Watching her over the table, Shane felt his frown returning. He’d wolfed down two and would probably go back for a third, while Charlie had eaten less than half of her burrito, mostly picking at it with her fingers and spreading little bits of tortilla around the plate. “Are you feeling okay?” he asked her. “Any headaches?”
She narrowed her eyes. “A bit,” she admitted, then held up a hand as he raised up in his chair. “Sit down, Shane. I do not need to go back to the ER, and you damn well know it. A headache is perfectly normal after a concussion. Look at me. I’m awake, I know where I am, and I know you’re being an ass.”
He sat and reached out for her hand, stilling the tortilla shredding. “Charlie, I . . .”
“God, I’m sorry,” she said, interrupting. A small shudder went through her, shaking her hand in his. “It’s just . . . last night.” She looked up, meeting his gaze, and shrugged. “I guess it spooked me a little more than I realized.”
Shane didn’t say a word, just stood and walked around to her side of the table, never letting go of her hand. He tugged gently on her hand and when she stood, maneuvered them over to the couch. He sat her down on his right so she was on his good side. God, he wished he could draw her into his arms and just hold her. He was going to have to get rid of this sling sooner rather than later. He had enough training that he could manage the injury without needing the limb restrained.
Charlie turned slightly so she could meet his gaze, and his heart sank further when she reached up to swipe a tear away. “I’m sorry,” she said again. “This is just all so stupid.”
Shane lifted his hand up to press her head down onto his uninjured shoulder. He might not be able to enfold her in his arms, but at least he could still hold her close. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “This is the furthest thing from stupid there is,” he said. “You were attacked out of nowhere, all on your own, and had to fight your way out. Even if this isn’t the concussion talking”—his gaze locked with hers, refusing to give her the chance to duck her head—“which you know it very well could be, there is nothing to be sorry about. I’m just sorry as fuck I wasn’t there to keep you safe.”
Charlie’s hands were folded in her lap, her fingers almost tying themselves together in knots as she twisted them around. “It wasn’t your fault. You were hurt, in the hospital. Someone took advantage of that.”
Yes. He had been. But how the hell had her attacker known that? “Charlie, when did the text message come in?”
She stood and walked over to the kitchen counter, grabbed her phone and swiped over the screen. “Two twelve a.m.”
When he’d already been in the back of Rodriguez’s and Taylor’s rig on the way to the ER. “And they told you I was on scene, at Meadow Lane?”
She nodded and handed him the phone. As Shane scanned the text, tingles of cold assaulted his spine, setting every nerve on edge again. It was just words on a screen, nothing more, and yet they’d nearly meant Charlie’s death. Thank God she’d had the flashlight on her. Just how far would this guy have gone? Rape? Would he have killed her?
The man had known exactly where he was—and wasn’t—and that he’d been injured. Then he used that to trap the woman he loved. If he hadn’t already known it in his heart, seeing Charlie walk into the ER all banged up last night had made it brutally clear. He loved her. He’d probably loved her for years. And now someone was targeting her. Targeting her directly, or using her to get to him? With whatever the hell had happened to his apartment last night, Shane couldn’t tell, and he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Charlie stayed safe from now on. “Maybe you should take some time off. Just until the bastard is caught.”
Charlie sat back, her mouth falling open. “What?”
Shane picked up one of her hands, squeezing it. She didn’t smile or move an inch. Okay, so he was being an ass again, but when it meant potentially saving her life, he’d piss her off happily. “You believe the man who attacked you was Herman Langley?”
Charlie pulled her hand out of his and wrapped her arms around her middle. The rock in Shane’s gut settled in deep. God, he just wanted her safe, but that look on her face, the fear. He couldn’t bear it. He reached over again, taking her hand and ignoring the small flinch she made at the sudden contact. He hadn’t been there for her last night, and now he had to make up for that as best he could. How he felt had no bearing on anything until she wasn’t afraid anymore. “I just want you to be safe. I want you to be happy.”
She looked directly into his eyes, and Shane was prepared for the worst. Instead, Charlie smiled. A small smile, but still a smile. A breath huffed out of him as his muscles relaxed for the first time since he’d seen her the night before. “Shane, don’t you get it? I love my work. I love the guys at Engine 81. Even if I’m not a full-timer there, you guys are my favorite house.” Her cheeks heated, a gorgeous blush spreading across her face, but she didn’t look away. “I might even love you, you big idiot. Being at work, helping other people, that’s my happy place. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let anyone scare me away from that.”
Shane couldn’t hold back any more. He leaned in, gingerly touching his hand to the less-bruised side of her face, and kissed the living daylights out of her. She opened for him and he slipped his tongue inside, tangling with hers. He could faintly taste the orange juice from breakfast, but the rest of her was pure, unadulterated Charlie, and she tasted divine. As his tongue thrust with hers, his hand smoothed down her cheek, cupping her behind her head and pulling her closer. Every part of him ached to touch her, brush his hands over her nipples, then her clit, until she was screaming his name. Instead he could only twist awkwardly to move himself closer to her and trail down her body with a single hand. He was getting rid of this fucking sling as soon as he possibly could. He couldn’t even pull her under him and . . . a vision of him lying back on the couch, Charlie straddling his thighs and riding him took over Shane’s mind, and his dick went rock hard. When Charlie pulled away and licked her lower lip, he nearly came in his pants like a teenager. He may have even let out a small groan, based on the grin on her face.
“See. That’s why I can’t let you be on shift with anyone else. Whatever would you do when that urge overtook you?”
Shane wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his lap. She grinned and climbed on, wrapping her arms around his neck and peppering little kisses along his neck. Damn, she made it nearly impossible to concentrate on anything other than the feel of her lips.
“Maybe . . . ugh, so good . . . you could hold off on some calls. Just the ones in that part of town or with male patients.”
Charlie shifted on his lap, rubbing her butt against his cock, and Shane groaned again. She leaned down and kissed him again, pulling back and smiling at him. “Shane, I love you, but I won’t change my life. Not for you, not for anyone. I’ve done it once before, and I won’t let that ever happen again.”
He cocked his head to the side, his erection forgotten. “What do you mean, you’ve done it before?”
Charlie shook her head. “Forget it. That part of my life is long over.”
She leaned down and captured his mouth again. Shane gave himself over to the feel of her and let himself be distracted. For now.
18
Charlie
Charlie broke away from the kiss, sitting back on Shane’s lap. She met his gaze and chuckled. His pupils were dilated, and a slightly dazed look covered his face. At that moment, he looked more like a head-injury victim than she ever had. True, she was tired and still had a bit of a headache, but there was nothing going on she needed to be concerned about. There was no blurred vision, no further vomiting, no slurred speech, and she wasn’t dizzy. Besides, Shane’s kisses went a long way to helping dull the thumping in her temples. It was a shame that she couldn’t take it further. She pushed upward, levering herself off his lap, and walked into her bathroom. It was technically the second of their two days off, and she doubted the chief expected either one of
them back on duty in the morning, but she also didn’t intend to spend the day lazing about in bed, despite the fact that was probably exactly what Shane had in mind.
Charlie frowned. Lying around in bed all day would be exactly what he wanted her to do, and not the good kind, either. She wasn’t sure she liked this new version of Shane. Yeah, she’d gone ahead and fallen in love with the big oaf, and she was pretty sure he was going the same way. Not that he’d said the words, but the way he’d kissed her after she’d told him the night before. . . She reached a hand up to touch her lips, still tingling from their latest make-out session only a few minutes before. After she’d told him she was falling in love with him, Shane had been powerful, almost out of control, but it hadn’t scared her. He’d taken over the kiss entirely, taking control of her body, and she’d loved every minute of it. But just now, telling her not to work? That part could go to hell.
She turned on the water, running her hand under to wait for the hot to kick in. Charlie liked her showers so hot they steamed up the room. After a long shift, especially when you were covered in sweat, or worse, there was nothing better.
As the water heated, her thoughts drifted back to Shane. The suggestion that she take time off work, or even that she scale back—that pissed her off. Sure, he’d always had her back. Any of the guys at the house did, that was just how they were. But he’d also been supportive, stood by her decisions, and he would never in a million years be anything but professional.
Charlie rolled her eyes at the thought. What they’d just done on her couch wasn’t exactly professional. None of what they’d been up to the past few weeks had been. But then, she’d thought it would work out. Shane’s reaction was one of the reasons why she’d avoided getting involved with anyone at work in the first place. Sometimes, patients were complete pains in the ass. Occasionally, she got hurt at work. Shit happened. Any first responder would say the same. The idea that she should pull back, stop doing her job, because of it . . . not going to happen.
But then she hadn’t been at work. Not really. She huffed out a breath, picking up the body wash and soaping up the washcloth. She’d been off shift and sound asleep when a text came in that Shane had been injured. And what had she done? Not called the house, dispatch, or even Chief Stone. No, she’d thrown on whatever clothes she could lay her hands on in five seconds, bolted out the door, and walked into a trap set by someone who had her firmly in his sights. That much was clear now. The guy was deliberately coming after her.
Charlie dropped the cloth and put both hands on the shower wall, leaning her head forward and letting the water run over her, washing away the threat of tears. She’d be damned if she let Shane see she was still upset. After all, he’d been right. Even if this was just part of the job, when word had come in that he’d been hurt—and actually on the job, unlike her—she’d dropped everything to run to his side. A purely emotional reaction, and he’d been injured in a fire. No one’s fault. How could she expect him to not do exactly the same when she had some motherfucking asshole practically stalking her?
A shiver ran through her, despite the heat of the water. This was more than an annoying patient—someone was trying to take her out, and she’d walked right into his trap. Taking a few precautions was the smart thing to do. Charlie lifted her head and scrubbed at her eyes. Now she just had to find Shane and make sure everything was right between them. Then she was going straight to find Scott Wilder and work out what the next step was.
“Now that’s the kind of view I could get used to.” Charlie smiled. Shane. She turned. He stood in her bathroom, completely naked, sling gone, and a very prominent erection, his cock nearly brushing his belly button. He grinned as her eyes widened as they traced over him. “Can I join you?”
Charlie swallowed, body warming while he looked at her. The lust in his eyes never failed to arouse her, and now was no exception. “Shouldn’t you be resting? Trying to feel better?”
“I can think of something that will make me feel a lot better.” He stepped into the shower, crowding the small space. “I hear sex is a natural pain reliever.”
“Are you in pain?” she asked. “You shouldn’t be out of your sling. I don’t want that injury to get wor—”
Shane cut her off with a kiss. “I know my body, Charlie. My arm will be okay out of the sling for a few minutes.” He turned her around so her back was against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and explored her with his hands. Even soaked from the shower, Charlie felt herself growing wet.
He seemed fine, and she was relieved, but she still needed to say it. “I was going to find you. I wanted to apologize.”
“Shh.” He whispered in her ear. “I’m fine. You’re fine. You don’t need to apologize.”
“You were right, though,” she said. “I do need to take some precautions.”
Shane pressed his lips to the point where her neck met her shoulder. “That’s true,” he murmured. “But you know I won’t let anything happen to you, right?” He reached between her legs, slipping his fingers inside her. Charlie gasped, and wetness ran down her thigh. “No one is going to take you away from me.” Her head relaxed back against his shoulder as he continued to move between her legs until she moaned.
Shane shifted her forward, hissing in pain as he stretched his arm out. “Shane,” she said.
“I’m fine.” The determination in his voice kept her from saying that she knew otherwise. He reached down, wordlessly spreading her legs with his hands. His cock slipped inside her, and Charlie arched against him, gasping at the sudden fullness. She spread her legs wider as he pushed up into her, this position making his cock hit a whole new set of nerves.
Shane’s hand worked her clit from the front and his cock worked her from the back. Caught between the two, Charlie was caught in a storm of sensation, suddenly riding the line of an orgasm. She groaned, grinding her ass back into Shane. “Come for me, Baby,” Shane said, lips against her ear. “Come.” He pressed down on her clit and thrust one more time, deep. This orgasm came from deep inside, slithering up through her stomach and spreading, making her shake and gasp. Wetness gushed out of her and spread down her legs to be washed away by the shower.
Charlie’s fingers clawed against the shower walls trying to grab on to something, and Shane watched as her climax shook her like an earthquake. She went limp, sagging back against him, knowing he would be there to catch her. He started to slip out of her, and she groaned in protest. “You didn’t come.”
“No condom,” he said as he pulled out, still entirely erect.
She turned around to face him, leaning against the wall. “I think that’s a problem that can be fixed.”
Her fingers circled his cock, and he closed his eyes, a look of bliss on his face. She poured out just a little soap and smoothed it around to cover her palm before stroking. Shane closed his eyes, gritting his teeth, clearly trying to hold his orgasm back. Charlie grinned. She never said no to a challenge.
He rested his arms against the shower wall on either side of her. His breath was short as her hand moved up and down his shaft, faster and faster, and he pressed his forehead against hers. Charlie reached down between his legs with her other hand, massaging his balls and making him groan.
Without any warning, his orgasm burst through him with unexpected force. Shane’s head dropped back and he closed his eyes, a low groan escaping him. She smiled when he opened his eyes, the look on her face saying I told you so.
“You’re very good at that.”
“I know,” she said, still grinning.
Shane moved, then winced and swayed a little. Damn. “Okay,” he said, “maybe you were right.”
Charlie pursed her lips, making a face. “Push it a little too far?”
“Maybe.”
She sighed, turning off the shower. “Time for a nap.”
“Only if you’ll sleep with me,” he said. “Naked.”
Charlie rolled her eyes as she walked out of the shower. But she didn’t say no
.
Shane wrapped her up in his arms, his warmth seeping into her skin. His comments earlier still rankled her, even though he was right. The idea that she’d have to make any changes to her life because of some psycho irritated the hell out of her. But, she also wasn’t an idiot. She’d make a few changes: stick together with her partner on calls, make sure one of the guys walked her to her car after shift.
She smiled. Maybe she should suggest that she and Shane make their temporary sleepover a little more permanent, at least until the guy was caught. Lying there in his arms, she felt safe, protected.
Charlie turned, resting her head on Shane’s shoulder. He responded by dropping a kiss on her head, his good arm tightening around her. She could deny it all she wanted, but knowing he was there to keep her safe made her feel better. If he couldn’t at any time, then she was sure one of the other guys at 81 would sit with her.
That house was a family, more so than many others she’d worked at over the years. They had each other’s backs and would do anything for each other. She’d always envied it, but now, with Shane’s arms around her, perhaps she didn’t have to anymore. Maybe she’d always been a part, she just hadn’t realized. She’d talk to HQ and ask about making her stay at 81 “temporary-permanent.”
Knowing she was around people who knew what was going on and would be there if she needed them would help. It would also help with Shane’s stress levels. She grinned, looking over at him. His eyes were closed, his face relaxed and satisfied. Making love to him was incredible, but it wasn’t like they could disappear into the equipment room every time he got stressed out. Knowing that she would always be working at the same house as he would be when on shift would make him feel better about her continuing to work.
Line of Fire (Southern Heat Book 5) Page 10