Chapter 34
Blaze couldn’t stophimself from getting hard. Just like that, he was ready to go. Ready to kiss his way down her body and bury his face between her legs before sliding deep inside her and taking them both to nirvana.
Took him a moment to realize he was staring at her. That he’d stopped moving toward the stairs and turned to face her. She tilted her head back and smiled up at him in a way that made his fingers itch to bracket that face in his hands and kiss the daylights out of her.
“I never said I didn’t want to,” he finally managed when he got his brain back into gear.
We both know I’d say yes if you asked.
Emma shrugged. “It doesn’t matter what you say, Blaze. It’s what you do. And you don’t do anything.”
She sailed past him and started up the stairs. He watched her cute ass sway from side to side, imagined gripping those cheeks in both hands while he lifted her pussy to his mouth and licked her until she saw stars.
Blaze closed his eyes for a second and got a mental hold on himself before following her up to the second floor. She walked past her apartment and straight to his, turning to face him when she got to his door.
“I want to see my kitten. I want to take her home, but I don’t want to confuse her when we have to move her back in the morning. If I can just play with her for a little while, I’ll leave you alone.”
“You can stay, Emma. Be near her and stay with me until we find Simon. You know it’s what I want you to do anyway.”
“I know. But I fought to get my place back. What does it say about me if I agree to return after only a few hours? I haven’t even stayed a night in there yet.”
“It doesn’t say anything except you want to be near your kitten and you trust me to take care of you both.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Dammit, Blaze Connolly, why did you have to find a stray kitten?”
“Because she needed my help.”
Emma’s eyes glittered when she met his. “Just like I did when you first met me. Always charging in to help people in danger or innocent animals.”
“It’s the right thing to do.”
She looked as if she were wrestling with herself. “Okay. I’ll stay. But if I want to go downstairs to hit the treadmill before the building is open, then I’m going.”
“Already agreed to that.”
She nodded her head with a jerk. “Just want us to be clear.”
“We’re clear.”
She pointed a finger at him. “I had one glass of wine, by the way. I’m not drunk. But my filters aren’t as strong because my give-a-crap factor is weak. I’m done with being agreeable and polite about absolutely everything. If I don’t like something, I’m going to say so.”
“Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Okay. Good. Perfect.”
She was fucking adorable, and he wanted to push her against the wall and kiss her until she melted.
“Want to get your stuff before we go inside?”
“That’s a good idea.”
They went to her apartment, he checked it out, and she retrieved all the things she’d taken back that morning. Then they returned to his place. Before she could put her stuff in the guest room, he stopped her.
“You can have my room. That way you can be with your kitten. She’s so small I’d suggest keeping her in the bathroom overnight, especially since she probably won’t let you sleep if she’s out. But then you can see her when you want.”
Her expression softened as he spoke. “Oh Blaze, I can’t take your bed.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
He could see her wrestle with the idea, but he knew the kitten was going to win. “Okay,” she said softly. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure.”
He led her to his room and grabbed the book he’d been reading from the bedside table. The kitten started to mew when she heard them, and Emma went over to open the door and squatted down as the little thing barreled out.
“Oh my goodness, you are so cute,” she cooed as she picked up the mewing bundle of fur. “And sassy too.”
Blaze’s heart squeezed at the sight of her cuddling the kitten. The tiny thing was dirty and had fleas because she hadn’t been to the vet yet, but Emma didn’t seem to mind.
“Sassy might be a name for her,” he mused.
Emma smiled at him. The kitten was still mewing and trying to climb onto Emma’s shoulder. “Sassy. I like that. She is pretty sassy, isn’t she?”
“Yep. For a tiny, dirty, helpless little speck of fur, she’s got plenty of attitude.”
Emma held the kitten up in front of her face. “Are you Sassy? Does that sound good to you?”
Sassy mewed again, softer this time, and Emma laughed. “Sassy it is. Did you eat, little Sassy?”
Blaze went into the bathroom to get his toothbrush, razor, and shampoo. “Looks like she ate a good amount.”
“Oh, that’s so wonderful. Sweet little baby Sassy. I’m so happy you’re here.” Emma’s voice had gone up about a hundred octaves as she talked in a baby voice to the kitten.
That voice hit him square in the chest as he pictured her talking to a human baby. Their baby.
He’d never really wanted kids, not after the childhood he’d had, but the thought of having a baby with Emma didn’t scare him the way it once would’ve. She was a doctor, a stable, smart woman who had a loving family and had grown up with support from those around her.
She wouldn’t endanger her children, ever. She wouldn’t choose her own selfish needs and wants over what their kids needed.
He could picture it. Picture her with a child on her hip as he bent to kiss her before he headed to the range.
The range.
Of course it couldn’t happen. None of his fantasies could happen. He had to maintain his distance, no matter how difficult it was getting. He was in Alabama for a job, not for a new start on a new life.
“I’m gonna head to bed,” he said. “If you don’t need anything else.”
Emma’s head swiveled in his direction. “No, I’m good. Is this about something I said?”
It was only eight o’clock, so of course she’d wonder. “Nope. Worked hard today, so I’m kinda beat. Gonna settle in and read my book for an hour, then lights out.”
She set Sassy down on the floor when the kitten wiggled, and she took off like a shot, zipping under the bed before zipping back again.
Emma was grinning when she looked up. “Understand. Thank you, Blaze. For bringing me a kitten I didn’t know I wanted. For letting me stay in your room. For believing me when I told you about Simon. For protecting all of us at the Gas-n-Go. For everything.”
It was everything he could do not to wrap his arms around her and hold her close.
“I’d do it for anyone,” he said roughly.
The light in her eyes dimmed a fraction, and he knew he’d said the wrong thing.
“I know. But thanks anyway.”