Page 19 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

“You told me tha?—”

“But I didn’t say why.” His lips roll in and he looks at me.

I sigh. “I imagine it was the same reason I wanted you to come with me. But I was being selfish.”

“We both were.” He pauses. “But I’m afraid to go back to that place again.”

“I think we’ve reversed our roles right now,” I chuckle and he smiles.

“How so?”

“I think I’m right where you were when you asked me to stay. And I think you’re as scared as I was to say yes right now.”

His eyes drop from mine and the room swells with silence, until he says, “So what do we do about it?”

“You let me in.” He raises a brow at my declaration. “And I mean it Ryan. You have to let me show you. This is on me. There was a lot that was taken for granted in our short time but it makes it no less real. Time means nothing except for when we weren’t together. That was too long. So I’m here now, and you’re going to let me show you how it can be different now. How good it can be,we can be,now.” I grab his hand and link our fingers. “But I need something from you. I need words. I need you to not be afraid.”

“I wasn’t afraid then.”

“No you weren’t, but my leaving has changed your feelings.”

“No—”

“Yes. I see it and it’s okay.”

He watches me for the longest time and I’m afraid that I’ve over shared. I’m afraid I’ve pushed too much too quickly. But then he says, “My feelings haven’t changed but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about letting myself go all in again.” He takes a big breath and lets it out slowly. “I’ll agree to let you show me, if you do the same. Let me pick up where we left off. Let me remind you how good it can be and let’s both get to the same spot together.”

I close my eyes as my body hums becausefuck.I want to be reminded so hard.

He barks a laugh shaking his head. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

“What?”

He stands. “And this is how I know you’ve had one too many. You just spoke your thoughts out loud.” My eyes widen and I pullmy knees in tight. He leans down to kiss my forehead but I grab his hand, keeping him close.

“That's not wine talking. That'sneed.”

The room becomes charged instantly, his eyes darken and he whispers. “What do you need?”

“You.” I capture his lips just like he did to me the other night, pulling him down to the couch with me once again. His hands grab my waist and he pulls me onto his lap. I go willingly, throwing my leg over, straddling him. His hands come to the small of my back under my shirt dancing along my skin and I buck into him. We always did this well.

“Are you sure?” he speaks against my lips.

I pull back and look him in the eye. “Listen to me when I say this, Ryan. I needed you from the moment we met. I just couldn’t see past how to keep it.” I lick his bottom lip and feel how hard he is beneath me.

“Can I touch you?” I nod to his question and he closes his eyes. “I need to see you fall apart on my hand, Maddie.”

My body is eager for him and my mind races with thoughts remembering how he felt. “No, I need your dick,” I whine. “You said we’re picking up where we left off.”

He scoffs. “You’ll get it. But not tonight. So it’s your choice. My hand or nothing.”

“Why won’t you stay?”

“Because I want you to be sure this time.”

I grind harder on him, hoping to change his mind and say, “I hate that you’re the rational one.”

He smooths his hand over my waist before cupping my breast and it makes me gasp. I haven’t been touched in so long.

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