.”

  I reached across and took her hand in mine, right where it belonged.

  “And it’s something we’ll have to figure out. But this time, I’m not disappearing from your life. For now, let’s just enjoy this weekend. I really want to get to know you better. It’s weird, because I feel like I should know you much better by now.”

  “I think we do, in a way. At least, we know a lot more about each other than we did five years ago.”

  “That’s a pretty good start then, isn’t it?”

  She looked at me and smiled. “I think so.”

  I decided then that I would kiss her after all. Mostly, because I really wanted to, but also, I sensed she was still holding back a little, and I needed her to truly understand how much I wanted her to be a part of my life.

  Silence fell, but it was charged and full of meaning. I only hoped she felt the same message I did: we were meant to be together.

  Chapter 13

  Samantha

  When we were in the diner, I thought he might kiss me, but he only pressed his lips against my forehead before untangling his arm.

  We left fairly quickly and spoke some in the car. But when he grabbed my hand, I lost my train of thought. It had been so long since anyone had held my hand in such a way. It was strong, yet tender. I felt the respect he had for me in the strength of his grip. It was overwhelming.

  In fact, our entire night together had been overwhelming, and my thoughts were swirling. Fortunately, neither one of us was speaking, but it was comfortable. We’d both opened up a lot and everything felt raw—at least for me. I definitely needed some time to think.

  Dustin was really trying to show me this new side of him. More mature and grounded than what I remembered, and somehow even more attractive.

  His unexpected insight into my life had really shaken me, but in a positive way. More than that, his words had dug deep inside my soul, and I realized I wanted to be happy more than comfortable.

  And that future he spoke of, one in which he pulled me out of my comfort zone and into some incredible relationship with him…it was more than tempting. Sure, I still had doubts, but for the moment, I was deeply impressed with how the evening had gone. Or, at least, the parts with Dustin.

  Which reminded me, I still had Alistair to deal with when I got back. More than anything, I did not want to go back to our shared hotel room and see my ex. If he was still inebriated, he might make another pass at me, and I was pretty sure I couldn’t handle it.

  And that’s when I knew: I wouldn’t handle it, because there was something that was worth so much more.

  We pulled up to the hotel and Dustin put the car in park. We turned to face each other.

  “So, I’d really like to take you out again tomorrow, if you’re free. Actually, I’d like to see you as much as possible before you leave. I mean, if you want to. I think you want to.”

  That slight hesitation at the end decided for me.

  “I want to…but I don’t want to wait.”

  He opened his mouth to respond, but I cut him off.

  “Turn the car around. We’re going back to your place.”

  His shock turned into a wide grin. “Your wish is my command.”

  I smirked at the cheesy line, and he waggled his eyebrows at me. We laughed simultaneously before he put the car back in drive.

  I should’ve been exhausted. I’d lost count of how many hours I’d been awake. But now, I felt exhilarated. My body was wide awake, and I knew, without any doubts, that I’d made the right decision. Worries about work and Alistair faded and left my mind.

  All that was left was Dustin and me.

  Chapter 14

  Dustin

  Samantha had more than one surprise in store for me. When she told me she wanted to go back to my place, it took everything in me not to grab her and start kissing her.

  “Turn the car around. We’re going back to your place.”

  Carnal need roared through me. Samantha certainly wasn’t letting her shyness get the better of her tonight.

  “Your wish is my command,” I told her.

  Without waiting for a response, I threw the gear back into drive, revved the engine, and took off. My body tightened in anticipation of the rest of the night. Fortunately, she had questions, and they were enough to distract me.

  “How far away do you live?”

  “Actually, it’s not too bad from here. About twenty minutes. That’s close, for LA. At this time of night, we’ll probably make it back in fifteen.”

  “Good,” she responded firmly.

  I definitely liked this assertive side to her.

  “I gotta tell you, I wasn’t expecting any guests, so please forgive the mess.”

  She slanted a look at me that I felt more than saw.

  “Somehow, I don’t think you’re home enough for it to be a real disaster.”

  She had me there. Still, when I’d left home that morning, I’d had no idea that I’d be coming back with a plus-one.

  “True, but maybe with the right motivation, it could be.”

  At that, she dissolved into giggles. They died away pretty quickly, however, with her next statement.

  “I’m sure you’ve got some ideas on that.”

  I grinned. “I’m sure I do.”

  “Do you live in a house or an apartment?” she continued.

  “I
’ve got my own condo, in fact. Figured I wouldn’t have much time to work around the yard, but I didn’t want to keep paying rent.”

  “I guess that makes sense.”

  “What about you? You moved, right?”

  “How did you know?”

  I glanced over to see her watching me.

  “I told you. I looked for you.”

  “Oh. Um, well, about a year after that night, I changed companies and my pay grade increased. I moved into an apartment twice as big, though I’m not sure why.”

  “Yes, you are,” I teased.

  “Okay, I did it because it was expected, I think. I had a new position, so I should have a new place and a nice car. So that’s what I did.”

  “But you never really loved any of it,” I guessed.

  She laughed. “I liked it, at least. It was—”

  “Comfortable,” we said together.

  “Yes, that. Only it’s now, looking back, that I can see that that doesn’t really mean content.”

  I reached over and took her hand. She immediately entwined her fingers in mine and a deep sense of rightness swept through me. This was what I’d been missing the last five years. A true companion at my side.

  And in my bed.

  “So, tell me, what do you want to do next?” she asked.

  Her voice was heavy with suggestion, but I wanted to go slower this time. I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her company—out of bed—because I valued her mind and my reactions to everything about her in addition to her body.

  Our conversation had been exhilarating tonight, alternating between playful, flirty, serious, and intense. I hadn’t enjoyed myself so thoroughly since, well, the last night I’d spent with her.

  “I’ve got some decent wine in.”

  “Sounds great,” she said calmly, but I heard the suppressed interest in her voice.

  We pulled up a few minutes later to my home—a sleek, modern place that I’d fallen in love with the first time I’d laid eyes on it. I parked and ran around to open her car door.