True North (Golden Falls Fire Book 1)

by Scarlett Andrews

  “There’s a guy on the fire department—he’s at a different station, you haven’t met him—but he puts ranch on everything. Literally everything. He eats so much of it the guys make him bring his own, because he goes through the station’s common supply so fast.”

  “That’s so weird! On everything?”

  “Sandwiches, pasta, eggs, toast, pizza, you name it. The fire service has some interesting characters.”

  “Are you one of them?” She took another bite of melt-in-your-mouth salmon and smiled.

  “Me? No, I’m totally normal.”

  “As normal as a homeschooled kid from Bettles, Alaska, could be?”

  “I think so, yes.”

  It might have been the wine or the rich food or the coziness of the cabin or how utterly safe she felt with Cody, or how hard he was trying to make this a proper date before they jumped into bed—or everything, combined—but Cassie felt like she was on a high tide of good feelings. That the moment was perfect, and she could be hopeful for many more such perfect moments with him. She took another sip from her mug and met Cody’s gaze. His eyes were so shocking blue and yet warm somehow, like a vivid summer day. She felt an overwhelming something for him.

  “Cody, thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “No man has ever cooked for me before, or taught me so much, or …” Treated me so well, a finishing thought she didn’t say aloud.

  “Well, you’re—” An adorable blush crept into his neck and face as he struggled with what to say. Cassie hoped for gushing words of praise, like she was gorgeous and worth any amount of effort, but Cody was not so effusively inclined. “You’re welcome,” he finally said.

  And that was perfect, too.

  It was perfectly Cody.

  She was sure when they finally had the sex for which she’d been waiting so patiently, it would also be perfect.

  But when—oh, when?—would that be?

  14

  After dinner, they contemplated washing the dishes together. Cody didn’t want her to help, but when he told her so, she insisted.

  “I want to,” she said. “I want to stand next to you at the sink and make you dizzy with desire at being so near to me.”

  Cody had been fighting off his arousal for hours. Cassie had been devilish by planting the idea of giving him a blow job in the truck, which he couldn’t stop imagining. And that was bad, because ever since, he’d hardly been able to look at her in her tight knit dress and damn sexy shoes without a surge of desire overtaking him.

  It had taken every ounce of his self-control to not pull her into his bedroom and hitch up that clingy dress and let his lips roam over every inch of her bare skin. His cock was primed, and he knew he’d be fucking her more than once that night because he was going to explode the instant he made entrance inside her, and he knew it wouldn’t be enough for either one of them.

  “I already am dizzy with desire for you,” he told her. “But we’ve still got the documentary, and—”

  “Documentary later.” Cassie said it firmly and stepped closer to him. He was holding a dinner plate, which she took from him and set in the sink. “Dishes later, too.”

  He smiled, surrendering to the knowledge that he’d held off as long as he could, made sure she understood he was with her for more than just the sex, and she was clearly telling him she didn’t want to wait any longer. The fact that she wanted him as much as he wanted her inflamed him even more.

  “Come here.” He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her, linking his fingers together and resting his hands on the small of her back. He wasn’t much of a talker, but he loved listening to Cassie, and he’d come to appreciate what a turn-on a flirty conversation could be. “What exactly would you like to do instead of the dishes and the documentary?”

  “Ooh.” She smiled at the question as she stroked his forearms, tracing his muscles, sending tingling shivers straight through him. “Well, first I’d like to kiss.”

  She tilted her chin, readying her lips, but he kissed her neck instead. Her soft, bright, shoulder-length blond hair got in the way, so he lifted it away and kissed a spot he’d always loved, where the neck met the shoulder. Cassie inhaled sharply and held her breath.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, continuing to kiss her—along her jaw now, and then her sweet-tasting lips, which yielded to him.

  Their bodies were pressed so tight together that there wasn’t an inch of space between them, just frustrating layers of clothing. Cody ran his thumb along her dress, pressing into her narrow hips. Then he found where the dress ended and slipped his hand underneath, feeling up the back of her curved, smooth thigh, and discovered she was wearing a thong, When Cassie pressed her own hand against his throbbing erection through his jeans, he thought he might come right then and there.

  Every sugared swipe of her tongue against his own sent shock waves down his spine. The agony of his unreleased desire was increased by Cassie’s small moans and gasps, which told him she was feeling it, too.

  “I forgot I have dessert for you,” he murmured. “Cherry pie from the North Star Café, but I suppose you want the pie later, too.”

  “Mmmmm.” He wore an untucked henley shirt, and she pushed it off over his head and tossed it to the floor. Placing her hands on his pectoral muscles, she began to kiss his chest in a straight line down. “You’re my dessert.”

  Now he was the one who inhaled sharply and held his breath while dizzy with the knowledge that her lips were making their way to his cock.

  This is going to happen, he thought. I’m going to fuck this woman, and it’s going to be fantastic.

  And then she’s going to leave—she’s going to leave Golden Falls, and she’s going to leave me.

  The thought might have checked his mood, but Cassie’s trail of kisses along his torso were too distracting, and he let himself get lost in the sensation. She knelt, locked her playful eyes on his as she grinned lasciviously, unbuttoned the clasp on his jeans, and unzipped them.

  He took over the remainder of his undressing, kicking off his shoes and sliding out of his jeans and briefs, socks, too. Naked then, his erection swelled as he watched how her eyes had widened at the sight of it, at how her mouth opened and her breasts heaved through the dress she still wore.

  “You’ve got one hell of an impressive cock,” she said, and he laughed.

  “Glad to be of service.”

  “I can’t tell you how long I’ve been wanting to do this.”

  Cody leaned one hand against the counter, torn between wanting to tear off her dress or waiting to see what she’d do on her own. If he had to guess, she’d use her mouth, but he didn’t think he could last if she did … and he wanted to fuck her long and hard.

  He pulled her back up to her feet and ratcheted up her short dress, kissing her deeply. With one hand he flicked the fabric of her thong out of the way, groaning when he realized how wet she was.

  “How long have you been wanting this?” he asked her in reply to what she’d just said.

  “I would have fucked you the first day I met you.” Her voice was thick with lust and she had her head thrown back. “In that firefighter uniform, oh!” She pressed against him on her tiptoes, her legs slightly apart, and she rubbed herself against the length of his cock, moving urgently, breathing fast, but then she stopped and pulled back.

  She reached down and took him in her hand while looking into his eyes.

  “I thought of all the things I wanted you to do to me. I’ve never met a man and wanted him so instantly as when I met you. Couldn’t you tell I was flirting with you? I wanted you, Cody. All I could think about was you inside me.”

  With a fingertip, she traced a circle around the tip of his cock. He let out an involuntary moan.

  “I was wet that whole day,” she said, “and I couldn’t even tell if you knew it.”

  “I knew it.”

  He needed her in the bedroom, now. Needed to lay her down and fuck her and get the rel
ease he so desperately sought. So he swept her up into his arms, carried her to the bedroom, and set her on the floor right next to his bed.

  Cassie stood, the backs of her knees against Cody’s bed. She was so primed for him it was hard to stand still.

  “Let’s get this damned dress off,” he growled.

  Cassie obediently raised her arms so he could slide it off, and he tossed it onto the floor. She felt the searing heat of his gaze across her nearly naked body. She reached behind her back and unclasped her lacy bra, letting it fall away, and her breasts came free. Her erect nipples were hard and tense and she wanted him to suck on them, so badly it was like a physical pain. She brought her hands up to cup her own breasts, to show him what she wanted, but he shook his head.

  “All in good time,” he said, and she couldn’t help but make a low noise of delicious frustration. Cody was driving her crazy with need.

  He backed her onto the bed, easing her down. Instead of going to her breasts, he slid off her thong and spread her legs.

  “When did you first want me?” she asked, feeling wicked as she watched him take in the sight of her smooth, waxed entrance, and she spread her knees even further open.

  “I wanted you that first day, too,” he said, using his fingers to spread her folds apart.

  When Cassie realized what he was about to do, she tensed with wonderful anticipation, and as Cody bent forward and buried his tongue in her soft folds of skin, she cried out at the shock of pleasure. With his tongue, he circled her clit, teasing it, and she arched her back so he’d have better access. She felt the building force of an orgasm tightening in her core. Just as she thought she was about to come, her breathing now in short, frantic gasps, Cody sensed it and pulled back, leaving her on the edge.

  She was now desperate for him to fuck her.

  “I’ve never wanted a man as much as I want you,” she said as he kissed his way up her body. “I want you to fill me up and never let go.”

  “Let’s not talk about forever. Live in the moment, right?”

  “We can pretend, though, can’t we?”

  It was a dangerous idea, and she knew it, but when Cody found her mouth and kissed her deep, it felt like the start of forever, even though she knew it wasn’t. She moaned, letting him know exactly how turned on he’d made her. Finally he took her breasts in his large hands, and she couldn’t help noticing how perfectly they fit. Her nipples puckered when he brushed his thumbs over them, sending twin sparks through her body, and she moaned again.

  He lowered his mouth and gently sucked her left breast, teasing it with his tongue. With his free hand he returned to the juncture of her legs.

  “Cody,” she whispered, bucking against his hand. “I can’t wait any more. I’m going to come.”

  “Good,” he said as he worked her to orgasm, stroking her with his big, strong hand, alternating gentle with not-so-gentle, and the combination made her lose all control. She cried out, “Cody! Yes. Yes!” Seconds later, a tidal wave of pleasure rocked her, unfurling across every inch of her body.

  “That’s it,” Cody whispered in Cassie’s ear as she came.

  He watched her face as he touched her and saw pleasure rippling through her, slackening her muscles, making her bite her luscious bottom lip. As she bucked hard and fast against him, he slipped his fingers inside her and felt the rhythmic pulse of her orgasm. Her body quivered with aftershocks for another moment.

  Cody loved the sight of her, helpless with pleasure because of him.

  Cassie opened her eyes and looked at him. “Oh, that was … wow, Cody. That’s all I can say—wow.”

  She took his ready cock in her hand again, and Cody couldn’t help groaning, knowing he’d soon orgasm, too. Her tiny hand felt incredible as she stroked him, slow and tender and firm all at once.

  “That was well worth the wait,” she said with a laugh as she pulled him toward her wet, spread opening. “And now it’s your turn.”

  Cody was rock-hard as he entered her, and as he slowly slid in and out, her walls gripped him, tightened against him. His thrusts become more forceful and his heart raced with exertion as he pounded harder into her.

  “Oh, yes,” she cried, gripping his shoulders, digging her nails into them. “Cody. I’m going to come again. Let’s come together.”

  Yes, ma’am, Cody thought, and felt himself nearing the edge. Cassie moved back and forth, matching his rhythm, her green eyes filled with desire. Just as he felt her release, quivering beneath him, he exploded in a thunderous climax, crying out as he never had before, shuddering and then collapsing onto her.

  Rolling off to the side, he leaned on an elbow and traced his finger over the bone structure of her face, marveling at how smooth her skin was. It was flawless, just like she was. She kept her eyes closed, smiling, enjoying his touch.

  “A girl could get used to this,” she said.

  “I wish she would,” he said back.

  15

  As eagerly as he’d anticipated the moment that had just occurred, Cody had anxiously anticipated the one that followed—the moment when a naked Cassie rose from the bed, and, after flashing a confident smile his way, opened the door of his tiny closet thinking it was the bathroom. She turned and glanced around, confused.

  “Um, where’s your bathroom?”

  “Yeah, about that …” Cody fought off the urge to apologize. “It’s not technically a room. It’s in the back. And it’s an outhouse.”

  “You’re shitting me,” she said, her mouth open in disbelief.

  Cody laughed at her unintended joke. “Good one.”

  “Ha, ha. But really, I need to use the bathroom.”

  “I’ll walk you there.”

  He got up from the bed, reached into his dresser for a fresh pair of briefs, jeans, and a sweatshirt, and offered her a blanket from the bed. When she looked like she didn’t know what to do with it, he wrapped it around her body.

  “It’ll be chilly out there. You’ll want this.”

  The look of horror on her face was comical.

  “Seriously? Your bathroom’s outside?”

  For the first time in his adult life, Cody wondered if indoor plumbing was an investment he should have made.

  “I told you it’s primitive. But don’t worry, it’s very clean. Hey, just look at it as another Alaska experience. A pretty common one, actually.”

  Cassie took a deep breath and stepped into her high-heeled shoes. “Okay,” she said with steely resolve. “Let’s go.”

  “You want to wear a pair of my boots?”

  “These are fine.”

  He knew better than to argue with her. As they went outside into the now-full darkness, Cody clicked on the flashlight and walked alongside Cassie as she picked her way across the yard. She walked slowly and unsteadily across the grass, and then hit a patch of mud. Both sharp heels sank with a slooping sound. When she tried to lift a foot up, her shoe was left behind.

  “Cody!” She looked at him in desperation. “Could you, um—”

  “Sure.” Cody knelt and swept her up into a fireman’s carry over his shoulder.

  Cassie shrieked, laughing. “I meant get my shoe!”

  With her slung over his shoulder naked underneath the blanket, wearing only one shoe, Cody hoped she could see the humor of the situation. Hoped, too, that the sex they’d just had was the most memorable part of the evening, not this.

  When they reached the outhouse Cody opened the door, and while it smelled like an outhouse, there was also an obvious scent of the Pine-Sol he used to clean it regularly. The wooden floor was swept clean and there was a little solar-powered light inside. He set down Cassie on her feet and turned on the light.

  “I’ll wait for you outside.”

  He retraced their steps and retrieved her shoe. A few minutes later, she emerged into the moonlight, holding her single shoe in one hand, and holding the blanket closed with the other. Her good mood seemed to be wavering, which worried Cody.

  “Hey,” he
said. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warmer, and we’ll have another glass of wine. Or spiced cider—would you prefer that?”

  She nodded.

  “Want me to carry you?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She giggled as he slung her over his shoulder again, and as she clung to him, he was very aware of the curve of her hips and her taut legs. I have Cassie Holt, KFLS news anchor, slung over my shoulder. The thought struck him that her viewers would be quite amused to see her predicament, and he started to laugh, and then so did she when he told her why, and by the time they got back to the cabin, they were laughing uncontrollably.

  “Well, that was embarrassing,” she said, wiping her eyes and still grinning after Cody had deposited her safely in the kitchen.

  He used an old kitchen rag to clean off her shoes.

  “Good as new,” he said, and set the shoes down.

  “Thanks.” She gave him a sheepish look. “Yet again, I should have listened to you and worn something more …”

  “I’m glad you didn’t,” he said. “This way, I got to impress you with my fireman’s carry skills.”

  She looked him up and down. “Trust me, Cody—I’m impressed.”

  His heart swelled as he went to his bedroom and brought back one of his flannel shirts for her to wear, figuring she’d be more comfortable in flannel than in her dress—plus, he intended to get her naked again, so why bother with the dress?

  He multi-tasked between kissing her and heating up cider on the stove. He reached into the cabinet he used as a pantry and pulled down the bottle of Venezuelan rum his captain had given him for Christmas the previous year.

  “Want some rum in your cider?”

  “Definitely,” she said. “And I’m actually up for that documentary now, if it’s not too late.”

  Cody glanced at the clock. It was late, and he was scheduled to work the next morning, but no way would he pass up the chance to cuddle with Cassie on the sofa, especially when she wore a flannel shirt of his and nothing else.