Hundred to One

by Freya Barker

  When I am almost close enough to reach out and make a grab for his gun, I try for distraction again.

  "Why set fire to the diner? You got a thing for matches?"

  "Shut the fuck up, you freak. Sit your ass down."

  I sit, my ass clenching in protest at the chilly encounter with the ground. Gonna have numb cheeks at best.

  "What do you want, Matt? What do you get out of this?"

  I'm trying with everything to keep him talking, hoping Gus is catching it all and will approach carefully and hopefully in time.

  "You know the fire department is on the way, right?"

  He laughs at that. "Why do you think I picked tonight? Gonna take ‘em forever. There won't be much left."

  "True." I can't resist. "Except for two witnesses."

  A loud crash from one of the diner windows bursting with the heat of the fire, momentarily draws his attention. Not hesitating a second, Arlene hauls out hard and kicks his legs right out from under him. Greatly assisted by the surface of the parking lot now covered in a slick layer of snow, he goes down swiftly. A shot goes off, but veers wide and with a sickening smack his head meets the unforgiving asphalt.

  "Think he'll make it?"

  I hear Gus ask the EMT looking after Seb when the first ambulance drives off with the guy I knocked out. To be honest, I’m more concerned right now with the state of my diner. The fire department showed up a few minutes after Gus did but had made good time taking the fire down. Right now there are no flames visible anymore, but still a lot of smoke and smoldering. I wouldn't know the extent of the damage until I had a chance to go inside and have a look - that is, if the Fire Marshall will let me.

  Gus is walking toward his truck and tries to motion me over.

  "Arlene, get out of the damn weather! Get in here."

  But I shake my head. I don't want to be stuck in a confined space right now, at least not with Gus.

  Looking back at where Seb is being checked over, I meet his eyes and see the concern in them. I'm fully aware I left him hanging with his declaration of love earlier, but I’m terrified of saying those words again. Only once before have I uttered those words to a man and look where that left me. It's not that I think Seb would ever hurt me willingly, not like Geoffrey did, but isn't saying you love a man the same as handing yourself over completely? I did that tonight already; at least as much as I could give him.

  He waves me over to the ambulance where he sits sheltered from the weather and I can't resist his pull, bruised and battered as he is with a blanket draped around him until he can get some clothes from his apartment. That is, if there still is enough of an apartment to get into. Oh God - my diner. I have to call Beth.

  "Come here, Babe." He is calling me now and I walk faster. When I climb into the rig and am within arm's reach he hauls me in his arms and presses my head in his neck. He smells like smoke, leftover shower and Seb and it surrounds me like a safe blanket. Sliding my arms under the blanket against his naked back, I press myself to him - needing to melt myself to him. My safety. Since he came eight months ago he has been right there to pick me up or hold me up, and most of the time I haven't even noticed. It doesn't matter what brought him here. It only matters that he stays. Time and time again. Fuck, I love this man.

  "You ok?" His deep voice rumbles against my hair.

  "I know I shouldn't be, but I am in a way."

  Pushing me slightly away from him, he studies my face carefully with one corner of his mouth lifted and a question in his eyes. "Yeah?"

  I nod in response and he runs his index finger from my forehead down to the tip of my nose before grabbing my chin and kissing me sweetly.

  "Whatever the damage to the diner, we'll fix it. Together." He says with determination in his eyes, making me swallow a few times before I can respond.

  "Together. I like that."

  He rubs his nose against my cheek and says, "I want you to have the EMT check you out real quick."

  Immediately I start protesting. "But I'm fine - "

  He shuts me up by pressing his finger on my lips and leans his head against mine.

  "Please, Spot. For me?"

  Obviously the EMT checks me out and finds there is nothing broken, but suggests a cold pack might come in handy.

  A Montezuma Sheriff's Department car pulls in and Joe gets out, making his way over to us.

  "You guys are keeping me busy."

  "We aim to please, Joe." I try to joke, but it falls rather flat when all of us turn around and look at the diner with almost all of it's windows blown or smashed out and dark soot running up the side of the building.

  "Damn, girl. That ain't looking too good. Have you been inside yet?"

  "No, we're waiting for the Fire Marshall to do a walk through first."

  "Okay. Mind if I get in and ask some questions?"

  Joe climbs in the ambulance and we try to tell him what happened, starting earlier tonight when I closed the diner and heard some noise, then Joe turns to Seb and gives him the third degree and an ear-full about heading off on his fact-finding excursion last night, which brings me to an awful realization.

  "Oh my God! Julie… What if he doesn't make it? He is the only connection we have to her."

  "Already on it, Arlene. We have an officer waiting at the hospital and as soon as anything about his condition is known we'll be all over it. Besides, Gus and Caleb are working on tracking down the sister."

  "Sister?"

  "Matt has a sister who was bartending at the bar two nights ago. She's the one I was talking to before this happened." Seb filled me in.

  I run my hands through my sticky hair. I'm a drenched cat and I feel like the whole damn world has gone ballistic, but I do want to keep my priorities straight.

  "Make sure you give Julie and her baby priority, Joe. That's more important than anything."

  Seb gives my waist a little squeeze and Joe says, "Of course we will, girl, but you've gotta understand that all this is connected somehow and you seem to be at the center of it all. Too much of a coincidence for it to be anything else."

  It took another hour for the Fire Marshall to arrive and do his walk-through and then we were allowed in. Seb had not been allowed upstairs, but someone brought out some of his clothes, so he was warm and decent again.

  I gasp in shock when I walk in and see the damage. Holy fuck. Parts of the ceiling are gone and toward the kitchen and the back wall, everything is black and scorched. I don't know whether it is actually all burned or whether they are layers of soot, but it looks awful.

  The Fire Marshall turns to me. "I have good news and bad news. What do you want first?"

  "Bad news, please. Then when you give me the good news it'll be the start of a new trend," I tell him far more optimistically than I feel.

  He smiles at that. "Very well. The damage is pretty extensive. The back area, kitchen, cold storage and office are pretty much unsalvageable, as is the apartment above. There are areas of the ceiling where the fire found its way in between the floors and smoldered quietly while the fire was being contained in other areas which is why you see the hole here. The main dining room is in order, other than the ceiling and the windows."

  I've been holding Seb's hands in front of me. He slides in behind me and doesn't say a thing, just slides his arms around my waist. Hearing the scale of the damage the fire has done has me squeezing his hands hard.

  "And the good news?"

  "It is an obvious arson, but one to which you are victim and between my report and the one you will undoubtedly receive from the Sheriff's Office, you should have no problem whatsoever with your insurance claim. Let me know when the adjuster will be here and give me a call. I will make myself available."

  He hands over his business card and with a nod of his head is off to speak with Joe.

  "Still doing okay?" Seb asks as he turns me around.

  "I guess. A bit stunned to be honest. Not sure how I feel anymore, just really tired now. I think I could sleep for days,
I'm so exhausted."

  "Let's go home. I'm just going to see how long Joe and his boys are going to be. Check in with Gus before we go. You sit in the truck, I'll be right there."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  It has been three days since the fire at the diner and I’m going out of my mind from boredom. Seb has stayed with me. What stuff was salvaged from his apartment has been moved into my spare bedroom, but he has insisted on folding himself around me every night. Not that I'm complaining, it's the best way to sleep. What am I saying? It's the only way to sleep. I haven’t had any nightmares since Seb has started sleeping with me and I am getting more rest than ever before, but it's the days that are driving me nuts. We haven't been able to get back into the diner to clean. Both the Fire Marshall and the Sheriff's Office have been keeping the place locked down for their ongoing investigation, but the word is that we'll be able to start cleaning today. First I have to meet with the claims adjuster and the Fire Marshall at the diner. If everything goes well, we can start cleaning right away. It's possible the insurance will pay for a company to do that, but we figure we can save some money by doing as much work as possible ourselves. Nothing better to do while the diner is closed anyway.

  When I try to roll out of bed to get some coffee going, a heavy arm snakes around my waist and pulls me back down.

  "Where you goin'?" Seb's gruff sleepy voice is muffled by the pillow, which is half covering his head.

  "Coffee." I say, still trying to get out of bed but his stubborn arm keeps me pinned.

  We’ve kissed, we’ve curled up together in bed, but other than some petting, we’ve behaved… too well. I've been careful of Seb's injuries and he doesn't seem to be in a hurry either, but it’s starting to make me a little unsure.

  "Not yet. Lie here with me." Pushing himself up on one elbow, the pillow slips off his head and his hair is sticking every which way, but the sleepy slits his eyes form have a sparkle in them, and the smile he throws me is at full wattage. Hard to resist the man. All hard looks and gruffness on the outside, but it belies the gentle and kind intelligence he harbors inside. I lean over and use my upper body to push him back onto the mattress on his back and rub my cheek against his days' old scruff. When my mouth finds his I explore with my lips and tongue.

  "Mmmmm, much better than coffee." He mumbles against my lips. He pulls my body up on his and spreads his legs so mine slide in between. His hands skim down my body and grasp my ass and hold me in place while he rocks his morning erection along my closed thighs. The head of his cock slightly teases the juncture of my legs and in no time I’m squirming, trying to open my legs to give him access but his muscular thighs keep me trapped, and his mouth keeps me distracted. One hand slides along the seam of my butt cheek and finds the edge of my panties; wet already. He groans his approval in my mouth and the vibrations only fuel my own hunger for him. I want to open my legs and ride him − slide myself over his length, teasing myself on his hardness − but I still can't move. Seb's fingers have found my slit and are spreading the moisture over my lips making me undulate my hips, eager for something to fill me.

  "Easy, baby… " He mumbles, nibbling his way down my neck.

  With both his hands he makes my panties disappear with one fast rip. Seb lifts my hips slightly off him and slides his cock in the tight space between my thighs and my pussy where he just created a slippery channel with my juices. One of his hands spreads my cheeks a little while the other seems to press his length along my slit. Rocking his hips, creating a delicious tight, slow friction that has me moaning out his name.

  "Please Seb…"

  "What do you want, love. Tell me."

  "I feel like I'm coming out of my skin. Please…"

  "Need you to tell me." The combination of the barely restrained control in his voice and the lust that burns in his eyes is overwhelming.

  "Fuck me. Please, Seb. Hard."

  Before I even finish speaking he has me on my back, is ripping my top off and sucks my tight nipple in his mouth. He grabs a pillow, shoves it under my butt, lifts one of my legs over his arm and slams his length home as he pulls hard on my breast. All breath has left me and I feel like I am plunged in a vacuum until he releases my nipple with a plop and invades my mouth with his tongue. Then hunger strikes and I find my hands clawing at his back and ass, trying to pull him deeper inside me. The long deep passes of his tongue mimic the strong rhythmic thrusts of his hips. But I need more.

  "Harder."

  He stops and looks me in the eyes. "I can hardly control myself…"

  "Don't want control. Want you to let go. Fuck me like you need to fuck me." I bite out, more eager for his surrender than for my relief.

  "Grab onto the headboard." I do as he says and he releases my leg and slides his arms under my shoulders and holds on. "Look at me, Spot. Even when I fuck you I want you to know I'm loving you."

  His eyes tell me everything I need to know and I hope mine will tell him what I can't express in words. A careful slide in and out of me quickly increases to a furious pounding with Seb's mouth spouting incoherent grunts and sounds, while his hands hold my body in place against the onslaught. My mouth opens, gasping for air, so close to blissing out as the sound of his balls slapping against my flesh almost sends me over the edge. What finally does is the instant dilation in Seb's eyes when I feel his cock start pulsing inside me, and just like that my body seizes into a massive orgasm that contracts every muscle in my body before releasing into the purest satisfaction. My eyes never leave his.

  I let go of the headboard and wrap myself around my man.

  "My man." I whisper and a small smile tugs at Seb's mouth.

  "Yeah?" He wants to know. My answer is to pull him down and kiss him. I'm no good with those words.

  "Arlene!"

  "Coming! Hold your friggin' horses, I'll be right there…"

  I'm in a mood. This morning's bliss bubble with Seb was rudely interrupted by my fucking alarm clock. Time for the harsh realities of the day; A burned out diner to contend with. Ugh. Having lived in PJ’s for most of this week, I find myself suddenly drawing a blank when faced with my closet, which is what has Seb hollering up the stairs about. I've been standing here a good ten minutes, none the wiser. Did I mention I hate clothes? Seriously, I can see the purpose of them - even the attraction, but must they be so complicated? It's one of the things I love about the diner. I never have to question what to wear; jeans and a work shirt. Simple. Now, I don't have a fucking clue.

  When I come down ten minutes later, Seb hands me a mug of coffee and leans in for a kiss.

  "Coffee is cold, but you look nice." He says with a wink.

  Smartass. I'm wearing jeans and a work shirt. I figure I'm going to the diner so it would be fitting.

  "Shut up, Seb."

  "You're cute, Spot. Let's go." He grabs my hand and pulls me to the door.

  I throw him a dirty look but have to fight the little smile that wants to break through. Can't encourage the man.

  Good thing I've put on work clothes too. It takes all of ten minutes for the Fire Marshall to sign off on the diner and he’s gone, leaving a report with Joe, the insurance company and one for me. To be honest, I had blown this meeting out of proportion a bit, probably from being cooped up inside too long. By the time 11:00 am comes along, I have buckets of soapy water going and I’m rinsing down cutlery, plates and glasses while Seb is pulling out whatever is in one piece and salvageable. The plan is to at least get the soot off, pack the loose stuff up and store it in a container unit in Cortez. Once we have the place emptied out, we're gonna start with the big clean.

  An hour and a half later, it’s hard to tell what the hell it is I’m wearing at all. When Gus' Yukon pulls in the parking lot, I'm glad for the distraction but disappointed to find Emma isn't with him.

  "Where'd you leave my girl?"

  "Don't want her to break her neck, Arlene. She's been cooking up a storm though, making sure there’s enough to feed an army for lunch and threate
ning to leave me if I don't bring you back for dinner later, so you better come. She's pissed enough at me already for making her stay home, but she slipped yesterday and fell on her hip which is all kinds of purple today. Last thing she needs is something broken. Stubborn woman won't stay put though."

  "No problem, I'll come see the brat. So where's the food? I'm hungry."

  "Don't I get a Hello Gus, and how are you? Even a hug maybe?" The big lug just stands there guarding the trunk of his SUV while I try to peek in.

  "Fine. Come here." Wrapping my soot covered body around his, I whisper, none too softly, "Needy men…"

  "Uhm, what was that, Arlene?" Seb's voice sounds from behind me.

  Oops.

  "Mind unhanding my girl, Gus?"

  I step back to see Gus with a big grin on his face, looking at Seb but not letting me go. Boys. Snapping my fingers in front of his face is my gentle reminder that there is a hungry woman standing in front of him, one who is about to get violent if not fed promptly.

  "One of you feed me please? Before I disappear?"

  Eyebrows raised, the two men look at me and then each other before they burst out laughing. I am not amused.

  "That is not funny. Hey! Jesus, you two give me a headache." I stomp off inside to what is left of my bathroom to wash up a little. Good thing the water was kept on.

  By the time I get out, Gus has brought in sandwiches, a thermos of hot coffee, some kind of noodle salad, fruit and muffins. Seb catches me around the neck and pulls me in for a short but mighty intense kiss. Okay then, apology accepted.

  "This looks enough food to feed an orphanage, Gus. There is at least enough for ten."