Page 37 of Tempting Fire

Twisting, she pulled at his neck, wanting the kiss to never end. She heard a sound. A whimper. Damn Slayer.

Zarek caressed her back with gentle strokes. “Shhhh, easy,” he said as he raised his head.

“I want more.”

“I don’t think you do.” His eyes glittered as they looked down at her, missing nothing. It was at that moment that she realized she had been the one who had whimpered.

“What’s wrong with me?” she asked with a soft agonized wail. “I’m a tease.”

“No you’re not. You’re perfect.”

Chloe felt the proof of his arousal against her tummy. She wasn’t perfect, she’d provoked Zarek to this state, and she couldn’t follow through. What a failure.

“Hey, hey. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I don’t like it. I can tell you’re putting yourself down. I just shared my second kiss with my best friend. Don’t ruin this for me.”

“But―”

“No buts. Chloe, kissing you is the most profound experience of my life.”

“You can’t mean that. I’m screwed up.” She pushed against his chest, a thought careening through her head. “Is that what does it for you? Wounded birds? Are you turned on by women who are weak? That you can dominate?”

He laughed. “Jesus, you’re head really is screwed up.”

“Well d’huh.” She tried to get out of his arms, but he held her tight. “Let me go.”

“Not until we hash this out. And we have exactly three minutes before I have to leave.”

His eyes glittered down at her.

“One, I’m not turned on by wounded birds. I’m a fire fighter, trust me, more than one woman has wanted me to rescue her over the years, and I’ve turned them down flat. That’s never been what’s turned my crank. Two, you’re suffering from PTSD, and you’re working your way out of it. You’re going to be back to your fighting weight in no time and back to kicking my ass. Three. I’ve been twisted up about you for years. Ask Luke.”

“What do you mean you’ve been twisted up about me for years?”

“The three minutes are up, but Honey, it’s you, who you are then, who you are now, and who you will be that I’m interested in.”

She stared up at him, wanting to believe.

“You can believe me.”

Damn it. How could he be in her head?

He bent and rubbed his nose against hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You have my number, call me for anything. Call me just to say, ‘Hi’, okay?”

She knew she wouldn’t.

“Can I tell Sheryl she can come over after school today?”

Chloe nodded.

“Excellent.”

As soon as Zarek left Chloe picked up her phone and looked at the messages. She hadn’t cleared out her in-box on purpose. She was sick of people, in other words, her family, leaving messages. It was just easier to have a full in-box so they couldn’t leave a message. Of course, that didn’t stop them from texting. Who knew you could have over three hundred texts? Drake was the worst. Evie was second. Hell, she would have bet on Zoe and Trenda.

Trenda played the Bella card, sending pictures of her precocious niece. It wasn’t fair. She missed the little girl. But Drake. God, she hadn’t had a big brother for twelve years. And here he was acting like a big bad grizzly, ready to take on the world for her. She was sure that if it weren’t for Karen being on bedrest, he would be in Dallas. It kind of made her feel warm inside, at the same time it pissed her off.

Evie’s messages she just deleted.

***