Caught In Flames

by Natalia Banks

  Chapter 22

  Kyle

  T he hurt in her eyes as she called me an asshole and turned to leave is forever burned into my thoughts. Fuck. I didn’t think things would get this messy. I wish I’d put her up in a hotel in town rather than my home. Hell, I wish I’d never met her. That I’d walked away that day .

  No, no I don’t. But this shit sucks .

  But whatever idiot said that it’s better to have loved and lost than never loved at all got it all wrong .

  I head back to my room to start packing, trying to figure out what to do. I could go stay in town. I mean, I doubt she’s going to clean my house out. She’s had chances. But I don’t feel like she’s a threat .

  Not to my stuff, at least .

  Mid packing, I hear my phone ring and stop to answer it. It’s Em. “I wanted to let you know the mare is doing well,” she said, her voice light and happy. Way happier than it had been before Kieran came into her life .

  “Thanks,” I say, my tone as flat as I feel .

  “What did you do?” she asks, and I hear her disproval .

  “What are you talking about?” I ask, wondering what she’s accusing me of now .

  I hear her sigh on the other end of the line. “I can hear it in your voice. You did something stupid. You didn’t hurt Victoria, did you?” Her tone shifts to anger .

  I say nothing, but that doesn’t help .

  “Kyle,” she says, her tone sharp. “You fix it right now .”

  “Why?” I say, suddenly angry that she’s taking Victoria’s side without even knowing what’s going on. “Look, she’s going to move on with her life. And when she does, I’ll be standing here alone .”

  There’s a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. “You love her, don’t you?” Em asks .

  “No.” The clipped answer is too quick, I know it .

  And Em isn’t buying it. “Oh, Kyle, you really have to fix it. Tell her how you feel .”

  “No, Em. I’m not going to ask her to live her life around me. She’ll leave when she wants to.” I’m not going to try to guilt her into staying with me because I was too stupid to keep myself guarded around her .

  Somehow, she worked her way under my skin, and I let her .

  But Emma isn’t letting go. Like a dog with a bone, she starts playing with me. “I’m so glad! She’s such a sweet girl. If you don’t fix this, I’ll get involved, and trust me,” she says with an un-lady like snort, “That’ll be way more humiliating than telling her you’re sorry for whatever shitty thing you said to her .”

  “You’re not going to do anything,” I tell her. I don’t need Emma to get involved in my life. I don’t need her to try to shoulder her way in now .

  “Oh, come on,” Em says, her voice lighthearted. “I love her. You love her. I bet she loves you. Can you just swallow your pride for once and tell her you love her ?”

  “No, Emma,” I say, anger filling me at her pushing. “I won’t tell her I love her. Because it’s not fair of me to expect her to live her life around me. She left to get a fresh start, not to be bound to the first guy she met .”

  This time, the sharp intake of breath comes from behind me and I turn to see Victoria studying me, her brown eyes wide and shocked .

  “God damn it,” I say, hanging up on Emma .

  “That’s why you did it,” She says, her voice a startled whisper. “Because you want to save me from myself. Or you. Whatever.” Her face goes puzzled a moment before settling back into a place of knowing .

  “Don’t read too much into it,” I say, my anger shifting to her. “I was just trying to get Emma off my back .”

  To my surprise, Victoria shakes her head. “Nope,” she says, her light brown hair swishing around her shoulders. “You were telling the truth. Now you’re lying to me. To protect me, I think .”

  She turns around, her voice flowing back to me. “Why don’t you let me make my own choices ?”

  I follow her out into the living room. “Why don’t you let me make mine?” I say and she turns around, her expression shadowed by sadness .

  “Don’t do this,” she says, her eyes slashing back and forth between mine .

  “What? Tell you how I really feel?” I ask, leaning back on the counter as I prepare to break her heart into as many shards as I can .

  “But it’s not how you really feel,” she says, her expression troubled .

  Part of me feels bad for lying to her, but most of me is still sure I’m doing the right thing. She needs to move on, and not settle for the first person who is kind to her. I’m not her knight in shining armor. I’m not the prince charming that’ll make her dreams of love and romance come true .

  I’m just another monster wearing sheep’s clothing. “Oh, sweets ,” I say, packing the word with as much venom as I can, “I can’t wait for your dog to be healed enough for you to get the fuck out of my house and let me get back to fucking women and sending them on their way in the morning .”

  Her eyes widen .

  “That’s right, princess. I don’t even generally call them again… unless they were amazing in the sack and I decide I want to fuck them again.” As I speak, I see her shudder. Her repulsion is exactly what I’m going for. I bet she’s a damn virgin. A sweet, delicate thing unable to even handle the thought of a man fucking lusty bitches .

  Still, something in me tells me I’m going about this all wrong. That I’m flirting with disaster. That she needs me to be better, needs me to be patient .

  But she doesn’t seem to hesitate. “Do it then,” She says, lifting her arms to the sides .

  “What?” I ask, taken aback. What is she talking about ?

  “Fuck me, then,” she says, the challenge clear in her eyes. “You want me to go so you can get laid. So fuck me. Then you won’t be missing out .”

  Chapter 23

  Victoria

  H e’s staring at me like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious or just messing with him. Then he looks away .

  “I thought so,” I say. Suddenly, he closes the distance between us and he’s kissing me. But this kiss isn’t sweet or gentle, no, he’s kissing me like he’s punishing me .

  And it’s amazing .

  A muffled moan leaves me and his tongue slips between my lax lips. He can have whatever he wants. I’m not going to struggle. I want this. I’ve wanted this for a while, and knowing he has feelings for me changes nothing .

  Well, that’s not true. It makes her sure I’m right. That this is perfect. That this man, as imperfect as he is might just be perfect for me .

  I feel like my body is melting into him as he pushes me further. His tongue dances around mine and I whimper, feeling my knees tremble like they’re going to give out on me. His arm circles my ribs like steel and he holds me upright as his tongue continues to plunder my mouth like I’m a prize he’s won .

  And it feels good .

  My arms wind around his neck and I cling to him, feeling like a starving woman tasting ambrosia for the first time in forever. It’s like coming home and finding perfection all at once. Every inch of my skin is alive, my heart is slamming, and my head is swimming .

  The lightheaded sensation isn’t unpleasant, though. It feels right .

  His hand slips down the front of my pants and I feel his fingers questing in the delicate vee between my hips. And I can’t help but moan in pleasure as he expertly parts my flesh and strokes my clit in a long, gentle motion that sends my body lighting up like a Christmas tree. I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want him, right now .

  “Oh, Victoria,” he growls, his teeth capturing my lower lip .

  All I can manage is a strangled moan of pleasure as my head falls back. He takes advantage of the access to my throat and begins to taste my flesh here and here, sending tingling pleasure throughout all my nerve endings .

  My hips buck against his fingers as I beg for more with a pitiful, shameless whimper .

  Suddenly, he’s stroking me quicker, my h
eart is hammering my ribs, and I feel faint. I’m hanging on the edge of something incredible, but it’s just out of reach .

  And I feel Sentinel’s whimper .

  Instantly, Kyle’s balancing me on my feet, his hand gone from the delicate button of pleasure between my legs. “You okay?” he asks me gently and I nod .

  “Yeah,” I say, then I call out to Sentinel. “Hey boy .”

  He whimpers and I hear the pain in the sound. Kyle drops to his knees as Sentinel comes in. “He popped a couple stitches,” Kyle says, scooping Sentinel up in his arms. I head toward the front door, knowing he wants to get him over to the office to stitch him back up .

  We’re quick to cross the parking lot. Kyle tilts his hips as we halt before the door. “Keys, right front pocket,” he says and I reach into his pocket and pull out the keys. I unlock the door and open it for him .

  “Code 4372,” he says and I hurry over to the box. I punch in the code and rush back to turn on the lights for him. He’s got Sentinel on the table .

  “Stay,” he tells him and Sentinel lays down, placing his head on his front paws as he watches Kyle move around and get ready. Kyle washes his hands and I follow suit. He gets supplies out and I dry my hands before walking over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him .

  He takes the wicked, fishhook-looking needle and threads it. I see where the stitches popped and see some ooze and blood coming from the spot. “Can you help me?” he asks, his blue eyes serious as he looks at me .

  “Yes,” I say, hoping he trusts me when I say that I can .

  He nods. “Glove up,” he says I pull on a set of latex gloves. “I need you to dab up the blood with some of those sterile pads,” he says, and I do so. Sentinel lets out a little whimper and I tell him to shush. We need the quiet, I need to hear every order Kyle gives me. It’s more important than comforting Sentinel right now. He’ll feel better when we’re done and I’ll give him a treat for being good .

  With the blood clean, Kyle snips the snapped stitches and pauses to let me dab the fresh blood. I clean it up again and he quickly sews a couple neat stitches and ties them off. I dab blood and he snips the thread .

  “Perfect,” he says, looking down at me with something that’s a bit too close to respect for comfort. “You did amazingly well. I might have to hire you on,” he says and warm pleasure washes over me .

  “Thank you,” I say, but can’t help teasing him a little bit. “But then you’d never be rid of me .”

  And I decide it’s time to own up to my own mistakes. “Sorry I called you an asshole. You’re not. And I know why you did it .”

  He stiffens a bit and I decide to open up to him a little. “I regret all the things I missed, but I’m not excited to experience life on life’s terms. Plus, Love doesn’t have to look a certain way. It just has to feel right .”

  At the word love, his eyes meet mine and lock on with the most intense stare he’s given me yet. And I know why. And I’m strong enough to say it .

  “Yes, I love you. I know I’m crazy. I’m not supposed to say it because it’ll scare you away,” I pause to shake my head at myself. “But I’d like you to give me a chance to decide what I want.” My voice grows stronger as my courage rises word by word. “And I’d like you to be honest with yourself about what you want, too .”

  Chapter 24

  Kyle

  I don’t know what it is about this girl, but she’s fucking amazing. In every way. She knew we needed Sentinel quiet. Rather than coddle him and baby talk him like most owners do when their dogs are upset, she put her emotions on the back burner and got him quiet .

  Now, she’s telling me she loves me. That she’s crazy for telling me and risking screwing things up. That I need to let her decide for herself what she wants. That I need to be honest with myself about what I want .

  But it’s not that easy .

  “Where were you running to?” I ask and she stops talking as surprise overtakes her features .

  Her brows come together over an adorable wrinkle in her forehead and she scrunches up her face a little. “Don’t you mean what am I running from?” she asks, her voice confused .

  I shake my head. “You’ll tell me that when you’re ready. Or you won’t. But I’m not interested in where you came from, but where you’re going .”

  To my surprise, her eyes begin to tear up a little. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” She says, and I feel a bit bad for her. The world has been so unkind to this girl .

  “Why don’t we have some lunch?” I say as she nods. I scoop up Sentinel and set him on his feet. We head out of the office and toward home, my heart feeling lighter than it did before Sentinel forced us to work together .

  He walks next to us, his tongue lolling out as he looks up at his owner with adoration. I feel like it’s the same look I’ve been giving her. Once we’re back in the house, all I can think about is where we’d left off to help Sentinel .

  She’d been so sweet, bending to my will, melting under my kiss, bucking into my touch. I see her cheeks flame red and know she’s thinking about it too. We’re quiet as I start prepping lunch .

  A knock at the door makes me groan internally. Who the hell would be bothering us right now ?

  “Want me to answer it?” Victoria asks quietly and I nod .

  “Sure. I’m not expecting anyone.” But I have a feeling I know who it is .

  But Victoria is feeling silly. “I did. I invited only fifty of my closest friends. Hope you don’t mind.” She heads out of the room toward the front door and I can’t resist shouting at her .

  “I know you don’t have friends .”

  “Jerk!” She shouts back as she opens the front door. “Oh, hi,” I hear her say in surprise and the voice that greets her is unmistakable .

  “Victoria!” Emma says and I turn in time to see the woman I loved hugging the woman I love. It’s an odd feeling, knowing that Em no longer fills that spot in my heart. She’ll always keep a piece of it, perhaps, but she’s no longer the one my sun rises and sets with .

  Over Victoria’s shoulder, Emma glare at me. I smile and wave. Until Kieran steps over the threshold. Instantly, I stop and stalk toward him. I don’t want that bastard in my home. He’s not welcome here .

  I see Emma silently begging me to stop, but I push past her. And Victoria’s fingers link with mine. She gives a little tug and I look down at her. Her eyes lock on mine and I see her silent request. She wants me to play nice .

  I guess I will. This once .

  And she seems to know it. Her lips curve into a beautiful smile and she turns to Kieran, who’s watching both of us very closely. I want to tell him he’s here on her grace, so he better keep it in line, but I don’t bother .

  “I was getting lunch together. Are you hungry?” I ask my brother. He elevates his chin a bit as if realizing this is the first time I’ve acknowledged him since we fought at Emma’s house and I told him what I really thought of him .

  “Yes,” he says, his blue eyes locked on mine. And I see hope there. Hope that we can fix things, that we can be brothers in more than name once more .

  I’m not there. But I’ll refrain from poisoning him .

  I head back into the kitchen as Victoria and Emma talk about the mare. “Where’s Olivia?” I ask Kieran. I’m curious how my niece is doing. He follows me as the women walk into the living room .

  “At a friend’s house,” he tells me, his eyes sparkling .

  “So what’s up with you two?” He asks, and I shake my head. Victoria’s off limits for now. I have to tell her how I feel before I tell anyone else. I owe her that .

  But, as Kieran stares at me, I know he knows. “Man,” he says, leaning back on the counter, “Once it happens, you’re just along for the ride, trust me. Fight all you want, but you’re screwed.” He flashes me an easy grin and I realize I missed him. We were close growing up. All three of us brothers .

  And while I’ll never forgive Kieran, I can admit – to
myself – that maybe he only did what he thought was right. As fucked up as it was, he was only working on his flawed perspective. And that’s the downfall of life; we’re all only doing the best we can with the limited information presented to us .

  “So how are things with you and Emma?” I ask, finally able to think about it without being angry at him for ripping her away from me .

  Kieran smiles. “We’ve got news,” he says softly and I arch an eyebrow at him. “I’m not supposed to tell,” he says, but I see his eyes dancing with excitement. “But brother’s honor,” He says, taking me back to us as children, sharing secrets we were told not to tell. This was how he’d told me the first time he kissed Jenny, how Sandy let him get a hand under her shirt, how he admitted he’d gone all the way with Laura .

  Now, he’s just as giddy about whatever adult news he’s got, and I’m remembering a time when we trusted each other. When we’d loved each other .

  “Brother’s honor,” I say softly and his grin widens .

  “We’re pregnant !”

  Chapter 25

  Victoria

  “I ’m supposed to be keeping it a secret,” Emma says, peeking past me into the kitchen where the guys are as she lowers her voice to a tiny whisper. “I’m pregnant !”

  Joy fills me and I realize I’m much more deeply emotionally invested in these people than I thought I was. “Congratulations!” I whisper, trying to keep my voice down despite the excitement bubbling up in me .

  “I wonder if they’re killing each other yet?” Emma asks, her neck craning so she can look past me .

  I smooth my hands over my knees. “I think we’d hear something if they were,” I say, realizing that maybe it was a bad idea to let them go into a room full of knives alone together. “Let’s go see if they need help,” I suggest and she’s quick to agree. I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing I am as we creep toward the kitchen .