Caught in the Flames (18 page)

I nod for him to continue and he glances down at his foot. It’s then I see he’s got it wrapped in a bandage.

“What happened? Was there an accident?”

“I dropped a helium tank on my baby toe. Might’ve broken it.”

“Tank? Was that part of the obstacle course? Why do you even have a helium tank at the station?” I’m still confused.

“For community events. Kids love balloons, but no . . .” He looks away and mutters the rest. “We were making bets on how far we could make it through the course after sucking helium and singing the national anthem. I was up to ten obstacles before the accident.”

“What happened?” I run my fingers down his arm. I need to touch him, feel him, after thinking I’d almost lost him.

“I was going for the world record when I almost passed out. Inhaled too much and dropped the fucking thing on my own foot. Baby toe took it the worst, but the guys were all sure I broke an ankle. I’m lucky.” He grins.

That’s when reality hits me. Maybe in the same way a grown ass adult drops a tank of helium on their toe.

“Wait.” I pull back and study his face and body once more. “You injured yourself. Playing with your friends?” I take a calming breath. All the anxiety, worry, and adrenaline from assuming the worst transform to anger. He was never really hurt. And he wasn’t busy all day. He was playing games. On the job. Ignoring me. “Really, Chase?” I stand from the bed and don’t try to fight the scowl that pulls at my brow. My lips press into a hard line. He has the humility to look sheepish.

“I’m sorry, Callie. It was stupid, I know. That’s why I didn’t want to call you. Wait, who called you?” His brow narrows.

“Who called me?” My eyes widen and my voice rises. “I drove here in a panic worried that something horrible happened to
my boyfriend
after one of your friends called to say you were injured, and you’re worried about
who called me
?”

“I’m sorry, that was stupid to say. You know what I mean, though. I’m sorry, Callie. Come here. Sit with me, please.”

I sit but cross my arms over my chest and meet his puppy dog stare with a hard one of my own. He reaches out to rub his fingers up and down my arm. As mad as I am, his touch sends a lightning bolt of awareness over my skin. My entire body remembers exactly how those fingers feel on every inch of my skin and begs for more but my mind is wary.

“Thank you. For coming here to check on me. I’m sorry someone led you to believe I was hurt more than I am. I’m sorry you worried like that, love.” His eyes implore, ask for forgiveness, but I’m still hurt. If I’m honest it’s more to do with yesterday.

“Why did you leave last night?” I blurt.

He blows out a frustrated breath and runs his hands over his face. “I told you I had a friend who needed me.”

“What friend? What did you do?”

“Just a friend. Look, it’s complicated. I don’t even have a car for the time being. I’m sorry for leaving last night. I shouldn’t have left that way. I should’ve come back and I wish I had. My brother was having phone sex with some chick and I had a fucking horrible night trying to block out the sounds so I could get some sleep. Our apartment walls are way too thin.” He cringes.

“Where’s your car?”

“I lent it to a friend.”

“Your baby? You expect me to believe that?”

“Callie, what’s this about? You don’t trust me?”

I want to trust him. I thought I did, but now my mind’s had too much time to wonder and speculate. I don’t know what to believe. “I want to but how can I when you kept things from me?”

“This is about my brother? And not telling you about the apartment?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“It’s just—it’s really complicated—”

“You’ve said that, Chase.” I drop my chin and shake my head slowly. “I need more of an explanation than that. You can’t just say it’s complicated and brush over things. I really like you, Chase. I want you to let me in.”

“I like you too, Callie. I’ve just—” He reaches over to hold my hand. Interlocking our fingers, he uses his thumb to brush across my skin. My body heats. I wait for him to give me more. I need more.

“You’ve . . . ?” I encourage him to continue. “Can’t say complicated,” I tease and earn a grin from Chase. His chocolatey hues swirl with emotion and I hold my breath.

“I’ve never let anyone in. But I want to. With you, Callie. You make me want to be a better person. I . . .” He stops himself and I wait as the seconds tick by.

“You?”

“I really care about you.” It’s not love, but it’s something. His lips lift into a weak smile and I return it, squeeze his hand and scoot closer on the bed. As hard as this conversation’s been for him, I can tell he’s not one to use the endearment often, if ever.

“So, tell me why they call you Hugh.” An audible whoosh of air leaves Chase’s lips at my words.

“Damn, woman! You don’t hold back with the punches.” He pauses to lick his lips. “They call me Hugh because of my reputation for being a bit of a playboy.”

I nod. My hurt must be evident upon my features.

“But hey, that’s not who I am anymore. I’m done with that. I want you, Callie.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do! I’d be a fool not to. Every one of my friends wishes he was getting with you. No shit, I’m not lying about that. Though you’d better not ditch me for one of them now that I said that!”

I grin at his teasing.

“No way!” I push at his shoulder. “They’re assholes anyway.”

“They are.” He laughs and reaches out to cup my face in his palm. I lean into his touch and his fingers weave into my wild hair, which I realize must look insane at the moment after flying over here with the windows open. He tugs me to him and our mouths meet for a soft and tender brush of the lips. “You’re the best, Callie,” he whispers before opening his mouth to minePancake Bitch. Sucking, tasting, consuming—he doesn’t hold back with his assault on my lips. I’m completely lost in his kiss.

“Ah-hem.” A voice clears and we separate. The doctor on duty introduces himself to me, then pulls films from the envelope he’s carrying and slaps them on the wall. He illuminates them with the touch of a button. “Well, Chase. It’s not a break. Maybe a hairline fracture in the small toe, but there’s not much we can do about that. Stay off it for a few days, elevate, ice, and take ibuprofen as needed. It’ll heal on its own.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

“You bet.” The doctor nods politely and stuffs the films back into the envelope. “Need any painkillers?”

“Not unless you want me to sell them on the black market.”

The doctor slaps Chase’s leg with the set of films. “Get out of here, Captain. And stop taking up my hospital beds! Let’s save those for real emergencies.”

The doctor leaves, pulls the curtain closed, and Chase pins me with his gaze. “Callie, can I ask you something?”

“You can ask me anything.”

“Can I stay with you for a few days? I don’t have a car and until I’m back on my feet, or toes, I should say, I’d really love the company. As much as I love living with three assholes, I’d rather wake up to your face every morning.” My heart flutters, my head nods, and I blink back tears of emotion.

“Of course you can stay with me.”

“Just for a few days,” Chase quickly explains, his expression guarded and serious. “Until I get my car back.”

“Let’s get out of here, Captain.” I wink. “I can’t wait to get you home and in my bed.”

“Hell, yeah.” He pushes off the bed and we shuffle out of the hospital side by side with him holding my hand. This day has been a tornado of emotions and thoughts, but my heart settles on hope as we walk to my Jeep. Chase is going to try—for me, and that alone fills my face with a smile. Well, that and the fact he’s all mine for the next few days. His toe might be bruised, but that won’t hold us back from enjoying every second alone. My body warms with the anticipation of playing with my favorite fire hose.

I love best friends.

Jill and Alicia are my soul sisters from another mother, but it’s really annoying how they won’t stop blowing up my phone this late Thursday afternoon. I’m still catching my breath from the hour long fuck-a-thon with my boyfriend—literally, there’s no other way to put it. We’ve been at it all week since Chase doesn’t go back to work until tomorrow from his “medical leave.” I only leave in the mornings to meet with Jim and the team, then spend the rest of my work day at home. With breaks. Sex breaks. And coffee. Really, I’m living the good life.

Chase is a beast in the sack. His stamina is unreal. I can’t even brag about it because no one would believe me. Not even Jill and Alicia, but they have this uncanny ability to know exactly when we’re getting it on and choose that time to text nonstop. Like right now. I reach for my phone and scroll through the group messages.

Alicia: Come out with us tonight!

Jill: She won’t. She’s too busy being happy.

Alicia: I’d be happy sucking that dick too.

Jill: Sucking? I’d prefer the fucking.

I giggle and Chase sneaks a hand over my belly to spoon me into his strong body. His scruff grazes my shoulder and his throaty chuckle sends goosebumps across my flesh.

“Your friends are just the right amount of slutty.”

“Because slutty comes in degrees?” I tease.

“Uh, yeah.” He sucks the skin at the base of my neck and trails kisses to my ear. My eyes flutter shut and my sex pulses with need all over again. “But you’re only a slut for me, aren’t you, Callie?”

I nod and moan. His fingers find their way into the silky flesh between my legs.

“That’s right. Wet for me,” he says in my ear.

My phone chooses that moment to go off like a five alarm fire. He chuckles and pulls his hand from between my legs. “Gotta piss.” A little slap to my ass and the bed dips as he sits up and walks to the bathroom.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Oh, my God! Flustered and more than annoyed, I retrieve my phone from where I dropped it on the bed covers. I swipe and enter the code, the screen opening to our bestie group chat.

Jill: You! Shook me all night long!

Alicia: I’m gonna sex you up.

Jill: You got the peaches, I got the cream

Alicia: Let’s talk about sex, baby.

Jill: I’ll take you to the candy shop.

Alicia: Smack that!

Me: STOP! Please stop. You two are becoming the worst cockblockers!

Jill: So come out with us. Puleeeezeee.

Alicia: Bring the cock and his cock friends.

Jill: Ugh. No extra cocks.

Alicia: Whatever. We just want you, Callie!

Jill: One night. He can spare you for one night.

Guilt trickles in and replaces the need to stay home. They’re right. I haven’t been mentally present to my friends or as responsive with text messages since Chase has been sleeping over. And it’s not like me to do that. My girls have always been there for me. It’s not fair to put them on a back burner just because I’m in love with Chase.

Me: FINE! I’ll come out. Where?

Jill: Hell yeah! We wore her down!

Alicia: Heading to The Chronicle in thirty. Meet there?

Me: Okay. I’ll be late.

Jill: You better not bail.

Me: I won’t.

Alicia: Bitches out.

Chase comes out of the bathroom and pulls on a pair of underwear, bending at the waist and offering a glorious view of his trim waist and strong tatted arms. My mouth goes dry a little as he covers the goods. I want to take him to the candy shop.
Damn it!
No. I’m meeting my friends. Must not bail for sex.
Stay strong, Callie.

“You enjoying the show?” His lips pull into a smug grin and he shakes his ass so I can’t help but let out a laugh.

“I was. But I have to go.” I sigh sadly and roll from the bed. I slide open my dresser drawer and pick out a clean pair of panties.

“Go? Callie, this is your house.” I catch him waggle his brows when I glance over my shoulder.

I laugh. “I’m meeting Alicia and Jill. That okay? You can come, too.” I strut to the closet and love the way my naked body holds his attention until I disappear behind the door.

“That’s cool, but I already told some of the guys I’d meet up with them tonight for a beer,” he mentions as casually as ever. I poke my head out of the closet and watch him pull on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He doesn’t look up.

“Tonight?” I hold back the emotion that threatens to seep into my words. He’s going out. Had plans. And didn’t tell me?

“Yeah. Maybe we’ll run into each other. Where are you and the ladies going?” He sounds innocent enough. He really does, but the way his body stills while he waits for my answer . . .

I slip back into the closet and scan my hangers for the perfect dress. “I don’t know yet,” I shout back. I’m not exactly sure why I lie. I could tell him where we’re going. Hell, if he’s been paying attention he’d guess because half of my stories with Jill and Alicia take place at The Chronicle. It’s just . . . a tiny part of me wonders if he’s asking to
avoid
running into me. God, I hate that my mind even goes there. I grab a red sundress and pull it over my head, and then slip on my most comfortable sandals before walking back into my room.

Chase stands there, phone gripped in his hand, his gaze on the screen. I take another step closer and his eyes snap up. A smirk pulls at his lips. “Callie, you look well fucked.”