Freed by Fire

by Christine, Ashley

  I took one of the glasses and looked at Maggie with a raised eyebrow. “You’re a bad influence on me.”

  “Then, more for me!” She took the glass from my hand and started to sip the pink liquid.

  “Dance?” Caid placed his hand on my shoulder.

  Maggie sipped my drink, smiling too innocently.

  I stood up and took his hand. “Wait, I’ll be right there.”

  Caid nodded and made his way toward the dance floor. I sprinted over to the bar and found two more tequila shots in my hands. I slung them back and sucked the lemon. I didn’t care. I needed a little courage. Or I wasn’t going to make it over to the dance floor. I was going to bolt out the door and hail the next cab.

  The band kicked off their set with a sultry rock song. Part of me wondered if it was requested because the moment I set foot on the floor, Caid pulled me into him and slowly started to move. As if he knew the tempo wasn’t about to change.

  His body felt so good. So warm, so seamless with his arms wrapped around my waist. I let mine rest on his broad shoulders and forced myself to keep my fingers still when they reached the back of his neck.

  “Tell me about you, Emery.”

  There it was. The twenty questions portion of the night. Where to begin? I’m Emery. Twenty-three. Newly divorced orphan. Belleville transplant. Recluse in all things sex, except I seem to have the ability to write about things I know nothing about first-hand.

  “I’m Emery,” I said. Oh yes, I’m a real wordy girl.

  “I believe we’ve made it past that point already. Emery. No boyfriend. What else are you willing to divulge?”

  “How about you tell me something about you.”

  “No girlfriend.”

  “Wife?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. And my name’s not Caid.”

  I blinked. “Huh?”

  “It’s actually Kincaid.”

  I smiled. I liked it. Either way. “My turn.”

  Caid ground harder into me, pressing his hardening length into my belly just like last night. But this time, I knew I wasn’t going to run away puking. “You smell so good, Emery with no boyfriend.”

  “You smell better, Caid/Kincaid with no girlfriend or wife.” I smiled as Caid leaned his forehead down to meet mine.

  “It’s still your turn.”

  “How long have you been a firefighter?”

  “Four years this December. My turn.”

  I pulled back from the skin-to-skin contact of our brows and looked up into his eyes. “Go ahead.” I was unsure if I was telling him to ask me a question or to kiss me. I hoped for the latter.

  “Are you new to Chicago?”

  I nodded and smiled. “I am. I’m staying with Maggie right now. Until I find a place of my own. I moved here from Belleville last week when—” I stopped before I spilled my guts and more than likely scared him off. “Your turn.”

  Caid dug his fingers into the skin of my hips and expanded his chest with a deep breath. “I would like to kiss you. Can I kiss you?”

  I simply nodded. I wasn’t able to speak. If my lips only had one more use in them, I wasn’t going to waste it talking.

  Caid swooped, caught my mouth with his lips and kissed me. Hard. Like no other kiss I had ever felt in my whole life. Or, any other kiss that I had ever written about, for that matter. The kiss alone was earth-shattering, mind-altering, and panty-dropping.

  His hot tongue curved into my mouth, with slow and languorous laps. His lips engulfed my own, pulled me in, and paralyzed everything in my body but my mouth.

  Harder and with more force, the strain in his jeans surged, achingly into my belly. Creating a deep and all-pervading burn to linger and wisp around inside of me. I let out tiny whimpers and gasps throughout the inebriating kiss, causing Caid to groan and add more urgency to the experience. Fuck me, that man could kiss.

  “Emery, you’re…beautiful,” he breathed. “So. Beautiful.”

  If I weren’t slightly tipsy from the combination of tequila and that kiss, I would have rolled my eyes and laughed. But his words drove me crazy, and I pulled him in for another. Taking that damn perfect bottom lip of his into my mouth, sucking it and licking it with my tongue.

  “Shite,” he pulled back. “I’m going crazy here, Emery. You can’t do that.”

  “Why not?” I whispered in his ear, tugging his hair slightly as I pulled his ear down to my lips.

  “Because I’m going to fuck you right here,” Caid straightened and looked around us. “And I don’t like to share.”

  Maggie was my best friend, but I don’t know if she would be okay with me taking a man back to her apartment to have wild and crazy sex. Well, I hoped it would be wild and crazy. Then again, if he kissed like that. Wild and crazy was pretty much a guarantee.

  “Take me to your place,” I said. Surprising myself and making Caid catch his breath and lick his lips.

  “Let’s go.” He took my hand and pulled me off the dance floor.

  Panic. Sheer panic had begun to creep into my body, into every pore and sink into my cells. You’re not going to pass out. You’re strong. You’re sexy. You’re single. And, you’re going to do this.

  “Just a sec,” I said, pulling my hand from his. I grabbed Maggie and dragged her into the bathroom. Slamming and locking the door behind us. “Maggie!”

  “Em! What’s going on?”

  I started to pace the ten foot wide space. “He just said…that he wanted to fuck me!”

  Maggie gasped and giggled. “And that’s bad?”

  “Then I told him to take me to this place!”

  “Wow, I must be a bad influence on you…So, why are you in here with me?”

  “I’m a little panicky, can’t you tell? Fuck, I don’t know how to do this, Mags. I didn’t do this with Matt. We just happened…this is…shit, completely new and I feel a little out of my element.”

  Maggie stopped me from wearing a path down on the tile and put her hands on my shoulders. Pep-talk time. “Emery. Repeat after me.”

  I nodded.

  “I am strong, beautiful, and sexy as hell.”

  I giggled.

  “Do it!”

  “I am strong, beautiful, and sexy as hell.”

  “I deserve to be happy. No matter what. If it’s a Starbuck’s coffee that makes me smile, or a gorgeous man who wants to make me claw the bed sheets. I make my own rules. I write my own life.”

  “I deserve…that was a little winded.”

  “Summarize!” Maggie grinned.

  I grunted like a caveman. “Coffee make me happy. Sexy man make me come. I write.”

  “Damn, pretty good summary. Seems about right to me. Now, get the fuck out of here.”

  I left the bathroom with Maggie in tow, scanned for Caid and found him standing by the bar talking to his brother. He hadn’t noticed me yet. I picked up a drink from Maggie and Ellie’s table and sucked it back as fast as I could using the straw. If I was really going to do this, I was going to need a little help. And if we’re going to be honest here, I confess have no idea what I am doing.

  Caid’s eyes met mine, I melted a little, and he came to me. “Ready?” He asked, taking my hand.

  I nodded.

  “You sure? We don’t have to go anywhere if you don’t—”

  If you don’t take me now, I’m going to chicken out. “I’m sure, Caid. Let’s go.”

  He walked close behind me on the way out. “Fuck, I love it when you say my name.”

  I breathed and searched for Maggie. Our eyes met and she winked. I just bit my lip.

  Chapter Six

  Friday, July 5 — 2:05 am

  Caid didn’t touch me once during the cab ride. I started to wonder if he had changed his mind.

  “Just there, the corner,” he instructed the driver.

  The cab pulled over to the curb and we exited after Caid paid the fare. I won’t mention how much that one cost him. More than a week’s gas in Blue, for sure. Granted, traffic was still
thick from the day’s festivities, even at the late hour.

  “Up here,” Caid said, taking my hand (finally) and leading me up to a large brownstone townhouse. We definitely weren’t in Lakeshore East any longer. But, I liked it, it was suburban and calming.

  He withdrew a set of keys from his jeans pocket and unlocked the door, opening it for me to step in. I did. The house was in complete darkness, and I fumbled to find a wall to hold onto so I didn’t fall.

  Caid took my hand and led me up a flight of stairs, down a small hall and into a room.

  A bedroom.

  His room.

  Shit.

  Flipping the switch on a small lamp near his bed, the room illuminated and I found myself gazing around, taking in the space. His space. A large queen-sized bed sat in the middle of the room, with a large dark wood headboard, deep blue sheets and duvet. An old fireman’s helmet hung on the wall by his closet, and other than that, there was nothing else on the walls. They were painted a soft taupe, the window, floor and door were trimmed in white.

  “Changing your mind yet?” he asked, smirking as he moved toward me.

  I shook my head. “Nope.”

  “Would you like a drink? Water perhaps?”

  “No, I’m okay, thank you.”

  “How much have you had to drink?”

  “Um, just that tequila shot.” I lied.

  Caid took my hands and pulled me into his chest. “I think you’re taking the piss.”

  “Taking a what?”

  “Kidding. Teasing…”

  “Gotcha…” I said before he kissed me again.

  A kiss, alike to the first one at the pub. Was powerful, passionate, and painstakingly beautiful.

  “Okay,” I breathed into his mouth. “I had more than one.”

  “Thought so.” Caid stepped back, examining me. “Can you touch your nose with your eyes closed?”

  What kind of a question was that? Of course I could. I gave him a quizzical look.

  “Show me, Emery.” Caid smirked.

  “Okay,” I giggled the word. Confidently, I closed my eyes, raised my arm, pointed my finger, and poked myself right in the eye. Embarrassed, and utterly horrified, I turned to open his bedroom door. “Okay, so I’m just gonna go.”

  “Em, no!” Caid laughed. “Are you okay? Feck, you got yourself right in the eye. Let me look at it.”

  “Feck?”

  Caid laughed again. “Yeah, Irish for fuck.”

  “I like it.”

  “I like you. Now, let me look at your eye.” He held my face, so delicately that his hands were barely touching me at all. “You’ll be okay.”

  “Thanks.” I felt so awkward. That wasn’t at all like I had expected the night to go once he got me there. “So…”

  “So, do you want to rethink my offer of water?”

  If it will shut you up and make you kiss me again. Then yes, give me the damn water. “Yes, please.”

  Caid was back in a flash with a bottle of cold water.

  I cracked the cap and sipped. “Happy?” I asked, swallowing.

  “You’re cheeky.”

  I choked on the water. “Hardly!”

  “You are. And I like it. Come here.”

  The bottle fell from my fingers as he pulled me into him, claiming my mouth. Lapping my tongue with this, sucking and nipping at my lips.

  “You taste so good, Em.” His mouth left my lips and had begun to kiss and lick my jaw and neck. “Can I call you Em?”

  You can call me anything you want. “Yes.” I breathed. “Don’t stop.”

  A deep grumble escaped his mouth as he kissed and nipped at my collar bone. His hands gripped my hips, and then flattened as he smoothed my back and spine, pulling me into him.

  My hands went right to his hair, kneading and curling into the soft brown locks. I wanted—no, needed to lay down so badly, as I wasn’t sure how much longer my legs were going to last without giving out on me.

  “I need…the bed,” I whispered, panting from his delicious assault. While I wasn’t second-guessing my desire for Caid, or my need to touch and be touched by him. I was feeling something circulate throughout my body, I was overcome with a sense of guilt.

  No, no, no! I tried to push it out, shake it from my hands.

  As he backed us up, his mouth still on me, hands still touching me, I edged to the bed and felt it behind my legs. Dropping down, I let my body fall back and lay down.

  “Em…”

  “Caid.”

  “Em…” he said again, slowly climbing over me, one knee between my legs, the other on the opposite side of my thigh. As Caid moved inch by inch up to me, holding his hands on the bed above my shoulder, I shut my eyes tight. “We don’t have to do this,” he whispered. “And as much as I want to, especially since this dress reminds me of a picnic and it makes me hungry…” Pushing his hardening dick into my hip. “I don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for.”

  Opening my eyes and shakily placing my hands on his chest. “What makes you think I’m not ready?”

  “Em, I don’t think you have any idea what I want to do to you. The things I’ve wanted to do to you since I saw you walk into Lee’s.” He pressed harder and I let out a small gasp. “The slow….Rhythmic…Over. And. Over. Again…type of things, beautiful Emery.” He finished with a lick of his lips, and I knew my hesitation was all for naught. I had lost this before it had even begun. Caid Burke was a man who was used to getting what he wanted, it seeped from his pores like sweat. His confidence, his aura...pulled at the darkest and purest part of me. The deepest part, where all of my blood and nerves were currently pooled.

  I pulled him to my face, swiping my tongue over his mouth, tasting him, letting him linger on my lips. “I could kiss you all day,” I whispered between pecks I was placing on his jaw.

  “I’d like to see that.”

  With a giggle, I looked up at him, nipping his chin with my teeth. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.” Dark green eyes hooded with desire sparking in every little burst of gold laced through the jade.

  “But, you have to be shirtless.” I kissed him again. “It’s a weird rule, I know…but it’s make or break.” I lied. He could be wearing a snowsuit, a parka, only showing his lips and nose and I’d still want to kiss him until I died.

  Caid pulled his shirt over his head and dipped to pull my lip with his teeth. “Better?”

  I nodded. My eyes and fingers scouring over his tattoos.

  “What are the rules regarding your clothing, Em?”

  “There aren’t any.”

  A glint flickered in his eyes. “I don’t know if I could only kiss you if you didn’t have that dress on.”

  “No?”

  “No,” he answered, his voice low and to-the-point.

  “It’s hot in here,” I said, feeling out of my element still. Though it was stifling, I knew it wasn’t from the summer air. I knew it was Caid, his close proximity and his mouth and fingers leaving scorching fire with each and every lick.

  Quickly climbing off the bed to crack the window, I clambered to pull my entire body up onto the sheets. Once I laid, and placed my head on the pillow, I passed out.

  ***

  One Saturday night in July, 2007 — after midnight

  Matt woke me up by doing what almost every movie boy had done to a girl in any classic. He tossed small stones against my bedroom window, in hopes to wake me.

  “Matt?” I whispered once I slid open the framed glass. “What are you doing?!”

  “Em! Open the front door, I want to see you.”

  “You can see me right now. What do you want?” I tried to keep my voice down. If mom heard me, and saw Matt, she wouldn’t be very happy about it.

  “To see you, I just said that.” Matt staggered a little when he spoke.

  “Are you drunk?” I rasped, trying to keep my voice down.

  “Maybe,” he whispered. “Open the door, or I’m going to go all Spiderman and climb the house.”r />
  If I opened the door, told him to go home and sleep it off, maybe give him a quick kiss, he would leave. I hoped. I tip-toed down the steps, holding my breath as if it would make my body weight lighter, and my mom wouldn’t hear that I was up. I clicked the lock off, twisted the knob and opened the door to the most handsome face in all of Belleville.

  Matt Morgan was beautiful. His eyes were the color of honey, almost matching his dirty blonde hair. It was a little longer in the front and on the top, but the sides and back were kept short. His broad shoulders were meant to make a girls head feel fuzzy.

  “Let me in.”

  I shook my head and giggled. “No! I have been telling you this for weeks. I’m not interested.”

  “Emery Finn, let me in your house. Now.” Matt’s eyes flashed desire and he ran his fingers through his hair. “I need to talk to you.”

  Okay, if he comes in, sits down—for a second—and talks, maybe he’ll leave before my mom sniffs him out. How could she not? I could smell his cologne and the beer on his breath from the doorway.

  “Fast and quiet, Morgan.” I nodded my head toward the living room.

  “I can’t promise you either,” he said as he strode into my house.

  I pushed the door closed and turned around to lean against it. Matt Morgan was in the house. My house. The house I’ve lived in my entire life. The house I slept and dreamed in. And as of late, those dreams consisted of only Matt Morgan.

  Shit.

  “My mom is sleeping just up the stairs.” I crossed my arms. “What do you want?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? I want you.”

  I blinked. “You—you want m-me?” I stammered. “Why?”

  “Well, you’re hot.”

  Classic line.

  “And, there’s just…fuck, something about you, Emery.”

  I blushed. “Thanks,” it came out as a whisper.

  “Go out with me, be my girlfriend.”

  Blinking again. “R-really?”

  Matt rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “Fuck yeah.”

  I gave in. The silly school girl with her heart on her sleeve, gave in and agreed. With my small nod and no words, Matt moved to me and snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me hard against his body.