Page 11 of Sparks Fly

The seconds seem to blur into one dizzying, scorching haze as she ventures through the heart of the rapidly consuming inferno. Her pulse roaring in her ears is almost loud enough to drown out the bone-shaking screech of the crumbling structure.

Finally making it across the charred rubble, she stoops to grab the trapped dog in a blind rush, hissing when a shard of wood stabs at her gloved palm.

“Easy there, buddy,” she murmurs as she slips her own mask free and holds it over the dog’s muzzle giving him air. “I’ve got you now, you’re gonna be just fine.”

With a gentleness that seems at odds with the sheer power of her frame, Kaia carefully scoops the quaking pet into her arms, keeping him swathed in the folds of her coat. She has to get them out of here fast before the flaming debris raining down around them blocks their path.

A deafening crack explodes over her head, and she instinctively curls herself over the dog’s trembling form as a jagged chunk of plaster crashes onto the space she had occupied only moments ago.

Chest heaving against the toxic smoke, Kaia shoves off at a desperate sprint, following the path back out she had forged on her way in.

Every bone in her body screams in protest against the blistering heat, but the precious cargo whimpering in her arms keeps her bolting forward with her remaining strength.

At last, Kaia bursts back into the smoke-hazed daylight, gulping down cleaner air in deep, convulsive gasps. But no sooner does she stumble from the red-hazed danger zone than a furious shout rings out and a blurred figure storms towards her.

Hallie’s electric eyes seem to bore directly through Kaia’s very soul. Without another word she knows that the look on her lieutenant’s face doesn’t bode well at all.

Kaia barely has time to carefully hand the wounded pup to a paramedic before Hallie is on her, grabbing her roughly by the bicep and dragging her to the relative safety of the sidewalk.

“What the hell were you thinking, Montgomery?!” The lieutenant’s shout makes Kaia wince, while the tumultuous mix of fury and terror plastered on Hallie’s face takes her aback. “You never, NEVER enter a burning building without backup and a goddamn plan! We never go alone!! You could have been killed in there!”

Despite the blistering heat still pulsing from the flames at her back, Kaia feels an icy chill lance through her at the raw anguish contorting Hallie’s beautiful features. She opens her mouth to defend herself, to insist that she had no choice but to save the helpless animal. But Hallie’s hands tighten on her shoulders, giving her a rough shake that rattles Kaia to her core.

“I don’t want to hear it! You completely flouted protocol and put your own life at risk!” Hallie’s chest heaves with the force of her tirade. “Get your ass back on the truck. Now!”

With that, the lieutenant releases her grip and storms away, barking orders at the rest of the crew still working to fully contain the blaze. Kaia stands rooted to the spot for a long moment, her heart jackhammering against her ribs as she watches Hallie’s retreating form.

Swallowing hard against the acrid taste of smoke and shame, Kaia slowly makes her way back to the engine, every muscle aching with fatigue and the aftershocks of adrenaline. She passes the rest of the crew without a word, jaw clenched as she stares straight ahead, not daring to meet their no doubt smug stares.

The ride back to the station is thick with silent tension, broken only by the occasional crackle of the radio. Kaia can feel Hallie’s molten glare boring into the side of her head from the seat next to her but refuses to acknowledge it, her pride still smarting from being dressed down like an errant child in front of the rest of the crew.

It’s not until they’ve arrived back at the station and the rest of the guys have filed out of the vehicle that Hallie finally breaks the suffocating silence between them.

“Locker room. Now,” she grits out, not even sparing Kaia a glance as she jumps down from the cab and slams the door with enough force to rattle Kaia’s teeth.

Heart in her throat, Kaia follows after her, steeling herself for the impending confrontation. She finds Hallie pacing like a caged tiger in front of the lockers, hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. As soon as Kaia shuts the door to their female-only safe zone, Hallie rounds on her, eyes flashing.

“Do you have any idea how stupid that little stunt was? What were you trying to prove back there?”

Kaia bristles at the scathing accusation in Hallie’s tone, her own temper flaring to life. “I was trying to save a life! Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”

“Not at the expense of your own!” Hallie takes a menacing step forward, crowding into Kaia’s space until they’re practically nose to nose. The charged energy crackling between them is so intense Kaia swears she can taste it on her tongue.

“You are not invincible, Montgomery. I don’t care how badly you want to be the hero. You follow protocol or you’ll get yourself killed!”

“Why do you even care so much? It’s my life to risk!” The words explode from Kaia’s lips before she can stop them, her fists clenched at her sides to keep from reaching up and clasping Hallie’s face.

For a moment, Hallie looks as if Kaia had struck her. Something agonized and raw flashes across her face, there and gone again in an instant. When she speaks again, her voice is deadly soft.

“You’re under my command. Your safety is my responsibility. And I’ll be damned if I let you throw your life away on my watch just to prove you have balls.”

They stare at each other for a seemingly endless moment, chests heaving and pulses roaring in the suffocating silence between them.

This time, there’s no one to interrupt them as Kaia fists the front of Hallie’s shirt and hauls her against her body. Their lips collide in a frenzied kiss, Hallie crowding Kaia back into the wall of lockers behind her.

Greedily exploring Hallie’s body with slightly trembling hands, Kaia reaches the lieutenant’s waist and immediately yanks her shirt free from the confines of her belt. She releases a satisfied groan as her fingers make contact with Hallie’s sweat-slicked skin, consumed by the thrill of finally crashing through the barrier that had held them both back.

“Whatever you’re thinking, we don’t have time,” Hallie whispers through a breathless chuckle. “The guys will be showered and gathered for the debriefing soon.”

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