by Storm Cree
Nick stopped and kissed Jagger. "I'm sorry, baby, I have to go. I expect to see you in something sexy and sassy when I get home. Be ready for a very long night and whatever plans you have for tomorrow, cancel them. I don't plan on us coming up for air for a very long time."
With a nervous smile, Jagger replied, "You have a deal. Just, please, be careful."
"I will." Nick got into his gear and picked up the mic. "Station one en route. ETA three minutes."
"Station one, be advised of a structure fire at 3379 Bay Street. Fire alarm was triggered, we made contact, owner says there was a loud explosion in the kitchen area, he couldn't get everyone out and some are trapped in the upper levels. The flames are high and wide."
"Ten-four dispatch," Nick stated in his no-nonsense tone.
"Shit, isn't that the Maddox Hotel in the business district?" Gage asked.
Snapping on his helmet Nick replied, "Yes, and if we don't get it under control fast, a lot of other buildings could go up as well."
"Damn, Chief, this sucks. Just when you planned to get back to your mating," Tyler said with regret.
Nick sighed. "Maybe so, but when everyone is out safe and the fire is out, I am taking a few days off to be with my mate."
Nick thought about what he had learned from Rune and knew he was going to have to make sure Destrain was brought up to speed. He just hoped that the man wasn't too pissed when it took him a couple of days to do that.
"What changed?" Tyler asked.
"Tyler, are the tanks ready to go back there?" Logan called out as he turned onto Bay Street.
Nick could see smoke and flames before they arrived at the site. Wyndingo and his men were already on location. Logan came to a stop and everyone jumped from their truck.
Wyndingo was yelling out orders to his men when he saw Nick and his men moving towards him. "Nick, my men are inside. The owner says there are about fifteen people on the second floor and there could be some in the dining area, the smoke was too thick for him to see."
"My men and I will go in and help with the search," Nick yelled over the sound of the blaze before him.
Turning to his men, Nick shouted, "Gage, Sut, Logan, Ronin you guys get second floor. Tyler, Onyx, Dev, you’re with me on the first. Stay low and safe. Don't do anything fancy. Keep an open mic and I expect to hear if anyone is leaving or returning. Stay in groups of two, at all times. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" Everyone shouted as they made their way into the hot, burning building.
Nick took a second longer before entering the blaze. "Okay Nick, get in, get the people out, put out this fire, and then go make an entire new one with your mate."
Pushing aside thoughts of making love to his mate, Nick entered the smoke and flame filled building.
CHAPTER 7
It had taken less than five minutes to locate the people that were still trapped on the upper floors. Wyn’s men took over battling the flames as Nick and his men headed up the search and rescue, but it was slow going. At times the fire would flame up, breaking through the floor, and he and the others would have to work around it or call for backup with a hose to douse the area.
The longer the search took, the bigger Nick’s headache became. All the sounds around him were excruciating. He gritted his teeth and kept going, lives were at stake. One of the worst things to deal with, Nick was finding, was the brightness of the fires. At times, they glowed so strong that he had to close his eyes and turn his head. He was afraid his retinas would be damaged if he didn’t.
Heading out of the building, Nick looked around and found chaos. Which was normal in any fire situation, but with one this big, it was doubled. Ambulances were lined up, with EMTs running to help victims, onlookers lined the streets trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on, and the police were doing their job at holding people back so that they didn’t have to deal with some idiot getting too close.
Nick moved closer to his truck as he watched his guys grab hoses and gear so that they could now help with controlling the fire. As he approached his men he heard a frantic voice coming from his left. He turned his head and spotted a woman that looked like she may be in her late twenties. She was crying and screaming, while fighting against one of the police officers who was holding her back, but he didn’t seem to be listening to what the woman was saying.
Nick shook his head as anger filled him, and he stormed over to the pair. He grabbed the officer’s arm and turned the man, Nick’s face twisted in rage. “Are you even listening to this woman?” Nick screamed at the officer, then turned to face the her.
“Where is your little girl?”
“She wasn’t feeling good, so I ran down to the lobby to get some medicine from the shop there. I left her sleeping in her bed. But then the alarms started and they made me leave. No one would listen to me, or let me go back to get her. Please help her,” the woman cried as she grabbed onto Nick’s arm desperately.
“What room? What’s your daughter’s name? And how old is she?” Nick demanded.
“Cammy, she’s ten, and we were in room 218,” the woman answered.
Without another thought, Nick spun and ran as fast as he could back toward the burning building. He knew from being in the structure before that the second floor was almost completely engulfed in flames, and was probably gone by now. But experience had also told him that kids were resilient creatures. When things like this happened, they tended to hide. Sometimes leaving where they were to go in search of their parent and getting lost. Nick had no way of knowing if this little one had done any of those things, but he had to go with what he knew. His heart jumped into his throat as he stepped back inside and saw that the flames had indeed swallowed up most of the second floor. It was probably too late, but damned if he didn’t at least try to find her.
“Nick! What the hell are you doing?” Wyn’s voice screamed in his ear.
“We have a life last seen on the second floor, room 218. Female, ten years old. I’m going up!” Nick called back in his com.
“Goddamn it, Nick! Wait for backup!” Wyn yelled.
“There’s no time!” Nick answered and headed up the side staircase. He was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see the stairwell still intact. Quickly ascending to the second floor, yelling, "Fire department, call out!" Nick pulled the heavy fire door at the top of the stairs open and entered the hall. He was met by a wall of black smoke and flames coming from both sides. He quickly assessed the situation and knew there was no way the child was still alive if she were on this floor. As much as he wanted to rush through the flames and find her body to bring back, there was no way he could without dying himself.
With a heavy heart, Nick turned. Just as he placed his hand on the heavy door and began to push, he heard it. His body froze and Nick turned his head, "Fire department, call out!" Tilting his head, he listened for a moment, but there was nothing. Had the cough he heard been wishful thinking?
Just as Nick was about to turn back toward the door, he heard it again. He turned fully toward the hall and closed his eyes, concentrating on the sounds around him. The crackling of the fire, and splintering of the wood as the fire burned was overwhelming, but Nick knew he had heard the cough. He closed his eyes tighter, pushing back the voices of the other men in his ears, and tried to focus on the one sound. He concentrated on pushing the other noises down, and was shocked when after a minute the roar from the flames almost disappeared. They were still there, but were now a low hum, and all the voices coming through the com vanished.
The cough came again, this time louder with the other noises dulled. The sound of the cough wasn’t far, but it wasn’t down this hallway. It was coming from somewhere behind him. Nick spun around and rushed back through the door, into the stairwell "Fire department, call out!"
Nick stopped, again focusing his hearing. There it was again, only louder. Nick looked up toward the third floor, then ran. Climbing higher, he passed the door for the third floor and rounded the railing, going up highe
r. "Fire department, call out!"
As he raced up, a small blonde head came into view and Nick rushed up. There at the top on the landing, wrapped up into a tight ball in the corner, was the little girl. She was in a thin nightgown that was covered in soot from the smoke. She had her face buried against her knees, as she hugged her legs, but Nick could hear the wheezing in her chest. Nick dropped to a knee before her and gently touched her arm. He was afraid of scaring her.
The child’s head came up, eyes full of fear, and tears running down her cheeks, causing tracks through the black spots there. “Cammy?”
The child’s eyes widened slightly as she nodded. Even though Nick knew she couldn’t see his face clearly through his mask, he still gave her a big smile, trying to ease her fears. “Hi, Cammy. I’m Nick. Your mommy sent me. Would you like to get out of here and go see her now?” Nick asked calmly, keeping his voice soft. Again, Cammy only nodded.
“Okay, Cammy, I’m going to place this mask over your face,” Nick explained as he pulled a small oxygen canister from his pocket and showed her the mask that was attached.
“This will help you breathe better, okay?” Cammy nodded, then Nick placed the mask over her face and secured the strap around her head.
“You’re doing great, Cammy. Such a brave girl. Do you think you can help me, sweetheart?” Nick asked and waited for the nod.
“Good. I’m going to pick you up and take you out of here so I can get you to your mommy. What I need you to do is hold this canister for me and make sure that mask stays put, okay?” Again, Cammy nodded.
“Good girl. You’re doing so good, sweetie. Okay, here we go,” Nick said, then slid his hands under her legs and around her back and lifted. As he stood, Cammy grabbed the canister with one hand, and wrapped the other around his neck and held on tight.
“You’re doing great, Cammy. Now let’s get out of here, okay?” Cammy nodded her head against his chest and Nick headed down the stairs.
Rushing toward the front door, Nick stopped short as a large beam engulfed in flames dropped from the ceiling, blocking his path. Cammy screamed and shook in his arms. He looked around frantically for another escape, but found none. Looking toward the stairs, he knew that was definitely off limits. He had to calm down and think.
Nick took a deep breath and released it slowly. There was only one thing he could do and he hoped it worked. “Wrap your arms and legs around me, Cammy, and hold on tight, sweetie. Keep your head down okay? Whatever you do, don’t look, and don’t let go,” Nick instructed. He shifted his hold on the child and Cammy did exactly as he instructed, wrapping herself around him and burying her head in the crook of his neck.
“Good girl, Cammy. Now hold on.” Nick held her tight with his left arm as he stepped closer to the beam, then bent his legs and gripped the burning metal with his right hand. He sent some thanks above for the protection of the heavy gloves he wore, but knew he still only had a small fraction of time before the fire would burn through them.
These new powers of his had been a burden, but right now Nick was grateful for them. They had helped him locate the precious life in his arms, and he would make sure they helped him save her and himself. He promised his mate he would come back to him and he wasn’t about to break that promise. With the additional strength these new powers gave him, Nick pulled on the beam. At first nothing happened, but then suddenly the beam shifted. He doubled his efforts and concentrated on what he was doing, and suddenly the beam lifted as if it weighed nothing. Nick pushed it aside enough to give them a clear path, then dropped it. Without hesitation, he moved through the area and pushed through the front doors.
Wyn’s shocked face was the first he saw as the man ran toward them, EMT’s right on his heels with a gurney. Nick met them and placed Cammy on the stretcher, but she wouldn’t let go of his neck. Nick smiled and rubbed a gentle hand down her back in comfort. “It’s okay, now, Cammy. We made it. We’re safe. You can let go now, sweetheart.”
Cammy slowly released him and relaxed back against the stretcher, her eyes full of tears and happiness. “You did great, sweetheart. I’m very proud of you. You’re a very brave girl,” Nick praised as he took her hand.
“Cammy! Oh, my God! Cammy!” Her mother’s voice screamed from the other side of the street behind the police blockade.
“That’s the mother! Let her through!” Wyn ordered.
The police officer stepped back and allowed the woman to pass and she ran directly for them. She stopped next to the stretcher and hugged her daughter tight, as she cried. Nick and Wyn stepped back, allowing the paramedics to do their job, and they turned back to the fire.
Nick had only taken a few steps when the woman ran around him, stopping in front of him, then jumped into his arms, wrapping hers around him. “Thank you. Thank you so much for saving my baby.”
Nick placed a hand on her back and patted her gently. “You’re welcome, ma’am.”
The woman pulled back and gave him a tear-filled smile. “I don’t know how to repay you.”
“Just remember how close you came to losing her, and shower her with love,” Nick replied, then headed toward his men.
CHAPTER 8
It had been hours since Nick left and Jagger was starting to get worried. He tried to work to keep his mind off what could be happening at the scene of the fire, but nothing was working. Moving around the club, watching all the sweaty, swaying bodies as they undulated together normally would have been a great distraction, but tonight all it did was cause him to miss his mate even more.
They had stopped having sex because they were afraid of Nick losing his control and taking too much of Jagger’s blood again, and it causing his mate more pain. But after the talk they had with Rune earlier, Jagger felt lighter. There was really nothing that could be done for Nick except for him to learn how to control these new powers. And learning that little tidbit of information made the fires of passion ignite inside Jagger.
They didn’t have to wait anymore. Nick could make love to him again. Fuck his brains out until he couldn’t walk, and Jagger could drink from the source instead of the bagged stuff that Logan made up from Nick’s blood. Either way, it was his mate’s blood, but it was always better directly from his mate. The taste was explosive and the increase in his endorphins made him horny as hell. There was nothing better in the world then drinking from his mate while being fucked by Nick’s big, thick cock.
Great. Now his cock was hard as a rock and no release in sight. Instead of taking his mind off what Nick was doing, his thoughts made the fires in his loins spark. Moving through the crowd, Jagger nonchalantly adjusted his cock, trying to give it some relief from the bite of pain as it pressed against the zipper. He made it to the bar and motioned for the bartender, Axel.
“What can I get you, boss?” Axel asked.
“I’m heading upstairs to wait for my mate. You’re in charge. I’ll let the others know. If you need me, just call,” Jagger replied.
“No problem, Jag. I know how worried you are about Nick, so why not head up now and I’ll let everyone know?”
“Thanks, Axel.” Jagger gave him a grateful smile and nodded. He turned and headed for the private elevator that led up to their apartment.
Stepping off the elevator, Jagger strode across the room, emptying his pockets into the dish by the door. He slid off his jacket and hung it on the back of a chair, then headed for the kitchen. He opened the fridge and stared inside, wondering if he should make Nick something to eat. His mate was always hungry and tired after a call.
“Something simple maybe?” Jagger said to himself.
He pulled out all the makings for a chef salad and began to prepare it, smiling at his choice, knowing it would be perfect. He could make it now and put it in the fridge so it would be ready for whenever Nick came in.
After getting the salad prepared, Jagger made sure there were a few of Nick’s favorite beers chilling, then went to the bathroom to get a hot bath ready. Not knowing when exactly his mat
e would be home, Jagger filled the tub and turned the jets on for the jacuzzi. That would keep the water at a pleasant temperature.
Jagger then stripped and took a shower, making sure to scrub himself extra clean so he would be ready for whatever his mate was in the mood for. Even though he was sure Nick would be tired when he got home, Jagger also knew his man would be randy and ready to fuck him hard. It had been too long since they last shared their bodies, and the heat that was in Nick’s eyes before he had been called away told Jagger that he was in for a hot night.
Just as he began to dry off with a towel, Jagger heard his phone ringing. “Shit. Please don’t let it be something bad about Nick.”
Jagger wrapped the towel around his waist and ran toward the front door where he had left his phone. He grabbed up the phone and saw Zen’s name. “Shit, I’m gonna have to go back downstairs.” He slid his thumb across the screen and placed it to his ear. “Jagger here. What’s up, Zen?”
“Just thought you might like to know, Nick just pulled into the lot and is heading in this direction right now,” Zen answered.
“Great. Thanks, Zen. If he asks, let him know I’m upstairs.”
“I will. And I’ll make sure no one needs you for the rest of the night,” Zen replied and Jagger could hear the humor in his voice.
“Thanks. That would be great,” Jagger said in appreciation.
He hung up and moved quickly back to the bedroom area on the raised platform. He opened all the smoky glass panels so that Nick would have a clear view to the bed as he stepped off the elevator. He grabbed the lube from the nightstand drawer and squeezed some onto his fingers, then placed the tube on the nightstand. Jagger climbed into the center of the bed, staying on all fours, he reached back and began to get his hole ready for his man.
Once he felt he was stretched enough, Jagger grabbed the towel from his waist, ripping it off, and used it to clean his hand. He pulled the blankets down and piled up the pillows, fluffing them, then he turned onto his back and leaned against them. He had the perfect view of the elevator.
