Under Fire

by Jamie Garrett

Finding the remnants of the pipe bomb had given them their answer. Someone was intentionally setting the fires, testing home-made bombs, and they were using her town to do it. “I’m not backing down, sir.” She shook her head. “Not even on your orders. Not when there might be someone on the inside orchestrating this entire thing.”

  His eyes narrowed at her statement, and Scarlett shared what she’d found out about Ellis in the mounds of paperwork still sitting her kitchen table. Harrelson’s mouth slackened at first, and he rocked back on his feet before he found his composure again. He glanced around the scene, his gaze alert and his jaw set. “You’re sure?”

  She nodded. “I don’t think he’s the ringleader, but he’s involved. My gut’s screaming it.”

  His eyes flashed, and his fists tightened before Harrelson finally nodded. “Okay. Stay on the case.” His gaze sharpened. “Unofficially only. As far as anyone else is concerned, you’re on leave. You report direct to me, Christensen. Is that clear?”

  She nodded quickly. “Crystal, Captain.”

  His head jerked in response. “Good.” Harrelson’s gaze turned to Seth, who was still standing directly behind her. She smiled. Connor had let her handle her boss on her own, but now his attentions had moved to Connor, his hands moved back to grip her hips, pulling her toward him. Connor was leaving absolutely no doubt in Harrelson’s mind where his loyalties lay. A grim smile formed on the captain’s face. “Keep her safe, McClellan. I’m counting on you.”

  Connor nodded, and he took her hand, his grip tightening. His eyes burned, and Scarlett was sure if they weren’t standing right in front of both their direct department heads, she would have found herself backed up against Engine 81, his tongue thrusting into her mouth as Connor showed her exactly how personally he’d be taking her protection. Instead, he reached forward and shook Harrelson’s hand. “She won’t be out of my sight.”

  23

  Connor

  A mixture of feelings washed over Connor on the ride back to the firehouse. Scarlett and Liam’s find that morning had jolted him and had forced home the point that Scarlett wasn’t safe. None of them were, when it came down to it, but Connor was okay with putting himself at risk. He’d known what the deal was when he’d signed up for the job, and he wasn’t about to let shit like this go down in his town.

  He huffed, leaning back against the inside wall of Engine 81. When it came down to it, Scarlett had known, too. That didn’t make it any easier for him to be okay with her risking her life to track down the fuckers setting the fires, explosions . . . whatever the hell they were dealing with. Now that Scarlett was back on the case—however quietly—she’d have access to the full police files again. Hopefully there’d be some forensics back. Either that, or Liam had found something that would tie the rash of fire outbreaks together and give them the break they so sorely needed.

  He removed his helmet and ran his fingers through his hair, smiling at Scarlett, when the movement made her turn to look at him. Her forehead creased with concern, and she laid a hand on his upper arm, watching him carefully. Fuck. She didn’t need to be worried about him on top of everything else. He’d been waiting for her boss to reprimand her, perhaps even lose it for real—unlike the restrained version with Chief Stone—or place her on suspension. Instead, after a small moment of frustration, he’d conceded Scarlett had a point. She was still working the case, but outside of Alex Stone and Harrelson, no one else knew.

  He glanced over at Mason, who was watching them, his eyes wary despite a small smile playing on his face at the sight of Scarlett’s contact with Connor. Her hand had drifted from his bicep to his thigh, the rest of her body squished back up against his. It wasn’t really necessary; room inside the truck wasn’t that tight, but Connor would take any opportunity to be close right now.

  Apparently, Mason could see right through them, but his captain didn’t seem to care. The man had found the love of his life rescuing her on the job. Well, re-found, Connor supposed. Sloane’s memories from that time in her life may not ever return entirely, but she’d found a brand-new family with Mason and the rest of the members of the squad. Maybe Scarlett could find that, too.

  Fuck it. The cat was well and truly out of the bag with Mason, which meant the rest of the squad would know as soon they got back to the firehouse, if not sooner. He was over pretending. Connor leaned over, resting his head lightly on Scarlett’s, and then captured her hand in his, resting them both on his thigh. The rest of the team knowing just how much Scarlett meant to him could only be a good thing, really. It meant they’d watch over her and protect her if there was ever a time he couldn’t be there himself.

  Not that he intended to let her out of his sight until this whole thing was over. He’d promised Captain Harrelson, and Connor had meant every word. Not to smother Scarlett, but to support her and keep her safe while his amazing woman took down the bad guys.

  After that, there’d be time to explore the passion between them, maybe even settle down. Scarlett’s touch and the soft rocking of the truck as it made its way back to the firehouse, calmed the nerves that had been seared earlier. The rest of the day was likely to do the same, but for now, sitting and watching Monroe pass by from the truck, and holding Scarlett in his arms, he could find peace. Peace enough to daydream of the future.

  Would Scarlett want that? Connor was sure that he was in it for the long haul, but despite the crazy lust between them—and the best sex he’d ever had—he didn’t know where Scarlett sat. He’d figured out there had to be some feelings there.

  He’d had good sex before—nothing like the mind-blowing orgasms with Scarlett—but there’d been other women in his past. He wasn’t exactly a saint. This felt different. The little touches, the need to be around each other, the conversations between them. She’d let him see her vulnerable side, opened up to the pain in her past and hopes for the future. When he’d first met her, Connor had thought that maybe gaining that with Scarlett would be impossible. She’d been hurt, badly. If a hot-as-hell physical relationship was all that was on offer, then he would have taken it. But now, having spent more than one night watching her sleep, wrapped up in his arms, he wanted more, and he was pretty damn sure Scarlett did, too.

  They just needed to find the assholes burning their town first.

  Connor shook himself out of his daydreams at the sound of the firehouse’s large roller doors sliding upward. He followed the guys out of the truck, turning after his feet hit the concrete to lift Scarlett out of the rig. His hands circled her waist, and he lifted her out before pulling her closer, their bodies touching chest to knee as he placed her down on the ground. Scarlett’s feet touched the floor, but she didn’t step away. Instead, she held his gaze, something igniting deep in her eyes that set his heart pounding all over again. This time, the dread from the explosion was nowhere to be seen. Arousal rushed through him as her hands settled on his chest and her tongue darted out to wet her lips. She braced her hands against his chest and stretched up on tippy-toe, his boots adding an extra inch to his height. Then right there on the firehouse floor, surrounded by the rest of the squad shrugging off smoky turnout gear and checking equipment, and Shane and Charlie restocking their ambulance, Scarlett reached up and touched her lips to his.

  The contact ignited something in Connor, and his arms swept around her, pushing her back to the truck and holding her in place as his mouth took hers in a bruising kiss. She opened her mouth for him, and Connor slid his tongue inside, thrusting it in imitation of what he’d like to do with his dick. He groaned as her hands reached up to grip his shoulders. Fuck, he still had nearly eighteen hours left on his shift. At least he’d be spending the entire time glued to Scarlett’s side. He refused to think about what it would mean if she needed to go back to the police station or to another crime scene while he was still working. The idea of her walking into danger without him felt as if icy fingers had curled around his spine. He must have shivered, as Scarlett pressed herself further against him, sliding her hands un
der his jacket and inside his shirt. Her touch was hot against his skin and chased away the chills. He nipped at her lip, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her pelvis tight against him. She was right there, safe in his arms, and if he had his way, going absolutely nowhere.

  The sounds of hoots and chuckles finally broke them apart. Connor stood there, his breaths coming in light pants, with Scarlett’s body still crushed against his. “Geez, Man. Get a room!” Jeremy yelled, shaking his head and still laughing as he stowed his gear and headed off to the firehouse common room.

  Scarlett looked up at him, her gleaming eyes framed by sensuous lashes. Bedroom eyes if he’d ever seen it. She looked around, noticing they were finally alone, and then tilted her head, a grin forming on her face. “You know,” she said, “that sounds like a great idea.”

  Heat slammed into Connor at her words and he growled under his breath. Not bothering to even kick off his boots, he grabbed Scarlett’s jacket lapels and practically dragged her to the storage room behind them. Not willing to detach from her for even a second, he reached behind and pulled the door open, yanking her inside and then slamming it.

  It had barely closed before his mouth was on hers again, taking her lips before moving down to suck the sensitive place just below her ear. His hands held her in place against the door as his lips and tongue nipped and tasted at the skin of her neck, and Scarlett practically purred in his arms.

  She thrust her hips forward, pushing her core into contact with his hard cock, and sensation rushed through him. She ground herself wantonly against him, and Connor felt wetness form at the tip of his dick. Fuck, he had to get inside her before he came in his pants like a horny teenager.

  He tore his lips away and dropped his turnout gear on the floor, kicking off his boots. His hands were on his belt, trying to remove his clothing as quickly as possible, when Scarlett’s hands moved to her shirt. Following his lead, her fingers worked the buttons of her shirt, pulling it open and exposing creamy flesh. Her breasts were covered with nothing but a black lace bra, and Connor’s cock swelled further in his pants. There was less room in his uniform than in casual pants, and his dick pressed against the zipper, hard enough to pound nails, the sight of Scarlett standing half-dressed in the damn storage room nearly enough to stop his heart. God, he wanted to get inside her in an instant and savor the revelation of her body for hours all at once.

  “How long have we got before they come looking for us?” she asked, a grin on her face.

  Connor paused and listened. All was quiet in the engine bay, for now, but there was no telling when dispatch would call in the next emergency. Plus, the guys would give him fifteen minutes, tops, before coming down to find out where the hell they’d gone. It would either be Mason, checking in discreetly, or the whole gang laughing and teasing them through the door. Neither was something Connor wanted to experience, and so he’d have to find another time to stare at the sexiness incarnate that was his girl.

  Right now, he needed to be inside her, coming while her wet heat squeezed his cock like a vice. His mouth moved back to hers, and he slipped his hand inside her pants, brushing his fingers through the soft curls before finding her clit. Scarlett gasped, and her head fell back against the door as he swirled his fingers through her folds, rubbing at her clit with his thumb. Wetness slicked his hand, and he grinned against her neck. He needed her ready for what he was about to do. As his other hand moved to her breast, squeezing her flesh, he slipped one finger inside her pussy, then two, moving them quickly in and out as her walls clenched around him, and she let out a low moan.

  Connor’s eyes closed for a moment in appreciation, but flew open when he felt himself being tugged to the side. Scarlett moved around him, and suddenly it was his back to the wall as she dropped to her knees in front of him. His eyes widened at the sight, and his dick punched against the fabric of his pants. Holy hell. Was she about to suck him off in the storage closet?

  Before his body—or the harsh pants of his breath—could catch up, Scarlett reached up and wrapped a hand around his dick, pulling him out of his boxer briefs and pants. She grinned up at him, pumping her fist up and down his shaft, twisting her small fist at the head. Shit, her touch felt incredible. When she leaned down and took the head of him in her mouth, Connor’s hips punched forward, nearly shooting down her throat at the first feel of her soft, warm mouth working his dick. She slid him deep until he felt the tip bump the back of her throat, and then she slid back up slowly, making small humming noises. His hands shot forward and tangled in her hair, and it took everything he had not to grab her head and shoot his load down her throat.

  Instead, he pulled himself free of her luscious mouth and then leaned down, taking her mouth in a kiss. His lips trailed down her neck and sucked a nipple into his mouth, toying with it with his tongue and teasing it into a hard nub. Scarlett’s eyes closed, and he cupped her chin with her hands, guiding her back to standing.

  Connor pressed his lips to her and thrust his tongue deep inside her mouth, reveling in their combined tastes. His hands quickly found the clasp on her pants, an expert now on removing Scarlett’s clothing, and his hands slipped inside, palming her sexy-as-hell ass before lifting her slightly and hard against him. The urge to slip inside her was temping, but he wanted to watch that gorgeous ass as he moved inside her. He reached down and pushed his pants down to his knees and then spun her to face the wall, moving her hands to lay her palms flat against the door. “Leave them there.” He almost growled the command, and goose bumps broke out over Scarlett’s skin at his tone. Connor grinned. So she liked it when he took control. Good to know.

  Pulling her pants down completely, he pushed them off her bare feet, and then grabbed her hips, opening her up and giving him the perfect space to slide between her cheeks. He pushed forward, sliding deep inside her pussy in one stroke, his path eased by the wetness that slicked her folds. Scarlett’s mouth fell open silently, and then moans began to fall from her mouth as he thrust fast and deep. He moved a hand to cover her mouth lightly, and she responded by pushing her hips back, burying him even deeper in her tight core. She continued to meet him for every thrust as he moved in and out, gaining speed as her moans grew. The sight of his dick sliding in and out of her and his hands gripping her delectable ass had him growing even harder inside her, and he grabbed a thigh, lifting her leg up so he could push deep enough to hit her magic spot. God, he needed her to come now before the vision in front of him made him blow. He moved the hand covering her mouth to her clit, rubbing furiously as her pussy clenched around him, Scarlett’s cries impossible to contain now. She pulsed around him, her inner walls wrenching his orgasm from his body as he fell with her into ecstasy.

  24

  Scarlett

  By the time the world came back, the feel of Connor’s naked chest behind her had been replaced with his cotton T-shirt. Normally baby-soft from endless washings and use, it seemed scratchy now against her skin. The man in question was still holding her close, nuzzling her pulse point and dropping small kisses there while his hands stroked along her body. The blazing heat between them had turned to a simmer from the intensity of her orgasm, his touch comforting rather than arousing. She relaxed her head back on his shoulders, leaning into him. His body, supporting hers, holding up her weight as his hands stroked her leisurely was so relaxing she could almost fall asleep right there, standing up in the equipment room. It felt right. Her eyes drifted closed. If she was honest with herself, she’d admit it felt like home.

  Connor’s hands skimmed again over her thighs, and this time when they came back up, he was grasping the waistband of her pants. He pulled them back over her legs, pausing to squeeze her butt cheek before sliding the fabric up and over and fastening them.

  She felt his grin against her neck, and Scarlett couldn’t help but return it. The man was warm comfort, but at the same time it seemed he couldn’t get enough of touching her. She could relate. Whenever she was physically close to him—and for the fores
eeable future it looked that would be all the time—Scarlett felt the most relaxed when her hand was touching Connor. It didn’t matter where; just resting over his as they sat at a table was enough. The nudge of her shoulder against his in the truck. With a still-unknown perp escalating further and very little to go on, she should have been stressed to the point of coming undone. Instead, she was quietly confident. They were going to find this asshole, and nail them to the wall. She was sure of it.

  Scarlett tilted her head, tucking back in to his touch. She moved her hands backward, gripping lightly on his hips as Connor did up the buttons on her shirt, reaching around her body as he almost cradled her in his arms. She pressed back against his still-impressive bulge, despite his softening cock, and grinned when his fingers faltered. “Damn, woman,” he muttered in her ear. “I need some recovery time.”

  She dropped her hands away, still grinning as she turned to face him. Scarlett drank in his features, from the tips of his sex-mussed hair all the way to his still-bare feet. How someone’s feet could be sexy, she didn’t know, but Connor’s were. “I can think of a few things to do in the meantime.”

  Connor returned her grin, and the heat rekindling inside her was reflected in his gaze. His mouth fell to hers, but as he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, a knock sounded at the door, followed by the sound of someone clearing their throat. “Umm, guys.” Jeremy’s voice came through the door. Poor guy must have drawn the short straw as to who was going to go downstairs and interrupt them.

  Connor hastily did up his fly and then pulled the door open, the grin still plastered on his face. “What’s up, Jer? Need something?”

  Scarlett bit her lip to stop from laughing at the look on Jeremy’s face when the door swung open. The man’s hand was held up in the air in a light fist, as if he was about to knock. His eyes had widened as the door swung open, his gaze doing a rapid spot-check between the two of them. He let out a breath as his hand dropped to his side, a small grin sliding across his face in answer to the teasing one on Connor’s face. “Aww, you guys. You didn’t wait for me. Looks like I missed all the good bits.”