Love is a Fire
Page 4
She wiggled her finger, inviting him to come closer. He happily obliged. When he reached the bed, he moved on top of her, the towel was the only blockade between their unclad skin. Katy put her hands on either side of his face, lightly kissing him. Nick moved his body on top of her and she moaned as she felt his hardness pressing against her.
Her hands moved down his back as his moved up her stomach. She held her breath as his powerful hand gently clutched her breast. It wasn’t the first time they’d fooled around in the buff, a barrier between them to keep things from getting too heated. Last night though, Katy was hoping Nick would let his guard down.
His shaft danced against her leg and Katy’s libido raced into overdrive. She moved her hands inside his towel, loosening it then pushing it to the side. The cloth still laid between them as they grinded against each other, moans escaping from each of them.
Nick moved his lips to her neck as Katy ran her fingers through his hair. She reached for the nightstand, knowing that’s where he kept the condoms, but he stopped her. He sat up and kissed her hand, leaning back on her thighs as he did. He had to catch his own breath before he could speak. He shook his head and Katy pouted.
He leaned down and kissed her nose. “Not yet, baby.” His lips lightly grazed her cheek and he whispered, “I want it to be perfect.”
Katy motioned between the two of them, her lower lip still sticking out as she sulked. “Tell me how this isn’t perfect.”
Nick sighed and kissed her forehead. He stood up, his manhood at full attention between his perfectly defined pubic bone forming the shape of a V. He stepped into a pair of shorts and sat back down beside her.
He pulled the sheet over her and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I want it to be perfect in that…I want you to be the last woman I’m ever with.” He took a deep breath. “Katherine Olivia Malone, I love you.”
Katy turned off the water filling the tub as she opened her eyes, his words echoed in her mind. Her body turned ice cold in the warm bath water and her heart started to race. She’d vowed to never love again, but somehow she found herself falling in love with Nick Garrity.
***
Nick struggled to finish the last rep as he bench pressed three hundred pounds. He used all the strength he had to push the bar back into its resting position. Only a few inches away, Nick clenched his teeth pushing with all his power. Completely focused on the task at hand, he barely noticed his best friend watching him a smirk. Jesse took the bar and helped him rack the weights.
Nick sat up and wiped his face with a towel. “Thanks, man.”
Jesse nodded as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “You’re really pushing yourself in here lately. Trying to prove something?”
Nick shrugged as he took a drink from his water bottle.
Jesse raised his eyebrow. “Things not going well with the doctor?”
A smile appeared on Nick’s lips and he shook his head. “It’s actually going pretty great.”
Jesse frowned. “If it’s so great then why are you in here instead of getting laid?”
“Damn!” Nick laughed. “I guess I need a better poker face.”
Jesse laughed with him. “Nick, I’ve known you for a long time, man.”
Nick nodded and put his arm around his buddy as they walked toward the locker room at the fire station. He let go of Jesse as they got to his locker and Nick pulled off his shirt.
“You’re right, there’s been no sex. Partially because our schedules never match up, but also because,” he shrugged but went on, “she’s the one, Jess. I don’t want to screw this up.”
Jesse responded to his friend’s comment. “Garrity, it’s been what? Two weeks? You don’t know she’s the one yet. Sleep with her and if it’s meant to be then it’s meant to be.”
Nick shook his head. “No, Jesse, I know it. She’s definitely the one.”
Nick grabbed his clothes and headed to the shower. He needed to ditch Jesse before he mentioned that he’d told her he loved her last night. He hummed a John Mayer song as he turned on the water. He recently taken up humming since meeting Katy. He was happy and he knew it, and apparently he showed it through humming. As he waited for the water to warm up, thoughts of her laying on the bed flooded his memory. He quickly changed the water temperature and began singing loud enough for the whole fire house to hear him.
***
Finally the new lovebirds had gotten a morning off together. They had just returned from their morning post-work run. Nick could tell an improvement in his cardio in just the couple weeks they’d been running together. He closed the door behind him as Katy lay on the living room floor to stretch. He walked over to her, bended down on his knees, and pushed her legs back to stretch. Katy smiled and he knew she didn’t mind the help.
She moaned as he put more force against her and pushed harder. She softly moaned as she felt him brush his hand along her calf. Leaning up, she gave him a long, deep kiss. He returned the kiss, letting his tongue move slowly inside her mouth. Katy kissed him back longingly, her hands sliding along his sturdy shoulders. Without breaking the kiss, Nick scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed as he kicked off his shoes and took hers off as well.
Pulling off her shirt and laying back down in her sports bra, Katy continued the kiss before his lips moved to leave a trail of kisses along her jawline, down her neck and across her collarbone. His chin grazed her nipples making them stand erect. Katy sighed and pulled his chin to look her. She pulled off his shirt exposing his perfectly cut pecks and stated, “Nick, I need you.”
He kissed her softly and leaned back. “I don’t want to rush things. It’s only been two weeks even though I feel like it’s been forever,” he hesitated. “I mean that in a good way.”
Katy ran her finger down his cheek and gave him a wistful look. “Fine, then a compromise because you set every nerve of mine on fire.”
Although, he’d seen her bare-skinned on more than one occasion, but her sweaty, in the hot pink sports bra and the wild fire in her eyes made her irresistible despite his best efforts. He saw the need in her eyes and nodded as he said in a low, husky voice, “Compromise.”
He grabbed her running tights by the waistband and peeled them off her legs. He yanked her to the edge of the bed and dropped to his knees. Placing each of her legs on either side of his shoulders and kissed the inside of her thighs. He heard her let out a breath as he reached up to caress her breasts through the cotton material of her bra.
He dragged his tongue from her mid-thigh to between her legs. Once he was sure she was wet with anticipation, he slid his tongue parting her lips. He heard her gasp and he smiled as he used his free hand to rub her hot spot softly while his tongue teased her. His nose filled with her vanilla scent, which intensified as she got more and more excited. The scent encouraged him to keep moving, going faster with each flick of his tongue.
Her fingers were tangled in his hair and judging from the speed of her breathing, he knew she was close. Glancing up, Nick saw her face twisted in ecstasy. Deciding it was time to send her over the edge, he slipped his tongue into her as she arched her back and called out his name. Nick grinned as her words made his tongue flick faster causing the bedroom to be filled with breathless, raspy moans from the woman of his dreams.
***
Katy lay on the bed trying to catch her breath after Nick just gave her one of the best orgasms she’d ever experienced. She’d never felt one like that before, especially not from someone’s tongue. Nick laid down beside her grinning. “Was that a good compromise?”
Katy rolled over on top of him pushing him to his back and grinding against him. She kissed him hard, her tongue sliding over his. He rubbed his hands over her bare skin as their tongues erotically fought each other. She broke the kiss. “Your turn.”
Nick sat up shaking his head. “Not today. I’ll go run us a cold shower.” He laughed and gave her a quick kiss as he sat up and exited the room.
She respected Nick’s reason to wait. She was hoping he wasn’t planning on waiting for marriage. Although she had decided to date again, she still wasn’t planning on getting married anytime soon.
She stood up and pulled off her bra making her way to the bathroom. She could hear Nick already in the shower humming a Christmas tune. Her lips turned into a smile, it was still a week before Thanksgiving. She pulled back the curtain and stepped into the shower. Giving him a quick peck on the cheek, she took his place under the cascading water.
Nick rubbed his soapy hands over her body, touching every inch of her skin. The smell of peaches filling the air. “Tell me about your family.”
She looked at him as her body tensed up. “What do you mean?”
He kissed her neck trying to relax her. “Well, Thanksgiving is next week and I just wondered if you were doing anything with them.”
The kiss worked and she loosened her muscles. “Oh…no family. I typically work most holidays so everyone else can celebrate with their families,” she answered trying to shrug it off.
Nick frowned. “I’m sorry.” He hesitated and she knew he wanted to know more but she didn’t volunteer any information so he continued. “I would love to take you to celebrate with my family.”
Katy bit her lip and Nick smiled. “That…that is what’s going to cause me to break.”
She giggled. “Is it?” She playfully sucked on his earlobe and ran her tongue along it knowing that drove him nuts.
“Hey, play fair!”
She leaned back biting her lip and grinning. “All’s fair in love and war.”
He smile widened. “Are you saying you love me?”
Katy hesitated thinking about what she’d said then nodded. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
***
Nick let out a whoop and pushed her against the shower wall in the heat of the moment. He covered her mouth with his and she laughed into his kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as they made out. She thought she had needed sex but realized she only needed Nick. He broke their embrace and looked into her eyes. “Katherine Olivia Malone, I love you.”
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth, he slipped into her and she cried out in surprise and pleasure. He’d been wanting to do this since the day he saw her in the hospital and he couldn’t wait any longer. He kissed her again as they started to move together. The warm water turned cold as it ran over their bodies that were now molded together as one. He drove in and out of her fast, Katy barely able to keep up with him. She squeezed her legs around him to get his attention. She gazed deep into his eyes.
Nick slowed as he looked into her sky blue eyes. He kissed her neck and turned off the water. He didn’t want this to be over so quickly, not their first time. Still holding her against him, him deep inside now, he carefully grabbed a towel and walked them back to the bedroom.
He tenderly laid her down and looked into her eyes again. All he could do was grin at the woman he loved. He started moving at a slower pace after putting on a condom. She matched his strokes and within minutes, he started to melt into her. Now he was the one biting his lip trying to hold back until Katy lightly placed her fingers on his lips. She replaced her fingers with her lips and softly kissed him sending him over the edge with a howl.
***
It was midnight and neither of them had slept yet. They were too busy exploring each other’s bodies. They took turns taking care of each other and then making love over and over again. Katy had just climaxed for the fourth time that evening and Nick wasn’t far behind her. She kept pumping her hips as he moaned as he enjoyed another.
He rested his head on her shoulder, kissing it lightly. “Did I mention that I love you?”
Katy smiled and kissed his forehead. “Maybe once or twice.”
She yawned and Nick nodded. “Think it’s time for a break?”
She slid off the kitchen table. “Maybe a quick nap and then up for another round and breakfast at the diner before work?”
He grinned as he kissed her. He’d told her that he’d never be satisfied with all the kisses they exchanged. He’d always want just one more and she had to agree with him.
“I like the way you think.”
He followed her to the bedroom where she practically collapsed on the bed. He laughed and fell beside her. He pulled the blanket over them and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “You never answered about Thanksgiving.”
She started to bite her lip, but caught herself. How could she say no after they just professed that they were in love? She didn’t want to ruin the moment so she nodded. “I’d love to.”
6 CHAPTER SIX
Katy fidgeted with the belt on her sweater dress for probably the tenth time then anxiously looked in the mirror. She had already run seven miles which normally calmed her nerves, but it wasn’t working today. She sighed as she brushed her again, it wasn’t cooperating either. She grabbed a hair elastic and started to pull it back into a ponytail.
As she gathered her hair, she saw Nick walk behind her and felt his hands slide around her waist as he kissed her neck expecting her to purr in delight. When he didn’t get the reaction he’d expected, he looked up into the mirror and saw Katy sulking. He turned her around to face him. “You better put that bottom lip away, you know how much that turns me on,” he said and leaned forward to suck on her pouty lip.
Katy pushed him away. “I look awful, my hair is flat, and I hate this outfit,” she sighed. “I should just stay home.”
Nick smiled to himself, loving that Katy referred to his place as home and also to see her so flustered overlooking just right to meet his family. Since they both had the next three days off work, he wouldn’t have minded skipping Thanksgiving and being locked in “their” house together for the weekend. But he was excited for his parents to meet Dr. Katherine Malone. He’d been waiting a long time to introduce the right one to his family and today he would be. He only wished his big brother would be there.
He pushed a stray hair behind her ears and lightly kissed her. “You look amazing.”
Katy leaned into his embrace and kissed him back. He could tell she was a ball nerves and needed distraction. She moved her lips down his chin then over his neck. Nick let out a moan of pleasure. “You have the perfect touch,” he mumbled.
Katy un-tucked his button down Polo shirt from his pressed Chinos. She slid her hands under his shirt over his rock hard abs, and then promptly moved her hands to unzip his pants. Nick kissed her quickly, knowing if he let her undress him that they’d never make it to his parents. He stepped back tucking in his shirt. “Relax, baby, everyone will love you. Now we need to go or we’ll be late.”
***
They’d been driving in his Yukon for almost an hour. Katy bit her lip not realizing how close his parents lived to her father’s house, not that Nick would know since he’d never been there. He stroked her thigh the entire ride calming her nerves, but when he said they were twenty minutes away, the butterflies that had occupied her stomach started attacking.
Katy took a deep breath. “So tell me who all is going to be there.”
It’d only been three weeks since Katy and Nick met. While they both felt like they knew each other inside and out, there were still some topics that had never come up. Family was one of them. Nick had asked a few times, but Katy always seemed to skirt around the issue so he didn’t push. While she never discussed her family, or lack there of, she’d picked up on bits and pieces here and there about his.
“My best friend and crew member, Jesse, will be there with his parents. You met him at the hospital, remember?” Katy nodded and Ni
ck continued. “My parents, my sister-in-law, Abby, and my two nieces, Nora and Alayna.”
Although he’d never told her, Katy knew that his brother Ryan had died in 9/11. She saw pictures of the two brothers around his house. There was one of all three Garrity men in FDNY gear framed with a medal Ryan had received posthumously.
Her favorite was of the two of them covered in mud holding a football, both of them had the biggest smiles, their white teeth the only part of them not painted in dirt. There was another one of the two Garrity sons with their father and Engine 58 in the background. She knew the tradition, all boys born to a crew member of FDNY would grow up to do the same. She knew that one day Nick Garrity’s unborn son would grow-up and work at Engine 58 as well. She pushed that thought from her head as she said, “Tell me about your parents.”
Nick smiled and kissed her hand before he answered. “My dad, Andy, acts like a hard ass but he’s really a teddy bear,” he looked at Katy and smirked, “especially to good-looking ladies. Now that he’s retired, he spends most of his time fishing and doing Pinterest projects for my mom.”
“My mom, Lisa, is the sweetest woman you’ll ever meet,” he squeezed her leg, “after you. She was a school teacher until three years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctors gave her less than a year, but she’s shown them she’s tougher than they thought. Although it’s getting worse by the day.”
Katy had to bite her tongue, fighting back the doctor in her to ask a million medical questions to ensure that all options had been covered. She loved Nick and didn’t want him to experience the pain of losing a parent. She was also a bit envious of him that he had spent twenty-nine years with both his parents. She hadn’t gotten twenty-nine years with either of hers combined.