“I don’t have to explain myself to you!”
“Oh, technically you do.”
“No, I don’t. I am the only first responder firefighter slash paramedic in this town, not you. You haven’t even filled out any paperwork yet!”
“Well, consider us on the job,” Blaze spoke and then ordered gruffly, “Now, let Ashe see your hand.”
Rayne looked inquisitively at them as she handed Ashe her hand. She then asked, “I could have handled it just fine. I didn’t need you two jumping in to save the day.”
“It’s not bad. She just got skimmed a bit,” Ashe said, looking over at Blaze. Blaze nodded and when the fires were completely out, he stepped over to her and took her hand in his. Frowning at the red mark on her perfect skin, he walked her over to the sink, and turned on the cold water, placing her hand under the cool spray.
“Who are you guys?” Jude asked, getting to his feet.
“I’m Blaze Weston, and that’s Ashe Bently. We’re you’re new firefighters.”
Chapter Five
Just before sunset, that same day
“Great balls of fire!” Blaze roared. “Woman, do you ever shut up?” From the moment he, Ashe, and Rayne left the Crystal Tumbler, Rayne had been talking nonstop, about what he had no clue. Oh, he had heard some parts, like about showing up on time, not using brute force, and talking rather than shouting, but when she started harping on him about the rules and regulations regarding his job, well, Blaze tuned her out.
That was over two hours ago, and he was about to pull what hair he had left on his head, right out of his scalp.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You can beg me anyway you want my little fire starter, but stow the pardon. You have been going nonstop since this morning. We get it. You are in charge. Now drop it.”
“I don’t see how shouting at me is going to help,” Rayne replied, her hands on her hips. “I am just trying to teach you two how we do things in Celestial. There is no need to lose your temper.”
Blaze growled, then calmly said, “Fire starter, you haven’t seen me lose my temper yet.”
“Stop calling me that!” Rayne replied, stomping her foot in dramatic effect. He had to admit that when she got riled up, she was cute as a button. Her face flushed, and her little nose scrunched up, but it was her eyes that spat fire. Damn, she was something to see when she got her mad on.
“Then stop and think before you rush into a fire!”
“I didn’t rush!”
A loud whistle shut them both up as Blaze and Rayne turned to look at Ashe. “If you two are done, I think we should take a break.”
“But I’m not done with your orientation yet. Then there’s the written and oral test, and the physicals. I have all this paperwork that still needs to be filled out.”
“Burn it,” Blaze growled, walking toward the firehouse bay door.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” Blaze said right before he disappeared. “I said burn it.”
“You can’t walk away!” Rayne shouted, running after him, only to run right into Ashe as he blocked her path.
“Sweetheart, I’d leave him be.”
“But the paperwork?”
“Come on,” Ashe said, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Show me this paperwork, and I’ll show you how to properly put out a fire.”
Blaze needed air, bad. He had never wanted to strangle a woman before, but that little fire starter was really making him reconsider what his momma taught him. God help him, she was so damn aggravating, opinionated, and smart he wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her stupid. Not that it would work though. She’d probably slap the dog piss out of him and give him a lecture on sexual harassment in the workplace, or worse, make him take another damn test.
When he agreed to come to Celestial with Ashe, he figured that it would be an easy gig. Small town folks, living simple, up in the mountains of Montana, where the biggest thing he would have to worry about was how high the snowdrifts got. Instead, he and Ashe weren’t in town more than two hours, and they met the opinionated Rayne, fucked her senseless, and come morning, had to put out a grease fire. Now they were being schooled on the proper techniques from fire safety to proper filing.
She was driving him nuts.
Blaze had been a firefighter for over fifteen years. He knew the drill. Though at first he figured it wouldn’t be a hardship working and looking at the firecracker, while sitting around the fire station getting paid for doing nothing, he was seriously considering starting a fire just so he didn’t have to listen to her ramblings any more. Frustrated and needing an outlet to vent, Blaze was heading back into the station to see if there was a small gym somewhere when the phone rang on Rayne’s desk.
Looking around, Blaze didn’t see Rayne or Ashe anywhere. Praying there was trouble, he picked up the phone and said, “Celestial Fire Department, how may I help you?”
“Are you the new firefighter?” a female asked.
“Yes, ma’am. What’s your emergency?”
“A real, honest to Goddess firefighter? Not like Old Bud, who’d say call in the morning?”
Chuckling, Blaze replied, “No, ma’am. I am a firefighter.”
“That’s nice. We really needed one here in town. Poor Rayne, she tries, but she really doesn’t look the part, if you know what I mean.”
“No, ma’am, I don’t.”
“Oh you know, good looking, muscular, a body that could melt ice. You are good looking, right? I mean if you’re going to have that profession there should be some physical standard you must pass. Not everyone should be a firefighter.”
“Well—”
“Oh, I knew you were handsome! I’m Cricket.”
“Cricket?”
“Oh wow, and you’re smart, too. You got it right on the first try. That’s nice.”
Blaze looked at the phone’s receiver and wondered if he had stepped into another dimension. He had taken plenty of calls in his time, but never once had he been drilled on his looks, or belittled by a caller. “Ma’am, is there a reason you called?”
“Yes, but first tell me about yourself. What do you look like?”
“I’m a firefighter, ma’am. Not some GQ runway model.”
“You know, self-degradation is not a pleasant attribute. Own what the cosmos gave you and wear it proudly. The only one who can hurt you, is you.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s simple cosmic knowledge. You see, when a…”
“Ma’am!” Blaze shouted. “Do you have an emergency?”
“There is no need to shout, I was just trying to help,” the female replied sweetly.
Growling, Blaze said again, “Your emergency.”
“Well, if you’re not busy, I am calling because Matilda’s house is on fire.”
Great, something to do!
Hitting the fire alarm on the wall next to Rayne’s desk, Blaze asked, “Can you tell us how to get out there?”
“Oh, don’t you have that big red truck anymore?”
An hour later, Blaze was leaning against the fire truck, wondering what in the hell Ashe had gotten them into. Dressed and prepared for a real house fire, he was now comforting Matilda while he sweated his ass off as Ashe made sure the remnants of Matilda’s house were completely out.
“It’s okay. We’ll find you somewhere to stay,” he said, scratching behind her ear. Matilda Jane Zazzle-Leaf was a cute little poodle, who once lived in a pink doghouse, with crystal chandeliers and shag carpeting. Now, she was homeless. Her owner, Cricket Zazzle-Leaf, was something to behold. The young, hippie-Goth woman looked more like a reject from the sixties than a twenty-six-year-old graduate from Stanford. Well, Blaze thought she went to Stanford, because she was currently wearing one of their sweatshirts over a pair of polka-dotted lime-green and yellow-striped pants. Her hair was blonde, at least he could ascertain that, but the exact length was indeterminable, due to her dreadlocks and rainbow array of hair extensions, and
he stopped counting all the holes on her face when he reached twelve. In his book, ears were supposed to be pierced once, the nose was for sneezing and smelling, and the eyebrows were for shaping the eyes, not to show off bling.
Regardless of what Blaze thought of the young woman, she was sweet and kind. She had a great sense of humor, and was very likable, even if she would sink to the bottom of the pool because of her piercings, but he was not one to judge.
“Are you sure, Rayne? I would most appreciate it. It would just be until I can get Brutus to build me another house for Matilda.”
“It’s no problem, Cricket. The firehouse is big, and Matilda will have plenty of room to run around.”
When Blaze heard Rayne mention the firehouse, and only for a couple of days, his ears picked up as he headed their way. It was one thing to offer assistance to those in need, but to volunteer the firehouse as a refuge for lost and misplaced animals, well, that was another thing. Besides, Matilda was a poodle! “What’s going on?”
“We’re taking Matilda until Cricket can get her a new house built.”
“No, we’re not. The firehouse is no place for a poodle. She could get hurt, or worse, killed.”
“You’d harm Matilda!” Cricket shouted, picking up her fluffy poodle.
Blaze took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves, because he was about to lose his shit. It was one thing to call and say a real house was on fire, but a doghouse. Anyone with half a brain would have grabbed a firehouse to put the thing out. Then, to add insult to injury, the misplaced animal was now apparently moving in, and it wasn’t even a real dog…it was a poodle. “No, ma’am, I wouldn’t, not intentionally, but with the trucks and calls, we couldn’t keep an eye out for her. We leave the bay door open, and she could run out into the street and get ran over by a car. Anything could happen, and the fire department doesn’t need the liability.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. The firehouse isn’t even insured,” Rayne said as if that took care of everything.
“What do you mean the house isn’t insured? It’s a firehouse! Do you know how much money it would cost to replace everything, not to mention building a new house?”
It was at that moment that Cricket chose to chime in with her universal wit. “That’s why you guys are here. So if there is a fire, you can put it out. That is what you are paid for, right? To stop houses and buildings from being destroyed. Now, I’m not going to mention Matilda’s house, because you two slacked on the job, but you two really need to step up your game around here, someone could have gotten hurt.” Blaze stood dumbstruck as Cricket then handed Matilda to Rayne and sauntered off into her own home, slamming the door behind her.
* * * *
Rayne wanted to scream. These two firemen were without a doubt the laziest, most inconsiderate, un-trainable men she had ever met. Before leaving the station, they both fought over who was going to drive the truck, which ended with her jumping behind the wheel. The only reason they made it to Cricket’s place was because they both started running when she put the truck in gear. Then, on the way, Blaze and Ashe fought over the radio station, but thank the Goddess Hermes had already shut down the local radio station for his Dungeons and Dragons meeting. But when they arrived at Crickets, both men refused to leave the truck when they saw the fire, stating that a doghouse was not a real house, therefore they were not needed. In turn, she drove the truck, and put out the damn fire herself.
Hell, at this rate, she wouldn’t need the firefighters anymore. That is, until she completed her next thousand hours of on-the-job training. However, she was a patient woman, and if she could muddle through with Rocky and Bullwinkle, then she could handle anything.
As it was, she was once again ensconced behind the wheel of the fire truck, driving back into town, while her new firefighters slept, as if they just fought a four-alarm fire. Beside her, Matilda panted as she looked out the window, enjoying the scenery. How Apollo managed to find these two jokers, she would never know, but she knew that they weren’t going to work. She wondered if they ever fought a real fire before in their lives.
It didn’t take long before the small town of Celestial appeared before her. Goddess, she loved her hometown. She wanted nothing but to spend the rest of her life there, get married, raise a family, and just enjoy what the universe gave her. It had been her dream since she was a little girl, but the cosmos had other ideas, and she was just trying to make due.
Slowing down, she didn’t have to worry about other vehicles on the only street in Celestial, because no one really drove anywhere. Technically, those who lived close to town either walked, biked, or roller-skated their way around. A few who lived further out did own vehicles, but rarely brought them into town, in fear of Apollo and his eco-lecture on the downfall of the ozone due to carbon dioxide. Yet the man owned a Hummer and drove it frequently.
There wasn’t much she didn’t know about anyone in Celestial, except for the two new firefighters, and if she was going to work with them, she needed to know everything about them, and the best way to get two people talking was to take them out for a drink, only this time she refused to sleep with them. She could do it, too. She was a smart, determined, independent woman. She didn’t need a man or two to warm her bed at night. She was just going to have to be professional and lay down the law. She was in charge of the firehouse, and they were going to fall in line or hit the road.
With her mind made up, she pulled into the firehouse and shut off the engine to the truck.
“Hey, guys, how about after we clean everything up, I take you for drinks over at the Rainbow Room?” she asked. When both men perked up, she then added, “No sex…just beer.”
Chapter Six
Blaze shifted as much as he was able to given his current predicament. The three of them were once again like toppled dominos, only this time they only made it to the couch. He stroked his fingers through the dark hair of the fiery woman sprawled naked on top of him, and smiled to himself. Rayne was sandwiched between them again, in a sleepy mass, as Ashe was curled up against Rayne’s back.
As Blaze surveyed his two companions, he considered his luck. He’d only intended to get to know Rayne better, learn about her wants and likes, and maybe flirt a little. Hell, he was a man, and she did have one rockin’ hard body. Instead, he found himself thinking of several dreams and fantasies of Rayne in every position known to man.
The night had started out fine. She had offered to buy them drinks, and well, they happily accepted. When she took them to the Rainbow Room, Blaze thought the night was just going to be another orientation with long lectures and watered-down beer. Instead, Rayne was vibrant and electric, forgoing the lectures as she danced her fine ass off. The music was hopping, and the drinks were first class. They all talked for the longest time and laughed at jokes, but when a tall Greek God offered them a drink of his house special, the night turned very interesting. Some parts were still fuzzy, but lying where he was now, he didn’t give anything a second thought.
Ashe stirred behind Rayne, and Blaze’s mind began to wander. He imagined Ashe’s cock buried into Rayne as he watched them from behind. He envisioned the curve of Ashe’s ass as his hips thrust, so delicious and inviting. His own cock twitched to life under Rayne and he groaned a little. Before long, her slim fingers closed around it.
“What have we here?” purred Rayne gruffly, looking for all the world like a cat curled in his lap.
“You’re not one of those women who complains when a men falls asleep afterward, are you?” Blaze taunted quietly, and then moaned again when her grip tightened, “Oh, don’t stop, that feels so good.”
“I don’t think you’re ready for sleep. So tell me, what were you thinking about that’s got this monster so excited again?”
Blaze lowered his voice a little, unsure if Ashe was asleep, “Actually I was just thinking about Ashe, and the things I’d like to do to him, with you.” His green eyes rolled back a little behind his dark red-lashed lids, emphasizin
g his point.
“Honey, if that feels even half as good as I just imagined, I’m surprised you haven’t come already.” Rayne sighed. She suddenly squealed as her eyes went wide. “Oh, everyone’s awake now!”
Blaze smiled as he glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Ashe stick a slick-looking finger in his mouth, sucking what he was sure were Rayne’s juices from it with a mischievous glint to his eyes. God, he had forgotten how Ashe was such a playful lover in bed. It had been so long since he’d seen that look upon his partner’s face.
“Goddess, Ashe!” Rayne twisted around and pushed his shoulder playfully.
Blaze used this break to extricate himself from the bottom of the pile, gently moving Rayne off him. He stretched his muscled arms above his head and stood on his toes. “Going to use the facilities, and then we can get started on round three.”
“I thought we just finished round three?” Rayne asked, winking, enjoying a stretch herself, but the laughter Blaze heard when he turned his back told him that Ashe had likely interrupted her mid-stretch with a wandering hand or two.
For two people who weren’t a couple, they were fucking adorable. He grinned to himself and shook his head. It was no wonder people around Celestial were free spirits. Since arriving, Blaze had seen his fair share of crazy shit, from the naked sheriff, to a Greek God who walked around in a loincloth. Everyone in town seemed happy, sure of themselves, at ease with their surroundings, but what he noticed most was that there were no judgments. Not one person asked him about his burns. At first he thought that was strange, but then he realized where he was and thought nothing more of it. The fact of the matter was that the town of Celestial didn’t care. All they cared about was that he was of good character and happy.
It was strange, yet fulfilling in a way, not to have to explain why he was the way he was. He was accepted, plain and simple.
Blaze had heard the expression “let the cosmos guide” several times, and wasn’t sure what everyone meant by that, but after twenty-four hours in town, he got it. It was a humbling feeling to let go of his past and just live. It was something he thought he’d never be able to do since his accident, but being here, now, with Ashe and Rayne, everything just felt right, as if it was all meant to be. For the first time in two years, he was happy.
Great Celestial Balls of Fire [Celestial Nights 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 5