Page 24 of Spring Break with a Fire Chief

“I have an option to renew for another year, or an option to buy.” I squeeze his hand. “Or maybe there could be a third option by then?”

His lips roll in before he smiles. “I like the way that sounds.”

I wrap up the remaining lasagna in a to-go container so he can take it for lunch at the firehouse and place it in the fridge. He cleared the table and put our dishes in the dishwasher. It’s all very domestic and again, it’s not making me want to run. It’s showing me how easily we fit together.

“Thank you for tonight. A home cooked meal was just what I needed.”

For some reason hearing him say “home cooked” makes me feel sad. It brings back every hurt I placed on him by leaving. We could have had so many home cooked meals together.

I wipe my hands off on the kitchen rag and lean against the counter. “I’m trying here, Ryan. I’m trying to make up for lost time.”

“I know you are, and you don't have to try so hard, just be you. It’s okay.”

“It’s not. We lost so much time and I?—”

“Maybe it’s not lost. Maybe you’re right on time now.” He moves closer to me, pulling me in tight to him. “Maybe if you had stayed last time, it wouldn’t have been the right time and we would have ended anyway. You may have gotten another call for a travel assignment a month later and needed to leave or you may have felt trapped if you said no. And it would have been that much harder to watch you go.”

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”

“I’m saying it to makemefeel better. Since you left, I’ve been telling myself something went wrong, but if we were meant to be, you’d come back.” He brushes the hair from my face. “And you did.” He kisses my forehead, cupping my face. “But this timeI’ll prepare myself. I’ll take what we have now, I’ll enjoy every minute of it. And I’ll do my damned best to make sure you do, too. And if you choose to go again, if I’m not enough for you, then I’ll know I did my all this time.”

A single tear runs down my cheek and he uses his thumb to brush it away. “You are enough. I shouldn’t have left.”

He shakes his head. “Everything happens for a reason and the world makes sureourtime doesn’t run onitstime. You know that story about the Love Beach lighthouse, right?” I nod remembering the story that Marigold told me. Every year for a few nights, the people gather at the Pier and wait for the lighthouse beams to dance across the dock and disappear into the sky making it appear to rain stars. Folklore tells the town that if the light beam passes over a couple, they are meant to be together forever. It happened to her and Maddox on one of their first dates so she swears by the old story. Ryan continues, “Maybe we needed to be caught in the lights in order to see what was right in front of us.”

“But we never went to the beach during the light show.”

“No, we didn’t. And maybe it’s because I didn’t need a light show to see who I love.”

My eyes close and I lean into him. Hearing him saylove, I know this was hard for him and I need to make it easy this time around.

“Ryan...” His name leaves my lips on a whisper as his hands roam my back, lifting my shirt and his touch on my skin sets me alive. I unbutton his shirt one by one slowly, before brushing it from his broad shoulders and he shrugs out of it, dropping it on the floor. In an instant, he scoops me up bridal style and walks me to my bedroom.

“I hope this isn’t going to be another tease like last night.”

He gives a smug grin and tosses me to the bed. “You got yours last night.”

I shake my head and kneel on the bed, pulling my shirt off. “It wasn’t enough.” He stands rigid in front of me, eyes full of lust, chest on display and hands clenched at his sides. I beckon him closer and when he steps up to the bed, I hook my fingers into the waist of his jeans pulling him close.

“Then by all means, let me give you more.” He nips at my neck and shoulders while I undo the button of his jeans, sliding them down his legs as he steps out. His body is amazing and I run my hands over his abs. He slides my pants over my hips and ass and I fall back and kick them off only for him to spread my legs and kiss his way up my inner thigh. I thread my fingers through his hair and lay back on the bed, allowing him to lick and bite over my panties and up to my waist.

“You are so goddamn beautiful, Madeline.” His touch makes me feel electrified. I’ve missed him so much. He urges me to sit up while he then unhooks my bra and slides the straps down my arms. I let him take it from me and I sit unashamed at how my body has changed in just the few short years since he’s seen me last.

He cups my breasts, rolling my nipples with his thumbs. “You are,” his breath leaves him as he bites his bottom lip, “still the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“You make me feel beautiful, Ryan.”

“Please remember that because what I want to do to you right now? It’s not going to be very gentleman-like, or soft and sensual. It’s going to be beautiful but dirty. We’ve got lots of time to make up for.”

My laugh turns into a moan as he pinches my nipple. “Dirty huh?”

“So fucking dirty.”

He bites at my breast before sucking the spot to ease the sting and threads his hand through my hair. He grips it tight at my neckline holding me in place while tugging at my nipple with histeeth before flicking it quickly with his tongue. Every pass of his tongue has me on edge already. I pull at his boxers sliding them down his thick thighs and my mouth waters at seeing his hard cock spring to attention for me.

“The night you came over, after Ted was burned, and you were kneeling in front of me, the moment you left I went into the shower and jerked off to the thought of your mouth on me.” He lays me down on the bed and climbs over me straddling my chest and gripping his cock, teasing my lips with it. “And after leaving here the other night and still not having your lips on me? I need it, Madeline. I’m dying for you to suck my cock.”

I flick his tip with my tongue and he groans. “Then give it to me, Ryan.” I grip his base and take him in, twirling and sucking as he begins a rhythmic thrust into my mouth. He holds my head as I take him deep down my throat and I gag at his size. I look up at his eyes which are trained on me, his lips slightly parted before they turn into a grin.

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