Giggling, I swatted at him, only for my hand to be caught by his, as he turned over, pulling me onto the bed with him.
“I’m sorry about the scratch marks,” I said, timidly.
“That’s what had you gasping?” he asked, laughter in his voice.
I swatted his arm. “Don’t make fun of me! I got a little carried away.”
“I’ll say.”
I moved from his embrace, grabbed one of the pillows from my side of the bed, and hit him with it, causing him to roar in laughter. He easily yanked the pillows from my hands and wrapped me up in his strong arms to lay back against his chest.
“What’s the other scar on your back from?” I asked before I could think better of it. I hadn’t noticed it the night before, but now that I had my curiosity got the best of me.
“You really want to know?”
“No, I just asked to be polite.” The sarcasm was evident in my tone.
I smiled at the deep sound of his chuckle, leaning back and relaxing my head against him comfortably.
“It happened on a call a few years ago. The guy was high out of his mind and had set a small fire in his house. We came to put it out, and he went crazy and stabbed me.”
“Oh my God!” I gasped, sitting up and turning to him. “Really?”
He nodded. “It was mostly a superficial wound though it obviously left a scar. About a year ago I got a letter at the fire station apologizing. He was in jail and got clean.”
I stared at him, my mouth wide open. He recounted the story as if it was no big deal. As if this guy hadn’t endangered his life, not just by fire, but also physically attacking him. I hadn’t even considered that someone would attack a firefighter. These were the good guys. The ones who came to help.
“You sound like you don’t even blame him.”
He gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder. “I mean, what am I gonna do? Still be pissed over a call that happened years ago? The guy apologized.”
“But you could’ve been seriously hurt … or worse?”
He gripped my chin in between his thumb and forefinger, yanking me toward him, pressing a kiss to my lips. He pulled back. “Remember what I told you the other night in my car?”
I frowned, forehead creasing as I recalled that night. “You said you worked with the best of the best, and if anything happened to you, they were your insurance policy.”
“Right. They have my back, and I’ve got theirs. Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
I wasn’t able to respond before he engulfed me in another kiss. I moaned into his mouth, feeling myself falling under his spell, but I moved back before I could get too lost.
“Turn over and lay on your stomach.”
He looked at me quizzically.
“I want to kiss it,” I answered his silent question. I pushed him by his shoulder. He complied, and turned over, exposing his broad back to me. I sat back on my haunches, just examining the muscles in his back. Leaning over, I pressed a kiss to his scar, then another one, and another. I sighed with contentment, stretching up to wrap my arm around his lower back and lay my cheek on his upper back, laying half on top of him.
“What’re we going to do about your mother?”
He made a snorting sound. “What about her?”
I lifted my head. “Don’t say it like that, Eric. She’s your mother. I know you’re upset with her, but I do think she just wants the best for you.”
“You’re the best for me.” He turned over, capturing me in his arms again and gripping my chin. “I meant what I said last night.”
Him telling me I was going to be a part of his family came flooding back. Butterflies began moving in my stomach. I swallowed then sighed into his mouth when his lips brushed against mine. Once again, I lowered my head to lay on his bare chest. After a few silent moments, I laughed slightly, thinking about the other encounter I had yesterday at the gym.
“It seems your mother isn’t the only one upset about us being together.”
