Facing The Fire

by Barrett, Gail

  If it hadn’t been for the dog…He loosened his death grip on Jordan and glanced down at the quivering fur on her lap. If that mutt hadn’t balked, hadn’t warned them that the fire was near…

  He swallowed the thick wedge blocking his throat, unwilling to finish the thought. But the truth remained. That dog had given them the valuable seconds they’d needed to survive.

  And they had survived. His hand still twined in Jordan’s hair, he gently stroked her scalp to soothe her and pressed her head to his chest. Trembles wracked her body, and she shuddered with anxiety and fear.

  “Shh….” he murmured. He cleared his throat, fighting to get words past the lump. “We’re safe now. The fire’s gone.”

  “Oh, God,” she said, her voice muffled against his shirt. Still shaking, she pulled back, and her fathomless gaze met his. Her eyes glistened in the cave’s dim light. The remnants of tears streaked her cheeks, cutting paths through the ashes and grime.

  But he’d never seen a more beautiful woman.

  A fierce swell of emotion surged up, relief mixed with something more, that feeling he’d been fighting for days.

  Love. He loved Jordan. He always had.

  It was true. He’d stopped denying it the moment she’d reached for that fusee. He’d seen her horror and panic, the primitive urge to escape. But despite her terror, she’d stayed.

  A thick wad of emotion choked his lungs, and he tightened his grip on her head. He could only imagine the courage, the incredible leap of faith that had taken. She wasn’t a trained firefighter, didn’t know wildfire behavior or the futility of running. Yet she’d ignored her instincts and trusted him.

  And in that moment, he’d stopped trying to fool himself and admitted how much he loved her—this brave, gutsy woman who’d once been his.

  He caressed the silky strands of her hair, ran his gaze over the smooth curve of her cheek and the feminine line of her jaw.

  Her wide, dark eyes searched his, as if she couldn’t grasp that they were safe. Shudders still shook her body, discharging the adrenaline and fear, the need to run, the primal instinct to flee. And he continued to stroke her head, her neck, knowing she needed the warmth, the human contact.

  So did he.

  “You did great out there,” he said, his voice raw from emotion and smoke.

  “Is it…Are you sure it’s gone?” Her voice hitched on a little sob.

  “Yeah, it’s gone. Listen.”

  Her gaze flew to the entrance to the cave, which they’d been damned lucky to find. In the distance, the dull roar slid away, replaced by muffled pops. Still trembling, she gnawed her bottom lip.

  Seconds later, her gaze swiveled back to his. “It won’t come back? It—”

  “No, it’s done.” He squeezed her neck to reassure her. “There’ll be a few stumps burning, even some flare-ups, but as hot as that fire was, I doubt there’s much left to burn.”

  She jerked her head, and a tremor jolted her body. Her lips quivered, and she sucked in a tremulous breath.

  He saw the awareness in her eyes of just how close they’d come to dying. The stark realization that they could have burned, that the charred remains of their bodies could be out there right now, writhing and smoldering in the ashes.

  “Oh, God, Cade.”

  “Yeah.” He smoothed the knot tensing her neck and stroked the smooth skin of her nape. Then he shifted his hand to her rigid shoulders.

  The dog crept off Jordan’s lap, and she lunged for the leash.

  “Don’t worry. He can’t go anywhere.”

  “You’re right.” She dropped the leash and sat back, then eased out an uneven breath. Her lips strained into a smile. “I’m just so nervous, I—”

  “Hey, it’s normal. Just give yourself time to come down.”

  Urging her back, he threaded his hand through her hair, and continued soothing her neck, giving her time to absorb the outcome, that they were safe. She leaned into him, and as the minutes passed, her breathing slowed and deepened. Her

  shivering gradually calmed.

  And his awareness shifted to the pain ramming his shoulder, the persistent hammering in his skull. The hard dirt floor beneath him. The smoke permeating the air, mingling with the dank smell of the cave.

  And Jordan’s soft body pressed against his, beautiful and feminine and arousing.

  Desire flashed through his veins, and his hand instinctively tightened. Battling the reaction, he tipped back his head and sucked in a breath.

  He loved her; he couldn’t deny it anymore. And everything about her appealed to him—the way she looked, the way she moved, the tender way she cared for the dog. Her hard work, her amazing courage. The woman had seeped into his brain and conquered his heart.

  But he still couldn’t forget reality, couldn’t let his emotions override common sense. And the harsh fact was that she was wrong for him. No matter how much he loved her, she needed what he couldn’t give her, a man who always stayed home.

  And he could never be that man, not without destroying his soul.

  And yet she felt perfect in his arms, and in his life. She shifted then, and their thighs touched. Her soft, full breasts pressed against his chest. The silk of her hair tickled his mouth.

  She lifted her head and her eyes met his, her face just inches away. Her pupils dilated in the dusky light. Her pink tongue moistened her lips. She hitched in a ragged breath.

  His hormones jerked in recognition. She wanted him. His answer rolled hard through his veins.

  “Cade,” she whispered.

  “It’s just the adrenaline,” he ground out. “The near-death experie—”

  “No.” She raised her hand to his mouth. Her fingers clamped his lips, silencing him. The feel of that soft skin staggered his senses, and need coiled tight in his gut.

  He leaned back and grabbed her wrist to push her away, but she inched forward, her dark eyes simmering on his. His lungs stalled, and he felt snared by that luminous gaze, lured into her erotic web.

  And in that instant, he knew he was doomed. He needed to touch her, to taste the seductive heat of her skin. To feel her satiny body shudder under his.

  His gaze locked with hers. Deliberately, he turned her hand and brushed his lips across her palm. He raked the delicate skin, skirting the scrapes, then soothed

  the spot with his tongue. She gasped, and the need in her eyes flared. His thumb skimmed her wrist, and he felt the erratic lurch of her pulse.

  Her eyes softened into liquid darkness, and then her lids fluttered closed. Her full lips parted, and her breathing rasped faster, more shallow.

  He dropped her wrist and caught her chin, then slanted his mouth over hers. He forgot the pain wrenching his shoulder, the filth and sweat, the fire beyond the dank cave. His world narrowed to the velvet of her lips, the lush, hot silk of her mouth, and he pulled her hard against him.

  She parted her lips and kissed him back. Her hands clutched his hair, and her tongue dueled with his, reeling him in deeper and harder.

  Maybe it was the affirmation of life, the need to connect after nearly dying. And maybe it was love, the explosion of desire long denied.

  But whatever the cause, his control slipped even more. That familiar haze fogged his brain, that insatiable heat. The heady feeling that he’d found the one woman on earth who felt perfectly right.

  And was, ironically, exactly wrong.

  With supreme effort, he wrenched away and pulled her head to his chest. His heart slammed against his rib cage. His breathing rasped in the smoky cave. He shut his eyes and grappled for control.

  He had to stop. A kiss was one thing, but they’d strayed far too close to that dangerous edge, that line that they couldn’t cross. It had always happened that way between them—too fast, too hot. Reckless need and relentless wanting.

  But they couldn’t give in to it again, not without regrets. Not without plummeting to that insanity that guaranteed turmoil and pain.

  But she pulled free and rose to her k
nees. “Cade, please,” she begged.

  “No. It’s just—”

  “No, it’s not.” She clutched his head between her hands and her gaze pleaded with his. “It’s not just the fire. It’s more. It always has been. I need you. I—”

  “Jordan, no.” But he felt his resistance crumble.

  “I need you,” she whispered again. “Please.”

  She brushed her lips over his and kissed him again, letting him feel her desire. Working her magic with her body and tongue, fueling the torment, stoking the flames.

  He felt her rush of hunger, the passion in her kiss as her hands roved his face and his jaw. Her breasts stroked his chest. Her kiss turned raw and urgent. His own needs shut down his brain.

  She was good. Damned good. And hell, he was only human. She wanted him; he wanted her. Was that so wrong? And they’d almost died just now. Why shouldn’t they indulge in a moment of pleasure?

  With a low growl, he wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked her hard against him. Then, pulling her with him, he dropped back to the packed-dirt floor.

  She landed atop him, then pulled herself upright. “Cade.” Her lips were swollen, her voice breathless. “Your shoulder—”

  “Forget it.” It throbbed like hell, but not as much as the ache in his groin. His pulse beat hot and hard as he pulled her head down to his. Then he covered her mouth in a deep, driving kiss, fueled by years of wanting.

  He felt the satin of her lips, the fever of her tongue, her soft shudders as he delved her sweet depths. He smelled smoke and desire, and woman. Jordan. His woman. Her scent surrounded him, invaded him, until stark need twisted his gut. Until hunger seeped so deep into his heart that it wiped out every thought—except the overwhelming desire to possess her.

  Needing physical contact, needing to feel her body tight against his, he lowered his hand to her hip and pressed her back. Her soft weight settled on his groin, shorting his nerves. She rocked against him, making soft, low moans in her throat, and his heart leaped in tattered spurts. A thick, quick surge of desire jolted through him, and he groaned.

  And suddenly, he needed to see her, all of her, to feel her hot, naked skin slick on his.

  As if sensing his thoughts, she broke the kiss and rose to her knees. Her languid eyes rested on his, hot and dark with arousal. Her hair fell in unruly waves down her back. Her swollen lips parted in an erotic invitation to bliss.

  His gaze traveled from that sultry mouth to the tantalizing curve of her breasts. To the nipples jutting beneath the tight T-shirt, beckoning for his touch.

  His hand trembling, he reached up and traced the outline of her curves through the thin shirt. He stroked the tempting fullness and fondled the pebbled nipples, feeling her tremble and shudder around him.

  “Oh, Cade,” she whispered, her voice uneven. She reached down and lifted the hem of her shirt, then yanked it over her head. His gaze stalled on the wonder of her breasts, the stretchy scrap of lace highlighting the blinding perfection.

  He tried to swallow, but his throat seemed stuffed with ashes. He wrenched his gaze to hers and saw the scalding heat, the growing hunger. The memories of those steamy, torrid nights. Of how they’d loved each other, with an honesty and passion that had left them reeling.

  She flicked one strap off her shoulder and let it drop. His gaze followed the motion, just as she planned. He quirked his mouth, recognizing the ploy, but still helpless to resist it. She knew him too well. And she wielded the power to drive him wild.

  It was as if this one woman had been made to match his body, his mind. As if she were his ideal counterpart, his destined mate.

  And no matter how many times they’d come together, it had never been enough. He’d still felt that unending hunger and constant craving.

  The other strap slid off her smooth shoulder and his pulse roared through his veins. And then she rose, lifting herself out of reach, and unhooked her bra.

  The lacy scrap fell away and his gaze riveted on the swell of her breasts, the dark nipples glistening in the dim light, the utter beauty of her bare flesh.

  His pulse pounded as he dragged his gaze up to hers and their eyes latched. And she mesmerized him with her need, seduced him with that slow, savage burn.

  The snap on her jeans popped, and his blood leaped in expectation. The zipper

  rasped in the scorching silence, while his blood surged hard in his ears.

  She rose to her feet and stepped aside. His gaze fell to her flat, satiny belly, to the provocative arch of her hips. Her thumbs hooked the waistband of her jeans and she inched them over her legs, down her long, lean muscles and velvet skin. His fingers curled, then flexed, yearning to skim the curving length.

  His gaze fastened on the final scrap of lace glimmering in the dim light. His breathing grew labored and his heart rammed against his rib cage.

  She pushed the lace down, then kicked it free. His feverish gaze swept over her, lingering on the dark thatch between her thighs and the luscious peaks of her breasts. Desire ripped through him, urgent and hot.

  His gaze drove into hers. And he saw the answering heat, the clawing need. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sultry—with arousal and something more.

  She stood before him, completely naked, exposed to his fervent gaze. Hiding nothing. Vulnerable.

  The look faded from her eyes, but he felt the effects down to his soul. As if she’d reached out and twisted his heart. And instincts surged, beyond lust, to the deep-seated need to protect her, to guard her heart and keep her safe.

  Thick, fierce emotions wadded his chest, and suddenly, he knew that this moment was different. That they’d experienced a connection, an honesty they’d never shared before.

  But then she lowered herself to him, sliding her bare legs over his hips, and the sight of her naked skin on his fully clothed body emptied his mind. She rubbed against him, stroking the hard, rigid length of him in a movement so erotic that pleasure bolted straight to his groin.

  He cupped her breast and watched her limpid eyes close. Her head tipped back and her full lips parted. Her wild hair tumbled over her back.

  His body was rock hard now, his muscles rippling with impatience. “Jordan.” His voice sounded dredged from the earth.

  “Yes.” She shifted to one side and unzipped his pants. And the feel of her gentle hands on him nearly made him weep.

  Almost unable to form a coherent thought, he grasped for sanity. He forced his throat to work. “Jordan, wait. I—I don’t have anything, any protection.”

  Her eyes met his, and he saw the flash of pain. And he remembered when they hadn’t needed protection, when they’d made love skin to skin.

  “It’s all right,” she said. “It’s not the right time.”

  “But—”

  “It’s all right, Cade. I promise.” And then she slid over him and took him slowly into her body. Into the hot, tight flesh, to the delirium of pleasure. And the protests died in his throat.

  He gave in and surrendered to rapture. And she moved against him, scalding him with her heat, stoking the flames, creating a need so violent that it dragged a groan from his heart.

  He surged upward, driving into her, and felt her unravel. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her forehead furrowed. Her eyes closed and her lips parted, and she let out a keening cry.

  He hooked his arm around her neck and pulled her face down to his. And then he fused his mouth to hers, claiming her, branding her with a deep, torrid kiss with no restraints. Honest and savage and raw.

  And then he gave one last thrust and exploded inside her. Waves of pleasure jolted his senses. Dire need melded with bliss. He was where he belonged, with the woman he loved.

  And as the tremors slowly ebbed, and the urgency subsided back into need, he wondered again how she could have left him, how she could have tossed this amazing love away.

  The whomp of an approaching helicopter crept into the silence. It grew louder, its rotors thumping as it passed over the cave. Their ride home had
finally arrived. And the spurt of relief he felt was mixed with a strange reluctance.

  Jordan lifted herself to her knees, looking dazed, then wobbled to her feet. Her gaze met his for an instant, guilty and grim, and then it skittered away.

  And his frustration surged. What the hell did that look mean? Was she suddenly having regrets? She was the one who’d insisted.

  Tired of her games, he rolled to his feet and zipped his pants. And without warning, the weight of the past ordeal pressed upon him. His body felt flayed, his stomach empty. Pain rammed his skull. His shoulder shuddered and ached.

  And the futility of it all overwhelmed him, draining the last trace of pleasure from his blood. And he felt angry, damned angry. He was tired of being jerked around, sick of her damned evasions. Always wondering, never knowing. And he wanted answers now.

  He turned to face her. She’d put on her jeans and bra, and had her T-shirt poised in her hand. Her gaze met his, and she paused.

  His jaw hardened. His stomach clenched, and he moved deliberately closer. She stepped back. He leaned into her space, trapping her, until her dark eyes widened and her skin paled under the ashes. The scent of their lovemaking lingered in the air, stoking his anger into rage.

  “So,” he said, his voice completely flat. “Just why the hell did you leave?”

  Chapter 15

  Jordan felt the blood drain from her face, and she froze. She stared into Cade’s furious blue eyes, her heart beating a fast, irregular rhythm against her throat. This wasn’t how she’d wanted to tell him. Not with him angry. Not with the helicopter circling outside.

  Not when the most tender, exquisite experience of her life still pulsed in her nerves, lovemaking so perfect that it had shattered her heart.

  Hardly breathing, she dropped her gaze to the T-shirt balled in her fist. She pried her fingers loose and shook it out, feeling suddenly exposed. Needing to regain some distance, she pulled the soiled shirt over her head and smoothed it down.