Chapter Eight
Jillian was thrilled when Miles told her he was going to be speaking at the high school about choosing to enlist in the Army. She called up the guidance counselor, found out when Miles was scheduled and was able to sit in the back of the room and watch him talk to the kids. They bombarded him with questions and he fielded them all with a warm seriousness she knew the students appreciated.
“Very nice job, Mr. Anderson,” she said, going up to him when he was done.
“I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“I couldn’t resist taking the opportunity to see you in action, soldier. I’ll bet a lot of these kids will look into this as a choice they didn’t consider before today.”
“Well, I know it was an important and valuable decision for me. If it can give any one of them even part of what I received, it will be worth it.”
“Can’t I take you out for lunch?” she said, looking at her watch.
“As long as it’s not in the cafeteria.”
“DeMarco’s Pizza sound good?”
“How do you feel about sausage?” he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
Lunch with Miles was fun and casual, and just what she needed to get her through the rest of her day, which was packed with both therapy and contractor appointments.
She was relaxing in her apartment, catching up on some television shows she had recorded, when she heard the sirens. As her heart involuntarily clenched, she knew something was very wrong. She had her confirmation when she tried to reach Miles on his cell phone and got no answer. She called Paula, who hesitated to tell her, but finally gave her the address of the fire. Charlie had gone to supervise and help direct the men. Without thinking, Jillian hung up the phone, grabbed a coat and got into her car. When she arrived at the fire and saw the crowd of emergency vehicles and people, she knew it was probably a mistake to come. Still, she was here. She only wanted to catch a glimpse of Miles and then she would go.
“Poor Tanya.”
“What is she going to do?”
“Where will she live?”
It took Jillian a few confused moments to realize the blaze she was looking at was her friend’s house. The flames had reached the second floor and the firefighters didn’t seem close to having it under control. She tried to distinguish Miles from the other workers, but the uniforms made them all look alike. Finally she saw Charlie giving orders near one of the fire trucks which had come in from the next town.
Running over to him, she asked, “Where’s Miles?”
“Honey, you shouldn’t be here.”
“I know, but I need to see him before I go. Please, Charlie.”
Charlie thought for a second, then nodded and scanned the teams of men and women working to get the fire contained. Finally he said, “There,” and he pointed.
As if he felt her eyes on him, Miles turned at that moment. His face was covered with sweat and soot, but she recognized him immediately. She was about to wave and leave, but Miles shouted something to the person next to him and ran over to her.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“So I’ve been told. I wanted to make certain you were all right.”
“I am. We may not have this handled yet, but since only one person lived here, there’s no need for us to go inside. I don’t anticipate any problems, but if will make you feel better, go to my house, snuggle in with Harlow, and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Harlow’s not here?”
“No, I usually bring her in after.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze and went back to work.
She took a deep breath in relief and coughed from the smoke in the air. She watched him for a few minutes, enthralled with his focus and determination. He worked with each team in order, checking to make sure each fighter was holding up, sending some to get a drink and taking their position when they needed a break. She might have been graceful when she danced, but she saw a grace and rhythm here, too. It was amazing to see.
As she headed back to her car, she saw Tanya standing there, wrapped in a blanket and crying. She started to walk over to comfort her friend, when she saw a familiar man come up to her and put his hands on her shoulders. Tanya turned to face Rob and threw her arms around him in a gesture which suggested much more than friendship. Jillian found herself moving closer to hear what they were saying.
“I don’t know what happened, Rob. I woke up to the smell of smoke and the sound of fire. I grabbed my blanket and the cordless phone, covered my head and ran. I called 911 as soon as I was outside, and you a few minutes after.”
“It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know how you can say that. Look at this,” she said hysterically, and gestured to the commotion only a few feet away. “I don’t have a home. There will be nothing left. I have nowhere to go. Please, you have to let me stay with you.”
Jillian didn’t stick around to find out any more. She’d had enough revelations for one night.
She drove to Miles’s home, trying to process what she had learned. Her closest friend and her ex-husband were seeing each other. Clearly she wasn’t as close to Tanya as she thought.
Jillian fell asleep on the couch with Harlow’s head on her lap, but when Miles came in, they both woke up. She went to him as he toed off his shoes. “Everything all right?”
“As all right as we can make it for tonight. There’s a shitload that’s going to have to be done tomorrow, but for now there’s nothing more to be done. The fire is out. The debris is completely watered down, which means even if things are smoldering, they won’t reignite. I’m not sure how effective Harlow will be, but I’ll bring her in tomorrow.”
“You must be exhausted.”
“I am, but I need a shower. I can never relax when I smell of smoke.”
“How would you like some company?”
“I’d love it,” he said and took her hand as they went up the stairs.
She hadn’t seen the bathroom when she was there before and she couldn’t stop from gasping. “It’s gorgeous.”
There was a huge tub with room for at least two with a separate shower stall, also with plenty of room. Miles opened up a closet and took out two oversized towels, put them over a rack, then flipped a switch. “Yes, my brother put in a heated towel rack.”
“He thinks of everything.”
“Yes, he does, but I don’t want to think about him right now,” he said with a smile as he turned on the water, then began to undress her. They were both more interested in being naked, so it didn’t take long before they were under the steamy spray.
“I’ve never seen one that big,” she said, looking up.
“From the direction of your gaze, I don’t think you’re talking about me.”
“Nope, the showerhead.”
“I’m so jealous. Here I am, naked and ready for you, and all you can do is stare at a spray of water.”
She turned to him and dropped her gaze. “Nice hose.”
“Feisty wench, aren’t you?”
“You bring it out in me.”
“I’m glad,” he said, pulling her close and giving her a deep kiss, hotter than the water could ever be.
She looked along the wall and found a bar of soap, grabbed it and ran it down his back. He moaned against her lips as she moved to his ass. Reaching around, he took the soap from her and returned the favor. Before long, they were covered in suds, their bodies sliding together, touching in tantalizing ways but not getting the full satisfaction they were both clearly craving. Her hands slid along his cock, his around her breasts and between her legs.
“You make me hungry for more,” he said.
“Well, there is nothing stopping you from taking what you want.” She stepped under the water and rinsed off, and before he could grab her again, she slipped out of the shower and grabbed one of the towels. “Oh Lord,” she said with a sigh. “Heated towels are a wonderful luxury.” She handed him his as he joined her.
“You missed a spot,” he said, and
licked some of the water off of her shoulder.
“How am I supposed to get dry when you keep making me wet?” she said.
“Is that what I’m doing to you?”
“Yes,” she said. He continued to lick behind her ear, then her neck and down to her breasts, at which point she let the towel drop. She shivered, but it had nothing to do with the cold. “I cannot get over how incredible you make me feel.”
“Good, because I am enjoying myself completely,” he said.
She took his hands in hers and they walked to the bed, where he pulled down the covers so they could get in.
Immediately they were wrapped around each other. His body heat was better than any showerhead or luxury towel. She kissed him deeply, tasting his passion and giving him hers in return.
He slid his hands between their bodies and found her clit, hard and sensitive. “You’re right. The towel didn’t dry you in the least.” He slid first one, then two fingers deep inside her and she became wetter still.
“I can’t remember ever getting this wet before. You’ve clearly done something to me.”
“Something you like?”
“Something I adore.”
“Something you want more of?”
“Yes, please,” she begged, and he caressed her clit with his thumb as his fingers continued to pump inside of her.
Aching to touch him as well, she reached for his cock and found him hard and also a touch wet. She teased the head of his erection, lubricating the tip with his pre-come, then stroked the length of his shaft, working her way down to his balls, varying the firmness of her grip.
“I want to feel you come for me, my sweet,” he said. “I am going to coat you with your own wetness and give you wave after wave of passion.” As he matched his actions to his words, her climax began to build, surprising her in how quickly it was upon her. When he added a second hand and teased the entrance to her ass, she arched her back at the unexpected surge of excitement and screamed out in pleasure. He bent his head and sucked hard at her nipples, the slightly painful touch sending an additional jolt of desire crashing through her.
“God, Miles, yes,” was all she was able to say.
Keeping his fingers inside her, he pulled away and she heard the opening of a nightstand drawer. She saw him unwrap the condom with his teeth, then quickly cover himself with it. He plunged into her while she was still in the throes of her orgasm.
The sensation of suddenly being filled while her pussy was still contracting with her climax set off another flood of desire. She wrapped her legs around him and lifted her hips to connect more completely with him.
“Jillian, my God, you are tight. I’ve been aching to be inside of you again.”
She had no words to express the emotions running through her, so she took his face in her hands and kissed him, hoping it would tell him all she was experiencing. Clearly it was enough, because he increased his pace and thrust more deeply into her until they came together in a cry of release and delight.
He fell against her, his breathing still rapid. She could feel her heartbeat in the throbbing of her pussy. The intensity of their coupling thrilled her, and she loved the weight of him against her.
“Nothing feels as wonderful as being with you, my hummingbird,” he said, almost echoing her thoughts.
She let his words into her heart. As she lay in his arms, she knew she didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. The voice of doubt she couldn’t fully suppress asked, Does he? She knew he was happy to be with her at this time, but after the arsonist was caught, would he stay? And if he didn’t, would he want her to go with him? Could she?
“I’m going to crush you if I don’t move.”
“There are worse ways to go,” she said lightly.
“What a night,” he said with a sigh, and pulled her against him. She lay her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “I hate to say this, but you can’t follow me to every fire.”
“I know. This was the first time we’ve had one when I knew you would been there. I had to see you for myself. I’m sorry I took you away from your work.”
“It’s okay. Normally I wouldn’t have stepped away, but I could feel your concern and since everything that could be done was being done, I was able to take the time.”
“I was so scared when I saw you working tonight,” she confessed. “I found myself wanting to protect you, take you away from the danger, but then as I watched, I knew you were doing what you needed to, what you were meant to do. I think I’ll be all right in the future now that I watched you in action. You were amazing. Calm and in control in the midst of all the chaos.”
“I’m glad that’s how I looked. It’s definitely what I want my team to think, but I’m definitely not calm, and I don’t always feel in control.”
“You did a great job,” she said
“The house was a loss.”
“But no one was hurt. Not Tanya and none of the other firefighters.”
“Speaking of Tanya, I didn’t see her when we left. I wonder where she went.”
“Probably home with Rob.”
He sat up to look at her. “You want to run that by me again?”
She told him what she saw and overheard. “Interesting,” he said. “That gives him another link to the fires.”
“And gives me a motive.”
“Only if you still care for Rob.”
“Which I don’t.”
“I knew that,” he said with a smile and a kiss. “Four fires, but the list of suspects hasn’t changed. Tomorrow I’m going to be crazy with doing what needs to be done in order to investigate this latest fire, but let’s do something normal the day after.”
“Like what?” she asked. Harlow chose that moment to nose the door open and join them on the bed. “Good timing, girl.”
“Will you have dinner with me?”
“I’d love to,” Jillian said.
“And tonight, will you stay the night?”
She took a moment before answering to look into his eyes. This wasn’t an answer she was going to give lightly and she wanted him to know it. “I’d love to.” For the first time in her life, she fell asleep in his arms and woke there the next morning.
Chapter Nine
Between classes and clients, it wasn’t hard for Jillian to keep occupied for the next two days, and she and Miles spoke frequently on the phone. He was often on her mind. On the spur of the moment, she decided to go into one of the tonier boutiques in town and treat herself to a classic little black dress to wear on their first official date. She chose a sheath dress with a plunging halter and a hem which ended more than an inch above her knee. As she spun in the mirror, the saleswoman poured compliments on her, and Jillian remembered what she said to Courtney about looking better than most of her classmates. Anyone who ever referred to her as a stick figure could eat their heart out now, she thought happily. She bought a pair of simple kitten-heeled shoes, a nice change from her usual flats, and could hardly wait for Miles to arrive that night. They’d never attended a prom together, but this was better.
She was surprised when there was a knock on her apartment door, but she figured Miles must have come in with another tenant. “You’re early,” she said, opening it without checking. It was a mistake.
“Hello, Jilly.”
She didn’t bother hiding the cringe. If she never heard anyone call her by that name again, she would be happy. It was beyond diminutive – it was demeaning. “Rob, what are you doing here?”
“Aren’t you going to ask me in?” he said, walking past her.
“I wasn’t planning on it,” she said, closing the door.
“You look dressed to go out.”
“Aren’t you observant?”
“That dress isn’t very flattering. Black doesn’t suit you.”
“Thanks for the fashion tip.”
“Are you going out with Miles?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”
“You a
re my business.”
“No, Rob, this is the wonder of divorce. Our lives are completely and legally separate now. You may have a connection to my father, but you have none to me, nor I to you.”
“I don’t know why you’re bothering with him,” Rob said, not needing to be clearer about who he was referring to. “He’s only going to be here until Charlie Monroe is back on his feet and he finds this so-called arsonist.”
“That’s not your concern, one way or the other.”
“I’m making it my concern. I care about you, Jillian. And I want you to know that when he leaves and breaks your heart again, I’ll still be here for you.”
“To pick up the pieces,” she said, crossing her arms in front of her.
“Yes, and whatever else is necessary.”
“Well, thank you for the offer, but I’m turning it down because it won’t be necessary. Should the time come when I fall apart, I have ways to put myself back together.”
“Damn it, Jillian, I am trying to help you.”
“No, you’re trying to control me and condescend to me as you always have.”
“Look, you’re lucky I’m even making this offer. Who else would want a skinny snob like you?” Rob asked.
She took a deep breath and allowed the truth of who she knew herself to be to calm her. “As appealing as you make returning to you sound, I know without a moment’s doubt I would be better off alone for the rest of my life than to spend even one more day as your wife. Besides, you have someone to care for who actually wants to be with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I was at the fire when you arrived. I saw Tanya run to you. You looked very close.”
His face paled visibly, and she couldn’t help the feeling satisfaction. “I was with her because I’ve been lonely. She doesn’t mean anything to me, I swear.”
“I’ll bet that would be news to her. Truthfully, I don’t think either of us mean anything to you, not really.”
“As usual, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She had enough of his insults. She walked to the door and opened it. “Leave. You are not welcome here.”
Passionate Heat Page 11
