Edge Of Tomorrow (Eternal Flames Maddox Book 6)

by Cree Storm

  CHAPTER 3

  Goddamn Dain. He loved the man like a father, but this ultimatum may be too much. He did not like being pushed, or threatened, and there was no way he was going to blow his freedom for some damn job. Damn, who was he kidding? He loved Dain and his mates. All three of them had been so good to him, and Ollie was beginning to look at all of them like fathers.

  He hated seeing the disappointment in Dain’s eyes. It really pulled on his heart and made his stomach twist. There was no way he was going to let Dain down…again. He needed to suck it up and get things done. If he had to talk to Wyndingo face-to-face, then he would have to deal with whatever happened.

  “We’re almost there, Ol,” Pelt, the griffion guard that Dain assigned to him said as he made another turn.

  Great. Ollie thought. He sighed heavily and stared out the window. Smoke billowed from a structure at the end of the block and Ollie sat up. “I thought they were only doing training drills. Why is there smoke?”

  “From what I have learned, they do use real fire sometimes while training,” Pelt replied.

  “Oh, well, yeah, I can see that,” Ollie whispered and sat back in his seat.

  As they pulled up to the curb, Ollie’s gaze immediately fell on Wyndingo. Gods, his mate was fucking hot as hell and it had nothing to do with him being a fireman. Okay, maybe a little. Wyn always looked amazing, but now standing there in his gear looking all authoritative was such a turn-on. Who knew he liked a man in uniform? Yum.

  Pelt parked the car at the curb and Ollie took a deep breath. He needed to calm his heart and mind so that he could stand strong against the onslaught of Wyn’s manly scent that made him want to rub himself against the big hunk and lick him everywhere.

  “You coming?” Pelt asked.

  Ollie blinked a few times, then met Pelt’s gaze as he stood in the open door waiting for him. Shit, he hadn’t even realized that Pelt had gotten out and opened his door for him. “Yeah, I’m coming,” Ollie grumbled as he turned and stepped out of the car.

  Just as his feet hit the sidewalk, it seemed like all hell broke loose. Everyone was shouting and running around. Wyn was yelling out orders and Day and his men took off for the building. A loud pop filled the air right before the shattering of glass. Ollie looked up in time to see the window on the top floor burst out, raining glass onto the ground.

  His heart picked up speed and he began to pant nervously. What the hell was going on? This didn’t look like a fucking training session, it looked like a real fire. Day and the others all ran inside, and Ollie moved closer, his eyes wide as he took in everything around him.

  Someone yelled out, “Don’t open that fucking door.” And Ollie looked toward his mate again. Wyn took off running toward some kind of tarp and grabbed something from it and Ollie’s heart nearly stopped. He didn’t know how he knew, he just did, his mate was about to run in that fucking building. He may not want a mate at this time in his life, but he did want a mate someday and Wyndingo was it. What if he didn’t make it out of the fire?

  “Wyndingo!” Ollie was moving closer and yelling before he even realized what he was doing.

  Pelt grabbed him around the waist, holding him back, but Ollie kept yelling for his mate. “Wyndingo!”

  Wyn either didn’t hear him, or couldn’t. There was too much going on and the man was the Battalion chief. Ollie watched, frozen, as Wyn ran into the burning building.

  Time seemed to stand still and speed up all at the same time. The seconds felt like minutes and the minutes felt like hours, but everyone was moving at top speed. The air filled with smoke and flames grew from different areas, licking out windows and burning through the roof.

  Ollie paced back and forth as he bit his nails, watching, waiting, for everyone to come out safe. Suddenly, a large figure appeared in the doorway. It was in silhouette and obstructed by the thick smoke, so Ollie had no idea who it was. The figure stepped out of the building and Ollie saw a man, lying unconscious in Wyn’s arms as his mate ran from the building and dropped down onto his knees, gently placing the man on the ground.

  Logan and Sutton ran over and started CPR, then hooked the guy up to an IV. Wyn stepped back, turned, then took off into the building again.

  Ollie watched anxiously as the fire started to pull back and more smoke billowed above. “That’s a good sign, Ol. As the fire goes out, it creates a lot of smoke. Look, someone’s coming out,” Pelt said as he pointed toward the house.

  Finn and Zev stepped out first, then Jett, then Morgan and York followed. As they each came out and moved away from the structure, they pulled off their helmets and masks and Ollie was surprised to see that their faces were covered in black soot. Next Neil and Colin walked out, along with Day and Terry close behind. The four walked right over to three firefighters that had stood across the lawn the whole time and not helped. One of them had made a move to go in once, but the other two had grabbed him, stopping him. Now, it looked like Neil and Terry were giving the three a lecture.

  Movement back toward the house caught his attention and Ollie turned. Three large men made their way through the front door. The first one squeezing out but not releasing the man that stood next to him. The two guys on the end were supporting the one in the middle and once they were all clear, they helped the guy away from the building and sat him down.

  When the guy took off his helmet, Ollie’s heart stopped again right after it jumped into his throat. It was Wyndingo, and he was hurt. Blood covered the left side of his face, mixed in with the black soot like the others had.

  The other two took off their helmets as well and Ollie could see now that it was Onyx and Brax. Onyx pulled a small cylinder from his coat and placed the mask on the tip over Wyn’s face and told him to breathe. Brax pulled off Wyn’s gloves as he knelt beside Wyn and yelled over his shoulder for Logan to take a look at Wyn.

  Ollie moved closer, stopping a few feet away, his gaze never leaving Wyn.

  “Just keep breathing, Wyn. Everything else looks fine. You have a small gash on your forehead, but it doesn’t look too bad. We can take you to the hospital to have one of the docs look at it, but I think if you shift it will be fine. Although, it sounds like you breathed in a lot of that crap. Your lungs sound horrible,” Logan said as he looked Wyn over and used a stethoscope on his chest. “I suggest you don’t shift until you get more of that clean oxygen in you though. I think the cut on your head can wait, so just give it a little longer and I’ll let you know. Sit tight,” Logan said as he pat Wyn’s knee and stood.

  “Logan,” Wyn said in a hoarse voice, then coughed. When Logan turned back to him, Wyn continued, “How’s Jensen? Is he gonna make it?”

  Logan smiled as he nodded. “So that’s his name. Good to know. Yeah, he’s good, just smoke inhalation and a small burn on his right arm. He smells a little funky, which I don’t know if it comes from the fire or not, but other than that he’s okay. We’ll take him in for the docs to look at and make sure his lungs are alright. He’ll probably spend the night there. If you hadn’t gotten to him in time, it could be a whole different story. Nice work from what I hear, Chief.” Logan gave Wyn another smile, then walked away, going back to Sutton and Jensen.

  Ollie watched as they strapped him to the stretcher, then loaded him in the back of the ambulance. He would have to remember to let Dain know. He knew Dain would want to know as well as Rhys. They knew Jensen, the homeless guy that traveled around Maddox. Both had tried to get him into an apartment, but he always turned them down. Ollie didn’t know why, but it was a free country.

  “I’m fine,” Wyn said in that deep, raspy voice, pulling Ollie’s attention to him again.

  Wyn stood up with the help of Brax and Onyx, but brushed them off as soon as he got to his feet.

  “You sure you don’t want to head to the hospital, Wyn?” Day asked as he joined them.

  “No. I’m good. Nothing a long shower, a shift, and some food won’t cure. Thanks for the hand in there, Day. I couldn’t have gotten Jen
sen out from under that shit without you.”

  “No problem, that’s what we do, right?” Day said with a smile and pat Wyn’s shoulder. “Why don’t you head back to the station, I’ll take over here.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. Instruct my three newbies to come see me the minute they get back. I think I need to have a serious conversation with each of them about their choice in careers and where they should and shouldn’t be.”

  Day laughed. “Good luck with that. I’ll tell them,” Day replied, then walked away.

  Wyn turned around and froze as their gazes met. His brows dropped low and he looked at Ollie in confusion. “Ollie, right?”

  “Um…yeah.”

  “The illusive Santorini Fox finally appears. What can I do for you?” Wyn asked, then started coughing hard.

  Brax came right over. “Can this wait, Ollie? Chief needs to get more oxygen in him and get back to the station. Can you follow us there and then talk to him?”

  “Good idea. I’ll drive him over,” Pelt replied.

  “That would be great. I’ll meet you there. Or are you going to disappear on me again?” Wyn said with a smirk, then began coughing again.

  “No, I’ll be there,” Ollie grumbled and spun on his heels, then headed for the car.

  Once inside and Pelt was again behind the wheel and pulling away from the curb, Ollie turned to look out the window again as he fought the tears that burned the backs of his eyes. When he had seen Wyn go into that fire, his heart damn near stopped. Then with each passing moment, which felt like forever, but he knew was only minutes, his heart clenched to the point of pain in his chest and Ollie didn’t like it. But when Wyn was helped out of the building and given medical help, Ollie thought he was going to go out of his fucking mind. He saw his mate dying and him being alone forever.

  Damn it! What’s wrong with me? I don’t want my mate right now. Someday, but not now. Right? he thought.

  CHAPTER 4

  Wyndingo rubbed the towel over his wet hair, then down his body. Once dry, he tossed the cloth into the hamper and dressed quickly. Dain’s assistant, the very sexy Santorini Fox, Ollie, was waiting in his office for him. After months of playing cat and mouse with the man and Ollie never showing up to deliver things from Dain as promised, the hot little man was finally here.

  Not that Wyn was interested anymore, because he could swear he was scenting his mate recently, but he also wasn’t dead. He was allowed to gaze upon the beauty of men all he wanted, as long as he didn’t touch or in any way dishonor his mate. But, as much as he was convinced he was smelling his mate’s erotic scent, he had not found him yet, which meant that he would not be cheating on the man if he tried to get the sexy fox into his bed.

  Wyn smiled as the thought of having Ollie under him writhing in pleasure flashed through his mind. The little fox was exactly his type. Small and slim, but still perfectly toned with hard muscles, perfect for his stature. Gorgeous robin’s egg blue hair that went past his shoulders and the most amazing chocolate brown eyes he had ever seen. Yes, it was the one thing he shared in common with his brothers, but somehow Oliver’s seemed…more.

  Damn, he needed to stop daydreaming like a horny teenager and get his ass in gear. Oliver wouldn’t wait much longer. After returning to the station, he had shifted in the parking lot just long enough to heal, then came in for his shower. Now that he felt at top form and all the soot had been cleared from his lungs, skin, hair, and nose, all he needed now was some food and to get this meeting over with.

  Wyn headed down into the station and as he walked through the bay headed toward his office, the most delicious scent hit him, causing him to stop and look around. The station was empty with his men all still at the training facility cleaning up, but the scent of fresh morning dew and mint chocolate filled his senses. Wyndingo drew in a deep breath through his nose, taking pleasure from the aroma.

  He didn’t even realize he had closed his eyes until they snapped open with the thought that hit him. This was the same amazing smell he had been getting off some of the paperwork from Dain. The one that had him going hard in seconds and salivating. The one that he thought belonged to his mate. But here in the station right now, the smell was very strong.

  Wyn lifted his head slightly and followed the scent. It got stronger as he went and led him right to his office. Had Ollie given up on him and someone else was inside? Was Pascal in there, which would really be confusing and a huge pain in the ass. He had sniffed Pascal already and knew that the little man was not his, plus Pas was already mated to Zen and Wyn knew the large man was not his mate either. So who sat behind his closed door and was it truly his mate?

  He grabbed the doorknob and turned as he pushed the door open and was immediately assaulted with a wall of mint chocolate and morning dew.

  The shock of robin’s egg blue hair that met him both surprised and thrilled him, but the stiff way in which its owner sat, confused him. Wyn stepped into the room and closed the door. Walking slowly around the chair that Oliver sat in, Wyn moved to stand before him between Ollie and the desk. Once their gazes met, Wyndingo could see the truth. Ollie was his mate.

  Without thinking, Wyn stepped forward, gripped Ollie under the arms, lifting him off the chair, and pulled him close in an intimate embrace. He placed his nose against the side of Ollie’s neck and inhaled deep. His senses were immediately filled with the heavenly scent of his mate. Wyn ran his tongue along the silky skin up to Ollie’s ear, then whispered, “I have waited a long time for you and you’re even better than I had ever imagined.”

  The body pressed against his shivered, the motion thrilling Wyn that he had that effect on his mate. Ollie melted against him and a soft moan escaped his lips. Wyn pulled his head back, meeting Ollie’s amazing chocolate brown eyes and he could see the desire in those rich pools. His gaze dropped to Ollie’s lips, so full, plump, and begging for him to taste. He lowered his head and softly touched his lips to Ollie’s. The quick, electrifying spark of energy that passed between them making his already hard cock throb within his slacks.

  Wyn whispered the one word he always wanted to say and longed to hear, “Mate.”

  Suddenly, the heat and desire in Ollie’s eyes changed and Wyn was sure it was panic. Ollie tried to step back out of his embrace but Wyn didn’t want to lose this feeling of completion inside him. “I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get here,” Ollie said nervously.

  “It’s okay, wee one, we don’t have a say in when Fate brings us together,” Wyn replied as he lifted his hand and gently brushed a lock of hair away from his mate’s face.

  “I don’t know about fate, but Dain sure hasn’t been happy,” Ollie said, his voice breaking, as he tried to wiggle free from Wyn’s grasp again.

  “I’m not talking about Dain, wee one. I’m talking about us, the start of our lives together, standing side by side to face the rest of our days. Do you not realize we are true mate’s?”

  “Um…yeah…about that,” Ollie muttered and pulled back with a little more force, and Wyn released his hold.

  Something was very wrong here. His mate sat stiffly as he walked in, and thinking about it more clearly, Ollie’s eyes looked like he was frightened when their gazes first met. They also looked that way back at the training house. But when he pulled his mate into his arms he had felt Ollie’s body tremble for him, had smelled his arousal, had seen the desire in those eyes, but now…now he was acting all official and standoffish.

  “What is it, wee one? Have I done something wrong? Do you not know we are mates?” Wyn asked in concern.

  Ollie stepped back again, putting more distance between them and Wyn’s dragon growled within him. Ollie shook his head, then sighed before he said, “No, that’s not it. It’s…just that…Shit. How do I say this without sounding like a heartless ass and hurting you?”

  Wyn was shocked by Oliver’s words. Was he…rejecting him? “Are you saying you don’t want me?”

  “See, now that right there,” Ollie said in
a louder voice as he waved his hand around. “It’s not that I don’t want you, per se. It has nothing to do with you personally. Hell, I don’t even know you really, and what I do know of you I know you’re a good guy. Shit, you’re a firefighter and risk your life every day to protect others. When there is danger you run into it while everyone else runs away from it. Then there’s that. I saw what you did today. You could have gotten killed. Then what?”

  Wyn took a cautious step closer. “So my being a firefighter, the Battalion Chief, is what has you scared to accept our mating? Because if that is the case, then I will call Illan now and resign. Nothing will come before you, mate. If my job frightens you that much, then I will gladly walk away to ease your suffering.”

  “Yes…I mean no. No. No one should change for anyone else. I couldn’t ask you to walk away from what you are, and being a firefighter is a part of you just as much as your dragon is. You wouldn’t be happy walking away from it and then you would end up resenting me for it. But that’s not even the issue here,” Ollie said in exasperation.

  “I’m confused. Why don’t you just tell me the issue so that we can discuss it and move on? Then we can get to the good parts of our mating,” Wyn said seductively as he stepped closer and placed his hands on Ollie’s hips and drew him close. A long, thick, hard pole pressed against his thigh and Wyn was not only surprised, but impressed. It seemed his little mate wasn’t a wee one, after all.

  Ollie whimpered and leaned back. “No, see, that right there. No. There will be no getting to the good stuff. Well, not between us.”

  Wyn could feel his dragon coming to the surface from Ollie’s words. “What do you mean not between us? No other man will ever touch you again or they will find themselves bloody and broken, their body parts scattered to the four corners of the world,” Wyn replied with an angry growl.