Slow Burn (The Burn Series Book 4)

by Dee Ellis

  “We fought. Right before...right before I left we fought. Over that fucking....” I hear the heels click on the tile and somehow, I know...I just know it's her.

  “Over little ole' me, I'm guessing?” Isabel's voice holds snark and triumph and if I could lift my limbs from the Goddamn bed, she'd be the next one needing a hospital bed.

  “What. The. Fuck. Are you doing here?” The words tear out of my chest, vibrating with rage and hate.

  “Oh, baby. They called your wife.” Isabel comes to the opposite side of the bed, a smirk on her cherry red painted lips.

  “You need to go. Like now. If you are here when his girl gets here, it won't just be her you need to worry about, Isabel.” Cage is a mild-mannered guy, for the most part. I am shocked at the level of rage rattling through his words as he leans over the bed to spit the threat in her face.

  “Are you threatening me, handsome?” I see her hand come out, the red tipped nails heading for his face and I cringe.

  “Do one handed whores give quality hand jobs, Isabel? Touch my husband, think we might find out.” Isabel's hand drops in midway between them as her head whips towards the door.

  I want to laugh; it bubbles in my chest but that shit hurts too. Charli is sweet as pie, but we have all learned better than to cross her. However, those who are not in the know provide grade-a entertainment when they put a toe over her line. I can feel the room shift as the three women enter it. I can sense the anger, the resentment, the absolute rage. But, I can also sense her.

  Brynn is there and I don't need to see her to feel her presence.

  “Jesus, the mouth on you girls.” Isabel laughs but I hear it; the tremble of doubt and fear in her voice.

  “Pot hello kettle.” Gigi growls from somewhere, and I can just picture the three of them standing there like Charli's Angels. I almost laugh, but it hurts.

  Brynn is at my side, dismissing Isabel as she leans over me. I try to reach for her, but can barely lift my arms. We're both crying as she presses close, right in front of our friends and my ex-wife and touches her forehead to mine. I lift my arm enough to tangle my hand in her thick hair, lifting my dry lips to graze them over hers.

  “I love you. I love you, baby.” Brynn whispers before letting me kiss her slow and sweet. Slowly, she lifts and the fear that was there seconds ago is gone. Fire and heat and rage are there and I wince when her eyes slide across the way to pin Isabel down.

  “I suggest you go. Stay gone. Out of my fucking sight. Away from our home. Away from my family. Preferably, out of my fucking city. Threaten me or Levi again about taking our daughter, about fighting a battle I promise,” Brynn spits the word out with icy malice and I think my dick gets hard, “I promise you, you will lose, and you will regret it.” Isabel's mask of indifference cracks and she sighs, blowing it out towards the skies.

  “Sounds like it's you making the threats, honey. I have a right to my daughter. To my husband.” I cringe when she smiles sweetly, wondering how I ever thought we could work.

  “My daughter. My husband. Been through this, Isabel. I don't make threats. I promised, and those, I don't break. Like I promised my daughter to love, provide and protect her. You know absolutely nothing about how to care for others. No one who held that precious little girl and loved her could ever walk away from her. Don't tell me you came back for anyone other than yourself.” Isabel sucks her teeth, crossing her arms beneath her big, fake tits, and glaring.

  “Then tell me why you think I'm here, Miss know-it-all?”

  “Because whomever you left with, wherever you went to fell apart. Like it always has and like it always will. You will forever be in a constant state of upheaval because you cannot love anyone else as much as you love yourself. I'm not even judging you for that, Isabel. It's petty and self-serving, but it's probably not even your fault,” Brynn sighs and bows her head sadly, and Jesus Christ, could she be any more perfect?

  “You can't ask that little girl to come second. Not when we will always put her first. Sometimes it's better to walk away and close a door you know you will always try to keep open for the wrong reasons.” All eyes turn to Isabel and I can feel the moment her stony facade cracks.

  Oh, she doesn't warm up, or agree, but her shoulders go back a little, and I see the tiny tremble in her jaw. But, in true Isabel fashion, she has to be the one to make the decision.

  “You are exhausting. This has been exhausting. Fine. Take me off your emergency contact list, husband.” And just like that, my queen cut off the head of my past.

  Brynn watches her go, those jade eyes fiery and I know my dick gets hard now. I tug as hard as I can manage at her neck, bringing her lips back to mine. When she lifts away, I am in pain but happy as fuck, and she's breathless and smiling. I love that smile. With those bright eyes and her freckles and those perfect pink lips. Jesus.

  “I love the fuck out of you, honey.” I whisper, not even caring that we're not alone.

  “Love you more, baby.” Our look grows heavy and I wonder if the others are uncomfortable. I don't care, they're the ones watching like some perverts.

  “How about we give them a moment, uh?” Charli clears her throat and I grin, searching for her and tossing her a wink.

  “Think I need more than a minute. Cage must be slipping if you think that's all it takes, Charli Doll.” I hear two sets of laughs, Gigi and Charli, and then a string of curses from Cage.

  “Fuck you, broseph.” I beam a smile at him, knowing his bro-terms are usually reserved for Finn. Guess nearly dying might have upgraded me.

  Just then I think of Amelia; I want to see my Princess.

  “Where's our nugget?” I manage, realizing I am exhausted, the whole Isabel visit draining me.

  “Finn has her down the hall with Lola and Ford. Want me to get her?” Slowly those pretty eyes trail over me, sadness darkening them and I wonder how bad I look.

  “Brynn. Baby I am ok. Actually....I don't know how hurt I am. I can't remember much and I didn't ask. I just asked for my girls.” Brynn shifts, lying her entire upper half alongside mine, being very gentle.

  “And here we are. I was so scared, Levi,” Brynn presses her face into my neck and I lift an arm to hold her close, “scared the last moment I had with you, I ruined. I was so stupid. Again. I make bad choices, I don't think I deserve you or Amelia. But I want you both. More than anything, I want my king and our Princess and the fairytale. I want it all.” We're kissing without either of us really moving and it fucking hurts, but it hurts so good.

  “Let's not have moments like that again. Let's promise even if we have more dragons to slay, we do it together. We always say how much we love each other, we never go to bed angry, and we always tell our daughter how special she is. How she made us a family when we didn't even know what that really meant.” Brynn sobs and it hurts my soul; I don't even notice the pain when she shoves into the bed beside me, her arms closing tight around me.

  “I promise. I will never let our little girl question how special a Princess she is. Amelia made us a family.” I nod, gathering her close as I begin to go woozy, although I fight it.

  “I think I got it wrong, honey. It was you.” My eyes are heavy and I'm warm all over for the first time since this started. I fight to stay awake, wanting to be sure she's okay, wanting to have my girls there with me.

  “Wrong about what, Levi?” Brynn's voice is warm at my ear and I feel that warmth spread and I smile into her cheek.

  “You slayed the dragons. You built our castle. With your fucked-up bricks and mine. You made me your king. You gave us the fairytale, Brynn. It was you.”

  I got my queen and my Princess, but it was because Brynn gave them to me. Brynn had made the fairytale so fucking real.

  18

  BRYNN

  After a week in the hospital, I got to take my king home to our castle. A broken leg—his second earned while on duty it turned out—punctured lung and four broken ribs, but he was alive. Alive and absolutely all mine.

 
Hunter was released after just two days with some minor burns and a cough he would kick soon enough. Cage and Charli got a crash course in parenting—good thing since we just found out they’re pregnant—while I stayed at the hospital and they kept Amelia. Levi insisted on visits every day, and his hospital room was never less than overflowing.

  We were surrounded by people. Our people. With the girls and our babies, the guys from the station and several hot cop buddies. They were our people, and realized Lola had been right. They'd been my people all along.

  “I fucked you in a hospital already, don't think I won't again, honey.” Levi growled as I lay beside him on discharge day.

  “Levi! Behave.” I giggled though, as I had hardly been behaving.

  We were waiting for paperwork to be finished so we could head home and I was antsy. Anxious. Excited. To walk through the doors of his house and at least have it feel like our house. To make us dinner and sit with our daughter and let myself embrace the truth that they were my family.

  I spent every night with him in his bed, despite the nurses' protests. I couldn't stand to sleep without him now; it felt too cold, too empty in a bed without his weight or Amelia's tiny fists and chunky knees snuggled into me.

  Today I was being less than proper as I slid my knee over his cast. My hands lingered when I touched his bruised and bandaged ribs. Lips whispered over his throat and my teeth traced the vein that pulsed life through his damaged but still perfect body.

  “You behave. I’ve been hard as shit for hours. Trust that once I figure out the logistics that equal the least amount of pain, I am fucking the shit out of you.” Levi brought his hand down hard, as hard as he could manage, on my ass and I moaned.

  “Promises, promises.” I laughed into his neck, biting at his vein and moaning again when his fingers slid between my legs.

  “Keep it up,” Levi growled, and fuck, I loved that sound as it vibrated against my tits,” my cock sure as shit ain't broke, honey.” Levi's fingers pressed the pulse between my legs, spreading me beneath my leggings, groaning when he found the dampness there.

  “Fuck. I miss this pussy. Hope Charli and Cage want to play house for a few more hours. I need quality time with your cunt.” I shuddered against him, my fingers sliding through his hair as I lifted to kiss his filthy mouth.

  “Ahem,” someone cleared their throat from the doorway, “Here with your discharge papers, Mr. Holt. Mrs. Holt.” I moaned into Levi's mouth; not because I was hot, not because we'd been interrupted. But because the nurse had called me his wife. Mrs. Holt. Fuck.

  “Thank you, Betty. I think I am going to miss you the most.” Levi smiled a big, sexy, warm smile at the sweet nurse. I think she blushed.

  Discharge went fast and we were home in no time. Levi was pretty skilled with his crutches, considering his past experience, and getting him in the house and settled went smoother than I expected. I was bringing him a beer, figuring he earned it, when I saw the serious look on his face.

  “Baby...what is it? What's wrong?” I sat on the coffee table facing him, my heart kicking up.

  “Brynn...” Levi's voice was choked and his eyes stormed like the starry sky, emotions swirling in their depths.

  “Baby?” I took his hands, bringing his bruised and bandaged left hand to my lips.

  “Your stuff. All...all your stuff is here. When? How?” I twisted to glance at the few boxes lining the dining room wall.

  Some of it was already unpacked, the boxes half open, some even empty. Everything I'd shipped from Boston weeks ago. Plan had been to wait for Levi to ask me back home. When he got hurt, I figured he had given me the keys, I might as well use them.

  “This week. The guys did most the heavy lifting. Every time I came home, I unpacked a thing or two. Is...is it okay?” I wondered suddenly if I'd been too presumptuous.

  “Jesus...Brynn...it is more than okay. I want you here. Want you home, with us. Where you belong. Is...is it for good?” I bowed my head, shamed I' d caused him such doubts.

  “For as long as you want me.” I kissed his hands again, my eyes lifting cautiously to his.

  “Forever. The other day...you called me your husband. Today, Betty called you Mrs. Holt. Someday...” My breath catches as I slide to the floor between his outstretched legs.

  As the air charges between us, I carefully wedge myself close. I know it’s not a proposal, know he would do something I could never turn down, could never forget, but it's enough. My heart thrums, my blood heats and I feel whole and wholly aroused.

  “Someday. Not today. Today....” My eyes hold his as I wrap my hands around the waistband of his sweats. A wounded Levi in gray sweats, talking about forever has my thighs clenching and my body hot.

  Levi watches me, his eyes half-mast and his breathing hitching. One tug and his cock springs out, heavy and thick, and so hard I just want it driving inside me. Later. Now, it's about him. As I bend in, licking the length of him, I never look away from him. I can't.

  “Fuuck. Love your mouth, baby. Shit you do with that tongue.... Goddamn, Brynn.” Levi's head falls back onto the back of the couch, but he too never looks away.

  I close my mouth around his silky length, both of us moaning as his salty taste hits my tongue. I wrap one hand around the base, my tongue swirling around the sensitive head as I pump him slowly. Levi tunnels his fingers into my hair as his hips start moving.

  “Goddamn. So Goddamn beautiful with my cock down your throat. So beautiful. Take it all, baby. Take me all the way.” I do as he commands, swallowing as much of his hard length as I can, choking more than once.

  Levi starts thrusting his hips, grunting those sexy noises that make me crazy. Watching him turn so carnal, because of me, for me, it makes me so wet I can barely stand it. Levi somehow realizes because he slips out of my mouth with a pop. Before I can argue, I am on all fours beside him, ass in the air, his hands tearing at my leggings.

  “Levi! Baby be careful! Your...oh fuck!” I moan, fists clutching at the plush couch as he spreads his fingers over my wetness, guiding my mouth back to his cock.

  “Quiet. Fuck you're dripping wet, baby. Sucking my cock makes you so hot. I fucking love it. That's it. Fuck my hand while you suck me. Jesus.” Levi thrusts three fingers deep inside me as his thumb swirls hard, furious circles around my clit. I begin bucking my hips, matching my rhythm to his as he thrusts his cock into my mouth.

  I pump my hands, licking his balls with long, furious strokes as I take him as deep as I can. He is pumping slow and hard, that thumb strumming magic on my clit. When he hits that wall, working the flat of his fingers against it, I come undone, shuddering in his lap.

  “Oh shit. Oh...Levi...fuck baby.” I moan nonsense and tell him I love him as I come hard, seeing the stars he always gives me.

  I pick up the pace, pumping his dick faster, taking him deeper, wanting to give him the same. I feel it right before it happens. Feel the tingle shoot up his thickness, erupting into sweet saltiness on my tongue. I swallow it down, already wet again. Levi groans deep and throaty, his fingers sliding out of my wetness in crude echo.

  We're both breathless as I collapse against him. Levi grunts in pain and I shoot up onto my knees. We share a look and burst into laughter as I teasingly wipe at my mouth. Levi sucks his fingers into his mouth and my laughter dies as I grow hot all over once again.

  “Goddamn I love how you taste. Like fresh strawberries.” Velvety warmth, his sex voice and I shudder as it washes over me.

  “Never behave.” I tease as I sink in carefully beside him to snuggle close.

  “Never will, either. Hey, Brynn,” Levi lifts the shoulder I cautiously laid my head out, “Welcome home my queen.” I twist my head and kiss him hard, and deep, not letting up till he grunts in pain.

  “Welcome back home, my king.”

  LEVI

  Awesome blow jobs on the daily could never get old. Making my girl come as best I can while she's giving them ain't half bad, either. What I want is to get back between
her legs, go back home where I belong, deep inside her. Brynn is being too cautious with me, though. I've had about enough of it.

  Four days back home and I haven't fucked my girl once. I have fingered her to at least twelve orgasms. Brynn has swallowed enough of my come I doubt she's hungry. She's also let me paint her perfect tits, and once her face, with it, but it's just not the same.

  I am letting her play nurse because first, it’s hot as fuck. Brynn waits on me hand and foot, in panties and my t-shirts and nothing else. Feeds me my favorite meals, lets me have way more beers than she ever did before and we've watched every baseball game she can find. The second reason? Between sucking my dick and taking care of me, Brynn has been moving in.

  “Can I put this here?” Brynn asked as she adjusted her framed degree on a bookshelf in the living room.

  I don't care where she puts her stuff. All I care is that it's here. Her degree beside my Firefighting and EMT certifications. Her dirty romance books next to my battered copies of S.E. Hinton novels. Her pretty, sexy dresses and skirts next to my basic jeans and t-shirts. Piece by piece, she is building this castle, making it our home.

  “Course you can, honey. I know where that can go, too.” I point towards her plump ass from my perch in my favorite chair.

  “Har. Har.” Brynn giggles though, shaking her ass a little and I groan.

  Yesterday we found out I'm getting some kind of silly award for what happened at the fire. Not that I think saving a tiny baby and a young mother is silly. Just think it's my job and I don't deserve an award for fucking it up. Hunter is the one who got them out of there. Brynn is making room next to her honors awards to ready a spot for it.

  “Come here, honey. Give me something.” I wave her over, emptying my beer as I lean forward to scoop the mail up.