Page 105 of Living with Fire

“Dad,” Connor responds firmly. Byron turns to look at his son, and Connor nods towards the door, using a tone that implies he shouldn’t argue. “Let’s go get some lunch.”

“What’s gotten into you? Savanna’s awake, and you want to leave?” Devin asks, frowning, before Byron has a chance to reply.

Connor throws his hands up in the air, the frustration evident. “Yes, Savanna is finally awake, and we’ve said hi. Now we can go so that our sister and her boyfriend can have a minute alone.” He glances my way and shoots me a wink. “Pretty sure Nate doesn’t want to be kissing her with the three of us around, so why don’t we make ourselves scarce for a while?”

I can feel the heat climbing up my neck and into my face. He’s not wrong, but Christ, way to throw me to the wolves. “No, it’s okay, you don’t need to leave.”

“Yes, please go. I’d really like a kiss,” Savanna says at the same time.

The two of us look at each other and laugh, though I’m the first to sober, clearing my throat as I remember our audience.

“Really, you don’t need to leave,” I tell them, shaking my head. “You’ve all traveled so far to be here with her.”

“Dad,” Savanna says, ignoring my remark. “I promise later on I’ll kick everyone out, including Nate, and you and I can sit together and talk alone.” She glances up at her brothers next, adding, “I’m getting tired anyway. I don’t think it’ll be long before I’m passing out again. Go for lunch, and when you get back, I’ll be good as new.”

It doesn’t take much more convincing after that. The three men shuffle out after they each give Savanna a kiss on the forehead, offering to bring both of us back something. Connor makes sure I also hear him say I owe him one. I can’t deny it. The guy is looking out for me.

I’ve been dying to kiss her for days, especially after her declaration last night, and then her waking up this morning. It wasn’t how I wanted to hear her say it for the first time, but I know why she did it. She didn’t know if she was going to survive, and she wanted me to know before she went. It killed me she couldn’t hear me say it back to her.

I never should have waited to tell her how I felt. I should have told her as soon as I realized, but I didn’t want to scare her away. She’d already been through so much, could spook so easily, I thought holding onto the words would be better. Plus, I didn’t want it to have anything to do with Vincent. After the last couple of days, however, I’ve come to the realization that it doesn’t matter what’s going on in our lives, if I love her, and I do, she needs to know it.

With her family gone, it’ll be a lot easier to tell her everything that’s been sitting in my heart, waiting for this chance.

Connor is hardly out the door when she tugs on my hand to pull my attention to her. I turn to find her smiling at me, waiting expectantly for the kiss we both want. Need. I surpassed want the second I knew she was gone from the firehouse.

Still holding her hand, I stand from the chair and move to the edge of the bed, lowering myself to it beside her. I take note of those gray eyes, tired but shining with happiness that she’s here, awake, alive, and I know that mine mirror hers.

Lifting my hand to her face, I brush my fingers along her jawline, then tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. I didn’t know it was possible for my heart to feel like it’s grown immeasurably because of another human, but here I am. So fucking in love with this woman, the last couple of days have nearly killed me. Just seeing her eyes open has me on cloud nine.

I honestly don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost her.

“I know, but I’m okay,” she whispers, squeezing my fingers. I wonder if I said the words out loud, or if the emotion is just conveyed by the look I’m giving her. “I’m sorry for putting you through that.”

“Shh,” I murmur, shaking my head before the words are out of her mouth. “Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

Now Savanna is shaking her head at me. “But I’m not. I won’t be until you kiss me.”

That makes me chuckle.

Leaning in, I bring both hands to her face to cup it, my lips tenderly brushing across hers. It’s soft and sweet. I don’t intend to turn it into anything else, but Savanna has different ideas, the gentle kiss not enough for her.

Moving towards me, she groans so I gently push her back to the bed, my lips becoming harder against hers. When I tilt her head she complies easily, opening to me, sighing into my mouth as my tongue sweeps into the warm crevice of hers. She tastes like mint from the mouthwash she used after she first woke up, and I wonder if she was thinking ahead to this inevitable moment.

It’s a long, languid kiss, one I’m sure we’ll repeat a few times before she falls asleep, but I finally ease back, breaking our lips apart. I smile at the dreamy appearance on her face, her eyes opening to reveal a dazed look. I’m not sure if it’s from the kiss or the medication, but I’m going to choose to believe it was the former.

“You okay now?” I question with amusement.

“Feeling much better, but you should probably do that a few more times, just to be on the safe side,” she says, grinning. I can tell it hurts when she winces, her expression falling. “How bad is it?”

I frown. “How bad is what?”

She shifts uncomfortably, her gaze dropping. Quietly, she clarifies, “My face.”

I rub my thumbs gently along her cheekbones, my fingertips dancing along her jawline. I take in the clear parts of her skin, the bruises that mar the skin beneath her eyes, and the angry red lines from the gashes on either side of her head. There’s one above her temple, the other below her hairline, glue holding both wounds together.

Sighing contentedly, my lips crook upward as I take in all the different parts of her. “You’re more beautiful than the day I saw you checking me out in that elevator .”

Her eyes roll, but at least they lift back to mine. “Nate, seriously.”

---