Love is a Fire

by Lyssa Layne

  As she stared at her phone, Nick walked in, still in uniform, and immediately gave her a big grin when he saw her. “I knew I’d see that look when I got here,” he teased her.

  She ran over to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I was worried something had happened to you!”

  As she said it, she knew she sounded like a mother. Not her mother though, because she’d never heard her speak, but it was definitely something a mom or wife would say. Nick leaned down and kissed her hungrily, pulling her against him roughly. “Mmm…I’ve missed you.”

  Katy kissed him back and as badly as she wanted to undress him right there and have her way with him, she knew they were going to be late. There was no way she was going to miss Christmas Eve service with his family, especially when she knew it was going to be Lisa’s last one. She stepped back and patted his firm rear end. “Go and get ready!”

  He pouted. “But that dress…and it’s been a—”

  “A week, trust me, I know.” She pushed him upstairs. One week. They’d only known each other for seven weeks and the last five days had been the longest time they’d spent away from each other. Nick sighed and retreated up the stairs to get ready.

  Katy followed him and walked into Nick’s room where she had been staying. She enjoyed reading articles that hung on his bulletin board about his quarterback days of high school and seeing how he matured into the man he was today. She took another look at her favorite picture of him and smiled. It was taken after Nick led his team to win the state championship and his dad and Ryan had hoisted him up on their shoulders while Nick held his helmet above his head in victory.

  Nick snuck in behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck. She pulled back. “Someone miss me?”

  Nick nodded, trying to kiss her again. “Every minute.”

  Katy glanced at the clock. “It’s almost Jesus’ birthday! We need to leave.”

  Nick sighed and glanced at the suit laid out on the bed. Katy went to freshen up her make-up and when she came back in, Nick was pulling on his jacket. “What about your tie?”

  He shrugged. “We’re running late, I don’t need it.”

  Katy grabbed it and pulled it around his neck tying it hurriedly. He looked down at her tenderly as her fingers worked nimbly. As she finished, she looked up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Okay, let’s go.”

  ***

  The church was about ten minutes away, but that didn’t stop Nick from trying to arouse Katy on the drive there. He rubbed her thigh under her dress and ventured up her legs. “You look sexy in that dress,” he complimented with a smile. “I can’t wait to get it off you tonight.”

  Katy pushed his hand away and simply said, “Not now, Nick.”

  Nick wondered what was going on. A week ago when he left her, the two of them couldn’t be left alone without their hands all over each other and now she was pushing him away and acting distant. Something had happened and he was going to have to figure out what it was.

  They arrived at church as the service bells rang. They rushed inside and sat down in the pew beside Lisa and Andy. His nieces sat on the other side of their grandparents with their mother. Nick hugged his mom and held her hand during the service, his other hand rested on Katy’s leg. He couldn’t see her face, but he could tell Katy was nervous by the way her leg lightly bounced. He sighed, he knew it was a bad idea for her to stay at his parents’ house without him.

  The service ended in the dark with each congregation member holding a candle and singing “Silent Night.” Nick leaned over and kissed Katy’s cheek and then his mother’s as the song ended. Katy excused herself as soon as at the lights came on and Nick watched her rush off while his parents visited with friends and neighbors.

  After he promised Mrs. Riehle that he’d stop by for a piece of Jesus’ birthday cake, he looked around for Katy, but didn’t see her. He leaned over to his dad and whispered, “I’m going to go find Katy.”

  His dad ignored him. “Come, we need to speak to Father Galloway.” Andy nodded toward the priest standing at the front of the sanctuary where he normally preached.

  Nick followed his dad wondering what they needed to talk about, hoping it wasn’t his mom. He wasn’t in the mood to discuss that today. He wanted to have one last Christmas with her without thinking about what it would be like this time next year when she was gone.

  Nick shook the priest’s hand as the old organ piped Canon in D. He looked towards the back of the sanctuary and saw Nora and Alayna walking down the aisle holding flowers. They got halfway down the aisle and then he saw Abby walking behind them with a bouquet.

  He glanced over at his mom who was holding her hands to her mouth in shock and awe, tears filled her eyes. His dad was standing behind him grinning. The music got louder and he looked at the back of the church. Walking towards him was the most beautiful bride in the world. Dr. Katy Malone was about to become Mrs. Nick Garrity.

  ***

  After they were pronounced man and wife, Nick picked his new bride up off the ground and kissed her with zest. His family cheered as loud as they could for the two of them.

  The kiss simmered down and Nick chuckled. “I knew something was going on, but I had no idea it was this.”

  Andy wheeled Lisa over to the newly married couple and Nick leaned down to hug her. “That girl of yours, she is something else. We’ve had your dad running all over town getting ready for this.”

  Nick shook Andy’s hand. “Thanks, Dad.”

  Nick squeezed Katy’s hip then rested his hand on her waist. His nieces ran over to hug him and their new Aunt Katy. Lisa, Abby, and the girls began telling Nick how after the house had been properly decorated, they decided to plan the wedding. Nick didn’t let go of his wife’s hand as they talked. He liked the sound of that. His wife.

  “Have you seen the house, it looks wonderful! When we finished decorating, I showed Katy some ideas I had for the wedding,” Lisa eagerly told her her son.

  “I told Katy about how Ryan and I got married on Good Friday since all of our families were in town,” Abby continued.

  “So Katy said we should plan the wedding for Christmas!” Nora cut in and exclaimed.

  “Then Grandma took all of us shopping for new dressed, Uncle Nick.” Alayna quietly chimed in.

  Nick winked as his youngest niece as her sister began telling him all about their shopping trip.

  Andy finally spoke up. “Ladies, it’s getting late and it is Christmas. Let’s let the newlyweds enjoy the first night of their marriage and we’ll have breakfast around ten tomorrow.”

  Nick gratefully patted his dad on the back then turned and swept Katy up into his arms and carried her out of the church.

  After a sleepless night, Nick and Katy tore themselves away from each other to join his family for Christmas breakfast. The new husband and wife greeted everyone and then Katy led him to the tree. Nick admired all the decorations and gave her a peck on the cheek. “You did a great job.”

  “Thank you,” Katy said with a grateful smile. “I had an excellent decorator helping me.”

  Katy walked to the mantel and picked up something that Nick couldn’t make out what it was. She turned around with a smile and said, “It’s still missing one thing.” Katy handed him the fishing Santa ornament.

  Nick took the ornament from his wife. He held it in his hand examining it. It’d been years since he’d actually held or even looked at it. Nic teared up as he kissed Katy and hung it on the tree. Ever so quietly, he whispered, “Thank you…for everything. Decorating, taking care of my mom…being my wife.”

  Katy slipped her hands around his waist, hugging him against her. She nodded as she said, “It’s an honor”

  Nick leaned down and lightly kissed his bride. Katy slipped her tongue between his lips. When she heard him moan, she pulled away and said, “The tree is officially complete.” She let go of him and took his hand. Then with a grin, she commented, “Now come try the hot chocolate. I used a new rec
ipe.” Nick grinned as he followed his wife into the kitchen, but first, he grabbed her by the waist and dipped her back for a kiss under the mistletoe.

  ***

  It had been one week since they’d become Mr. and Mrs. Garrity but they’d already survived their first Christmas as a married couple and their first funeral. Lisa passed away in Andy’s arms just two days after seeing her youngest son married.

  When her father died, everything was a blur and she didn’t have any recollection of who was coming or going at the funeral. Jeremiah’s mother, always the socialite even when it concerned someone’s death, had arranged and planned all aspects of his funeral while Katy grieved in the arms of her then-fiancé. She remembered her father’s crew offering to help her in any way possible, but Mrs. Thomas respectfully declined all their offers. Katy hadn’t stayed in touch with any of his crew members despite their efforts to checkin on her. With Lisa’s passing, she was afforded a different perspective, one that allowed her to witness the bond between the men of FDNY

  Lisa’s funeral was much different than her father’s. It wasn’t a sad, somber event. It was full of bright colors and cheerful songs. Over the last few months, Andy and Lisa had planned her funeral together and insisted that it should be a celebration of her life, not a mourning of her death. Family, friends, and even some of Lisa’s former students came out for the festivity.

  Katy stood by Nick’s side, watching him carefully, trying to read his emotions. However, when you’ve only known someone for a couple months, it’s tough to do this. He wore a smile and seemed to be taking everything in stride until his brothers from Engine 58 arrived. They marched in with pink pansies in their arms and matching feather boas around their necks. The room filled with happy laughter upon their arrival. The crowd’s mirth proved infectious and he let out a low snicker as they approached him. The tears finally came, though, as he hugged Murph. Jesse and the other men embraced both of them and formed a large circle around the two men as Nick let his emotions loose. Katy stepped aside for them to have their moment and watched this band of brothers support her husband.

  Andy wiped his own eyes, then put his arms around Katy’s shoulders. He nodded toward the group of men and gave her shoulders a light squeeze as he spoke. “They are family to us, Katy. Through thick and thin, they are our brothers.”

  Katy nodded, trying to blink back the tears that sprung to her eyes. Guilt flooded her body. She had pushed her father’s crew away, but now she realized that they probably could’ve helped her through her grief as much as she could’ve helped them.

  10 CHAPTER TEN

  It was New Year’s Eve and Nick was ready to let loose. The last two months had been amazing and heart wrenching at the same time. Katy had come home last night from his parents’ after helping to tie up loose ends after the funeral. He couldn’t have been happier to hold her in his arms.

  Dressed in black slacks and a light blue dress shirt¸ unbuttoned at the collar, Nick was already sipping on a Jack and Coke. He fidgeted with his wedding band. He still wasn’t used to it, but he loved having it on.

  Katy walked out of the bathroom in a strapless royal blue dress that stopped mid-thigh and hugged her athletic body. She held her heels in her hand as she put on an earring.

  “This look okay?”

  Nick started to unzip his pants to make room for the growing bulge. Katy laughed and stood in front of him. She held onto his broad shoulders for balance as she slipped on her shoes. She took a sip of his drink and nodded toward his zipper. “When we get home. Jesse and Tiff are waiting on us.”

  Nick groaned and zipped up his pants. He gulped down the rest of the drink. He really needed her more than she realized. They had spent the first couple hours after the wedding consummating their marriage, but hadn’t been intimate since. After returning to the city, Katy played catch up at work. He wanted nothing more than to ravage his wife, to let out some of the frustration he’d been holding on to since his mother passed away, but obviously, he was going to have to wait for that.

  ***

  They met Jesse and Tiffany at La Bam, a nightclub in Brooklyn. It wasn’t their scene, but that’s where everyone else wanted to go so they tagged along. Tiffany and Katy stood at the bar waiting for drinks while Jesse danced with his newest “flavor of the week” as Nick called her. Nick sat at a table beside them slamming a beer while Tiffany’s date sat there awkwardly, not sure what to say or do.

  “Looks like your husband is planning on getting three sheets to the wind tonight,” Tiffany said nodding toward him.

  Katy sighed. “Yeah, it should be a fun night.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean, you ‘ole ball and chain? Join him!” Tiffany handed her a shot of tequila. The girls both laughed and downed the shots.

  Tiffany had been supportive of the marriage after she’d gotten over the fact that her best friend got married without her. Katy still hadn’t dealt with Jeremiah yet and luckily, he didn’t know about her marriage yet either. The next week should be interesting since they were on the same rotation.

  The girls got their drinks and headed back to the table. Jesse sat beside Nick. “You need to slow down, man.”

  Nick chugged the rest of his beer. “Not tonight, Jesse.”

  Jesse held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, but treat your wife good, ok?”

  The girls had just gotten to the table and Nick grabbed Katy pulling her to him.

  “Always,” he said in response to Jesse’s comment and he started kissing her neck.

  ***

  There had been a lot of drinking that night. Nick had lost count after three beers and a few shots. Everyone was having a good time and he was getting more aroused by the minute, especially as Katy’s dress inched higher and higher up her thighs when she danced.

  Nick grinded against her on the dance floor. “I need you, baby.”

  She kissed him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

  He slipped his tongue over hers and then whispered in her ear, “No, I need you. Now.”

  “Now?” She questioned with a raised her eyebrow.

  He nodded and took her hand, leading her downstairs to the coatroom. As she looked for her jacket, he pushed up against her and whispered, “I could take you right here and no one would know.”

  She tilted her head to the side so he could nibble her neck. He rubbed his hands over her dress, up her thighs then quickly lifted the back of it. He pressed his hardness against her and he could hear her breathing quicken.

  “There you guys are! You leaving?” Jesse interrupted.

  Katy turned around, pulling down her dress and walked over to him. “We are.”

  Nick hung his head and wondered if he was ever going to have sex with his wife again.

  Katy gave Jesse a friendly kiss good-bye. “Happy New Year!”

  Nick nodded to his best friend and hurriedly pulled Katy outside to hail a cab.

  ***

  Nick had been all over her in the cab. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the car as he threw a handful of twenties at the taxi driver. Katy laughed as he pulled her along the sidewalk. He fumbled with the keys as he tried to find the one that would let him finally be alone with his wife.

  Katy nibbled on the back of Nick’s neck, distracting him enough to drop the keys. She giggled as she bent over to pick them up and Nick ran his hands over her hips and under her dress. As soon as she’d unlocked the door, Nick pushed them inside and in an instant, he had her dress around her waist.

  He picked her up and carried her to the kitchen table which was the closest surface he could find. He shoved the mail to the floor. The bowl of fruit following in suit as it shattered into tiny pieces. Nick slipped deep inside his wife and started pounding into her as hard as he could. Katy moaned with each movement, both in pleasure and agony. He pulled her dress down and sucked on one of her breasts. Katy arched her back as he made her nipple stand at attention and she let out a loud gasp as she came.

  Nick didn�
�t stop though. He flipped her over, her feet barely on the floor as he entered her from behind. He pushed her torso flat against the table as he made long, full strokes. He placed one hand on her hip to keep his balance, the other threaded through her copper locks pulling them as she turned her head to meet his eyes. Their eyes met for a split second before he looked away. A soft whimper escaped from Katy’s delicate lips, but Nick ignored it. He banged her harder and faster until he finally felt the release he needed.

  ***

  Katy lay in bed the next morning, her head pounding. Her whole body throbbed from the top of her head to the tip of her toes, but mainly her thighs. She felt like she’d been riding a horse for days. She looked over at Nick and knew he had to feel worse than she did.

  She slowly sat up and got out of bed. She couldn’t even bend over to put anything on she ached so bad. She shuffled to the bathroom and got in the shower, letting the steam and hot water pour over her.

  Last night was…different. The sex was good, but Nick wasn’t himself. Normally, he was gentle, kind, and attentive. Last night though, he was ravenous going harder and harder time after time. She turned the water off and stepped out of the shower wondering how she was going to make it through the day at work.

  ***

  Katy was only a few hours into her shift and was still sore and aching all over despite all the Advil she’d popped. Tiff walked up nudging her. “Survive last night?”

  Katy grimaced as Tiffany touched her and muttered, “Barely. What about you?”

  “We got all the way back to his place and get this, he doesn’t even have a condom! On New Year’s Eve of all nights! Do you think that’s a sign that this year is going to be a drought for me? I can’t go an entire year without sex!” Tiffany rambled on as Katy lost herself in thought.

  She couldn’t remember the last time they’d used a condom. She closed her eyes and thought hard. She remembered him saying it was the last one and they needed to get more. When was that? She shut her eyes tighter which only made her head hurt worst. Then she remembered. It had been the morning after she put the tree up at his house. He stopped by the hospital for “lunch,” but they’d ended up using the last condom in the on-call room.