Page 13 of Smoke and Lure

Hell, the man could set water to boil.Her skin didn’t stand a chance.

Slap.Slap.Avalore’s sore feet pounded on the floor as she clutched the sheet to her body and used all her might to make it to the door.The bedroom door was open, and she kept her sights fixed on it, knowing if she could reach it and get down the stairs, then there was a chance she could make it out the front and race to freedom.

Whatever was out there in the woods was no doubt less scary than what was in this house with her now.

“Avalore, stop before you hurt yourself!”

Hell, no!

With all of her running, she hadn’t even made it halfway before a thick, sinewy arm wrapped around her waist.

She fought against the hold.Avalore scratched and kicked and attempted to slam the back of her head into his face—anything to gain her freedom.

“Stop!”he growled, his single arm seeming to hold her with little effort.

“No.No.No.I don’t want to die!”She kept up the battle to obtain her liberty.She hadn’t even heard him chasing her, and she wondered if he’d only toyed with her by letting her get as far as she did before grabbing her.

“You’re not dying.”

“Don’t kill me.”She didn’t care what he said and knew she’d be a fool to believe him.What other purpose would a man like him be able to breathe fire for if not for air frying his food?

“Little lure, I will not hurt you.”He slipped his other arm around her and pressed her flailing body tight to him.

That damn name and his hold was doing something to her.She couldn’t explain why something as sensual, soft, and strong as a cotton Shibari rope coiled around some secret place so deep inside her.She could not identify it—not where, why, or how—but the invisible binding soothed her even as quakes of apprehension wracked her body.

She went limp, her feet dangled two feet above the floor as she stared at the open door and whispered, “What do you want from me?”

His deft, strong fingers flexed into her sides as he glided his aquiline nose along the shell of her ear.The warmth of his breath tickled her skin.“For now, to heal.We can fight when you're well, little lure.”

“No more flames?”

There was silence as if the incendiary man struggled to agree to her request.

Finally, he concurred with a rough groan.“No fire for now.”

He slipped the rock back into her hand.

She was stunned silent that he would give it back to her when she’d tried to assault him with it twice.She stared down at it where she held it above his vise-like hold and took in the tranquility it brought her.It hadn’t worked well as a weapon yet, but she would hold on to it and keep hoping eventually, she’d get lucky.

Liekki turned and headed back the way they had come without putting her down or adjusting his hold.

In the bathroom, he set her gently on her feet beside the tub.

She expected the water to be set to a hard boil, but it was still.Avalore noticed the bubbles and blue tint of the water.Never in her life had she had a bath that looked so luxurious and inviting.

“How hot is it?”She had no desire to become a lobster.

“Feel it.”He kept a hand on her lower back but stepped to the side.

Hesitating for a moment, she leaned down.Avalore hovered her palm above the surface, trying to build the courage to stick her hand in it.She gritted her teeth, pressed her hand down, and broke through the surface.The wet, warm heat surrounded her throbbing fingers and soothed them on impact.The temperature was perfect.

“Well?”Too much cockiness laced his voice.

“It will do.”That was as much as she would concede as she stood and patted her wet hand on the sheet.

“Remove the sheet, and I’ll help you in.”

“Huh...”she looked at the gorgeous man beside her.She thought about her body and all the lumps and redness, not to mention the days of dirt.“I...can you...?”

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