Flames 0f Love (Firefighters 0f Long Valley Book 1)

by Erin Wright

  Sweaters, shirts, boots, snow pants, socks (three pairs on her tiny feet alone) were shed and flung recklessly about his living room.

  Finally, he was left wearing only his stretchy jockey shorts that felt like they were at the limit of their structural integrity. Sugar was still covered in her long underwear, though Jaxson didn’t really mind because the thin black layer clung to her curves tightly. The midnight fabric was silky to the touch and transparent enough to show off her lacy bra and matching panties.

  He felt the tugging at his jockey shorts as he looked at her. He knew he was going to have a wardrobe malfunction of his own if he didn’t get this woman into bed quickly.

  Taking her by the hand, he ran the ten feet down the short hallway of the apartment, tugging her along with him, her magically melodic giggle propelling him along. Dashing through the door to his room, he swung his arm and flung her toward the bed.

  Amazingly graceful, Sugar followed along with his direction, spinning around him and jumping lightly backwards onto the bed in one movement.

  Jaxson was on top of her as soon as she landed, her body warm against his. His soul felt like it was molding into him as he leaned in to kiss her again. Despite the frantic undressing, he allowed them the time to soak in the moment. There was something different about the intimacy of commitment, and Jaxson reveled in the change. It was both comforting and exciting to know that this was more than just temporary entertainment.

  “Mmmmm,” Sugar moaned into his mouth and then pulled away to admire him. “I need you.”

  Jaxson did not disagree with the idea and let his hands answer her. He slid them over her silk-covered body until he found the edge of her top. His fingers slipped under the thin fabric and pressed against her skin. She was on fire and he soaked in the feeling of her body rising and falling as her breathing increased rapidly.

  He worked his hands further up her body, feeling the light fabric gather around his wrist as he moved. He found his way between her marvelous breasts, exploring the rise and fall of her body. She sucked in a breath at his touch and he grinned to himself.

  She was, undoubtedly, the sexiest woman he’d ever known.

  His calloused fingers rubbed over her hardened nipples lightly as he moved his hand. He loved the way she shuddered.

  Finally, Jaxson slipped his other hand under her delicate back and helped her to a sitting position. Pulling his hand from under her bra, he managed to keep hold of the fabric he’d gathered. Sugar lifted her arms as he pulled the thin base layer off over her head. Once again, the clothing went flying to parts unknown as Jaxson focused his attention on the lacy bra that was slightly askew over her tits.

  He encircled her with his arms as his fingers worked the set of small hooks with surprising dexterity.

  His body responded to the sight of her freed breasts. He wanted to devour her. He wanted to take her right then and there, but he contained himself. She would want this to be a slow and romantic moment, and he needed to be willing to oblige her, no matter how painful it was. And God, was it painful. He began slowly making his way across her body, dropping little nibbling kisses here and there, trying to slow himself down.

  He could do this. He would do this. He’d give her what she needed, and nothing less.

  Sugar reached out, her hand flashing as she caught hold of his shaft. “Baby, this slow parade is great and all, but sometimes, a girl wants to ride her firetruck across town at a hundred miles an hour with the siren blaring.”

  Jaxson laughed at her ultra-specific metaphor before pouncing on her; hands, tongues, legs, and arms intertwining at a frantic pace. The touches were too many and too frequent to catalog. They kissed passionately and rolled from one side to the other until finally, Sugar won out, straddling him triumphantly.

  Pinning his shoulders to the bed with her hands, she lifted her hips. The look on her face was that of pure, unadulterated, sinister glee. Jaxson watched her eyes, the brown color taking on a flaming quality as she lowered herself back down. She slid over him, her aim perfect and confident as she captured his entire length in a single motion.

  Jaxson’s eyes closed as he took in the sensation of heat radiating through his skin, her body holding tightly to him. Despite wanting to ride her “firetruck” across town, he allowed himself a moment to fully appreciate this feeling.

  Sugar was on her own schedule, though, and began lifting and falling on top of him. She slid perfectly over him until her full weight – not that it was much – rested on him. She then lifted off him again. Each set of movements was quicker than the one before.

  Jaxson reached out, placing his hands on her hips and letting his arms match her rising and falling. His eyes were fixed on her amazing tits that bounced and jiggled in time to the rest of her body.

  He’d never seen such a glorious sight in all his life.

  “Oh yes. Oh yes, oh yeeeesssss!” Sugar screamed as her body went rigid. He could feel her thighs tightening against his hips. He let her have the time she needed, enjoying her experiencing pleasure.

  Finally, she relaxed and collapsed against him. She panted for breath and her skin stuck to his as their sweat mingled together.

  Jaxson waited for a couple more moments. When she began to lift her hips up and down in small strokes, he took it as his cue. He rolled to the side and Sugar giggled as he unseated her.

  She looked confused for just a moment when he grabbed her hips and rolled her back toward the middle of the bed, putting her on her belly. He lifted her hips and her legs immediately folded into place underneath her.

  Propping herself up with her arms, she looked over her shoulder with that same fiery look and then shook her ass at him.

  He felt the same devilishness overtake his face as he gripped her and pushed his hips forward into her.

  “Oh hell yes,” Sugar screamed as he slid inside of her. He flexed his fingers, digging into her. “Oh God yes, baby please!”

  He’d never been with a woman who talked during sex. Her open indication that she was enjoying herself heightened the experience.

  He slid himself back and then forward again.

  “Harder,” she begged and he responded. He pulled her quickly to him and shoved his hips forward with more power. “Harder,” she pleaded again, and once more he obliged.

  This continued. With each thrust, she begged him to be rougher with her. He continued to increase the strength he used until it felt like he was hammering away at her tiny body. Their bodies moved so fast, the room filled with the sound of skin slapping against skin.

  Each smack spoke to a primal part of him. This was the one woman he wanted. He wanted to know her. To feel her. To protect her. She was becoming everything to him and each thrust cemented the feeling firmer and firmer within his being.

  Jaxson felt the tension building inside of him. He mentally begged himself for the sweet release he knew was imminent. One or two more thrusts, and he would be there.

  “Yeeeeesssssss!!!!” she hissed through gritted teeth. Her head flung backward as her body tensed, his body following suit. Their muscles tightened and they were pinned together as the waves of joy crashed over them.

  Finally, they slumped forward, collapsing onto the mattress and each other. Once again, their bodies stuck together as the sweat of their exertion mingled.

  “Don’t let me…” Sugar panted, “ignore my alarm in the morning. Whatever you have to do, make me get up.”

  “Okay,” was all he could get out before she was asleep. Jaxson didn’t know where her phone was and hoped it wasn’t buried in a pocket of a coat out in the living room, because then he would never hear it.

  His eyes were heavy and his soul was calm as he lay there, half covering her body with his. He felt the warm weight of sleep stealing over him when his nose perked up. The telltale smell of smoke tickled his nostrils and his eyes flew open.

  Jaxson took another sniff of the air. He forced himself to have a full grasp on the situation before he went into “action”
mode. It was a light smell. It was like the dust burning off the heater the first time a furnace was fired up for the year, but the heat had been on for months now.

  He sniffed again. The smell was a bit fuller now. He gently pulled himself away from Sugar, certain that he could handle this without waking her. He found his feet and followed his nose. He didn’t have to go far.

  In the corner of his bedroom, Jaxson had a lamp next to the dresser. It was a fake-brass thing about five feet tall that he’d found at a thrift store. Sugar’s silk base layer shirt had landed on the shade and was starting to smoke from the heat of the bulb.

  Jaxson pulled the thin fabric off the lamp and inspected the small hole that had started to form. Pleasure has its price, he thought to himself, grinning as he dropped the shirt to the floor.

  He took one more look around the room and was about to head back to bed when he realized light was spilling through the door from the living room. He gave an internal sigh and walked out to shut off the light.

  He found that in all the excitement, both he and Sugar had forgotten there were three people in the apartment – technically Hamlet was a dog, but pets were family, too. The Great Dane had occupied his time by gathering all of their winter clothes into the center of the living room and making himself a bed. His usual spot on the left side of Sugar’s sleeping form was not going to be, and Hamlet had obviously realized that.

  Jaxson smiled at the dog’s ingenuity and stepped into the small kitchen. He grabbed a large bowl and filled it with water. Hamlet looked up from his makeshift bed with a grateful look as Jaxson set the bowl on the floor.

  Heading back to the bedroom, flipping the light switch as he went, Jaxson made a mental shopping list. Gigantic dog bed, enormous bag of dog food, and massive water and food bowls.

  Crawling back into his bed, he found that Sugar had curled into a tight ball. Jaxson wrapped himself around her, falling in love just a little more with how well her size complimented his. He felt his soul relax, and he let sleep take ahold of him.

  Chapter 26

  Sugar

  There was a noise and Sugar couldn’t figure out what it was and she was hitting, slapping, thumping to make it go away, and then she was drifting in a sea of warmth and happiness, snuggled up against this hard, long, warm thing…

  “Sugar…” Someone was whispering, shaking her shoulder, and she burrowed down further under the covers. It was so perfect, right where she was at. She never wanted to move. She could stay here forever.

  They were asking her something and she couldn’t understand the words. “The heat is in the covers,” she explained. There, now they’d leave her alone.

  Except, they were shaking her again. “Sugar, you gotta wake up.” This time, she realized it was Jaxson’s voice. Why was Jaxson talking to her?

  Hold on, why was Jaxson in her bed?

  She shot straight up, clutching the sheets to her as she looked around the room, completely disoriented. “Where…what…?” She shoved her hair behind her ear and looked over at Jaxson. “Where are we?” she asked.

  He used the pad of his thumb to wipe some dried drool off her cheek. “My apartment. You spent the night.” He handed her phone over – he must’ve retrieved it from her jacket after it started going off – and she groggily took it from him.

  She looked around again, things slowly starting to come back to her. “Oh. Right. We came back here after our walk…” She trailed off as she remembered everything that had happened the night before, a blush climbing in her cheeks.

  He sent her a lascivious grin, obviously remembering too. “Your alarm went off, and you told me last night to tell you this morning that if you ignored it, that you’d have to do the walk of shame to work, wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and to not let this-morning’s-Sugar get away with that.”

  She sank back into the mattress, stretching and smiling drowsily. “That sounds like me,” she mumbled, her face sinking back into the pillow. Jaxson had the best pillows. She needed to ask him where he got them from. In just a minute, she would. She just needed to close her eyes for a moment longer…

  Then a whoosh of cool air flowed over her as Jaxson threw the covers back, exposing her naked body to the brisk morning air. “Aack!” she yelped, jackknifing upright in bed again.

  He grinned at her unrepentantly. “I’m just following orders, ma’am,” he drawled. “Your orders.”

  Her eyes drifted closed again as she stuck her tongue out at him. She felt for the edge of the bed, deciding that she could edge towards it with her eyes closed safely enough when suddenly, she was hitting the floor with a crash, her eyes popping open with surprise. His face appeared above hers, peering down at her worriedly. “You okay?” he asked.

  She rubbed her elbow where she’d smashed it on the floor. She really ought to start trying to get out of bed in a way that didn’t involve a face-plant. She reached over and grabbed a couple of scattered pieces of clothing so she could start pulling them on.

  “You’re one of those dreadfully cheerful people in the morning, aren’t you?” she mumbled as she pulled the first of her many layers on. She’d come here dressed with more layers than a trip to the North Pole would require, and putting them all back on seemed…exhausting. “The kind I love to hate?”

  He was still hanging over the edge of the bed. “Yup!” he said cheerfully, rubbing it in. Sugar glared at him, but before she could force her brain to come up with some sort of response, Hamlet showed up. He wasn’t much more of a morning person than she was, but having finally realized that they weren’t going to shut up and let him sleep in peace, he trotted over and began giving her face a bath, happy to welcome her to the land of the living.

  “Hammllleeeetttt,” she chided him, pushing him away. “We are brushing your teeth tonight. I do not have enough coffee in me to deal with that much doggie breath.”

  He wagged his tail excitedly. Come to think of it, he wagged his tail excitedly about almost everything. It was one of his most awful personality quirks.

  Granted, Sugar loved this personality quirk when she was more awake, but at…she peered at the alarm clock on Jaxson’s nightstand…4:48 in the morning, she quite hated it.

  And didn’t feel even slightly bad about it.

  Finally, after an expedition into the living room where she retrieved the rest of her clothing from Hamlet’s makeshift bed, she managed to get all of her layers on. She was quite proud of herself for that minor miracle, really. She looked over to see that Jaxson was dressed too – when that’d happened, she wasn’t quite sure. She was sad she’d missed seeing his naked body in the process. And then they were heading out the door, Hamlet happy to find a bush to do his own morning routine.

  “I’d drive you back to your place,” Jaxson said ruefully, “but I left my Explorer at the bakery all night. If the rumors weren’t swirling before, they’re surely full steam ahead now.”

  “If it wasn’t such a bright green, it wouldn’t stand out so much,” Sugar pointed out as they began heading back to her place. For once, she was very glad to live in such a small town. Nothing was too far from anything else. The bakery, her apartment, his apartment, the park…in a normal-sized town, each destination could be a half hour away from each other, instead of just a couple minutes’ walk.

  There were benefits to living in a small town, even if they weren’t always readily apparent.

  “Chloe told me the same thing,” Jaxson said with a laugh. “In Boise, it didn’t really matter as much. Around here, a person’s vehicle really seems to matter to people.”

  “Oh yeah,” Sugar agreed. “Like the fact that you even own an SUV is strange. I can’t name another guy in town who drives something other than a truck.” They were nearing her apartment now and despite the bitter cold air, Sugar still didn’t want to hurry. She was enjoying herself, which she didn’t think was possible before her third cup of coffee.

  “Trucks aren’t real practical for kids,” Jaxson said, shrugging. “There are
those quad cabs, of course, but they’re monsters. When you’re in heavy traffic, you don’t want to drive something that big.”

  Sugar cocked an eyebrow at him. “Exactly my point,” she drawled. “Sawyer isn’t exactly bursting with cars whizzing by.”

  He looked around, surprised. “You know, I don’t think we’ve seen a single car since we started on our walk,” he said, the surprise evident in his voice.

  “It’s five o’clock in the morning,” she pointed out. “Where do you think people would be going at this hour of the day?”

  Jaxson shrugged. “Even at three in the morning in Boise, there was always someone out on the road.”

  “Like hookers and drug dealers?” Sugar asked dryly.

  “Hey, you’re the one with a name like ‘Sugar,’” he protested. “That makes you the closest I’ve ever been to a hooker.”

  She let out a belly laugh at that, and then sobered up and punched him in the shoulder.

  “Oww!” he yelped, rubbing the bruised spot dramatically. “What was that for?”

  “My name is not the name of a hooker,” she informed him primly, as she opened her front door and Hamlet shot inside, happy to be home. “And you best remember that if you ever want to get laid again.”

  She shut the door in his surprised face and then leaned against it with a small giggle. It was rather fun messing with Jaxson Anderson’s mind, turned out. He was going to spend the day worried that he’d somehow offended her, when the truth was, she’d long ago quit being touchy about her name. One couldn’t be “blessed” with a name like Sugar, be touchy about it, and still retain their sanity. It simply couldn’t be done.

  But that didn’t make it any less fun to mess with Jaxson’s mind over it.

  Chapter 27