Diego and Monique went scampering off, down the hall to do as instructed.
“Hey,” he stated, pulling me in, his voice deepening. His lips captured mine before I even had time to respond.
I parted my lips because my body’s reaction was no longer under my control when I was wrapped up in his arms. Carter deepened the kiss, pulling me in closer to his waist. I moaned into his mouth but forced myself to pull back before getting too carried away. I didn’t need two ten-year old’s running in and seeing us, although truth be told, Diego was probably used to such open displays of affection between us by now. My husband wasn’t one to shy away from affection toward me or our children. One of the many things I loved about him.
I lifted my hand to cup his chiseled cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you, too, sugar,” he responded just before pressing another quick kiss to my lips.
I swallowed, staring him in the eyes. “I’d be devastated if something happened to you,” I blurted out. Talking with Patience earlier had me thinking of losing my own spouse.
Raising a blond eyebrow, Carter moved my hand from his cheek to his lips before lowering it. “What brought that about?”
I shrugged. “Just thinking,” I responded, not wanting to give away the conversation Patience and I had. “Your job is already so scary, and given everything that happened—”
“It’s over now.”
I pushed out a heavy breath. “I know, but that was a frightening time for all of us.” I parted my mouth again but didn’t want to say my next thoughts. My husband’s job as a firefighter was terrifying enough even without some homicidal pyromaniac stalking his entire station. Regardless, with that last part out of the way, the reality was, he still ran into fires to save lives. I loved him for it. Hell, we met and eventually fell in lovebecausehe’d saved me from a terrible car accident and near explosion. And as much as I wanted to, I wouldn’t ask him to give it up. His job, his need to be in the mix helping others was what made him who he was.
“You know I’m invincible, right?”
I giggled. He’d begun telling me that to reassure me.
“I’m sure you are, Lieutenant,” I agreed, wrapping my arms around his neck, reminding him of his newly minted status at the station.
His smile was wide. “Speaking of …”
I lifted an eyebrow.
“I spoke with the captain the other day. Wanted to wait until it was final. I got the word today, the brass has asked me to split my time between Rescue Four and new recruits.”
I wrinkled my forehead. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’ll be half time at the station and the other half at the Academy, helping to shape the next generation of Williamsport firefighters. It also means less time I’ll have to spend running into fires.”
My eyes widened. “Really?”
He nodded. “Really, sugar.” He kissed my forehead.
I frowned. “Wait. You didn’t just do this because it’s what you thought I’d want, did you?”
“You know I’d give you anything you wanted.”
“I know, which is why I’m asking.”
“Firstly, I didn’t request this at all, but with my promotion and experience, my name was thrown in the pot for new instructors and I agreed. I’ll still be with Rescue Four doing what I love, but I’ll also be able to shape how recruits are instructed to graduate better prepared firefighters for the entire city.”
I felt relieved at the excitement I heard in his voice at this new opportunity. And I was satisfied knowing that he would be spending less time in actual fires. Call me selfish, but I liked the idea of knowing my man was in less danger every time he went to work.
“With you as their instructor, Williamsport is going to have the best firefighters in the world,” I gushed, pressing kisses all over his face.
He chuckled. “Any other wishes I can grant for you today?”
“Yes, I want another baby.”
He went completely still, his breathing increasing.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning.
