“I’m too busy. Goodbye.”
“Tomorrow morning, first thing. Don’t hide from me, Ailyn.” He persuaded with his delicious voice. While her mind yelled no, her heart said yes. “Okay.” Ailyn hung the phone up and wondered if going was wise or stupid.
Chapter Two
“Welcome to Station 17, I’m glad you decided to come.” Seth opened the door for her. She shot him down as he reached to usher her in, avoiding body contact by retaining her distance.
“I can see myself in and open my own doors. What do you want?”
“To discuss what’s on my mind in the privacy of my office.” His smile waned into a frown as he led the way, this time keeping his hands to himself. Good, he learned quickly.
She ignored the questioning glances from the other men as she trailed after him, her eyes riveted to anywhere but his behind.
He opened his office door and gestured for her to move past him. Holding onto her temper, she breezed in before skirting away from him. When he shut the door and systematically dropped each blind encasing them in privacy, she swallowed nervously.
“That isn’t necessary.”
“I disagree. We need privacy, and my men don’t need to hear our personal business.”
“We don’t have any personal business. Say what you want so I can leave.” She turned away from him, giving him her back.
“Christ. This is not going how I wanted. Why didn’t you let me make amends? I tried for months to reach out to you and fix us.”
“Fix us?” Her pitchy voice ramped up an octave. Ailyn whipped around and glared. “Fix us? There was no repairing us after your whopper of a lie.”
He held his palms up in an attempt to calm her. “I am sorry for any pain I caused you. You may not believe me, but I deeply regret not being honest with you from the beginning. But damn it, if you’d only have listened for a moment, you’d have seen that I was graduating that year, early.”
“You were still underage! Unless you could’ve magically jumped from sixteen to eighteen, and somehow I don’t think you had the power to create a time warp. Not to mention we lived in a state where there are heavy statutory laws.”
“Please lower your voice.”
“You know, everyone around you may be fooled but I know the real you. You’re a liar, a master manipulator and an all-around bastard. Do you even realize what your duplicity could have cost me?” Has cost me, she wanted to scream.
“Of course not. I was young and in love. I wasn’t thinking about consequences, I was thinking in a matter of months it wouldn’t have mattered.”
“Right, because true love means building a relationship on nothing but dishonesty. Your brand of love burned me.”
“I am trying to apologize.” Frustration radiated from him. She didn’t care or want his remorse. His struggle to find some common ground with her was too late.
“Well, thank you. Apology not accepted. Never accepted.”
“Ailyn, what—I don’t understand why you’re so angry. I sincerely hoped we could have dinner and a few drinks, laugh over my idiocy. Who knows, maybe get to know one another now, as adults. Give us a second chance with no secrets this time.”
Ailyn pursed her lips, facing off with him. She crossed her arms under her breasts. “Why? So history can repeat itself? Sure, let me just get to know you all over again so I can wonder if you’re lying about everything. Been there, done that. I will date you when pigs fly and hell freezes over. Now if you’re done with whatever you have to say, may I leave and forget I ever saw you again?” She seethed in unabashed fury.
“Ailyn, we don’t have to be this way—”
The emergency tones went off, making her ears ring. She knew the sound echoing through the stationhouse meant they had people to go save. “Don’t you have work to do?”
“Strip. We’re far from done talking and I have less than two minutes to get on my truck and go. I’ll wait outside. You’re the one who used to make us strip, remember, don’t walk away, figure it out.”
He leaned in as if to kiss her. Closing her eyes, she fought the craving of feeling his lips. Instead, he trailed his finger along her wrist and swiped her keys out of her lax grip before leaving his office.
“You choose now, all these years later, to remember the one thing I learned from my parents about relationships and problem solving?”
“I remember everything. I have to go, either strip or when I get off I’ll show up on your doorstep to finish this where we can both get naked.”
Ailyn froze, panic whiplashed through her. Seth could never set foot in her house. There was no telling what he would do if he found out about Eva’s existence. She couldn’t take the risk of him finding out. She tore her clothes off in record time and thrust them out the door.
“Thought you’d see things my way. I’ll be back soon.” As his pounding footsteps retreated, Ailyn snapped into action. No way in hell was she waiting for him to come back. She ran to his desk and yanked open his drawers, looking for a T-shirt or something. All she found was random junk and a roll of black duct tape.
“God, I really hate him,” she seethed. In no way did she want to get to know anything about him as a man. Just being near him made her want to commit a felony.
Good one, strip naked, stupid. I don’t have any clothes, but I do have a spare ignition key in a magnetic box under my car. All I need is something to wear.
“Toilet paper and scotch tape?” She couldn’t find the bathroom and toilet paper tore. Think Ailyn, think. A sudden idea formed giving her purchase to leave. Giddy, she grabbed the tape. Calming her hammering heart, she peeked out the door. “Anyone out there?” She waited a minute until she knew the coast was clear and jetted for the kitchen, hoping the cameras were down as she streaked across the fire station.
Holy hell, their kitchen is top of the line. Way better than mine. She stopped in awe of the gleaming appliances. Sighing, she realized she was drooling and began searching through all the drawers and cabinets until she hit pay dirt.
Keeping watch on the time, she tore off long strips of black duct tape and lined them on the counter. She took two strips and tore them down the length in half and wove them together.
Humming Mr. Know it All her favorite Kelly Clarkson song—so appropriate in this instance—she set to work. In college she became a pro at fixing costumes for the theater department or making clothing out of anything on hand. Thanks to reality modeling shows, she found a quick untearable solution. Saran wrap, and to her surprise in red. In no time she’d have an eccentric, one of a kind creation to get her the hell outta Dodge, before a specific commanding man returned. She cherished the thought of him finding his office empty and wondering how she’d slipped out from under his thumb. Teaching him such a lesson gave her a heady high.
Winding the hazy plastic around her body made her itch, but no one ever said getaways were easy. After numerous revolutions around her body movement became hard. She concentrated on making sure her girls were wrapped tightly enough that her nipples wouldn’t be seen. Certain she was covered adequately, she wrapped adhesive under her boobs and smoothed the smooth side across her upper back, using the wall to make the tape stick when she pressed her back on it. The last strip was the hem. She wiggled to bend down and placed the last pieces across the bottom of her masterpiece, then took a kitchen knife and slashed a tiny tear in the side to give her room to walk in her micro mini dress. And voilà! Impromptu clothing designed to allow her to get to her car without being arrested for indecent exposure.
The firehouse remained silent. She returned the supplies to their designated areas and lit out of there like hell was on her heels. Upon reaching her car, she realized getting on her knees to find the extra key would cause an issue. Once down, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get up, plus she didn’t relish the idea of giving all an up close and personal view of her bare pussy. She paced the length of her car, cursing her luck.
“Screw it.” She eased down on her back, wiggled u
nder the driver side carriage of her car and slid her hand over the metal to find the box. She didn’t feel anything at first and thought maybe it had been knocked off. Reaching a little further, she closed her hand around it and pulled the slim container free.
“Now that is something you don’t see every day.” Ailyn wiggled her head out from under her car to see Seth’s team of men in full gear openly appraising her.
“Do you mind? Staring is rude.” She bet her salary her face was flushed and the men before her were enjoying her discomfort.
“What do you think she has on? I thought she was stark naked when we left. Lieutenant, get a load of your girl.”
“I am not, and I repeat—not—his girl. Now, shh. Don’t call him over here,” she hissed at the men.
“Well, hey darlin’, I thought you were waiting for me in my office.” Seth lay down on the ground next to her. She bit her lip, dying in mortification as he raked a lingering gaze up and down her body.
“Go away. I’m going home. As soon as I get my key.”
“You mean this one?” He flipped the spare key between his fingers. “Yeah, I remembered teaching you to put a spare on the underside, since you were famous for losing them back in the day.”
“Thanks for the ride down memory lane. Now go away. I really don’t want to be near you. As you can see, since I was trying to leave before you got back.”
“Come on. You didn’t think I was going to let you walk away so easy this time, did you? Although, I must say I’m impressed with your resourcefulness. Saran Wrap has never looked so damn sexy. The tape is a nice touch. To think you did this all for me. New form of foreplay, darlin’?”
“You left me no choice,” Ailyn sputtered. “Please leave me alone. I can’t get up unless no one is looking.”
Seth chuckled and eased from beside her. Heat seared her cheeks. “Stop looking at my goods.”
“Just seein’ if they’re as hot as I remembered and they’re even hotter.” He shifted and moved away. She took a deep breath, glad the overbearing man gave her breathing room. She wiggled to move out when rough hands picked her up off the ground. She found herself hauled over a shoulder, one hand holding her ass firmly, the other clasped around her legs preventing anyone from getting an eyeful.
“Put me down, I can walk.”
“Lt. has a pretty package right there. Man I would love to have a piece like that wrapped up like a present for me.”
“Those men are just as bad as you are.” She slapped him. “Put me down.”
“Don’t hit.” A palm cracked across her near-bare ass. She yelped and beat at him with her fists. As much as she hated him, her pussy clenched in want. In the past being spanked always ended in cream drenched panties and rough sex. “You didn’t used to be so mean.”
“A lot has changed since last we met.” As if he knew the direction of her thoughts, he landed another blow.
His long strides brought them to his office, where he shut and locked the door and found the ripped hemline. He withdrew a cutter from his pocket and sliced up the side, freeing her lower half from the sweltering confines. “Hmm, to free your breasts or leave them for later.”
“I don’t think you’ll be seeing them anytime soon.”
“Damn, Ailyn. I can smell your arousal. I bet your sexy cunt is dripping wet and glistening underneath this plastic. Shame on me for forgetting how wet you get when spanked.” He leaned his head between her legs and inhaled. A sexy growl departed his lips, making her empty core ache.
“I-I need to get dressed.” Dear Lord, he was undeniable ten years ago. Time had done nothing but add to that dangerous trait. Dark need crackled between them, making her forget she despised—no hated him. One look from him, one touch, and her traitorous body reacted, leaned into his care, shivered at his words, ached to be caressed, teased, fucked. He turned her into a great big erogenous zone demanding satiation.
“Sure you want to leave?” He swiped his tongue along her slit, causing her legs to tremble and her thoughts to stall.
“I’m not having hate sex with you.” She pushed her legs closed, he knocked them back apart.
“Hate sex? Your gorgeous body doesn’t hate me. She responds to my voice and touch.” Seth’s mouth latched over her nub, closing his teeth around the button. Shellshock and pleasure ramped up. Ailyn bit her lip to keep from screaming out. Seth looked up from his position and winked at her surrender. The man ate her like he was starved for his next meal. She gripped the edge of his desk and canted against his devouring lips. He flattened his tongue into her slit, stabbing her cunt.
“This is hi-highly inappropriate here.” Whoa. A slow burn radiated through her from her belly. Her pussy constricted against his tongue.
“But so worth the consequences.” Seth slammed a finger into her pussy and flicked his tongue over her nub. Ailyn bit her lip to keep from screaming. She bucked against his finger and his tongue desperate to find the release he kept denying her.
Intense pleasure swamped her. Seth’s nose hit her clit as he pressed his face into her dripping wet pussy. Gripping the desk wasn’t enough. He stole her breath with each suckle. Finding purchase with his hair, she dug her fingers into his scalp and arched her body into his mouth, riding his face.
“You’re so beautiful, darlin’.”
She peered down at him through her eyelashes. His hot breath on her sex, the scrape of stubble against her sensitive skin caused her to break out in goose bumps. Why did he stop to talk? She waited for him to resume. Smug male. His eyes locked on hers and a cocky grin appeared on his lips. He lazily strummed his thumb over her nub, set his lips on her and engaged in licking her from clit to slit with the flat of his tongue. She turned her head away from him and he stopped cold.
“Don’t look away.” He resumed when she met his gaze. He wanted to see her crumble. Fuck if she didn’t two swipes later from his glorious tongue. She forced herself to keep her eyes glued to his while she came apart for him for the first time in too long. He gave her pussy one last suck and stood. Raw and exposed, Ailyn scrambled off his desk. Embarrassment flooded her. Flashes of their past played at warp speed. She tore at the remaining plastic holding her hostage, failing to get the clingy material off her body fast enough.
“Let me help.” Seth flipped his knife out and she edged away from him.
“I don’t want you touching me again.” Vehemence laced her shaky voice. She could barely keep it together as she took the proffered knife from his hand and worked herself free from the binding.
“Your clothes are on the chair. Ailyn, please look at me.”
She ignored his request and hurriedly dressed herself. “Did you think of how I’d look walking out of your office at all? What people would think or say?”
“This is not what I expected to happen. I didn’t think I’d return to seeing you all decked out like a shiny new present. I got caught up, but if you think I’m going to apologize for taking things to the next level, I won’t. Ten years is long enough.”
“For you.” She punctuated, spinning on him. True, she hadn’t had an orgasm that level of intensity for a few years. And yes, she hated that he could wring a physical response from her without effort.
“I didn’t see you struggling while I had my face buried in your pussy. You didn’t ask me to stop or say no. I’d say your response speaks for itself.” He crossed his arms.
“I see you’re just as selfish as always. Think about yourself first, others second. Oh wait, I’m sure you put your victims first but lovers, no. You have a MO. You take what you want, when you want.” God she should’ve stopped him. Why didn’t she? Watching him pleasure her was the hottest thing she’d seen in such a long time.
“You always were great at being in denial. We are far from finished. This here and now proves that. You’re little game at trying to dash off proves you haven’t changed as well. You’re still a cock tease. Come off yourself and admit you wanted me to find you, to unwrap each layer of that outfit until I had
you bare and begging for a hard fast fuck.”
Ailyn sucked in a breath. She dropped her gaze down his body. The evidence of his arousal tented out for any and every one to see. “You might want to put some ice on your current affliction.” She pointed to his dick, swiped her keys and smoothed down her clothing. Head held high, she pursed her lips in a tight line and stormed out of his office.
Tears threatening to fall didn’t roll down her face until she hit the privacy of her car. Rage and a suffocating pain lanced her soul. The emotions she promised herself never to feel again commanded her body more dangerously than in the past. Instead of the boy she knew once, a man coaxed her into madness. Shear madness. What was she thinking agreeing to meet him? How did she envision their reunion anything other than a disaster? Thanking her lucky stars, she sighed at Dire’s absence.
“I’m so stupid.” What if Dire had been in house today? He knew Eva, had dropped Mia off plenty of times to watch her while Mia played matchmaker, although no men ever earned a second date with her. She wiped her face clean and blew out a shaky breath. She turned to look out her window and saw Seth standing next to her, arms crossed, a worried expression in his beautiful green eyes. She squeezed her eyes shut to dispel thinking of him as devastatingly handsome. Only when she opened them again, one he was still there and two he looked as disarming as when she’d been coming all over his face.
He continually knocked on the window. Ignoring him failed to work. After turning on her engine, she pushed the automatic button only a quarter of the way down, preventing him from sticking his head in, like he had in the past, to kiss her. “I’m pretty sure I’ve had all I can handle from you today.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He pressed a hand to the nape of his neck and then braced his hand on the roof of her car. “I’m sorry I upset you again.”
“It’s fine.” She moved to roll her window back up, but he slid his fingers in the way. “I don’t want to sit here in the parking lot and rehash the past.”
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