Chapter 13
Dax
The firehouse smells like burned coffee and snow-soaked gear, the kind of morning-after normal that should make everything feel smaller. Manageable. Back in its box.
It doesn’t.
Rory stands at the counter, hands wrapped around a mug she hasn’t touched, staring out the window like the mountain might give her instructions. She’s wearing my hoodie again. The sight hits low and hard—possessive in a way I don’t bother trying to soften.
I cross the room without thinking. Stop close. Close enough that she has to feel me there.
“You okay?” I ask.
She glances sideways. A smile ghosts her mouth, uncertain but real. “I think so. Still processing.”
“Yeah.” I nod once. “Same.”
Silence stretches. Not awkward. Weighted. The kind that asks something of you.
I’ve hidden in silence my whole life.
Not today.
I reach for her mug and slide it aside, taking her hands instead. Warm. Steady. She doesn’t pull away.
“Rory,” I say, and the way her name lands between us feels deliberate. Chosen. “I need to say something. Out loud.”
Her breath hitches. “Okay.”
I don’t kneel. I don’t joke. I don’t hedge.
I look at her.
“I choose you.”
The words feel like a door slamming shut behind me—and another one blowing wide open.
Her eyes flicker, searching my face like she’s bracing for the punchline.
“I’m not talking about last night,” I continue. “Or the storm. Or the letters. I mean—every day. From here on out. No hiding. No pen names. No waiting for the ‘right’ moment that never comes.”
She swallows. “Dax…”
“I know I screwed up,” I say, firm but calm. “I know I hurt you. I don’t get to erase that. But I’m done being afraid of wanting you. I’m done pretending this is anything but what it’s always been.”
Her fingers curl tighter around mine.
“I’ve loved you since we were kids,” I say. “And I love you now. The real way. The kind that shows up in daylight. Face to face.”
Her throat works. “You’re terrifying when you’re this serious.”
“Good,” I say. “Means you’re listening.”
She laughs weakly, then exhales like she’s been holding something back for years. “You know what the worst part is?”
“Tell me.”
“The letters.” She lifts one hand between us, palm to chest. “They didn’t make me fall in love with some imaginary man.”
My pulse stutters.
“They made me fall in love with you,” she says softly. “The you who was already there every morning. Who remembered how I take my coffee. Who stayed.”
I step closer, backing her gently into the counter. Not trapping—claiming. She lets me.
“I felt seen,” she continues. “And safe. And wanted. And then I realized… I’ve always felt that way with you. I just didn’t let myself connect it.”
I lean in, resting my forehead against hers. “I should’ve said it sooner.”
“Yes,” she says without hesitation. Then she smiles. “But I get why you didn’t.”
That breaks something open in me.
I cup her jaw, thumb brushing her cheek. “No more letters.”
She nods. “No more hiding.”
I kiss her then—not rushed, not careful. Deep. Certain. The kind of kiss that says this is mine and I’m not letting go.
She makes a sound low in her throat, fingers sliding into my hair, tugging just enough to spark heat.
“You’re very confident all of a sudden,” she murmurs against my mouth.
“I’m done pretending I’m not,” I say. “You want me to slow down, say it.”
She tilts her head, eyes dark. “I didn’t say that.”
I smile and kiss her again, longer this time, hands steady at her hips. The tension coils tight, familiar and brand-new all at once.
We burn together—not in a rush, not in secret.
Out loud.
In daylight.
Finally.
“Let’s get you home, Red.” I hoist her into my arms, carrying her on steady strides through the firehouse and out to my truck.
Fifteen minutes later, I’m drawing her a bath at my place. I instruct her to get in and then leave to make her favorite tea.
When I return, I catch sight of her nestled in the mountain of bubbles, water lapping gently against porcelain and soapy foam spilling onto the floor.
Even from the doorway, I can feel the tension in her shoulders beginning to melt away—exactly why I brought this little feast to her.
Balancing a wooden tray, I set it down carefully on the edge of the tub.
“What’s your poison?” I ask, lifting a mug of cocoa in one hand and a steaming cup of tea in the other. “I’ve got sandwiches, salad, fruit, cheese…”
She smiles up at me, the steam curling around her hair. “What kind of sandwich is it?”
“Ham, turkey, and cheese,” I admit, grinning. “I know, boring—but I was a bachelor before you.” I lean forward and press a soft kiss to her lips.
She snatches the sandwich from the tray and takes a bite. I run a finger along her cheek to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Going to stare at me while I eat?”
“I like watching those sexy lips,” I say, and she blushes. Then I rest my elbow on the tub’s rim and ask, “How does your back feel after sleeping on that bunk all night, sweetheart?”
She nods, shoulders relaxing further. “The bath really helps.”
I cup her chin. “I want to move you into my life as soon as possible. If you don’t like my place we can move somewhere else—up in the mountains—it doesn’t matter to me. My home is wherever you are.”
Her eyes lock on mine, and I lay my heart bare. I mean every word. She’s staring back at me with a light in her eyes that makes me grateful all over again.
She shakes her head softly. “No. I love your place. It’s peaceful. And I really love this giant tub.”
I feel pride bloom in my chest. I lean forward, hands cradling her face. “You’re pretty amazing, you know that? I always knew you were remarkable, but you’re more beautiful, strong, and compassionate than I ever dreamed. The town’s lucky to have you—and so am I.”
I let my thumbs brush her cheeks, my gaze burning into hers, wordlessly promising she’s found everything she deserves. Then she tugs at my shirt, a playful glint lighting her eyes.
“Now that that’s settled…” she murmurs, pulling me forward.
I laugh and let her guide me in, ready to lose myself in the warmth—together.
“Glad to see you’ve got that fighting spirit back.” I don’t leave a moment of breath between us, hauling her into my arms, sudsy and dripping wet, every inch of us pressed together.
“I can’t help myself around you,” she confesses against my lips.
My hands trail up her slick skin, body warm and silky against my rough hands. “Glad the feeling is mutual, baby.”
Then I pull her out of the tub, her legs hooking around my waist, her naked body clinging to mine.
“I’ve waited my entire life for you,” I hum as we crash against the shower door, her body sliding down the glass side.
“Mm…” I catch her lip between my teeth and slow-drag her already swollen flesh. “I can smell how turned on you are for me, beautiful.”
I drop to my knees, cradling her thighs against my biceps and nestling my head between her legs.
In one deft stroke, my tongue slips through her soaked pussy.
She arches and groans, hands clutching my shoulders as she rides my face, hips slipping back and forth as my tongue swirls and sucks, teeth nipping and drawing out every last sensitive nerve.
“Oh my God, you feel amazing. You are amazing. Every touch, every stroke, I think it can’t get better.” Her thighs begin a slow tremble, the rapid staccato of her words all the proof I need that I’m pleasing her.
“Oh yes…”
I don’t give her a chance to finish, only adding the tip of my finger to her soaked entrance, probing her juicy warmth until she shudders and moans and begs me to stop because it feels too good, then begs for my lips because they feel so good.
I only grin, the taste of her glistening on my lips as I stand and haul her against me, carrying her in long strides into my bedroom—what is now our bedroom.
“Feels so damn good to have you here…” I kiss her softly, sliding her down every hard muscle of my body. “So damn good, a very big part of me wants to lock you in this room and have my way with you whenever I want.”
“Promise to bring me sandwiches?” she utters against my lips.
“Abso-fucking-lutely, baby.” I crash down on top of her without ever breaking our kiss.
“Fuck, I love you so much it scares me. I’ve never thought of anyone before myself, before the firehouse or someone that needs saving.” My eyes cling to hers, my cock heavy and growing harder with every sexy look she gives.
“You have everything here.” Her eyes dart around the vast space of my master bedroom. “It’s still hard for me to picture myself in your life—”
“Baby, everything I have means nothing without you.” I lock our hands together tightly, making sure I’m holding her, showing her she’s my everything. “I won’t stop until you know that. Until you feel that.”
Her hips arch against mine, the tip of my cock grinding against the nub of her clit and sending a soft sigh burning in the air between us.
“I can definitely feel that.”
She giggles softly when I stroke her just enough to tickle, only enough to tease. “Good.”
I lock our lips in a take-no-prisoners kiss, melding us together as I enter her again. Adrenaline and wild need spark through my blood as we come together, our hands and lips and teeth and tongue suddenly everywhere.
I plunge deeper, conscious of not bruising her, knowing I’m big enough, hungry enough to leave my mark, even without meaning to.
“Feeling you deep inside me isn’t like anything I could have imagined.”
Her heels lock around my ass. I thrust my hands into her hair as I suck and pull on her bottom lip.
She groans as I nip, drawing my teeth along the silky flesh while I twist my fingers in her long hair.
She arches her head back, mouth open as silent breaths heave from her body.
I run the tip of my tongue up the delicate slope of her throat, taking in the sensuous way she writhes and whimpers for more beneath me.
I taste her so fucking slowly I’m nearly coming in my fucking pants.
She whimpers and clutches at my jaw, her eyes locking with mine. The irises blaze with temptation as she pushes her lips against mine and nips.
“You feel so sweet, the way this pussy fucks me so good, sweetheart.” I angle deeper, fingers digging into her soft flesh—evidence of my claim will scream loud and clear come morning.
Maybe I’ll force her to walk around naked for the next few days, just to enjoy the way she looks with a piece of me left on her.
Or in her.
“You think this sweet little pussy is ready to take all of me again, gorgeous?”
She moans and grinds herself against me.
“I’ll take that as a yes, then.” I pull her against my chest, carrying us—my dick still planted firmly in her sexy little body—over to the leather lounge chair near the windows. We crash down together, her shrieks followed by laughter.
“This leather is freezing compared to the feverish state you’ve got my body in.” Her breaths are already muffled as my cock continues to drive in and out of her in a new, punishing rhythm.
“What was that, baby? You look so beautiful riding my cock, I don’ t think I heard you.”
“Cold! Jesus, my back is so cold! And then you make me so hot…”
My hands cradle the round globes of her breasts. Our bodies are sweaty and fevered and so fucking close to coming in streams of white-hot need.
Her nipples pebble as I pinch. I twist and watch her eyes sparkle with the soft bite of pain before it settles into pleasure.
“You feel how beautiful and wet this pussy is?”
She swallows, watching me, not answering.
“Answer me.” I twist her nipple again.
“So fucking wet,” she moans, trailing one hand down her body.
Her pussy clenches around me. “Keep going, baby. That’s fucking gorgeous.”
I lean in closer, drag my nose up the line of her breast, tongue swirling in lazy circles. “I can smell your sweetness from here.”
I could die and go straight to heaven, buried right here in this woman.
“So sexy, the way you get that look in your eye when I’m fucking you nice and slow, like you want more of my dick—”
“But I’m so full, I don’ t know if I can take any more…”
“That’s the look.” I take her nipple into my mouth, sucking with deft tenderness. “That look is so fucking hot, baby. It makes me want to unload deep inside this hot pussy.”
My words must do something, because her pussy pulses and she comes around me in sweet moans as my hands push into her hair. I suck and slow my tongue, kiss her perfect lips.
Fucking bliss.
I clutch her waist and circle my hips, pulling all the way out before pushing all the way back in.
She scratches my shoulders, runs her nails down my back as I bite through the pain and continue to move in and out of her.
I murmur in her ear how incredible she is taking me in fully, how tight she feels fisted around me, how beautiful and sensual and so fucking sexy she is.
I suck on her nipples and tease the hardened peaks with my teeth, nipping just before I pull away so she arches and cries and her pussy comes in another wave around me.
I grunt as I plunge into her before sucking at the flesh under the curve of her breast. I heave and thrust until I still inside her, pour my release into her ripe body, my seed streaming in fierce jets as I collapse on top of her, kissing her between pants, riding the waves of the best fucking moment of my life, right on into the next one, with her.
“I love you so damn much. Every moment with you gets better and better.”