by Sherri Hayes
Beth kissed the hollow at the base of his collarbone. “You think you have it all figured out, don’t you?”
“I think I’d go insane if I knew you were sleeping in the same house and I couldn’t be there next to you,” he confessed. Let her take that however she wanted.
“Your parents won’t get suspicious or want to come with us?”
“I don’t think so. Mom doesn’t camp. And Dad’s back gives him issues now and then, so I doubt he’ll want to chance it the night before the big party.” Drew paused. “The only one we really have to worry about is Seth.”
“You think your brother will want to tag along?”
Drew shrugged. “It’s unlikely, but maybe. You never know with Seth.”
“Do you and your brother get along? I know you’ve told me some about when you were kids, but what about now that you’re older? Does he still treat you like you’re his pesky younger brother?”
“I suppose we get along as well as most brothers do. He has his life. I have mine. We don’t exactly travel in the same circles.” Drew preferred physical work and getting his hands dirty. Seth was just the opposite. Drew was pretty sure the only time his brother broke a sweat was in the gym.
“So no meeting for lunch or dinner even though you both live in St. Louis?” she asked.
“Not really. As I said, we both have very different lives and we’re both happy the way things are. I think we’ve met for lunch a handful of times since I moved to the city.”
Beth sighed. “That’s kind of sad. I’m not very close with my siblings either, but that’s mainly because they’re so far away. Still, we e-mail about once a week just to see how each other is doing.”
He knew he shouldn’t ask, but that little voice inside wouldn’t let him leave it alone. “Have you told them about me?”
“Yes.”
Knowing she’d told her family about him made Drew smile.
“Don’t get all cocky on me.” She poked him in the ribs. “It’s not a big deal.”
Whether Beth admitted it or not, it was a big deal. At least, to him.
He slipped his arm around her waist and cupped her ass in the palm of his hand as he tucked her head into his shoulder. It was a near perfect position and he didn’t have any desire to move from it until morning. Drew kissed the top of her head and rested his cheek on her hair. “I’m glad you told your family about me.”
She didn’t say anything for a long time. He thought maybe she’d fallen asleep. Then, in a soft voice she said, “Me, too.”
Chapter 25
When Drew arrived for work on Sunday morning, the station was full of activity. The outgoing shift had recently returned from a fire and everyone was busy cleaning equipment and getting debriefed. As he walked by some of the guys, he thought he heard one of them mention arson, but didn’t get a chance to question it before he heard his name being called.
“Parker!” He looked up to find Chief Franks peering over the second-story railing.
“Morning, Chief.”
“I need to see you in my office at eight sharp.” Chief Franks’ gaze landed somewhere behind him. “You, too, Cameron.”
Willis Cameron, captain of one of the ladder trucks, shot Drew a questioning look as they both headed toward the locker room to stow their things. “Any idea what that’s about?”
Drew shoved his duffel bag into his locker. “I thought I overheard one of the guys downstairs mention arson. I’m guessing another building was targeted last night.”
“Bomb and arson really needs to catch this guy already. What’s it been . . . six buildings now? I wonder if there were any people in this one.”
“I guess we’re going to find out.” Shutting his locker, Drew began walking toward the kitchen with Willis. “And even if this one wasn’t, sooner or later there will be. His luck is going to run out.”
“True that.”
Lucky for Drew, Beth had brought home some of her amazing blueberry muffins on Saturday and he’d enjoyed them and a cup of coffee before leaving her house that morning. She’d gotten up to see him off even though he told her she didn’t have to. Sitting there with her at her table eating breakfast had felt very domesticated to him. It had only been a week and yet it felt as if they’d done the same routine hundreds of times.
Drew smiled as he poured himself a fresh cup of coffee. He was taking his first sip when his crew found him.
“There you are. I thought maybe your big date had worn you out and you’d called in sick.”
Of course, everyone in the kitchen heard Romeo. They all stopped what they were involved in and turned their attention on Drew.
He took his time, taking another drink of his coffee before he responded. “You think I’d let you off that easy, Romeo? Someone’s got to be here to keep you in line.”
Some of the guys chuckled. Romeo was a great guy, but he had the habit of talking first and thinking later.
“Come on, Parker. You’ve got to give us some details here. Let us live vicariously.”
Drew took his coffee over to the table and sat down. Although he still felt protective of his relationship with Beth, he knew it was a lost cause to keep it from the guys he worked with, especially his crew—they were like family. Since he was planning to be with Beth for a long time to come, they were going to have to know about her sooner or later.
Before he could figure out what to say, Baily pulled up a chair beside him. “It’s the café lady, right?”
“Yes.”
Romeo whistled. “Oh man. You’ve got good taste. That is one hot piece of ass.”
Drew gave him a hard stare.
“Oh wow,” Irwin said, finally piping up for the first time. “It’s like that, is it? Better watch what you say, Romeo. Looks like our captain here has it bad for this one.”
Some of the other guys were still paying attention to their conversation. Others were starting to drift out of the room. It was nearing eight and the previous shift was eager to head home—probably to get some sleep since they’d most likely been up all night fighting that suspected arson.
“You should bring her to Romeo’s barbecue,” Baily said.
They all nodded.
Drew shook his head and stood. He still had a few minutes before he had to be in Chief Franks’ office, but he needed a breather from the interrogation. “No can do. I’ll be at my parents’ Monday for their big shindig.”
“I’m surprised you’d want to leave your new girl that long. She may find someone else while you’re gone.”
Romeo thought he was smart, but Drew was about to make clear the position Beth held in his life. He strolled with coffee in hand toward the door that would lead him out to the bay and the stairs to Chief Franks’ office on the second floor. “Not likely since I’m taking her with me.”
He knew there would be a price to pay for that kind of admission, but seeing Romeo momentarily speechless had been worth it. For now he needed to concentrate on his job. Cameron was right. If last night’s fire was by the same arsonist that would mean six buildings had been hit. So far no one had been hurt—not civilian or firefighter—but set fires were always more dangerous. They tended to burn hotter and spread faster than your typical fire. They really needed to catch this guy.
Four hours later, Drew was working on some paperwork while his guys did some general housework around the station. He shifted slightly and was reminded of Friday night when he’d been able to feel the residual effects of Beth’s spanking. His morning had been full between his meeting with Chief Franks and a call about a hydrant not working properly. This was the first opportunity he’d had to decompress.
Every time Beth crossed his mind he would start grinning. It was impossible not to. Drew finally had the kind of relationship he wanted, and with a woman who kept him engaged and interested outside sex. He’d never had that before and he knew, even now, that he was never going to want to give that up. Beth was it for him. He just had to get her to see it, too.
A
knock sounded on the doorjamb causing Drew to look up. Jamison, a private on Willis’ ladder crew, framed the doorway. “There’s someone out front asking for you.”
Confused, Drew nodded and set his pen down to go see who it was. Seth had only dropped by once in seven years, so Drew doubted it was him.
When he rounded the corner, he couldn’t believe his eyes. It was Beth. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She looked uncharacteristically shy. “I hope you don’t mind that I came.”
“No. Not at all.” He pulled her out of the main hall and into one of the side rooms so they could have a little privacy. “I’m just a little surprised. Everything all right?”
Beth reached into her pocket and pulled out a watch. His watch. “You left it on my dresser.”
“Thanks for bringing it to me.” He took the watch and secured it on his right wrist.
“You’re welcome. I didn’t know if you would need it today or not.”
“I’m surprised I didn’t realize it was missing.” Drew was shocked really. It was a gift from his parents upon graduating from the fire academy. He rarely left home without wearing it, and it was as much a part of his work uniform as his dark blue pants and polo shirt were.
“Well, you have it now, so . . .”
Drew was torn. He didn’t want her to go, but he knew she couldn’t stay either. “Do you have any plans for today?”
It was a weak attempt to prolong her visit. “I’m meeting Nicole for lunch, actually.”
He glanced down at his watch. “It’s already after twelve.”
“I know,” she said. “I’m going to be late.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
Beth nodded, and he followed close behind her as she walked down the hallway and out the front door. She turned, hesitating. Beth didn’t act as if she wanted to leave any more than he wanted her to go.
Drew felt her press something into his hand. He opened his palm to find a key.
“Come over tomorrow morning when you get off work.” Although she didn’t pose it as a question, he knew she was really asking.
“Are you sure?” Giving him a key to her house was a big step—especially for her.
“I’m sure.”
Drew searched her eyes to see if he could detect any hesitation or uncertainty on her part. He found none.
Closing his fingers around the key, he slipped it into his pocket. “I’ll try to be quiet.”
Beth took a step toward him. She grabbed a fistful of his shirt in her right hand and twisted, pulling him closer. Her lips were on his before he could think about the consequences. Then there wasn’t much thinking at all as the memory of her mouth and her body against him the night before spread through every muscle of his being.
When she finally detached her mouth from his, she looked up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. “Don’t be too quiet.”
He blinked, and she chuckled before giving him another quick kiss and walking away.
Drew was still trying to get his bearings as he turned to go back inside. That’s when he noticed that they’d had an audience. A handful of guys, including Baily and Romeo, were standing outside the bay watching his interaction with Beth. Ignoring them, he opened the door he’d exited a few minutes before and headed back to his desk. He knew what was coming, but he was going to try to hide from it for a few minutes more. At least until he could get his body’s reaction to that kiss to go away.
***
“I gave him a key.”
Nicole paused with her fork halfway between her plate and her mouth. Her face was completely blank as she stared across the table. Beth didn’t know what to make of her best friend’s reaction to her declaration.
“Would you say something? Am I being stupid?” Beth asked.
It took Nicole another few moments. She returned her utensil to her plate and placed her hands in her lap. “That depends.”
“On?”
“On why you did it.”
At least Nicole didn’t immediately tell Beth that she’d lost her mind. “We’ve spent pretty much all our free time together since our date last Saturday.”
“I know.”
She glared at her friend. “Are you going to let me finish?”
Nicole waved her hand indicating Beth should continue.
“Anyway . . . I was surprised at how much I missed him Tuesday night when he had to work and that was after he’d only spent one night in my bed.” Beth plucked nonexistent fuzz from her napkin. “He has to work tonight and I know I’m going to miss having him beside me.”
Luckily, Nicole caught on to her train of thought. “And you don’t have to work tomorrow so you were thinking he could come straight from his shift and maybe be there when you wake up?”
It was embarrassing to admit, but there it was. “Something like that.”
“Do you regret giving him the key?” she asked. It was just like Nicole to cut to the chase.
Beth sighed. “No.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Everything is moving so fast with him. I mean, we just started dating and I want to be with him all the time. That’s not normal,” Beth said.
Her friend gave her a knowing smile.
“What?”
“You’re falling in love with him.”
She sat up straight in her chair, defiant. “No, I’m not.”
Nicole picked up her drink and brought it to her lips. “If you say so.”
“I can’t be. It-it’s too soon.” When Nicole didn’t respond, Beth asked, “Isn’t it?”
“Only you can answer that, Beth. But let me remind you that while you’ve only been officially dating for eight days, the courtship has been happening for well over a month.”
Beth didn’t comment right away. “How did you know with Jeff?”
Her friend’s eyes lit up at the mention of her man. “We were sitting in his apartment one evening watching a movie. He looked over at me and asked if I wanted any popcorn.”
That didn’t sound like an aha moment to Beth, but what did she know? With Ben, it had been a gradual thing. There wasn’t a single moment she could pinpoint when she’d fallen in love with him. It just sort of showed up one day. “Him asking if you wanted popcorn doesn’t sound all that romantic.”
“It wasn’t. And it wasn’t just the popcorn. But it was at that moment when I realized that he wasn’t like all those selfish guys I’d dated in the past. He was always asking if he could get me anything, or going out of his way to help me relax after a stressful day at work. It was then that I realized we clicked, and that I wanted to be with him long term. Being with him did, and still does, make me happy,” Nicole said.
Beth thought back on her time with Drew. He did make her happy. But was that love or just hormones? She honestly didn’t know.
“Look, you don’t have to take my word for it. One of these days it will just hit you like it did me. You’ll see.”
“And if it doesn’t? What if Ben broke that part of me and I can’t get it back?” It might sound like a stupid question, but in her mind it made perfect sense.
“You gave Drew a key to your house, right?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know I did because me telling you that is what started this whole conversation.”
Nicole picked up her fork and began eating once more. “A month ago you didn’t think you’d be able to trust another man again. You wouldn’t have given Drew a key to your home if you didn’t trust him.”
This was true. Beth did trust him. Whether that trust was misplaced or not remained to be seen.
***
Drew used his new key to let himself in Beth’s front door. He’d hightailed it out of the station as soon as he could, but even still, it was getting close to eight thirty. The house was quiet, so he figured she was still asleep.
Hitching his duffel bag a little higher on his shoulder, he made sure the door was locked behind him, and climbed the stairs. It had been a rough shift. Not because of the calls—
they’d only had two after Beth’s visit—no, it was due to the ribbing he’d endured from the guys. He tried to take it in stride. It was par for the course when you worked with fifteen other guys. The only thing he wanted to do was crawl into bed with Beth and feel her warm body pressed against his.
When he stepped into her bedroom, he was surprised to find her wide-awake and waiting for him. “I thought you’d be asleep.”
“I didn’t sleep all that well last night. It was lonely in this bed all by myself.”
She threw back the covers. It was only then that he realized she was completely naked. He swallowed and dropped his bag.
“Come here, Captain.” Beth spread her legs for him. “There’s something that desperately needs your attention.”
All the innuendo and suggestive comments he’d had to deal with over the past twenty-four hours disappeared as he crawled onto the bed and took up position between her legs. Her pussy gleamed back at him, already moist and ready for his attentions.
“I missed you, Mistress.” He dipped his tongue into her heat and partook.
Beth placed her hand on the back of his head and lifted her hips. “I missed you, too.”
He had no idea what she’d been thinking about before he arrived, but whatever it was had her very wet. Her clit was already peeking out from beneath its hood, and he teased it as he sucked and licked every inch of her within easy reach of his mouth. It was the perfect way to end his shift—start his day—however you wanted to look at it.
Her fingers dug into his scalp as she got closer. He flicked his tongue against her clit in rapid succession because he knew how much she liked that. Drew felt her legs begin to tremble, and then her breath hitched. A moment later, she arched her back and released a high-pitched squeal.
When she glanced down at him still perched between her thighs, he knew he had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Thank you. I needed that,” she said, caressing the side of his face.
“Anytime.”
Beth sat up and stretched.
He was unsure what to do next. Their arrangement said they would only play on his four-day-off stretches, but they’d already discovered that most of their sexual encounters involved some level of kink, even the more vanilla ones. There was nothing he wanted more after eating her pussy than to sink his cock inside her.