“He’s going to fall!”
Felix clung to a branch, his chunky body dangling precariously in the wind. I stood underneath him with my arms extended while Ezra and Wilder got their ladder out of the truck. Wilder arched an eyebrow as he moved my abandoned ladder to the side and set his up in its place.
“I know you weren’t fucking going to use that,” he said.
I smiled and batted my eyelids. “Of course not.”
His chest rumbled as he climbed up the ladder. I definitely wasnotdistracted by the way his muscular arms and thighs strained against his uniform as he climbed.
When he was within reaching distance of Felix, he plucked him from the branch, tucked him unceremoniously under his arm, and climbed back down.
“I believe this belongs to you,” he said gruffly.
I hugged Felix to my chest. “That wasn’t a good idea, was it?” I cooed. “Let’s not do that again.” He flopped back in my arms, purring and looking no worse for wear. “Saythank youto the nice firefighters for the rescue.” But Felix wasn’t having it. He pushed out of my arms, landed nimbly on the ground, and strutted away.
“Glad he’s not too traumatized,” Wilder said dryly.
I shook my head. He was likely more embarrassed than hurt, but I’d check him over and give him extra treats and cuddles later. “Well,I’llsay it. Thank you for the rescue. Again.”
“At least this one was less dramatic.”
My cheeks heated at the reminder of our first meeting. Being this close to him made it clear my massive crush hadn’t magically subsided. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. Wrap myself around him. Scent-mark his neck and sit on his…
Ezra came over and rested his arm on Wilder’s shoulder. “Rescuing the mayor. All in a day’s work.”
I laughed and shook my head, but my smile turned strained as my body was hit by an intense wave of fatigue.
The world spun around me.
“What’s wrong?” Wilder moved in front of me, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Lucy?”
“I’m fine. Just need to sit down.” Blackness encroached on my vision.
“Fuck.” Hands urged me to the curb. “Head between your legs, sweetheart.” Wilder’s voice reached me like it was coming through water. He gently rubbed my back as I curled over my bent knees, breathing deeply.
“Drink this.” Ezra placed a bottle of water in my hand and I took small sips. My skin was clammy, but my vision was slowly coming back.
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Ezra asked.
A whine slipped through my lips. I cleared my throat. “No. I’m fine.”
“Get me the pulse ox and blood pressure monitor,” Wilder said.
I slowly lifted my head. “I don’t need the hospital.”
Wilder cupped the back of my neck, and his touch felt so good it made me want to purr. “I’m going to check your vitals. If I think you need to go, you’ll go.”
His stern tone made me equal parts irritated and aroused, and the flare of his nostrils told me he could tell. I shut my eyes again in humiliation. I kept perfuming around Wilder even after he made it clear he wasn’t interested. Why would he be, when he only ever saw me at my most helpless?
Ezra dropped to his knees beside me and placed the pulse ox on my finger. He went to put on the blood pressure cuff, but Wilder tore it out of his hand and slid it up my arm himself. He grunted once he got the reading.
“A bit low. When was the last time you ate?”
“Last night,” I mumbled.
Wilder made a noise in the back of his throat. “Right. You”—he gestured at Ezra—“get back to the station. I’m taking my lunch break.”
“You don’t have to stay here with me,” I said after Ezra drove away.
