Page 77 of The Firefighter's Fate

We are kissing...

Oh, God. We’re actually kissing.

The tension between us around the fire just then before I boldly sauntered over to him was so taunt. It was like a pulled string that needed to be cut otherwise we both would’ve gone mad.

So, this is what everything has been leading up to?

All that tit-for-tat throwing insults... all those arguments every day at the fire station... all that hot and cold between us...

For this?

For this moment, under the stars in the woods, where there’s no one else around?

Up until I kissed Connor – and when he kissed me back – I honestly didn’t know if he actually liked me.

But now I know. For sure.

Yeah, by the passionate, lustful, devouring way he’s kissing me back, I definitely know...

And, finally, our first kiss breaks.

“Wow,” I whisper.

“Wow,” Connor whispers back knowingly. He winks at me, the cheeky bastard.

“I should’ve guessed that was coming,” I say, breathless.

“I should’ve guessed it too,” he replies.

“You did bring me out here... all on my own... what else should I have thought...”

“Shut up and kiss me again, Ember.”

I slowly lean back down and do exactly what he asks of me.

I can’t believe we’re doing this.

But, oh, how I’m loving it.

“How about we go inside?” he suggests quietly in that damn deep voice of his.

I just nod to that proposal. I can’t resist him. I have no witty retort - no cheeky comment to throw his way.

And then I squeal as, with my approval, Connor suddenly lifts my entire body in the air and carries me over his shoulder effortlessly to the cabin.

“You big brute,” I remark sassily.

The firefighter simply laughs until we’re over his bed.

And then he throws me on top.

I bounce on the mattress with a giggle. I can’t help but admire how strong the man truly is – how he was able to carry me over like that without a single drop of sweat.

I can’t help but look up and admire those muscles that carried me... those biceps... those forearms...

“Like what you see?” Connor asks me.

Damn, he’s noticed my wandering eyes, and not for the first time...

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