by L. Nicole
Steamy
L Nicole
Copyright © 2020 by L. Nicole
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including but not limited to being stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, groups, businesses, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
WARNING: This book contains sexual situations, violence and other adult themes. Recommended for 18 and above.
Created with Vellum
Contents
1. Gabe
2. Riley
3. Gabe
4. Riley
5. Riley
6. Gabe
7. Riley
8. Gabe
9. Riley
10. Gabe
11. Riley
12. Gabe
13. Riley
14. Gabe
15. Riley
16. Gabe
17. Riley
18. Riley
19. Gabe
20. Riley
21. Gabe
22. Riley
23. Gabe
24. Riley
25. Riley
Epilogue
Keep In Touch
Also by L Nicole
1
Gabe
“Who’s that?”
Justin turns to look at me and then looks across the street at the sexy little black-haired woman who is waving her arm off. I tear my gaze away from the tempting little morsel to look at Justin and watch as a slow smile spreads on his face. Suddenly, I want to hit my best friend in his gut and knock that look off his face.
Women have always flocked to Justin. His movie star good looks, good-ole-boy charm, and the fact he’s a firefighter has women flocking to him. I might not have the first two attributes, but I can attest firsthand to the fact that women have a tendency to throw themselves at you if they find out you fight fires for a living. I’ve never had an interest in that type of woman. If a woman is attracted to me, that’s one thing, but sleeping with me just because of what I do for a living has never held interest for me.
If the woman waving right now, however, wants to sleep with me just because of what I do, then I’m all for it.
Except for one small thing.
It looks like my buddy Justin has already beat me to it and I’m not real keen on getting his leftovers.
“That’s Riley,” he responds, immediately changing direction and preparing to cross the street to go to her.
“Who’s Riley?” I ask him, following even though at this point I don’t truly want to.
“Riley is the new dispatcher. She came to the barbeque at the station last week.”
I frown. I’ve been out of town for the last week. I went back home to Indiana to visit my sister. It was a nice break, but I was definitely glad to get back home to Alabama. Knowing that because I was gone allowed Justin to meet the woman in front of me first… makes me wish I had never left.
“Hey Justin,” Riley says, smiling at him and damn it, her voice is sweet and smoky. The type of voice you want to hear in bed at night begging you for more. My cock obviously thinks so too, because he instantly stands at attention.
“Hey Riley. You off today?”
“I still have a couple orientation classes. I start my full rotation next week,” she responds. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I just saw you and thought I’d wave. I kind of feel out of place in Wazega.”
“We’re just like any other small town. Trust me, once you get settled in, you’ll love it.”
“Your idea of small town and mine are completely different. Where I lived, we had a population of six hundred people. Wazega has a population of seven thousand,” she laughs and damn it, even her laugh is sexy.
“Well, that’s not exactly right,” I add, clearing my throat, unable to watch the interaction between her and Justin any longer.
“It’s not?” she asks, and when she looks at me, I get lost in the most beautiful green eyes I’ve ever seen in my life.
“You just moved here,” I tell her, my throat feeling tight. “That makes seven thousand and one.”
She studies me, and there’s a part of me wondering what she’s thinking, what she sees when she looks at me. I haven’t worried about what a woman thought of me in a long damn time. Hell, I haven’t worried about what anyone thought of me…period.
“Well,” she finally says, bringing her finger up to her lip as she looks at me. I don’t think she’s doing it to be sexy, it’s a gesture I’m not sure she’s aware she’s doing, but it is sexy. Damn sexy. “In that case, you should make that seven thousand and two,” she says with a small smile.
“You’re married,” I murmur, disappointment rolling inside of me with the force of a thunderstorm.
“No room for a man. I’ve got a grouchy, yellow, tabby cat who claims the other half of the bed. In fact, I’d say he’s sleeping in it now.”
“It’s the middle of the day,” I point out, feeling relief that she doesn’t have a man in her bed.
“He’s adapted to my schedule. I usually work nights and he likes to wait for me before he crashes.”
“Smart cat,” I murmur.
“How’s that?” she says, and damn her eyes really are gorgeous.
“If you were coming home to get in my bed, I’d stay awake and wait too.”
I watch her face as what I just implied registers. Something flashes in her eyes. Is it interest? Or did I come on too strong? It could be the latter, considering Justin is whistling under his breath.
“Riley this is Gabe. He works at the station,” Justin says, humor thick in his voice.
“Gabe,” she repeats, as if she’s tasting my name on her lips, and since I want that and more, I find myself smiling. “I don’t remember seeing you at the barbeque.”
“I was out of town visiting my sister. If I had known you were going to be there, I would have changed my plans.”
That makes her laugh, and I know she thinks I’m just flirting. While I admit I am doing that, I’m also being completely serious.
“I bet,” she says, shaking her head.
“It’s true,” I tell her, and there’s not an ounce of humor on my face. I want her to know the truth.
“Whoa, buddy. Slow it down,” Justin says under his breath.
“You get an A for effort,” Riley responds, her gaze still locked with mine.
“I can’t wait to see what else you grade me in.”
“Good thing I’m a dispatcher and not a teacher then,” she says, turning to look at Justin.
“I better get back to unpacking,” she says.
“Do you need help unloading things or whatever?” Justin asks, and I barely resist the urge to punch him.
“Nah, the movers did that. I’m just unpacking the small stuff now. Thanks though. It was good seeing you again.”
“Same. Catch you later, Riley.”
“Later,” she agrees. “Gabe, it’s been interesting,” she says, and I can tell I’ve made her wary of me. I probably shouldn’t have come on so strong, but I’m not sorry. Something about this woman has me sprung. I’m going to make this woman mine. I’ve never wanted anything more.
“I’ll see you soon, Riley,” I promise, and I see her eyes dilate.
“Not if I see you first,” she mumbles, turning away. Justin breaks out in laughter, but I ignore him. I
watch Riley walk away—already planning my next move.
2
Riley
“I hear the sirens,” the scared voice comes through on the other side of the phone.
“That’s good,” I respond breathing a sigh of relief. As we hang up, I close my eyes. That was a close one. Being a dispatcher in a small town had its moments. Mostly when someone was having a heart attack or some other major medical crisis. There were a few fires ex cetera. But, after two weeks on the job here in Wazega, I’m finding out quick that the gut-wrenching calls happen more frequently.
Just now, a little boy had been found with a knife wound in his stomach. Just from hearing the panic in the caller’s voice, I knew it was horrible.
“A tough one?” My supervisor, Perry asks.
“Little boy with a knife wound.”
“Shit. We don’t normally have gang problems in Wazega, but there have been more and more problems along the outskirts. It’s starting to bleed through here.”
“Maybe it didn’t have anything to do with a gang,” I suggest hopefully.
“Maybe,” he agrees, but his voice is doubtful.
“Riley, these came for you,” Debbie says, coming through the door. I look up as Perry snorts under his breath. I sigh.
I take the flowers she’s carrying, shaking my head.
“Let me guess, those are from our favorite firefighter?” Perry laughs.
I give him a dirty look, which just makes him laugh harder. I grab the card out of the middle of this massive arrangement of yellow and white daffodils. The card isn’t that different from the other four bouquets I’d received this week. They began arriving at work Monday. Those were roses. The card simply read, “Do you like roses? Call me, Gabe.” And then his phone number was written under his name. Tuesday’s flowers were lilies. Wednesday’s flowers were chrysanthemums. Thursday’s were carnations.
“He should get an A in effort,” Debbie says with a grin.
“I don’t think a grade is what he wants,” I mutter.
“I don’t see why you’re fighting it. Gabe is hot as fuck. Heck girl, do you know how many women in Wazega would love to take your place?”
“I’m wondering how many have had my place,” I grumble, putting the card down on my desk and staring at it.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was tempted. I’ve never had a man send me flowers, let alone so many in one week. I keep remembering his dark eyes. They had an intensity that seemed to reach inside of me. There were times when he looked at me that it felt like he wanted to eat me alive.
“Does it matter?” she asks, and I frown.
“I’m not getting involved with a player,” I mumble. “I’ve been there and bought the t-shirt. It’s how I ended up here in the first place.”
“Well, I’m still saying you’re crazy. Go ahead and send him my way if you don’t want him. I ain’t crazy.”
“I thought you had a boyfriend,” I respond, and for some reason I don’t really like the idea of Debbie flirting with Gabe, and I know that’s probably insane.
“Yeah, but damn girl, have you seen Gabe? That man is so damn hot. Besides, I’m just dating Darren, we ain’t married,” she laughs, walking away. I sit down staring at the flowers.
“It might not be any of my business, Riley,” Perry says, and I drag my gaze away from the flowers to my boss.
“Why does the fact that you are saying that scare me?” I try and joke.
“I’m just saying, I’ve known Gabe for a long time, since before he joined the department, and he’s not a player.”
“Perry, have you seen the flowers? Not to mention the things he said when we met, he’s got player written all over him.”
“Well, I wasn’t there when you met him. All I can go by is what I know of him and how I’ve seen him behave around women. The man isn’t a player. Believe it or not, he’s kind of a loner and a workaholic.”
“Perry—”
“I’m just saying—”
“I’m really not looking to date anyone right now, Perry.”
He holds up his hands in a stop motion. “Just letting you know. I’m not about to have a heart to heart moment with you. This isn’t a Hallmark movie,” he says with a smile.
I laugh it off and then go back to work. The rest of the day, however, I find myself staring at the flowers wondering if I should call Gabe. If I did call him, it would be to tell him to stop wasting his money because whatever he’s doing, it’s not going to work.
Maybe I’ll do that. Afterall, I’d just be putting an end to this. Nothing else.
Nothing at all.
3
Gabe
“Why do you keep staring at your phone?” Justin asks, and I flip him off. “You’re going to have to give it up, man. You came on too strong. Riley isn’t that kind of girl.”
“I thought you said that you just met her,” I remind him, annoyed that he acts like he knows her inside and out. I put my phone down on the bench beside me and finish taking off my boots. I’ve spent the last two days on duty, and I have the next three off. Normally it’s twenty-four hours on and forty-eight off, but the squad is short-handed since the Gibson twins moved. We didn’t have any real call outs, so I worked an extra day. Justin did too. We’re about the only ones that don’t have a family at home waiting on us. I was hoping that I’d be able to spend at least one of those getting to know Riley. Apparently, that’s not going to happen. I haven’t been able to think of anything but her since we met. I just need her to let me in.
This is foreign to me. I don’t deal with women that much, and I’ve never had to beg for time from any of them. I’ve never wanted too. It sounds cold, but none have been that important.
But fuck if I wouldn’t beg for Riley.
That makes her dangerous, but instead of running in the opposite direction, I just want her more.
“I did, but she’s not like the usual women we encounter, Gabe. Riley doesn’t like bullshit.”
“I’m not trying to sell her any bullshit.”
“Damn, you’re serious,” he replies, after studying my face.
“I sure as hell am,” I all but growl. Frustration is getting the best of me.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this far gone on a woman before.”
“That’s because I haven’t been.”
“Gabe, buddy, you don’t even know Riley.”
“I’m trying to get to know her,” I grumble. “She’s just not cooperating.”
“You could always try the straight-forward approach.”
“You don’t think sending her flowers every damn day is straight forward? I’m pretty sure she can tell I’m interested, Justin,” I mutter, rubbing my jaw as I resist the urge to hit him. I know he means well, but I can’t take his joking right now. I feel too raw inside.
“Dude, ladies don’t see that as straight-forward. If you want her to go out with you, you’re going to have to man-up and ask.”
“And have her say no to my face,” I reply with a long exhale, disgusted.
“Afraid you can’t take a little rejection?” Justin taunts, his eyebrow cocked up, almost in challenge.
“Why are we friends again?”
“Because you love me,” he jokes, walking away, his laughter echoing around me.
I ignore him. It looks like I’m going to spend my day off tomorrow searching Riley out and letting her turn me down in person.
I’d rather have all my damn teeth pulled out.
Without medication.
4
Riley
I walk outside, mostly blind because I can’t see through the flowers. Perry’s words have bothered me all day. Is it possible Gabe’s not a player? Am I letting my past affect me?
That bothers me more than I could tell anyone. I’ve fought hard to overcome my past and just the thought that it’s affecting my present leaves my thoughts scattered.
And that’s putting it mildly.
“Woah.”
My body jerks as I crash into a big, solid wall. My heartrate goes erratic, but not because of what I hit, or the strong arms that go around me. It has more to do with the fact that the wall is actually Gabe. The firefighter who seems to be invading my every thought.
“Sorry. I couldn’t see where I was going,” I mumble uncomfortably. His hands are on each of my shoulders and the heat coming from them seems to flood my entire body. I step back, pulling out of his hold. I tell myself that it’s a normal reaction and not something I’m doing because I’m having trouble breathing.
“I can see that. Maybe I should have had the florist calm it down a little bit.”
“Or not bothered,” I suggest, shifting the flowers just enough so that I can see over top of them.
“I like sending you flowers,” he counters, his dark eyes still intense, despite the smile on his firm lips. It really should be against the law for a man to look that good.
Damn him.
His hair is dark like mine, but something about it is beautiful—unlike mine. It seems to shine and have darker hues in it, so dark that they seem almost purple. It looks mysterious, much like his eyes.
He’s toned, but I know most firemen try and stay fit because of the job. His shoulders are wide, his face masculine and sexy. His nose is just a tad crooked like it has been broken. It should mar the perfection, but somehow it only adds to it.
“It’s a waste of money,” I murmur, wishing he’d back away and not look so perfect.