Rough hands cup my face as he teases the seam of my mouth with his tongue. I murmur against his lips and open for him, allowing him to deepen the kiss. It’s tender. Much gentler than last night, like I’m something to cherish.
Fire crackles in my veins, flames fanning my cheeks. This man has the ability to set me alight, my heart thundering, my core pulsing with each caress of his tongue.
Flint Sparks knows how to bring the heat and the way he licks reminds me of all the dirty things he did with his tongue last night.
“Are you sure you have to get to work?”
He glances at the clock and sighs. “I’m already late. I called in this morning, but I have a meeting at ten.” He presses his lips to my forehead. “I also called your boss. He’s not expecting you back at work this week.”
“But I need the money.” My eyes widen, wondering how I’m gonna get paid.
“Shhh… I have everything you need right here. I’m gonna take care of you, sweetheart. And right now, you need to rest. Ifyou feel up to it, you could look at your nan’s online banking for any insurance payments in the last year.”
I nod, my chest tightening again. Such a simple task, but it seems too much at the same time.
“Or we can do it together tonight.” It’s as if he senses I’m overwhelmed. “Everything will be okay.”
A sense of calm washes over me as he strokes my cheek. And despite my life being in ashes, I feel like this is the start of something wonderful.
Chapter Twelve
FLINT
The firehouse is quiet when I pull into the lot. The smell of coffee hits me the second I step inside. Normally, this is the part of the morning where I grunt at whoever’s on shift and head straight for my office. But not today.
I whistle as I walk to the kitchen area in the dayroom, carrying two bags of take-out. “Lunch is on me. Burgers, wings, fries, the works. Knock yourselves out.”
Everyone’s eyes widen, mouths gaping.
Bear rises from the table. “Who the hell are you and what’ve you done with our chief?”
Hollywood grins. “Is this what a midlife crisis looks like?”
Drake puts down his paper. “Is that an actual smile, Chief?”
The room falls silent. Suspiciously silent.
Phoenix opens the brown paper bags, the aroma of fried chicken filling the room. “We getting laid off or something?”
Hollywood chuckles. “Either that or Chief’s getting laid.”
I roll my eyes. “Eat your damn food before I change my mind.”
“Confirmed. Definitely getting laid,” Hollywood says as he helps Phoenix set the food out on the counter.
“You lot need new hobbies.”
Bear pats me on the back with a hearty laugh. “You’re glowing, Chief.”
Drake strides over to the food, grabbing a handful of fries onto a paper plate. “Yeah, he’s radiating like he just survived a near-death experience or something.”
“Didn’t he literally run into a burning house for a woman?” Phoenix bites into a cheeseburger.
“Right, and now he’s buying us lunch,” Hollywood says, around a mouthful of fries. “Love really does make you stupid.”
A groan rumbles out of me on an exhale. “You lot done, or do I need to run drills until you drop?”
Hollywood grins, a fry hanging from his lips. “Depends, you dropping her name?”
