Chapter 16

16

CROW

E mma seems surprised that I have a fire pit in my backyard, until she realizes how incredibly safe it is. Why wouldn’t I? Fire is hypnotic – when it’s well controlled.

Once we’re full of flame-roasted hotdogs and marshmallows, we crawl into the tent. She laughs as I zip two sleeping bags together on top of the thick air mattress.

“This isn’t exactly roughing it,” she says.

“Never said it was. If you want to go camping-camping sometime, we’ll go and do it right. This is just something I do now and then.”

We kick off our shoes and hoodies at the edge of the tent. In the dim glow of the porch light through the blue nylon walls, I can’t stop staring at Emma. She’s a vision as she slowly pulls off her clothes, crawling into the sleeping bag. I join her, opening the clear skylight panel so we can look at the stars.

“How are we going to look at the meteors when you’re probably going to be on top of me?” she giggles.

“Oh, is that what you think? That I only brought you here for”…I make a disgusted noise and shake my head…“ that ?”

“Not just that . But…” Her fingers trail up my spine. “I think I’d really like some of that .”

Once I make sure that the tent is zipped up tight, I click on a tiny amber lantern. Lying down close beside Emma, my fingers trail down the side of her beautiful face. “I need to ask a few questions, Sparky.”

She props herself up on an elbow. “Fire away.”

I blow out a breath and shake my head. “Bad choice of words, since I got a fire call to your house today.”

She squeezes my arm. “True. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. That’s what I’m here for. Well, one of the things I’m here for.” Taking a deep breath, I smile. “Are you truly okay with me being a firefighter, and potentially running into danger whenever I get that call?”

“Yes. Absolutely.”

My lips brush the tip of her nose. “It's not just your answer, but that you answered so fast. Good." I exhale loudly, making her hair flutter. "And you understand that I might have to take off in the middle of a date, or be held up on your birthday, or New Year’s Eve, or who knows what?”

Her palm lands in the center of my chest. “Yes. I mean, I'll worry sometimes, of course. It'll take some time to get used to the idea. I’m glad that you mentioned there’s a time limit on how long you’re going to be a firefighter, that it’s not forever. But for the foreseeable future, I understand, and I support you.”

Leading in, I brush a kiss across her forehead. “And now, the big question.”

Her eyes light up. “Is it if I can update the website for your shop? Because I have a lot of ideas. That dropdown menu is?—”

“I love you.”

The soft breeze seems to stop, and even the crickets become silent for a moment. Emma is perfectly still for a few seconds, then she blinks a few times.

“Sorry, that wasn’t really a question,” I whisper. “I guess the question is whether telling you that too soon is going to freak you out. No pressure or anything, Sparky. We can take our time?—”

“I love you, too.”

My heart starts beating again when she says it. “Really?”

She nods, grinning. “You’re amazing. And we’re amazing together. And…” Her eyes fall closed as her head shakes. “I was so grossed out by my sisters shoving their lifestyles down my throat that the thought of getting married and having kids so fast just creeped me right out.” Her fingers walk in a circle around my heart. “But with you, it’s different… Anything is possible.”

“Yes! Like I said before, we can do everything our way. If you want to wait a few years, that’s great. If you want to stay living with your aunt and uncle for as long as you like, that’s great. Or you could move in with me tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow is good. Well, maybe in a week or two, so I can get things sorted.”

The magnitude of what we’ve just agreed to pulls our lips together in a soft, tentative kiss full of promise and hope. Our bodies shift together, the heat building immediately as her hand slips down my side to grab my ass. Hard.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” she whispers. “I really like it.”

“My sweet girl is always going to get everything she wants.” My hand slips into the back of her hair. “You’re so sexy. I can’t wait to wake up with you every day. To shower with you every morning. To rub your cute little feet whenever you’re tired.”

“Personally, I can’t wait to tease you when you’re tattooing some other girl’s boobs.”

For some reason that makes me laugh way too hard. Our laughing turns into more kisses, her breasts quivering against my chest. My hand slips down to gently squeeze the soft skin of her nipples, waiting until I feel that little gasp of arousal before sliding lower.

Every time Emma shifts and arches to kiss me deeper, it feels like my poor heart might burst right from my chest. It’s still fragile from thinking that she may have been anywhere near a real fire.

Every time her fingertips claw at my skin, I hope that she feels like she’s marking her territory. I drink in the sight of her wavy hair spreading across the pillow, letting the images of this moment burn into my mind forever.

An owl hoots loudly, making Emma jump. Then she giggles, her face snuggling into my neck as I hold her, breathing her in.

So sexy. So soft. So perfect.

And mine.

Our hips shift as she rocks against me, and although I’m desperate to plunge my length deep inside her softness, teasing her is just too much fun. Plus, she’s so tight I really do need to make sure she’s completely ready for me.

My pulsing cock brushes through her folds, gradually becoming wetter. I inhale her soft sighs against my lips as I thumb her clit gently. She instinctively spreads wider, one leg hooking around me, trying to draw me in.

“Is my sexy girl in a hurry?”

“No. Just…” Her eyelashes flutter. “Excited.”

“Are you blushing? Please don’t ever be embarrassed about wanting me.” My lips fall to her ear so she can hear my heavy breathing as I notch the thick head of my cock inside her. “I’m fucking crazy for you. I’m going to crave you every moment of every day. Forever.”

“Show me,” she whispers, just before I sink in slowly. Gently. Letting her shift and stretch, moaning softly. She quickly becomes so wet that I can sink deep into her tight channel, both of us gasping.

Knowing that my girl craves me this much is yet more proof that we belong together. Permanently.