The Ultimate Erotic Short Story Collection 19

Starting Fires

by Cynthia Conley

Dana rushed to place a wet towel under her bedroom door, trying not to panic as she heard the sirens and saw the fire trucks pull to the curb. Placing the pillowcase over her mouth, she hit the floor to avoid the smoke-filled air and crawled to the window. The minute she pushed it up, more smoke puffed in and a window shattered in her living room.

She screamed as loud as she could, swinging a towel out the window to signal her location. Dragging herself up to the window, she spotted the firefighter waving to her, “Flatten yourself to the floor. I’m coming up.”

The ladder hit her window frame as she collapsed onto the floor. She gagged and coughed on the stench, causing tears to flood her vision. Terrified of passing out, she screamed again as the paint on her door bubbled. Hands suddenly lifted her from the floor and a mask was placed on her face before someone yelled, “Are you alone?”

She nodded before he yelled, “Hang on to me!”

Dana wrapped herself around him, gulping the oxygen and squeezing her eyes shut. Petrified of heights, she screamed in panic as he made his way down the ladder from her second story apartment. Other residents milled about, huddled together on the lawn as all their belongings went up in smoke.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he tried to pass her to another firefighter but she wouldn’t let go of his neck. He swung her into his arms, “It’s okay! We’re on the ground.”

She relaxed but was still shaking so he carried her a safe distance before reassuring her again before she would finally release her death grip. He ran toward the three-story building, aiding others in pointing a huge hose directly at her window before they released the valve.

She coughed into the mask as her neighbor, Rose, sat down heavily beside her with shock written all over her face. Dana tried to hold it together while asking her, “Did everyone make it out?”

Looking around, Rose nodded before they both cringed when the roof caved. Scrambling backwards in the face of the chaotic scene, she shook even worse as tears flew into her eyes.

Rose leaned toward her and pointed to the firefighter that carried her down the ladder, “That’s my brother, Chad!”

Dana distractedly nodded, knowing the woman was trying to take their minds off the chaos. She finally broke, gasping between sobs while wondering where she would stay. With no family and new to the area, she’d just rented the apartment a week ago.

Rose put her arm around her, “It’s okay. At least we made it out alive.”

She nodded but couldn’t stop crying so Rose asked, “Did you lose a pet?”

Dana shook her head, unwilling to admit that she was completely alone. Her brother sank down in front of them and, seeing how upset she was, asked the same. Dana shook her head and admitted, “I just arrived in town. I don’t know anyone. Is there a shelter around here?”

Rose stared at her brother who quickly said, “Rose will be staying with me. You’re welcome, too. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.”

She glanced at Rose who was nodding as well. Dana frowned, “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”

He nodded, “I’m positive.”

Dana thanked him, wiping tears away as Rose put her arm around her, “How old are you, Dana? You don’t look old enough to be on your own.”

“Twenty-three. Everyone thinks I’m younger.”

Her neighbor nodded, “Yeah. You look more like fifteen.”

Dana grinned through her tears but shook her head, “I can’t prove it because my purse was in there.”

Rose patted her knee, “I believe you. What do you do for a living?”

She told her where she was to start work as they watched the firefighters douse the apartment building. A tower of smoke started to rise as they kept each other company. They finally fell into silence, commenting occasionally about various things in order to keep the shock at bay.

Her brother, Chad, finally came back and asked how they were doing. Both nodded before he asked Rose if she was okay to drive. She stared at him, “My keys are in there.”

He glanced at Dana, “Same here but I have a spare under my back tire.”

“Are you okay to drive?”

Dana nodded, leading Rose to the parking lot where most of the tenants’ cars remained. Rose directed her to his house where she slipped a key out from under the doormat. Slipping inside, she went into a spare bedroom before telling Dana, “Let me go see what I can scrounge up so we can get out of these pajamas.”

Dana glanced around at the scant furnishings before wandering out into the hallway. Rose reappeared and handed her a T-shirt, pointing to a door, “That’s the bathroom. Sorry but this is the best I can do.” She shrugged by way of apology, “He’s not married and that shirt is going to swallow you but…”

Dana waved her off, “It’s great. Listen, thanks! Are you sure he won’t mind?”

Rose grinned, “From the look on his face, he didn’t mind you staying here at all.”

With a wink, she headed into the bedroom to change and left Dana to frown over her comment. Shrugging, she went into the bathroom to change. Pulling Chad’s shirt over her head, she grinned over the realization that the T-shirt held a distinct male aroma. Rose was right, the shirt swallowed her but she was grateful that the smoky odor was gone.

Peering at her blonde hair in the mirror, she cringed and washed the black streaks off her heart-shaped face. She hurried back out to ask Rose if she had a washcloth but ran right into Chad who was walking down the hall.

He grabbed her as she bounced off him, “Whoa, I almost knocked you flat. Shit, you are a tiny thing!”

She’d thought the firefighting suit made him massive but realized that was just his build. She swallowed hard, suddenly gasping for air for a completely different reason.

He grinned, “Are you okay?”

She squeaked out, “You’re just… huge!”

He laughed, studying her face as Rose peaked out the door, “He was a football player in high school.”

Stepping back and looking up at him, Dana’s quick wit surfaced, “Is the air thinner up there?”

Dimples appeared as interest flew into his eyes, “You tell me. Come here.”

Rose’s head appeared around the corner again with her mouth open in surprise before she grinned, “Chad, remember you put fires out… not start them!”

Dana was suddenly face-to-face with him as he asked, “So, is it?”

Completely forgetting the question, she stared at him until he laughed, “The air… is it thinner up here?”

“Oh-kay! Um… no, it’s not.”

Dimples hit his cheeks at her breathless tone, “Are you sure you don’t need some oxygen? I can perform mouth-to-mouth.”

Rose’s amused snort from behind them rang through the air, “I told you he doesn’t mind you staying.”

“Oh, hell no. Let me take a shower and I’ll show just how accommodating I can be.”

Rose rolled her eyes as Dana slid down his tall muscular frame, almost sliding straight to the floor as amusement shot over his face, “Damn, Rose. Why didn’t you tell me that you had such a cute little neighbor?”

“She just moved in last week. I haven’t talked to you since before then.”

He nodded and pointed to a door, “You know where the towels are if you want to shower.”

Turning to Dana, he winked, “That dress looks good on you.”

Her jaw dropped, leaving Rose cackling at her expression. He brushed by her, “I’ll see you ladies after I wash this smoke off me.”

Dana stared at him before shooting a wide-eyed look at his sister who was bent over and shaking her head as she tried to control her laughter. She scrambled behind her, placing the sister between them when he reappeared to say, “Oh… I’ve got a stocked fridge with beer if you guys are hungry or whatever.”

Looking directly at her, he pointedly said, “And you make yourself at home.”

She dumbly nodded as Rose got a grip on her laughter to pull a door open and drag some towels out. She handed one to Dana and asked if she wanted to go first. She eyed his bedroom and nodded, needing a moment to cool her heated cheeks. She barely used the hot water, standing under the tepid spray while contemplating the massive hunk that had just saved her ass from a burning building.

She finally rinsed herself, pulling on the T-shirt but cringing when she had to put the pajama bottoms against her skin. When she opened the bathroom door, Rose jerked her head toward the kitchen, “I found a wine glass and some wine if you want some.”

Dana nodded, “Good idea! Thanks!”

Hoping it would relax her but, unused to drinking, she poured half a glass. On the first sip, she made a face but forced herself to swallow the rest. Fortunately, it worked well so she poured another half-glass but jumped when he appeared in the doorway. He quickly put a hand up, “I was just going to join you for a sip.”

He bypassed the wine glass and grabbed a tumbler, pouring a healthy bit before downing it. His eyes narrowed, “You’re old enough to drink, right?”

She frowned, “I’m twenty-three.”

He grinned, “Nice to meet you, Twenty-three. I’m twenty-six.”

She laughed as he poured another splash into his glass while asking, “What do you do when you’re not working and where do you work?”

She told him that she was supposed to start working at a bank next week and had been busy unpacking. He grinned at her nervousness, “What kind of movies do you like or do you even watch TV?”

She nodded, “I like thrillers and horror. I have weird tastes in movies or so I’ve been told.”

Intrigued, he asked, “What do you mean by weird and who told you this?”

She followed him into the living room, “Normally, people think I like romance or chick-flicks but I can’t stand them. I like dark comedies and things that are out of the ordinary. Various friends told me but I no longer hang around them for a variety of reasons. Do you always ask a lot of questions?”

He stopped in front of a shelf and pointed out a movie, “Yes. How else would I get answers? Have you seen this one?”

She grinned, “Yeah, I like that one.” Her gaze ran over his library as her grin widened, “You have the same tastes that I do. Ohhh… can we watch this?”

He grabbed it and nodded, “Sure. Have you seen it yet?”

She shook her head and a dimple appeared in one of his cheeks. Narrowing her eyes at his calculated grin, she asked, “Why? Is it risqué?”

He laughed, “Why would I tell you that? Wouldn’t it ruin the movie? Here… you need more wine.”

Her eyes widened when he grabbed her glass and downed the contents before filling it for her. He made a face, “That was warmish. You need to drink it faster.”

“I don’t normally drink.”

Glee shot over his face, “Oh, this should be interesting.”

She sipped her wine as her face heated once again. He sat down and patted the sofa next to him with a challenge, “Scared I’ll start a fire?”

She took a gulp of the wine and pointedly sat next to him, immediately regretting it when his body heat made her breath hang. She swallowed past the lump in her throat as he lifted her wine glass from her hand, “You’re surprising me.”

He immediately drank what was in her glass before scowling, “It’s not good when it gets warm.”

Since her brain was already fuzzy, she shook her head when he went to refill it. He barked a laugh, pouring some into the glass anyway, “Lightweight!”

“I’m not seven feet tall and built like Thor!”

Before she could protest, he pulled her onto his lap, “Precisely. You’re light as a feather. And too cute for your own good!”

His fingers dipped into the wine before they painted her lips while his other hand thrust into her hair. With her lips only a fraction of an inch from his, her tongue inadvertently darted out to lick the wine off at the same time as his mouth closed over hers. His fingers entwined in her tresses to hold her head when she went limp against him.

He scrunched down into the couch, turning while cradling her on his wide chest and deepening the kiss. She jerked when Rose’s voice filtered through her fog of desire, “Where the hell did everyone… OH!”

Laughter rumbled in his chest as Dana pulled back from his mouth, dragging in a huge gasp of air as he growled, “Would you please disappear, Rose? We’re trying to see a movie here!”

Dana blinked down at him with her mouth hanging open but, when she tried to push off his chest, he tightened his grip, “Where are you going? We’re watching a movie, remember?”

“Um… yeah… what movie was that?”

He nodded, amusement flooding his face, “I have no idea! More wine?”

She laughed as she shook her head, shooting Rose a glance but she was quickly headed to her room, “Oh, my god! Would you let me go?”

He shook his head, “Letting go of something on fire is not in my nature. I’m a firefighter, remember?”

She giggled as he drew her back down to him, “Really, Chad, I’m not used to…”

“Ahhh! Allow me to familiarize you!”

She cursed as his lips closed over hers again but forgot what her protest was as his firm lips teased hers into submission. He tucked her between the back of the sofa and himself before deepening the kiss, spiraling an ache throughout and a whimper up her throat which immediately sobered her. She angrily pushed at him, unwilling to fall into bed with a man she’d just met regardless if he was a god in disguise.

He broke the kiss and leaned back so she immediately said, “Stop! Let me up… right now!”

His eyebrows shot up, “No more movie?”

“Cut it out, Chad. All my belongings just burned and you’re trying to fuck me? I mean, I know you just rescued me but… damn!”

He immediately released her, “I got carried away. I wasn’t trying to… crap! I know how it looked and… I’m sorry.”

She scrambled over him, shaking her head, “Jesus… I’ve never met someone so damn overwhelming!”

He winced but called out when she reached the doorway, “Hey, I’m just interested-really, I…”

Seeing her expression, he cringed, “…apologize, okay?”

Scowling at him, she finally nodded and quickly entered the room. Rose glanced over in surprise at her angry expression, “Uh-oh! What’d he do?”

Dana shook her head, “I wish you would have warned me. That man is… holy shit!”

Rose burst out in a fit of giggles as she shook her head, stuttering out, “Don’t… oh, hell… don’t be mad at him. He’s always had a thing for tiny blondes!”

Dana took a deep breath and rolled her eyes, “Just my luck! I get rescued by an irresistible eight-arm octopus who…”

Noticing the amused look on Rose’s face, she groaned as her cheeks reddened. Rose glanced at the ceiling to give her a moment, “If he’s irresistible, why are you in here with me?”

Dana practically snapped, “Because I’m not that type!”

Rose calmly asked, “What type would that be?”

Dana frowned, “The type to be lured into bed with a guy who fucks anything that moves.”

“Whoa… you pegged him wrong! Look, even though he’s affectionate and may seem like he fucks around, he’s pretty damn selective.”

Doubting that, Dana’s face twisted in disbelief as she climbed down into the bed. Rose shrugged, “Suit yourself but, I’m telling you, he’s choosy. Give him a break. He just saved your ass.”

Dana shot her a frown, “He flirted like hell, became overwhelming, and you’re trying to tell me that he doesn’t hit on everything that moves?”

Rose stared at her before leaning forward in anger, “He apparently saw something in you that he liked. I can count the number of girls he’s introduced me to on one hand. Oh, and by the way, I saw interest in his face when he stopped by to talk to us at the apartments. When he’s interested, he flirts… like any normal male. You were flirting too so what’s the problem?”

Rolling her eyes, Rose fell back on her own bed, leaving Dana to contemplate if she had been too hard on him. Sighing, she sank down onto her pillow but couldn’t stop wondering if she’d just been the worst prude. Confused, she scrunched her eyes shut and whispered, “Rose, are you sure?”

Her roommate groaned, “He’s my brother and we happen to be pretty damn close. Of course I’m sure! I’ve seen that boy’s heart ripped out by little twerps like you before.”

Dana winced, “Oh, shit! I’m sorry. I moved here to get away from a smooth jackass after a lengthy on-and-off relationship. I guess I’m still raw from it.”

Rose swung her legs off the side of the bed, “Everybody fucks up sometimes.” She tapped Dana’s bed with her foot, “But seriously, I can tell he really likes you.”

Dana sat up and put her head in her hands, “Oh, no! I liked him too and we have a lot in common. I probably fucked up big time.”

“Well, what are you waiting on? If you like him, go out there and…”

Dana’s eyes widened, “He probably hates me now. Besides, I don’t jump in bed with…”

Rose’s eyes rolled dramatically, “You’re obviously attracted to him and him to you. Damn, just talk to him. You’re the only one here that’s mentioned fucking him, right?”

Dana’s hands flew to her face in embarrassment as she groaned, “Oh, I’m such an idiot!”

Rose calmly said, “He doesn’t hold grudges. Just go apologize.” She leaned forward and glanced toward the door as her voice dropped, “I’ve never seen him flirt so heavily so fast before. If you’d thrown yourself at him, he would have brushed you off but you don’t need to be so damn cautious. He won’t bite.”

Dana took a deep breath and nodded, “Okay. You sure he won’t be mad?”

“He’s a big old teddy bear, trust me.”

She pulled herself out of bed but spied Rose’s beer. Rose shook her head, “As tiny as you are, you’ll get sick!”

Making a face, she gritted her teeth and opened the bedroom door to peak into the living room. She didn’t see him anywhere but spotted the wine still on the table. Thinking of searching him out with the wine as an offering, she quickly moved toward it but jumped a mile when she spotted him still lying on the sofa. His gaze shot to her as he swung into a sitting position.

She raised her hands and shrugged, “I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions. It’s just…”

Shaking his head, he interrupted her, “No… I should have realized you were under heightened stress with the fire. I mean…”

“Can we start over?”

He patted the sofa while picking up the remote, “Watch a movie? Seriously, this time?”

She laughed and nodded so he flew through the scenes to start it over but, before he hit play, she put her hand over his, “I left Oregon because of someone. I overreacted with you, okay? I’m sorry.”

A knowing look flitted over his face, “What did my sister tell you?”

She laughed and shook her head, “That you don’t fuck around.”

He cursed as his face reddened but laughed too and added, “I can start.”

She laughed harder as he pressed play and leaned against him. He didn’t attempt to put his arm around her so she tugged it and asked, “Can we at least cuddle while we watch it?”

His eyebrows flew up, “Are you trying to hit on me?”

She grinned and playfully slapped his arm. He sank onto the sofa and pulled her to him. Her shiver made him tighten his arms, “Are you cold?”

She swallowed hard, not trusting herself to speak so she shook her head. As if her body couldn’t stop moving from that simple shake of head, she wiggled around in his arms. The raw lust on his face was telling enough but his hard cock against her made her breath hitch. Amusement flooded his face, “Yeah, Dana, I want you. I’m a man and you’re a hot little number but…”

“Chad, just shut up and kiss me.”

Without another word, his mouth closed over hers. She panted into his cheek, trying to control the raw desire that tore through her but gave up when a moan escaped. Having felt isolated for so long, his arms provided a haven. Her tongue danced over his, tasting wine but receiving another exhilaration that sang through her.

He dragged his mouth off hers, “Shit, Dana! You’re driving me nuts. If we don’t stop this…”

“I don’t want you to stop! I want you!”

He lifted her and carried her to his bed but set her on it with a reserved look, “Are you sure about…?”

She leapt into his arms, letting her passionate kiss speak instead of words. He broke it to rip his shirt over his head, displaying massive shoulders and chest that made her jaw drop, “Jesus! Is the rest of you…?”

He laughed, “I’m not ruining it. Come here and find out.”

Her clothes hit the floor, causing his eyebrows to fly up, “Well, not everything’s tiny on you.”

Lifting her size-Cs, she grazed his chest with her nipples and landed flat on her back with his mouth on her nipple. She gasped as he skated down her, tugging at her nipples while licking his way to her clit. Her ragged cry split the air as she tugged at his hair, “Come here! I want to feel you in…!”

She gasped as he rolled her clit with his tongue before lightly nipping with his teeth, sending her over the edge. She grabbed the sheets, “Chad… please!”

His finger thrust inside her as he pushed his shorts off and bit his way back up to her nipples. She clawed his shoulders, eagerly wiggling under him and begging. His cock raked over her before she reached for him. He pulled her hand up and trapped it beside her, whispering into her neck, “Your pussy is really tight and I am well-hung so, if I hurt you, please tell me.”

Amusement flitted over his face at her expression of surprise before he guided his cock to her slit. Her eyes widened at his girth before he sank inside, collapsing all her thoughts as her back heaved off the bed.

He froze but she panted out, “Oh, God… don’t stop!”

He plunged inside as she twisted under him. Trying to drag air into lungs that were already full as her heels pushed at the covers. He froze again, cursing in her neck, “Shit, you’re fucking tight!”

She clenched around him as he flexed inside her, begging him to fuck her. His hips curled before he grabbed hers and ground her against him. She gushed on him, queefing as climactic waves sent her mind and body reeling. Pushing her up the bed with each thrust, he cursed again as his cock jerked deep inside her.

She seized under him, writhing with each pulsed. His mouth slammed onto hers as her body went limp, lifting her to him as he rolled onto his back. Her fingernails bit into his muscular chest as she panted against his cheek, clenching uncontrollably as he pumped into her.

He broke the kiss and rolled them off the bed, lifting her while still speared on him to carry into the shower. He set her on her feet in the shower, grinning down at her. She rested her forehead on his chest, gazing at his cock before looking up, “Now that’s a fucking fire hose!”

He laughed and pushed her under the spray, blushing even though a bit of arrogance hit his eyes. After washing, he motioned toward his bed, “You know, my sister snores. You might want to join me.”

She grinned, “And you don’t snore?”

He shrugged, “I’m asleep so I have no idea.”

Her eyes narrowed, “No one has ever complained that you snored?”

“Dana, I’ve never slept the entire night with a woman.”

“Nuh-uh!”

He shook his head, “You’d be my first. You can tell me in morning.”

Her mouth opened before she snapped it shut, “Okay.”

After leaving the shower, she snuggled into his arms as he turned the TV on but fell asleep almost immediately. She awoke to the smell of coffee but he wasn’t in bed.

Staggering into the kitchen and rubbing her eyes, she immediately encountered a grinning Rose, “Do you drink coffee?”

Dana nodded, “Do you need help with anything? I can make a killer omelet.”

Chad turned with the coffee cup, “How do you like it… um… your coffee?”

She quickly took the cup, “Very sweet with lots of creamer.”

He nodded and handed her his cup, “Try this and tell me what you think.”

She took a sip, “Wow… that’s good.”

“Mmm… hmm. Appears that we have even more in common. You say you can cook an omelet. Anything else?”

Her eyes narrowed, “I avoid toast. Why?”

Rose slowly turned, pointing the spatula at her brother, “He burns the shit out of toast without even turning the toaster on. What’s your excuse?”

Dana picked her jaw up from the floor and grinned, “I can burn the house down without turning the toaster on.”

He laughed, “Dana, you can stay as long as you like.”

After they settled down to eat, Rose asked if she could use Chad’s car to pick up a duplicate key from the dealership and he nodded. Glancing at her shirt, she asked, “Do you have any of my things left over from my previous stay here?”

He pointed to the ceiling, “Attic.”

After they ate, she hurried to the hall and up the stairs only to return shortly with a box and wearing a wide grin, “Dana, I’ve gained a bit of weight since I was living here so a lot of these might fit you instead of me. Do you want to give them a look?”

She eagerly nodded as Rose pulled an outfit out and darted into their bedroom. Dana pulled out a pair of shorts as Rose reappeared, “I’ll be back shortly.”

After Rose left, he pulled Dana to him, “Damn, you smell good.”

She grinned, “It’s your soap.”

“I’m not talking about the soap.”

She leisurely leaned back to see the heated look on his face. She slowly kissed him and tried not to squirm in his arms. A rumble went through him as he turned and sat her on the counter, breaking the kiss to say against her mouth, “Girl, you have my head all fucked up.”

“It’s okay. Same here.”

His eyebrows flew up, “Really?”

She nodded, trying to will her blush to go away. His finger caressed her cheek as he studied her face before admitting, “I don’t want to get hurt.”

She nodded, “Me neither.”

His eyes dropped to her lips before he gave her a kiss that spoke volumes. Her fingers fisted in his T-shirt while she was prepared to climb right up him. He broke the kiss and said in astonishment, “For a tiny thing, you pack quite a punch!”

Before they could say more, Rose popped in the door, “I need someone to follow me to the apartments so I can pick up my car.”

They quickly retrieved Rose’s vehicle before hitting the nearest grocers where both learned they had even more tastes in common. By the time they arrived back at his place, Dana’s head was in the clouds with fantasies that had her stomach tumbling with nerves.

Every brush of his fingers over hers and heated glance seemed to unbelievably shoot their sexual tension higher until there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that tonight would be hotter than hell in summertime. Rose had even made plans with a friend to ‘go shopping’ after they arrived home but drew Dana aside to tell her, “I’m staying over at a friend’s tonight. You guys need some time without a guest… you get me?”

Dana giggled as her face reddened, “Yeah. Hey… what did you tell him about what I said to you?”

She shook her head, “Nothing. We may be close but I wouldn’t do that. His business is his business and the same goes for you.”

Dana’s eyes widened, “Oh. Okay, thanks.”

With a knowing glance, Rose called a goodbye over her shoulder and hit the door. As darkness fell, Dana nervously asked, “Do you want me to get those steaks ready?”

“I have some work to do so let them marinade for a bit in the fridge. I actually volunteer at the fire department. I’m a computer programmer. Want to see something?”

She eagerly nodded so he led her into his office and pulled up a chair before logging into his computer. She watched as he rapidly worked at finding a glitch and grinned when he barked, “Ah… there it is!”

He swiftly corrected it, leaving her frowning at the screen before he shrugged, “That’s what I do.”

Not understanding but impressed anyway by his satisfied demeanor, she asked, “So, you don’t get paid for fighting fires?”

He shook his head, “I get paid enough through this. I just like fighting fires and they need all the help they can get.”

“Have you ever thought of becoming a fire fighter?”

He laughed, “I am a fire fighter. I just volunteer my services. I went through training to be qualified. I chose not to opt for that route. I like computer programming and it’s more lucrative in pay.”

She nodded as he motioned toward the kitchen, “Those steaks should be good now. Do you know how to fire a propane grill or will you blow my house up?”

She laughed, “You might want to operate the grill. I’ll grab the meat.”

A gleam slammed into his eyes as the sexual tension shot up, causing her face to reddened, “…the steaks!”

He pulled her up with a laugh, “Oh… you can grab any of my meat any time. It’s all good.”

The minute their throaty tones hit the air, her breath hung and an ache shot straight through her. She grabbed his shirt, “Chad, you’re driving me nuts here.”

He nodded as a wild look flew over his face and pulled her to him. She scrambled into his arms and forgot all about the steaks. The only hunger she needed to feed was for him. His frantic movements were all the communication she needed.

Amidst their curses, clothing hit the floor until both were rolling over them. She heaved under him, desperately begging for him but was hell-bent on tasting every inch of him. Since he held the advantage in strength, she writhed under him while helplessly panting as he drove her desire off the charts.

Crazed and desperate for him, she wailed, “Chad, please! I want to taste…”

He licked his way from her clit to her nipples, driving into her, “You can taste later! I want your pussy now!”

She dragged nails down his arm as her body went limp. He cradled her to him and moaned raggedly over her lips, “Damn, Dana, what’d you do to me?”

She gazed at the emotions flying over his face, “Same thing you did to me! Set my blood on fire!”

She grabbed his face and kissed him hard, grinding her hips into his as his eyes widened. Shoving a hand into her hair, he groaned in her mouth as his cock jerked inside her. She whimpered as he deepened the kiss while her hips bucked under him.

He lifted her off the floor and carried her into his bedroom before toppling them both onto the bed. Rising above her but still embedded deep within, he said, “I’ve never asked another woman to move in with me but here goes…”

“Yes!”

His jaw dropped while she bit her lip. He took her face in his hands as emotions flitted across his but, seeing his reluctance, she said it first, “Yeah… that ‘L word’ is on the tip of my tongue and I don’t mean ‘like’.”

He grinned and hugged her to him, “That’s a fucking relief! I’m so glad you’re a fan of lasagna too!”

She slapped his back, giggling as he rumbled with laughter. He lifted her off the bed and, while walking to the shower, said, “I’m a wimp at heart when it comes to that word.”

She whispered, “I love you,” over his lips, causing a wide smile to appear but he responded, “Ditto.”

Her eyes narrowed, “You’ve never said that to anyone, have you?”

“Sure I have. My family.”

She rolled her eyes but he grew serious, “We just need to slow down a bit here. Give me today. We’ll have lasagna tomorrow.”

She laughed but nodded, realizing by his expression that he felt the same but was really too scared to say the words.

After they showered and ate steaks, they tumbled back into bed where she announced, “It’s my turn to drive you over the edge.”

“Dana, the minute you panicked your way down my ladder from the apartment…”

Grinning, she bit her way down his stomach and breathed over his cock, “Allow me to climb this ladder!”