I cup her face with both hands, making her look at me. “I have to get back to my team. I’ll call Pipe to meet you there. As soon as I’m done I’ll come straight there. If they release you before I finish, Piper can take you to my house.” I try to make her see that this is going to be okay, that she will be okay with me, but she just shakes her head.
“I’m not going to your house, Kale Benson!” She states firmly. She may be in pain, but she still has it in her to fight me. Such a minx and she doesn’t even realize it.
Cupping her chin upwards to me, I kiss her. I don’t let go when she keeps her lips tight, fighting me. I feel the want to give in present in the slight shake I feel it in her hands as she places them on my chest. As soon as she stops resisting and kisses me back, I pull away with a smile.
“You will be at my place tonight, whether I take you there kicking and screaming or not. You want this as much as I do. I have a job to do, damn it, don’t make this more difficult. I hate leaving you, babe, but my team needs me and the medics will get you taken care of until I’m finished. Then we deal with the rest at home… together.”
Before she can argue further, I nod to Melissa to wheel the gurney to the ambulance and take her to the hospital. She is stuttering in anger as they slam the doors and I radio in that I am going back up to the blaze as I pull out my phone to call Piper.
“You’re in a fire call, why are you calling me.” She answers.
“Take off work now and get to the hospital. Paige is on her way in, injured. I have to finish this. Don’t leave her alone and if she’s released before I get there, you take her to my apartment and you don’t let her leave. She’s not getting away from me.”
“Oh shit, is she okay?”
“She will be. She’s banged up her ankle and has a head injury that needs stitches and a possible concussion. Get there and take care of my girl. Love you Pipe, gotta go.”
Not waiting for her to respond, I hang up and make my way back up the mountainside. This is what I do. As much as it kills me to leave Paige with the medics, I am a fire fighter first. If she were any other victim, I would let the medical staff take over and walk away from the beginning. I have already spent too much time making sure she was situated. I know my team understands, but these are my brothers and it is not safe to work a man down.
The blaze took a jump and eighteen hours later I am finally able to wipe off my face, remove my suit and catch a ride back to the station house. This jump was in an area with paths already cut for vehicles to come through. We have been in fires before that require a helicopter to come pick us up in a clearing. I am thankful that wasn’t the case today. Would I have been able to get Paige the care she needed if we had to wait on a helicopter? Would I have found her if she had been much further up?
The thoughts of losing her to a blaze, burn at me on the inside. If I lost Paige, well, I can’t even imagine. This is why I have fought to keep people at a distance for so long. If they don’t get close, I don’t have to face losing them. Only Paige, she has always been here. She fits in my life like she was made to be there. How much groveling will I have to do to repair the damage I did unknowingly? Can I show her how much she means to me?
Arriving at my apartment, it is quiet; too quiet. Piper text me that they were going home, Paige was discharged. Home is supposed to be my home. Where are they? Piper has a key. Why didn’t I see that obnoxious yellow car outside? Pulling out my phone, I call my sister, who apparently doesn’t know how to follow instructions.
“Where are you?” I ask before she can manage to say hello.
“At Paige’s place.” She whispers back with her ever present attitude.
“Where are you supposed to be?” I ask, my impatience growing with every second.
“I’m supposed to be where my best friend is…which I am. She has a concussion, a broken ankle and needed six stitches. She can’t be alone because of the concussion and her immobility from her ankle. It was too swollen to be put in a cast today, so she has to stay off of it and go see the orthopedic doctor next week because it may require surgery to reset.”
“Well, if you were here, I would be ready to send you home and take care of her myself. Since you’re not, I’ll be there in thirty minutes to pick her up and bring her here.”
“She’s sleeping, she has to be woken up every so often due to the concussion. Do not come here and disturb her with your Neanderthal needs to lug her off to your cave.”
I can hear her rummaging through Paige’s pantry on the other end. I know if I am going to save my girl any of the junk food I know she likes, I need to get my sister out of there now before she eats all the good stuff.
“If you would’ve listened to your instructions, I wouldn’t have to come there and be a caveman because she would already be here.” I let my anger out a little, but reel it in with a deep breath, rubbing the spot between my eyes.
“Well, jackass, we did go to your apartment. Only how do you expect me to get her up your stairs? Didn’t think about that there did ya big guy? We drove there first. Paige was actually willing to go anywhere after the hospital. When she realized she wasn’t going to make it up the steps, the only options were her house, mom’s house, or take her back to her mom’s house. Well, I’m not taking her to Bev’s. I knew you would want to be with her and if I took her to our mom’s you wouldn’t have the privacy that I think you want.”
“Oh, thanks Sissy. You’re the best.”
“Now I’m Sissy the best, huh? Just shower, pack a bag, and bring your ass over here.”
CHAPTER NINE
Waking up with an urge to pee, I quickly swing around my bed. The moment my feet hit the ground, I hiss loudly in pain. My head swims, remembering my injuries. Suddenly, strong arms wrap around me; immediately, my body falls into him before I can mentally stop myself from giving into his comforts. Scooping me up, he starts to turn me to the bed.
“Bathroom, Kale.” I croak out sleepily. He laughs under, me carrying me to my adjoining bathroom. “Not funny, Benson, not funny. Why are you here? Piper was with me when I fell asleep.”
“With the way you got up, you forgot you were injured didn’t you, baby?” He asks, setting me gently down, but not releasing me.
“Maybe, but why are you here?” I repeat, standing on one foot and dropping my hands from his shoulders.
He shakes his head no at me, putting my hands back on his shoulders as he moves to stand in front of me. Before I can stop him, his hands are on my shorts and panties sliding them down together. Using my injured foot, I cross my leg over the one preventing my bottoms from going down further. I lose my balance gripping his shoulders to keep myself upright.
“Babe, come on. Nothing I haven’t seen before. No need to be shy. Keep this up and you’re gonna fall over and hurt yourself more.”
“Kale Matthew Benson, I am not peeing with you in here. And you still haven’t answered me, damn it. Why are you here? Where is Piper?”
He drops my bottoms just below my ass, leaving my front covered since my legs are still crossed. He lightly smacks my left ass cheek as he gestures for me to sit down on the toilet.
“There, now you can slide them down by yourself and keep your modesty. I’ll step out. When you finish, slide them up and call for me. You have to keep weight off your ankle, doctor’s orders.”
He plants a chaste kiss on my lips, then turns and walks out before I can register that Kale Benson just smacked my ass and kissed me. What is going on? I’m dreaming right. This is part of having a concussion. Yeah, that’s it, not real, I’m dreaming or hallucinating or something.
Relief in my bladder does nothing to ease the knots now forming in my stomach. I slide my panties and shorts back on. Once again I attempt to put weight on my foot, only to cry out in pain. Within a blink, Kale has me back in his arms and is taking me back to bed. It’s then I realize he is only in his boxer briefs. I am in my tiny pajama shorts and my ‘firefighters find them hot and leave them wet’ tank top that
Piper got me last year. Why is he only in boxers?
My question is quickly answered, when he places me on my side of the bed only to round the other side and join me.
“Kale, what are you doing?”
“It’s four in the morning, I’m going back to sleep.” He says, wrapping his arm around my waist to slide me over to him.
My body instinctively rolls to my side and up against him. “You can’t sleep here.”
“Why not? Doctor said you couldn’t be alone. I told you to go to my place, but you couldn’t get up the stairs. Pipe brought you here. You’re here, so this is where I’m gonna be, babe.”
Reaching out, I try to push off his chest to get some space, only to find his grip on my hip tighten as I move. Looking up, I meet the golden gaze of his eyes. The sincerity in their depths is undeniable.
“Kale, why are you here? Piper could’ve stayed with me.” Dropping my voice to a whisper and moving my eyes to avoid his I continue with my only other option. “Or I could’ve gone to my mother’s house.”
I glance up just in time for his lips to crash down on mine in ownership. He is pressing for entrance that I all too easily allow. My hands come up to run my fingers through his hair. Melting completely into him, I have no resolve to fight the passion building in me for this man. He pulls away slowly, both of us breathing heavily now.
“You. Are. Mine. I take care of what’s mine. You have me, you don’t need to go to your mother’s house.” Kale practically growls.
“Kale, cut the hero bullshit, this is me you’re talkin’ to. You saved me from the fire. You think you need to save me from my mother. Go find someone else that you can actually rescue. I’m just everyone’s mistake.” My last words come out in a choked whisper as I fight to push back tears. Rolling over quickly, I wince in pain as I turn my back to him.
“Damn it, Paige. You are not a mistake. I reacted wrong. I didn’t mean it like it came out the other night. Please, babe, turn over look at me.”
“Shut it, Kale. Nothing to talk about, I’ve had a terrible day. It’s late; don’t say things you don’t mean. Just go to sleep and tomorrow Piper can come take over and you can go back to whatever you do.”
“Paige, you are testing my patience. Listen to me carefully, Piper will not be coming to take over. I’m here because I want to be here to take care of you. Obviously you need some time to wrap your mind around all of this, I’ll give you that, but I’ll be here while you come to terms with it. You and me, we’ve started something and we’re gonna continue the something we’ve started.”
“Whatever, Kale. Go to sleep, okay. I don’t need time because there isn’t any-“
My words are cut off as Kale rolls me over and under him as his mouth comes down on mine once again. My traitorous body turns to liquid and gives easily into his advances, while my brain is screaming internally for me to try to stop this. Moving his legs between mine, his weight now resting on me gently, his hands guide mine up and over my head. He holds my wrists together with his one hand, while the other cups my chin as he breaks away, panting heavily. He is focused and in complete control. Making me look into his eyes he speaks to me like he is trying to reach my soul.
“You’ve suffered a head injury, so I’m going to ignore everything you’re saying about ‘there isn’t anything between us.’ There’s a lot of history between us, Paige Lockley, and there is going to be a lot more shared between us in the future. You are not a mistake; what we shared the other night was not a mistake, and I’m a jackass for saying that. You’re far from a mistake Paige, you’re the fire burning inside me, babe. The tinder was there waiting to be ignited. That night, the spark turned into a flame and its one fire I want to see burn, not extinguish.”
He never moves his eyes from mine. I shift under him, feeling his erection rub along my core, I moan at the contact.
“Babe, you can’t keep moving like that. You may have on Wonder Woman panties, but even she has to take it easy after a head injury like you’ve had. And I promise, you keep moving, I’m not He Man with the strength to stop myself from taking you.”
“Kale, kiss me.” I demand. If this is a dream, I am willing to push it as far as I can. Tomorrow, I can go back to the reality of being his mistake. Allowing myself to get lost in his kiss for the moment, I enjoy the dance our tongue do, the gentle push and pull in exploration. My hands still pinned, I whimper when Kale pulls away since I have no way to pull him back to me.
“We can talk tomorrow about all of this. You need to sleep, babe.” He says as he lets go of my hands and rolls off me. Turning me to my side, he tucks my body against his as he kisses my head.
“Is this real, Kale?” I whisper.
“Yes, Paige. Sleep. Now.” He commands and suddenly I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
Holding her while her breathing evens out into that of a deep sleep, I can’t help but want more of this. The beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman in my arms is also strong, independent, loyal, and at times a little silly. Smiling to myself as I think of her latest pair of super hero panties, yes, she can be all serious on the outside and full of fun on the inside. She is the perfect balance to the serious tasks I face in my job.
Eventually, I drift into a deep sleep. Stirring beside me wakes me. I smile down at Paige as the shock is apparent on her face that she thought last night was a dream.
“Kale, you…you’re…here.” She stammers in a whisper.
“Yeah, babe, I’m here.” Gently, I brush her hair out of her face.
“Ummm…you don’t have to stay Kale. I’m fine.”
“Want to get rid of me that quickly?” I tease knowing she’s unsure on how to handle this.
“Well…ummm…no…yes…sort of.”
Kissing her quickly, I pop up off the bed. Going over, I scoop her up, carrying her to the bathroom. I know she has morning stuff to handle. The swelling has gone down some on her ankle but not nearly enough for her to be stumbling around unassisted. Setting her on the toilet in the same manner as last night, I walk to her room in search of clothes. She is watching me carefully when I come back in the bathroom and begin to run her a bath.
“Kale, what are you doing?”
“Running you a bath, what does it look like I’m doing?”
“Piper will be here later and can help me.”
“Not necessary. I’m here now. If you’d prefer a shower, fine, I’ll happily join you, babe. You know, since you need to keep your weight off your foot. You seemed to want some private time, so I thought a bath would be a nice way for you to relax while I make breakfast. But, hey baby, you want a shower, you and me, we can do that.” I say with a wink.
“No, a bath will be fine.” She states firmly.
“Oh My God, he’s really here, he really kissed me last night.” I hear her mutter to herself.
Once the water is the right temp and the tub full, I look over at Paige. She is rubbing her temple, as I imagine her head is hurting as well as her foot. I grin at her as she looks up at me biting her lip. Knowing she has Wonder Woman panties on makes this whole thing so far from the innocent look she is trying to portray in her features.
“Are you going to take your clothes off or do you want me to do it for you?”
“What?! I am perfectly capable of taking off my clothes.” She shrieks, obviously in shock over my question.
“Then get to it. Water is getting cold.”
“You can go make breakfast.”
“Babe, you gotta stay off that foot. I’ll set you down in the bath then go make us breakfast.”
Reluctantly, she put her hands at the hem of her shirt. “Ugh, Kale, turn around, please.”
Knowing she has got a million thoughts swirling in her pretty head, I turn around long enough for her to remove her clothing and turn her back to me. She is not hiding anything from me, but it makes her feel better. After lowering her into the bath, I can’t resist running my hands over her collarbone and shoulders as she relaxes. Her soft skin is a
smooth contrast to the calluses on my working man’s hands. I massage her shoulders, working out the knots and stress rolling through them.
“Kale.” She begins, but I continue massaging her shoulders and neck.
“Shh baby, relax. Lay your head back.”
I use a cup to wet her hair and then shampoo and condition it, careful of her fresh stitches all while massaging her scalp. She sighs as her body loosens under me. Rinsing her hair, I put soap on a wash cloth and begin to wash her body. Reminding myself that she has sustained both a head and ankle injury, I try to calm my ever present erection. She is not ready for our relationship to go there again this fast.
Once she is laying back, head against the side of the tub in relaxed bliss, I exit the bathroom. Grabbing my jeans from my bag, I put them on. Once in the kitchen, I begin making breakfast. Oatmeal with strawberries is not only one of Paige’s favorite breakfast meals but strong in protein and fiber to fill her up but be gentle, as I am sure, with everything yesterday, she forgot to eat. Smiling to myself, I think of the little things like Paige’s favorite foods that I know. All the little things I can use to show Paige she is special to me.
Setting our bowls on the table, I am about to head to the bathroom to help her, when I look up and she is standing in front of me.
“Paige.” I growl. “You are supposed to keep the weight off your ankle. I was coming to get you and bring you in here.”
“I’m fine, Kale. In fact, you can leave. I’ve texted Piper, she will be over when she finishes getting ready.”
She makes her way over to the chair and lowers herself onto it. Lifting her injured foot, I prop it up in the other chair, as I take my seat.
Kale (The Fire Inside #1) Page 9
