Stepping around so Thayne could see his face, Frankie wiggled his eyebrows and pretended to hump the air. “You’re gonna get some,” he mouthed.
Thayne rolled his eyes. The kid wasn’t as grown up as he sometimes acted. But Frankie wasn’t entirely wrong, either.
Thayne finally had a breakthrough with Laura it seemed, and he wasn’t about to let the moment pass without taking advantage of it. If he could get her to commit to any sort of relationship with him, he would.
“The Red Cross is setting up temporary housing arrangements for everyone, but I told them you’re coming home with me.” Thayne spoke firmly, inviting no argument from her. “And Snips too.”
He turned to Bill Warton, the medic on duty. “Is she okay to leave?”
Bill looked at his chart and hopped down past them to the ground. “If her vitals are steady on this check, she’s good to go.”
Laura remained silent while Bill worked, but she leaned her head on Thayne’s shoulder, seeming content to be with him.
Thayne expected some argument out of her, so he couldn’t believe his luck. Still, he wondered how long this hero worship-like mood of hers would last before she pushed him away again.
After all, she never called his cell phone to make up with him. If he hadn’t responded to the fire and pulled her from it, they wouldn’t be talking.
***
I hope I’m doing the right thing. Thayne came into that burning building to save me, and now I’m ready to throw myself at him. I can’t believe I didn’t even protest about going to his house. Maybe I’m in shock.
Laura exited the bus ahead of Thayne. He had Snips’s carrier in one hand and took Laura’s hand in the other, leading her down the brightly lit sidewalk in his nice neighborhood. He led her into the yard of a home right under a streetlight and set Snips on the porch, pulling keys from his pants pocket and unlocking the door.
“It’s not much, but it’s home.”
Laura shifted the small bag of clothing and supplies the Red Cross workers had handed her before she left. She needed a shower and somewhere to lie down. It had been one heck of a day.
She followed Thayne into the house, where he flipped on a light switch near the door, illuminating the foyer. It split off into a hallway leading to two closed doors and a living room with a small kitchen toward the back end of the house. It was plain inside, with no pictures on the walls or any other decoration. In the living room, horizontal blinds covered the windows, and the room held an overstuffed gray chair and a huge flat-screen TV. Then again, Thayne probably spent most of his time with his firefighter brothers, not here in his house so had no need for more furniture.
“It’s nice,” she said, feeling somewhat timid. “Are there two bedrooms?”
“One bedroom, one bath.” He smiled down at her and kissed her lips softly. “Don’t worry, I’m sleeping on the floor.”
He led the way to a small kitchen, setting Snips’s carrier on the floor. After rummaging around in the cupboards, he pulled out a can of tuna. “Hopefully this will make her less afraid.”
With a nod, Laura opened the cage, making soothing sounds as she did so.
Snips huddled as far from the doorway as she could get, but when Thayne put the can of tuna inside, her little nose worked overtime, and she stepped forward to check it out.
The contented smile on Thayne’s face was all Laura needed to see.
He might have been willing to leave her there to save my life, but he really does love animals. It’s almost like we’re living the dream that he’d talked about over dinner—a cat and a partner to help him take care of her.
But, no. Laura knew she couldn’t let herself think that way. This was temporary until she figured something else out. Thayne was being nice, and he certainly still acted as if he cared for her, but they had a lot of things to figure out. She couldn’t get carried away.
“Why don’t you shower first?” Thayne asked. “I’ll take my truck and run into town, grabbing essentials for Snips and dinner for us.”
Laura nodded, grateful for his consideration. “I’ll be out before you get back and it’ll be all yours.”
Chapter Thirteen
Thayne grabbed the bags from his truck and headed for the front door. The soft murmur of the television greeted him. It seemed Laura had made herself at home, which was a good thing.
Uncertain what type of food she fed Snips, Thayne had grabbed a few small cans of different stuff and the makings for a litter box from the store. Tomorrow, they’d have to get some shopping done for Laura, and they could get more cat stuff then.
He’d also slipped in a box of condoms, remembering the adage to always be prepared. Sure, that probably wasn’t what they meant by it, but it was still good advice. He was exhausted tonight and ready to sleep, but if things happened, he didn’t want to let the opportunity pass.
He set the bag of Chinese takeout on the porch and unlocked the front door. Upon opening it, he peered through the dimly-lit room to see Laura curled up in his recliner, Snips asleep on the arm of the chair. It wouldn’t do any good to wake them while he still smelled of smoke and was covered in grit. A quick shower and then they’d enjoy a late dinner.
As he walked past the chair to set the bags onto the kitchen counter, Thayne couldn’t help but look down at Laura. It hit him all at once. How lucky they’d been. How easily things could have gone a different way today, and he would have lost her forever. No matter what he had to do to convince her, he would not let Laura push him away again. He needed her in his life.
And he was starting to believe, whatever her reasons for holding back, she needed him too.
***
Thayne walked from the bathroom wrapped in a towel with his and Laura’s smoke-filled clothing bundled beneath his arm. He hurried to the kitchen and opened the double-folding doors hiding the washer and dryer. As he plopped the clothes inside the washer and added soap, Laura cleared her throat behind him.
“That’s a mighty nice view, god man.”
With a large smile, Thayne turned. The clothes the Red Cross had supplied her were too large, and the T-shirt slipped off Laura’s right shoulder. She’d tied the sweats tightly to her waist, but the too-long legs bunched around her bare feet. She looked like a kid playing dress up, and a fierce need to protect her overcame him.
He held out his arms, and she readily snuggled into him, kissing his chest.
He buried his head into the top of her hair, hugging her against him. She smelled fresh and clean, miles away from the danger they’d been in earlier.
“Promise me you’ll never do that again,” he said softly, stroking her still damp hair smooth against her back. “For the past year and a half, I’ve never felt that frightened.”
Laura’s hands rubbed up his chest before circling around his neck to pull him down for another kiss. “What happened a year and a half ago?”
It would be unwise to tell her he lost his partner in a fire, especially when that was likely a big fear for her and the reason she’d held herself back from Thayne. Instead, he kissed her again, teasing at the edge of her mouth with his tongue. He was desperate to taste her, to have her surrender her defenses to him. To make her his.
With a soft moan, Laura softened her lips and sucked his tongue inside her mouth. Her hands felt like butterflies against his skin, tentatively touching his back and arms. Light, hesitant caresses.
He had no question about wanting to touch her. He tucked his hands beneath her shirt, breaking away from her lips to smile when she shuddered at his touch, the skin beneath his fingers breaking out in goose bumps. The light fabric between their chests let Thayne feel her every breath. As he moved his hand under the band of her sweat pants and rubbed the top of her ass, Laura’s nipples went hard, firming against his chest.
He trailed kisses down her chin and across her throat and Laura tipped her head back.
“Thayne,” she whispered, his name never sounding sweeter. “I haven’t done this for a long...
” She stopped talking, and a sweet groan burst forth when Thayne nibbled the spot just below her earlobe.
“How long?” he asked in a breathy tone before latching onto the crook of her neck, sucking and kissing.
Her breathing became more irregular, and Thayne’s cock stiffened. He needed her. He’d never been so ready for a woman in his life. He didn’t care how long it had been for her—he’d make it worth the wait. He’d please Laura until she shrieked in ecstasy and could do nothing but moan his name.
He slid his hands beneath her ass, lifting her. As though they had practiced the motion, she wrapped her legs around his waist and ran her fingers through the sprinkle of hair on his chest.
“Seven years,” she panted.
It was as if she threw a bucket of water over him. “Seven... y-y-years?” He must have heard wrong. She meant months—didn’t she?
“Don’t stop.” She rubbed her perfect tits against him, revving his desire back up though he tried to control it. “I know that’s a long time to wait, but I just needed the right man. Please, Thayne. I’m done waiting.”
Torn, Thayne spun around and set her on top of the washing machine. He needed to stop touching her. Needed to think. If she had been waiting for seven years, why did she give it up now? What did it mean if they had sex?
Laura, however, seemed to have released her inhibitions. She stripped the T-shirt off. Her tight nipples protruded toward him like a beacon—one Thayne couldn’t resist.
He stepped into the space between her legs, taking one perfect bud into his mouth and twirling his tongue around the sensitive skin.
Laura moaned again, running her hands across his head and shifting her pelvis firm against him. “Oh, yes, god man. That feels like lightning exploding inside my body. Don’t stop.”
Thayne gave the other nipple a turn with his tongue while fighting at the knot Laura had tied in the sweatpants’ string. He tugged frantically, beginning to wonder if she’d tied the damn thing in a double knot. Finally, he freed it.
He worked his mouth down her stomach, nipping around her belly button while yanking the pants down her thighs. Luckily, she wore no panties, so they couldn’t get in his way.
The scent of her turned him on even more, and Thayne knew he had to have her. There was no sense worrying what it meant. It was real, and it was right. He cared about her and had to have her.
His towel slipped off, piling near his feet. Thayne buried his face between Laura’s legs, nibbling up her thigh toward her sweet spot. His rock hard dick brushed against the cold metal of the washer, but that didn’t faze him. Before long, he’d bury himself in Laura’s warmth and everything would be right in the world.
He threw her legs over his shoulders, surrounding himself with her wetness. His cock throbbed in time with her breathless moans while he worked magic on her with his tongue. He came up for air, meeting her eyes while he tucked a finger inside her tight opening.
Laura ran her hand down her body to his face, rubbing her thumb across his lips. “I want you to kiss me,” she panted, tilting her pelvis in time with his finger thrusts. “Please, Thor, whack me with your mighty hammer and kiss me.”
Thayne chuckled. “Thor, huh? What kind of sexual fantasies have you been having, cat woman?” He moved his hand faster and faster, in and out, certain she was on the edge of orgasm. He kept his eyes on hers, wanting to watch as she crossed into ecstasy.
The sound of a loud police siren broke through their heavy breathing before Laura’s squeals of pleasure did. Thayne glanced at his phone where it sat on the kitchen counter, ringing through a call that must be from one of his fireman brothers.
A tremble went through Laura’s body, but not the one he waited for her to have. Her eyes flew open, fear clear in them as she retreated from his hand. Her blue eyes darted back and forth, and she licked her lips in a decidedly non-seductive manner.
Why was she freaking out? He had to get her to concentrate. She had been close, he just knew it.
“Don’t lose that feeling, sexy lady. It’s just my phone, not real sirens. I don’t care who’s on the line. I am not leaving you now. Let me please you.”
Laura stared past him to the phone, drawing away more. She folded her legs against her body and wrapped her arms around them, squeezing her knees to her chest.
“Damn it.” Thayne put his hands over hers, noting the tears welling in her eyes but not yet falling. “I don’t know what is going on, but don’t panic. Everything is okay. It’s just my phone.”
“Answer it.” Her voice sounded choked, and she buried her face into her legs. “Please, make it stop.”
With his manhood shrinking like he jumped into freezing water, Thayne snatched the phone from the counter. “Bloodgood. This had better be damn good.”
“Thayne? It’s Frankie. Can you pick me up?”
Some of Thayne’s anger faded at the scared tone in Frankie’s voice. “I thought you had a date with Bambi.”
“Well...” Frankie let out a long sigh. “She wanted to teach me a lesson for being such an asshole. Some guys at the club jumped me after I had a few shots. I’m not sure I can walk right now, let alone drive.”
“Shit. What’s the address? I’ll be right there.”
Chapter Fourteen
Breathe. Come on, breathe. I can do this. I can calm down.
God man gazed at Laura with equal parts concern and frustration. She didn’t blame him.
He must think I’m crazy. And why wouldn’t he? I’m starting to wonder.
Thayne crossed back to her, stooping to the ground to retrieve his towel and handing her the oversized T-shirt. He covered himself before looking at her again.
I got the clue, Thor. Don’t worry. I’ll get dressed.
Laura shrugged into her shirt, still unable to control the trembling of her body, but breathing a bit easier.
A freakin’ ringtone on his phone and everything hits down on me like a speeding car. All my memories, fear, and guilt. How can Thayne ever handle that? I’m a mess.
Once she covered herself, Thayne grabbed her hand in his. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. She had to be okay, didn’t she? All her pills burned in the fire so she couldn’t panic. It was mind over matter. She had to control this.
“I have to leave,” Thayne said.
Her chest squeezed tighter at hearing that. Laura realized it wasn’t the ringtone of a police siren that upset her, not entirely. It was the fact that it called Thayne to danger. Just like Brian.
“Another fire?” she managed to ask through her constricted throat.
To her relief, he shook his head. “Frankie got himself in a bit of trouble with a girl and some guys roughed him up. He’s sitting in an alley, bloody from what I could tell. I need to drive him home.”
Laura forced out a long breath, trying to expel her nerves with it. He wasn’t heading into danger. The danger had already passed, and Frankie suffered the consequences. “Please be careful.”
He leaned in to kiss her cheek and then lifted her from the washer to wrap her in a hug. “Those thugs are long gone, so don’t worry. I’ll be safe. Frankie’s a good kid, if a bit dense. He needs help. I have to go to him, but I hate to leave you like this. Are you really going to be okay?”
Feeling more certain by the second, Laura nodded firmly. “I didn’t mean to freak out, but your ringtone makes me think of Brian, and I just...”
Thayne cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowed. “Who the hell is Brian?”
Her heart squeezed down harder. “My past.” She caressed his cheek, knowing they had to have this conversation soon. She had to face her guilt and get over it if she ever wanted any kind of future.
Thayne stayed quiet a few heartbeats longer, perhaps waiting for her to continue speaking. When she didn’t, he backed away, still looking at her but no longer wanting to touch her, it seemed. “I have to go. Make yourself at home. There’s Chinese takeout in the paper bag, and I picked up some supplies to take care of
Snips. I’ll be back in a bit.”
He turned and walked down the hallway, shutting his bedroom door to get dressed.
So much for a fun time with the mighty Thor. I screwed that all up.
Sighing, Laura retrieved her sweatpants from where Thayne had thrown them, tightening the string around the waist to keep them from falling off.
Snips wandered into the kitchen, stretching and letting out a yawn before meowing.
Time to set up the kitten’s litter box, feed her, and then get to sleep. If Thayne’s sudden coldness is any indication, I need to find a new home tomorrow.
***
Thayne pulled his truck into the back alley Frankie had described, seeing the kid slumped down, leaning against a large garbage bin. Just in case the thugs lurked in the shadows, Thayne grabbed a wooden baseball bat from beneath the truck’s bench seat before hopping out of it.
“Frankie? You okay, buddy?”
Frankie lazily waved a hand at him. “Hey, you.”
Even those two words were slightly slurred, and Thayne realized that maybe Frankie’s walking problems weren’t from the beating he had, but from too much alcohol. He did say he had a couple shots.
Thayne crouched next to him, using the truck’s headlights to look at his bloody face. Even though shadows obscured Thayne’s view, Frankie looked rough. “Do you think you can stand?”
Frankie stuck a hand out, presumably for Thayne to pull him up.
Not sure it was a great idea but feeling a need to get Frankie out of the alleyway, Thayne stood and yanked him upright.
Frankie made it to his feet, but then stumbled forward, falling heavily into Thayne’s chest. “I’m a little drunk,” he slurred, clinging to Thayne.
Thayne slung Frankie’s arm around his shoulders and half dragged him to the truck. In his drunken state, Frankie couldn’t help out much, but Thayne managed to hoist him into the passenger’s seat.
“What happened?” Thayne asked. “You didn’t sound drunk when you called.”
Blazing Love Page 10
