Chapter 17
Kade
“Becca, come.” After zipping up my pants, I slip into my boots.
Two minutes later, the driver’s side door slams shut as the barefoot, stubborn Briana hops into the passenger side.
While she ties up her laces, I start up my Ford then I report in. “O’Malley. Be there in five.”
The dispatcher grunts. “Go straight to the trailer park. Someone will bring your gear.”
“Copy.” Window down, I snap the magnetic bulb onto the roof.
Someday, the county’ll spring for a real emergency vehicle. Until then, sirens wail out my makeshift speaker.
As I hit the highway. I glance at my uninvited guest. “When we get there, you stay put.”
“I can help. I—”
“Me, Sheriff. You, Jane. Promise or get out.” Seeing no agreement, I lift my foot off the gas until she nods. “Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
At the scene, I park behind the hose truck and leap out. My fireproof clothing’s waiting, courtesy of Jeff.
As I shrug into the heavy jacket, the crowd inches closer to the flame. Should the propane tank explode? I shudder at the thought.
Before I can shout for them to move away, a familiar voice booms through my truck’s sound system. “Everyone, back up. Now. Let the firemen do their jobs.”
I blink. The darn woman has parked herself behind my wheel, holding my mic like she was born for this.
No time for reflection, I rush inside, snatch the flaming frypan with a mitt, and slam it into the oven. Jeff hoses the hot spots while I yank an extinguisher from under the sink to finish the job.
If we’d arrived a second later, Millicent, who works double shifts at the diner, would’ve lost everything.
When it’s safe, I trot over to where the owner sits on my tailgate. Her toddler’s in Briana’s arms, cheeks sticky with donut jam.
“How bad?” The single mom stares at her scorched trailer, eyes welling up.
“Not fatal.” Voice steady, I shoot her a smile. “I’ll phone Bart. He can fix this up in no time. Stove’s fried, and there’s water damage. You got renter’s insurance?”
Crying, she shakes her head, no.
“No worries. I’ll call Father Lamoille. He’s got folks who’ll pitch in. You’ll be ready to go in no time.” After a quick hug, I step back, allowing her a moment to get her shit together.
Over her shoulder, Briana nods her approval. For once, she isn’t being a smartass. She’s simply… here. Seeing her take charge, calm the crowd, cradle the toddler—it hits me harder than I want to admit. She’s not only beautiful, she’s a fucking rock star under pressure.
This is the brave pilot who disobeyed orders, held steady under heavy fire, and gave me cover until my team dragged me into her bird.
A woman like her deserves better than a quick lay with a temporary lawman who moonlights as a fireman and fixes leaky pipes on the side.
Back at my house, she steps from the bathroom while her hair drips on my floor. Wrapped in my only towel, a halo of steam curls around her head.
“I left you some hot water.” Her river-nymph seductive eyes draw me in.
“Thanks.” Not ready to drown, I offer a clipped nod, rush past her, then shut the damn door, so I can't do something stupid, like take her to bed.
Heart pounding, I smack myself in the forehead before I twist the faucet all the way to the right. There, I wait for the frigid spray to cool the heat in my veins.
By the time I exit in my sweats, she’s curled up on my couch, cocooned in my grandmother’s afghan as if she belonged there.
I need sleep but I’m too wired. Instead, I dig into my mountain of unread emails. Behind me, the pilot moans from the sofa.
Bad dreams, babe? Yeah, me too.
My eyes grow heavy once she settles down. Arms folded on my table, I drop my forehead, and for the first time in days, let myself crash.
The flush of the toilet jolts me awake. What the hell? Someone’s in my house? My phone says I’ve been out for hours—feels like minutes. Adrenaline surging, I bolt to my feet as I reach for my sidearm.
I freeze when Briana strolls into the room, wearing nothing but my T-shirt.
“Sorry.” She raises one brow at the pistol pointed at her chest. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Wasn’t sleeping.” Weapon lowered, I snap on the safety while she smirks.
“Riiight. Snoring while wide awake. Totally a thing.”
“It is. Google it.” I haven’t smiled like this for so long, my face hurts.
“What time is it?” Her long stretch causes the hem of the borrowed top to lift high on her thighs.
I scoot my chair beneath the tabletop—mainly to hide the growing problem she precipitated.
“4 AM.” Somehow, my response sounded normal, not like a man possessed.
“Well, that sucks. Way too early.” As she frowns, Becca pads into the kitchen, tail wagging, clearly lobbying for breakfast.
“Sorry, girl.” Seeing me shake my head no, my dog flops down with a whine.
“Poor baby.” One rub behind the ears, and the pilot has a new best friend.
The seductress drops into the seat beside me, legs slowly crossing. “Wanna play Texas Hold ’em?” She knows exactly where playing cards would lead.
Resolve cracking, I adjust myself, shifting in my seat. “My poker face sucks wind.”
“Bet that’s a lie.” Her lips lift at the corners as her tongue flicks over the plump lower one.
It is, but I’m not about to admit it—not while her leg rubs my thigh. Clearing my throat, I click one of the emails highlighted in red. “Hunt says we may not get any hits off your sketch. Angle’s off.”
“Full-face might be harder.” Her hips sway as she saunters into the living room and returns holding her sketch pad. “I was up in a tree when I saw him.”
As she eases into the seat next to me, her teeth nibble the eraser. “You know what bugs me the most? My ex being in the woods. We haven’t spoken in months, so what the hell was he doing there?”
Any man would be a fool to let her go. “Has he tried to contact you recently?”
“Honestly? No idea. I blocked him right after the breakup.” Mouth pursed, she casts me a sideways glance. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Go ahead. Give it a go.” My only thoughts are far too dirty for her to say out loud.
Instead of sexy talk, a long, frustrated hiss whooshes out her lungs. “I killed Brett because he bruised my fragile ego.”
“Ehhhhhh.” I let out a short nasal buzzer sound “Nope, you're way off. C’mere.”
She eyes me suspiciously. “Why?”
“Trust me.” My laptop closes with a soft click. Turning my chair to face her fully, I open my arms. “C'mon, do it.”
“I don’t need a pity hug.” Her defiant, delightful chin juts out.
“Didn’t say you did. Stop arguing.” A patient man, I tilt my head and step between her thighs.
Eyes narrowed, she takes a deep breath as I slide my palms to her hips, inhaling my tea tree shampoo along with her unique scent. When her long legs straddle mine, I pull her onto my lap.
Her hands clamp onto my shoulders. “This is stupid.”
“Absolutely.” When my view shifts to her luscious lips, her nostrils flare.
“And reckless.”
“No argument.” Tired of dancing around, I crush my mouth to hers.
Her moan is all the invitation I need. My tongue thrusts deep. All in, she sucks hard. While her fingernails dig into my biceps, I grip her hips. Fearing this moment is but a dream, I don’t dare let go.
Panting, she breaks away, cupping my face. “Tell me to stop.”
Someone groans. Probably me. “Not now, Flygirl. We're way past go. About to collect two hundred dollars.”
Concerned eyes search mine. “Are you sure you want this?”
God, she’s killing me. “Isn’t that supposed to be my line?”
“You’ve been sending mixed signals since we met. Just want to be sure you won’t regret it in the morning.” When she giggles, I realize I’ve been had.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, you minx.” Blowing in her ear, I tug her closer. Under the thin cotton, her breasts brush against my chest.
When her soaked core grinds against my swollen, throbbing dick, the sweet pressure becomes unbearable.
I moan. “Slow down, babe.” Worried Mount Vesuvius might erupt, I lift her off my lap to my knees.
Kisses trail downward to her breasts where I suck through the fabric until her nipples harden.
“Kade.” She lifts her arms, my cue to strip off her top.
Pert, taut and pink, her perfect size Bs lay ready to plunder. As I palm one with my left hand, I slip my other to her heat.
“Fuck me.” Those granny panties I grabbed in a panic? Dripping wet.
The demanding ache below my waistband intensifies the moment I slip them over her butt cheeks. Somehow, between gasps, my brain still manages to spark.
“Condom.”
Pupils wide, lips swollen, her gaze meets mine. “Tested. No sex since the ex. On birth control. You?”
“Clean.” My voice shakes. “I’ve never gone bareback before.”
“Virgin, huh?” Her legs wrap around my waist.
“Mmm.” Trembling, not from nerves but from the gift she offers, I stand. “Bedroom.”
We make it as far as the hallway until frenzied, hungry kisses block our progress.
Centers of her eyes black, she tugs my pants to the floor. “Now, Marine.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Skin to skin for the first time in my life, I gasp as her body accepts my thick girth.
Slow for now, my hands rub up and down her silky back as her pointed nipples massage my chest.
When I hit her sweet spot, she shivers, then bucks. Like everything between us, the act becomes a challenge. I thrust deeper, pressing my body against hers until she’s pinned to the wall.
“What you do to me, Flygirl.” Tight, gorgeous ass under my arms, I hoist her higher, so I can carry her the last few steps to the bedroom.
Separation not an option, I lay us on the mattress, our naked bodies pressed tight. Slipping a hand between us, my finger finds her wet core. Her go button is so swollen, so ready, I simply press, and she explodes with a scream.
As she shudders, I plunge into her orgasm, sliding to the bone, every nerve igniting. I’m on fire. No… I'm engulfed in a blazing corona of desire.
Even so, I manage to hold back. “You okay?”
Knees up, her legs spread, she meets my gaze. “Go.”
The moment she yanks my hair, my control slips, surprising me. Coiled, amped up, I piston inside her. In for the ride, she meets my every move.
“Kade!” When she goes off again, I am beyond lost, driven to this place I’ve never been, yet it feels like home.
Groaning, stars cloud my vision as fluids shoot out my sensitive tip. Mind blown, I roll us over as I collapse. Her ear on my shoulder, knees on either side of my hip bones, she snoozes.
It only felt different because we left off the sheath. That’s all it is. My lie is pure bullshit. In truth, what happened is so life-altering, it scares the b’jezus out of me.