Freed by Fire (20 page)
Authors: Ashley Christine
How had all of this happened in such a short time? It were as if we were meant to be together this entire time but we had hurdles—no, mountains—to climb before we could be together. We rushed to one another. I felt the connection as soon as we met. There was no courtship, no coffee dates or hand holding while getting to know one another.
We dove in, feet first into the dark water of unknowing and took the chance of a lifetime. I let myself open as Caid peeled back the layers of who I thought I was. He brought the woman my mother knew and loved out. And Emery Morgan sunk into the depths, never to be seen again. She was a shell. A skin. She wasn’t real.
This is who I am. Emery Finn. Perhaps, someday, Emery Burke. The author with a head and heart full of dreams and desires. The woman with her real-life Book Boyfriend. Her real Toby. The realest and purest love—of the most caring and selfless man.
He didn’t let his past define him. He wasn’t running from his nightmares. He strode in, kicked the doors down and extinguished anything that stood in his way. He protected those around him and loved with his entire heart.
It was true, I didn’t know Caid for that long. But, what I did know was enough to fall into such a deep love that it would hurt my heart if I had to sit down and write it in specifics. There wasn’t enough paper in the world, or memory on my laptop that would hold all the words describing how truly amazing Kincaid Burke was.
He wasn’t without faults. Like any other person. But he embraced them and rectified them as best he could. That right there made him imperfectly perfect.
***
Saturday
, May 3 – The Following Year
That has got to be painful
…I thought to myself as I watched Caid, holding his hand as he laid on the table at the tattoo shop. He was adding another name to his body today. It wasn’t a date. He hadn’t lost anyone. He gained someone. Another son.
“It looks like it hurts,” I said.
Caid laughed. “That coming from the woman who spent twenty-three hours in labor and brought my beautiful son into the world. No, it doesn’t hurt.” He smiled and kissed my hand.
Finn
was tattooed on the other side of Caid’s torso. Opposite Caleb’s name. It was written in the same beautiful grace as the first, and it was hard not crying as I watched my mother’s last name—my maiden name, and now our son’s first name was becoming a permanent mark on my love’s body.
“Maggie just texted to tell me that Finn fell asleep in Caleb’s arms.” I stuck out my bottom lip as I smiled and held up my phone to show Caid the picture she sent along with the text. Caleb sat on the sofa with Finn’s little body curled securely into his arms. Caleb smiled one of the biggest smiled I had ever seen, and I pressed the button to call Maggie.
“Hey! Can I talk to him for a sec?” I asked as Caid squeezed my hand and closed his eyes.
Doesn’t hurt, my ass!
“Hey, buddy!” I smiled as I heard Caleb’s voice come over the phone.
“Mom, did Maggie send you the picture?” he asked. “I tried to stay still so I didn’t wake Finn up.”
“She did. I loved it. I showed it to daddy and he loves it too. We’ll be home soon, okay?”
“Kay…can you bring Popsicles? You forgot to get them last time!”
I smiled. “Of course, buddy…what kind?”
“Cherry!” he asked before saying goodbye and passing the phone to Maggie.
“Thanks for watching them, Mags,” I said.
“Oh, no prob, girl. They’re pretty easy to babysit. I just overdosed Finn on your boob-juice and gave Caleb a shitload of sugar.”
I rolled my eyes and grinned. “Sounds good. We’ll be home soon.”
The artist cleaned and stood with Caid as he inspected his new art in the floor-to-ceiling mirror on the wall opposite the table.
“Love it, Vance. Looks perfect.” Caid turned and held his arm up to look once more. My eyes lingered on his body. He wore nothing but jeans and Converse shoes and I cleared my throat and looked away before I mauled him where he stood.
We hadn’t had sex since the baby was born on April 3
rd
. It had only been one month. But, I was ready to climb the walls shortly if something didn’t happen soon. My body told it was time for some fun.
Caid leaned in and whispered something into Vance’s ear and the artist smiled and looked over at me.
What?
Caid sat in a chair and placed his hand on the table. Vance prepped his equipment once more and leaned in to start tattooing again. On Caid’s hand.
My eyes darted to Caid as he sat and watched me. He smiled and mouthed “I love you” to me. I moved to him and kissed his face, holding it in my hands. I knew what he was doing. When we got married last October we exchanged rings, but only I wore mine. With Caid’s job he was afraid of losing it so he wore it on a chain around his neck.
When I pulled my lips from his and glanced down, I saw it. A ring around his finger. An inked band with EMERY written in it.
“Caid,” I said, holding my hand over my heart.
“Like it?”
I shook my head. “No, I love it.”
***
Saturday
, May 3 – 9:57 pm
I pressed the “publish” button. Sending my manuscript in. I had rewritten the book I started before I had met Caid. There was a happy ending for BB and LL after all. As I stepped out of my office I clicked the door closed behind me.
When I walked into the hallway I saw Caid leaning up against the wall. He was barefoot and only wearing a pair of jeans.
“Where’s your shirt?”
“I don’t need one.” He took my hand. “And you won’t need any clothes at all, love.”
“What!” I tried to muffle my excited squeal as he led me up the stairs and into our bedroom. “Caid…what’s going on?”
He kissed me as his thumb ran along the skin under my shirt. “I miss you so much…I can’t wait any longer. Do you think you will be okay if I touch you?”
“God, I’ve been dying, Caid,” I moaned. “I need you.”
He growled and lifted me onto the bed, gently setting me down and kissing my forehead. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere, Mrs. Burke.”
I smiled and laid there in sheer anticipation of what was to come.
What was he going to do? Where did he go?
Caid emerged with one hand behind his back. I regarded him with a weary look and raised my eyebrow. “What exactly are you up to, Caid?”
He smiled and flipped the bedroom light off.
Huh, that was a first.
“Clothes off, love.”
I didn’t wait another second. I ripped my clothes off and sat up on the bed, waiting for him. I could feel the excitement building between my legs and I was panting already.
“Lay back, baby,” he said deeply. “Give me your hand.”
I reached my hand out and Caid took it. He slowly brought it to his body and wrapped my fingers around his erection. “Feel that, baby? That’s what you do to me. That’s how badly I want you…I want inside of your sweet pussy so badly.”
Fuck!
I dampened with his words and started slowly stroking his erection. He let out a guttural groan and moved to kneel on the bed.
“Keep doing that baby, keep stroking my cock. Mmm, just like that,” he said. “Ready?”
“Ready,” I said, unsure of what I was ready for…but it didn’t matter.
Caid’s hand moved to my breast as he gently pulled my swollen and full nipple. I whimpered and bowed into his palm. Then I felt something else.
Freezing cold.
It swirled around my nipple just before Caid’s mouth pressed down and sucked. “Mmm, cherry and Emery. Two sweet flavors.”
“Ch-cherry?”
Caid chuckled.
Oh, my God.
The Popsicles!
He swirled the other nipple and took it into his mouth like he did before. “Mmm…” he groaned again. “You like that, baby?”
“Yes,” I whimpered.
“My sweet and kinky girl…want more?”
I nodded, even though he didn’t see it, and continued stroking his dick. Squeezing and gripping tighter as my eagerness was ready to implode within me. I cried out as the Popsicle trailed along my clit, through my folds, and tantalized my entrance.
“Oh, fuck the cherry,” he roared and I heard a plunk on the hardwood floor. He must have thrown it away. “You’re all I want, Em. Open those legs wide for me, baby.”
Caid knelt beside me, giving me the ability to continue to palm and grip him in my hand as he lowered his mouth to my sex and laved his tongue into me. Over and over, sucking and flicking, moaning and greedily consuming me. “God, I missed how good you taste, baby.”
After I came—violently—I pulled Caid on top of me and ground against him, desperate for the contact I craved so deeply. The need had been fiercer than ever before.
“Up for a good snog, Mrs. Burke?” Caid laid on the thick Irish accent.
I melted and laughed. “Always, my love.”
As Caid reached between my legs and ran his finger along my entrance, I kissed him. He positioned himself and pushed in the tip. I cried out, and moaned into his mouth. God, I loved him so much.
He reached and flipped on the light. “I need to see you, love. I’ve grown accustomed to your face.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” I smiled at him just as he pushed all the way in me and claimed my mouth once more as his.
***
Ashley’s Notes
To donate to the cause for a cure, please visit:
***
But sound aloud the praises, and give the victor-crown. To our noble-hearted Firemen, who fear not danger's frown.
Frederic G.W. Fenn, "Ode to our Firemen," 1878
All men are created equal, then a few become firemen.
Author Unknown
