Inextinguishable Love: Firefighter and Interracial Romance

by Kathleen Bunker

  “I'm sorry, I'm not sure what came over me.”

  He said nothing. Why was he always so silent?

  Yet his fingers came up and brushed the fullness of her lower lip. Shock waves tingled down her body, culminating in a place she had no name for. They trailed to the height of her cheek and down her neck.

  “Do not apologize,” he said, and released her.

  She nearly ran from the room.

  ~*~

  “Genevieve, what are you doing?” Travis asked as she poured more water into the washbasin.

  “I am washing the laundry.”

  “Yes,” he said gently. “I can see that. You've rubbed your hands quite raw.”

  She paused and pulled them out of the water. They weren't just red, they were blistered.

  “Oh,” she said dumbly, “it seems they are.”

  He took her hands between his and used his kerchief to dab them dry. “Did something happen?”

  She could have kept it to herself. It would have been the polite and lady-like thing to do. Yet, she couldn't. For all that had happened, Travis had been always been honest with her.

  “I kissed Angus.”

  “Is that all?”

  She blinked. “Is that all? I...in the span of a few weeks I have kissed two men, both of whom are wanted criminals, lost all of my belongings and hatched a plan to help them break the law, all so that I could start a new life under an assumed name.”

  He nodded his head. A single curl of his caramel colored hair fell across his brow. “Well, when you put it like that, it's not surprise that you kissed two men.”

  “Pardon?”

  He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. Her blood still humming from Angus' mouth, roared to life at the single touch. “Genevieve, do you know that I was a lord's son?”

  “I assumed you were...something.”

  His eyes sparkled. “Indeed. I was a lord's son, I was the second, rather than the eldest but I was still well on my way to inheriting a rather fabulous amount of wealth. But I turned, instead, to a life of crime.”

  “Why?”

  “The rules,” he said bringing her other hand to his lips. “I hated the rules. I had to approach everything just so. I had to do things exactly as society expected of me. The West...well it is freedom.”

  “I see.”

  He turned her hand over and laid his lips to the pulse of her wrist. It jumped at the connection.

  “Do you want both of us?”

  She felt his breath as he whispered the words against her skin.

  “Yes.”

  “Then enjoy both of us.”

  *****

  It was late autumn and Angus was nearly healed. He had taken to helping around the farm. He was a decent carpenter and fixed the stairs heading from the first floor to the second.

  The crops were coming in. Peas, radishes, potatoes, pumpkins and turnips. Her diet would be simple, but would keep her alive. She and Travis had placed the supplies into large wooden boxes; something else that Angus had crafted.

  In a week, maybe two, the men would leave. She wasn't entirely sure how she was going to manage it all on her own. In the most cold and logical part of her brain she knew that she would have to find a husband. The idea of it made her heart ache.

  Over the weeks she had attempted to take Travis' advise. Idle flirtations had turned into affectionate gestures.

  Angus had brought her wildflowers; Travis had recited poetry.

  She poured a seventh and final bucket of steaming water into the bath. Now that it wasn't being used to chain criminals she could cleanse the dirt and grime from herself. She had been sponging herself off for the sake of cleanliness, but nothing was quite as lovely as a real bath. She used a rag on herself first, clearing off the worst of the day’s dirt. She didn't want to muddy the water too much.

  Genevieve let her hair down and then submerged herself in the hot water. She had just finished washing her hair when the two of them walked into the bathroom.

  “What is going on?” she demanded, reaching for her bathing robe.

  “You take too long,” Angus said. He was bare chested and bare foot. His only clothing was a pair of breeches that were tied off at the knee. His long, dark hair was loose. It was so easy to admire the long line of his sculpted body. “We have come to seduce you.”

  “I was planning on being a bit more poetic about it.” Travis said as he slid the jacket of his suit off of his shoulders, “but my friend here has the right of it.”

  “Are you...serious?” she asked, pulling the robe to her chest. The fabric off it floated on the surface of the water.

  “Yes,” Angus pushed his breeches to the ground. He was suddenly very nude. His naturally tanned body glimmered with the day’s work. He took two steps across the bathroom and stepped into the tub. The water splashed around his calves. “Do you want us to go away?”

  She had to swallow twice before she said, “No.”

  His golden hands settled on her hips, pressing the fabric around them. He dipped his head and pressed the fullness of his mouth to hers. He tasted like cinnamon and sunlight. The gentle press of his tongue dipped between her lips and flicked against her own. Her head spun as if she had been drinking wine.

  Her world narrowed down to the places where his callused fingers caressed. The fabric bunch beneath his touch, gliding over her body.

  A second pair of lips touched to her neck, and her legs went weak. Travis lifted the weight of her golden hair and let his mouth tease along the skin of her back. His clever hand traced the line of her spine, skimming over the roundness of her backside before gliding between her thighs. She moaned into Angus' mouth and he swallowed it.

  Her husband had never touched her like this, never offered her this kind of pleasure. She was pinned between the bodies of two men and had never felt more free. The hard press of their shafts pressed against her body. She trembled as her mind dreamed of lurid thoughts of how she was going to enjoy the pair of them.

  Genevieve reached behind herself and found the root of Travis' pleasure. He made a low sound against her neck as she ran her fingers along his length. Her thumb swept along his tip and his fingers clenched her hip.

  “If you continue to do that,” he whispered. “I will not last long.”

  “Shame,” Argus muttered, freeing her mouth for the first time. “I feel as if I could last forever.”

  “Gentlemen,” she offered, “no need to fight. I'm happy to make sure everyone is well satisfied.”

  Genevieve meant it. Never in her entire marriage had she felt as if her husband was completely satisfied by her. A small part of her had always wondered if it was because nothing could satisfy him, or if she was incapable as a partner.

  She took Angus' length in her free hand. She could feel the differences between the two of them, Argus had length where Travis had girth and she wanted to learn what pleased them both. Her wet hands slid over their firmness, stroking slowly at first, feeling them pulse against her palms.

  She felt a charge of empowerment as their tips turned shiny with their enjoyment. She knelt between them, the water splashing around her hips, and took Angus' tip into her mouth. She felt his hand against the back of her head as she slid him over her tongue. Genevieve idled over the sensation of it gliding in her mouth before she turned her head and offered Travis the same pleasure. Back and forth she went until the pair of them where making low sounds.

  “Come here,” Angus commanded. He gripped her upper arm and hauled her back into a standing position. She barely found her footing before Travis' mouth descended on her breast. He wasn't gentle this time, as he had been with her back. He sucked and nibbled at her flesh, turning the steadily growing need between her thighs into a throb, an ache.

  Angus did not bother with her breasts. He dipped to his knees and pressed his mouth to the crux of her own pleasure. He grabbed her thigh and wrapped her leg around his golden back. Her toes curled against his flesh as their mouths devoured her
. The slick sense of self-indulgence swam through her body, making her forget herself. Angus' tongue mapped out her cleft in wild felicitations.

  She forgot how to think. Her body was nothing but sensation. The moment that her pleasure was nearly upon her they switched places. The change in rhythm, in the shift from one to the other broke the build of her high, but not the continuation of her pleasure. When she was sure she couldn't take anymore, they carried her to the living room and the makeshift bed she had been sleeping on.

  Argus laid out and pulled her down to his golden form.

  “Do it, Genevieve,” he whispered. “Do it.”

  She spread her legs, cupping his body with hers. She felt the blunt press of his swollen tip against her entrance. She splayed her fingers against his chest and thrust herself back on him. One moment she was empty and the next she was full. She rode him with a near mindless vigor.

  Travis knelt behind her. She felt the press of his swollen length against the cleft of her backside. His hands swept around and cupped her breasts, his fingers flicked across her nipples.

  “Ride,” he whispered in her ear. “Ride the way you want.”

  “Hmm?” she asked.

  “Ride him how you want to, do what feels good.”

  Angus' hands came to her hips, and she fell forward. She stopped moving up and down and started to slide herself back and forth. Her hands moved lower.

  “There you go,” Travis said. “There you go.”

  She moved faster, Angus' hands availed the movement. “You feel so good,” he groaned

  The weight of her passion was building once more. It was a heavy thing, almost alive in its own right. Every movement, every thrust of her body fed it.

  “Oh God,” she gasped. “I want more, I need more.”

  Travis pushed the tip of himself against the depths of her buttocks.

  “Can I?” he asked, “Genevieve, can I?”

  “Yes!”

  He pushed hard and suddenly Genevieve was filled. The glory of being pinned between their two bodies swept through her. She couldn't move, but she no longer had to. Angus held her hips while he thrust into her from beneath, and Travis held her shoulders while pushing from behind.

  “More,” she begged, “don't stop now.”

  The feeling thrilled through her, and the ball of pleasure broke. Her skin felt too tight, and then it seemed to disappear altogether. The hard edge of ecstasy rolled through her as they rocked in and out of her body. Hands gripped her, held her in place, fed that wild high until she went blind with it.

  “Yes!” she cried, “Now! Please, now!”

  When she hit the very height of her ecstasy they filled her.

  *****

  Two weeks later, she turned them in to the marshal at Silver Creek. He was an older man, well versed in the world of justice. He took custody of The Dust Devil and The Gentleman and he handed her a suitcase with the funds inside.

  “Ma'am,” he plucked the cigar from his lip and gave her a smile filled with tobacco coated teeth. “I don't know how you managed this, but you've done a great thing for the good citizens of Silver Creek. Do you know they took a stagecoach around two months back?”

  “Did they?” she asked.

  “Oh yes, killed everyone on board. Wife, stagecoach. Bodies were all torn up by coyotes and then the rain took a good deal of everything with it.”

  “That's terrible,” she gasped, placing a hand on her chest in mock surprise. “Well, at least they are in good hands.”

  The trick to lifting someone’s keys, Travis had explained to her, was that you had to make it all seem natural. One quick easy movement that had the person not thinking about what was going on, or they would know. Make it natural, and they wouldn't even realize what was going on.

  She linked her arm through his as if they were old friends.

  “You'll be taking them far from here?” she asked. “Soon, I hope?”

  “First thing tomorrow morning, Ma'am.” He puffed out his chest, his mutton-chop style beard flapping with his pride at having a pretty woman on his arm. His hand was far away from his weapon. Instead it rested on her hand, where it lay on his arm. “You won’t have to worry anymore.”

  “Well, I managed.”

  “That you did!” He gave her a wink. “If you want to come work for me...”

  “Oh no, this adventure was plenty enough for me. I plan on settling down, finding a husband, running a farm.”

  “A lady like you?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I've had enough of comfortable society, Marshal. All I want is to have a home and children.”

  He patted her hand. “Of course, of course. Well, you take care out there on that big ol' farm all by yourself.”

  “Oh you.” She chuckled and placed a kiss on his bearded cheek.

  Completely charmed and cherry red, he waved her of and went on his way. When he walked away from her, all she had to do is keep the keys from jingling as they pulled out of his pocket. It was surprisingly easy.

  She let them see her leave town on the back of her newly purchased horse, a thick bodied creature with a slow gait that would help plow the fields. She tied him up outside of town, munching on the contents of a feed bag. There were two more with him, older but more fleet of foot.

  A distraction, according to Angus, would be the easiest way to get anyway out of the jail. A fire was best.

  She chose an empty building. It had been the outhouse for the church, it was small and located on the further side of town. But no one would want it to go up in flames, as the church could be next.

  The fire was surprisingly easy. The outhouse was old and small enough that it took to the flame easily. She screamed out for others to come. They ran to the outhouse as she snuck away. No one would think to look for a lady when they began to piece together what had happened. They'd be looking for a young man.

  The jail was empty when she arrived, save for her two men.

  Hers, she thought with a smile, they were all hers.

  “Did it work?” Angus asked, direct as always.

  “Of course it did,” Travis explained, coming up to the bars with his particular elegant swagger. “She's here. Though I don't think that this disguise suits you.”

  She did a little turn before putting the key in the lock. “Don't like me dressed as a boy?” she teased.

  “I am a delightful sinner,” Travis smirked. “Little boys are not on that list.”

  “Hurry up,” Angus muttered.

  Moments later they were off.

  The horses were still there when they arrived, unwilling to leave the comfort of the patch of grass and a tree to lean against. They mounted up and moments later were on the road.

  “How long will you be gone?” she asked, reaching a hand out to either of them.

  “Not long,” Angus promised.

  “They will look for us. They will come here and look for us. They may even ask if you were involved. There is a chance they will tear the house apart.”

  “I know,” Genevieve said. “I know. I will worry.”

  Travis guided his horse towards her and laid his lips against her cheek. Moments later Angus did the same.

  “We will return.” Angus placed her head against his. “Before the year is out.”

  As she watched them disappear into the darkness, she knew she believed them.

  THE END

  Another bonus story is on the next page.

  Bonus Story 9 of 44

  The Ranch of New Dreams

  Description

  Stephanie has been trying to stay away from her grandfather's ranch for almost ten years. She once loved this place and spent most of her summers here riding horses. She had met her first love here and experienced the most painful loss the guilt which she has yet to overcome.

  Now, one year after her grandfather passed away, Stephanie has to return to the ranch to decide its further destiny. She is intent on selling it to invest the funds into her prospering IT company.
>
  One thing she dreads the most is seeing Erik again. Her grandfather has left him in charge of the ranch. As great as her teenage love for Erik was, she knows deep in her heart she will never find the courage to forgive him for the heartbreak she went through.

  *****

  "Let’s stop for a quick coffee break, Nana," Stephanie suggested.

  The closer they were getting to the ranch, the more she was looking for reasons to stop and kill some time. Anything that could prolong the trip and delay them from reaching their destination.

  A part of her wished to be back there again, after so many years. Yet, she knew there were ghosts from her past that she was not ready to face yet. Ghosts that gave no rest to Stephanie for days and nights.

  "Darling, it's getting late. I'd rather we got there before dark," her grandma said. Stephanie knew she was also impatient and wished to arrive a moment earlier. "I can't believe your grandfather is not going to be there to meet us." Grandma shook her head and signed. She looked out of the window and Stephanie knew her grandma was struggling to hide her tears. "He knew we were visiting, he'd always surprise us. Meeting us halfway to the ranch and riding on his favorite horse."

  "Yes, I remember that, Nana," Stephanie smiled. "We all miss him a lot." She squeezed her grandma's hand.

  It had been almost one year since Grandpa Jonathan had passed away. To Stephanie, he had not only been the head of the family but a true friend. She had shared many secrets with Grandpa. Now, he was gone and had taken her secrets with him—as he had promised.

  The rest of the way they drove in silence. The road was slowly taking her back to where the most daunting memories of her past rested.

  Now, following Grandpa's will, she was headed back to the ranch. She knew he would not be happy with the decision she had made. Stephanie missed him more than ever now when hard decisions were ahead of her.

  "You're very quiet," Nana said.

  "I know... I am just thinking that Grandpa would not be very happy that I'm planning to sell the ranch," Stephanie said, not looking at her grandma. She knew, in her eyes, she was going to see the same disappointment. They had hoped that one day she'd be in charge for that piece of land that had been such an important part of the family history.