Page 51 of Revived
“That feels nice.” She murmurs, half asleep. I carefully wash her and condition her hair, making sure to comb the conditioner through her wet strands with my fingers. Her breath evens out, and her body completely sags into me.
Thankfully, I have nowhere else to be today other than wrapped up in her.
Chapter twenty-three
Elena Rossi
Jumping around the closet on one foot, I try to strap my heels to no avail. I’m getting ready to accompany Sully to the firefighters ball. Well, if I can get these heels on correctly. My gown is deep plum in color. The floor length satin dress hugs my curves like it was designed specifically for my body. A high halter neck comes up to collar my slender throat while my entire back is bare while a slit runs up to my midthigh. The fabric barely conceals my lower back dimples before dropping down to the floor. It’s tastefully sexy, and I know Sully’s about to choke on his own tongue.
I’ve paired eloquent gold hoops and a delicate bracelet for the evening. My heels are also gold and cup my ankle where they tie at the back, but have you ever tried to tie strappy heels while in a gown that was practically sewn on you? Not easy. My hair is pulled up in a sleek twisted updo. Small tendrils are curled to frame my face perfectly. Only right now I’m about to break out in a sweat trying to get these damn shoes tied.
Accepting defeat, I march out into the living room, where Sully sits on the couch in his Class A’s. He sees me and his jaw drops slightly before he lets out a low whistle.
“Fuck, baby–” He’s cut off by my heeled foot landing directly in the center of his chest. Instinctually his hand wraps around my anklewhile his free hand trails a small indistinguishable pattern on the inside of my calf.
“Can you help me, please?” I huff out in annoyance. Though I will admit that it’s slowly melting away as he continues to run his fingertips up and down my leg.
He looks up at me through his too long eyelashes and smirks while, without another word, he ties the strap in place. I move to pull it from him, but his grip holds me in place while with his eyes still locked on mine, he leans down and places the gentlest kiss to my ankle. Sully finally allows me to trade feet, and he repeats the entire process all over again. After kissing the second ankle and letting me set my foot down, he stands to his full height and adjusts his uniform jacket.
In these heels I’m the perfect height for him to press his lips to my forehead without him having to bend down much. Instinctually, my hands come up to his black tie and fix it for him. He looks so good in his formal uniform that I’m tempted to ask him to play a little before we leave, but then we’d miss it, and he has to be there tonight.
“You’re stunning, Boo.” He hooks his finger under my chin and tips it up until my lips meet his. Like every other time he kisses me, the rest of the world disappears, and all that’s left is him.
The doorbell rings, which pulls us out of our little bubble just before Flynn strides inside wearing a charcoal suit. “We ready?” He asks before he looks at me and whistles low. “Dammit, Elle. What have we told you about wearing shit that’ll make us have to fight motherfuckers in a professional setting.”
I can’t help but laugh and shake my head, “Thanks Flynn. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
Taking my hand Sully grumbles something to Flynn about checking out his future sister-in-law while he leads us out to the limo waiting. Sully hates all of this fanfare, but when his chief told him he wouldbe presented with an award today, he decided to look the part. He keeps his gloves in his hat, which sits in the vacant seat beside him the entire way to the old historic hotel.
Once we pull in front of the huge building that looks like it once was an old bank, Sully leans over and kisses me before pulling on his stark white gloves and placing his hat on to cover his otherwise neatly styled hair. Before he can exit, I pull him back towards me, and using my thumb I wipe off the lipstick that transferred over to his lips. “There. The picture of a perfectly put together firefighter.”
He shoots me a wink before pushing out of the limo and reaching back in to help me out. I thread my arm through his as Flynn follows after me. We move like a well trained unit through the streets and into the building. Flynn, at our back while Sully leads the way until we reach the bar. Once we’re inside and have ordered our drinks, his shoulders relax slightly, and his hand comes up to rest on my lower back. His thumb rubs gently back and forth across my exposed skin.
One of Sully’s station friends comes up on the other side of him. I think it’s Chase Miller. He’s about six feet tall with dark brown hair and whiskey eyes, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s on the tanker. So same shift, but separate apparatus’. He knocks Sully’s shoulder with his. “Hey, Lieutenant. How’s it going?”
“Miller.” Sul nods in his direction.Yep, I was right.“No date tonight?” He makes a show of looking around for someone Chase could have been with.
“Not tonight. You know how it is. Better to fly solo to important stuff like this.”
Flynn has to cough to cover up his laugh, and I can’t help but elbow him in the ribs. Of course his obnoxious reaction draws the gazes of both men.
“Actually, Miller I can’t say that I do. You remember Elena, right?” He gestures to me before nodding at his brother. “And Flynn. They’re at the fire station pretty often.”
“Oh, yeah. Hey guys.” He smiles and waves a gloved hand at us.
I wave back before tuning out his conversation with Sully as I take in the large event space. Round tables litter the left and right sides of the event, with a large stage at the front of the room and a dance floor in the middle of the room. Large chandeliers hang from the ceilings, and the long wooden bar that we’re at is in the back of the room. There are smaller bars on each back corner of the room. The bartender laying down our drinks brings my attention back to the bar. Miller says something to Sul before he nods to him and leaves.
I lift the glass of champagne to my lips and take a small sip. Sullivan leans down until his lips brush my ear. “Are you okay?”
I smile up at him. “Yeah, just taking in the room.”
He’s watching me like he doesn’t quite believe me, which he shouldn’t. I’m feeling a little weird but don’t want to ruin the event for him. I’ll duck into the bathroom and check my Dexcom soon.
The band begins to play the instrumental version of some slow Taylor Swift song and Sully offers me his hand. Without thinking I slip my hand in his and let him lead me on the dance floor. I trust him to lead me anywhere. There’s only a few couples dancing, but I don’t care and apparently neither does Sully.
He brings me to the middle of the room. With one hand placed firmly on the middle of my lower back and the other securing mine, he begins to lead me around the dance floor. I love dancing with him. He used to practice with me all the time between his lessons that he took. We no longer trip over each other's feet or step on toes. Now we glide as if we’re walking on water and move like a well oiled machine.
We dance for a few more songs until we hear Steel wolf whistle at us from across the room. My forehead falls to his shoulder in embarrassment as his chest vibrates with laughter while he presses his lips to the side of my head and grumbles. “He’s such an asshole.”
