Page 13 of The Firefighter's Angel
Heat floods my face, but I don’t argue. I just…let him. Let myself sink into the warmth of his chest, the steady beat of his heart under my cheek.
He carries me straight to the door, kicks it open, and steps inside like he’s bringing home something precious.
We’re greeted immediately by the excited yips and barks of a medium-sized mutt with brown shaggy fur. “Hey, girl,” Daniel greets her, setting me down gently on the couch.
“This is Lucy,” he tells me as I eagerly give the dog some attention, scratching behind her ears. “I found her in the woods a few years back, just a puppy with a broken leg. Took her home and, well…I knew it was meant to be.”
I grin at him, gesturing to my own injuries as Lucy jumps up to lick my face. “Oh, so you have a thing for picking up strays?”
He scowls, but there’s something soft in his eyes. “Only the ones I want to keep.”
I blush and pull my gaze away from his. The cabin smells like cedar and smoke. It’s cozy in the best possible way, vaulted ceilings with thick wooden beams, a stone fireplace already crackling, soft leather couches, a big rug that looks as soft as clouds.
I blink. “Wow…this is…seriously nice.”
“Thanks.” He moves to the kitchen to fill up Lucy’s bowl, calling back, “Built it myself.”
My eyes widen. “Wait. You built this? Like…with your own hands?”
He chuckles. “Yeah. It took a couple years. Hauled most of the lumber in by hand. The rest with the truck. Ain’t much out here unless you make it yourself.”
“That’s…incredible.” And I mean it. Something about the thought of him out here in the wild, hammer in hand, building this perfect little sanctuary with nothing but determination and those sexy muscular arms of his… My stomach does a weird little flip.
“You hungry?” he asks, coming back into the living room and tossing another log on the fire.
I shake my head. “Not really. Still full from stealing your lunch.”
A grin tugs at the corner of his mouth. “Didn’t steal nothin.’ I gave it to you.”
Lucy disappears into the kitchen to eat her dinner, wagging her tail, and I watch as Daniel throws a thick quilt down by the fireplace, then grabs two more pillows from the couch. He lowers himself to the ground and pats the space next to him.
“Come sit with me, darlin’.”
I don’t even hesitate. I slip down off the couch and curl up beside him, pulling my legs under me.
“God, this place…” I breathe, looking around again. “I’ve always loved the mountains. Ever since I was a kid. They feel like…I don’t know. Like they’re calling me. Like I belong here.”
Daniel glances at me, his gaze soft, studying me like I’m a puzzle he wants to figure out. “Yeah,” he says after a beat. “I get that.”
“You do?”
“Mm-hm.” He leans back on one elbow. “Spent most of my life trying to figure out where the hell I fit. I didn’t really find it until I came out here. Built this. Started working the fire line. Out here, fighting the wild…it’s simple. Makes sense.”
I chew my lip. “What did you do…? Before?”
He stiffens a little, then sighs. “I was in the Army.” His jaw ticks, and his gaze drifts toward the fire. “It was a jungle. I saw things…lost people. Let’s just say I didn’t come out the same.”
The heaviness in his voice makes my chest ache. At that moment, I see a part of him I’m sure he doesn’t reveal often. A vulnerable, broken part of him…and suddenly I want to console him.
Without thinking, I lean in and place my lips on his. His body stiffens for a second, then he deepens the kiss with a throaty moan. His hand cups the back of my neck, fingers sliding up into my hair as he devours my mouth, his tongue sliding over mine in slow, sensuous strokes.
I bury my hands in his shirt, running my palms up his ribs. A deep sound reverberates through him—half moan, half chuckle. Then he pulls back, hastily tugging his shirt off before claiming my mouth again in a searing kiss. I break the kiss, dragging my mouth down the curve of his neck to the ripped muscles of his chest. I plant a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him backward until he’s half lying on the blanket, arms braced to support his weight. I continue to kiss his body slowly, taking my time to savor the involuntary flex of his muscles beneath my lips.
Daniel watches me touch and kiss him, his gaze hooded, filled with an unabashed lust. I continue to run my mouth down his chest to his ribs, until my lips are hovering above his waist band.I place my hand tentatively on the bulge in his pants, then raise my eyes to his and squeeze gently.
“Fucking hell,” Daniel mutters with a tortured expression. He places his hand over mine, gently pressing it against his erection. “You sure you want this, baby?”
“I’m sure. I—I want to make you feel good like you made me feel good earlier.”
