She’d been such a lost, lonely child. A few kind words would have gone a long way. Instead, Nicholas had put a wedge between them. She’d always care for him, but she’d never love him like that.
“And this guy is…what?”
“James.” She turned toward her brother, glaring at him.
“I’m just asking because I care.” He had the good sense to step back before she smacked him with a dog bowl. “How much do you know about him?”
“Why can’t you ever trust me?” She snatched two more bowls off James’ arms and stalked down the line.
“I do trust you, Jesse. You just…I’ve never seen you bring anyone home. What am I supposed to do?”
“I don’t bring anyone home because this is what I thought would happen.” She gestured at her head. “Believe me, if I could have avoided this altogether, I would have.”
“You mean—you date and you don’t even introduce them to us?” James’ face crumpled. The only word to describe his expression was: hurt.
“No. I don’t. Because of this. ‘What about Nick? This guy isn’t good enough. Do you really know what you’re doing? Really, Jesse? What would Mom think?’” She rolled her eyes and shoved the last food flap shot so hard it banged. “I’m sorry, Sirius.”
“I didn’t…I’ve never said that. I don’t…not Mom.” James sputtered and spun his wheels a second. “Well, Nick, yeah, but that’s because I see the way he looks at you.”
“He looks at me like I’m a thing. If I wasn’t your sister, I wouldn’t matter. Nick’s a great guy, and I love him like a brother, but…he doesn’t love-me-like-me, if that makes sense. I’m…I’m a way to be family. But…we already are family. And I’m never going to be like Mom.”
“You’re right. You’re not.” James sighed and stared at the ground. “I know Justin…Justin is still in denial that Mom left us. I know she was unhappy and not…well, but part of me still misses her. You’re not like her. You’re like Dad, and sometimes…I think Justin wants that. To be more like you, and less like Mom.”
Jesse stopped breathing. Her memory of their father was so vague and insubstantial she couldn’t say if she was like him or not. All she had to go on were the stories her brothers told her. And they hardly ever told them.
“Whatever Justin says, you be you, Jesse.” James smiled, his face tight.
Jesse blew out a breath. That…was a lot to process first thing in the morning.
“Okay, then.” She swallowed. Time to stretch her wings a bit. Test those boundaries. “Leave Hunter alone.”
“I just…I want you to be happy, and this guy looks—”
“Full stop.” She held up her hand. James only got to run his mouth so much before she hurled something at him. “What you know about Hunter can be counted on one hand, so unless you actually engage him in conversation, you do not get to make that judgment call, got it?”
“I want you to be happy. And—let me finish—I want you to have someone in your life that will love you like I love you. Until I know that much, I’m going to question any guy you’re with. I’m your brother. That’s what brothers get to do. I kind of want to hug you right now, but…” He waved his hands at his chest and looked up at the ceiling.
That was James. Caring. Brotherly. Even when he was being a bit of an ass, he was awesome, and the reason she’d always come home. No matter what.
Jesse wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed, though he squirmed to get away.
“Weird. Weird. Weird!” He danced in place, shuddering.
Brothers.
She laughed and her world rightened a bit.
“Justin’s still an ass,” she said.
“Yeah, but he’s our asshole. He’ll come around and we’ll fix this.” James smiled and she wanted to hug him again, just for being himself. The constant source of optimism. “Hunter going to be around a while?”
“Only for a little bit. He goes on shift today.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s a firefighter.”
“Really? Huh.”
“What? Did you think he was a…shit shoveler or something?” Oh, to know what her brothers really thought about him…
“No, nothing like that. Just know a few firefighters is all.”
“Oh? Who?”
“Guy named Reid. We traded a few heifers last year. He’s kind of a shit head.” James wrinkled his nose.
“Are you going to ask Reid about Hunter?
“Maybe.” James shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Fine. Go away.” Jesse rolled her eyes.
“Hey, tell Hunter to come by the farm house sometime.”
“What? So you can interrogate him? Yeah, I’ll get right on that.” Oh, God, the last thing she wanted was her brothers to have a one-on-one session with Hunter.
“You’re the one who said I should get to know him.” James grinned and shrugged.
“Yeah, well, not today. Go. Away.” She gave James a shove and turned toward the stairs.
“Bye, Jesse.” He moseyed toward the door.
She rolled her eyes and closed the pantry, then did a quick double-check all the cabinet’s had caught their dog-proof locks. One escape artist dog had taught her a lot about how to make sure to secure things properly.
James closed the barn, and she was alone once more.
Well, not really alone.
She bit her lip and glanced at Sirius busy scarfing down his food.
She should spend some time with him.
But…Hunter only had a few more hours before he had to work.
And that big bed…with no dogs to hog the space…
She could distract herself this afternoon with puppy training.
That decided, she took the stairs two at a time, only slowing at the top few. If Hunter was still asleep the last thing she wanted to do was wake him up. She didn’t know what a twenty-four hour shift entailed, but it sounded exhausting. She let herself back inside her apartment, locked the door just in-case her brothers decided to pay a visit, and crept into the bedroom.
Hunter lay on his side, his back to her.
She sighed and leaned against the door. He was so out of place in her plain bedroom. He belonged…she didn’t know where he belonged, but she liked him where he was at.
The tattoos on his arms stretched across the back of his shoulders in a dark blue and black design she couldn’t see well in the dim room.
She should leave him to rest. James had picked at her enough there was no going back to sleep. She was bound to wake Hunter up if she even tried.
“Jesse?” Hunter rolled onto his back, rubbing his eyes. “What time is it?”
“It’s still early. Go back to sleep. I just fed the dogs.”
Shit. He really should get all the rest he could.
Hunter reached out and grabbed her wrist before she could back out of the room. He pulled her forward so suddenly she sprawled on the bed, half on him, her legs kicking over the edge.
“Hunter!”
He rolled with her until they were diagonal across the bed, his weight pressing her down into the mattress in an oh-so-familiar way. She didn’t want to fight him, to resist how they fit together.
“It’s not that early,” he whispered against her neck, his lips dancing across her skin.
“You…you should rest.” She panted for breath, her body already responding to his in a way that was natural.
Hunter made some sort of noise in the back of his throat. His hand closed over one breast, his thumb stroking her already tightening nipples. He stared down at her, that predatory gleam aimed at her.
“I woke up and you weren’t here.” He twisted his fingers around and around her nipple.
“I—the dogs…” She curled her toes into the sheets and lifted her chest. Why was she even trying to speak?
Hunter sealed his lips over hers, suckling one, then the other. There was nothing hurried about his touch or kiss.
“I don’t like waking u
p alone,” he growled against her lips.
“Did you want to wake up in dog pee?”
“No. But you could have come back to bed.” His hand slid between them, cupping her mound, pressing his fingers against her through the fabric.
“O-oh!”
Hunter sat up, grabbed the waistband of both her running shorts and panties, and pulled them down her legs. She swallowed and lifted her hips, but kept her knees close together. He was still so…masculine, possessive, so much that even this moment was overwhelming.
He tossed the clothes over the side of the bed, never once taking his eyes from her. He stretched out next to her, his hand splaying over her stomach. Her nipples stood out as two peaks under the thin fabric of her tank top.
She swallowed, her desire for him burning her up, and yet…she couldn’t move.
“Touch me.” Hunter’s command only tightened the frozen grip on her body.
“W-where?”
“Where do you want to touch me?”
She’d touched just about all of him…except…
“Jesse?” He leaned toward her, nipping her bottom lip. “I’m going to start thinking you don’t want me.”
“I-I do.” Damn, but she hated that stutter, the uncertainty, her own nervousness.
“Touch me. Wherever you want to.”
She bit her lip, running her tongue over the marks he’d left. Hunter continued to stare into her eyes, waiting her out. He wasn’t setting her up to laugh at her, or mock her insecurity. She could see that looking at him. He honestly wanted her touch. To feel her hands. Or he wouldn’t have asked for it.
Jesse rolled to her side a bit, the better to reach him, and slid her hand down his abs. He laid back, watching the progress of her palm. She held her breath and went farther, until she could feel the pulse of his heartbeat in the thick vein running along his penis. He shifted a bit and she stroked him through his boxers.
He hooked his thumbs into the waistband and pushed them down, kicking them off the bed. He muttered something that sounded like, “Better,” though she couldn’t quite hear him over the rush of blood past her ears. She stroked him with her palm, gentle touches, learning the feel of his skin, his shape.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
He pushed his hand between her legs, his fingers strumming her clit. She lost her focus, eyes closing.
“I need you wetter,” he said.
“Huh?”
Hunter rolled and rose onto his knees, trapping her legs beneath hers. He knelt with his head just over her stomach.
“Prime the engine, remember?” He grinned and pushed her legs apart, wedging her open with his bigger body.
“W-what?” Her heart rose into her throat, cutting off her air supply.
“Lay back. Enjoy it.”
“I don’t know what it is.” Oh, she had an idea, but wasn’t sure it was a good one or not.
Hunter didn’t respond. His whole attention was focused between her legs, in a very intimate, vulnerable spot.
“H-Hunter…”
“Relax,” he whispered.
She grabbed the sheets, her pulse beating in double time, the muscles along her back and shoulders so tense she could feel it in her temples. He slid his palms under her thighs, his fingers cupping her ass, and licked her slit. His tongue delved into her. His lips wrapped around her clit, gently suckling it.
Jesse sucked in a breath and her feet moved restlessly on the mattress.
There weren’t words to describe it. The sensations assaulting her. Good wasn’t good enough. Her vision went blurry and she lifted her spine off the bed as he licked her again, his tongue penetrating her deeper. She pulled her feet up and let her knees open wider. Hunter pulled himself up, over her a bit more. She could feel his gaze on her, watching her.
“You can touch yourself if you want.” He kissed her mound and plunged his fingers into her, stroking her vaginal walls.
“Oh!”
“Has no one ever tasted you before?”
“N-no…oh…”
“Mm, all mine then.”
Waves of heat swept her body, alternating with pleasure so intense she had to shut her eyes. He stroked her insides with his fingers, sometimes his tongue. She shifted, moving her hips with him, searching for that perfect rhythm, the right touch.
Her breasts felt heavy, aching and…needy.
She shoved her hands up under her tank top, cupping herself, capturing her nipples between her thumb and forefinger like Hunter had, and pinched them.
“Yeah, that’s a good girl. Do what feels good.” His words spurred her on while his fingers stoked the flames of desire hotter and higher.
His lips wrapped around her clit, his tongue rubbing against her. She lifted her hips, moving in time with his fingers, giving herself over to the pleasure of it. Hunter moved with her, pumping her, licking and suckling.
Jesse felt the coil of tension low in her belly tighten. She lifted her hips, driving Hunter deeper—there! Release unfurled within her, pleasure twining around her, robbing her of her senses for one, perfect moment.
Hunter’s lips pressed against her hip. He crawled up beside her and pulled her back against his chest his arms wrapped around her. She could feel his erection against her ass, and damn it, she wanted that, too.
9.
Hunter buried his face against her neck.
She smelled like lemon soap.
Jesse.
He tightened his grip around her body and mentally told his dick to calm down. Watching her lose her inhibitions was the best show on earth, and she needed time to come down from that high. To look him in the face and say she wanted him.
Jesse was a wonderful contradiction. Shy and playful, bold and meek. He liked the varying sides of her he’d seen so far, and he wanted to keep seeing them. Which was why he needed to slow the fuck down.
“Hunter?” She shifted in his arms.
“Hm?”
“Are…um…” Her hips pressed back against him, her ass cradling his erection.
“You okay?” He prided himself on being a thoughtful lover. No one left his bed unsatisfied. But Jesse was different. He had to be purposeful here, because this wasn’t a one and done, it was a one and again. And again.
“Yeah.”
“Good.” He kissed her neck and squeezed her. “I like how you taste.”
“Oh… Do you…um…”
“You’re blushing. How far down does that go?” He peered at her chest and the blush tingeing the tops of her breasts.
“Stop.” She chuckled and slapped his arm.
“Just admiring the paint.” He propped himself up and leaned down to kiss her cheek, except she turned, offering her mouth. “What’s too naughty for you to say?”
Her mouth opened and closed.
“Come on…you can tell me.”
“Um. Do you…want me to…?” She glanced down over her shoulder.
“Do I want you to suck me?” His cock twitched, liking that idea. Her intensifying blush was all the answer he needed. “Do you want to?”
“I…I’m not very good…”
Okay, whoever had told her that needed more than a kick to the nads.
“Practice makes perfect.” He splayed his hand over her stomach, pressing them together. “But I’d much rather be inside you.”
“O-oh. You feel…good…inside me.”
“Tell me that when I’m inside of you in a few minutes.” He kissed her cheek and rolled away.
Except…he hadn’t exactly packed for an over-night stay.
“Uh, Jesse, you wouldn’t happen to have a condom by any chance?”
“Oh…”
He squeezed his eyes shut.
This was going to suck.
“I…um…check the night stand? I think there might be one in there.”
He yanked it open, rummaging around in her things, random odds and ends until he saw the familiar packet.
“Ah-ha!” He ripped it open and rolled it on.
Hunter crawled back toward her. The huge bed was really a perk, no worrying about falling off the edge or anything.
He stripped the tank top off her and lay down behind her. She rolled toward him, but he stopped her, pulling her back to his chest.
“Like this,” he whispered.
This close he could hear her swallow, the catch of her breath. The vanity mirror also provided a great view of them. Together. The way she looked at them. How they fit.
He slid his hand between her legs.
Still so fucking wet.
“Hips back, just like that.” He shifted her until he had her right where he wanted her. One arm around her neck and shoulders, the other free to stroke her body.
Hunter grasped his cock and pressed it to her pussy. She pushed back against him, a mindless movement. She was losing some of that shyness, and he was eating it up.
He flexed his hips, penetrating her in slow, easy strokes.
They’d done passionate, fast and hard. Now he wanted her like this, easy, slow and soft. He wanted to make it last, to be with her.
She turned her head toward him, her gaze so open, vulnerable. He could dive into the depths of her eyes, get lost in there.
“Tell me how good I feel.” He stretched toward her, brushing his lips over her mouth.
He rocked into her and she whimpered, her nails digging into his forearm.
“Oh—Hunter! You feel good.” Her eyes closed and she shifted her legs, pushing back against him.
The feel of her hugging his body drove all other thoughts from his mind, besides this moment. With her. Now. He bent his head, pressing it to her shoulder and thrust. Her little gasps, the sound of their bodies joining, drove him on. It was more than just the sweet, pleasure of a tight, hot pussy. It was…Jesse. It was different. Even with his eyes closed, he could smell her. Taste her on his lips.
“Oh—oh, Hunter!” Her back arched, driving her ass back, his cock deeper.
“Come on, that’s it.” He gripped her hip, rocking into her.
He glimpsed their reflection, and his mouth dried up.
Her hand between her legs, their intertwined bodies, her face caught in pleasure.
Fuck.
It was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
He thrust, again and again, the tight, hot walls of her pussy hugging him.
Up in Flames (Firehouse Three Book 1) Page 8