by Aria Cole
She nodded her head.
“You want me here? Inside you? Pushing in and out? Taking all of you? Filling you up?”
“Yes,” she responded breathlessly, the soft release of air going straight to my dick.
“Good girl.” I thrust her thighs apart and bent my head between her legs, trailing my tongue up the wet flesh in one long lick. A groan escaped her as she flung her head back, and my hands locked at her hips to hold her in place. I swirled and nipped at her swollen flesh, tasting her sweet nectar, lapping it all like a man dying of thirst. All that sweet moisture evidence of her desire for me. I caught her stiff little nub between my teeth and slowly dragged away before moving down to her entrance. I thrust my tongue inside and rubbed my nose along her trembling flesh. One palm held her thigh open, the other was placed firmly on her hip, creating another layer of torturous pleasure. I could feel her release begin to build as her body tensed beneath me and her breathing grew ragged. Her clit swelled further as I sucked it between my lips and drew the orgasm out of her.
“I want… I want… Please…” she moaned as I thrust my fingers into her. “Oh, God.”
“I want you all over my face.”
“No, I need you inside.”
“I’m right where I want to be. And I want you to come all over my face, sweetheart.”
“Oh, God,” she moaned again as she slipped her fingers under her nightie and pinched at the sweet little nipple.
“That’s right, sugar. You’re so beautiful, giving yourself pleasure while I eat you.”
Her legs tightened on either side of my head as her body bucked and trembled beneath my hands. One fist clenched in my hair as she held my mouth to her pulsing pussy, riding out her orgasm against my tongue. I continued to lick and suck, taking in all the sweetness she had to give.
“Oh God, oh God, oh God.” Aftershocks pulsed through her system.
“Mmm, tastes like sugar.” I finally pulled away from the best pussy I’d ever tasted, and my tongue darted out to trail across my lips, collecting the last of the arousal gathered there. She licked her own lips as she watched me. My eyes danced with desire and amusement as I took in her post-orgasm body.
“You’ve got to be the most talented man who ever walked the earth.” She hummed when I pulled the nightie down her soft, silky thighs.
“I like the sound of that.” I smacked her on the bare thigh, licking my lips, and savoring the sweet taste of her come. “Now help me whip up some eggs.”
“I don’t do breakfast. I’m a coffee and run kind of girl.”
“I don’t care what you are. I’m a breakfast kind of guy, so get your sweet ass over here and whisk some eggs.” I pulled a carton out of the fridge before turning to catch her narrowed gaze.
“You’re a demanding son of a bitch, aren’t you?”
I could only grin. Demanding, stubborn, determined—those were only a few of my traits. “Christ, I’m gonna miss you today.”
She froze, one hand hovering over the carton. “Why?”
My eyes landed on hers; the anxiety darkening her pupils was like a knife to my back. I’d been dreading this part, and I’d put it off as long as I could, wanting only to enjoy her.
But the fact was, I was the chief. I had to have a presence at the firehouse.
Maybe I’d been selfish asking so much of her. I was married to my job, after all.
“I have to go back to the firehouse today. I’d normally have to do a twenty-four-hour shift, but I moved a few things around so I’m only working twelves the next week. I don’t want to leave you up here all alone. It's fucking killing me, but the guys need me too.”
She nodded, turning back to the eggs. “Right, fighting fires and saving lives. That hero thing you do.”
I could hear the sadness lacing her voice. She didn’t want me to leave any more than I wanted to go.
“I’ll be home by eight tonight. I know it doesn't leave us much time, but I’ve got the weekend off. We’ll do something special—maybe an overnight in Denver? We could go out for a nice dinner—”
“I don’t want that, Blaise. I just want to stay here curled up with you, eat takeout, watch movies—”
“Naked?” A cocky grin broke across my face.
“Definitely naked.” She smiled, sliding up against me then, putting her hands around my neck and planting a kiss on my lips. “I’ll be here waiting when you get home, Chief.”
“Christ.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “I can’t tell you how much I love the sound of that.”
Chapter Eight
Brianna
I perched on the couch, surrounded by Blaise’s comfy and cozy things, the scent of him on the blanket, his coffee mug still in the sink. I loved being around him, being with his stuff, being in his life.
Jinx meowed and jumped up into my lap, curling and purring as he lay down. I put down the book I’d been reading and flipped on the television. The channel was set on the six o’clock news, a raging inferno of a fire blazing on the screen.
I narrowed my eyes, feeling suddenly attuned to all things catastrophic now that I had a search and rescue worker in my life.
“The fire at Raven Meadows Golf Course burns on for the third straight hour…”
The newscaster interrupted, her empathetic words stopping my heart cold.
Raven Meadows was right here in town.
Blaise was probably fighting that fire.
My heart pounded viciously in my chest, my palms itching with sweat before I hauled Jinx off my lap and stood.
Maybe I could call him? Maybe his crew wasn’t out on this fire.
I sidled up close to the television, narrowing my eyes at the grainy live footage.
“Shit.” I pushed a hand through my hair as I realized there were at least a half-dozen fire trucks gathered around a building, flames licking high into the evening sky.
“Fuck.” I pulled my phone from my pocket, finding no missed calls.
Of course, he wouldn't call me before he went out on a run.
Fighting fire was a job, just an everyday occurrence for him.
An everyday occurrence that risked his life.
I hadn’t thought about it in those terms until now, but being with a fireman meant living in a constant state of fear for his safety.
My stomach rolled, feeling like the sandwich I’d eaten for lunch hours ago might come back up.
I didn’t know if I was cut out for this.
What if something happened to him? How would I ever find out? Who would even call the chick sleeping with the fire chief?
I slumped down on the floor, cold hardwood biting into my knees as slow tears trickled down my cheeks.
Could I love a man who was married to saving lives?
Did I already love him?
Something told me it was too late, and the fact that I was sitting on the floor crying in his living room at this very moment felt like confirmation of that.
And so I waited.
I waited.
Minute after minute.
Hour after hour.
The local news updated me every hour on the state of the fire, and by nine p.m., long after he should have been home, they finally announced that it seemed to be under control.
One, two, then three fire trucks pulled out of the parking lot at the country club, but no matter how hard I’d tried, I hadn’t been able to spot Blaise. I’d briefly hoped for a news interview from the firehouse chief, but the reporter hadn’t done that. Or he wasn't there. Or I was just spinning myself out with worry.
And tomorrow was Thursday. I still had to work at the coffee shop.
I groaned, anxiety finally getting the best of my logic before I swiped my car keys off the counter and hurried out the front door.
I had to know he was okay.
I had to know he was safe.
I had to see him.
I crawled into my car that Blaise had delivered after the fire at my apartment, aiming it down the mountain and toward the
Raven County Firehouse.
To him.
I prayed the hardest I’d ever prayed the entire way there.
I arrived at the firehouse twenty minutes later, my heart lodged in my throat and fingers shaking on the old steering wheel. I hardly had the car in Park before I was barreling out of the door. The parking lot was nearly empty, Blaise’s pickup still parked in one corner of the lot.
It didn’t look like anyone was here. Maybe he was still out at the clubhouse. Or maybe something even worse had happened. How would I ever know?
I tapped lightly on the small door that looked like it would lead into the office.
No answer.
I was surprised to find it unlocked, so I took a deep breath and opened it.
Silence.
Only a single light cast shadows across the dark garage. I climbed to the second floor, hoping like hell it was Blaise up there filing last-minute reports or something.
“Blaise?” I called softly.
I heard a door slam from somewhere deep in the firehouse, but I kept climbing, thinking at the very least I could ask whoever was in that room with the light on where the chief was.
I reached the top of the stairs, turned the corner, and ran smack into a wall of pure muscle.
“Brianna?” Blaise’s hands tightened at my elbows. I threw my arms around him, nearly climbing up his body as I held him to me, soft sobs shaking my form. “Baby, are you okay?”
“I saw the fire on the news. I was so scared.”
“Ahh.” He hummed, his hands pushing into my hair, his lips taking mine in a soft, slow kiss before pulling away. “Just got back. I was going to jump in the shower and get this soot off me, but then I decided I’d call you first, let you know I was on my way home. Figured you wouldn’t mind if I came home dirty.” He crooked that sexy side grin at me.
I shook my head. “I don’t mind you dirty at all, Chief Michaels. Long as you’re in my arms, I’m happy.”
He grinned, pulling me against him again. “Me too, baby. Me too.”
I held her like that for a long time, rocking her slowly in my arms, my dirty old boots and sooted-up gear still hanging off my hips. “I love you, Brianna. I love you so fucking much I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Her little fingers fisted in the cotton of my dirty T-shirt, her lips trembling as she whispered into my neck, “I love you too, Blaise.”
My hands trailed down her hips, her soft little body forming to mine like it was meant to be there.
Hell, it was. I was positive of it.
“Y’know, I’ve always wanted to fuck in the front seat of the fire truck.”
Her sweet laugh echoed off the firehouse walls, warming all the lonely chambers of my heart.
“Maybe we should get on that, then.”
“Or in it.” I grinned, sweeping her into my arms and carrying her down the stairs on long strides. “I shouldn’t have left you alone so soon, Brianna. I fucked up. I should have been there for you. Should have told you what my life looks like before I just ran headfirst into the next burning building.”
“It’s okay, I know now. First time is the hardest, right?” she teased, clutching at my neck.
“Right, baby. Won’t make that mistake twice.”
I wouldn't make that mistake twice because I had a plan.
A plan to make her mine.
And I wasn’t about to waste any more time.
Seeing her coming undone worrying about me today was like a bucket of cold water over my head. Anything could happen to either one of us at any time, so I had to make the most of every single second we were given.
I had to get a ring on her finger, and I had to do it now.
First Epilogue
Blaise
“You’re sexy as ever in that dress,” I breathed at her ear. “I can’t wait to get underneath it tonight.”
“Terrible.” She shook her head and dragged me off to the table with the little froufrou cake perched on it. Brianna and I were married exactly two months after meeting. I couldn’t help myself. I had to have that piece of paper and my last name on her if I was going to feel right about us. I’d slipped a giant ring on her finger a few Sunday mornings after we’d met, and she’d thrown her arms around my neck and cried, peppering my cheeks with kisses between her yeses.
I’d been waiting for her; I’d been waiting for this moment. And now it was here.
“I need to get you home,” I growled in her ear just as a server handed us a knife to cut our wedding cake.
She placed her hand over mine, and we sliced through the confection. “Mmm…” she moaned as I pressed a small bite to her mouth.
“Would taste better if I was licking it off your body,” I commented.
“You’ve got such a dirty mind.” She dabbed frosting on my nose and then pressed her body up against mine and whispered the shock of my life in my ear.
I pulled away, my mouth dropping open in surprise as I processed her words. The little secret she’d been carrying. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she watched me.
“How about a few words from the groom?” The DJ pressed a mic into my hands.
I sucked in a few deep breaths, trying to process the new information. Her curves were perfectly encased in all that lace, her soft red waves curled around one shoulder, and those beautiful lips were turned up into a sexy smirk.
I shook my head and ran my hand over my face.
“Sorry. Brianna’s just…dropped a bit of a bombshell on me. Apparently, my wife is… We’re expecting a baby!” Tears burned behind my eyelids as I struggled to hold back the overwhelming emotion. I thrust the mic back into the DJ’s hands as guests cheered. I heard my best friend’s voice above the rest complaining about another Michaels running around town.
I blocked the rest of it out, except for her gaze locked on me. I pulled her into my arms, held her tightly, lifted her off her feet, and kissed her like she was my reason.
My reason for breathing.
My reason for living.
My reason for it all.
My life began with her, and it would end with her—and our baby.
“I love you so fucking much,” I muttered against the soft flesh of her neck.
“I love you too, Daddy,” she whispered. My heart clenched in my chest, and the tears pooled in my eyes. I ran one hand up into her red waves and inhaled her soft scent.
“I can’t wait to get you home and show you how happy I am.”
“I think that’s what got us here in the first place.”
“Brianna…” I groaned into her neck as her soft laugh floated on the air around us.
I snuggled my lady a little tighter in my arms later that night. The festivities of our wedding finally calming down, we’d escaped to enjoy champagne alone—just a sip for her—before I’d slowly peeled that fancy gown off her body. Now curled up in the blankets, our skin sticky with sex and love and sweat, I inhaled a deep breath of her decadent scent. I was so goddamn lucky to have found her. “I can’t wait to see you pregnant, our baby growing inside you…”
She sighed, drawing a fingertip across my naked chest. “And fat and grouchy?”
“Never. You’ll be so pampered you’ll never have to lift a finger. I take care of what's mine, and you’re mine now. Signed, sealed, and now we’re just waiting on this little one to be delivered.” I cupped a palm over her soft belly.
“Boy or girl?” she asked breathily.
“I’d be lying if I said a sweet little girl who looks just like her mommy wasn’t something I wanted. But I’ll take anything. It’s a piece of you and me. I’ll love it as long as there’s air in my lungs.”
I pulled the sheet from between us, curling her leg around my waist and dancing my fingertips across her thigh. The pads of my fingers met the raised flesh of her scar from that night. It’d healed mostly, just a jagged slash of pink remained.
“I think I should get it removed,” Brianna said, always consciously aware of when my finger
tips grazed the marred skin. “Or a tattoo maybe.”
“No way.” I leaned over, placing delicate kisses across the length of the mark. “This is my tattoo on you. It reminds me of the first night we met.” I licked at the soft edges, doting on her in every way I knew how. “This little mark is my brand on you.”
Her fingers whispered through my hair as I crawled up her body, caging her in my arms and pressing soft kisses across her lips. “Love you so damn much, it’d kill me if you changed anything that makes you you.”
“That scar isn’t me,” she protested. “It was the damn cat’s fault anyway.”
I held her head in my hands, hating her self-deprecating words. “That scar bonds us. If I give myself a matching one, will it make you feel better?”
She shook her head, a smile turning up her lips. “Don’t be crazy.”
“I am crazy.” I slipped a hand between her thighs, the rough pad of my thumb working the hot little nub of her pussy. “Completely fucking mad for you.”
Soft little moans drowned out her insecurity, and my lips attached to her neck, her throat, sucking on the succulent flesh until it was red with my attention.
I slowly slid inside her for the second time tonight, soaking in the love she offered so freely.
Brianna was a gift. I’d never once found myself worthy of the kind of love she had to give before now, but she did things to a man. Got inside his head, made him realize just what really mattered in life.
Brianna mattered. Our little creation mattered. Love mattered, and I’d spend the rest of my days protecting both of them.
“You’re so fucking beautiful it hurts to look at you.” I snaked my palms around her bare waist, melding her to me, just where she belonged.
“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Blaise. You saved my life, then you brought me life.” Her words whispering across my ear were like a prayer. A beautiful prayer I’d never get tired of hearing.