AllsFair

by AlexandraOHurley

  “Thank you… Who are you? How did you get in my house?” Cocking her head to one side, the woman stared at the stranger as Eros noted she must have nerves of steel to question the male. Especially considering that most people would be in shock right now.

  The small man smiled submissively as he extended a small hand in her direction. “Sorry, I’m Ronald. I am new in the neighborhood. I heard the fire engines and peeked out my front door and saw smoke, so I grabbed my extinguisher and popped over to help. Your door was unlocked. I hope you don’t mind. I was just trying to be helpful and neighborly.”

  Eros noted the look on her face seemed to imply she did mind this man just walking into her home, but when she said nothing and took his hand, looking back to the damage, he assumed that she was trying to be polite.

  Ronald was not supposed to be there. As soon as he had stepped inside the room, both Eros and Apollo had stepped back into the shadows. Eros looked him over from head to toe, sure that the man was not a man at all, but was doing an incredible job of hiding what it really was.

  Just as Eros was trying to push past whatever covered the man’s identity, two firemen rushed into the kitchen. Pushing past Ronald, Eros watched as the two firefighters came up short and almost looked disappointed that the fire seemed to be already out.

  “I took care of the fire. I used my extinguisher.” The little man lifted the huge red canister in front of him, showing it to the firemen as if they had no idea what the item was. “You aren’t needed here. The fire is out. Sorry to make you come out, but it seems like everything is okay.”

  The two men looked incredulously at the surroundings and then at each other. Apparently, they were not leaving fast enough as Ronald put down the fire extinguisher and took each of the men by the arm and began to push them from the room. The firefighters removed their arms and began working back to the kitchen when Ronald planted his hands in the middle of their chests, trying to maneuver them to the front door.

  “I said the fire is out. You don’t need you here. I have everything under control.” As the men continued to push past his smaller form, the man—or creature as it was more like it—began to wave his fingers, and an ethereal glow began to form around his hands.

  Snapping his fingers together, Eros smiled as another flame surged from the kitchen at his command. Jumping into action, the firemen pushed Ronald before he was able to do any damage to them. The first grabbed the woman in his arms and moved her away from the fire as the second quickly doused the flames with Ronald’s fire extinguisher. Eros pulled the arrow tightly before releasing it and grabbing another.

  * * * *

  Kendall Brockman shivered, feeling sensation ripple through her. Her beautiful kitchen was in ruins, her dreams had gone up in smoke, and all she could think about was how incredible it felt to be held in the firefighter’s arms. She had always had a thing for firemen, but there were bigger fish to fry right now besides the ache in her groin, although from the looks of things, there would be no frying going on in her house anytime soon.

  “How did that happen? I put out all the flames.” Another shiver collected within her. The creepy man who had burst onto the scene was a hero for jumping in and helping fight the blaze, but there was something about him—she couldn’t put her finger on it—that ‘something’ gave her the willies.

  The fact she was positive her front door had been locked just made the sensation worse. While trying to put the flames out, she had worried over that door so much, knowing she would have to stop fighting the fire to go unlock the door for the fire crew. Yet he had just walked in? She wanted to ask the man to leave but bit her tongue as she felt like a jerk after he had rushed in to help.

  All conscious thought slipped from her brain as she felt a big, warm hand running along her back. A tingling sensation started at her toes and ran up her body. Melting into the touch, she relaxed and let the sensation ooze through her. Glancing up at the man who held her, she came into contact with a set of ocean-blue eyes. A straight, solid nose arrowed down to beautifully curved lips. Lips she just wanted to bite. And lick.

  Going back to his beautiful eyes, she thought she saw the same desire mirrored there. His hand had not stopped warming her back, and she stepped ever so much closer, inhaling his masculine scent. The scene around her slipped from her mind as she became lost in the depths of his eyes. Her lips had a mind of their own, and she leaned forward, sensing he inched closer as well.

  “Well, I am so glad the fire didn’t spread anywhere else. But now that it’s out, I can stay and help you clean up the mess.”

  Kendall turned to look at the smarmy man, trying to retain a level of consideration in her tone and features. “I don’t think that would be necessary. You have done so much already. I think the firefighters and I have everything under control.” And if this one doesn’t stop rubbing my back, I will so not be under control.

  “Are you sure? That’s one big mess, and it is going to take a lot of cleaning up. I’m awfully handy when it comes to messes. Plus, I am sure the firemen will be leaving now that the fire is out.” Turning to the hunk behind her, her neighbor continued pointedly looking at the man. “Isn’t that right, you guys will be leaving soon. Right?”

  “Sir, I appreciate your quick thinking to help your neighbor, but I think we have everything under control. You can go on home now, but make sure you leave your name and address with the team outside, so if we have any questions we will know where to come ask.” The deep resonation of his voice echoed through her entire body, making her nipples harden. He definitely had her under his control, that was for sure, and thankfully he seemed to understand that she did not want the company of her neighbor.

  “Are you implying I had something to do with this?” A frown covered the little man’s face, and his fingers began swirling in a very odd manner. Ronald turned his head to the left as if he heard something.

  “No, sir, we always gather information for our investigation.”

  “Investigation? Of course.” Ronald’s eyes grew large, and he began backing out of the room and then out the front door. Once he was gone, Kendall turned back into the man’s arms, looking into his face, the strength it held making her feel near to swooning.

  “You keep shivering. You may be in shock. Would you like medical attention? We have an ambulance out front, if so.”

  “Are you asking me to play doctor?” She slapped a hand over her mouth as soon as the words had left her mouth. She could not believe she had just asked him that question.

  He chuckled, and a twinkling light entered his gorgeous eyes, ones she could get lost in. Looking down at her, the fireman continued to stroke her back with his hand, never stopping its motion. “If I wasn’t sure you were in shock at the moment, I just might take you up on that offer.”

  Liquid need flowed through her at his comment, and she dropped the hand from her mouth. A smile spread slowly, and she backed away from him even though she wanted to curl up closer to him and let that hand go wherever it wanted to. She needed to clear her mind and assess the damage she had. Plus she was not the type of woman to drop into bed with a stranger—even if that stranger was a hot-ass fireman!

  She was sure she heard him chuckle again under his breath before moving to assist the other fireman checking under her cabinets and around her counters ensuring that the fire was completely out. Another two men came into her house, carrying huge fans to help blow the smoke from her home.

  This was definitely not the time for this to happen. It was freezing outdoors, and her house was already becoming an ice cube with the front door wide open. Add in the fans’ ventilation, and her house was going to be colder than the Sub-Zero freezer she had.

  Tears strained at the back of her eyes at that thought. That freezer had cost an arm and a leg, as did all her top-of-the-line appliances in her recently transformed kitchen. A foodie from day one, she had invested a ton of money into her remodel and had just finally pushed the work crews out her front door a few weeks b
efore. All that time, with people working in her house, looking forward to being able to make all her favorite foods, and in the blink of an eye, it was all gone.

  Back to square one. She refused to cry over the situation. It could have been worse. She still had her home, her life, and the insurance money that would hopefully pay to rebuild her dream kitchen. Plus, there were several very-hunky firemen in her house right now, and one of them in particular seemed unable to keep his eyes off her.

  * * * *

  Eros stood outside awaiting the little man to exit, and once he walked out the door, it finally hit him. “Erebus!”

  The frightened little man turned at the name, his eyes growing wider with fear. Jumping down the steps, the man disappeared before he hit the bottom step. Eros and Apollo followed suit, reappearing in front of Erebus within his chambers in the Underworld.

  “Eros! It is so good to see you. It has been much, much too long. What brings you for a visit to the Underworld?” Erebus rose from his throne, clasping Eros’s hand within his.

  “Why did you run from us, Erebus?”

  Pulling away, the god shook his head, his brows clenching together in thought. “Run from you? Whatever do you mean? Why would I run from you? That makes no sense?” Erebus wore the same wide-eyed expression he had worn when he was masking himself as the woman’s neighbor.

  “Erebus, you still stink of the smoke in the woman’s home. Don’t try to hide it.” Apollo nearly sneered, his dislike for Erebus rolling off him in waves.

  Erebus sighed and returned to the high-backed chair.

  “Who else are you working with? We know Eris is involved, but what others are within this conspiracy?”

  “Conspiracy? I was told I needed to help put out the fire and try to keep others from her home. That is all.” Erebus’s clear green eyes looked up at Eros, clear of guile and contempt.

  “Who told you that you were needed there?”

  “Well, Hades.”

  Eros was glad to have proof Hades was involved. “And why did he tell you to do this?”

  “As if Hades would tell me much of anything.” Erebus snorted. “He is a burden I must bear, living in such close proximity, and so occasionally I do as he instructs to try to maintain peace with him. Helping to put out a fire seemed easy enough, heroic even. So I said yes to this one. I am not a part of any conspiracy.”

  Eros saw Apollo’s questioning look and felt there was more to this story than Erebus was offering. Why would he have run if he thought he was there to be heroic?

  “So, you became Hades’s lapdog and put out a little fire?” Apollo always knew the best way to get under someone’s skin, Eros thought to himself.

  Erebus jumped from his seat and pushed out his chest, getting nose to nose with Apollo. “I am no one’s lapdog. I am Primordial, I am the Darkness, and I am the thing that makes even grown men scream in fear.” He took a breath and stood back, calm again after his momentary lapse. “But Hades is a better ally than enemy, so if stepping into that little female’s house and putting out a fire makes Hades happy, then so be it.”

  Apollo shook his head, his golden locks sliding across his shoulders. “Erebus, if you were there to put out a fire, why did you attempt to push the men from her house?”

  “I was instructed to put out the fire and ensure she stayed alone in the house afterwards. I put out the fire and would have succeeded if you two had not interfered. Now I will have to deal with Hades being unpleasant that I only took care of one part of his plan. And he will not be happy you were there.”

  “Then do not tell him.” Eros pulled up close to Erebus.

  “I choose not to incur his wrath.” Gathering his robes, Erebus looked grim.

  “Father, I ask you once more, do not tell him.”

  “As if family means anything to any of us. Don’t try to play that game. Aphrodite claimed you as her own, and at that point, you were no longer my son.”

  “Zeus had just defeated the Titans, and we were all afraid he would turn to the Primordials next.”

  “Like Zeus has the power to end Time, to end Light, to end the Night, to end Darkness?” Erebus was screaming by the end of the sentence, emphasizing the last word. Collecting himself once more before he continued, he looked down before raising his eyes level with Eros’s, a smug smile crossing his lips. “And we all know what happens if you end Love, now don’t we?”

  Fear swirled in Eros’s chest at his true father’s words. “What is Hades’s plan?”

  “You allowed those stupid Olympians to pull you into their world and turned your back on the Primes. I owe you nothing. You are forewarned.” Erebus shifted into a black fog and billowed from the cavern.

  Chapter Six

  Kendall went to her bedroom, looking through her paperwork at her desk, trying to find the number for her insurance agent. Plus, she needed to find a warm place somewhere in the house, and being able to close the door and get away from those crazy fans in near-zero temps downstairs was a necessity.

  A soft knock came to her door.

  Kendall moved quickly, opening it to see her favorite firefighter. A blush crept along his cheeks as he stood there staring at her, a sweet smile curving his lips. “I need to collect some information, if you don’t mind. We can then file a report so you can submit to your insurance company.”

  “Of course. In here if you don’t mind. This is probably the warmest spot in the house at the moment.” Normally she would feel uncomfortable with a stranger in her bedroom, but heat suffused her core as she thought of him sharing this intimate space. For some reason, she felt compelled to get closer to him. Considering she had not had a date in months, or a boyfriend in even longer, this was the closest thing to real intimacy she had had in, well, forever. She had chosen instead to focus on her work and the remodel. Given all that, Kendall was amazed at the height of her desire for this perfect stranger.

  Or perhaps that was the reason behind it. The lure of the unknown. She had played the good girl all her life. Perhaps now was time for her to let the bad girl out.

  He stepped into her room, slowly closing the door before seeking out her eyes as if to gain her approval to venture farther inside. She smiled at him, and the one he returned made her knees weak. Sitting down, she motioned for him to sit with her on the edge of her bed. Noting he had taken off his heavy fire gear, she appreciated the streamlined body that materialized in his snug blue jeans and under his deep blue fleece pullover.

  She still did not get a good look at his hair, as a knit cap covered his locks, as had his helmet moments before, but she guessed he was dark blond by his eyebrows and the hint of stubble that graced his chin and cheeks. The slight hint of gray in that stubble only seemed to make him a little more appealing. As soon as she looked at that growth, she immediately thought of how it would feel rasping against her sensitive skin, her neck, her breasts, her pussy. Crossing her legs, she tried to tamp down the need brewing inside her.

  He proceeded to ask her vital information, her name, phone number, and such, before turning to the important facts. “Can you give a brief overview of what happened?”

  “I really don’t have any idea. I was simmering a pot of soup and baking a batch of yeast rolls but had gone upstairs to check something really quick. There was nothing close to the range top, no towels, paper, pot holders, and I was gone only a couple of minutes.”

  “No one else was in the house?”

  “No one but me, and there’s absolutely no reason for the fire to have started.”

  “All the appliances look new.”

  “I just had the kitchen completely remodeled just completed a few weeks ago, and I have barely had time to enjoy it at all.” Tears stung the back of her eyes once more, and she fought them off. Frustration built along her frame, thinking of the time and money she may have lost.

  “Well, after reviewing the stove and oven, and the burn pattern, it appears to have been an electrical fire which started the blaze. And now with the news it is a r
ecent construction, I’m leaning toward it more.”

  “So you think it wasn’t installed properly?”

  “I need to investigate it further, and I’m not pointing fingers yet, but it is a strong possibility of an installation issue. The only thing that is bothering me is there looks to be a secondary ignition point that is strange, and I am not sure what the source could have been, so I don’t want to make a firm ruling quite yet. I took some samples, and I’ll be sending them to the lab for testing.”

  “How CSI of you.” Not only was he a sexy firefighter, but apparently he had some brains under that stocking cap.

  Looking up, he smiled. “I’m one of the fire marshals, and I do origin and cause investigations. With the weather the way it is right now, our department has been stretched thin. Most have been simple cases of someone trying to use a fireplace or space heater and not using them correctly, which need little to no investigating. So I have been out running calls to help out where I can. You lucked out today. I was able to start the investigation immediately since I was one of the first on the scene.”

  Kendall smiled at him, thinking to herself that she was absolutely lucky that this gorgeous man had been one of the firefighters first on the scene.

  * * * *

  Wynne watched the woman closely when he had told her his thoughts on the cause of the fire, and noted her response. He had been fairly certain she had not been involved in the start of the fire, but seeing her reaction, his gut told him she was merely the victim of a bad accident. One that could have turned out much worse.

  His gut also told him many more things than that, of course, as he watched her uncross and recross her incredibly shapely legs. He was definitely a leg man, and seeing her graceful gams encased in tight denim, with tight leather boots running almost up to her knees, he was in heaven. Thoughts of his fingers stroking those legs were running through his addled mind.