16. Jace

SIXTEEN

JACE

"Aren't you afraid to date a firefighter?" I ask.

"Is that what we're doing?" she questions me with a bit of sass.

I pinch her side and she squeals as I roll onto my back, propping my head up with one arm. She turns into me, laying her head on my chest as I play with her soft, blonde hair.

"I mean, I'm not one for a one night stand so yeah, that's what we're doing."

"Are you telling me or asking?" She lifts her head to look at me and her slight smirk tells me she isn't mad about this question at all.

"You want me to ask you to be my girlfriend?"

She begins humming the song Girlfriend by NSYNC and I bark out a laugh. Her eyes get wide and she uses my chest to push herself up, one hand covering her mouth in fake surprise. "Mr. Sullivan! We're moving a little fast don't you think?" she asks in an exaggerated tone.

I close my eyes and sigh at her mischief which then turns to a moan when I feel her climbing on top of me. She takes my hands and places them on her breasts and I can't believe I have this girl in my bed—no, woman—this amazingly gorgeous and outgoing woman who wants me just as much as I want her.

"You were bouncing on my lap not ten minutes ago and you think that my asking you to be my girlfriend is moving too fast?"

She laughs and rocks back and forth over me. "Where is this guy when you're outside of the bedroom?"

"He doesn't exist outside of these walls. He's meant to be private with the one he likes."

"You like me?" At her question, I school my face and raise a brow. She laughs, bearing down on me a bit harder and I bite back a curse squeezing her breasts that are still in my palms. "I like you. And I like what we're doing here."

"Mmhm. I really like what we're doing here, too." I grab her waist and move to a sitting position, taking her with me as I lean against the headboard. Our eyes lock together as I take one nipple in my mouth, flicking it with my tongue before capturing it lightly between my teeth. Her eyes flutter and I can feel how wet she is. Letting it pop from my lips, I blow cool air across it, watching it pebble before moving to the other and repeating the process.

"So, now what?" she asks of me.

I wrap my arms around her and study her face. It's a loaded question and I could flip her onto her back and turn it into something sexy and or I can keep us connected just like this while I tell her I'm not really sure. I can tell her I'm afraid she'll get bored with me, that my age will eventually scare her off or I can tell her that as a career fireman, my life is dangerous and she'd be right to walk away now.

"I don't know. I can tell you I'm not looking to leave Love Beach. I can also tell you that being a fireman has always been my number one career choice. That's not going to change. So, for me, I need someone who supports that and can live that lifestyle of the firehouse being my second home." I watch as she bites her bottom lip in contemplation. "Was that not the ‘now what' you meant?" I ask and she smiles softly.

"No, it is," she says quietly and I'm realizing just like I have a different side privately, so does Poppy. Her bravado is a show for the world, but I think she allows her vulnerability to show for the right person. "I know being a fireman is dangerous. But I'd never tell you what you can or can't do."

"Can you take being alone three nights in a row? You know I have to stay at the station while I'm working."

She nods. "I know." She tightens her arms around me, pulling us close against each other. "I don't like being without you but we could make it fun. I could send you little distractions while you're there." Her teasing words make my stomach do flips. This is what I pictured my life to be once I found the girl for me. She'd accept my work and we'd do anything we need to do to keep our relationship fun and sexy and new, despite the dangers surrounding us.

"I'd really like that." She brushes the hair from my face and kisses me. "And as long as you don't care that you're my cougar, I think we'll be just fine." She barks out a laugh and I tickle her ribs until she rolls off my lap. I roll with her, covering her with my body, settling in between her legs. "Poppy James, you are something else. You were completely unexpected but just the woman I didn't know I needed."

Her big green eyes and wide smile shine bright in the moonlight pouring in and I hold onto her still in shock that this could be real.