Burning Love (5 page)

She lifted his shirt over his head, then scratched her nails down his back when he nibbled the sensitive area where her neck met her shoulder. Michaela dipped her hands inside the waistband of his shorts and Jude groaned as she palmed his ass cheeks. Breathing hard, Jude moved down to lick a path around her navel, forcing Michaela to reluctantly release that tight ass.

Jude rested his chin on the bare skin right above her capris. “Doing okay?”

“Yes.” She shifted underneath him. If he left her high and dry now, her trusty purple vibrator would get a workout, that was for damn sure.

“I want to make you come.” He pressed a quick kiss right over her navel before saying, “But I don’t want you to think I’m only here for sex. If we’re moving too quickly, tell me.”

“We’re not.” She smiled. “Okay, we are, but I happily take part of the blame for that. In fact, I don’t see why you’re the only one having fun.”

A wicked grin spread over Jude’s face. “What do you propose we do about that?”

She glanced at the clock. “We have a few hours. Why don’t we take this into the bedroom?”

“I love the way you think.” Jude rose and offered Michaela a hand. “I hope you realize I’ll be expecting you to wear less clothing.”

“Ditto, big boy.”

“How do you know how big I am?” Jude threw that comment over his shoulder as he pulled her down the hallway, moving surprisingly quickly, considering his injury. “This one?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. C ’mere.” He lay back on the bed. “I hope you don’t mind if you’re on top? My knee will get pretty sore if I’m trying to use it for leverage.”

“No problem.”

Jude waggled his eyebrows. “Or we could do side by side.”

“How creative of you.”

“When I want something, I can be very resourceful.” He tugged at her T-shirt. “As much as I like this, I’d like it even better on the floor.”

“You are a bad boy, aren’t you?” She shook her finger at him and his answering grin had not an ounce of repentance.

“You like bad boys. I can tell.” After sitting up, he grabbed her shirt and lifted it over her head. “Hmm, this needs to go too.” He fingered the strap of her bra. “Most definitely needs to go.”

“Then take it off.”

“My pleasure.” The bra quickly joined the T-shirt on her floor, and he snaked his arms around her, attacking her breast and sucking the nipple into his mouth. Michaela gasped, amazed at how much pleasure that simple act brought her. Releasing her, he looked up. “I want to taste you.”

She lay down, and he worked her capris and panties off. “You, too. It’s only fair.”

“Twist my arm.” He shucked his shorts and boxers and his already hard cock leaped toward his stomach. Jude parted her legs with a gentle hand and ran two fingers through her wetness. “So fucking hot.”

“I’m glad you think so.” He moved toward the end of the bed, but Michaela stayed him. “Uh-uh. You promised I could play, too.”

“How could I forget?” They maneuvered until each was situated where the other wanted. Jude’s head pushed between her thighs, and he took a long lick. “Mmmm.”

Michaela took hold of his cock in one hand and his balls in the other and he hissed. She grinned, loving how easily she could get to him, and took just the wide, flushed head of his dick into her mouth. Jude shuddered.

Her legs began to shake as Jude took her higher and higher. She gave as good as she got, and soon his balls drew up tight to his body. Jude was rocking into her mouth, and she concentrated on keeping pace with him to forestall gagging. Her own orgasm held off as she tried to get Jude to lose control, but when he took her clit into his mouth and sucked, she lost the battle, arching into his talented mouth.

The release rushed over her like a tidal wave, and her eyes slammed closed as her body overloaded on sensation. Vaguely, she realized she’d clamped her thighs around Jude’s head, but couldn’t seem to find the coordination to let him go. It didn’t seem to bother him, though, as he worked her, prolonging her release until she was sure she’d lose consciousness.

As soon as she was able to get her wits about her, Michaela put all her remaining energy into returning the favor, licking and sucking up and down the length of his shaft. He shifted restlessly, his legs locking as she drew him closer and closer to orgasm. With a loud, guttural cry, Jude spilled into her mouth and she swallowed, which must’ve given him an aftershock, since he swore around obviously clenched teeth.

A moment later, he rolled onto his back. “I’m supposed to go to work after that? Babe, what have you done to me?”

Michaela found herself quite pleased to hear Jude call her “babe.” Far too many months had elapsed since she’d last been called by an endearment. “It was your idea.”

“And I don’t regret it, not for a second, but man, I do
not
want to go into the station and inventory medical supplies all night. No way can I stay awake for that.” He lifted his head. “What’re you gonna do?”

“Look up recipes to use all those veggies. Plan specials for the weekend.”

“Do you ever not work? I can imagine how hard it is to own a business, and Gina told me about the failure rate of restaurants, but you should really do something else every once in a while. Recharge your batteries.”

A grin bloomed on her face until her cheeks hurt. “I am. Right now. I don’t recall a single thought being related to work.”

Jude snorted. “Well, that’s good. I’d hate to think while I was going all-out to drive you crazy, you were thinking about cleaning your oven.”

“Sadly, it’s been known to happen.”

“Not on my watch. Get up here.” She turned around and pulled the top sheet over both of them. Jude plunged his hands into her hair, and Michaela reveled in the delicious pull as he joined them at the lips, immediately pushing his tongue inside her mouth. “Ugh. I wish I could stay longer, but I should get out of here so I can take a nap and have a snack before work. Someone wore me out.”

“Sorry about that.”

He kissed her nose. “No, you’re not, and I look forward to being decimated again, but if I fall asleep on the job, the guys will give me shit for months.”

“I understand.”

“I feel like an asshole, fucking and running, as it were.”

She squeezed his upper arms. “Jude, seriously, it’s fine. Now, give me one more kiss and go.”

“I can do that.” Several moments later, he finally let her up for air. “Acceptable?”

“Get outta here before I decide to do unspeakable things to your body again.”

Jude laughed and climbed out of bed, seemingly unconcerned with his own nakedness. He pivoted slowly and grinned. “Wouldn’t want that.”

“Call me, okay?” Michaela hated how needy she sounded, but now that they had messed around, she needed him to reassure her he wanted to be with her—really be with her. Over the past couple of years, most guys had either looked at her as a friend or a fuck buddy. She wanted more than that with Jude.

His face softened and he leaned down to stare into her eyes. Michaela bit her lip at the intensity in his gaze. “I
will
call you. I want to see you again, but next time, I’m taking you out. Buy another dress.” Jude winked, then sat on the bed before grabbing his shorts and boxers and pulling them on. “My shirt is out in the living room.”

“I need to get up anyway.” Michaela nonetheless drew the blanket tighter around her.

“You work so hard. Why don’t you take a little nap? Surely those things you have to do could wait an hour.”

“You’re a bad influence on me.”

Jude gave her a wicked grin. “Let’s hope so. See you, sweetie.”

“’Bye.” A few moments later, her front door opened and closed and Michaela’s eyes grew heavy, though she normally couldn’t sleep during the day. Despite that, she was out scant moments later and slept almost two hours.

“Are you fucking kidding me? Isn’t this what I have disability insurance for?” Jude slammed the letter down on his kitchen counter. Apparently, his insurance company was unable to pay him disability because they considered the case worker’s compensation, which was administered by the state government, not by the company. Since his employer paid for both, at least partially, it mystified Jude why it mattered who paid him.

Since he’d obviously been at work when a flaming beam had fallen on him, he was entitled to compensation while he was recovering. This seemed elementary. Jude had been getting along all right for the past weeks while he waited for the bozos to make up their minds, but being told he wasn’t going to be paid at least something while he was out? Total bullshit. The stuff he helped out with around the station just to keep his head in the game and so the chief wouldn’t forget about him wasn’t a paid position.

And, of course, the good folks at the Worker’s Compensation Board told him he should be receiving disability payments when he’d called them a few moments ago. Clearly they were used to dealing with irate people, and it wouldn’t do any good to scream at them, but man, it was tempting. Jude wasn’t sure if he should go to the chief with this problem or not. When he’d been hired, the chief had handled his paperwork, but some central administration for all the city’s firehouses existed somewhere.

He felt a headache brewing. Stumbling over to the fridge, he pulled out a beer, then came back to the table, collapsing into the nearest chair. What was he going to do? Jude spied today’s newspaper on the table.

Jude reached for it and listlessly shuffled through a couple of sections. He’d about given up trying to distract himself when he spied a picture of Sweetness Seventeen on the front page of the Lifestyles section. His heart in his throat, he discovered a review in a section called Cheap Eats. His eyes first swept the box that accompanied the article, and a smile spread across his face as he saw the reviewer had given Sweetness Seventeen a four-star rating. It appeared to be the highest rating available, and his heart swelled with pride.

He glanced at the clock. One-thirty. The restaurant would probably still be in the throes of the lunch rush, and he shouldn’t disturb them, but he wondered if they’d even seen or heard about it. The paper had been there the other day; it was possible they received it on subscription.

Screw it. I’m calling her. Even if she only has a few seconds to talk, at least I can say congratulations
.

He snatched up his cell phone from the table, briefly glaring at it as he remembered the earlier conversation with his insurance company, but he pushed those thoughts aside.

Jude called 411 and got the number of the restaurant. The phone rang a couple of times before being picked up. “Sweetness Seventeen.”

“Um, hi. Is there any way I could speak with Michaela, just for a minute? It’s Jude.”

“Sure. Let me go see if she can leave the kitchen.” There was a noise like a phone being set down, and he waited.

A few moments later, Michaela’s breathless voice came on the line. “Jude? Are you okay? Did something happen?”

He silently cursed. Was his condition so delicate people immediately leaped to the conclusion he’d hurt himself again?

“I’m fine. Have you seen the paper?”

“The paper? No. Why?”

Jude grinned. “Do you have it there?”

“I think so. What’s this all about?”

“I want you to see it for yourself.”

He could almost see her eyes roll. She’d be changing her tune once she figured out why he wanted her to look at it. “What section?”

“Lifestyles. Front page.”

Michaela shrieked. “Oh my God, no way!”

“Yes way.”

“I didn’t even know they’d come in.”

Jude laughed. “Aren’t those guys usually incognito?”

“Yeah, probably. Oh my God, this is awesome.”

“I wasn’t sure if you’d seen it yet and I wanted to make sure you did.”

“I can’t believe no one’s said anything. Hang on.” She must’ve pulled the phone away from her ear, because her words sounded muffled and distant. “Did any of you guys see this four-star review from Cheap Eats?” Jude heard a scramble and the paper rustling. “Don’t rip it,” she admonished, her tone clearly bemused, then she came back on the line properly. “Jude, oh man, come down here. I want to kiss you.”

Not quite the reaction he’d been expecting, but he’d take it. “I’m on at four, but I’ll stop by for a bit on the way to the station.”

“Great! I’ll feed you pie.”

“You’re gonna make me three hundred pounds, woman.”

Michaela let out another small squeal. “I’m so freaking excited. I need to go read the whole article. Maybe we can figure out what day they came in. Oh man, this might be the start of something big.”

“Good luck. See you in a bit.”

Jude hung up and sat back in his chair, his mood brightening somewhat. Now if he could get those bureaucrats to take their heads out of their asses and pay him, life would be peachy. Well, approaching peachy. Good enough for him.

He dropped by Sweetness Seventeen for a bit on his way to work, and Michaela brought him into her office, slammed the door, and practically dove for his mouth. Good thing he was near a wall or they both might’ve gone down.

“Oh geez, Jude, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think. I’m too heavy and I shouldn’t—”

“Hon, it has nothing to do with your weight and everything to do with my shit knee.”

Michaela bit her lip. “Are you sure?”

“Totally sure. Now bring those luscious lips back so I can go into the station house with a smile on my face.”

She approached him again and he leaned back, taking the weight off his bad leg. Jude slid his hand into her hair, dislodging a good portion of it from the bun she was sporting. He couldn’t bring himself to care about mussing her up, though, as little mewling sounds began to fall into his mouth as they kissed.

A couple of minutes later they came up for air. “How soon do you need to be at the station?”

He glanced at the wall clock mounted to his right. “About forty-five minutes.”

“Good.” Reaching back, she threw the lock.

“What’re you doing?” She dropped to her knees and he had his answer. “Oh fuck, really?”

“Don’t sound so incredulous. This has been a fantasy of mine for years and it seems like the perfect time to act on it.” Michaela looked up at him with heavily lidded eyes. “But if you don’t want me to—”