“Listen to you with that stern tone. Did you just go schoolteacher on me? Shit, that’s hot,” he hissed. “You're like a peach. You know how it gets sweeter and juicier the more you eat it? And the sweet, wet satisfaction when it dribbles down your chin? That's my favorite part. I can never lick you up fast enough.”
Raking my hand down my hot face, I shook my head.
“I can't stand you,” I spit through gritted teeth and couldn't help but smile at Nick’s hearty laugh.
“Those beautiful legs are twisted like a pretzel, aren’t they? Be careful you don’t hurt yourself. I can't wait to untwist them and taste you.”
“All right, enough.”
“Maybe you can even get on the table. You can wear that little pink dress I love, with no panties. Lay along the edge, spread-eagle, so my tongue can . . .”
“Please, tell me you're somewhere alone.” I’d never be able to look anyone in the firehouse in the eye ever again if he wasn’t. My cheeks heated to the point of burning.
“No one is paying attention. I can fire you up all night, and no one would pay me one bit of mind, sweetheart. Hey, if it makes you feel better I had to walk outside until I could bring down the tent in my pants,” he whispered into the phone.
I held in a laugh. “Serves you right. Maybe I should saveempanadasfor another time. I feel like I'll be too busy on Saturday to cook,” I chuckled, but Nick stayed quiet.
“I miss you so damn much. I hate night shifts. I didn't mind them until I had someone to snuggle with at night.”
“No one snuggles like you.”
“No one better.”
I smiled at his growl.
“Because I’m your Freckles?” I giggled into the phone.
“No.” The humor left Nick’s voice. “You're . . . you're my everything, Ella-Jane.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over us. This kept happening. The playful moments turned serious, and I never knew how to handle it. Unspoken words were deafening at times.
“Right back at you, Nicholas Patrick.” I loved Nick, but every time I wanted to tell him, the words wouldn’t come. It was silly how the both of us were still afraid to say exactly how we felt. But silly or not, we seemed to be stuck at this impasse.
“I have an early day tomorrow. Be careful tonight.” I climbed under the covers and frowned at the empty space next to me.
“Always am. Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“Goodnight, baby.” I ended the call and turned on the TV. The empty noise helped me feel less lonely. I drifted into a light sleep and woke up to a late news report.
“It’s unclear what started the warehouse fire, but given the age of the abandoned building and extensive damage already done, it looks like an imminent collapse. The fire department has been trying to get it under control for the past hour without much success.”
My eyes squinted at the TV screen and landed on thetwenty-threeon the fire truck in the front of the blaze.
Twenty-three. Nick’s firehouse.Nick was fighting that fire—in a warehouse that may collapse.
I sucked in a panicked breath as I leaped out of bed. Yes, Nick was a firefighter. I knew what he did; he’d even told us stories of fires he fought. We listened and responded with a ‘wow’ at the appropriate times. But looking at that burning building, knowing the man I loved was probably inside, made me physically sick. Bile rose into the back of my throat, and my hands shook.
Even though it was almost midnight, I yanked my phone off my nightstand and dialed Nick’s sister. I couldn’t say why that was my gut first reaction. Maybe if, God forbid, he was hurt or something, they’d let his immediate family know. My chin quivered at the thought of “or something.”
“Ellie, is everything okay?”
“Did you . . . did you hear anything? I’m watching Channel Eleven and—”
“I saw the fire on the news, too. We went through this all the time with our father. It's awful, but you have to wait it out. No other choice, unfortunately.”
I raked my hands through my hair as I bit my lip to stop the shaking. Marilyn probably thought I was insane. All I could see were the flames coming out of every crevice of that warehouse. Words like “imminent collapse” terrified me. What if Nick couldn't get out in time?
“Ellie, my brother is careful . . . and smart. Just like our dad was. He'll come home. Have faith.”
