Page 10 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

He steps back, still not saying a word and lets me pass. He shuts the door then walks to the chair and sits down, taking a sip from his glass. The liquid is tan and the ice cubes clink around and I know he’s taking today hard. His eyes never leave mine though. He watches my every move as I move closer to him in the room and sit down on the couch opposite his chair.

“How’s Ted?” I ask.

“Fine. Resting at home.”

“I met Jace when he picked him up. He’s a very sweet kid.”

He nods.

And there’s more silence as I actively try not to stare at his chest.

I clear my throat. “How are you?”

“Fine.”

“Are you sure?”

He takes another sip of his drink. “Are you a therapist now?”

“I do think I give good advice.”

He smirks. “Can’t follow it for shit, though.”

I let out an exasperated laugh. “Oh Ryan, I didn’t come here to fight with you.”

“What’d you come here for then?”

I watch him. Though he appears relaxed in the chair, his body is tense. He’s got a slight buzz going on and he’s probably conflicted in how he’s feeling about me. But I want this, I want all of this. I want him to feel every emotion and I want him to tell me about it. If it’s through snarky comments or questions that opens dialogue, I want it.

“I came to check on you. I know today was hard.”

He’s quiet for the longest time and just when I think he’s going to tell me to leave, he nods and says, “It was hard. I’ve seen a lot during my time as a fireman, but I’ve never had someone get hurt on my watch while I’m chief.” He leans forward in the chair, his forearms resting on his thighs. “I wasn’t even there. And I should have been. They said it was a two-alarm fire so I didn’t bother, knowing they could handle it.”

He drops his head and shakes it lightly. I move from the couch to kneel on the floor next to him. I cautiously lay my hand on his bicep. “From what Ted told me, it wouldn’t have mattered if you were there. It was an accident, Ryan.”

He still doesn’t pick his head up and I let my fingers glide down his arm to his forearm before I drop my hand to my lap.

He picks his head up, defeat in his eyes. “I hated you for leaving.”

My breath leaves me in a rush and I feel my eyes well with tears. But crying won’t help this right now. He’s filled with emotions and just as I hoped, he’s letting them out.

“I hated myself for leaving.” I inch even closer to him and squeeze his hand. “I thought I was doing the right thing but…” My words linger in the air because even now, I don’t know what I thought I was proving by leaving. I was scared to commit to one place. I just thought there was more life for me to find and experience.

But all the life I needed was right here in Love Beach.

His hair hangs loosely over his forehead and I brush it from his face. The touch of it immediately takes me back to all the times I ran my fingers through it or gripped it tight while he went down on me.

“But what?”

I shake my head and let my fingers brush his shoulder, I trace the freckles on his arm then move back up to squeeze his bicep again. I always loved to hold onto his strong arms while he thrusted above me. My eyes linger on his skin and my heart beats faster in my chest.

“But I was wrong.”

Our eyes connect again and then he’s kissing me. It happens so fast I don’t even realize he’s cupped my face and has captured my lips. I try to catch my breath and he only uses it to invade my mouth, sweeping his tongue inside, causing my body to feel like it’s on fire.

From just one kiss.

We lick and nibble and bite bottom lips and then he’s panting, resting his forehead against mine. His hands massage the space between my neck and collarbone. I close my eyes and let my body sway with each touch. This is what I came for. I needed to feel him, hear his words, taste his kiss.

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