Flames of Love Read online

  She laughed. “Okay, okay. Come up here and let’s see how good of a bartender you are.”

  He narrowed his eyes, and with the sexiest growl she’d ever heard, he said, “I’m an overachiever,” and slid his hand between her legs again.

  Less than three minutes later, she was in the midst of another climax. “Cash. Cash. Cash!”

  He was relentless in his pursuit of her pleasure, teasing her at the peak and drawing it out for so long she could barely remember her name when his mouth finally found hers again. She tugged at his jeans, pulling back from the kiss with urgency.

  “Off. Please. Off,” she said between heavy breaths.

  He was quick to comply, and was beside her again, naked, his hard length against her thigh. She reached for him, and he rolled over to the side. He grabbed a condom from the nightstand, ripped it open with his teeth, and rolled it on quickly.

  “Hurry,” she pleaded.

  He used his knees to draw her legs apart and settled himself above her. She clutched at his hips, pulling him forward, breathing so hard she thought her heart might explode. His eyes were nearly black as he looked down at her, every muscle taut. His chest heaved forward with each breath. She felt the tip of his desire against her center, and she pressed his hips, urging him forward. In the next breath, he slid inside. Deep. Hard. They both drew in a deep breath as they came together. He moved slowly at first, every thrust bringing them closer together, their eyes locked, their bodies as one.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  She melted into the kiss, as he lavished her mouth with soft strokes, moving in time to his hips, and she arched up, meeting his efforts with her own. Her body tingled with the tease of another orgasm as he quickened his pace, and she couldn’t help but wrap her legs around his waist, allowing him to drive in deeper, thrust harder, fill her completely.

  “Oh God. Cash.” She clenched her teeth against the mounting pleasure.

  “Tell me what you like,” he said.

  “You.”

  One simple, honest word, and she was rewarded by his moving at the perfect rhythm to bring her up and over the edge again to the most powerful, mind-blowing climax she’d ever experienced. She cried out again and again, and he followed her over the edge in his own intense release, holding her tightly and groaning her name against her ear—the most glorious sound she’d ever heard—and she couldn’t wait to hear it again.

  Chapter Twelve

  CASH COULDN’T REMEMBER a time that he didn’t think of his apartment as that dink-ass place he lived. Sure, he was proud of the work he and Tommy had done, but he spent most of his free time at the firehouse. When he thought of a home, he thought of his close-knit family and the home they’d shared when he and his siblings were growing up. When he’d moved to New York, he’d hoped to one day have the same feeling in his own home. But it hadn’t felt like a home for a very long time. Now, lying in bed with Siena’s scent surrounding him, her head on his chest and her lean, silky leg draped over his—as crazy as it was—it felt like someplace he’d like to spend more time. With Siena.

  “Stay over.” He kissed the top of her hair, inhaling her coconut scent again.

  “Mmm.” It wasn’t an answer, but it sure felt good as she touched his stomach lightly with her fingers.

  “I want to wake up next to you.”

  “So…we’re going to sleep? Hm.” She turned her head and smiled up at him; then she shimmied up his body so they were eye to eye. “What will you think of me in the light of day? We’ve gone on one date and I ended up in your bed, letting you do all sorts of dirty things to me.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ve seen you naked.”

  “Well, there is that. I’ve ruined you for all men, haven’t I? How can you ever go back to typical when you’ve had…Cash Ryder?”

  “True.” She wrinkled her brow. “If you look at it that way, then I’ve ruined you for womankind as well.”

  He laughed; then he rolled her over onto her back, pinned her to the bed, and kissed her softly, contrasting his forceful hold. He was as attracted to her sense of humor as he was her sensuality.

  “You might just be able to convince me.” She drew him into another kiss. “Can I borrow a T-shirt to sleep in?”

  “Sure, but you might not wake up in it.”

  She sighed. “Promises, promises.”

  BY THE TIME the sun rose Friday morning, Cash had been awake for an hour. Siena was draped over his body like a blanket, stealing his warmth, he guessed. Her arm rested on his stomach, her left leg was over his thigh, and her cheek was pressed against his chest. He listened to her soft, even breaths and couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy. He’d like nothing more than to lie with Siena all day, and as he thought about the day ahead, his mind drifted to his conversation with Chief Weber.

  He wondered if meeting with Regan might do some good. As far as an instructor went, Regan was a prick. There were no two ways about it. But as a colleague, a man Cash held in high regard, Regan was right up there near the top. If anyone could get his head back in the game, it was Regan, which was as much of a relief as it was a worry. What if he was too damn scarred to ever find his way back?

  “Morning,” Siena said groggily, smiling up at him. Her eyes were at half-mast, but the contented, trusting look in them was far from the fiery stares he’d received the first time they’d met—and on too many occasions to count since. “Are you going to dress in those sexy turnout pants and fight fires today?”

  If they were going to try to make a go of this thing, she deserved to know that he was going through a rough time. A rough time. Way to minimize it, asshole. Before he could answer, she leaned up on one elbow, her tousled hair tumbling over her shoulders and bare breasts.

  “I bet women fake emergencies all the time just to see you show up in your sexy uniform, with your big axes and rippling muscles and—”

  Shit. How could he tell her that he’d turned into the guy who pissed off the other fighters? “No, they don’t.” His voice was gruff, though when he tucked her hair behind her ear, he was tender, careful. He grabbed the T-shirt she’d had on for all of ten minutes the night before and handed it to her.

  She pulled it over her head and he helped her pull it down to her waist. The sleeves hung down to her elbows, the 2XL shirt billowing around her. She looked too damn cute for words.

  “I don’t go in until later. I thought we could spend some time together—unless you have other commitments.”

  OTHER COMMITMENTS. Shit, shit, shit. Friday night. Her date with Gunner. Ugh. She sat up and ran her fingers along the ends of her hair, training her eyes on them to avoid looking at Cash. The idea of going out with Gunner made her sick to her stomach now that she and Cash had been together.

  “I need to go home and change,” she said softly. I should tell you. You’d understand. Wouldn’t you? Of course he’d understand. She ran her eyes up the muscular planes of his abs to his wonderfully broad chest: tight, hard, and corded with muscles beneath deliciously taut skin. He was larger than most men she’d dated. Actors tended to be smaller, leaner. She thought about their interactions. He was definitely more dominating, more masculine. Male, he was all male. He’d never understand. How could he? Pride alone would keep him from understanding.

  “Why don’t we shower here? Then we’ll go to your place so you can change and we’ll hang out for a while. I need to do a few things for Vetta, but other than that, I don’t need to be back at the station until around five.”

  Siena’s stomach clenched. He’d find out about Gunner; he’d see the photographs. That was the whole point of the date, wasn’t it? She contemplated telling him the truth. It’s a date I have to go on. My agent set it up. It’s good for my career. She sounded like one of those guys who had an excuse for everything. They’d gone on only one real date. What if he wasn’t all she thought he was? What if the romance, the tender side of him, the fun possessiveness wasn’t real? That would make me a very bad judge of character. She th
ought of the last few guys she’d dated. Yeah, okay. Point taken. Maybe I’m not a great judge of character. She fiddled with her hair again, wanting to spend the day with him more than she’d wanted to do anything else for as long as she could remember.

  “That sounds perfect.” He continued to surprise her with how sweetly he spoke to her and the gentleness of his touch.

  When they stepped into the shower together, his massive body took up almost the whole thing. She crossed her arms over her chest to ward off the cold air.

  “I can wait until you’re done,” she said as she stepped from the shower. She felt his large hand on her shoulder.

  “Oh no, you’re not.”

  His commanding voice sent a thrill right through her. She turned back to him. Good Lord, he was too sexy to deny. Water dripped down his thick shoulders and perfectly sculpted body. She couldn’t help but follow the stream south to his—

  He pulled her back into the shower, against his chest. “Hey. My eyes are up here.”

  “Maybe so, but something else is trying to burrow a hole into my hips.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers and ran a slow slick of his tongue over her lower lip before taking her in a greedy, hard kiss. His rough hands grabbed her ass and pulled her against him again. His urgency drove her desire, and she grabbed his ass right back. He drew back and looked hungrily into her eyes. His eyes darkened, narrowed. His chest heaved against hers. He lifted her up and pressed her back against the cold tiles.

  “Fuck.” He drew his brows together, pressing his hips against her to keep her up.

  “That’s a little harsh, but okay.” She laughed.

  “Jesus, Siena. I don’t have a condom.” He looked down at his erection, standing sentinel between them. “I thought I could make it through the shower without…Good Christ.”

  “I’m on the pill,” she said halfheartedly.

  He searched her eyes. “That’s not the only reason to use a condom.”

  “No shit, Sherlock.” She narrowed her eyes. “What kind of girl do you think I am?”

  He set her back down. “That’s not what I was implying.”

  “No?” She turned her back to him, anger mixing with the fire he’d sent soaring through her. How did we end up here?

  He spun her around and held her arms, breathing hard, searching her eyes. “You have no idea who I’ve been with.”

  “Is that a brag? Because it’s not very attractive.” Jesus. Tears pressed at her eyes. She ripped her arms from his grasp.

  “I can’t even talk when I’m around you. You fuck with my head too much.” Anger rolled off of him like flames. “That’s not what I meant at all. I meant how can you trust that I don’t have an STD? You’re too trusting.”

  “I am not.” Now her damn lower lip was trembling. Ugh! Her whole body was shaking.

  He dragged his eyes down her body, and his gaze softened. He gently wrapped her in his arms and pressed her to his chest, his hands running up and down her back.

  “You’re cold.”

  “Am not. I’m fine, and I’m getting out anyway.” Damn it, why did he have to feel so good? She tried to turn away, to walk out of the shower, but his grip was too tight.

  He looked down at her with a grave stare. “Siena, I wasn’t bragging. I was just saying that we need to talk about those things if we’re going to date.”

  She fisted her hands and pressed them to his chest. “I know we do.” Anger pressed her lips into a tight line, then pushed her words out with way too much force. “I’ve never had anything.”

  “Neither have I,” he snapped. “We have to make a decision. If we’re exclusive, no condom is okay, but if we’re not, neither of us can afford that risk.” The anger left his voice as he moved a wet strand of hair from her forehead. “That’s all I wanted to get out in the open. Being prepared is everything in life. One wrong move and…”

  He kissed her forehead, and she saw a shadow of sadness in his eyes. Just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.

  She tried to wrench out of his arms again, and this time he let her. She wished he hadn’t. He was right. She knew he was, but her body was still riled, and aroused, and the goddamn tears that had pressed at her eyes were now streaming down her cheeks. Exclusive. That’s exactly what she wanted, but then how should she deal with the date with Gunner? Was it fair to be exclusive if she’d already accepted the date? The thoughts pulled more tears from her eyes.

  Water sprayed her back, and tiny splashes landed on his shoulders and chest. She could walk right out of the shower, get dressed, and walk away. Just go home and forget the date ever happened. But that’s not what she wanted. She wanted to be close to him. She leaned her side against him, unwilling to give up all her defenses, but wanting to desperately.

  “I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head. “All I wanted to do was the right thing.”

  She looked into his brown eyes, and she didn’t even have to think as she reached up and touched his cheek. “I love that about you. But I also hate it.”

  “Then our relationship will never get boring.” He lowered his lips to hers, and it took only a few strokes of their tongues before they were clawing at each other again. “Exclusive or not? We should decide.”

  “Exclusive from my end.” Except the date. Oh God. The damn date with Gunner. She wasn’t going to sleep with him, so it didn’t count. That was wrong on so many levels, she nearly kicked herself for thinking it. I have to tell him. I can’t keep it from him. Another pang of guilt struck her. She’d promised Jewel she wouldn’t tell anyone.

  “Mine too.”

  He lifted her in his arms again, and with the cold tiles at her back and the shower beating on their adrenaline-filled bodies, she wrapped her legs around his waist and took in every blessed inch of him.

  “Good Lord,” she whispered as she clutched his wet hair in her fists. Sex had never felt so good. He loved her so adeptly, his hands gripping her ribs, pressing her against the tiles as if she weighed nothing at all. Each thrust was expertly timed as his lips found the curve of her neck and his tongue caressed her sensitive skin until her eyes fluttered closed, her entire body in the clutch of a brain-numbing climax. He was right there with her, her name spoken through clenched teeth as he followed her over the edge.

  Chapter Thirteen

  CASH HADN’T TAKEN the time to really look at Siena’s loft when he’d picked her up the evening before, and when they walked in, he did a quick visual sweep of the open space. Sunlight burst through the enormous windows that lined the exposed brick walls and glared off of the light oak floors. The expansive space was sparse, save for a large wooden dining room table off to the right and a sofa, two leather chairs, a coffee table, and end tables at the far side of the room. At the far right of the room was the kitchen, separated only by a bar with four leather-topped stools, and beside that was the bedroom, which he could see through the open door. His entire apartment could probably fit in that bedroom. The boxes he’d left at her door were still sitting atop the coffee table.

  Siena hung up their coats by the door and began picking up the empty boxes. “Gosh, I forgot I left these out. Last night seems like it was ages ago, doesn’t it? Or is it just me?”

  He took the boxes from her hands. “Everything feels like it was ages ago with you. I feel like we’ve known each other for years, but that’s probably because we bicker like we have.”

  She turned to him and gripped his cotton shirt in her fingers. “We don’t bicker.”

  “What do you call it?”

  She wrinkled her brow. “Banter?”

  “Ha. Yeah, we can go with that. You’ll tire of it soon enough.” He carried the boxes to the door, trying to pretend that those words didn’t just send a spear of longing through him. “Want me to run these down to the dumpster real quick?”

  “I won’t get sick of it, but you might. My brothers tell me I’m a stubborn pain sometimes.” She spun around and fluttered her lashes. “But I think I’m just spunky.�
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  “Oh, you’re spunky, all right.” He raised his brows and laughed a little.

  She tossed him her keys. “Here. If you take those down, I’ll change really quickly. Then we can go do something before the whole day gets away from us.”

  Cash carried the boxes down the stairs and realized he liked doing that type of little chore for her. Weird. On the way downstairs, he thought of telling Siena about what was going on with him and his work. He needed advice he could count on, and he knew just where to get it. After placing the boxes in the dumpster, he pulled out his cell phone and called his eldest brother, Duke.

  “What’s up, little brother?” Duke’s voice was deep, upbeat.

  “Not much. I need to ask your advice on something.” Cash and Duke had always been close. Duke had been the one to steer him toward his degree and toward his profession. He’d told Cash that no matter what job he did, he’d get sick of it at some point, so he might as well do what he loved for as long as he could while he enjoyed it. After that? When it was no longer fun or interesting? Then, he’d said, it was time to move on. Cash wasn’t ready to move on, but he sure as hell wasn’t having any fun, either.

  “Yeah? Go ahead. I’ve got about fifteen minutes before I need to hightail it outta here for a meeting.”

  Cash took a deep breath. Admitting what was going on to Duke wasn’t easy, but it’d be a hell of a lot easier than admitting it to a woman who saw him as they all did—an in-control, virile firefighter who put his life on the line every day. When he was in the belly of the beast recently, he wasn’t in control.

  “Here’s the deal. You know that fire a few weeks ago when I told you it was my worst one ever?”

  “Yeah, ’course.” Duke’s voice filled with a sympathetic tone.

  “Then you remember that a guy died because I couldn’t get to him. An old man. He was ninety-two.” Cash’s body went hot. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.