Freed by Fire (12 page)

I nodded. I was. “It just started to shake and I was barely able to pull over.”

“Want me to take a look? I own a shop down the road.”

I shrugged. “Sure, thanks.”

He moved around the front of the car and dipped out of sight. “Miss?” he called.

I stuck my head out the window. “Yeah?”

“Can you come here for a minute? I gotta show you what I think’s wrong…”

I looked in the rear-view. Caid should be here at any moment. I doubt this guy was going to try and abduct me with traffic filing by us so slowly. There were eyes everywhere.

“See this here?” he said, pointing to the engine.

“Yeah, that’s the engine.”

He put his hands on his hips. “Looks like she’s seized up on ya.”

“Shit,” I muttered. “That’s going to cost a fortune…”

The pace of the cars began to pick up beside us, their speed increased and the whizzing of tractor trailers sent large gusts of wind against my body.

“I saw you, you know…” he said.

I blinked and looked at him. “What?”

“At the Pump N Serve. I saw you.” His hands left his hips and one reached to touch me.

“I don’t need your help. Thanks, but…you can leave now. Someone is coming.”

He chuckled. “I doubt that, pretty thing. Or you wouldn’t have accepted my help.”

I backed up. “Someone is coming. Don’t touch me.”

The vehicles were getting louder and louder as they passed us. I started to panic, thinking if he were to grab me, not a fucking soul would notice.

Just as the man moved toward me again, I felt a hand on my shoulder.

“The lady said not to touch her. Do it again and I’ll rip your fucking hands off.”

I turned to look into Caid’s scarily green eyes. He looked past me, clenching his jaw and glaring at the creepy stranger.

“I—I was just offerin’ help to the lady.”

“Like hell you were. IL30T03. That’s your plate, motherfucker. I won’t forget it. Now, get the fuck out of here.” Caid’s grasp on my arm tightened as he pulled me against his chest.

The man moved a few inches, almost like he was going to hit Caid, but he didn’t. He backed off and cursed something at us before getting in his car. As he tore out his tires spat gravel at us.

I turned and pressed my face into Caid’s chest. “I’m sorry.”

“What?” He asked, lifting my chin. “What the hell are you sorry for, Em?”

I didn’t know. But I was sorry for something. Getting out of the car, probably. I was so happy to see Caid. Stepping out from my car, out of the way of the raised hood, I saw his truck. It had been so loud I didn’t even hear him pull up.

“Let’s go, Em.” He pulled me to the side of the car away from the road. “Do you have a purse or something?”

I nodded and opened the passenger door. I grabbed my purse, phone, sunglasses and leaned into roll up all of the windows and grabbed my keys. “Bye, Blue,” I whispered as we drove away from the side of the road.

“Sorry ‘bout the cursing, Em. But I could see it in his eyes, the way he was looking at you.” Caid pushed down on the accelerator and picked up speed. The diesel engine roared under his touch, and the vibration under my seat created a whirl of adrenaline in my body.

“It’s okay,” I said. I liked that he said those things. I felt protected. Cared for. I glanced over at Caid while he drove. He was wearing a white t-shirt, khaki shorts that went to his knees and Converse shoes. His messy hair got whipped around by the wind in the cab of the truck, and when the sun hit his beautiful face, he lowered his Aviator’s from the top of his head. I metaphorically dropped my panties at the sight.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded. I realized I wasn’t just staring, I was puppy-dog eyeing him.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna have to pull over and spread you on the backseat.” His voice was low enough that I almost didn’t hear it.

I blinked, swallowed, and turned my head to look out my window. I didn’t want him to see me flushed. But, I was sure that my heaving chest was giving me away.

“What’s in Belleville?” he asked, changing the subject. Thank God.

“My mom’s house. It’s sold, so I need to sign the paperwork.”

“You need to?” he asked.

I hadn’t told him about my mother. I nodded. “She died last month.”

“Oh, shite. I’m sorry, Emery.”

I shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m okay. It’s just the last thing I need to take care of.”

“Is that woman in the photo of your on your laptop?”

I smiled. “Yeah, that’s her.”

“She was a beautiful woman. I see where you got that from.”

I blushed again. Why do I keep blushing? This man had his eyes, hands and lips everywhere on my body last night. “She was.”

My phone alerted me where we were to go. I turned the app off. I knew where I was now. “Turn left at the next cut off,” I instructed. “You’ll see a gas station on the left, then it’s another five miles past there.”

Caid smiled and nodded. As the truck slowed he reached over and took my hand in his. Little electric shocks splintered through my skin. He squeezed tighter and I threaded my fingers with his leaving his thumb free to circle my thigh.

He was turning me on with the slightest touch. We passed a park and I almost asked him to pull over so he could carry out with his threat of spreading me on the back seat. It was only a little over twelve hours since I slept with him, and I craved it again like a junkie.

“There,” I whispered, pointing to the street sign. “Meadow Street, number two-eighty.”

Caid cranked the wheel and turned. He drove one-handed very well. We pulled up behind a car parked outside Mom’s house. It was Mr. Walter’s.

“You okay, love?” Caid asked.

I smiled. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

“I’ll stay out here,” Caid said as he killed the engine and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Kay,” I said, letting go of his hand and climbing down and out of his truck. My legs felt like jelly as I walked up the steps and onto the porch. The front door was open and I heard a deep voice inside.

Tears pricked my eyes the instant I stepped into the house. It was empty. Not a stitch was left. Not her kitchen table, her chairs, the sofas or the big mirror that hung near the staircase.

“Emery?” Mr. Walter’s stepped down the stairs with his hands outstretched, he shoved his phone in his pocket.

I hugged him. “Hi, Mr. Walters.”

“Good to see you. How was the drive?”

I smiled. “It was okay, thanks. My old car finally gave out on me though. I had to call a friend.” I pointed my thumb out the open front door toward Caid’s black truck.

Mr. Walter’s raised his eyebrows and sighed. “Well, are you ready?”

I nodded. “Let’s get it done.”

He started walking back up the stairs and I followed. Part of me wondering why we were going up there.

“There was no mention of what to do with the contents of this room, Emery,” he said, stepping into my old bedroom. “We didn’t know what to do with all of your things.”

I smiled looking at the walls, the bed, and the pictures. “I forgot all about it. I’ll take care of it, Mr. Walters.”

“Okay, sounds good. Take what you like and leave whatever you want us to donate. As for the paperwork, it’s downstairs on the counter. Just a few John Hancock’s and it’ll be done. I forgot to tell you how much it sold for.”

I didn’t care about the money. No amount was worth what this house had held in love and memories.

“Seven hundred and forty-seven thousand. That’s before the commission for the broker, of course.”

“Of course,” I said. “How much do I owe you, Mr. Walters?”

He shook his head. “Not a dime, Emery. I did what Amelia asked me to. She was a good friend for many years. It was the least I could do.”

I thanked him again and hugged him once more before we left the room. I signed the papers in the kitchen and said goodbye as he left. I told him I would clear out the bedroom and lock the door when I was finished.

The new owners were coming on Monday. This was my last time being in the house I lived in for twenty years. I climbed the stairs and stood in my mom’s old bedroom. It was empty. That’s when it hit me. I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

I let the tears fall on my skin as I felt like a little girl. Lost. Empty. Like the house. I didn’t want to be without her. I was mad that she was gone. How was I supposed to live the rest of my life without the love and care of my mother? Her presence was what moved me, what kept me going. Forget Matt. I could marry again. I would never get another mom.

I wiped my hot tears away from my face as I tried to compose myself. I felt hands on me as I knelt. Caid’s hands, I could tell the familiar heat and tingle.

“Shite, Em, are you okay?”

I sniffled and turned into his chest, burying my face.

“I’m here, I’m here…” he whispered as his caressed my hair with his hand.

I lifted my face to see that my mascara had leaked onto his white shirt. “Sorry,” I said softly. “I got makeup on your shirt.”

Caid laughed quietly. “Don’t you worry ‘bout that. What can I do for you? Do you want me to give you a minute?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s okay…thank you. I just need to use the bathroom.” I wiped my face as I walked away, hoping he didn’t notice what a mess my face must have been. I splashed cool water on my face, hoping to alleviate my puffy eyes and reddened cheeks. When I left the bathroom Caid was leaning up against one of the walls in the hallway.

His hands were shoved in his pockets and he smiled at me. “Is that your room?” he motioned at the door across from where he was standing.

“Yes,” I said. I was wrong when I said this house only held good memories. There was one bad one. I took Caid’s hand and led him into my room. I wanted to erase that memory. The one of Matt and the way he stole my virginity in such a selfish way. Caid’s touch would obliterate that in a heartbeat.

“I want you, Caid,” I said. “I want you touch me.”

There was something in his eyes. Hesitation maybe. He raked his fingers through his dark hair and stared at me. “I don’t have any condoms, Em.”

“Kiss me then. I just want to feel you.”

His hands flew to my face as he pulled my mouth to his. The powerful manner of his assault was enough to turn my legs to goo and I melted down onto my bed. I didn’t care how he touched me, I needed him in any way I could get him. My hands roamed to his shoulders, gripping his muscles and pulling him against me. It wasn’t close enough.

I yanked his shirt up and he lifted for me to take it right off. I gasped as I took his chest in once more. How could I have forgotten in less than a day how perfect he was? I don’t think I’ll ever get used to his flawlessness.

Caid pulled my tee up my body and planted wet kisses on my chest, across the top of my bra, over each breast. He nuzzled his face between the swollen mounds and groaned. Sitting back quickly, he stood at the edge of bed.

“I can’t. I’m sorry…”

“W-why?” I asked, my voice small.

“Because I can’t just kiss you. I want to slide in that body so badly. God, I don’t think you know what you do to me.” He turned and ran his hands through his hair again. The muscles in his back strained as he lifted his arms up. It was then I saw the fire tattoo. It started just above the waist line of his shorts. A red dragon breathed fire up his spine and the flames licked over and around each of his shoulders. It was magnificent. My fingers itched to touch it.

If we were going to do this. Whatever it was. I needed to open up a little more. I swallowed some courage and opened my mouth. “Caid,” I said. “I can’t have children. You don’t need to wear a condom.”

Caid hung his head and shoved his hands into his pockets again. When he turned around I could see his chest rising and falling heavily with his staggered breath. His emerald eyes blazed as if he was having some sort of internal battle with himself. He opened his mouth and licked his bottom lip. “Promise me something, Emery.”

Anything
. “Okay…” I agreed.

“Promise me that you’ll always be honest with me. No matter what.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “I promise, Caid. I hope you would be the same with me.”

He came to me, fast and powerfully. Tearing my shorts from my body and pushing his own down in a frenzied rush. “I want to taste you so bad, but I need this first.”

“Take it,” I breathed. “It’s yours.”

What?

Oh, shit.

He growled as he held his erection between my legs, his mouth dropped to my breast the instant his cock charged into my body. My body lifted up, pushing my breast deeper into his mouth. His tongue swirled and sucked. A pop of suction came as he left one and moved to the other, taking a tight pink nipple into his teeth. He flicked and rolled it with his expert tongue.

My soft muscles clamped down around him as I felt and took in every single inch of him. His balls slapped against my ass as he drilled harder and faster. The sound of skin on skin, slick from our mixture of dewy pleasure.