by Jaci Burton
“Holy shit, Carmen.” He thrust inside of her, then stilled.
She felt him swell, and her body responded by tightening, quaking. She wrapped her legs around his thighs and lifted, and then he began to move, slow and easy at first, at the same time kissing her in that way that made her dizzy.
She was lost in the hot male smell of him, the feel of his hardcore body surrounding her as he continued to thrust in, then pull out, only to push his cock deep and grind against her, making her feel as if she were going to come apart right at that moment. But then he eased out and began the sweet torment all over again, drawing her up that ladder right to the edge.
He licked the side of her neck, from her collarbone all the way to her ear, and then he whispered words to her that made her shiver.
“Being inside of you is like being inside of a fire,” he said. “You’re burning me, Carmen.”
She shuddered, so close to the edge she could feel the tremors. She held tight to Rafe, watching the way his face tightened as his movements quickened, and knew he was right there with her.
She hovered there, right at the precipice, her entire body shaking as sweet pulses roared their way to the surface.
“Come on, babe,” he said. “Let’s go down in flames together.”
She let go and dug her heels into the mattress, crying out with the intensity of the orgasm that tore through her. Rafe reached underneath her to cup her butt cheek, his fingertips digging into her flesh as he roared out a groan that only prolonged the force of her climax.
When she settled, she fell to the mattress, feeling as if she’d run a marathon. She was hot, sweaty and utterly depleted. Rafe rolled to the side, then pulled her against him.
He stroked her hair and her back, and she was content to let the silence surround them. This was good, these few moments where no words needed to be said. They didn’t need to analyze what had happened. They only needed to catch their breath and enjoy being together.
But she really needed a shower.
She popped her head up and looked down at him. “I’m sweaty.”
He opened one eye. “So not my fault.”
She laughed, then rolled over him. “I’m going to rinse off.” She got out of bed, then paused at the doorway to see if he was watching her.
“You coming in the shower with me?” she asked.
He grinned and rolled off the bed. “I don’t know, Carmen,” he said as he followed her into the bathroom. “Will I be coming with you in the shower?”
She gave him a wicked smile.
Oh yes. It was going to be a very long night.
CHAPTER 17
RAFE WOKE UP EARLY, LIKE HE ALWAYS DID. IT DIDN’T MATter if he was on shift or off. He was an early riser.
When he rolled over in the bed, he could smell Carmen’s scent on the pillow next to him. The problem was, she wasn’t there.
She’d left sometime before dawn, saying she had to get home to her grandfather, get him breakfast and drop him off at therapy for the day.
He yawned, stretched, got out of bed, put on shorts and a sleeveless shirt and went downstairs. It looked like he was the first one up, so he made himself a cup of coffee and walked outside.
It was cloudy today, which made Rafe happy, because it wasn’t so blisteringly hot that his feet melted to the patio outside. He sat near the pool and sipped his coffee, letting the caffeine do its thing.
He saw some tree limbs from Carmen’s backyard leaning over into their yard. Not a big deal, but he should get a ladder and trim those so Carmen wouldn’t have to do it. And while he was at it, he should trim the other trees in their yard to give them a neater look.
He went inside and peeled potatoes, sliced and put them on to boil, then made some bacon and eggs. By that time, Jackson and Becks came downstairs.
“You should know better than to start cooking bacon this early,” Jackson said, stealing a piece of bacon while he took a drink of his coffee.
“Hey, that’s for breakfast,” Rafe said.
“You can always make more.”
“No, you can make more.”
Becks skirted around Rafe and went to the fridge. “You know six pieces isn’t going to be enough. I’ll do it.”
Becks started the bacon while Rafe drained the water off the potatoes and sliced them, then put them in the pan to fry them up. Kal had come home while he was outside. He washed his hands and sliced mangoes. They got out plates and served up breakfast, then took everything to the table to eat.
After last night with Carmen, Rafe had worked up a hell of an appetite and was starving, but he tried not to shovel the food into his mouth.
“So Carmen decided not to stay for breakfast?” Becks asked.
Rafe lifted his head. “Carmen? Uh, no. Why would she be here?”
“Because I saw her tiptoe down the stairs about four a.m. when I woke up to come downstairs for some water.”
“Oh.”
“Sooo, Carmen spent the night, huh?” Kal asked. “Do tell, brother.”
“Or, don’t,” Jackson said, frowning at Kal. “Because it’s no one’s business.”
“Oops,” Becks said, lifting her shoulders in apology. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was a secret.”
Rafe shrugged. “It’s not. At least not to me. I don’t know how Carmen will feel about everyone knowing.”
“It’s not like we’re gonna put a sign up,” Kal said. “Your private business is your own. Except with us, because we’re family and nosy.”
Rafe laughed. “Don’t I know it.”
After breakfast, they all cleaned the dishes and wiped down the kitchen. Becks had to get ready to go to her tattoo shop, and then she left. Kal ran off to do . . . something, and Jackson said he was going to buy tires for his truck, so that meant Rafe was alone in the house.
He went into the garage to get the trimmers and took those out to the far part of the backyard. He grabbed the ladder, climbed up and started cutting away the long hanging branches that he could reach from his part of the yard. When he’d trimmed all the ones he could, he put the clippings in the recycle bin. He stared up at the tree, deciding it looked good enough for now.
Then he studied Carmen’s yard. He took the ladder and trimmer and went into her yard, figuring she’d never notice he was there.
He was busily trimming the tree when he heard a tap on the ladder. He looked down to see Carmen, glaring up at him with a pissed-off expression on her face.
“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I started trimming your tree that was hanging over my part of the yard, and noticed it needed it on your part, too. Figured I’d finish the job since I was already hot and sweaty.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Oh, you did. Without even asking me.”
He didn’t see why it was a big deal. “Okay. Hey, Carmen. This tree is in serious need of maintenance. Mind if I handle it?”
“You do realize I’m perfectly capable of handling my business in my own yard.”
He’d finished clipping the last of the fronds, so he climbed down and wiped the sweat from his face with the hem of his shirt. “Where did I say you couldn’t handle it? I just said I thought I’d finish the job I started on my side.”
She opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. “Fine. And thanks. And next time, discuss it with me first.”
“You got it.” He pulled her against him and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped, then kissed him back, laying her palms against his chest, making his heart speed up its rhythm.
When he drew back, he said, “First, sorry I got you all sweaty. Second, I had a good time last night.”
She swiped her fingertip across his jaw. “First, I like you sweaty. Second, I did, too. Sorry I had to leave so early.”
“Me, too.” He started cutting through the limbs on the ground. “Oh, and you missed a great breakfast.”
“I did?”
“Yeah. Eggs and bacon and fried potatoes and fr
uit. Oh, and Becks saw you sneak out of the house early this morning, which she mentioned during breakfast, so now everyone knows you stayed over last night.”
She shrugged. “I’m not ashamed of having sex with you. Are you?”
He thought she’d be freaked, so her response made him feel good. “Hell, no. I like you, Carmen. I’m happy to be with you.”
Her lips curved. “Same.”
“Good. How about we go out somewhere tonight?”
“That sounds fun. What do you have in mind?”
“One of the firefighters from our station has a bar and restaurant, and a lot of the crew go there. I thought you might want to meet some of them.”
“I’d love to.”
She was a constant surprise. She’d fought being with him for so long. Now she was open to meeting the people he worked with—his friends. But if she was down with it, he definitely was, too. “Great. Pick you up at seven?”
“Sounds good. Now get out of my backyard.”
He laughed. “Yes, ma’am.”
She went back inside, and he finished cutting up the limbs and cleaned up his mess, smiling as he left her yard.
He had a date tonight. Which wasn’t new for him, but he really liked this woman. Enough to show her off to his friends.
So maybe he liked her more than he should.
“YOU LOOK PRETTY. YOU GOT ANOTHER DATE WITH RAFE tonight?” her grandfather asked as Carmen came downstairs that evening.
She’d chosen a colorful, kind of tight-fitting dress. But hell, it looked good on her, and she hadn’t worn it yet, so, why not?
“Yes.”
He grinned. “Good for you. Where you going?”
“Some restaurant owned by one of his fellow firefighters.”
Grandpa turned in his chair to face her. “Which means he’s having you meet his family already.”
“Not his family. His coworkers.”
“With firefighters, his coworkers are part of his family. Same thing, bebita.”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s just dinner, Grandpa.”
“I saw he trimmed that giant tree out back today.”
She finished putting on her earrings. “The limbs were infringing on their backyard, so he came over to finish the job on our side. No big deal.”
“Uh-uh. It was a kindness, Carmen. He didn’t have to do our side, but he did. Why are you so resistant to a man being nice to you?”
She straightened, contemplating what he’d said. “I don’t know. Tod, probably.”
Her grandfather nodded. “He made promises he didn’t keep. He hurt you. But Rafe isn’t like that.”
“How do I know that? Tod was a good guy in the beginning, too. Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship. This is just for fun.”
“Fun. Pfft. You should be looking for forever.” Her grandfather got up slowly, grabbed his cane and walked slowly into the living room.
Her stomach tightened at the word forever. She hated disappointing her grandfather. But this was her life.
Her fears.
She just wanted to have some fun. What was wrong with not wanting forever?
The doorbell rang, so she walked over to open it. It was Rafe.
His eyes widened. “Wow. You dressed up. And you’re beautiful.”
She smiled, shoving away her conversation with her grandfather as she warmed under Rafe’s praise. “Thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself. Come on in.”
He’d dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved button-down shirt with white tennis shoes. Even casual, he looked amazing, his tan skin appearing even darker contrasted against the white of his shirt. He was so handsome, and as he came inside and she followed behind him, his walk was predatory, his ass so fine. He glanced at her over his shoulder and when he lifted his lips and gave her a wink, her legs buckled a little.
She realized everything about Rafe was lethal to her senses.
It was a good thing her grandpa was home or they’d never make it out of the house tonight.
“Hey, Jimmy.” Rafe went over to shake her grandfather’s hand.
“How’s it going, Rafe?”
“Pretty good.”
“Thanks for trimming that tree out back today. I’d get it myself, but I think my ladder days are behind me.”
Rafe grinned. “I was happy to take care of it for you. I had some trimming to do out back at our house anyway. Anytime you need something like that done, just call me.”
Her grandpa shot her a look, then smiled at Rafe. “Much appreciated, thanks.”
“Are you ready to go?” Carmen asked, deciding not to reopen that conversation.
Rafe nodded, then looked over at her grandfather. “Yeah. You all set here, Jimmy?”
“I am. Got my TV going. Then I’ll take myself to bed when I get tired.”
“Are you sure you can handle that by yourself, Grandpa?”
“Kal’s home tonight, Jimmy,” Rafe said. “If you need some assistance getting in bed I know he’d be happy to help you out. Want me to text him?”
Her grandfather shook his head. “Pretty sure I’ve got this. But I’ll let Kal know if I need him. Thanks.”
Carmen leaned over and kissed her grandfather’s cheek. “You call or text me if you need anything.”
He patted her cheek. “And you can stop worrying about me. I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Love you, too. Go have some fun. Drink. Dance. Have some sex in the car.”
“Grandpa!”
Rafe laughed. “Night, Jimmy.”
Her grandfather had already returned to watching TV, so he waved them off.
They got into the truck, and Rafe took off.
“I’m really sorry about him. He’s . . . I don’t know what’s going on with him. I think he wants me to get knocked up. He desperately wants grandkids.”
Rafe made a turn onto the highway. “I mean, I’d be happy to do my part in practicing making babies, but I don’t think I’m ready to actually have any today. Sorry.”
She quirked a smile. “The practice part suits me just fine, too. I’m not ready yet, either.”
“Then we’re in sync.”
She was happy he hadn’t flipped out over her grandpa’s “making babies” suggestion. “We are definitely in sync.”
He reached over and slid his hand along her thigh. “Then maybe we’ll try out having sex in the truck later.”
“Only if you keep the motor running and the air-conditioning on.”
He laughed. “You’re making my dick hard just thinking about it.”
“Good. Keep that thought going.”
He took the exit and stopped at the light. “You know, we don’t have to go to the bar tonight. I know a nice secluded spot.”
“Not a chance. I’m hungry, bud, so feeding me is a priority.”
The light turned green, and he made the left turn. “Dammit.”
Her lips quirked.
“So, whose restaurant is it?” she asked.
“Tommy Rodriguez. His family has owned it for two generations. Great fish house.”
“Awesome.”
They pulled into the full parking lot. Tommy’s Fish House was lit up with a nice, welcoming sign. The building was a large one-story with an A-frame roof. It was painted bright white with blue accents. And even standing outside, she could hear the raucous sounds of people laughing.
A good sign, in Carmen’s opinion. A crowded, loud restaurant meant good food.
Rafe held the door open for her, and she walked inside. A blast of icy cold air hit her, refreshing her instantly.
A pretty blond hostess stood right inside.
“Can I help—oh, hi, Rafe.”
“Hey, Soleil. Tommy knows we’re coming. He said he’d have a table in the back for the group.”
Soleil nodded. “We’re just clearing out a large party. It’ll be about twenty minutes if that’s okay?”
“Sure. We’ll be at the bar.”
&n
bsp; “I’ll let Tommy know you’re here.”
“Thanks.”
He put his hand at the small of Carmen’s back, leading her off toward the left where the bar was located. They managed to find a small table in the back.
“I’ll get us something to drink. What would you like?”
“How about a pinot grigio?”
“Okay. Be right back.”
He walked to the bar and she took the time to appreciate the ambience of the place. It was comfortable, the kind of restaurant you could bring your kids to, but also modern and fun and raucous, so easily a date-night restaurant as well.
A couple approached Rafe at the bar and he shook hands with both of them. She recognized Miguel and Adrienne as EMTs who frequented the ER. Then another guy joined them.
Rafe brought them over to their table.
“Carmen, this is Miguel Acosta and Adrienne Smith. They’re both EMTs at Station 6. And this is Mitchell Hendricks, a firefighter at Station 6.”
She stood and shook everyone’s hand. “I know Miguel and Adrienne. They often bring patients into the ER. Nice to meet you, Mitchell.”
“Hey, Carmen,” Adrienne said.
“Good to see you, Carmen,” Miguel said. “Outside the hospital for a change.”
Carmen laughed as Rafe set her glass of wine on the table.
“Go ahead and take a seat, Adrienne,” Rafe said. “There are no other tables here. The guys and I will go linger by the bar.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Carmen sat, and so did Adrienne.
“It’s always in and out for us,” Adrienne said to her. “We never get a chance to chat.”
“I know. I’m constantly busy.”
“Same.”
“How long have you been with Station 6, Adrienne?” Carmen asked.
“Five years. Since right out of EMT school.”
“You must really like it.”
“I do. I love all the people I work with.”
“It helps to have a friendly work environment, doesn’t it?”
Adrienne nodded. “Sure does.”
They chatted for a while, and Carmen enjoyed getting to know Adrienne.
“So, how long have you and Rafe been dating?” Adrienne asked. “Rafe didn’t clue us in on the two of you. He’s very secretive.”