Taming Two Fires (Hearts of Heroes Book 1)

by Rayne O'Gara

  “Sorry, I figure after all that conversation you were having you needed a drink to, ya know, cool yourself off,” she offers teasingly.

  “Alright, thank you, you are forgiven for now, but I’d watch it, lady.” Giving her a mock glare, laughter bubbles out. I really am having fun. Raising the beer to my lips, I take a sip. “Ahhh, I needed that.” I skim the view in front of me and watch the kids, I hear her laughter. Raising a brow, I await, what is so funny?

  “He sure is something, isn’t he?”

  “Have you met Alex before?” I ask, not even pretending to not know who she is talking about.

  “Yeah, I’ve met him a couple times but I didn’t think they would show up today. I was surprised to see him come up to Rob. I would have warned you, if I knew,” she confessed sounding a little worried.

  “It’s okay, hon, I’m not mad at anyone, so I met a great looking guy, not going to…wait, you said they? I just asked about Alex…I only met Alex, someone else is here?” With confusion lacing my voice, I look to her for an explanation.

  “I meant Alex and his roommate, Roman Kavanah. I mean, yeah maybe Alex would show up, but no nonsense, no fun Roman? Never even became a possibility. But shit and all hell fire, there he is chatting with Alex under the tree, here, but not looking like he wants to be though,” Sofie finishes with a frown marring her beautiful face as she looks over at the guys.

  “Do you not like him? You seem upset with him.”

  “Oh no, it’s nothing like that, I just don’t know him. From what I’ve seen, he’s not a big talker so I can’t really get a feel for him other than he’s the strong silent type. Not like I can with Alex. That man is a charmer, but a good guy. Hehe, I bet he knows how to, ah, treat a woman right.” Wagging her eyebrows at me, she cracks up at her own Sofieness. I can’t help but crack a little too. Well her laughter is contagious, it can’t be helped.

  “I bet he could too.” Voicing my agreement, I can’t stop myself from gazing over to the tree Sofie said Alex and Roman were standing under.

  “Holy moly, Sofe, he’s huge! What are they feeding these guys at the station? Miracle grow?” I gasp out.

  “I know right! I think the only one bigger than Roman is my Robbie, so that’s sayin’ something. Hehe, I’m telling Rob about the miracle grow thing, he’ll get a kick out of it. Speaking of my poor baby, I better go rescue him. He somehow became the middle of a ‘when you having kids’ circle made up of some of the other guys’ wives. Why don’t you get something to eat and meet us over there whenever you’re ready?” she suggests and points to a group of chairs when I notice a hot pink camping chair. Sofie’s. I give out a bark of laughter as she tries to school her features into a sympathetic face before turning back to poor Rob’s predicament.

  “Yeah, go save that guy of yours. I will see ya’ll in a bit,” I let her know as I shake my head watching Rob give her pitiful looks as she slowly walks her way toward him and his rescue. Not able to stop myself, I find the tree Alex and his friend were standing under, hoping to ogle some more and I freeze.

  Caught. That’s the best way I can describe it. Ice blue eyes hit me like a punch landing in my stomach. Just staring, burning into me from afar. I swear he can see into my soul. I’ve never seen such eyes. So cold, but hot—frozen fire. Roman. Tingles erupt all over as he slides his gaze slowly down and back up my body. Partially hidden in the tree’s shadow I cannot really make out most of his features. I see short, thick black as night hair, large, very large body, massive shoulders, square jaw, and those eyes… I want to be closer. He doesn’t move, not a twitch, nothing. This male is no pushover. He would take control and expect you to bow down, a leader. Shivers wrack me as my body’s core starts pounding. My pussy floods with the thought of him having me kneel for him. My breath quickens, expanding my breasts and making my nipples so sensitive I feel a shockwave every time they brush against my clothing.

  To fast…this is way too fast. Ten minutes ago my body wants Alex, and now Roman, I haven’t even met him yet. Traitorous body! Down, girl. We’re not ready for him, he would chew us up and spit us out. He’s too much. Staring into his eyes trying to pull myself away I see his body shift under the tree as he takes a step forward as if to come to me. Oh no! Jerking out of his hypnotic trance, I walk quickly over to the circle of chairs on wobbly legs completely bypassing the food. I mean really, who could eat right now? I still feel his eyes on my body, watching me as I walk away. I just need to get to a chair before my legs collapse. Never have I had a reaction like this to someone, and now, within ten minutes, I have met two men that make my body smolder. Getting to my chair at Sofie’s side, I fall down into it, my legs no longer able to hold me up. Thighs quivering and butterflies still flapping away in my tummy. I push my inner turmoil aside and try to join in my friends’ conversation. Slowly, what seems like hours, the prickles on the back of my neck ease making my shoulders slip in exhaustion from holding myself ridged for so long. What am I going to do? I’m not really ready for one man, now I have to choose? Oh, Cait, stressing over nothing. You don’t even know if they both really like you or if you’re taking a little flirtation too seriously. I mean come on, you didn’t actually speak to Roman, he just stared at you, and Sofie said Alex is a big flirt. That could just be how he acts all the time. Flirty but not serious. See…stop overanalyzing, were all good.

  Once I finished my pep talk, I feel my heart slow down to normal and my breathing goes back to being steady. Alright, I feel slightly better. Well, can’t do anything about the wetness right now, this is soo not comfortable. Feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up again, my body tenses. It’s not him…it is something else…they don’t want you like that…right? Not able to stop myself I slowly look over my shoulder to see what was behind me. Whoa! There, standing back under the tree, Alex has joined Roman once again. Alex with his hands on his lean hips and Roman with his arms crossed over his muscle packed chest, both staring right at me with a hot burning fire in their eyes.

  Oh. Shit.

  Chapter Three

  Roman…

  I find myself standing under one of the few trees here at the Liberty Community Park wondering to myself, what the fuck was I thinking?! Yes, Alex wanted to come, but it’s not like he couldn’t go himself. No, he had to push and jab me to get here. If this guy was anyone else, I would have just knocked him out cold and been done with it, but Alex has pulled me out of more scrapes than I want to count, so I give him a little leeway. I have tried to go to company parties before, and it’s not like I don’t want to socialize, well okay I don’t, but I’m just an intimidating guy. This is supposed to be a relaxing time for families. So who wants a big, scary looking guy glaring at everyone hanging round here? Alex, unfortunately. He said he had a feeling we both needed to be here today, and as crazy as it sounds, I always go with Alex’s gut feelings. I’ve known him long enough to know these feelings save lives. So, damn Alex and his fucking feelings, because now I’m standing under an oak not doing a damn thing.

  My eyes scan over the food tables trying to find Alex, and when I do, then I can say I did my time, I’m getting the fuck out of here, see you at the station. Nobody’s there right now except for Nancy, the seventy-two-year-old dispatcher who hates these things more than me. If there’s a call, she’ll send it out and the on-duty team will respond. Aanndd there’s the other thing that blows. We’re on-call. So while everyone else is drinking their Coronas, Alex and I have sodas…yum. Blah. Rolling my head around my neck trying to loosen up some muscles, I finally catch sight of him. Standing about half way between the food and where I am, he seems to be holding the hand of a goddess.

  Lush curves, long red hair, a little heart shaped face that is sporting the prettiest blush…mmm. I wonder if her ass will turn that pretty pink color after I give her a good and hard spanking before fucking her. I clench my fist with that thought as I try to stay under this damn tree. I want to know so bad I can taste it…yeah…taste her. With creamy skin and fiery hair
? I bet she’ll taste like strawberries and cream when I get my head between those curvy thighs. Fuck! I want her bad. I can see myself with my hand wrapped in all that glorious hair, pulling tightly as I pound into her from behind. Shit. Thinking like this has gotten my dick so hard I’m oozing. And now the front of my pants are wet. Great.

  Alex turns and walks away from the vision he was talking to, leaving her alone. Oh no, baby, you’re not alone, I got something only you can help me with. Mmmm. Before taking my first step I notice the shy way she tries to hide herself from people’s attention. Bowed head, virgin’s blush, trying to blend in with shadows…dammit. Any thoughts I had of making her mine are gone. I can tell a submissive woman when I see one and damn she is, and just that right there has my cock swelling, straining against my zipper painfully. Dammit, man, cool down, you almost made a big mistake going over there because you are thinking with your dick. Now get it. Under. Control. Seeing how shy and reserved she is, I need to let her go.

  God! She sees me interested in her and she will run screaming into the night. I’m no good for her. She is better off with Alex, I can tell he wants her too. Knowing each other as long as we have, you understand that person like he’s apart of you. Then you live together, and there’s no hiding shit from each other at that point, and me and Alex have been friends for over twenty-five years. Now, we’ve had girlfriends separately before, but what we want is that one special lady that’s for the both of us. Not one for me and one for him, just one girl who we can settle down with together. I’m thirty-two, ready to settle, there has to be someone out there willing to take the deal. Too bad about the redhead…

  Seeing Rob’s wife walk over to her, I release the breath I was holding to bring myself into check. I feel much better knowing she has someone here to watch over her. Sofie, I think is her name, hands the beauty a beer and I see her smile light up her face. Oh fuck…her throat works as she swallows a drink and it sends my deflating dick back to full throttle.

  As Alex joins me under the shade of the oak, he slaps my shoulder, pulling me out of my daze. Seeing what my eyes were focused on he nods, and says, “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, yes she is,” my voice coming out deep and rough. Clearing my throat I continue, “She’s a timid thing though.” Looking at Alex standing beside me, he nods his own head with a small frown.

  “Yeah, but so damn sweet my teeth ached just talking with her.”

  “Who is she?” I ask, motioning my head toward her.

  “Her name is Caitriona, Cait for short, we’re going to dance later. Maybe you should jump in on that opportunity yourself.”

  “Damn, Alex, you saw how shy she was with you…I don’t think I am her type…I’m pretty damn sure ‘we’re’ not what she goes for.”

  Snorting into his soft drink, Alex rolls his eyes and looks at me incredulously, “When has that ever stopped you before. You see something or someone and you go for it, what’s stopping you now?”

  I glance back at Cait and give a half shrug to my friend, “I don’t want to see her break, she’s special. She’s not one of those fuck ‘em and leave ‘em types, Alex, Cait would be forever. Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen, so it’s a moot point. She likes you, you would be good for her.”

  “Who said it wasn’t going to happen? I talked with her for less than five minutes. I know you, Roman, you want her, I can hear it in your voice. You want her where I want her…with us. She is the reason we both needed to be here, she’s ours, I can feel it, man. Don’t push this off or be noble,” Alex gives a snort. “Like you could see me with her and not die because you want her too. No…both, or not at all. Why don’t you try meeting her before you give up.”

  I stare at Alex and cross my arms over my chest. “She has to want me, Alex, not just me wanting her.”

  “I agree, but if you never give it a chance we will never know, will we?”

  Having said that Alex spun on his heel and headed over to the food tables. Relaxing my arms, I give my head a little shake. Dammit! He’s right. I’m being a pussy. I just don’t want to scare her, but fuck, I don’t want to mess it up.

  Eyes drawing back to Caitriona I see Sofie leave and head over to her sad-looking husband. Half smiling and giving a little chuckle at the slow way she is walking, it’s good for Rob to be harassed. Cait’s smile lights up her face as she watches her friend, I want to be the one who gives her a reason to smile. Stepping a little farther into the shadows, I continue to watch her, yeah I know it’s a little on the stalker side, but I can’t take my eyes off her. Come on, baby, look over here. Moving her eyes over the park she does just that, her gaze stopping on me. What color are her eyes? Blue? Green? Dammit! I need to be closer. I clench my fists when I see her suck in a deep breath enhancing her large breasts. I love an overflowing handful, and being a man with large hands, that means big tits, hers are perfect. Roving my eyes up and down that delectable body of hers, I watch her as she gives a shiver of, I hope, arousal. Her little pink tongue licks her bitable lips and my gut clenches. Thoughts of everything I want to do to that mouth and tongue make my cock throb in my restrictive jeans. I can’t take this anymore, I’ve got to have a taste! Making my move forward I didn’t get one full step before she jerked out of out her thoughts, and blushing nervously she looks around. Yeah, didn’t even take a step before scaring her off. My eyes stick like glue to the sight of her seductively swaying ass as she rushes toward a group of chairs by her friends. I watch her sit and slightly duck her head. I can imagine the blush covering her cheeks and a groan rumbles throughout my chest.

  I need a drink, and I don’t mean this carbonated shit, so seeing Alex head my way I figure anything would be better than nothing. Taking his cup when he reaches me I swallow down the soda with a grimace. I’m not really much of a drinker but I’ve totaled about three hours of sleep in a forty-eight hour time period, my body needs something more than a Coke.

  “You still gonna tell me she’s not interested? I saw the way she was looking at you.”

  “She’s interested, but she still ran, just like I said she would. It’s better to leave it.” Crossing my arms again, I wait for Alex’s reply.

  “You have no way with the ladies, she was probably scared but turned on. For fuck's sake,” smacking his hand onto his hips Alex shakes his head. “Introduce yourself, or I can introduce you, but you need to make yourself known to her or we’ll lose her before we even have her.” Just staring at each other the buzz of kids playing comes to my ears. Turning back to Cait, I notice Alex doing the same.

  “By the way,” Alex starts cautiously as I turn back to his face, “Carl was letting me know his divorce is final and he’s looking for a bed partner. Has his eyes set on Cait, said she’s real pretty. I think he’ll try to snatch a dance.” I narrow my eyes at him and turn to the back of Cait’s head with Alex following my motion, just in time to see her slowly glance over her shoulder at us. Inhaling slowly she licks her lip again and I can see the heat in her eyes. Mine.

  “No! She’s ours, no one else touches her,” growling possessively at the thought of Carl putting his hands on Cait.

  “Yes…she is,” Alex quietly agrees.

  *****

  Cait…

  Basking in the last rays of the sun, I feel relaxed by the warmth, okay, and by the three beers. I finish getting all my camera equipment put away in the padded case and start making my way to the car. Having had Sofie already unlock the vehicle, I gently set down my case and shut the trunk. Turned out to be a beautiful day. I’ve had fun. I can’t wait to get home and develop the pictures I shot. Unfortunately, we have dancing coming up and I promised Alex that damn dance. Just thinking about what was to come had the butterflies fluttering away again. Hearing a soft mewling noise followed by a deep grumbling sound, I walk around the bumper of the black SUV parked next to us to investigate. Yeah I’m curious like that. With my head down trying to look under the car I run into a massive wall of muscle. Trying to catch myself, I start t
o fall when two strong hands grip my upper arms and catches me before I fall on my ass.

  “Oh goodness, thank you for catch—” Looking up at my rescuer, I freeze. Oh… son of a bitch! “Roman…ah…thanks for catching me.” Breathlessly I try to give him a smile, but I think it just turned out more of a grimace though. I have to work on that.

  With a crooked smile and raised eyebrow, he looks down at me with those incredible blue eyes of his. “You know my name? Asking about me were you? And you’re welcome for the rescue, no hardship on my part, I promise you that.”

  Face warming up at the sexual growl in his voice I give my throat a clearing as I try to answer his questions. “My friend mentioned your name, um, I’m so sorry for running into you. I heard some noises and I was just trying to find out what it was,” I explain. Biting my bottom lip I look into his eyes and oh, what a look. His eyes are on fire. Concentrating on my mouth he looks like I’m little red riding hood and he wants to gobble me up. He licks his lips and I hear a low growl almost wolf-like come from Roman. Oh God…my panties are soaked, that one gesture has my body revved up and ready to go. What would it be like to have Roman take me? Because he would take me, no ‘please can I?’ from this man. Yes, baby, tell me what to do to you. I want this man bad. Taking a deep breath into my lungs, I quiver, he smells so damn good. Like leather, spice, and man. Mmmmm… His deep voice sends shivers throughout my body and my brain short-circuits. Fuck a duck he said something.

  “I am sorry, what?” I ask in a daze.

  Eyes dancing with mirth, he repeats himself, “I said, as much as I love having you in my arms against me, and I will again, I wondered if you would like to see the kitten I coaxed out from under my car? That’s the sounds you were probably hearing.”

  With that being said, I realize I am in fact, smashed against his warm, hard chest with his arms resting on my wide hips. I feel the heat from his hands seeping through my clothes onto my bare skin making me break out in goose bumps. Nipples tight and hard as erasers, I close my eyes and pray. Please, please don’t know how much my nipples want you. Unfortunately, one look at him and I have my answer. Yep, he knows all right, damn. Okay let’s get back on track here.