Freed by Fire (11 page)

“You feel so good, Caid. So. Very. Good,” I said through each of his deep thrusts. I couldn’t believe he expected me to be able to speak. I was having a hard enough time breathing. “Don’t stop.”

Caid threw his head back and let out a rumble as he increased the pace and dug his fingers into my hips harder. Just as he leaned back and dipped his head to kiss me, the fire ignited inside me. It sparked and ripped through me like my blood had been laced with gasoline.

I screamed, cried, clawed at his hair while pulling his mouth hard into my mine. “God, yes!” I moaned into his mouth as the waves rippled and rocked me. I felt all of my muscles clamp down around his dick as I rode out my orgasm.

“Oh, Christ,” Caid rattled. His voice deep and gravely. “Shite, you’re so fucking sweet.”

I put my hand on his chest, over the dated Maltese cross, and I felt his heart hammering as he came. Pulsing and thrusting deep as the shocks shattered through his strong and beautiful body. I pressed my face against his, keeping him close as we rode out the aftershock ripples together. I felt him calm as he tried to regain his breath, he was completely out of control, he moaned and panted as his hands went from my hips and pulled me into an embrace.

“That…was…” he managed to say, but nothing else came out. I knew what he meant, regardless of his lack of words. I didn’t have any either.

Chapter Nine

Friday, July 12
— 2:25 am

The empty space on my bed woke me from my sleep. My hands wandered over to the cool place where Caid’s warm body had been. I sat up, rubbed my eyes and climbed out of the bed while wrapping one of my sheets around my body.

I padded out to the living room, but it was quiet and in darkness. Maggie’s bedroom door had been closed, she must have come home at some point last night. I blushed a little when I wondered if she had heard Caid and me making love.

The Chinese food was gone and the room looked just has it had before Caid arrived. I lightly touched my mouth. Had I dreamed the entire thing? I couldn’t have; I was naked. Lifting the sheet I touched myself
there
. No, it was impossible that it was a dream. It felt different.
I
felt different.

I moved toward the window and peered out. The twinkling skyline over Lake Michigan was breathtaking. It momentarily distracted me from thinking of Caid’s absence. With the cooled air of the apartment, I lifted the sheet higher and wrapped it around my arms like a cape. Glancing down on my way back to my bedroom, I leaned to turn off my laptop. Sitting on the keyboard was a piece of paper.

It was the receipt for the Chinese food. Flipped over with writing scrawled on the back of it.

My heart leapt. I was swooning at his little note, and also worried at the same time. After all, he worked one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. The bravest, most selfless, most life-threatening career a person could choose.
Stay safe, Burke
. The words lingered in my mind all night long. I couldn’t sleep. Not with my mind reeling over the hours we spent together in this bed. How my skin still felt like it was ablaze from his touch. My sex ached in a painfully good way.

The shower turning on just after six in the morning
signaled that Maggie was awake and getting ready for work. I pulled on a pair of cotton shorts and a t-shirt and crept into the bathroom.

“Maggie?” I asked.

“Hey!” She said, flinging open the shower curtain. “I’ve been dying to find out how last night went. Where’s the Irish lad?”

I gigged at her overdrawn attempt at an Irish accent. She liked doing that lately. I was looking forward to her doing in front of Caid and seeing his reaction. I’m sure he’d find it funny too. “He’s gone.” I pouted. “Fire somewhere downtown.”

Maggie closed the curtain. “Sit, tell me everything.”

I rolled my eyes, but closed the toilet seat and crossed one leg over the other. “Let me start by saying you’re a complete brat. But, thank you. How did you two pull it off, anyway?”

Maggie laughed. “Well, he got Daniel to call Ellie, and Ellie got me to call Caid.”

A tiny twinge of jealousy sparked through me. She got to speak to him on the phone before I did. I shook my head at myself. I just got to sleep with him, I needed to settle down a little.

“You know how hard it was for me, Em? I wanted to tell you so badly. I was afraid he was going to catch you wearing nothing but those freaking granny panties and a onesie!”

“Shut up! And, by the way, I was only wearing a towel when I got your “let me in, I forgot my keys” message. You’re a bitch!”

“The best bitch though, right?”

“Absolutely.” I set my leg down and leaned over with my elbows on my knees. “Maggie, can I ask you something?”

“Of course…”

I chewed my lip. “How long is it going to ache?”

“What? How long is what going to ache?”

“My P, Maggie. My damned P.”

Maggie threw back the curtain again and blinked through the foam of shampoo trickling down her face. “Emery Pussy Finn!” She laughed.

“Thanks again, Maggie. You’re wonderful, and I love you.” I got up and skipped out of the bathroom. “Have a good day at work, sweetie!”

She rambled something incoherent as I closed the door. I made my way back to the bedroom and started to pull the sheets from my bed. Part of me wanted to lay back down and, as odd as it may sound, fall into the scent of our sex. But, I knew I had soaked some places on the sheets in anticipation of Caid’s touch. The clean-freak in me won. I pulled off the sheets and remade the bed.

Maggie popped her head in the room before leaving for work. “I found out last night that I’ve got to go to Indianapolis with a few people from work. A huge account that could triple this quarter’s profit. I’m sorry, Em. Will you be okay without me until Sunday?”

I stuck out my lip. “I guess.”

“Hey, you could come with me.”

I could. But, I recalled Caid’s text message asking if I had any plans this weekend. “I think Caid may have something in mind for us.”

Us
. Me and him. I liked it.

“You might want to go sit on some ice then, Em. Prepare that P for another pounding.”

“Maggie!” I tossed my yoga pants from last night at her, she ducked and laughed. “Have fun, be safe.”

I made myself some eggs and toast and sat in front of the computer, ready to write just as my cellphone rang. I picked it up, my heart thrumming in hopes it was Caid. It wasn’t.

“Hello?” I asked, not knowing the number, however it was a Belleville area code.

“Emery? It’s Elden Walters, how are you?” It was mom’s boss, from the bank.

“I’m good, Mr. Walters. How are you?”

He sighed. “Oh, you know, another day another dollar. How’s Chicago treating you? I bet it’s a different world from Belleville.”

“Oh, it’s definitely taking some getting used to, but so far I love it.” I left out the part about Caid.

“The reason that I’m calling is that we’ve found a buyer for your mother’s home, but there are few pieces of paperwork that you need to sign before it’s finalized.”

“Couldn’t you courier them to me?” I didn’t want to go back to Belleville.

“Well, we could, but the buyer would like in as soon as possible. Also, there were a few things in the house that you may want. All of the furniture was donated, along with her clothing and other miscellaneous items, but Emery, could you just come for a few hours?”

I sighed, but agreed. Whatever was there, I wanted it. “Sure, thanks for doing all of this for me, Mr. Walters. I couldn’t have done it on my own. I’ll be there by,” I looked at my watch, “a little after two PM.”

“See you then, Emery.”

I said goodbye and closed my laptop. No work today. I traded my flip-flops for running shoes and grabbed my purse and sunglasses before heading out the door. Blue was parked in the underground parking lot, and as I approached it I noticed a couple standing a few cars down kissing. In the dimly lit garage I tried not to watch them. But, it was apparent they were in love. The way he touched her face, how she gazed into his eyes. It was beautiful.

She let out a small gasp when she noticed me. I turned my face away and smiled, clambering to unlock Blue and climb in. I cranked the engine and shifted into reverse. As I backed out of the parking space, I caught the couple again. The man had her skirt lifted and in my mirror I saw her grinning in my direction.

She wasn’t embarrassed at all.

I wondered to myself if I could even be that brazen.

Probably not.

I couldn’t remember the exact directions back out of the city, so I pushed in the address for my mom’s house and Maggie’s, letting my iPhone direct me back to Belleville. I still hadn’t heard from Caid. I hoped he was okay. Deciding that I wasn’t going to torture myself, I sent him a text message.

Me:
I hope you don’t get a cavity from my

sweetness. But if you do, tell your dentist to

send me the bill.

I smiled as I sent it. Hoping he would see the humor.

Caid:
I would let all of my teeth rot from

your sweetness, love. How did you sleep?

The thought of him toothless wasn’t exactly the sexiest vision, but I laughed anyway.

Me:
I slept well, thank you. Until about 2 or so,

though. I hope you and the guys were safe.

Caid:
It was a small fire, but thank you.

I hated leaving.

Caid:
What are you doing now, Em?

Me
:

driving to Belleville. I have some

things to take care of there.

Caid:
Are you still up for hanging out this weekend?

Me:
Of course. I’ll text when I’m back in town.

Caid:
Safe drive.

Me
:


A honk from behind me made me jump in my seat. Someone was waiting to get out of the parking lot and I was still idling at the entrance.
Oops
. I tossed my phone down on the passenger seat and eased Blue onto the street.

After I stopped outside of Joliet for gas. The small self-serve station was jam-packed with cars, and I had to wait for almost fifteen minutes just to get up to a pump. After I paid for the gas and a stale coffee, I climbed back in the car and left the sea of
travelers. Station wagons, minivans and RV’s littered the freeway. I cursed my lack of air conditioning and rolled down all of the windows in the car. The Interstate was moving at a slug’s pace and I was sure I wasn’t going to make it to Belleville on time.

I cranked the radio and sung along while tapping my fingers on the steering wheel. If I had to be stuck in the traffic, I needed some sort of distraction. About two miles further down the road, I felt a sharp jolt, a shake and saw steam pouring from under the hood.

“No!” I shouted and slapped my palm against the dash—like it would make any difference. I chewed my lip as I pulled onto the side of the freeway and cursed under my breath. I didn’t know much about cars, but I knew the shaking and steam wasn’t a good thing.

I braved the traffic and climbed out of the car. Lifting the hood I was faced with smoke pouring from somewhere. I tried fanning it with my hand—which did absolutely nothing. I kicked the bumper. “Damn you, Blue!”

Sitting back in the car, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have emergency assistance. Matt did, on his Volvo, because he said I never drove far enough to need it on my car. I couldn’t call Maggie, she was leaving for Indiana, and I damn sure wasn’t going to call Mr. Walters. I doubt he would drive to get me anyway.

Caid.

I could call Caid.

We’ve known each other for all of five minutes, but I didn’t have anyone else. I turned the radio down as the phone rang. My breath hitched as he answered.

“Hello, Em…”

The deep grumble of his voice fluttered my stomach and made my eyes close. Two words did that to me. I’m unreal.

“Hey, Caid…Are you busy?”

“Naw, I was just leaving the house. What’s up?”

I rubbed my forehead with my fingers, the sweat beading off my body was unbelievable. “I’m stuck on the side of the I-80. Something blew under my hood.”

“I’ll be right there. Which part of the I-80?”

“Twenty miles out of Joliet.”

“I’m coming, Em. Don’t get out of your car, okay?”

“Okay, thank you Caid.”

I leaned back in the seat and groaned in frustration.

A blue station wagon pulled up ahead of me and parked. A man got out the car and my heart started to race. Something about him made me nervous and I reached over to lock my door. Realizing all of the windows were down, I told myself I was an idiot.

“Need some help, miss?” he asked, his face crinkled with concern. He placed his grease-riddled hands on the door and leaned down.

“Umm…”

“I doubt a pretty thing like you’d be sitting here on the side of the road. I can see from the smoke that you’re in a pickle.”