Page 76 of The Spark Between Us

“I’d say so.” Braden took in the six different platefuls of cookies, the frosted two-layer cake, a tray of blueberry muffins, and a no-yeast bread loaf and smiled, leaning his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry I worried you. It’s my job, but I told you I’m always careful.”

“I know. Thank you for being careful. And thank you for coming back.” I kissed him deeply, lovingly, almost like I could pour everything I felt about him into a kiss. And what I felt was…love.

He scooped me up in his arms and carried me up the stairs, nuzzling my neck as he walked. “I still need that shower, and I’m bringing you with me. And then we’re both going to get some sleep.”

Cradled in his arms, I had no doubt about my feelings.

I love him.

I couldn’t tell him—it broke every rule we had—but at least I could be honest with myself. And tomorrow, I’d do everything in my power to make those feelings go away. They didn’t fit into our scenario. We were a good time, living in the present. We weren’t forever. If I told myself that enough times, I’d have no choice but to accept it.

But for now, I could wrap myself in his warmth, grateful he’d come back alive.

“There was no way I wasn’t coming back here to you.” He turned on the shower and tipped his forehead against mine. “You’re what kept me going while I was out there tonight. The thought of feeling you wrapped around me like this.”

The heat in his eyes was almost feral. Fighting fires—facing the nearness of death—brought out a hunger in him I hadn’t seen before. Pure physical need.

And here I was having feelings.

I’d broken my own rules. I needed to get a grip on my head and shore up my heart before it was broken too.

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