Blazing with Love (The Armstrongs Book 12)

by Jessica Gray

  Now kiss me already, she thought, but his face lingered a breath away, giving her all the time in the world to step back, but she simply couldn’t. Caution, principles, rules, were all thrown out of the window, because suddenly kissing him was all she could think about.

  The tension drew out, making her insides roar with anticipation, until she couldn’t resist the magnetic pull anymore and inched her face nearer to his. The next moment his lips crushed over hers, his tongue darting into her mouth. He tasted of wind, salt, and unbelievable pleasure.

  Jules writhed and moaned, gripping his shoulders, pulling him closer to her. She needed to be pressed flush against his hard body, feel his strong arms around her. Tyler’s hands slid down her back, cupping her ass and hoisting her on the seat of the bike, as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. She wrapped her legs around his hips and gave herself over to his kiss.

  Licking, biting, sucking he explored her mouth with lips, tongue and teeth, while one hand kneaded her ass and the other tilted her chin this way and that as he ate at her lips. Quivering with the intense sensations rushing through her, she closed her eyes to absorb everything he offered her.

  A crow carked, destroying the magic of the moment and Jules’ rational brain kicked in again. She broke the kiss and took a steadying breath before she said, “That was nice, but it doesn’t change anything.”

  Tyler tapped her nose. “Then I’ll just have to try harder. One day you’ll accept the futility of your resistance.”

  Good Lord! If he tries any harder, I’m going to melt into a puddle of lust at his feet. “I will never stop resisting,” she said, looking around the beautiful clearing near the lake.

  “I must warn you, I do like to work for my reward.” Tyler grinned and grabbed the picnic basket he’d tucked away inside one of the motorbike’s saddle bags.

  “A picnic? What else do you have in store?”

  “Wait and see. I’m a man of many surprises.” He stretched out his hand to help her across a fallen trunk.

  Jules smiled. She spent most of her working time climbing across much bigger trunks and didn’t need the help, but she still appreciated the gesture and took his hand – if only to feel the zinging tingles his touch produced.

  Not that it helped in any way to calm her nerves, she wasn’t good at that dating stuff. It’s not a date. Just a picnic between friends after two hard days.

  And who exactly do you think will believe that line of bullshit? Her inner voice objected.

  “This is not a date,” she said aloud.

  Tyler turned around, his dark blue eyes scrutinizing her face before he answered, “Okay, what do we call it then?”

  Again, he’d caught her unawares, racking her brain for a suitable answer. “Questions, questions, nothing but questions. Don’t you think it’s my turn to ask something?”

  “Sure, anything you want.” He sent her another one of those devastating smiles that seemed to land straight in her core, causing butterflies on the way and making her want to be bold.

  “Truth or Dare?” she said.

  “If that’s what you want.” They had reached the shore and he unpacked the picnic basket, including a huge beach towel for them to sit on.

  Suddenly she wasn’t so sure anymore, but Jules didn’t back down from a challenge, even if she might not survive the flames of this particular fire unscathed.

  “Where are you from?”

  “That’s an easy one. Los Angeles.” They shed their leather jackets and settled on the beach towel. Then he wrapped his arms around her from behind. Delicious shivers raced through her body. “Me, too.”

  Tyler’s hands moved up and down her stomach, making it difficult to think. His mouth came so near to her neck that she could feel his warm breath on her skin, as he growled, “We’re from the same city. We love doing the same things. We even have the same job. Looks like we have more reasons to hook up than to not.”

  “In your dreams.”

  “Was that a question?” Tyler asked, his tongue doing very distracting things to her earlobe.

  “Yes…no…so what did you dream about last night?”

  “Sure, you want to know?” His lips nibbled on her earlobe and his hands inched up her ribcage.

  She swallowed hard. That must have been the most stupid idea she’d ever had in her life, but admitting it? No way! “Yes.”

  “Hmm. I was dreaming about you. You were standing in front of me with damp hair from the shower, clad only in a towel. I slipped the towel off of your precious body, scooped you up into my arms and carried you over to my bed, where I started worshipping every inch of your glorious, naked body with my mouth and my hands.”

  Her breathing became ragged and a flood of lust washed over her. And just like that, he’d laid her on her back and rained showers of kisses on every exposed inch of skin. His eyes wandered down her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Jules threw caution to the wind and wrapped her hands around his neck, needing to feel his mouth on hers.

  “God Jules, you’re gorgeous,” Tyler murmured between kisses. His hands slipped beneath her shirt and pushed it up.

  “Tyler wait,” she said, sitting up.

  Perplexed by her sudden move, he took his hands off of her body. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I just want to make clear that this is only sex. Pure and simple. To take off the edge we’ve been feeling. It won’t entitle you to any kind of relationship.”

  “I’ll take what I can get, but it won’t keep me from trying harder to make you realize that we’re a match made in heaven.”

  She sighed.

  “Are we still playing Truth or Dare?” Tyler asked.

  “I guess…”

  “Then ask me how much I want you.”

  Despite knowing better, she did what he wanted and asked him the question.

  “I want you more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my whole life, more than I even want to be a firefighter. From the first moment I saw you, you’ve consumed my thoughts and while I have to admit that at first I wanted to have just sex with you, I completely and utterly fell in love the moment you knocked out the drunk in the bar.”

  “…you…you’re serious?” she asked, the love-word terrifying her. How could he claim to love her after such a short time? But deep in her heart she knew the answer, she was just too frightened to admit it.

  “Dead serious. And you…” he pressed a kiss on her head, “…you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I’m willing to wait for as long as it takes for you to realize it.”

  “You don’t have to say that just to sleep with me.”

  “I know.” He smiled. “But I want to say it, because that’s how I feel.”

  To keep him from shattering more of her core beliefs, like true love didn’t exist, love at first sight was a fluke and relationships couldn’t last, she grabbed some grapes and shoved them into her mouth.

  “I’m hungry, too,” Tyler said and settled beside her, carefully keeping his distance as they ate.

  By now Jules had thoroughly convinced herself, this was a bad idea. A very bad idea. Still, she didn’t have the guts to stop what was happening. The tension between them engulfed her, sent tiny little shocks through her veins and the anticipation squeezed her center tight. “Did you bring condoms?”

  For a moment he stared at her, baffled. “Is that your idea of romantic?”

  “I don’t do romance, but I like to be prepared,” she said.

  “As it happens, I do have one or two tucked away in my pocket,” he chuckled. “So, does that mean we’re finished eating and I can make out with you again?”

  “Okay, let’s get it over with so we can get on with our lives,” she said, not really believing her own words.

  “I bet you’ll be singing a different tune once I have you writhing with pleasure.” He licked his lips and pressed them on hers, devouring her mouth in a mind-numbing kiss.

  Writhing with pleasure? What kind of cheesy
line is that? But her thoughts didn’t go further than that as she absorbed the sensations consuming her.

  Tyler grabbed her shirt and pushed it up over her head, taking her bra along with it, before he laid her down on the beach towel. She didn’t care that someone might see them; all she cared about was feeling his calloused hands on her skin. They roamed up and down, kindling a flame she’d never experienced before.

  One hand trapped her nipple between his fingers, rolling, squeezing, pinching. Then his wet mouth closed over her other nipple, his heated tongue teasing it into a tight peak. Jules gasped when his teeth grazed on her delicate skin. The sensation was exquisite.

  “God Jules, I’ve never wanted a woman as badly as I want you,” he murmured when he released her nipple and licked his way down to her jeans.

  She took the opportunity to divest him of his t-shirt and stared in awe at his exposed abs and chest muscles. It’s not like she hadn’t seen them before, but now, so close, she couldn’t suppress a moan and used her hands to roam across his hot skin. “Let me taste you,” she said and changed places with him, coming down on him, licking across his stomach until she reached his jeans and opened the zipper.

  His immense erection sprang out the moment she pushed down his boxers and then she took him deep into her mouth, sliding his shaft in and out of her lips. He rewarded her with a carnal groan. When she kneaded his balls with her hands, he stopped her and said, “Wait. Or it’ll all be over before it started.”

  “Long time without sex?” she asked with a grin.

  “Much too long fantasizing about you every waking moment,” he answered and divested them of the rest of their clothing, before he levered his body across her, pushing one thigh between her own and caging her with his arms.

  “Jules, if you truly believe this attraction between us isn’t something that will last, I’ll never touch you again after tonight, I promise. But I sure hope you’ll change your mind.”

  “Stop talking and just fuck me already.” She arched up against him, rubbing her core against his muscled thigh. He pulled her flush against his body, one hand grabbing her ass and guiding her core to rub up and down his thigh, eliciting groans of delight from her throat.

  “Like that?” he inquired softly.

  “Incredibly. Don’t stop touching me.” Jules raked her nails down his back, gently scratching his skin. Tyler groaned and trailed his fingers across her hips, removing his leg from between hers. His fingertips teased the sensitive inside of her thighs, making her muscles tremble, until they reached the small patch of hair guarding her womanhood. When he delved into the dampness and entered her with two fingers, a whimper of delight escaped her. Within minutes she exploded to the rhythmic rubbing of his fingers. She dug her teeth into his shoulders to keep herself from screaming. When the orgasm washed over her she couldn’t think of a better place to be than in his arms. And maybe, just maybe, not all relationships had to end badly.

  “So sexy,” he murmured as his fingers slid out of her and she took his hand, kissing her own juices from his fingers. He placed kisses across her face and over her collar bone, before he took a moment to sheathe himself with the condom and then poised himself at her entrance, pushing her thighs apart.

  “God, Tyler. I can’t take much more. Would you get inside me already?” Jules whispered brokenly to him, her breath coming in gasps as he kept rubbing his erection up and down her core.

  “Your wish is my command,” he said and finally, deliciously, penetrated her, with one long soft stroke.

  “Slow is nice, but right now, I need hard and fast. Please?”

  He chuckled whispering, “Don’t beg for things you can’t handle.”

  “I’m pretty sure I can handle you.”

  “Point taken,” Tyler said and in the same moment he unleashed his entire passion, pounding into her like a maniac. Jules wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders and hung onto him, countering every of his strokes with a move of her hips. She’d never before felt such a frantic need to be taken. Panting for breath, her body pulsed around him until they came together in one long release. The earth stopped spinning while wave after wave of delicious pleasure rolled over her and she barely noticed when Tyler collapsed on her body, his weight pressing her into the earth beneath.

  “That was…fantastic,” she admitted.

  “It was.” He wanted to roll off of her, but she held him in place.

  “Don’t. Not yet. I like the feeling of having you inside me.”

  He chuckled. “I’ll crush you, sweet Jules.” Then he propped himself up on his elbows to take some of his weight off. “You are amazing—“ Whatever he wanted to say was cut off by the blaring of the alarm.

  Chapter 14

  Damn,” Tyler cursed, digging out their beeper from under a heap of clothing. He glanced at his beeper and frowned. “Not mine.”

  Jules checked hers and said, “Mine. We better hurry back.”

  They put on their shed clothes in two minutes flat and two more minutes later he stored the remains of the picnic in the saddlebag and Jules climbed on the bike behind him.

  Back on base, Jules dashed to the ready room, shedding her civilian clothes for the second time today. When she came out wearing the heavy Kevlar suit, he longed to kiss her goodbye, but since they hadn’t found the time to talk about the status of their relationship, or non-relationship, he opted for simply wishing her good luck.

  Jules joined the team gathered at the truck and his heart squeezed when he saw the woman he loved drive away to fight another wildfire. He knew she could handle it, had all the training required to do the job and survive, but worry still crept into his heart watching the woman he loved drive away into the lurking danger.

  The time dragged on and on and when the night settled, Tyler couldn’t wait any longer and walked over to operations hoping for news about Jules.

  “Hey Armstrong, what’s up?” Chief Carted called out to him.

  “Nothing. Just checking in about the other team. Any news?”

  The chief eyed him curiously and said, “Not good news, unfortunately. Mike, who was on the first team is seriously injured and we sent a medevac. They’ve lost plenty of time with his rescue and meanwhile the fire has roared into gear. The reserve team couldn’t go in as planned, because the fire cut off the access route.”

  “Anything we can do?” Tyler asked, his throat constricted. Jules was on the reserve team.

  “Nothing but wait. Right now, we can’t send in relief, because we don’t know how. If worst comes to worst, we’ll ask for smokejumper support.” The chief saw Tyler’s frowned forehead. “Cooper is fine. She’s done this job for five years.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Everyone at base knows. It’s written across your forehead, and hers too.”

  “And here I thought we were being so subtle.” Tyler chuckled sheepishly at being called out by his superior.

  “Nothing subtle about the way you two look at each other.” The chief paused a moment and said, “None of my business, but she’s a great hotshot. It’s the first time in those five years I’ve seen her falling for a guy. She’s not easy to open up, so don’t hurt her.”

  “I won’t. I’m serious about her, much more serious than I believed I could ever be.”

  “Good. Now get out of my way. Get some sleep in case we need to send in another team early tomorrow morning.”

  “Thanks, chief,” Tyler said and disappeared. It was still too early to go to bed, but since he was driving himself out of his mind with worry about Jules, he might as well hit the bed with a suspense novel.

  But the book didn’t capture his attention. The print blurred every time thoughts of Jules crept inside his worried mind. Caring for a woman so much was a new experience for him. It was exhilarating and frightening at the same time. When his phone rang, he answered without glancing at the caller I.D., “Hello?”

  “Hey, Tyler. How did your date with Miss Wonderful go?”

  “Vivi
an. It was good, really good.” Heat pooled in his groin at the memory of how it had felt to be inside of Jules. “Unfortunately, it was cut short by the alarm going off.”

  “Alarm? So why aren’t you on a fire?”

  “It was her alarm,” he said, feeling the worry creep up his spine again, clutching his heart in a vice grip.

  “Her alarm? What does she do? Is she a medic?”

  Tyler gave a chuckle. “No, she’s a hotshot.”

  “A hotshot? As in firefighting hotshot? One of those crazy people my crazy brother Tyler decided to join, jumping out of airplanes into roaring wildfires?”

  “No, that would be smokejumpers. We usually go in by truck, or sometimes by airplane if it’s far away.” He thought for a moment and then asked, “Are you worried when I’m on a fire?”

  “Worried? Crazy with fear, every single time. When I hear a fire engine horn I instantly think of you and send a prayer to heaven to keep you safe. But I’m also proud as hell that my brother is such a hero.”

  “Wow. I had no idea, not until today,” he said in a pensive voice.

  “And what happened today?” Vivian asked.

  “Jules happened. She got called to a fire and I’ve been barely able to function with worry for her.”

  “You really got it bad for her,” Vivian said, laughing as if she’d known it the entire time. “But you’ll get used to it. Now tell me about her. How does she look? Where’s she from? What does she do off-season? How was your date?”

  “Hey, slow down. That’s a heck of a lot of questions in one single breath.”

  “Okay, so what’s she like?” Vivian asked.

  “She’s gorgeous. A fighter. And she’s the best team leader I’ve ever worked with. Her intuitive knowledge about the fire is stunning—“

  “She’s your boss? Say that again!” Vivian interrupted him.

  “Technically, no. Chief Carter is my boss, but every team has a leader when deployed, and she’s one of them,” Tyler explained.

  “I can’t believe this.” He thought he heard his sister flopping down, but that could be his imagination. “You…you’re falling for a girl who’s not only a firefighter, but also your boss? What’s happened to you? Weren’t you the one who said, ‘the less brain cells the better to screw’?”