Inextinguishable Love: Firefighter and Interracial Romance

by Kathleen Bunker

  “I think that now more than ever I am in love with you, Betty, and this time, I don’t think that I am going to let you go. I'm going to take care of you and the baby,” Mike said as she rested her head on his chest, drifting away into a sated and happy sleep.

  *****

  Mike had never felt better than he had when he woke up in the morning and found Betty asleep on the bed next to him, naked. It had been a night that he would never forget because they had made sweet love over and over. He was even surprised to wake up with a hard-on, his dick aching for more sex. He sat up on his elbows and looked down at Betty, who was snoring lightly, with her back facing him. She looked like the sexiest and most vulnerable thing, and he couldn’t help but notice the scent of sex that came from the bed.

  He felt the urge to lie down next to her and spoon her from behind, but he changed his mind, thinking instead to get up and go and cook her a surprise breakfast. She would most likely wake up famished from all the lovemaking of the night. Forcing his eyes away from her tempting body, he pulled a robe over himself and made his way out of the bedroom silently.

  As he made his way down the stairs, Mike thought about the repercussions that sleeping with his best friend’s wife would have on their relationship. Ronnie did not deserve a woman like Betty, and he had known it right from the start. Ronnie had never been the sort of man that would settle down with one woman for a very long time. He had just had the most mind blowing sex with Ronnie's wife, and he did not regret it one bit. She deserved someone that would take good care of her and her baby, and Mike felt like he was the best guy for the job, even though the baby was not his.

  Who knows, they would probably run away to another city and live there happily ever after. That would be the best thing to do in their best interests, and the first thing that he was going to ask Betty to do as soon as she had settled into his house with him was to apply for a divorce. That way, it would not be such a bad legal matter if she continued living with him. As long as she was with him, he would never be able to keep his hands off her.

  He walked into the kitchen and began making pancakes, the only thing that he knew how to cook very well. Pancakes and coffee went very well, and the pancakes were healthy since they contained eggs and sugar. He got so busy with the pancakes, he didn’t even notice the way that time flew past. He was just about done with the final pancake when he heard footsteps walking lightly down the stairs. As he turned to look towards the doorway, there stood Betty looking better than ever. She had one of his robes wrapped around her, and she looked amazing in it, especially the way that her pregnancy protruded before her.

  “Hmm, something really yummy is smelling in her, I didn’t know that you know how to cook,” she said, walking up to him and kissing him lightly on the lips.

  “Well you know what they say, when you are in love, anything is possible. I just thought that I would surprise you with something to eat in the morning. I figured that you would be hungry after all the action that happened at night,” he said, pulling his lips away from hers before kissing her lightly on the lips again.

  “You are such a horse, if I had known that you would make love to me like that, I would have eaten double the share of dinner,” she said, brushing her hand over his crotch and touching his dick through his robe.

  “How do you feel? I hope that you do not change your mind about moving in here with me?” he said, putting his hand around her waist and leading her to the table.

  Last night she was the one that had led him to the table, but today it would be the other way round.

  “I was sober when I told you that I wanted nothing to do with Ronnie ever again. At first, I wasn’t really sure about moving in with you, but after the night of pleasure that you gave me, I can't imagine moving anywhere else. Besides, who would want to miss out on these morning pancakes that smell so delicious?” she said as she settled into her seat.

  “I am glad that you feel that way, Betty because all that I can say is that even though we just got closer to sin, you have always been the love of my life. I could not believe it when you got married to Ronnie, but there was really nothing that I could do about it. It was your choice, and Ronnie happened to be one of my best friends,” he said, kissing her on the cheek before walking away to remove the last pancake from the pan.

  He served the pancakes hot along with the coffee and then just like last night, he sat opposite her at the table.

  “I have one question, and I would like you to answer it very honestly, Mike,” she said, looking at him thoughtfully.

  “Anything for you, my dear,” he said to her, his eyes sweeping over her cleavage as he looked at her enlarged breasts.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way but it is something that I really have to know. What do you think of my pregnancy? I mean, you are telling me to move in with you and yet I am pregnant with your best friend’s baby.” she asked.

  ‘And who said that it could not be mine?” He smiled at her. “What if you were fooling around with me just the same way that your husband was fooling around? Rest easy, my love.”

  THE END

  Another bonus story is on the next page.

  Bonus Story 15 of 44

  Flaming Passions

  Terry was getting ready for bed when she first smelled smoke. Her first thought was to check the stove, then the toaster and finally the house fuses.

  Nothing. Clutching the jacket of her pajamas, she hurried around the apartment, sniffing and trying to track down the source. The smell seemed stronger in the hallway, so she ventured toward the front door. She became increasingly nervous as the acrid smell grew stronger. Were kids screwing around in the stairwell again? Only last week, a dozen of them thought it was a great idea to drink beer, then drop the bottles straight down the center stairwell from the eighth floor.

  Damn kids, she thought. Clutching her jacket tightly, she cracked open the door and peered out into the stairwell. Smoke billowed and swirled around her. Coughing, Terry slammed the door closed and rushed back into her kitchen. For a moment, she was torn between damping down a towel for her nose and mouth, and calling the emergency services. But back in the kitchen, the smoke wasn’t so bad, so she dived for the telephone and punched nine-one-one. When the operator answered, Terry pleaded for the fire service to be sent round to investigate. Even if it was only kids, their stupid fire was dangerous and had to be put out—fast.

  When she’d finished giving her details, she hung up and hurried to the sink to wet a towel. The smell had grown stronger—or she’d let a lot of smoke into her apartment when she’d opened the door. Would a wet towel be enough to keep her breathing for eight floors of stairwell? She wasn’t so certain. Maybe she’d be better off staying in her apartment until the danger was past. If she could keep the door closed, and the gaps blocked, she ought to be okay… as long as she stayed close to the floor.

  ~

  It was twenty minutes before someone knocked on her door. Terry was on her third wet towel, and each one seemed less effective than the previous. She tried to call out, but only succeeded in coughing hard until her throat burned. When she tried to rise from the floor, all her strength had drained away, leaving her weak and struggling for breath.

  The faint jingle of keys rang in her ears, and the apartment door banged open.

  “Anyone home?” The man’s voice was muffled, as if he was wearing a mask.

  “Here…” Terry groaned, “here.” She coughed weakly as smoke billowed into the kitchen, rushing ahead of what she hoped was a firefighter. Strong hands gripped her arm, persuading Terry to her feet. Her knees buckled. Other hands touched her waist, steadying her. A cool, fresh towel was pressed into her hands; she switched if for the rapidly-drying one on her face.

  “Fire…” she croaked.

  “Yeah, we know about the fire,” a muffled male voice answered. He sounded faintly amused.

  “Sm… smoke!”

  “We got it covered, lady. Now, why don’t you come with us? We’l
l keep you safe.”

  “My… lucky day.” Smoke stung Terry’s eyes, but she could see enough to make out two firefighters.

  “Sure is. Someone reported the fire early enough so it didn’t do much damage.”

  “Me…” *cough* “…I called.”

  “Well, you probably saved the building, lady.”

  “Terry. Name’s…” *cough* “…Terry.”

  “Larry. Now, come on before the smoke gets any thicker.” He took hold of her hand and led the way. As they left the apartment, the other firefighter hung an outdoor coat over her shoulders.

  “Thanks.”

  “We couldn’t have you going into the street in your pajamas.”

  “I’m still…” *cough* “…covered.”

  “If you’ve nothing else on underneath, you’ll get cold. There’s a stiff breeze outside.”

  “Thanks again…” *cough* “…Lead on…”

  ~

  The brightly-lit street was filled with people, both evacuated residents and onlookers. Terry guessed their numbers at over two hundred. She was grateful for the jacket around her shoulders. Her pajamas were comfortable, but not something she wanted to be seen wearing, not by the public. Cool water was dribbled into her eyes, wetting her pajamas, but clearing the sting. She still coughed, but the clearer air was helping. And Larry hadn’t exaggerated about the breeze. It flapped the hair against her face as she watched the firefighters working. She settled into a plastic chair, grateful for the chance to rest her legs. Eight stories of smoke-filled stairs reminded how fit she really wasn’t.

  Larry waited with her until he was sure she’d regained her strength, then prepared to go back into the darkened building to help his buddies.

  “Thank you.” Terry laid a hand on his arm as he began to move away.

  “Anytime,” he said with a smile, “happy to help.” His eyes dropped briefly to her water-streaked pajamas, then returned to her face.

  Was he checking me out? She smiled at the thought, briefly offended, but too tired to worry about his lapse. It didn’t matter, did it? Besides, he just saved her from a burning building? He’d earned a peek. But only a peek.

  Without his mask, Larry turned out to be a handsome guy. His stubble-lined jaw was strong and his lips were quirked into a slight, but permanent smile. Terry gazed into his brown eyes as they twinkled in the lights of the fire equipment. Part of her knew he needed to leave, so he could go back to work, but perversely, she tried to keep him close for as long as possible.

  “Thanks for covering me up.” She tugged the lapels of her outdoor jacket.

  He smiled. “We’ve brought people outside wearing a lot less.”

  “I’m sure you have. You must see plenty of weird stuff.”

  “Ohhh, yes,” he grinned. “I could write a book about it.”

  “Really?” Terry’s eyebrows rose. “I’m a writer. Maybe we could-”

  “I’d love to, but not right now.” He nodded toward the apartment block, where smoke still billowed from the doors and windows. Light speared through the smoke, forming bright, solid beams that swung back and forth as the other firefighters moved in and out of the doorway.

  “Oh. Sorry. Yes, go, go!”

  “Thanks. It’s been nice meeting you.” He hurried away, pulling his mask into place.

  “I’ll see you later, then?” Terry shouted after him. But whether her voice was blocked by the noise of the generators and pumps, or his heavy mask, Larry didn’t respond to her shout. Within moments, he had disappeared into the thick smoke.

  “Okay then…” she called sadly. “Have fun.”

  ~

  Terry was allowed back into her apartment three hours later; by which time it was almost two in the morning. Her windows had been throw wide, and the smoke was mostly gone, although the stink of it lingered.

  At least nothing got damaged. Despite the late hour, she was wide awake, and decided to keep herself busy until she was tired enough to sleep. She set about spraying her furniture, hoping to introduce some freshness, and drive away the smell.

  As she worked, she thought about Larry, and the way he’d calmly walked her out of danger. She’d been helpless on the floor, and he’d saved her. He’d reassured her and made sure she left the building safely.

  Part of her knew he was simply doing his job, and carrying out exactly what his training had prepared him for, but something deep inside her tingled at the thought of being rescued, as if he’d personally swung in to save her from a blazing hell.

  Which he kinda did. A strange warmth infused her body as she replayed the rescue again and again. Oddly, in her mind, she walked down the staircase with him wearing only her pajamas, and no outdoor jacket covering her body. And outside, there might even have been a loose button on her pajama jacket when he eyed her up.

  “Oh, boy…” She pushed both hands through her hair then realized how much she stunk of smoke. Okay, I really need a shower. First I finish spraying the furniture, then I spray myself with hot, soapy water. For an awful moment, she wondered how bad her hair looked, and how bedraggled she’d appeared outside, standing beside Larry.

  Silly ass, everyone was looking at the building, not my hair!

  Terry finished treating the furniture, then undressed and stepped beneath the shower. Her mind was whirling with thoughts about her recent encounter, refusing to move on. She was becoming obsessed, she realized.

  “Maybe a good night’s sleep will clear my head.”

  But her dreams were filled with ghostly, smoke-obscured figures who shifted around, forever out of her reach. When she moved toward them, they slipped back, their faceless figures disappearing behind the curtain of swirling smoke.

  “Larry?” she called. “Are you there?”

  No one answered, but strong hands touched her hips; arms slid around her waist. She was pulled back against a solid wall of muscle. She didn’t ask if it was Larry; somehow she knew. She smiled and settled back against her rescuer, happy that she’d finally found him.

  *****

  Terry awoke with a sudden start. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the ceiling. The memory of unseen hands still pressed against her skin, making her wonder if she was still immersed in her dream.

  Did I imagine the whole thing? Even the fire? But the faint tang of smoke teased her nose, reminding Terry of her recent adventure.

  So it was all real, both the bad and the good. She relaxed back against the pillow and wondered what Larry was doing at that moment. Was he home alone, or was he sharing his bed with someone?

  If he was here right now, I’d be using his chest as a pillow. Part of her hoped he wasn’t lonely, but a different part hoped he was, and that he might like the idea of her company. Maybe he needed someone.

  Maybe he needed her.

  “I ought to find out…” she told the room. “Instead of lying here, wondering. Maybe I should invite him to dinner, as a thank-you.” She smiled as she let her eyes drift closed again. Now that she had a plan, she could relax. Later in the day, she’d track Larry down and invite him around to dinner. And if he had someone significant at home, a simple dinner invite wouldn’t cause any embarrassment to either of them.

  It was the perfect plan, she decided, as she drifted back into a dream of smoke-shrouded firefighters.

  ~

  It didn’t take her long to track Larry down. At least, she found out which station he worked from and how to get a message to him. He was on duty for the day and unable to speak to her in person. A message would have to be enough. If he refused her invitation, at least she’d be spared the humiliation of a face-to-face turn-down.

  But how to word the invite without sounding too forward?

  “Lonely female wants handsome firefighter all to herself?” She laughed. “Okay, maybe that was too desperate. How about ‘Grateful smoke victim seeks to reward her heroic rescuer.’”

  No, she thought. It sounded way too much like a newspaper headline. In the end, Terry settled for: ‘I’
d like to thank the firefighter who rescued me from the eighth floor, by offering dinner.’ She hit ‘send’ and the carefully composed email raced off to Larry’s boss… or his supervisor… or his chief. Now all she had to do was wait for a reply to say Larry would accept… or not.

  She didn’t have to wait very long. Within an hour, the chief replied with, “Great idea. What time would suit you?”

  “How about Friday night?”

  “I’ll pass it on.”

  “Thanks, Chief.”

  “My pleasure. Have fun.”

  “Yay!” Terry threw her arms high and grinned. “Friday night, here I come!” Then she frowned. “But what am I going to cook? What am I going to wear?” A mischievous thought struck her. Why not wear the same outfit he’d first seen her in? She hurried to the bedroom and pulled her pajamas from the laundry hamper. Her favorite pair, decorated with tiny pink teddy bears, they were also the pair she wore when Larry hurried her out of the building. Unfortunately, they still reeked of smoke.

  “You guys are going to smell oh-so-sweet when I’m finished with you.” Terry tried to imagine Larry’s face when she answered the door wearing them, perhaps with the top buttons discreetly open.

  Oh, yes. Larry was going to get an eyeful, without a doubt. She wondered where that might lead them both.