by Brynn Hale
“I love you, Archie.”
Our eyes meet, his breathing is quick and shallow.
“Archie, deep breath.”
He closes his eyes and steadies his breathing.
“Thank you, I was starting to get a little lightheaded.”
“Okay, just go slowly.” He leans over me resting on one elbow. The head to his cock presses at the entrance to my body.
“Are you okay?” His question sounds like it’s for him, but I answer.
“Yes, I am. And you?”
“I am in awe of you Josie, you are so calm. I feel like I’m going to pass out.”
“Just relax, breathe deeply, and push a little against me.” His hips slide against my legs, deliberately slowly, smoothly.
Then we both feel the pop, as his silky engorged condom covered erection crown enters me and the connection sears into my memory.
When he refocuses, there is such care and love in his eyes. “It is okay?”
“It’s…big.” I widen my eyes and giggle. “Please, go slowly.”
And excruciatingly slowly he slides in, millimeter-by-millimeter.
I grab his arm, “Please wait.” I inhale deep and long and exhale the same, relaxing and enjoying all of the sensations.
He gives me time, his fingers brush over my cheek and lips. His lips meet mine and our tongues tangle, taking my mind off of the full feeling. I plant my heels and raise my hips to meet his, more of him slides inside of me. His tongue is frantic against mine.
I know, it’s amazing and overwhelming all at once.
He pulls back slightly and rocks forward, almost all of him is inside of me. “God, Josie, that is incredible. I can feel your heat and slickness through the condom. You fit perfectly around me. I never want this to end. I want to be connected to you forever. I love you.”
“You are everything I’ve ever wanted.” I meet his next thrust, there is fullness but no pain. “Archie, honey, that feels good, a little faster, please…” His next two movements are connected. The next two connected. Then a smooth fluid movement, our bodies separate and glide together gently.
Our union is unhurried and loving. Our heated eyes remain connected completing a circle, just like last night.
My hands roam his body and his face, soothing both of us. In a minute, Archie’s breath becomes ragged and his face tense.
“Josie, are you close?” He grits through his teeth.
“I am…just another minute.” Looking into his eyes, with every part of my heart I whisper, “Archie, I love you.”
He rests his forehead to mine. “Baby, surrender your body to me. Come on the cock for me.”
Hearing those words, my body tenses and I shudder against his. My pussy grips him tight and he groans as he buries himself deep.
“Oh, fuck that’s beautiful.” He releases all tension in one last small thrust while his cock spasms inside of me
Delicious weight collapses on me, I enjoy the closeness of our bodies pressed against each other. I caress his shoulders tenderly while he breathes fast and deep. He raises his head, kisses me while he reaches down, holding the condom and pulls from my body. I wince a little. He sees my reaction and rolls to his side, still holding the condom against his body.
“How do you feel? Are you sore? Did it hurt?” Just like emergency personnel, he peppers me with questions.
I giggle.
“I feel great. I’ll probably be a little sore. I mean, come on, that,” I point at his still semi-hard erection. “Was inside of me!”
He winks and does his country-boy smirk. His eyes widen. I know he’s already imaging the next time.
Men!
I exhale and roll my eyes, “You’re imaging the next time already, aren’t you?”
He grins and raises his eyebrows and his shoulders. I shake my head.
In a couple minutes, he’s lying next to me and I’m plastered to his body.
“Move in with me…” he whispers as if it’ll scare me away.
“Yes,” I sigh out the word.
“And now, about that dance…”
Epilogue
Archie
It’s a perfect fall afternoon without being uncomfortable. People sit in white chairs with red bows decorating the backs outside of the firehouse. Mrs. Grimm sits with a place next to her for Mr. Grimm. They’re taking things a lot slower than Josie and I did, but I think they both like it that way.
The bridesmaids and flower girl walk by. I stand at the front of an aisle that my beautiful fiancée will be walking down in…
Three.
Two.
One.
Arm in arm with her father, she’s glowing and smiling.
The fifty guests look over their shoulders and I hear gasps. My bride’s gasp-worthy.
The Captain smiles at me. After a long fishing trip, we came to the conclusion that getting along was better than staying neutral. So now I call him Dad at his home, and he calls me son when he’s at mine.
He’s still Captain Holman at the station and he still has the ability to fire my ass.
The ceremony is short and sweet, just the way I wanted it. Cause there’s something I’m dying to do to my bride.
Everyone carries their chairs over to the dining area. The sun’s lowering and the hundreds of Edison bulbs that the guys have put up in the bay give off a yellow glow.
Our song starts to play, and she stands for our first dance. A slow country tune, perfect for some of my sensual moves. When we’re out on the dance floor, I’m holding her so close, I swear that we’re one, but…the DJ scratches the song and it morphs.
Josie laughs. “What did you do?”
“Well, if we’re going to start this marriage out on the right foot…it might as well be a chicken foot.”
Everyone in the crowd claps and screams for us to continue.
I start doing the dance and Keegan comes to join me with his lady. She’s changed him, too.
Josie stands back and smiles, shaking her head. But soon we’re all on the dance floor.
The dance of love is just starting for us.
And I’m so glad that she decided to love a firefighter.
~THE END~
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KEEGAN
Chapter One
Bryar
The sun blasts in the sliding glass door of my apartment and I can just feel that today is going to be one of those runs that both centers me and sets me free. I grab my arm phone holder and strap it on, take a last drink of water—there are fountains along the way—and make sure my running shoes, the ones I spent a fortune on are tied up securely.
I need a good run. The last few weeks of my life have been a shitshow. An ex who thinks he’s God gift to women—he’s not, a one-night stand—left me wanting more but I’m not ready to move on from Mr. God, and my car had repairs I really couldn’t afford—guess I’ll be eating packaged ramen noodles and mac and cheese for the next two months.
I just need a really good day. A really good day. A Top Ten Day.
I open the front door and the world tilts. I close my eyes and suck in a quick breath. It’s not the first time it’s happened in the last two weeks, but usually it passes quickly. I grab the doorjamb, opening my eyes and trying to wear a smile as my neighbor Evan walks by.
He backs up two steps and his brow furrows with concern. “Hey, sweetness, you don’t look so hot. You need to lie down?”
His partner calls out from down the hallway that lunch is ready and Evan waves him away with a hand. “Somethin’s wrong with Bryar.”
Jacque is there before I can blink. “Honey, you should just lie down for a little while.”
“Maybe just a little more water,” I say and Evan’s hand slips under my arm, guiding me.
Jacque brings a glass of tepid water and I down it a tiny sip at a time with two men watching me. Just what I love.
In fact, I’ve never actually loved any man. Not
even my father. He was the meanest S.O.B anyone’s ever seen, and you’d never see him coming. He was a liar and a thief. And when my mother took both of them to their graves, I wish I’d been surprised, but the only thing I was surprised by was that the local police thought that she was crazy. She wasn’t crazy. She was done. Done with him. Done with wanting a different life. Just done.
I’d already been sent to live with my grandmother, so I wasn’t there for the end to our family, but I wasn’t sure I really got a beginning either.
For seven years I’ve been on my own after my grandmother died. I don’t need a man to take care of me or tell me how I look or feel. And that last boyfriend just made that very clear. And even if I had the best sex, I’ve ever had with that one-night stand guy, I don’t need the complications and expectations that come with a relationship, even if I could find him.
They flank me as I sit on the couch, my head lulled back into the cushions.
I breathe in deeply. “Okay, I think I’m alright.”
Evan turns toward me. “But you’re staying put, right, sweetness?”
I smile. “Yeah, probably best I skip this run.”
“That’s my girl. Okay, we’re going to be at Season 617 tonight.”
“I’ll make sure you get an extra special dessert.” My job as sous chef and confectioner at the restaurant is a dream come true. My boss took a chance on me and I can’t relay how much I love my job.
They stand and I give them my best smile. “Thanks, guys. I promise, I’m all good.”
Jacque rubs his hands together and seems to be questioning that statement. “If you need anything—”
“You’ll be the first to hear from me.”
“Okay. See you tonight then.”
“Yes, you will. Now, go eat that lunch that you had ready.”
Jacque laughs. “I’ll imagine Hugo has made it his by now.”
Their 115-pound Bernese mountain dog is known for being both a sweetie and for being ornery as a two-year-old toddler—and he’s six—that’s almost fifty in human years. You’d think he’d know better. But he’s also a good judge of character and he hated that ex—like teeth bared hated. I should’ve known.
I rise and I actually feel really good. I let out a big sigh.
“Thanks again, guys.” I follow them to the door.
“Anytime.”
As soon as they close their door. I close mine quietly behind me, stick my earbuds in my ears, and head toward the stairwell.
Instead of five miles, I’ll just do two. Maybe three.
I’m on the trail behind our apartment and my run is off. My pace is slow. My heart is beating fast. I’m sweating like a I have a fever. My stomach is sitting in my throat. I get to a mile and I slow until I’m standing still, and the world is back to spinning. I grab for something, but there’s nothing there. The world is black.
I start shuffling forward like I’m going to get somewhere, but there’s nowhere to go…but…
Down.
Keegan
“Dude, is there ever a day you don’t get ten miles in?” My roommate, Donte, takes a bite of his fifth donut. He either has a tapeworm or a metabolism that should be studied by scientists. The guy eats non-stop. But I do know that he works out…occasionally. I’ve seen it happen. Shocking.
“My father was a marathon runner. It’s in my blood.”
He toasts me off with his next donut. His mouth full of Bismarck as he says, “Have a good one.”
I haven’t had a damn donut in months. Being a firefighter has demands that most people don’t understand. Donte’s job as a police officer is probably as physical, but come on… It’s not like carrying multiple 5-inch fire hoses—that’s 110 pounds.
I hit the trail, and in minutes the zone is happening. Every pound of my feet is light. Every pound of my heart is sure. Every breath is…
Shit!
I almost don’t see the form on the ground, but I jump at the last minute and my feet tangle under me and I complete an uncoordinated body roll, gravel on the blacktop trail skidding under my body, tearing at skin, but I collect myself and scurry back to the human on the ground. I roll her carefully to her back.
“Miss, are you okay?” I tap her shoulder.
There is no reaction and my training kicks in. I pull out my phone and put it into the crook of my shoulder while I feel for a pulse. It’s there. I check for breathing and they’re shallow, but there.
“9-1-1, name and emergency please.”
“Keegan Zraa. I’m on trail 66 on the north side of Passion Point, about a mile from the Laibert Street entrance. Female, unconscious, about…” I stare at the woman and the shape of her lips holds my gaze. I’ll never forget those lips.
My heart clips faster in my chest. I fall back on my haunches.
“Female about twenty to twenty-five years old. No signs of injury.”
“We’re on our way, sir. Please stay on the line until the paramedics get there.”
“I’m a firefighter at Station 1.” Every word exits robotically now. “The one that should be sent here.”
“Then thankfully she’s in good hands.”
I run a hand over my short hair.
It’s her…
I stand as people start to gather. “Folks, please just keep going. Medical has been called.”
Soon four firefighters show and Boscoe, my lieutenant grabs my shoulder. I give him what I know.
“And I know her, sir. She works at that little bistro over on Carlton.”
“Season 617? Reese Dynas’s place?”
Reese is dating our co-firefighter, Kelton. Or rather they’re ridiculous with each other. I’ve never quite understood the need to be all handholding, wrap your arms around each other, and give each other winks across a crowded room. I’m more, let’s give each other a good time and move on. It’s not harsh. They know I’m not in for the future, I make it clear. But this one…I remember this good time because it wasn’t just good…
He looks down at her. “Oh yeah, wasn’t she at Reese’s 4th of July party?”
“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck.
She’s still not awake. I follow along as the stretcher crunches the path. My heart isn’t pounding anymore. It feels like it’s being smothered.
The paramedic looks at me and motions to inside the cab of the ambulance. “You coming, Zraa?”
I really shouldn’t. I probably will just be in the way. I don’t have a reason…
Except one.
Her.
I jump in the back and take a seat. To attach monitors, they’ve cut her T-shirt open and ruined what was probably an expensive running bra by snipping the top of it, too. The machines beep a sure beat.
“Her name?” he asks like I should know.
I search my mind. I should know. Somewhere in the recesses I find a glimpse. “Bryar?”
“How do you spell that?”
“I don’t know!”
His eyebrows shoot up. “I thought you were her—”
“Friend.”
He goes back to work. “Her blood pressure is low,” the paramedic says into his com. “No signs of trauma.” He hands me the phone from her arm. The screen crushed so I can’t even find out her full name. Regardless of all my emergency training, I feel useless. I feel out of control and I’ve been in a room that had fire blocking every exit and never felt this way.
I’ve also never been in the back of an ambulance, riding either as a patient or a medical provider. Those sirens are nerve-grating. It’s both ominously loud and deathly quiet at the same time.
Bryar moans. Her eyes flash open, a spring green stares at me. “You? It’s you…” She closes them tight and reopens. “It’s…”
I grab her hand and give a squeeze.
“You.”
And she’s out again.
Chapter Two
Keegan
I’m waiting outside of her room in the Emergency Department. I handed over her phone to the front desk. I ge
t snippets through the sliding curtain. Her blood sugar is low, along with her blood pressure, but everything else seems to be fine.
A hospital employee comes out and hands me a bag that has her personal belongs in it, a driver’s license peeking out of her phone holder.
“Ms. Dennings isn’t awake, but you can come in and sit. You are her boyfriend, right?”
Bryar Dennings?
My stomach rolls. I don’t lie. Normally. “Yes.”
There’s a truth in the word that I don’t understand right now. The way she clasped my hand even after she was out again. I’d never felt such responsibility to a human, to be their lifeline and strength. And I would think by now I would know that feeling.
Two saves in my probationary period and one now as a full-fledge firefighter. That doesn’t compare to some at the station, but all of us would prefer we didn’t have to have any saves and that fires and accidents didn’t happen. But they do.
I take the chair from the corner and pull it close. “Any thoughts on why she keeps coming to and going under?”
The doctor writes a couple more things. “I have a couple ideas. We’re getting her blood sugar back up now, but that isn’t raising her blood pressure and I’m concerned about that right now.”
She opens her eyes and whimpers. I grab for her hand and she seems to calm fractionally.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, her eyes confused.
The doctor’s jaw tightens. “Miss Dennings, do you want him to leave?”
She doesn’t answer, but she also doesn’t release my hand, if anything she grips it harder.
The doctor puts his pen in his holder on his white coat. “Miss Dennings, is there any way you could be pregnant?”
Her gaze connects to mine.
Shit.
That one night might stand as the best in my mind and now maybe the worst in hers.
Bryar
“Yes,” I mumble.
“I’ll get the test ordered.” The doctor leaves the room.
