Fanning the Flames (Romance Firemen Series) (7 page)

Brendan let her talk until she could talk no more, comforting her when she beat herself up, and reassuring her that Nick’s intensity and obsessive behavior were not her fault. He held her and stroked her hair.

Then somehow, neither of them knew quite how, his fingers were buried deep in her chestnut hair and he was kissing her. She relaxed into his arms, letting him pull her close, feeling the slight scratch of his stubble as she trailed her fingers down his face, breathing in the warm, masculine scent of him as his lips teased hers.

It felt thrilling and new, an experience Cassie had never had before – yet at the same time as natural and familiar as if they had been lovers all their lives.

He broke apart from her with a jolt. “Cassie, please forgive me. That was way out of line.” Brendan jumped to his feet and paced away from her. “After the day you’ve had, that’s the last thing you need.”

Cassie stood up and slipped her arms around him. “It feels like exactly what I need,” she said, and pulled him close to kiss her again. His lips were warm and strong, and his kiss melted through her, right to her soul. Then something flashed in her memory and she pulled away.

“Oh, no,” she said. “You’re seeing someone. I forgot. I’m so, so sorry. It’s just that you never mentioned her again and—”

“Wait!” Brendan said. “Am I seeing someone? I think I’d remember that.”

“That night in the club. I told you I was seeing someone, and then things got kind of awkward, and then you said you were seeing someone.”

"Ah, that." Brendan tilted his head back and gave her a sly smile.

“I’m sorry, Cassie. That wasn’t true. I didn’t mean to lie to you. It’s just that it was awkward, like you said, and I felt like you’d just shot me down.
So I was doing that stupid thing where you pretend you weren’t really asking the other person out, and then back it up by saying that you weren’t available anyway so it couldn’t possibly have been that kind of question, which means you weren't really turned down. It wasn’t something I thought through. It was out of my mouth before my brain had time to kick in."

He paused, looking at her. "There’s no one else. I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Cassie said. “I shouldn’t have made you feel that way. I didn’t handle it well.”

He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. It’s my past, old fears and rejections kicking in.”

He sighed heavily. “All right, here’s the short version. Back when I lived in New York, when I was working on my Associate’s degree, there was this girl I really liked. Alice. I thought she was the most amazing, most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, and I was terrified of her. I wasn't the handsome, confident man you see before you now."

He hesitated, smiled, then lowered his eyes and continued. "First, we were friends. Then we were best friends, and it took me longer to work up the nerve to tell her how I felt than it did to finish my degree.

One day, I blurted it out and she shot me down cold. Said she just didn’t feel the same way about me and had actually begun seeing someone recently.

Our friendship kind of fizzled out after that and I’ve always regretted losing it. When I met you I felt like we really connected”, he smiled slyly “And when you shot me down, with almost the same line she used, it threw me off my game.”

Cassie winced, "Sorry."

“No worries” he said, pushing a strand of her wayward hair behind her ear. “We’d just met. It was much easier to pretend it was nothing, and make up a fictional relationship.

Then I promised myself I wasn’t going to lose you as a friend the way I lost Alice. I tried to forget about anything happening between us.”

"I'm glad you told me."

“Would you believe that’s the short version?" He smiled. "I left out a few car chases.”

“I’m such an idiot,” said Cassie.

“You’re not. But if you were? You'd be in good company.”

Brendan drew her close and kissed her again, gently at first, then with increasing pressure as she traced her fingers over his muscled arms.

Cassie felt both of their hearts pounding as he teased her tongue slowly with his, then worked his way across her cheek, one kiss after another, until he reached her ear. He caught her earlobe between his teeth and nibbled it, making her shiver with arousal.

She gripped two handfuls of his cotton t-shirt and pulled it up over his head, taking in the sight of his toned, sculpted chest. She smoothed her hands over his taut pectoral muscles and inhaled the musky, masculine scent of him, then leaned back while he removed her tank top.

He pulled her into his lap. She let her head fall back, and she felt his strong hands cupping and caressing her breasts. He unclasped and removed her bra, then circled his tongue around her nipple.

She felt him move to the other nipple as he unbuttoned her jeans. Impatient for the feel of his skin against hers, she stood and wriggled out of the jeans, standing before him in just her panties.

He locked eyes with her as he slowly slid them down her legs, then got up and lifted her off the ground. She wrapped her legs around him and let him carry her to his bedroom. He laid her on the bed and whispered, “Close your eyes.”

Her heart raced as she realized what he was about to do. His hands were on her knees, guiding them apart. The stubble on his cheek grazed her inner thighs. She felt his fingers first, and then his tongue, and she was once again reminded of her dream.

She began to lose herself in memories of the dream, but shook the memories loose to concentrate on the present. She could feel his tongue caressing her clitoris. His slow movements caused soft whimpers to escape her throat, and she buried her fingers in his comforter and gripped tightly.

Brendan slipped his finger inside her, moving it back and forth as though exploring, getting her used to his touch. Her whimpers became moans, and he added a second finger. He swirled his tongue around her clit, feeling her writhe against him until she gasped and tensed in an explosive orgasm.

“Oh, Brendan,” she murmured, pushing him down as she sat up. She ran her hands over his thighs, feeling the hard muscle encased in denim. Next she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, pushing them down and out of the way.

Through the thin cotton of his boxer shorts, she laid both hands on his cock and felt his hardness. He stripped off the shorts and guided her, wrapping her palms around his shaft where she pleasured him with long, sensual strokes.

“Tell me, Cassie,” he said, his voice thick and breathy with desire. “Tell me that this is what you want.”

Cassie leaned down and kissed him hungrily. “More than anything,” she insisted. “I can’t wait any more, Brendan. I need you inside me now. Please.”

She stretched out beneath him as he touched her clitoris with the tip of his cock before drawing it down to the opening between her legs. Oblivious to everything but their lovemaking, Cassie cried out in bliss as he entered her, easing his way deep inside.

Her body responded instinctively, bucking and writhing beneath him as he withdrew slowly before plunging inside her again. Over and over, he thrust inside her, long and slow and languid, until pulling out completely.

“Turn over,” he told her. “Lie on your stomach.” She rolled onto her front, eager to learn his preferences, trusting him absolutely. He knelt between her knees and lowered himself onto her, slipping into her from behind.

She felt covered by him, protected, consumed. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to the pleasure of sensation as he pulled back, and then gave an involuntary scream of delight as he forcefully pushed inside her, hitting an incredibly sensitive area.

She wanted to ask him what it was, but before she could catch her breath, he was repeating the movement, again and again, an almost unbearably sweet pounding on the same amazingly pleasurable spot. All she could do was wrap her hand around his, hold on tight and continue to cry out with joy at every thrust.

When she was close to climax, Brendan slipped his hand beneath her and rubbed her clitoris firmly as the surge of his thrusts gathered in power and speed. She felt as if the sizzling, white hot rapture was too much for her body to contain, too passionate and intense.

Cassie heard him calling out her name, as she was pushed over the edge. As he came inside her, the maelstrom of delectable sensations broke over her and she called out in uncontrollable ecstasy.

The two of them collapsed back onto the pillows, panting and sighing, not wanting to let go of each other. Finally, when he had recovered sufficient breath, Brendan spoke.

“That was…that was something else,” he said, gasping for air.

Cassie had not yet regained the ability to speak. She nodded emphatically, then rested her head on his muscular shoulder until they both drifted off to sleep.

“Good morning!”

The sound of Brendan’s voice hit Cassie’s ears at the same time the smell of fresh coffee hit her nose. She opened her eyes to see him standing by the bed, wearing a blue robe, setting a coffee mug on the nightstand. He bent to kiss her.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, seating himself on the bed.

“Mmmm.” Cassie stretched languorously and smiled. “I’m great.”

“Are you sure? I know what you said about not doing that kind of thing, and we did that kind of thing.”

She wrapped her arms around him, laying her head against his shoulder and slipping her fingers under his robe to trail them across his firm pecs. “I am definitely, absolutely, completely ok.”

“Good. Because last night was amazing." He smiled at her. "I’m going to jump in the shower and then I’ll make breakfast. Do you want to get in touch with Nick? We can go over and get your stuff. You can bring it here or we can put it in storage, whatever you like. We'll figure it out over breakfast.”

Cassie put on one of Brendan’s t-shirts and went in search of her cell phone
to text Nick. 

I’d like to come by for some of my stuff later.

I
’d appreciate it if u weren’t there when I did.

Please let me know what time works best for you.

I’ll make arrangements with u to get the rest tomorrow.

Cassie was back upstairs drinking coffee when Nick replied.

Come at three. Anderson will be here to let you in.

Over breakfast, Brendan offered to store Cassie’s belongings, promising that they’d find a way to fit them into his little house. He told her that she was welcome to stay if she wanted, but that if she preferred to go to her parents, he would drive her to the airport.

I can’t believe I’m doing this
, Cassie thought.
I’ve only ever slept with two guys before this. I dated my college boyfriend for almost a year before we had sex. With the guy after him, I held out for three months.I never thought I’d ever sleep with anyone I’d known for such a short time.

Then again, I never thought a super-rich guy would invite me to move in, and then I'd walk out with nothing but my phone, either. Considering everything that’s happened, I shouldn’t be feeling this relaxed, but…I am.

Brendan tempted her with extra bacon, fried mushrooms, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. He tossed each orange high in the air before catching it, chopping it in two, and squashing it dramatically in the juicer.

Cassie was about to tell him he was far too cool for her when one of the oranges went astray and splashed into the sink, drenching Brendan with dishwater and causing them both to dissolve into helpless laughter.

******

“I really wish you’d let me come in with you,” Brendan said as they sat in his truck outside 75 Louisburg Drive

“I’ll be fine,” said Cassie. “He’s not here. Besides, you’ll be late for your shift. It won’t take me long to go in and find the things I need and I’ve already called the taxi. It’ll be here any minute. We can come back tomorrow for the rest of it when you don't have to work.”

Cassie was determined not to inconvenience him anymore today. He was already going to be spending the majority of the day tomorrow moving her things.

Brendan sighed, still not happy with her decision but resigned to letting her make the choice. She tried to lighten the mood.

“I’ll see you this evening. Can I take over your kitchen? I make amazing chicken parmesan.”

“You can, but just make sure you get there safely. Call me if there’s anything you need.”

He kissed her goodbye, a quick, light kiss that wouldn’t tempt either of them into lingering, then waited until Cassie had rung the doorbell and been admitted by Nick’s chauffeur
.

She exchanged polite greetings with Anderson, then went upstairs to look for her purse.

She remembered leaving it on the back of a chair by the window in the master bedroom. Sure enough, it was still there, with the addition of an envelope pinned to the strap with her name written across it.

She opened it.

CASSIE

I only saw your sweetness when we met

your eyes alight with hope and innocence