Title: Cleansing Flame
Series: Rekindled Flame Series Book 2
Genre: M/M
Contemporary Romance
Release Date: Mar 10 2017
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long
as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also
left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later.
When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any
more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering
him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would
love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity,
but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet
more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.
It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student
journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has
been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that
unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remember that no matter how
dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.
Lawson had no idea what time it was or why he was awake, but
something wasn’t right. He sat up, listening, and heard a cry. He shoved back
the covers and followed the whimpers and cries to Dayne’s room. Hearing a “No!”
Lawson peered inside.
Dayne had kicked off the covers, his eyes still closed, and
was lying on his side, kicking his legs repeatedly. Lawson was about to turn to
leave when Dayne cried out once move and lurched toward the edge of the bed.
Lawson raced forward and caught him as he came off the mattress. Dayne
struggled and fought, squirming and thrashing.
“Dayne, it’s all right.” He laid Dayne back on the bed and
gently tried to wake him.
“Lawson?” Dayne asked, instantly calming and looking up at
him with startled blue eyes. “What are you doing here?” He grabbed for the
covers at the end of the bed and yanked them up to cover himself. Then Dayne
looked back at him, and even in the light from the hall, Lawson saw Dayne blush
beet red and then turn away.
“You were thrashing, and I caught you as you fell off the
bed.” Lawson took a step back so he didn’t cause Dayne any more distress. “I
heard you yelling in your sleep and wanted to make sure you were okay.” God,
did Dayne think he was attacking him or something?
“Oh.” Dayne relaxed a little and lowered the covers he’d
been using like a shield. “I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
“Ya think?” Lawson teased, giving Dayne a wink. Thankfully
Dayne understood and smiled slightly. Lawson sat on the edge of the bed. “Do
you want to talk about what happened?”
“It’s the middle of the night and….” Dayne’s eyes darted
around the room, settling on him for a few seconds and then moving away.
“You’re nearly naked,” he finally squeaked out, and Lawson realized he was only
wearing a pair of old boxer shorts.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just
concerned when I heard you calling out.” As he went to stand, Dayne touched his
arm. Lawson stilled when Dayne didn’t move his hand or pull away.
“You’re stunning,” Dayne breathed, then turned away, pulling
his hand back. “Sorry. That was a dumb thing to say.” He rose the shield of
covers again. “Just let me die of embarrassment here. You’ve been nice enough
to let me stay here. You don’t need some twiggy doofus perving on you.”
Lawson reached for Dayne, touching his chin with just the
tips of his fingers. “How about I go back to bed, and we both try to get some
more sleep? I understand if you don’t want to talk about what’s happening, but
try to sleep and not fall off the bed. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
Dayne’s lips, red and pulled slightly with worry, screamed irresistible, and
his eyes were filled with such pain that Lawson wanted to kiss it all away. He
knew it wasn’t that simple—pain and loss rarely were, especially with as much
as Dayne had endured lately—but he wanted to try.
Dayne gazed at him, and Lawson saw Dayne’s hands and arms
relax, the covers lowering enough to reveal where his nipples poked slightly at
the fabric of his T-shirt. Damn, Lawson wanted to tug away that cotton and
reveal what was underneath. Heat built in his groin, and he needed to cool it
or things were going to get awkward, and he wasn’t wearing enough to keep his
dick from making a full-on appearance. Not that he was ashamed of what he had
in any way, but he didn’t need to scare Dayne or have Dayne think he was trying
to push himself on him. “Good night,” Lawson rasped, lightly caressing Dayne’s
cheek before standing and leaving the room.
As Lawson returned to his room, Tati came up the stairs. She
sat, blinking at him the way cats did, and Lawson looked back. At some point in
the night, she usually paid him a visit. Lawson expected her to stroll over,
but instead she slinked across the hall, peeked into Dayne’s room, and went
inside. He watched, and she didn’t come out. Sneaking back, he peered through
the open door. Dayne lay on his side facing away from the door with Tati curled
in the crook of his legs, her back pressed to Dayne’s backside. Lawson shook
his head, returned to his room, and went back to bed, trying not to think of
Dayne.
