Rumor Has It

by Leela Lou Dahlin

  It was a few minutes before he realized the meeting was over and everyone was dispersing. He should have gotten more sleep. He was exhausted.

  Liam moved over to where Ethan and Raina were standing by the door.

  “Hey, I’m going to walk Raina to her car,” Ethan said, looking happy and pleased with himself. It had been a quiet night at the station, and the younger man must have taken advantage of the time, as he looked well rested.

  “Don’t worry about it. I needed to talk to her anyway.”

  “Dude, you should probably wait for another day. You look beat.”

  Raina stepped in to stop the pissing match. She was a smart woman, and she looked like she wasn’t in the mood for it. “Ethan, let me know if you need some help getting the trinkets over to the engraver.” She turned to Liam. “Are you ready?”

  Liam nodded to Ethan in his usual way and took most of the materials out of her hand to help her to the car.

  “I’ll follow you home,” he said as she opened her door.

  “What?” She sat down and looked at him with an expression so puzzled he wanted to kiss her. She was trying hard to keep it the same between them. What was up with him? He knew what it was. He wasn’t quite ready for it to end.

  She closed her door and opened her window. “Did you have something you wanted to say to me? We could talk right here.”

  “I just want to make sure you get home safely.”

  “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

  “Humor me.”

  When they reached her house, he followed her in and sat on her couch like their weekly visits. She was agitated; he could tell by the way she was fidgeting. He should go home.

  “Let’s do something crazy,” she said out of nowhere.

  “Like what?” He really just wanted to spend a little time with her. He talked to her every so often and saw her at least once a week, but for some reason, he was missing her almost as soon as he was out of her presence. He thought maybe he could gorge on her and have his fill. The problem was, every time he was with her seemed to make him need—no, want—more of her, and more frequently.

  “I don’t know. I just want to do something wild and exciting.”

  “I like just sitting here spending time with you. I brought that independent critic choice film Crossed Buns. I’ve been keeping it in my car for a night like this. Let’s watch that.”

  She didn’t look as excited about that as he thought she would. “Is it that you don’t see me as exciting? Is that why when you get here, you want to watch a movie or read? I bet you don’t go to other women’s houses and just watch TV.”

  “Oh, that’s what this is about.”

  “Never mind. I’ll get the wine.” She started to get up, and he tugged her back down on his lap.

  “Wait…so plain English. What is the problem?”

  “There isn’t one.”

  “We’ve been friends for a good while, right?” He’d never held her this close before the other day, but he found that he really liked it. He could smell the faint vanilla and wanted to taste the skin behind her ear. He nuzzled it with his nose and placed a soft kiss right below that spot.

  “Right.” The word was breathy and made him think of the noises she made when she was excited.

  “So why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you.” He moved his mouth lower, to the skin where her neck and shoulder met, with soft pulls and licks. The moan that escaped him made him rethink the tactic he was using to get her to open up to him.

  “I know the women you are usually around are fascinating, exciting, fun… I don’t feel like I’m any of those things. I want to be those things too,” she said, and he had no idea what to say to that. She was all those things plus some. He wanted her to know that.

  He opened his mouth and was cut off with her fingers on his mouth.

  MAYBE PUTTING HER fingers to his lips wasn’t the brightest idea. She was already getting aroused by the soft kisses he was putting on her neck, but touching those full firm lips was too much.

  “It’s all right, Liam. I’m going to get the wine, and we’ll watch the movie.” She went to get off his lap, because any minute she was going to spontaneously combust. Just the other day, she hadn’t thought she could have an orgasm with another party present, but now it seemed like all her body wanted to do was interact with his. Like he was a hose and she was a hydrant or something.

  He pulled her down onto his lap again.

  “Wait a minute, Raina. Damn. Sometimes you say something that throws me for a loop, and it takes a second to search for the answer to a question that makes no sense.”

  “I said never mind.”

  “I know what you said, but that’s not what you meant. I do think you’re fascinating, exciting, and definitely fun. You talk about the other women I was with, and it seems like you think they aren’t like you—and you’re right. They aren’t. But that’s why I’m here with you and not anyone else. I enjoy spending my time with you. We can do anything and it’s interesting. Even sitting around reading the paper together is fun.”

  “How is that fun?”

  “I like having you around. It’s fun to look up and see you sitting there to discuss something or get your opinion or make you laugh.”

  That he was trying to talk her down from this particular ledge was funny because she knew he didn’t stay with women long enough to be familiar with the twists and turns in women’s heads. He was doing a good job, and she was impressed he was trying and not headed for the door.

  “Let’s go take a shower,” he said with a wicked smile on his lips.

  “What?” That suggestion came so far out of left field she had to replay the last few sentences in her mind to find out where that had come from.

  “It’s relaxing, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen your shower. It’ll be my chance to take a look at your private sanctuary.”

  “Ha…really? You could just ask. I’d have given you a tour of the whole place if you wanted.”

  “Let’s go, buttercup.” He gently nudged her to stand up and then prodded her to guide them back to her room.

  “You don’t want to watch the movie?”

  “There’ll be other times to watch. You didn’t seem that interested in it, so let’s find something that does interest you.”

  She was afraid to say anything, lest he know how much she wanted to do this.

  He walked her into the bedroom and let go of her hand. She gathered up the large, fluffy towels she’d never used, feeling they were too decadent to use for just a regular shower.

  She’d thought her shower was so very large, but as she turned on the water and tried to get it to a good temperature, she watched Liam take off his clothes and thought the shower wasn’t going to feel as big as it usually did. He was a large man. Six feet three inches tall, broad shoulders; his build was muscular but lean, not bulky. He was the perfect specimen of a man. She stood there and continued to watch the show of him taking off and neatly folding his clothes.

  “Do you need some help, sweetheart?”

  “Raina,” she said and watched the questioning frown slightly wrinkle his brow.

  “What?”

  “My name is Raina.”

  “I know what your name is.”

  “Okay… It’s just, when you call me sweetheart, I feel like I’m like everyone else and you can’t even remember my name.”

  “I know exactly who you are, Raina.”

  “Okay, then…good.”

  “Well?”

  “Well what, Liam?”

  He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “Do. You. Need. Some. Help?” He punctuated each word with soft kisses to her mouth, and she enjoyed every one. He could punctuate all his sentences like that, but she couldn’t guarantee she would know what he was talking about.

  He brought her T-shirt over her head and unsnapped her bra, all while kissing her. The kiss wasn’t enough…not deep enough…not long enough. This kiss was meant to torture, not t
o satisfy. She tried to wrap her arms around his neck, but he stopped her. He bent down to help her out of her pants, and then they were both naked in a bathroom that was quickly filling up with steam.

  He opened the shower door and ushered her in. She watched as he closed the door behind himself and looked over the organized bath products on the shelves. He moved her to stand under the spray. Being in the shower with another person always seemed like fun, but as a worrier, she never would have suggested this. Even now she thought about the chances of her falling in the shower and embarrassing herself.

  He picked up her shampoo and squeezed some into his hand, then moved her so that the spray was at his back and she was out of the water. He looked beautiful and rugged when he was dry, but he was the ultimate sexy when water was added. He should definitely come with a warning label. Dangerous when wet.

  When he spun her around, she was mildly irritated that she couldn’t see him anymore, but that was before he put those large hands to good use. She’d never had such a gentle, but thorough, washing of her hair.

  “Have you done this before?” she asked and then wanted to pull the words back even before the sentence was complete.

  “Shh. You’re not supposed to ask questions like that.”

  “Oh…you’re right. I’m sorry.”

  “Shh. You’re not allowed to apologize.”

  “Right. Sorry—sorry for saying sorry.” They both chuckled as he switched places with her. She felt him all around her as he helped rinse her hair free from the shampoo and then repeated the process with the conditioner.

  When she was turned out of the water the third time, she picked up a bar of soap and started to rub his chest with it.

  “I wasn’t done with you yet.”

  She could feel his deep voice rumble through his chest. “Liam, you can’t keep your hands in my hair and not expect me to go crazy. If you ever get tired of being a firefighter, you may be able to do some work as the hair-washing person at a high-end salon. You’d be rich.”

  “You think so, huh?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “I want to touch you now.” He relinquished his control to her, and she was giddy with power.

  “Where do you want me?”

  “Everywhere.” She tried to be cheeky with it, but it sounded like a deep desire, so she laughed to make it seem like it was a joke.

  He leaned against the back wall of the shower and let her wash his body. He was a fine specimen of a man. She ran her hands over him, fascinated with all the peaks and valleys of his muscles. He wasn’t overly hairy—just sparse hair over his pecs—but the dark hair got thicker below his belly button.

  She was paying very close attention to that area and getting ready to wash what was getting to be her very favorite part when he stopped her and stripped the soap from her hands.

  “My turn,” he said as he spun her away from him.

  There must be a reason he didn’t want her to handle his most intimate part, and it made her extremely upset. She wouldn’t go into it now, but if they were going to continue, she wanted as much freedom to explore his body as she gave him to explore hers.

  He picked up the bodywash she loved so much and smelled it.

  “Hmmm…this is why I always want to take a big bite out of you. Vanilla-rose sugar scrub. That sounds delicious, but your pussy tastes better than anything I’ve ever put my mouth on.”

  “Thanks.” She tried to smile but knew it wasn’t her best effort.

  “How do you usually put it on?”

  “With the net scrubby that’s behind you.”

  He turned to look at the net ball and turned back to her. “I think I’ll do it my way.”

  HE MOVED TOWARD her and rubbed his hands together before placing them on her breasts. The small circles he was making with the sweet-smelling foam was mesmerizing, and then he made bigger circles, engulfing more of her body with each swipe. When her whole body was covered with suds and she was moaning with every glide of his hands across her body, he was satisfied. He enjoyed every pluck of her nipples, and every time he got near the pulsating bundle of nerves between her legs she shuddered and moaned.

  He brought her back to the water and kissed her as he rinsed them both of the suds they’d rubbed on each other.

  She was so hot, he thought about turning the water to cool, but then he’d have to let go of her body, and he wasn’t prepared to do that.

  He knew she was upset he hadn’t let her have as much fun with his cock as she wanted to, but something about her made him supersensitive. Watching the reverent expression cross her face and the excitement he felt just by being around her was too much. Chill out for a few days and let this rest; that was what needed to be done. He’d told her not to expect more than one night, but he was the one who’d initiated this shower of doom.

  Staying was what he desired, but the decision was made and he was going to stick to it. He was going to relax her in the best way he knew how, tuck her in, and then say good night. That should be something he could handle. In his mind it was settled; he’d come up with a good plan, although his body did not seem to agree. His arms ached to hold her, and he wanted nothing more than to lie with her—smelling her hair, touching her body, and starting the cycle of drive Raina wild.

  Stopping the kiss, he turned her so she would be able to rinse off the front of her body, then sneaked his hand down her body to the bundle of nerves that would relax her and make him feel better about what was going to happen. She’d been aroused the whole time they’d been in the shower. They both had, but he knew this climax was going to be good and loud. She was practically purring as it was.

  “You have such a pretty kitty, Raina. Open up and let me stroke it.” He placed her leg up on the built-in seat, giving him lots of room to work.

  Raina turned her head to get a kiss, and he obliged her as he tried to stimulate as many hot spots as possible. It didn’t take long before she let go of his mouth and let out a loud, shaky groan that almost made him erupt just from hearing it. She was pretty limp when she finished.

  He turned off the water and got out first to get her one of the fluffiest towels he’d ever seen. He wrapped her in one and watched her dry off as he did the same.

  “How was that?”

  “Perfect. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a shower more,” she said with a huge smile that was as sexy as it was coy. He didn’t want to say that he didn’t either, so he smiled back at her.

  He watched her become slightly self-conscious, which was funny since he’d not only seen her body but had spent the better part of an hour touching, rubbing, and tasting it.

  He put on his clothes, and she put on a purple tank top and pajama bottoms.

  “Are you sleepy?” he asked. The smile she turned on him made his heart leap to his throat and solidify the plan he was going to carry out. He’d made sure that no woman was going to be in a position to take his heart and crush it, but for the first time, he wasn’t sure there wasn’t a woman already in that position.

  “Yes. Hold on.” She brushed her hair into a ponytail high on her head and then jumped into bed. “I want to take care of you now.”

  “As great as that sounds, I have to go.”

  “What? But…you don’t want to go home with that, do you?” She pointed at the semi-stiffy that was just hanging around because it wanted to see Raina, even if that wasn’t in the plan.

  “No worries, Raina. I’m fine.” He walked over and pulled up her covers. Gave her a quick kiss on her forehead and prepared to leave.

  “Are you really going home?”

  “I’ll probably stop by the Fire Hydrant just to see what the fellas are up to, but I’ll be heading home soon. I’m pretty tired myself.”

  “You could just stay here and snuggle with me.” By the look on her face, his must have shown something akin to horror, because she just turned over. “Just kidding. Hey, turn out the lights and make sure the door
locks when you leave.”

  “Of course. I always want to make sure you’re safe. See you on Sunday at the auction meeting. Eight o’clock, right?”

  “Yep.” She yawned, and he knew she wanted him to be gone.

  “Have a good sleep.” He closed her door and walked down the hall, but he could have sworn he heard something hit the door. He wasn’t going back to see what it was; as it happened, he wanted to kick his own ass.

  Chapter Five

  Although he’d told Raina he was going to go to the bar, Liam ended up going home and being ticked off at his behavior and for making Raina upset. He didn’t think he’d ever been happier to be at work. At least he knew what he was doing and he was good at it. Not that he wasn’t good with women, but he knew he wasn’t good with Raina.

  He got a call from Harrison in Crew B, who asked if Liam could work half a shift for him. There was only one lieutenant per crew, and he liked the guys, so he agreed. It was fortunate that he’d gotten to sleep for the last eight hours. His body felt rested, but his mind was still at odds with how to stay on Raina’s good side and keep his sanity as well. He took the opportunity to clean the fire engine; for whatever reason, it always helped him think through things.

  “Excuse me. Are you Liam Prescott?”

  He turned to see an older woman who looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place her. She seemed fidgety and nervous, so he got down from the ladder to see if he could offer some assistance.

  “Yes, ma’am. How can I help you?”

  “Is there somewhere we can talk quietly?”

  He looked around the empty station room, where he was alone with the truck, and was going to tell her that no one would bother them, but he decided to move her to a room with a few chairs so she could be comfortable.

  After he had her seated and asked if she wanted anything to drink, he sat across from her and asked again, “What can I do for you, ma’am?”

  If anything, she looked more nervous than she had in the other room.

  “I’ve been working up the courage to come in here for the last week or so.”