Chapter 5

5

LIAM

I t’s as if my hands are possessed as my rough palms explore the soft, delicate skin of Opal's side, her back, then up between her shoulder blades. It's hard to control them around her. This need to touch her, to show her how I'm feeling without words… It’s crazy. But I think she understands. At least, I hope so.

The rain starts coming down harder, turning the garage into a bit of a sauna. It doesn't matter. Our deep, slow kisses add to the steamy, intense heat between us.

What is a beautiful young woman like this even doing with me? I can't stop that question from snaking around the back of my mind. I'm ten years older than she is, set in my ways, and to be honest, fairly boring. What could she possibly see in me?

Whenever the guys from the VFFT get together for a beer and to swap stories of fire calls, we occasionally get quite a bit of attention from local women. I've always ignored it. I don't want anyone to like me just because I fulfill some cliché firefighter fantasy.

I’m sure that’s not what’s going on with Opal. She was reluctant to contact me. Running into her again was dumb luck, and I'm incredibly grateful that she realized we are…well, whatever we are. Meant to be, I hope.

Her graceful curves are irresistible in my hands as they wrap around her hips, squeezing as her head tilts back so I can kiss along her tender throat. Tension crawls up my spine as I realize how open she is to every touch. I've never felt a rush of lust like this. It's like my body is drunk on all the sensations, yet still craving more.

My lips drift to her ear, nibbling at the lobe as she shivers against me. "Are you cold, baby?" Wow. I've never called a woman baby before. It feels like I'm calling her mine. My cock leaps to attention at the thought of Opal truly being mine. Forever.

"You are a mountain of pure muscle and heat," she whispers. "So no. Not cold."

I smooth back her lovely blonde hair, kissing along her neck and pulling her shirt down and to the side so I can pay some attention to her collarbone. I'm not sure if she notices when my other hand slips up under her bra, but then my thumb grazes her taut nipple, and Opal moans sweetly.

I wish I could record that noise – it's the sexiest thing I've ever heard. The next best thing would be to have her make it over and over again.

My skin feels hot against hers as we both gasp for breath, staring into each other's eyes for a moment before our lips crash together again. Her pupils are huge. That's reassuring, knowing that she's as excited as I am. The sexy artist thing is driving me wild. Her bangle bracelets clink together softly when she reaches up to prick the back of my neck with her charcoal gray tipped fingernails.

It's not just that a sexy woman is touching me. It's Opal, the mystery girl that I'm already infatuated with. It's the hunger in her touch. As if she wants to claim me. Pull me closer. My mind is short-circuiting as I pinch her nipple gently, then pull her sexy body to mine.

Another soft, smoky moan. This one goes right through me, and before I know what I'm doing I have Opal in the air, pinned against the wall with her legs wrapped around me. This feeling of surrender by both of us, letting these natural forces take over… My god, I've never wanted anything as much as I want her right now.

Her hair feels like silk as I gently fist it, pulling it back to examine her eyes. "Opal." I swear my voice has dropped an octave. "Tell me you want me."

"I want you." Her response is instant.

"Tell me that the house is empty and we can go inside."

There’s a deafening crack of thunder just as her head tilts back in laughter. "Yes, I'm pretty sure. The lady upstairs is usually out?—"

I'm already scooping her up and striding for the door when I hear the only sound that could possibly stop me from carrying this beautiful girl to the nearest bed, stripping her naked, and licking every inch of her until she screams my name:

The dedicated ringtone for the VFFT.

With a groan, I lift her away from where my cock is straining inside my jeans, setting her down under the side door awning. "That's a fire call. I’m so sorry, baby, I have to go."

Her face drops as she pouts. Is there also worry in her eyes? Then she instantly brightens again. "Ooh! Can I go with you? I'll stay at least a billion feet away, I promise. Just let me grab my camera?—"

"Absolutely not." I hate the way her face falls, but there is no way I would let my sweet girl go anywhere dangerous. Yeah. She's already mine. That little fact inserted itself into the back of my mind without me even realizing.

"I promise the next time we have training or testing, I will ask if you can come document it. But baby, I don't know what kind of call this is. And it's definitely against the rules. I'm sorry."

She's already nodding. "I understand. Text me when you're home safe?"

And there it is. That little fragment of worry that some of the guys have spoken about, when they have to leave their families at home and rush into danger, and they can't truthfully promise that they’ll be back in one piece.

"Don't worry," I murmur as I kiss the top of her forehead. "Most of these calls are pretty small. I'll text you as soon as my hands are clean enough to use a phone, I promise."

With a quick kiss, I begin jogging toward my truck. "No more fires in the garage until I give you my notes," I call back over my shoulder.

"Gotcha." I hear her hesitate, then as I glance back, she adds, "Be safe." Her beautiful little face is scrunched up in a frown as she holds up crossed fingers.

Next time we're together, I'll have to explain how safe we always are. I jump into the truck, check the address, and speed off into the rain, very reluctantly setting aside all thoughts of anyone or anything other than the job at hand.