I slapped Alden’s back as I fitted my helmet to my head. “Just think about it. No rush,” I informed him. There was no denying it, Alden wanted in on the arrangement too. His reaction to us kissing her had been a dead giveaway. It didn’t surprise me.
Sophia was a beautiful person inside as much as out—a woman you couldn’t help but fall to her feet and worship the ground she walked on. Darren and I had never shared a woman before, but if it had to happen so I could have a piece of Sophia’s heart as my own, then I’d do anything to be a part of it. Alden would feel it too if he didn’t already.
It was only a matter of time.
Hours later when the fire was finally out, at damn near dusk, we headed back to the station, all of us wary of what state we’d find Sophia in. It was hard enough for her worrying about her own safety with this guy, now she’d worry about those she cared about as well.
We reached the station in record time, and after a brief game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with Darren on who would stay behind to put shit away and who would take Sophia home, I won and swiftly made my way to the Chief’s office.
Darren was sore from losing, but he admitted that maybe it was best that we split up our time with Sophia as equally as possible. And she would definitely need at least one of us tonight.
I knocked on the Chief’s office door, but got no answer. Figuring it was empty, I went scouring the rest of the station to find them. It didn’t take long before I did.
Chief was reclined in one of the arm chairs watching the news in the rec room, glancing up when I entered. He pointed to the leather sofa where a sleeping Sophia snored softly, curled protectively into herself.
“Poor girl cried herself to sleep. The relief that her friend wasn’t hurt or killed was just too much for her,” Chief whispered sadly.
“Alice dying would’ve shredded her,” I stated. It was hard to imagine how Sophia managed all the emotional turmoil her poor mind had been put through in these short weeks. Losing her best friend was not something she was prepared to have to face.
“She’s a strong one, surviving the hell she has. You watch out for her, Torres. She needs to be surrounded by people like you and my boys. You three make her feel safe, and that’s a feeling she’s probably in short supply of lately.”
“Yes sir,” I replied seriously. That was one order I had every intention of following.
Quietly and gently as I could, I walked over and slipped my hands beneath her, lifting her up and cradling her close. She sighed in her sleep and automatically wrapped her arms around my neck, nuzzling her face into my shoulder. Chief grabbed her crutches and followed me through the station to the back parking lot where my truck was parked.
I set her down in the back seat, careful not to wake her. Chief handed me her crutches, which I laid on the floor beside her.
“I’ll see you next shift,” he told me, giving my shoulder a pat before heading back inside.
I shot a text off to Alden to ride back with Darren so I could get Sophia home, then climbed in, and drove my beautiful girl home.
She slept through the whole ride, clearly exhausted from the events of the day, and still didn’t wake up when I picked her back up and took her inside. I was surprised when she pushed her face into my shoulder and inhaled deeply as I carried her. I reeked of smoke and definitely needed to shower.
I nudged open her bedroom door with my boot then placed her tenderly onto her bed. It took a bit of finagling since her arms had entangled themselves so tightly around me. Once free, I relieved her feet of her shoes and pulled the blanket over her, tucking it in around her. When I began to walk away, a sharp tug on the back of my shirt stopped me.
I glanced over my shoulder to see her hand had snapped out and grabbed it, the fresh moonlight spilling in from her window illuminated her stunning features. Even with puffy, red eyes she still outshined any woman I’d ever seen in my entire life.
“Stay,” she whispered hoarsely, sleep still evident in her tone.
“Stay? In here with you?” I asked for clarity.
She slowly nodded her head. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
I smiled softly down at her. “But I smell atrocious. You don’t want me in your bed,” I replied with a laugh.
“I don’t care,” she said. “You three always have a hint of smokiness to your smell, so I’m used to it.”
“But it’s pretty bad.” I was mainly talking about the stench of me, but I had to admit, I was also maybe hinting at the idea of sleeping in her bed as well. God knows I wanted to; she was temptation personified.
“Please?” she pleaded softly.
I sighed, knowing that it would be wrong to deny her when she needed it most. “Alright. I’ll stay,” I relented.
Stripping off my shirt and shrugging out of my pants to at least dispel some of the smoky scent, I walked around and climbed into the bed, laying myself on top of the blankets. It was as good a barrier as I was going to get between us. She didn’t seem to mind and simply snuggled into me, her back pressed firmly into my chest.
I slid one arm beneath her pillow and laid the other over her stomach.
She released a relaxed breath and reached her left hand over to grab my arm around her.
