by Lisa Kessler
The corner of his mouth tugged into a crooked smile. “Tonight’s definitely not about being afraid.” He ran a rough finger along the edge of her jaw. “We’re alive, baby. So let’s live.”
She pulled her shirt off, and he unhooked her bra. His hot mouth trailed kisses down her neck, and she got his pants down in record time. He laid her back on the bed and coaxed her knees up, pressing warm kisses to the inside of them, while his gaze wandered over her entire body.
He shook his head slowly. “I have never been happier to be home.”
She crooked her finger. “I need you.”
He lowered himself over her, his lips fusing to hers as every inch of him filled her. He lifted his head, eyes locked on hers. “I love you, Erica.”
“I love you, too.”
His smile warmed her all over as he bent to kiss her again.
So this was love. It wasn’t possessive or something to be caged. It was alive, changing, growing, and gods, it felt amazing.
His thrusts pounded into her until she ached for release. He ran his hand down her side and slid it between them, teasing her as he growled against her lips. “Come with me, baby.”
She surrendered, her entire body trembling, overwhelmed with pleasure, as he exploded deep inside her. Reed collapsed on her chest. She ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying every aftershock.
Finally, he lifted his head. “I meant for that to last longer.”
She grinned. “You can make it up to me later.”
“Damn. Are you sure I’m not in heaven?”
She rolled her eyes, laughing.
He slid free of her body and carefully lay on his back. She propped her head on her elbow. “Still sore?”
“A little.” He reached up to run a finger down her cheek and froze. “Oh no. I forgot a condom.”
Erica blinked. “Shit. I wasn’t expecting you home until tomorrow. I wasn’t using anything, either.”
Before she could obsess over the calendar and try to figure out where she was in her cycle, Reed pulled her down to kiss him. When he met her eyes, there wasn’t a trace of concern or worry. “We’ve never talked about a future, but I know I want you in it.”
“I want that, too.”
“Good.” His eyes sparkled. “Then it’s decided. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together, okay?”
Erica nodded. “And we’ll be more careful. I don’t ever want you to be trapped into something you don’t want because of a pregnancy. You’ve been down that road.”
“Hold up.” He sobered. “If the planets aligned and my welcome-home sex got you pregnant, I wouldn’t be trapped, Erica.” His eyes searched hers. “I’d be happy.”
“You would?” She ran a hand up his battered chest.
He covered her hand with his. “That fire made everything clear for me. You’re my muse, my love, my joy.” He shook his head, chuckling. “And you’re the one who is good with words. I’m trying to say that I want to spend my life with you, and if I was lucky enough to someday be the father of your children… Damn.” He smiled. “I’d be happier than I ever deserved.”
CHAPTER 20
Reed kept watching the clock. It was his first shift back after six weeks off, and the time away from Erica had seemed like forever. It didn’t help that they’d had no calls. He’d gone out on inspections and worked out a little, but his lung still ached when he sprinted, so no racing Ethan.
When he’d finally clocked out, he already had his gear ready. He went out the station door and grinned when Erica lowered her window and called out, “Hey, good lookin’. Need a ride?”
“Oh, you have no idea how bad I need one.”
He winked, and her head fell back as she laughed. His heart swelled. Damn, he loved that sound. He dropped his duffel bag in the backseat and got in. He pulled her in for a kiss, his tongue parting her lips, aching to taste her.
He groaned as he forced himself back. “We better go before I take you right here.”
She chuckled, running her hand up his thigh. “I have something planned first.”
He raised a questioning brow.
“It’s a good surprise.” She glanced his way. “I think.”
He rested his hand over hers. “I trust you.”
And he did. She turned heads everywhere they went, but from the core of his being, he never doubted her love. Her secret smiles were for him alone. Her muse could inspire men and women alike to get in touch with their passion, the fire of their desire, but Erica’s heart was his, and he cherished it.
When she pulled into the parking lot at the beach, he grinned. “Did you stash my surfboard someplace?”
She chuckled, shaking her head. “This isn’t about surfing.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll stop guessing,” he promised.
She patted his thigh. “Let’s go.”
He followed her out of the car. When they got to the beach, she took off her sandals and he tugged off his shoes and socks. At the water’s edge, with the cold Pacific lapping at their ankles, she stopped, facing the setting sun.
“Before I met you, I used to come here when life got too big, and the ocean gave me some perspective.” Her voice was thoughtful as her fingers laced with his.
He grasped her hand and lifted it to his lips.
She looked up at him, her smile stealing his breath. “So I wanted to come back here with you because I need to ask you something.”
He kissed her before she could say another word. His pulse pounded in his ears. He’d been planning to ask her the big question for a couple of weeks, but he hadn’t found the perfect moment. But now, here it was.
He broke the kiss and took a knee in the waves before she could say anything else. “I keep waiting for the right time, but I can’t wait any longer. I don’t even have the damned ring with me, but I’ve gotta ask… Erica Sterling, will you marry me?”
A tear slid down her cheek, and his chest tightened. Had he misread her? They had talked about forever, but not marriage.
She dropped to her knees in the water and cupped his cheek. “Yes.”
He tried to draw her in close, but she resisted. “Wait, I came here to tell you something.”
His smile faded. “All right.”
A wave washed ashore with more force than the others, splashing water up their legs. Erica gasped and laughed, shaking her head. “This is not how I planned any of this.” She finally met his eyes. “The gods have a twisted sense of humor.” Her green eyes shined in the setting sun. “I’m pregnant, Reed. We’re having a baby.”
He scooped her up into his arms and spun her around as the ocean frothed around them. “I thought you were about to ask me to marry you, so I wanted to beat you to it.”
“Nah, I was going to ask you if you were ready to be a father.” She grinned. “I thought I’d give you the baby news someplace special, but today I realized all our special places have burned down.”
He chuckled. “A hazard of falling for a firefighter.” He set her feet back on the sand and took her hand. “This was perfect.”
She reached up to cup his cheek. “That’s what he said.”
Erica turned tail and ran up the beach toward the car, leaving Reed laughing as he chased after her.
The future Mrs. McIntosh.
Whatever hells he’d faced in his life, he’d do it all again to end up here.
He’d found his muse, and he was never going to let her go.
THE END
Acknowledgments
Thank you so much for reading, telling your friends, and posting reviews for my books! I couldn’t continue to write without all of you.
Self-publishing this series is a labor of love, and I couldn’t have done it without my amazing Patrons on Patreon! Thanks SO much for believing in me and this book! Marie Rice, Janet Pritchett, Olivia Welch, Brenda Mason, Carol Westphal, Bobbi Haden, Karen Williams, and Alexandra Shanak thanks again for backing this project and helping me make Breath of Passion a reality!
This book wo
uldn’t have come together without the expert firefighter input from my longtime friend, Larry McKim. Your expertise and years of experience and stories were invaluable in helping bring Reed McIntosh and his station to life. Thanks for your time anf help with this one! Any mistakes in the firefighting scenes were all mine…
And a huge dose of gratitude to my fabulous editor, Danielle Poiesz from Double Vision Editorial. Thanks for helping me get this one polished and ready for readers. I also need to send out a big thank you to Fiona Jayde for the gorgeous covers for the Muse Chronicles.
My amazing beta readers: Denise Fluhr, Heather Cox, and Elizabeth Neal, thanks again for reading for me! Six books in one year and you guys were right there the whole way. I really appreciate all your time and enthusiasm reading for me!
I’m also sending my gratitude to the Night Angel Legion! You are the BEST readers in the world, and I’m so blessed to have your support!
And to my family and my husband, Ken, thanks for loving me in spite of me bawling at the keyboard over fictional characters. I couldn’t do any of this without your support and love!
Other Novels by Lisa Kessler
The Muse Chronicles
LURE OF OBSESSION
LEGEND OF LOVE
BREATH OF PASSION
LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT
The Night Series
NIGHT WALKER
NIGHT THIEF
NIGHT DEMON
NIGHT ANGEL
NIGHT CHILD
The Moon Series
MOONLIGHT
HUNTER’S MOON
BLOOD MOON
HARVEST MOON
ICE MOON
BLUE MOON
WOLF MOON
Stand Alone Works
BEG ME TO SLAY
FORGOTTEN TREASURES
ACROSS THE VEIL
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Lisa Kessler is a Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She’s a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance. Her books have also won the PRISM award, the Award of Excellence, the National Excellence in Romantic Fiction Award, the Award of Merit from the Holt Medallion, and an International Digital Award for Best Paranormal.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professional vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at Lisa-Kessler.com