Page 19 of Always Heated

I attempt to pull my hand away, but Travis keeps it firmly in his. Darcy answers for us. “Cassidy’s birthday. Remember? Uncle Travis said she was getting married.”

“That’s true, I did say that,” he confirms, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.

Pop lets out a hearty laugh. “Can’t say I didn’t see this coming a mile away. Caleb and I called it when you came back from the fire academy. Should’ve taken bets, but Cay would’ve won.”

“You what?” I squeak.

Pop ignores me. “Now, who wants to make themselves useful and take the potatoes out of the oven?”

“I do!” Darcy leaps into action beating all of us to it.

Travis is hot on her heels with mitts. “Hold on there, sweetheart. You’ll need these.” Instead of doing it himself, he slipsthe mitts onto her hands and helps her take the tray out of the oven. “Steady, now. It’s not a race. We don’t want to spill.” He guides her to the counter, and she sets it down. “Great job! Now, let’s turn off the oven.” Explaining to her what each of the knobs do, he shows her how to turn the oven off. “Every oven is different. On this one, and the one at your house, if you see this light on, it means the oven is hot. If Mommy and Daddy aren’t cooking, and you see it’s on, you need to tell them, okay?”

Darcy nods and they gather plates for all of us. How have I not seen this side of him before? Was he always this patient and sweet with the kids?

Caleb leans in to whisper, “If this doesn’t work out, I’m picking Travis.” I shove him with my elbow and he chuckles. “I’m serious. I love him like family. He’s a good man, Cass. He deserves someone who puts him first.”

“Travis isn’t a rebound,” I insist, though he’s right. I’m stringing two men along when I’m not returning either of their feelings.

“Good,” he grumbles. Darcy comes bouncing over and Cay praises, “You’re such a great helper.” She beams at him, wrapping her arms around him. I remember the day Ingrid found out she was pregnant with Darcy, like it was yesterday. So much has changed for them, but my life has remained the same.

We prepare our plates and take a seat at the table. When Darcy inquires about what happens after a fire, Travis explains why a construction crew is needed. They are understaffed, and with the bulk of fire season behind us, he will be there for at least a week before he’s needed back at the station.

Everything is so new between us, I’m sad he’s leaving, even if I understand it. My work schedule is equally chaotic, and I hope it isn’t too much for either of us.

After lunch, awkward silence settles between us as we drive back to Travis’ house. I could be the one making it awkward. My brother’s warning is haunting me, and I’m beginning to wonder if I’m good enough for Travis.

“Stay with me tonight?” His words pull me from my spiral.

My brows pinch. “What?”

“Stay with me,” he repeats. “I’m going to be away for a while and?—”

I break out in a fit of laughter. “Don’t I at least get a first date before you get in my pants?”

A boyish grin splits his face as we pull up to his house. Once he parks, he shifts to face me. “As much as I’d love to hear you begging me to fuck you while I spread your thighs wide, feasting on your pussy, we need to take this slow.” I squeeze my legs together, fighting the ache from his suggestion. “If you stay tonight, you can consider it an extended nap.”

“I have to work.”

“Then, regular nap it is.” He gets out of the truck and rounds it to open my door. “This time, you better keep your sex noises to yourself.”

As I hop out, my words tumble from me. “And what if I don’t?”

Travis presses me against the truck door, caging me in. Leaning in, he whispers beside my ear, “I’ll ruin you. You’ll spend the next few weeks feeling empty, counting down the minutes until I’m back so I can fill you again. Your sweetpussy will ache at the mere mention of my name. Donottest me, Cass.”

“Wh-what happened to taking things slow?”

“Oh, we will, no matter how much I want you. Are you ready for me to be the last man you’ll ever sleep with? Until you are, I’m not touching you, because when I finally sink myself inside you, you won’t be the only one who’s ruined.”

As Travis pulls back, his eyes are dark, making a swirl of emotion fester within me. All this talk about ruining me, it’s no wonder he was able to sleep with half the women of Sapphire Lake; I’m moments away from asking him to fuck me against his truck. Except this isn’t a game or a pick up line, he’ll take until I have nothing left to give.

My default is to make light of it. “Well, since none of us wants to be ruined, why don’t I go home to prevent branding of souls.”

“Fuck, I love you.” My eyes widen at his admission, but he doesn’t take it back or address it. Instead, he grabs my hand and drags me toward the front door. “Come on, you’re staying for a few hours and letting me cuddle you until you start work.”

I can't help the laughter that bubbles out of me. “Cuddle me? What the fuck, Travis? First you’re talking about pussy ruining, and now you want to cuddle? I have whiplash!”

Travis only stops long enough to lock the front door and toss his keys on the counter, then I’m being led upstairs to his room. He releases my hand to open his dresser and pulls out two tees and sweatpants, then sets them on top of the dresser. “I never got my shirt back, you know.”

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