Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Brianna yawned as she watched her class during lunch on Monday. She couldn’t seem to wake up this morning.

“Late night?” Ruby, one of her fellow teachers, asked.

“Not really.” More like erotic dreams keeping her hot and bothered.

“You need to get a life.”

She didn’t take offense at Ruby’s words. “Not all of us can find the love of our lives.” Ruby had found her soulmate a few months ago. Brianna tilted her head. Had she found hers in Rafe?

Too early to be thinking like that. They’d barely started a relationship outside of the club. Brianna grinned. Rafe had called her twice yesterday to see how she was after their scene. He was so protective and concerned.

He’d laughed when she’d told him so. Her blood heated, remembering their conversation.

“What are you thinking? You’re blushing,” Ruby said.

“None of your business.”

Ruby laughed. The bell rang, and they ushered their kids back into their classrooms. Brianna, feeling a little distracted, decided to let the kids do art this afternoon, since it gave her a chance to get her thoughts in order.

* * * *

Rafe stepped out of his firefighting gear and stowed it. It had been a busy week, and it was only Wednesday.

“That’s the third call today,” Tim said as they made their way upstairs.

“At least they’ve been fairly easy. Two medicals and one minor fire,” Rafe commented. He was glad the calls this week had been fairly easy. No more suspicious fires, at least for now. Rafe sat on the sofa and pulled out his phone.

Brianna had been on his mind the last few days. They’d talked on Sunday but not since then. He decided to text her.

Rafe: Hi, sweetheart, would you be interested in dinner tomorrow night? I get off at six.

He glanced at his watch. It was almost four. Maybe she was done with her kids and could get to her phone. Damn, he was never this impatient, but he wanted to hear from her. His phone pinged.

Brianna: Sure. Why don’t you come to my place, and I’ll cook. If you’re too tired when you get off tomorrow, just let me know.

Rafe: We can go out. I don’t want to make you cook.

Brianna: It’s nothing. I’m not a fancy cook, so it will be easy. What time will you get here?

Rafe: Seven, if all goes well.

Brianna: That works for me. Text me when you leave, so I know you’re on your way.

Rafe: Will do.

“I see that satisfied grin. Date with a woman tonight?” Tim teased him.

“Tomorrow.” Rafe rubbed his hands on his pants. He couldn’t wait to see Brianna again.

* * * *

Brianna checked the meatloaf as her phone pinged. Picking it up, she looked at the message:

Rafe: On my way. Be there in about twenty minutes.

Brianna: Perfect. We can eat as soon as you get here.

She checked the potatoes; they were cooked. Draining them, she pulled cream and butter out of the fridge and found her potato masher. She hoped Rafe like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots.

* * * *

“Something smells delicious,” Rafe said when Brianna opened the door.

“Dinner.”

“I think it’s more than dinner.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss on her cheek. Brianna gestured for him to enter her apartment. He’d been here before, now he glanced around with fresh eyes.

Her sofa was across from a modest TV, a colorful blanket thrown over the back. She had two side tables with lamps and several bookcases filled with books on one wall. A small desk and chair sat against the other wall. Probably where she did her lesson plans for the kids.

“Dinner is about ready. I hope meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and roasted carrots are okay.” She shut the door and leaned against it.

“It’s fine. Better than me grabbing fast food on the way home.”

She frowned. “That’s not good for you.”

Rafe couldn’t help grinning. “I know, but after a twelve-hour shift, I’m too tired to cook if I forgot to do my normal dump and go meals.”

“Dump and go?” She gestured for him to sit. “Would you like something to drink?”

He stood near the sofa. “Dump and go is meal prep for the slow cooker. What do you have to drink?” Since this wasn’t a play night and he didn’t have to go to work tomorrow, he could indulge a little bit.

“Beer, wine, soda, water, or I can make iced tea if you’d like.” A beeping noise came from the kitchen. “I need to get dinner out of the oven.” She turned and disappeared through the doorway.

Rafe followed, admiring Brianna’s firm ass as she bent over to take things out of the oven. Easy, guy. This was just a friendly dinner and maybe the start of something more.

His mouth watered as she pulled the meatloaf out. Beef and spices filled his senses. Next came a pan of roasted carrots. “That looks so good.”

She jumped. “I didn’t realize you followed me.” Brianna reached for a platter and expertly moved the food from the pans and onto it, then she lifted the lid from a big pot that sat on the stove.

“You made mashed potatoes from scratch?” Rafe stood there, stunned. Not even his mother made mashed potatoes from scratch.

“Yes. It’s not that hard.”

“Damn woman, why hasn’t some man snatched you up by now?” He was floored at how much trouble she went to for him. How was it he’d gotten so lucky to be paired with Brianna?

“When I say cooking was part of the problem, will you understand?” She dished up the potatoes and looked at him.

“No. Wait until I cook for you and then you’ll understand your cooking is not the problem.” He reached for the platter and bowl. “I’ll put these on the table, and I’ll take a beer to drink, please.” Rafe left the kitchen. Were the men in her life crazy? Must be. He found her small table with two chairs already set. He set the food down and waited until Brianna came to the table with a tray holding his beer, a glass of wine, and a gravy boat.

Rafe held a chair out for her. Brianna’s eyes widened. “Thank you,” she whispered as she sat.

“You’re welcome,” Rafe took his place across from her and waited.

“Please, grab some food.” She gestured to the food. “You’re my guest.”

He nodded and began to fill his plate. Everything looked delicious. He held the platter of meat and carrots out to Brianna. Rafe kept his gaze on her as she dished up her food. He enjoyed watching her expressions, the way her eyes narrowed when she concentrated on something or the quick quirk of her lips when she finished a task.

Once their plates were full, Rafe dug in. The meatloaf was rich in flavor and moist. The mashed potatoes whipped to perfection, and the carrots crunchy. “This is delicious.”

Her cheeks pinked. “It’s nothing.”

That was the second time she put her accomplishments in the kitchen down. “It’s more than nothing.” He waited, but she kept her gaze lowered. “Brianna, look at me, please.”

Her gaze met his. “You are a good cook. This is a meal anyone can appreciate, and if they don’t, they’re idiots.”

Brianna shook her head. “Some men don’t.”

Who had made her think her cooking wasn’t worthy of them? “Like I said, idiots. Don’t let them define you.” He didn’t know how to get through to her. “Brianna, I’m not blowing smoke in your face. This is delicious. I’m enjoying it and definitely appreciate you making it.”

“Some might call it too fattening.” Her voice was soft.

Rafe’s temper shot up. He stood and approached her. Brianna glanced up and him as he slid her chair back and pulled her to her feet. “It’s healthy, not fattening. Meat, carbs, and veggies, all anyone could want.”

He grasped her chin when she would have looked away. “I mean this, Brianna. Don’t let some previous asshole make you think less of yourself or your abilities.”

She took a deep breath and let it out. “You’re right. I need to forget about them.”

“You do.” He guided her back onto her chair, then resumed his seat.

They finished eating in a companionable silence. When they were done, Rafe helped her clear the table until Brianna shooed him out of the kitchen as she cleaned up. Rafe laughed as he made his way into the living area.

He glanced through her bookcases. Some romance books, early education books, a couple on BDSM, and… His fingers stopped over the title Fire Survivors. Had someone in her life been in a fire? Or had Brianna? Having a firefighter come to class and talk was one thing, taking him on in a relationship was another.

He turned when he heard her footsteps. “I didn’t think about dessert,” she said.

“I don’t need it.” Rafe held out his hand to her, and she placed hers in his. He guided her to the sofa. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner.”

“I’m glad you liked it.” She turned to face him. “I packed up some containers for you. I have more than enough for myself.”

“Very thoughtful.” He raised his hand and ran his finger over the soft skin of her cheek. “Are you good to scene tomorrow night?”

“Yes.” Her breathing hitched for a moment, and Rafe hid his smile.

“Good. Why don’t we get dinner at five, and that will give us plenty of time to chat and get to the club.”

“I can do that.” She put her hand over her mouth as she yawned. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a long week.”

“It’s okay. I know you have to work tomorrow, and I’m sure the kids wear you out.”

“More so this week: we’ve had three fire alarms go off. All false alarms, thank goodness.”

“Three?” He frowned. “That shouldn’t be happening. I’ll stop by tomorrow and check on the system.”

“You don’t have to do that. The principal is sorting it out.”

“I know I don’t have to, but it has to be an interruption for everyone.”

“It is. Not to mention a little nerve racking.”

“Does me being a firefighter bother you?” This was a good place to bring this up to check in with her.

“A little bit.” She shivered. “Tell me how you became a firefighter to begin with. I know little boys always think they want to be one. But growing up and actually becoming one is different.”

Rafe relaxed. At least, he had her talking. “True. As a little boy, I wanted to be a firefighter. But a lot of it comes from when I was fifteen.”

“What happened when you were fifteen?” Brianna shifted on the sofa, bringing her body closer to his.

“My family and I lived in an apartment building. It was an older building.” He placed his arm over the back of the sofa, his fingers touching her shoulder. “A fire started somewhere in the building. It was late on Saturday night. My dad shook me awake. The room was already filling with smoke. I coughed, and my dad told me to get on the fire escape and help my two sisters.”

“Oh, goodness. Didn’t the smoke alarms go off?”

“They didn’t.”

“You must have been so scared.”

“I was, but I didn’t show it. I helped my sisters down the fire escape and got them away from the building, watching for my parents the whole time.” A chill swept over his skin even though he was in Brianna’s warm apartment.

That night was etched in his mind. The cold wind blowing, them shivering in a parking lot away from the building, the sirens, and the noise of the fire. The wood crackling and popping. He’d never forget that sound.

“They finally came out on the fire escape. We were on the fifth floor, so it wasn’t that far down. I held my sisters back when they wanted to run to them.”

“What took them so long?”

“They were grabbing important papers, check books, and such. I found out later that my parents kept it all in a single place.”

“Why did they do that?”

Rafe remembered asking his parents why. “They understood that if the fire reached our apartment, everything would be lost. They grabbed items that couldn’t be easily replaced.”

She nodded. “Go on.”

“We watched the firefighters fight the fire. Some people were trapped, but the men got them out.”

Brianna shivered, and there was a hint of fear in her eyes. He pulled her to him, wanting her to know everything turned out fine.

“No one died, thank goodness.”

“Did they find out how the fire started?”

“Another reason I took this on as a career. Someone deliberately set fire to the south stairwell. We were on the north side of the building, but there were a lot on the south side who couldn’t get out through the fire escape or the stairs, who required rescue.”

Another shiver hit her, and Rafe rubbed the back of her neck, grounding her.

“It shaped me into wanting to be a firefighter and an arson investigator.” Might as well get it all out there now.

“Arson investigator? You don’t just fight fires?” There was awe in her voice.

“Most of the time, I’m a firefighter, but when needed, I am an arson investigator. I have all my qualifications. There’s not a big call for one in Pleasant Valley, but there have been times when one is needed.”

“I’m sure it’s less dangerous.”

“There are still some dangers, but I like being a firefighter.”

Brianna tilted her head. “There’s something in your voice; I can’t put my finger on it. It’s almost like…a deep respect for your profession.”

He nodded. “Yes. You have to respect fire and learn how it works. It takes a lot to be a firefighter, and I respect the hell out of my colleagues.”

“No, thank you. That would not be for me.”

“Not everyone likes working with fire, and that’s okay.” When she yawned again, Rafe decided it was time to put an end to their evening. “I want you to think about our scene tomorrow night. I’m thinking some bondage and light spanking and flogging.”

She was silent for a moment. “Okay.”

Rafe stood, and she followed suit. “Let me get your food.” She rushed off to the kitchen. He didn’t want to push tonight, but at least he’d seen a bit more of Brianna’s aversion to fire. It seemed to run deep. She didn’t seem to mind him fighting fires, but she’d worry. He wished he could spare her that worry, but there was no way to do that. Maybe he’d talk with Logan and find out how Ellie dealt with him being a cop. Logan’s odds of being hurt on the job were probably about the same as his.

Brianna came back with a small bag and handed it to him.

“Thank you.” He pulled open her door. “Until tomorrow.” Rafe brushed his lips over hers, then stepped outside. “Lock up.”

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was soft, but that sir went straight to his cock.

“Tomorrow.” Unable to resist, he kissed her again before straightening and letting her close the door. Rafe made his way to his vehicle with a big grin on his face.

* * * *

Brianna leaned against the wooden front door, trying to catch her breath. Not so much from Rafe’s kiss, but from what she’d learned. He was a fire survivor. He respected fire. A shiver racked her body. How were they even compatible?

She had a healthy fear of fire from her childhood and… What? It wasn’t like she was going to be involved in fire. This was Rafe’s job, and yes, she’d worry about him, but just like she worried about Logan and his job, for Ellie’s sake.

With a shake of her head, she checked the kitchen to make sure everything was off, then turned off the lights. In her bedroom, she got ready for bed, but she laid there awake for a long time.

She’d call Ellie on her lunch break tomorrow and see if she had time on Sunday to chat. Brianna needed to know if Ellie had any tips or tricks for dealing with Logan’s job that Brianna could use.

A beep sounded. Brianna sat up. Fire alarm? Smoke alarm? She climbed out of bed, but didn’t hear the beep again. Not that it mattered. She checked all the smoke alarms in her apartment, and the lights were green. She wasn’t going to sleep anytime soon. Curling up on the sofa, she pulled the blanket over her, listening. Fire could happen at any time, and she would be alert for it. Never again would she let down her guard.

* * * *

Rafe sat at the desk in the small alcove of his home and finished reading the latest fire report. Suspicious, but no obvious evidence of arson. He tossed the file aside. Something about it bugged him. These fires were too coincidental. Four of them. All seemingly accidental, but something nagged him. Rafe pushed away from his desk. Time to go for a run. Otherwise, he’d sit there, going over and over the same facts and not coming to a conclusion.

After putting on his running shoes, Rafe grabbed his phone and keys. Outside his front door, he did a few stretches and then started off at a light jog until he’d warmed up enough to run. He thought back to last night.

Brianna’s reaction to his story made his suspicion that her fear of fire was real. She hadn’t come out and said so, but it was there. Her wide eyes, the way her body trembled, and her shallow breathing all added up to fear.

He hadn’t pushed because it was getting late, and she had to work. He wouldn’t dismiss her concerns that his job was dangerous. It could be, but he took precautions like everyone else.

He hoped she understood that from their chat last night. He’d need to reassure her of that to lessen her worry. His phone rang, and he stopped running for a moment. “Hello.”

“Hey, Rafe, it’s Max. Did I catch you at a bad time? You sound out of breath.”

“Just taking a run. What’s up?”

“Zeke and Gabriel just finished framing the room for fire play, and I wanted you to come by tonight before we opened to look at it.”

“That was fast.” They’d only talked about it a couple weeks ago.

“Yes. I wanted to get it done since attendance at the club is down.” The frustration in Max’s voice was evident.

“From the Ward incident.”

“Yeah. I’m having all new background checks run on everyone in the club and sending out a blast email, telling everyone that the club has no tolerance for non-consent or illegal activities.”

“You think that will fix the problem?”

“There are always going to be those who think Ward is innocent. But he’s not in my book. I trust the subs, and the only one who ever lied to me was thrown out.”

“Before my time.”

“It was when I first met Sierra. I’m wondering what other precautions I need to put in place.”

Rafe began walking to cool down. “Max, you do a hell of a job weeding out those who don’t belong. And the subs know, thanks to your training efforts, to report any issues.”

“Then why do I feel I need to do more.”

“Because you’re a Dom, through and through.” Rafe wasn’t sure what else he could say. “Ward played you and the others.”

“True.”

“I think re-running the background checks will give you peace of mind. You have the cameras on the property and in reception, right?”

“I can’t put them inside the club. It would be an invasion of privacy. Besides, I don’t keep any security video beyond a week.”

Rafe stopped at the front of his house, climbed the stairs, and sat in one of the chairs he kept on the front porch. “No reason to. You keep those mainly to check who is coming to the club, along with the gate codes, and in reception to make sure nothing happens out there. You’ve done everything you can. Why are you doubting yourself?”

Max’s sigh was loud. “I blame myself.”

“Of course you do. And you can bet most every Dom who’s interacted with Ward is too. But from what I saw, Emily is doing okay, and Noah is very protective of her.”

“I noticed that too.”

“And I bet if you talk to Noah, he’s blaming himself, as well.”

“He shouldn’t.”

“Neither should you.”

“So Sierra keeps telling me.”

“Listen to your wife.” Rafe grinned. “Brianna and I are going to dinner before the club. Is seven-thirty enough time to check out the room.”

“That’s fine. They haven’t done the insulation yet, just the frame. Since both of them will be at the club tonight, I’ll see if they can come early. I believe they wanted to chat with you about the insulation.”

“Works for me. I’ll see you later.” Rafe hung up and sat on his porch for a few minutes. Max took a lot on. Rafe understood Max feeling responsible, but the only one responsible for what had happened was Ward.

Surging to his feet, Rafe went inside to shower. He had a scene to plan out in his head.

* * * *

Rafe escorted Brianna from the reception area that night. “Meet you inside the club.” He’d explained to her over dinner he needed to meet with Max.

“Okay.” Brianna smiled at him before disappearing into the ladies’ room.

Rafe changed and then walked into the club. There were only a few people here. He saw Max, Zeke, and Gabriel by the curtained off area that led to the classroom and walked over to them.

“Evening,” Rafe said.

“Thanks for coming early,” Max said.

“We appreciate it,” Zeke said.

“I’ll admit I’m anxious to see how it’s coming along,” Rafe commented.

“Let’s go.” Max held the curtain back, and the men entered.

Rafe was surprised to see how much smaller the classroom area was. “Did you increase the dimensions?”

“I did,” Max said. “We don’t need a big classroom space anymore, and I’d rather we had more space than less for your work.”

Rafe nodded and examined the room.

“We used all class-A plywood as you requested,” Zeke said.

“Perfect.” Rafe ran his finger over the wood.

“I know we talked about the insulation and flooring,” Gabriel said. “But I found several types and wanted your input.”

“Mineral wool would be the best for the insulation. It’s pretty much fire proof.”

“That was on my list, so that’s what we’ll use.”

“Also, we’ll use wood over the insulation same as the framing. What do you want for the floor?”

“Vinyl flooring is the best.” Rafe was impressed with the work Zeke and Gabriel had done. “It’s the highest rated. Not completely fireproof, but it’s one that helps stop the fire from spreading.”

“Perfect,” Zeke said.

“How do you see this working out, Rafe?” Max asked. “Where would you put your equipment.”

“Good question.” Rafe walked around the room to get an idea. “I’ll use two metal tables for the equipment. The table that I work on will be metal, but I’ll provide a cushion so it’s not so hard on the body.”

“I can purchase everything you need,” Max said.

“I already have the cushion from other demos I’ve given at private parties.” He hadn’t done a private party in a while.

“All right. I’ll need the dimensions of the tables you want. Do you want a cabinet to store your supplies in?”

“That would be nice.” It would save him time in having to lug his supplies and equipment around.

“I’ll order a metal one, as well, since we’re trying to keep everything fire resistant as much as possible.”

Rafe nodded. “This is wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for this.” He was blown away by what Max was willing to pay for.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” Zeke said.

“I’ve always been interested in fire play,” Gabriel said.

“I’m glad I could do it.” Max patted Rafe on the shoulder. “Now let’s go find our subs and have some fun tonight.”

“Oh yes. You did put me down for the St. Andrew’s cross, right?” Rafe asked as they made their way into the club.

“At nine,” Max confirmed.

“Great.” Rafe froze, his senses going into high alert. He glanced at the door to the club at the same time as the others did. A group of men stood there. Doms who had talked with Max about not being happy about the situation with Ward and hadn’t been at the club in the last week or so.

“Excuse me,” Max said and moved away.

“Hell no,” Zeke said, following Max. Rafe and Gabriel followed. By the time they arrived, Noah, Damon, Dane, and Oliver had joined them.

“Master Max.” Rafe wasn’t sure of this man’s name, but he seemed to be taking the lead.

“Alexander.”

The crowded shifted. Rafe glanced toward the bar. Kaley was behind the bar, and several of the women were seated. All watching, including Emily.

“We wanted to clear the air,” Alexander said.

Max nodded.

Alexander shifted from one foot to the other. “We spoke to you without knowing the full story. I apologize for that.”

“So do we,” the men behind him chorused.

“Ward had a hearing yesterday, and we found out this wasn’t the first accusation.”

Shock went through Rafe’s body. Max had said the background check came in clean. How could this have slipped through the cracks?

“The prosecution showed evidence of other assaults that were swept under the rug. We won’t let this one be swept away.” Alexander glanced over at the bar. “Emily will be safe, and Ward is now known in the community as a predator. He will not be welcome by anyone in the lifestyle who conforms to safe, sane, and consensual as we do.”

More affirmations from the men behind him echoed in the club.

“I also want to you to know, Master Max, that we agree with your rules and your leadership. This was not your fault. Ward had us all fooled, and we don’t take that lightly.”

Max nodded.

“I, for one, appreciate the apology.” Emily’s voice was loud and clear as she joined them. Noah moved to her side. Heads turned toward her, and she raised her chin. “I’ve played with a few of you, and you’ve always been kind and courteous. You never violated my hard limits or my consent.”

“I am humbled by your words,” Alexander said before he looked at Max. “Are we allowed back into Wicked Sanctuary?”

“You were never banned. I only cautioned you about the rules.”

A sigh of relief went up from the men. “Ms. Emily, are you okay with us being here?”

A smile lit up Emily’s face. “Yes. I’m sure others will enjoy scening with you. But I’m off the market.” Emily slid her arm through Noah’s.

“About time,” Kaley yelled from behind the bar.

Laughter filled the air. “All right, everyone, let’s enjoy our evening,” Max said.

The crowd dispersed, and Rafe snagged Brianna around the waist. “You stayed at the bar.”

“I was warned to let you men handle it.” Brianna gazed at Kaley before looking at him.

“Good call,” Rafe said to Kaley.

“What were you, Max, Zeke, and Gabriel talking about?” Brianna asked.

“I hope it was about the new fire play area,” Sierra jumped into the conversation.

If Rafe hadn’t been watching Brianna so closely, he wouldn’t have seen the flash of fear in her eyes before she masked it.

“Fire play?” Her voice was soft and had a slight tremble to it. “I thought that was off limits in the club?”

“It was,” Max answered. “Several of the club members have been asking for it after Rafe did a demo of fire play in Seattle.”

“They saw me in Seattle?” Rafe hadn’t known that. He’d done that demo several months ago.

Max nodded. “With so many requests, we’re building a special area just for fire play.”

“You do fire play?” The shock in her voice was surprising. She’d read his questionnaire.

“I do.” He pulled her close as her body trembled. “I know it’s a hard limit for you, and that’s fine. Like Max said, it’s mainly for demo purposes. If anyone wants to learn, I’ll send them to the man I learned from.” He didn’t feel proficient enough to teach even if his mentor told him he could. “Are you okay?” Rafe whispered in Brianna’s ear as the others continued to talk.

“I…” She broke away from him with her hand over her mouth and ran out of the club.

Rafe stood there. There was definitely something about fire that upset Brianna. He took a step, and Sierra stepped in front of him.

“Let me go check on her,” Sierra said.

No. Brianna was his, and he needed to be the one to soothe her, to figure out what had triggered her leaving.

Max put a hand on his shoulder. “Let Sierra try first.”

He nodded and watched Sierra leave the club. Rafe’s gut churned.

* * * *

Brianna was glad the ladies’ room was empty when she raced in like a mad woman. Fire play. It shouldn’t have hit her so hard. She was perfectly aware Rafe was a Dom who did fire play. A shudder racked her body as tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn’t do this. She sat on the bench and buried her face in her hands.

“Brianna, honey.” Sierra’s arm went around her shoulders.

“I’ll be okay,” she whispered, but would she?

“Why does fire play scare you so much?”

Brianna lifted her head to stare at Sierra. “I didn’t say it did.”

Sierra shook her head. “Your actions did. It’s okay if it does, but you need to talk with Rafe about those fears.”

“How can I? It’s his specialty, isn’t it? How can I tell him I’m afraid of something he loves to do?” Brianna wiped at her cheeks.

Sierra stood and grabbed a box of tissues and brought them over.

“You didn’t see his face when you ran. The man was gutted, full of concern. For you.”

Brianna took a couple of tissues. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.” That was the last thing she wanted, but how could she do anything different? There was no way she could be around fire play. Another shiver slid up her spine.

“Of course you didn’t.” Sierra patted her shoulder. “Brianna, he needs to understand.”

“I…” Brianna blew her nose. Sierra was right; she owed it to Rafe to tell him about her fear. She’d been doing so well until tonight. “Give me a few minutes and tell Rafe I’ll be back in the club.”

Sierra nodded, hugged Brianna one more time, and left, glancing back from the door with an encouraging smile. Brianna cleaned up her face and splashed some water on her cheeks. At least she wasn’t wearing mascara, or she’d look like a racoon. It was bad enough her eyes were bloodshot.

Not much she could do about that. Throwing the used tissues away and putting the tissue box back where it belonged, she stood tall as she walked from the bathroom into the club.

Rafe was waiting right inside the door. He took her hand and lifted it to his lips. “I’m sorry.”

Her heart melted. He was apologizing for something he didn’t even do. This man got beneath her defenses at every turn, and she instinctually knew he had her best interests at heart. She owed him an explanation. “Can we talk?”

Rafe nodded and led her to the quiet area. Before she could sit, he sat and pulled her into his lap. “I need to keep you close.”

His voice was soft, but his eyes held concern, and Brianna’s own needs went out the window. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth. “I’m scared, and I ran because of it.”

“Sweetheart.” He rubbed her back in a soothing manner. “I promise, you don’t have to do fire play. I know it’s a hard limit.”

“It’s more than that.” She swallowed. Rafe was being so kind, so gentle. “I’m afraid of fire.”

He blinked at her, and then his eyes widened. “I’m a firefighter.”

“Yes.” Her tummy tumbled over and over. “I understand your job and your need to do that job. I think I can be okay with that, as long as I don’t have to watch you doing your job.”

“But fire play?”

“I don’t think I can watch.” She twisted her fingers together in her lap. “I’m doing a crappy job of explaining this.”

“How about you tell me what scares you about fire?”

“Everything.” She gave a little laugh. “I have an electric stove because I can’t stand the thought of an open flame.”

He nodded.

“You told me the other night about how, after an apartment fire, you wanted to understand more about fire.”

“Yes.”

“Well, I had the opposite reaction.” Her breath hiccupped in her chest. Even now, she could feel the heat from the flames on her skin.

“Will you tell me?” He shifted, keeping her body close to his.

“Is this really the place?” They were in the club, after all.

“No one will bother us, and I want you to feel safe. You feel safe here, right?”

“I feel safe with you.” It was the truth. Rafe made her feel safe and cherished. They hadn’t known each other that long, but she trusted her instincts.

“I’m humbled by your words.”

She took a deep breath and laid against Rafe, tucking her head into the crook of his neck. She needed his grounding touch to tell this story. “When I was twelve, we had relatives visiting. I was in my room, playing with my cousin who’d always been a bit of a bully. He had a box of matches.”

“Something a child should never have.”

“Right. I told him to put them away, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He kept striking them and then blowing them out. I was scared, but I couldn’t leave. Couldn’t go tell my mother. He was between me and my bedroom door.”

“Why didn’t you call out for help?”

“He told me if I did, he’d burn me.” Her body trembled with the memories. “I thought about yelling anyway, and then he dropped a lit match. The carpet caught fire.”

Rafe’s arms tightened around her, and Brianna closed her eyes, shaking as she continued. Now that she’d started, she had to get this out.

“I’m not sure why I did what I did. I was out of my mind. Instead of running out of the room, I screamed, raced for the closet, and hid.”

“Brianna, open your eyes.” Rafe’s voice was low and commanding.

She opened her eyes to stare into the concern and fury in his. “What happened to the cousin?”

“I saw him run out of the room before I closed the door. I kept screaming, but no one heard me. My parents had no idea I was still inside until everyone gathered outside the house.”

“Oh, sweetheart. How terrified you must have been.”

“Beyond terrified. I was lucky, at least I think I was.” She placed her palm against his cheek. “A firefighter rescued me.”

“Is that why my job doesn’t scare you?”

“You’re so brave, going into the flames to get people out and make sure fires don’t spread.” She truly believed that. Brianna wasn’t afraid of his job. Never was.

Rafe grinned. “So the firefighter got you out?”

“Yes. I felt so alone in that closet, but he was so strong and brave.” Her features softened. “He opened the closet door, picked me up, and cradled me in his arms. He kept telling me not to be afraid, but I saw the flames licking at the bedroom door. I could feel the heat, and I was sure we were both going to die.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No. Luckily, my bedroom was on the first floor, and the window was open, but it was too small. He had to break it out and slid me out. I was crying hysterically by then. He was so calm.” After she recovered from the incident, she asked her mother to help her bake cookies for the firefighters.

Her mother had been happy to help her. She’d baked sugar cookies in the shape of fire trucks and firefighters. When they arrived at the fire station, she took a special one she’d done to the firefighter who saved her.

It was one where the firefighter carried a small child in his arms. Brianna hugged the man and thanked him for saving her. He smiled and told her that it was his job.

“That’s how we are.”

“I know.” She placed her palm on his cheek. “No one could figure out how the fire started, and my cousin told me if I said anything, he’d make sure I didn’t survive the next fire.”

Rafe’s arms tightened around her, and there was anger in his features.

“I know. He was a bully. But they did an investigation and found the box of matches in his pocket.”

“What did they do?”

“Not much. He was a juvenile, and his parents swore up and down that he knew better than to play with matches.”

“Doesn’t mean a thing.”

“It didn’t. My parents knew I wouldn’t have had access to matches. But there was no real proof who started the fire.”

“You knew.”

She nodded. “I want you to understand; I was scared to say anything, not for myself, but for my family. What if I said something and he came back. started a revenge fire, and everyone died? I couldn’t tell anyone.”

“That’s a heavy secret for a child.”

“That’s what my therapist told me.” She might as well tell him everything. “I was in therapy for years as a kid and later as an adult.”

“Did it help?”

“Yes and…” She glanced away. “My cousin died when I was nineteen, and I felt guilty that I was relieved.” Rafe placed a soft kiss on her temple. That little touch gave her the courage to go on. “I didn’t know the rest of it until after he died. He’d been causing fires for years, but the last one, he made a mistake and got caught in the flames and died.”

“I’d like to say I’m sorry, but I’m not. He was evil.”

“I have to agree. I think that’s why the guilt hit me. I was glad he was dead, but also wondered, if I’d spoken up before, would he still be alive?”

“Honey, don’t do that to yourself.” Rafe cupped her chin and tilted her head back. “He wasn’t going to change, no matter what. I’ve seen that type of psychological disorder up close.”

“I know.” She tried to smile to show Rafe she was all right but couldn’t quite do it. “So that’s the story of why I can’t be anywhere near fire.”

“I understand. Now, I want you to get something through your head. Fire play is my thing. It doesn’t have to be your thing. It’s not something I need to do with you.”

“But I thought…” His fingers covered her lips.

“I do it because I enjoy watching how fire works and how others enjoy the feeling of fire cupping.”

“Fire cupping? I’ve heard that term somewhere.” She couldn’t remember where.

“Probably if you watched the Olympics. Several athletes use it to help with strained or tired muscles.”

“But wouldn’t it need to be done by a medical professional?”

“It can be. I want to assure you I’ve been fully trained. My mentor has performed fire play for over forty years. I only do fire cupping because that helps people relax the most.”

Brianna relaxed against Rafe. “I’m glad you can help people with it. I just… I still don’t think I can ever be around it.”

“Again, you don’t have to do fire play for us to be together. However, if you want to understand better, I can show you some videos. That way, you won’t be so scared. This is something I enjoy, not something we have to do together.”

“I think I understand.” She did. Sierra had been right to nudge her to talk about her phobia. Rafe understood and didn’t put her down. While her parents had gotten her therapy, they’d never understood her fear nor had any of her boyfriends.

“Good. Are you okay to scene tonight?”

“Oh my goodness, I totally forgot. Did we miss our scene time?” She knew Max kept a solid schedule.

“I had Max move us when you ran out.”

Brianna kissed Rafe. “You are a wonderful man, you know that?”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I do. And yes, I want to scene with you tonight. I want to forget and let my emotions go.”

“That I can do.” He took her mouth in a hard passionate kiss. “For now, let’s just sit here and make out like teenagers.”

And they did.