Sweet Fire

by J. H. Croix

  The thump nudged me out of my haze, and I lifted my head. “You okay?”

  Charlie’s eyes were wild, lightning flashing in the silvery gray when she opened them. “Uh huh,” she murmured.

  She slid her palm down my chest and curled it over my cock, which was straining against my fly. I groaned, murmuring her name. Dipping my head, I moved to kiss her again, but she shimmied down, spinning me around quickly. Then, she was on her knees in front of me, looking up at me through her thick dark lashes as she deftly undid the buttons on my fly. My cock sprang free from my briefs, so hard it ached. Leaning forward, she dragged her tongue along the underside, catching the drop of pre-cum on the tip.

  “Fuck, Charlie,” I growled.

  She laughed softly, the sound tightening the need already coiling inside of me. With her eyes on mine, she leaned forward again, curling her fist around the base of my cock. Sliding my hand down, because I needed something to hold onto, I laced my hand in her hair, watching as she proceeded to drive me out of my fucking mind.

  Another swipe of her tongue, and then she took me into the warm, slick heat of her mouth. Loosely gripping my shaft, her fist slid up and down as she drew me inside again and again. Sensation gripped me, the claws of need scoring me deeply. Yet, this wasn’t how I wanted to let go, not right now. Grasping onto the reins of my control, just barely, but enough to slow the thundering need pounding through me and almost cresting to a wave.

  “Charlie,” I bit out.

  She paused, leaning back and dragging her tongue across her bottom lip. She was so fucking sexy with her hair falling down, her cheeks flushed, and her lips damp and puffy.

  I didn’t know what the hell I meant to say. But since I couldn’t seem to form another word, I reached down and lifted her up against me. In two strides, we reached the bed. I tugged her shirt up over her head. She got with the program quickly, shimmying out of her leggings as I threw my shirt to the floor and kicked my jeans free. Somewhere along the way, we tumbled onto the bed.

  Her skin was soft and silky against mine as she shifted and flexed into me. I was angled half over her with my leg resting between her thighs. Her breasts pushed against my chest as I kissed her as if my life depended on it, as if I couldn’t breathe without her. I was more accustomed to being able to have some finesse. But with Charlie, there was no finesse—everything was raw and primal.

  I needed to taste her. Catching her lips in another drugging kiss, I drew back slowly, dusting kisses along the side of her neck and down across her breasts. Teasing her nipples with my thumb, I savored her husky cries.

  Mapping my way down her body, I glanced up, my cock hardening even further at the sight of her. Her hair was spread out over the pillows, a wild, dark tangled mess. Her skin was flushed and dewy.

  Dipping my head again, I kissed my way over the soft curve of her belly, trailing my fingers through her folds. She was hot and slick. I sank a finger into her channel before dragging my tongue across her seam. She tasted salty and sweet. Everything I wanted. Gripping her hip with one hand, I teased her with my fingers as I settled in to drive her wild.

  With her husky cries and her hips bucking into my mouth, she was at the edge sooner than I expected. I wanted to savor this. I loved seeing her fly apart. The uptight oh-so-professional woman I’d come to know had a wild side, and it drove me right to the edge of my control. Layering into that was the reality that the more I got to know her, to understand the person she was underneath, the more I wanted her to let go in more ways than one.

  She cried out, her channel clamping down around my fingers when I swirled my tongue over her clit, sucking it lightly into my mouth. I didn’t wait. I was too close to my own edge. Rising up, I mapped my way back up over her body, settling my hips into the cradle of hers. Her slick heat called to me as she curled her legs around me.

  At the absolute last second, I remembered I didn’t have a condom on.

  “Fuck,” I muttered, rolling off of her swiftly.

  She followed my motion, straddling me on top. “Where are you going?” she murmured, her voice husky and fierce.

  Looking up at her with her hair tousled around her shoulders, her skin flushed and her lips swollen, I gritted my teeth and held onto my control. It was taking everything I had not to bury myself inside of her with the slick folds of her pussy teasing over my cock.

  “Condom,” I bit out.

  Her eyes widened, and she held still, staring at me for a moment. “I have an IUD,” she finally said. “Not because I was planning on this, but I’m a doctor. I’m practical like that.”

  Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “I’m clean. I haven’t been with anyone other than you in over three years. I trust you would say something if I needed to be concerned.”

  “Of course I would, but this is your call, not mine.”

  “In that case…” she murmured, her lips curling in a sly grin.

  She rose up between us, gripping my cock and shifting her hips to draw me into her creamy clench, inch by inch. It was pure heaven.

  “There,” she said softly once she was seated with me buried to the hilt inside of her.

  Staring up at her with her hair falling around her shoulders and her eyes flashing like lightning, my heart thudded hard and fast. She was glorious, so damn beautiful and sexy, my breath caught in my throat.

  I knew this wasn’t simply desire. Every moment with her was so powerful, the physical connection spinning into a shimmering web of intimacy, binding us tighter and tighter together.

  Then, she started to move. Gripping her hips, I let her set the pace as she rose up and sank down, rocking into me. Everything blurred into sensation, need scoring through me deeply with every stroke.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Charlie

  “Charlie…” Jesse murmured my name, his voice husky, curling around my heart.

  Dragging my eyes open, I met his gaze just as he reached between us, his thumb pressing over my clit. That was all it took as he surged into me again. Pleasure spun tightly and then let loose, fiery sparks scattering through me as I cried out, my channel clenching around him. Falling against him, his hoarse cry reverberated through me as he went rigid, the heat of his release pouring into me.

  His palm slid up my back, holding me close. We lay still, our breath the only sound in the quiet room, rough and ragged. His skin was damp, as was mine. With my cheek resting against his chest, I listened to the sound of his heart beating along with mine.

  After a few minutes, I lifted myself up, resting my chin on my hand. His eyes opened, a slow smile stretching across his face. A rush of emotion rose inside. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. It felt that good to be with him. I was relaxed to my bones, relaxed in a way I hadn’t been in years. When life was busy and hard things happened, your baseline became one of worry and tension and you almost forgot what it was like to let those things go, even temporarily.

  “I get you for the night,” he murmured softly, his hand sliding up my spine to sift through my hair.

  “You do,” I replied, thinking how sublime it was.

  On the heels of that, the recollection of my usual life flashed in my mind. There were so many reasons why it didn’t make sense for me to contemplate romance.

  Whether he was reading my mind or not, Jesse immediately honed in on the direction of my thoughts. “There’s nothing to worry about right now. Your mom is fine. Emily’s probably having a great time at Kayla’s too,” he offered.

  I took a deep breath, letting it out in the shuddering sigh. “I know, I’m not quite used to not worrying.”

  “I noticed.”

  He didn’t say anything else for a moment, and I thought maybe the topic would just drop. But no.

  “I know the last few years have been pretty rough.” I sensed he was asking a question, even though his words came out as a statement.

  “Um, yeah
, it’s been a rough couple of years. This would be the part where you stay quiet, but think to yourself that you’d better run the minute you get the chance,” I said with a laugh, thinking back to everything I’d dumped on him during dinner.

  It wasn’t even a bitter laugh. What I didn’t say aloud was that I would deal with it when that happened because I figured it was inevitable. It would be hard, harder than I’d anticipated though.

  Jesse‘s eyes searched mine. “Sweetheart, I knew your life was complicated from the start, even when I thought you were uptight as hell. I’m not gonna go running just because of that though.”

  I didn’t quite know what to think of that. Yet, I couldn’t help the curl of warmth that squeezed my heart. I had no idea how to fit Jesse into my life, but it seemed to be happening.

  “Okay,” I finally said, uncertain what else to say.

  “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the deal with Emily’s dad?”

  I took another deep breath because no matter how you sliced it, it was depressing.

  “Well, you know how I said her mom was ten years older than me?” At his nod, I continued. “She got pregnant when she was a freshman in college. It definitely wasn’t planned. I don’t even like calling him Em’s dad because he’s never been there for her. He was just a sperm donor, some guy my sister met at a party. When she told him she was pregnant, I don’t think he gave a damn one way or another. His only question was whether or not she was going to have an abortion. She thought about it, but she decided against it because she really wanted to have the baby. So she did. I’m sad for Em that he’s never been around. He’s never paid a dime in child support, never really been involved. Every so often, he calls Em. He used to show up and badger my sister for money. I was worried I’d have to deal with him after my sister died. But when she knew she was dying, and she knew it was a sure thing, she filed the paperwork for the adoption to go through upon her death. She didn’t want me to have to worry about him trying to appeal a guardianship later. He didn’t even contest it, especially when I agreed in advance to never seek child support from him. It still broke Em’s heart.”

  Jesse was quiet. “Fucking asshole,” he muttered.

  I laughed, if only because that was the plain truth. “Yeah. Fucking asshole.”

  “So you adopted her?”

  “I did. My sister really wanted it. There was never any question for me that I’d take care of Em, but I wanted it to be her choice. I don’t ever expect her to call me Mom because I’m her aunt.”

  “You’re a good mom,” Jesse said, his fingers still sliding through my hair, almost lulling me.

  “Do you think?” I asked, looking up at him.

  He grinned, promptly managing to send flutters spinning through my belly. Dear God. I wondered if my need for him would ever be slaked.

  “Yes, I think. No matter how cranky she might be with you, she’s a good kid. After everything she’s been through, having you makes her pretty damn lucky.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jesse

  The following morning, I woke with Charlie, sweet, sexy Charlie, curled up beside me with her bottom nestled against my cock. My cock, by the way, was quite aware of the feel of her lush curves. She was warm, soft, and pure heaven to wake up beside.

  My head was buried against the back of her neck. I took a deep breath, savoring her scent—musky with a hint of lavender. My hands started their own exploration, sliding down over her arm, into the dip of her waist, over the curve of her hip, and then angling over her soft belly to cup one of her breasts.

  I grinned when her nipple puckered under the brush of my thumb. I couldn’t resist tasting her, dipping my head to drop kisses along the side of her neck, my body tightening in response to the unconscious shiver that ran through her.

  I felt when she came awake, her body tensing slightly and then a gasp escaping when I rolled her nipple between my thumb and forefinger, squeezing it lightly.

  “Morning,” I murmured in between kisses.

  She shifted her legs restlessly, the motion brushing her bottom against my cock, which swelled even further in response.

  “Jesse,” she murmured on a gasp when I nipped lightly along her neck as I slid my hand down over the soft curve of her belly to dip between her thighs. I found her hot, wet, and ready. Her hips arched into me. I shifted her leg, lifting it just enough to guide myself home inside of her.

  Everything felt half awake, sleepy, languid, and sensuous.

  We rocked together slowly, her snug channel clenching around me with every surge going deeper into her. Teasing my fingers over her clit, I circled until I felt her tighten and cry out. I followed her over, pleasure coiling tight and then snapping loose inside of me, crashing through me in a wave.

  We lay still with me curled around her and buried deep inside of her for several long moments. I found I didn’t want to get up. I could’ve stayed there all day.

  Reality intruded in the form of Charlie’s cell phone buzzing on the dresser. She turned, catching my eyes from behind, a sleepy half-smile on her face. “I’m guessing that’s either Em, or the hospital.”

  “I’m guessing you’re right,” I replied, catching her lips in a quick kiss before I slowly drew out of her.

  She stood from the bed and walked across the room to check her phone, completely bare, probably giving me the first moment to simply absorb the sight of her.

  Her lush curves that were so well hidden when she was at work, tucked into her white lab coat, drew my eyes. I loved that she wasn’t too thin.

  She answered the call, mostly saying, “Uh huh, okay” and ending with, “What time should we come?”

  That cued me it must be the hospital. I rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Charlie

  After I checked in with the hospital and confirmed that we could pick my mother up for discharge around noon, I followed Jesse into the shower. I was discovering there was no environment where I didn’t get hot and bothered when he was near.

  Stepping into the steamy shower, I found Jesse leaning back under the water, rinsing soap out of his hair. The moment I saw him, my body tightened. It didn’t even matter he’d just sent me flying once already this morning.

  I sternly ordered my body to behave. Pulling the curtain closed behind me, I reached for the soap. When Jesse heard me, he opened his eyes, his mouth hitching at one corner.

  “What’s the news from the hospital?” he asked.

  “Oh, they said my mom’s doing fine. She’ll be cleared for discharge by noon.”

  His eyes narrowed as he stepped out of the way for me to get under the water. “Isn’t that kind of late? Is everything okay?”

  “Discharge times are based on when they can process all the admin stuff. They wouldn’t tell me she was ready for discharge if she wasn’t actually ready. They said she slept well, and she’s chatting with another patient who checked in late last night. I figure maybe we can grab some breakfast somewhere and then we’ll go up there. They scheduled her with the lab for some routine blood tests. At her age, it’s probably a good idea.”

  Jesse leaned against the tile and nodded, the concern fading from his gaze. “Sounds good. I’m glad she got some rest.”

  As I was rinsing the soap off my body, his gaze meandered down my body. He was grinning when his eyes made their way back to mine. I felt my cheeks flush as I lathered shampoo in my hair.

  Unabashed, he flashed a grin and stepped out of the shower.

  With hot water pouring down over me as I rinsed the shampoo away, I sighed. I worried I was getting in over my head.

  As I stepped out of the shower to find him by the sink, he handed me a towel. I had to remind myself yet again that I couldn’t just keep lusting after him. Yet, Jesse with a towel low on his hips, his muscled chest damp from the shower, and the subtle shadow of his beard were almost too much for me to resist. I managed, but just barely.

  Not much later,
we were both dressed and checked out of the hotel.

  “Do you know anywhere to go for breakfast? You seem familiar with the area,” I commented as I settled into the passenger’s seat in his truck.

  He glanced over. “I usually come fishing here a few times every summer. It’s a great spot. When the weather’s warmer, we should come for a few days.”

  I found myself nodding, and then considered the meaning of his comment—the implication that would be something we would do, like a couple.

  Uncertain quite what to think about that, I asked, “So any suggestions for good coffee and breakfast?”

  “Misty Mountain Coffee. They’ve got great coffee, and they serve breakfast.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  At my nod, he started his truck and headed back into downtown Diamond Creek. Everywhere I looked, there were mountains and the ocean. The small town was nestled against the feet of the mountains with Kachemak Bay spilling out to the other side. A few minutes later, we were walking into Misty Mountain Café. The coffee shop was in a refurbished Quonset hut. The space was open and airy. They’d modernized the inside with finished walls and decorative timber beams crisscrossing the high ceiling. Brightly colored curtains and tablecloths made the space feel warm and playful.

  The café was busy, and we filed into the back of the line at the counter. There was a warm and inviting quality to the place. After we ordered our coffees, we snagged a table that opened up by the windows. Taking a sip of my coffee, I sighed as I looked over at Jesse. “I love coffee. It’s what got me through med school.”

  “I’m a fan myself. It gets me through every damn day,” he replied with a grin.