by Hope Stone
I laughed. “Yes, you could say that. The name is Sean. Alice is just sleeping and I couldn’t stand the idea of waking her up.”
“Okay, that’s kind of sweet… as long as you haven’t murdered her or anything.”
“Nope, she’s still very much alive,” I laughed.
“Great stuff. Then you can tell her I’m making the four of us lunch… you included. My husband is having a work-from-home day and I thought it would be a nice welcome home for her. Be here at 12 sharp. Nice chatting to you, Sean,” she giggled and then ended the call before I could say anything.
I guess I hadn’t been quiet enough because Alice came into the room seconds later.
“Was that my phone?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. She was wrapped up in my sheet and smiling. She looked amazing.
“Yes, sorry, I saw it was your sister and I answered. Apparently, we’re having lunch there at 12 sharp.” I smiled.
“Let me guess, she put the phone down before you could say anything?”
“Yep, but I’m not complaining. My shift only starts at 5 pm and I kinda like your sister from the short conversation we had. She just wanted to make sure I hadn’t murdered you.” I laughed.
“Oooh, you’re cooking,” she said as she saw the ingredients out on the table.
“Yeah, I figured I’d make us a nice breakfast since we worked up quite an appetite last night.”
We ate breakfast and chatted, and I couldn’t remember ever being that happy just relaxing with someone. My ex-fiancée had been the dramatic type. If we weren’t fighting then she wasn’t happy. It had taken me a long time to realize that I didn’t like being upset. Things hadn’t ended well, but I knew that was for the best.
I cleaned up and she wanted to go have a shower and get changed at her sister’s guesthouse before lunch.
“It’s a little trashy going to lunch in last night’s dress,” she laughed. I said I didn’t mind.
The guesthouse was small but nice. The boxes we'd brought over the day before were still half unpacked. I started pulling things out to try and help.
Alice looked at me. “Feel like a shower?”
“I took one before you woke up,” I laughed and then she looked at me and I realized what she meant. I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to be naked in a shower with her. I took off my clothes quickly and followed her into the bathroom, pulling her naked body into my arms.
We fooled around in the shower, but just as I was getting hard, we heard knocking on the door.
“Alice, are you in there?”
Alice jumped out of the shower, wrapped a towel around herself, and threw one at me.
“Yes, just finished taking a shower.” She walked out and greeted her sister.
I waited a moment for my erection to go down before I sheepishly walked out wearing nothing but a towel.
“Ah, hot fireman,” Jane said and extended her hand.
I shook her hand. “It’s Sean,” I laughed.
“Okay, whatever you say, hot fireman,” she giggled and handed me my clothes. “I just wanted to check that it was you and not someone breaking in. A few weeks ago there were some teenagers in our yard using the pool, thinking no one was home. You two get dressed and I’ll see you in the kitchen.”
Alice was blushing, and I loved the way she blushed. It was like her feelings were so obvious and on her face. I felt so close to her. I pulled her close and kissed her. “We better get dressed before she comes back,” I laughed.
We put our clothes on and went across to the main house for lunch. I met Jane’s husband Travis, who seemed really laid back compared to his wife. Then again, you can’t judge people based on how they behave around family.
We were all seated around the dining room table when Jane started her inquisition.
“So you run into burning buildings for a living?” she asked, knowing the answer.
“Yep. That’s part of the job,” I replied, not knowing where this line of questioning was going.
“How many times have you almost died?” I had to give it to her, she wasn’t shy about asking the difficult questions.
“Three times. Once I got trapped in a room with a fire, but my partner was able to pull me out at the last minute. Once with smoke inhalation when my equipment was faulty and once when a ceiling almost collapsed on me but I was able to get away just in time,” I answered honestly.
“Jane, stop. What are you trying to get at?” Alice asked, squeezing my hand underneath the table.
“That he’s in a dangerous profession and could get hurt... And if you two are together, you could get hurt too. You’ve lost people you loved before and it nearly destroyed you,” she replied matter-of-factly.
“He saves people’s lives. That’s a pretty big deal. If he didn’t run into burning buildings, perhaps I wouldn’t be here right now,” Alice responded. I could tell she was getting irritated by her sister’s involvement.
“Okay, we’ll move on to a new topic. Just as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into, Alice.” Jane smiled curtly and brought up a new band that she was managing.
Chapter 8: Alice
I was annoyed with my sister. She could really be a little harsh. It’s not like he was risking his life doing extreme sports for fun. He was saving lives and that was commendable. Plus, we weren’t even together… or maybe we were. It was all so new, but at the same time, it felt significant.
I’d given up on finding love until I met Sean. And even though we’d only known each other for a few days, it felt important… like it was a big deal that we’d finally met… like we were always supposed to meet.
I wasn’t a romantic. Or, at least, I didn’t think I was. But Sean was special, he felt special. And I felt bad that my sister was questioning him like he was a naughty schoolboy. But I had to admit, when she changed the subject, she really changed the subject. After the intense questioning, we actually had a decent lunch. Sean was charming and I knew that he’d eventually win over my overprotective sister. Or I thought he would.
But once Sean left for his shift, Jane pulled me aside.
“He’s a little old for you, isn’t he? I mean how old is he?” she said simply.
“He’s 46, but it’s not like I’m a teenager. I’m a fully grown adult and it’s about time that you treat me that way,” I said, a little annoyed.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, that’s all. I know that when you love someone, you feel every emotion so strongly and I don’t want to see you break apart again.”
“This is different. I was 13 when Mom and Dad died. I didn’t know how to deal with such a great loss. But I’m different now, I know a lot more about life and how to cope with it. Anyway, who says he’s going to get hurt? He’s been doing this for years and he’s good at his job,” I muttered as I helped clean up.
“Yeah, well, I just worry about you. That’s my job,” she said.
“I know you do, but you don’t need to,” I replied. “Sean invited me to the station for a tour, so I’m going to go meet up with him there.” I gave my sister a quick peck on the cheek and headed out.
When I got to the station, Sean was checking the equipment. He was bent over, picking up and inspecting the machinery. I watched the muscles ripple beneath his shirt. He was so damn good looking, I found it hard not to stare at him. But it was more than that, it was more than simply good looks… he was just a really great guy. He was smart and funny and really nice to me. I just struggled to get my sister's words out of my head.
“Hey there, gorgeous,” he said when he saw me. He walked over and pulled me into his arms for a kiss. “I want you to meet my people. Come with me.”
He led me upstairs to a kind of dining area where there were a bunch of men and women playing poker.
He introduced me and they all seemed to be really friendly. But just as I was getting everyone’s names, the fire alarm went off. Sean kissed me quickly and told me to stay there. “It’s probably just a quick call. Stay here with Andrea and Gr
eg. They’ll keep you entertained until I get back.”
I nodded, not knowing what else to do as he put on his gear and the fire truck left the building.
“I don’t think Sean has brought a date here in years,” Andrea said as she put on some coffee for us. “Come to think of it, I don’t think Sean has been on a date in years. He must really like you.” She smiled.
“I really like him,” I said honestly.
“Well, we’re all like family here and if you really like him and he seems to really like you, well, then we like you. But you better get used to hanging around while he goes and saves lives. That’s what always gets to the partners. My husband found it really difficult in the beginning. He’s more used to it now, but it took years for him not to worry about me.”
We chatted about what it was like to be a firefighter for a while when suddenly Greg’s phone rang. All I heard was him mutter, “Shit, that’s bad. Are you able to get to him? Just follow protocol. I’m on my way there now.” And then he turned to Andrea. “They need back up. Sean’s been trapped by some beams and the place looks like it’s going to collapse. I’ll go… you stay here and keep an eye on reception.” He glanced at me. “It’s all part of the job.” He smiled weakly but I could tell that he was nervous.
The next hour was terrifying. I just sat there mindlessly sipping coffee while Andrea communicated with the rest of the firefighters on her radio. I was so scared. All I knew was that Sean was in danger… and that was enough to make me want to curl up in a ball of anxiety and cry. I hated that there was nothing I could do.
I wanted to go down to wherever they were and wait there. I wanted to see him get out of this and be okay. But Andrea told me it was best to just stay and try to breathe.
“Sean is a highly skilled firefighter and he knows what he’s doing. And so do the rest of our guys. He’ll get out unharmed. You just have to believe.”
Eventually, the radio went off and the voice on the other side said they were all in the clear and that Sean was out safely. I exhaled for what felt like the first time in hours.
I waited eagerly for the fire truck to return with Sean.
Chapter 9: Sean
I sat at the aid car, being checked out, filled with adrenaline. I knew that I’d almost been killed in there, but all I wanted was to get back to Alice and pull her into my arms. In moments like that, after a near-death experience, you tend to want to be around the people you care most about. And, even though it had only been a few days, I wanted to get back to Alice.
They cleared me and I hopped back into the truck and we headed back to the station. Part of me wondered if she would still be there, but part of me was also certain that she would, waiting for me. I felt bad. She must have had quite a scare, because when I arrived her face was white and she was shaking.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. “Damn, am I glad to see you,” I muttered into her ear. The rest of my department started cheering and she went from pale to red in seconds, but she was laughing and so was I.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said. “I’m just going to change.” I winked at her.
I went to change and came out and she seemed to have calmed down a bit as she listened to stories of what had happened from the other guys who’d been there. I took her hand and led her out to my truck. I opened the door for her but before she got in, I kissed her with everything I had. I hadn’t felt this alive in a really long time and Alice was the only person I wanted to be with.
I pulled up to my apartment and got out without wasting a moment. She stood up slowly and I picked her up and threw her over my shoulder. I could hear her laughing as I carried her up the stairs. Soon, we were in my apartment and I couldn’t help myself. I put her down and started kissing her. I pushed her up against the wall and she began unbuttoning my shirt as I lifted up her dress.
I picked her up and placed her on the kitchen counter, removing her bra and flicking my tongue against her nipples as she began to moan. I was already hard and more than ready. I pulled down her panties and parted her legs, going down on her to make sure she was as ready as I was.
When I knew she was ready for me, I unbuckled my jeans and dropped them. She took my erection in her hand and began to stroke it slowly, up and down. I began to groan. I wanted her so damn badly.
“I want you inside me,” she whispered into my ear.
Chapter 10: Alice
His eyes were sparkling with lust… for life and for me. He was clearly running on a high after his near-death experience and I could feel his intensity in the way he kissed me. He grabbed my ass and held me close. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he picked me up and pushed me against the wall again. I gasped and bit lightly into his shoulder as he entered me. Soon he was slowly moving in and out rhythmically.
With my body weight resting between him and the wall, I felt like I was doing a balancing act, which only intensified the experience. I felt safe in his arms and it was a feeling that I wished would never go away.
He kept kissing me intensely as he increased his pace and I began to moan, despite the fact that I was trying to hold back. He groaned as soon as I started making a noise and I knew that the sound of my pleasure was only turning him on more.
With one hand still on my ass, he reached out behind him and grabbed a chair and pulled it toward us. He then whipped me around so that he was seated with me on top of him. Every movement brought me closer to orgasm and I could tell that he was close as well.
We came at the same time, his lips still on mine as I moaned and he groaned. For a few moments, we just sat there trying to recover. Then he picked me up and carried me to the bed. I didn’t understand how he had the energy to do that, but he was so strong that I didn’t feel like he was going to drop me at all.
As soon as we were on the bed, he pulled me close and fell asleep with me in his arms. I liked the soft sounds he made when he was sleeping, but I couldn’t fall asleep myself. As much as I was just trying to enjoy the moment, I began to feel that fear that I’d felt earlier in the day when I didn’t know if he was going to make it.
It was terrifying and I could the tears start to stream down my face. He could have died so easily. And it wasn’t a once-in-a-lifetime event. The next night, he would be back there, putting his life in danger and I knew that I’d feel that fear again. And I didn’t know if I could handle it. I didn’t know if that terror would ever go away. Most of all, I didn’t know if I was strong enough to deal with it.
Suddenly, it all became too much for me and I realized that maybe I couldn’t handle being with a man who could so easily not be there the next day. I got up quietly, kissed him on the forehead and went to get dressed. I sat in the kitchen for a while before deciding that I couldn’t be there when he woke up. Instead, I took the coward’s way out and left him a note.
Chapter 11: Sean
I woke up and she was gone. I went into the kitchen and my heart almost stopped when I saw the note. Before I even picked it up, I knew that I wouldn’t like what I was about to read.
Dearest Sean,
Knowing you has been amazing. You are amazing. I’ve never felt this way about anybody before and I’m sure that if you and I stayed together, I would love you more than I ever thought possible. But this evening you almost died and there was nothing I could do, except wait and hope for the best.
I tried to tell myself that you’re a professional and you know what you’re doing. But I just couldn’t handle the fear. I’m so sorry to do this to you, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to feel this way every time you go to work.
I’m sorry,
Alice
I put my head in my hands. I wanted to run after her. I wanted to show up at her door and explain that it would get easier. That the fear would subside and it wouldn’t hurt forever. But I knew that I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t tell her how to feel. She’d been through a lot in her life and I didn’t in any way want to add to that.
So I just went made my
self a cup of coffee. Maybe it was for the best. At least she’d left now and not in a few months when it would have hurt even more. It was awful and I would miss her, but I understood where she was coming from.
Chapter 12: Alice
I spent the next few days trying not to cry while unpacking my stuff in my sister’s guesthouse. I knew I had to keep myself busy or all I’d think about was Sean. He was so great, but I just didn’t think I was strong enough.
On Monday, I went back to work and that helped. There was such a backlog of work that I didn’t have time to think about anything else. I spent my days in brainstorms and client pitches and then went home to my sister’s place to finish all the work I didn’t get to during the day.
It was still difficult, though, not thinking about him. I’d completely given up on meeting anyone who understood me the way he did. And then I got to spend a few wonderful days with the man of my dreams… but I had to leave. I just didn’t think I could go through that worry again.
On Thursday, I was busy working in our open-plan office when a crowd of people gathered at one person’s desk. Being nosy and on my way to get coffee, I stopped by and asked what was going on.
“The local bank is on fire… it’s a real blaze. They’ve got all the people out, but now they’re struggling to get the firefighters out as the building is about to collapse,” my colleague told me, thrilled by the drama of it all.
My heart caught in my throat. Was Sean there? I knew it was his station. After trying so hard not to think about him all week, he was now the only thing on my mind. I had to see him. I had to go there.
I rambled an excuse to my boss and then ran out of the office. I didn’t care that I had work to do or that I looked like a lunatic running toward a burning building. I had to see whether Sean was okay.
