Page 9 of Birchwood Burn (Black Timber Peak Hotshots #2)

NINE

JACE

The pain in Larissa’s voice when she asked me to keep her gutted me.

After having the hottest moment of my life and then watching my girl crumble in front of me has me wanting to hurt somebody, in particular an ex of some sort, because this is the only explanation.

Her parents and friends are good to her, and her friends did mention she was going through a hard time.

What better way than to go on a trip with your best friends after a breakup?

“I’m sorry. I’m ruining everything, as always.” She’s not full-out crying, but it’s close. I rock her and run my hands along her back, trying to soothe her in any way I can.

“Baby, you’re not ruining anything. As long as I still get to hold you, I’m happy. I just hate that you’re so sad. I want to fix it. Please tell me what’s wrong.”

“This year has been really, really shitty, and now there’s you and you’re perfect and I realized I’m in love with you, which is insane because we just met, but I’ve never felt so safe before.

Or beautiful. Or comfortable in my own skin.

All the shittiness and then all this greatness piled on top of me.

And you were sitting there looking sexy as all hell, with the most glorious cock that I want to suck so badly, and I realized I could.

Which never happens to a girl like me. So it built some more strong emotions.

Then, when you asked what I wanted, it got overwhelming, and my biggest fear slipped out, without me even knowing.

But once I said it, it was like the truth slapped me in the face.

I don’t know what I would do if you left me.

I thought it was bad before, but you have the potential to shatter me.

Which makes no sense. We didn’t even know each other existed a week ago.

And now I’m ruining it. You’re thinking I’m crazy, and you’re going to leave.

But this all makes sense to me as it continues to pile on, one on top of the other.

I get spastic and all in my head and ruin the good things because I don’t trust them now.

But you’re not my ex, you’re a completely different person.

A better person. You fight wildfires and save damsels in distress.

You freaking run through fire. It’s all so much. ”

I work hard to catch every single word of that because she’s doing her adorable rambling bit. It is the cutest thing she does, because she has no filter and says the craziest things. I mean, what man doesn’t want to hear he has a glorious cock? But most importantly, that she loves me too.

I need to be careful with what I say because I can’t get it wrong here.

“Baby, that’s a lot to unpack, so I’m going to go for the most important thing, okay? Later on, we’ll talk about my so-called amazing cock.”

She sniffles and keeps her head buried against my chest. “I said glorious.”

The laughter escapes. It’s unavoidable, but I suppress it.

After a deep breath, I hold for a moment and exhale.

Here goes nothing. “We did only just meet, and so there is something you need to know. I’m a loyal and devoted person.

Once I let you in, you’re in. There’s no getting rid of me.

Especially when it’s somebody I’m in love with.

I’ve never been in love before, but now the reason is clear. I’ve been waiting for you.

She snaps her head up.

I wipe my thumbs on her cheeks to remove the tear streaks there. “It’s true. I was worrying too much about how fast this all is, but I went with it. My sister and her friends fell in love just like this, so I know it’s possible. Shit, I’ve even been looking for job openings in New York.”

Her eyes widen, and I chuckle.

“Yup. I was planning on tracking down your friend Beth to get some more information. At least your phone number. There are two openings in the city right now. I have another week before the posting closes, so I’ve been getting my resume together.

And then you showed up at the firehouse, and it sealed it for me.

You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go.

So I don’t want you ever thinking I’m going to walk away.

I’m physically incapable of doing that. Especially not from you. ”

Her adorable nose is red, and she gives another sniffle, and with the softest voice ever, says, “You were going to move to New York for me?”

“Baby, there’s not a lot I’m not willing to do for you. We’re each other’s favorite place now.”

Without another word, I drop my mouth to hers to show her I love her one more time. She needs to feel it as well as hear it. This kiss differs from all the others. It’s sweet, loving, and shows her I cherish her.

I need some answers, so I lift my head. “Can you tell me what happened with your ex?”

Nodding, she wipes her eyes and tries to pick up her dress, but I stop her. She’s not covering this body up. When we’re alone, it’s all skin all the time. “Don’t you dare cover this up. I thought we established this is mine, and I want to look at it.”

The answer to my wondering about her blushes from the day we first met to now is finally answered as I watch it flush down her neck, to her breasts, and I kiss each nipple, before sitting us on the couch.

She tells me about her one and only boyfriend and everything he did, and what happened after she lost her job. How hard she was working to make things work, and the whole time the bastard was cheating on her after being together for years.

I’m itching to go to New York now and pay a visit to this Howard. Explain to him what a real man is.

“So, as you can tell, things have been terrible this year. And being on the mountain, I decided, yup, of course, this is the icing on the cake. But you showed up and changed everything.” She smiles at me and interlocks our fingers.

“Damn straight I did, and I’ve never been so thankful for a wildfire in my life.” She gives me a look. “I know. It’s horrible, but it doesn’t make it any less true. I might not have ever met you, and to me, that’s an even bigger tragedy.”

“We are horrible people because I’m the same way.”

“Nope, just two people madly in love.” I kiss her again, because now that I can, I won’t ever stop.

“Oh, about the move to New York. That’s not happening.”

I lean back so I can watch her face better. “What?”

“I hate New York. I’m not a city girl at all. And my friend Beth offered for me to move in with her while I get my freelance marketing business going. Having you here now, it’s what I want to do.”

“Seriously?” I won’t have to leave my mountain.

She nods and says, “Yup.” Putting an extra pop on the p.

“Damn, this is even better news. I get my girl and keep my mountain.” I go for a kiss before I stop myself. “Only one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You’re not moving in with Beth, you’re moving in with me. I’ve got thirty-eight years without you. I’m not going another day.”

“Isn’t that rushing things?”

I lift my brow at her. “Trouble, we love each other. There’s no better time than to start now.”

“Well, you’ve got me,” she says as she wraps her arms around my neck. “You better make love to me..”

She’s right. We need to make love now, but as my cock returns to his hardened glory, and the intoxicating lust has dimmed somewhat, I’m not such a beast, and I don’t want our first time to be on the couch. I want our first time in my bed, our bed.

I stand and lean over to pick Larissa up. “What are you doing?”

“We’re going to make love in our bed. I’ll fuck you on the couch later.

” I run down the hallway to the primary bedroom and begin thinking about where I need to expand so there are more bedrooms for when we have children, because there’s no way I won’t help her bring babies into this world. It needs more people like her in it.

She giggles and kisses along my neck. There’s no more foreplay needed now. We’ve had enough.

I lay her on the bed and step back and take my shoes, socks and pants off. Watching my Trouble lick her lips in anticipation is going to be burned into my brain for the rest of my life.

“Watching you earlier, fuck sweetheart, it was the sexiest moment of my life. Everything with you is always going to the best moment.”

Her hand reaches for me, and I climb onto the bed and lie on top of her. She moves her hand to my cock and strokes me twice before lining me up to her entrance. “I’m ready for you. Don’t make me wait any longer. Make love to me.”

My cock jolts from her hand and the wetness at her entrance. “I love you, Trouble.”

“I love you, my hero.”

With as much care and gentleness as I possess in this world, I enter her, clenching my jaw at how tight, hot, and wet she is as she engulfs my cock.

She wasn’t lying. She is ready for me, and I continue to push in until I’m all the way in.

As soon as I am, we both let out a breath, and we kiss.

I stay inside of her, not moving, and we make out for the longest time.

Only stopping once my dick is pulsing to be moved and to take care of both our needs.

Without lifting my lips from hers, I pull back and make love to my woman, and it’s the most incredible sensation in the world.

It overwhelms me, and I don’t know how long I can last, so I move my hand to her clit and work to get her off because I need to feel her shatter around me, so I can pick up all the pieces and put them in their proper place.

“You’re so perfect, baby. All mine, and only mine. We’re going to have the best life together. Just wait and see.”

“We will.” She gasps, opens her legs wider, allowing me to thrust faster while I twirl my fingers over her clit. “Oh, there. Oh yes. Jace. So close. I’m so close.”

I nip, kiss, lick, and suck all along her jaw, neck, and lips. “Come for me, Trouble. Come all over my dick.” She shatters, and her pussy clenches around my cock, and I work fast, thrusting in and out of her before pushing all the way to the hilt and releasing.

“Fuck, yeah,” I shout, having the best orgasm of my life. All because of my woman.

“We didn’t use protection. I hope that’s okay. I’m clean. I made sure and got checked when I found out he cheated on me.” She sounds worried, like I’m mad we didn’t use it, which I’m glad we didn’t, but I shouldn’t feel that way. I’ll take better care of her next time.

Moving to the side of her and wrapping her in my arms, I say, “I’m clean too, baby. I’m sorry, I didn’t think.”

“I didn’t either, but I’m fine with it. However, I stopped taking birth control because I don’t like how my body reacts to them, and since I didn’t think I’d be having sex, I ditched them. But it’s not that time of the month, and I’ll get on it again.”

“Like hell you will. If they don’t make you feel well, you won’t be taking them. I can wear condoms. However, let me know when you’re ready for me to go without them. I want to see this belly round with our baby.”

She turns and looks at me, and there’s hope in her eyes. “You mean that?”

“Of course I do. I want us to have babies.”

Before I realize what’s happening, she’s on top of me, kissing me. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Give me a couple of minutes and we can get started.” I roll her beneath me and decide I can pleasure her in the meantime.