Chapter 16
Axe
A kiss.
But not just any kiss. I’d kissed plenty of women in my life. I’d once been called a heartbreaker, a term I’d been proud of as a stupid kid. I’d dated extensively, enough to know I wasn’t a relationship kind of guy.
However, I’d never had a kiss light a fire so deep within that the flames consumed me within seconds.
There I went being romantic when I also hadn’t thought there was a fraction of that in my system.
Maybe the tear had done me in. Beautiful women weren’t supposed to cry.
I wanted to ravage and protect her at the same time.
That’s what this girl who’d launched herself into my arms was doing to me.
She tasted both sweet and tangy, which was the reason my cock was suddenly pinched against my jeans.
I didn’t care that I was standing in a crowded bar or that several of the jumpers were behind me. I’d seen the horrific look of fear on her face when she’d finally caught sight of me. I’d heard the terror in her voice through the crackling sounds and blaring music.
She was in my arms, off the floor, one leg wrapped around mine and her tongue inside my mouth. Exactly where I’d prefer her to be.
The fit was perfect, the weight of her against me driving aside the ugliness and exhaustion from the last two days. I’d thought there was a good chance I’d never see her again, but she tasted of sunshine and olives, the best thing in the world to come back safely to.
I dominated her tongue, taking my time as the passion exploded between us. As I rubbed my hand up and down her back, she melted further into my arms and I sensed we had an even larger audience.
Fuck them.
Just for show, I spun her around in a circle, which prompted the big boys to clap. I’d be ribbed for the rest of my life for this, but it was well worth their jabs just to have her in my arms.
“That’s enough, gents. Leave the lovebirds alone.” Hearing Jameson’s voice was almost irritating. My brother was going to enjoy every minute of seeing me locking lips with a girl. So would the other guys. I’d never hear the end of it. Like I said. To hell with them.
The entire group of Missoula smokejumpers had been called to the fire. While it had taken two days to extinguish, we’d been lucky in that the cold front had finally moved out, leaving calm winds in its wake.
We’d thought our luck had continued only to find a cabin had been all but burned to the ground. We’d left the area before discovering if there was anyone inside.
But seeing a little girl’s charred bedroom, one half pristine with a shelf of books and videos, and a collection of toys neatly stacked against it was a macabre scene, one that would never leave our minds.
Especially mine.
I’d stood in the center of the room, unable to breathe. Not from soot or acrid smoke, but from the sight of a smoldering teddy bear, his face nothing but ash.
And I’d thought about family and loss, tragedy and life.
As well as the woman now cradled safely in my arms.
Now it was up to the fire investigator to determine for certain if the fire was based on arson. The second in weeks. That had people concerned.
Especially me.
The hotshots were celebrating the quick completion of our work, including keeping our beautiful city from additional damage. Yet I hadn’t wanted to come out, eager to get back on my mountain and my space.
Whether it was my brother’s nagging or something else, I’d changed my mind at the last minute. I was glad I had. For tonight, I was eager to be reckless, to enjoy every moment of being alive even if the claws of death continued to be wrapped around my throat.
Kenzie was exactly what I needed to break free from the debilitating claustrophobia.
A few of the guys moved away giving us space, likely going for a beer and a shot of tequila, which sounded damn good to me.
When she finally pushed her hand against my shoulder, breaking the kiss, I slipped my fingers behind her head. I wanted to keep both her and the moment intact for as long as possible. With our breathing labored, she pressed her forehead against mine.
“I thought you were hurt, lying in a hospital. I thought…”
Hearing the angst in Kenzie’s voice pulled at every heartstring a man like me could have. I’d honestly thought I didn’t have any. Then she’d crashed back into my life like a hurricane on steroids, refusing to listen to common sense or anything else for that matter.
She’d been on my mind for two days, including when I was in the wilderness fighting the ravaging fire.
Those few seconds when I’d thought I was going over the edge of the cliff I’d thought of her.
All the things I’d wanted to say. All the time I wanted to erase.
I wasn’t good enough for her. She deserved someone who wasn’t fucked up like I’d become, a guy who was capable of providing her with more than a couple of nights in the sack.
Too bad I’d left my conscience under some rock somewhere a long time again because right now, all I could think about was taking her back to my cabin.
“I’m okay. I’m not hurt other than a few scrapes and bruises.
Why would you think I was in the hospital?
” Sliding my finger under her chin, I lifted her face, staring into her beautiful eyes.
Seeing another tear slowly slipping past her thick, dark lashes grabbed at my emotions all over again.
With a gentle stroke, I rubbed it away, bringing the tip of my finger to my mouth.
Her smile wavered as she watched me. “Your entire team was on the news. They said you’d been injured and were in serious condition at the hospital.”
“Ah, fuck. One of guys was injured, but he’ll be fine. I gave him my jacket is all. It has my name on the lapel. The reporters just got it wrong.”
Her deep breath was infused with a slight moan that I could hear over the steady drumbeat of whatever music was playing.
She gripped my tee shirt, shaking her head. “Damn them. I was so worried about you. I didn’t get a chance to return your things. I didn’t have a chance to really say thank you.”
As soon as I stepped back, I was blown away by the woman. She was stunning in every way. With damp hair. No makeup. Even with her hair plastered to her head when I’d carried her from the raging waters she’d captured my attention as she had so many times in the past.
But now, I was given a full-scale view of her in a way that stripped every bit of breath from my lungs.
“Is that what you were worried about? Returning my things?” I wasn’t certain whether to be incensed or hurt.
“Very funny. You know what I mean. I just…”
“No, I don’t. Why don’t you tell me what you mean.”
We were standing in the middle of a crowded bar, people all around us, yet I was blinded to anyone but the beauty standing in front of me.
She was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a ruffled blouse that brought out the intense color of her eyes.
I allowed my gaze to fall from the shimmer of her cheeks to her rosy lips.
It was difficult to keep my eyes in a decent location, their instinct and mine to fall even further, capturing the deep v highlighting the swell in her breasts.
Jesus, her legs were long and I was reminded of how they felt when wrapped around me.
I’d be damned if it wasn’t going to be difficult to walk in my condition.
Her long hair was in soft curls cascading over her shoulders and halfway down her back. But it was the way her eyes lit up around me that captured a part of me I’d never given to anyone.
They were still full of the fire I’d seen earlier, her mouth twisted in frustration from me obviously not showing as much concern as perhaps she would like.
And the way her dark lashes fell against her cheeks had my entire body stiffening. Did she have any understanding she was by far the most gorgeous woman in the place?
She was debating what she should do now that she’d exposed our connection. The slight laugh she issued was exactly as I’d remembered from all those years before. The only sound I’d carried with me, holding onto the memory during long nights.
“I need a drink,” I said, breaking the sudden awkward silence.
“Mine’s at the bar.” She leaned in, using her thumb and brushing the thick pad across my lips. The move was intimate, sensual.
“Well, then I’ll meet you there.”
The tilt of her head indicated she was still debating whether being around me was a good idea or not. In the back of my mind, I knew it wasn’t.
“If you insist.” She backed away, offering the kind of smile that she used when trying to get her way. That was a trait that had also never changed. I watched her walk into the crowd, disappearing a few seconds later.
I waited until she’d escaped my view before adjusting my cock, feeling a presence only seconds later.
“You do know she’s trouble. Right?”
Why was it every time I heard a certain tone in my brother’s voice I was ready to brandish both middle fingers?
This time, I shoved one hand into the pocket of my jeans, noticing he was making a peace offering of a cold brew.
The bottle felt good in my clammy hand. As I brought the lip to my mouth, I sensed he was watching me intently.
“So word has it that you found her floating in the river?”
I tossed him a glance. “Something like that.”
“She’s a Sterling.”
The accusation had been one I’d heard for years. “So what? We don’t live in the Wild West, you know.”
“That depends on who you ask, including our father.” He pulled his bottle to his lips. “Is this thing serious?”
“For God’s sake. I saved her life a couple days ago. She stayed with me for less than twenty-four hours. Then I had to go off and fight a fire. I don’t think you need to worry about telling Mom and Dad there’s going to be a wedding.”
He moved around to face me, clapping me on the shoulder. “You know this will further inflame your relationship with Wade.”
“I don’t think that’s repairable at this point.”
“Well, it won’t be if you fuck his sister. I’m just warning you. She’s not going to hang around. You know that.”