Page 11 of Sequoia Flames (Black Timber Peak Hotshots #6)

ELEVEN

VERITY

“Hey, Firefly. Wake up, sweetheart. It’s time to get this show on the road.”

“Mmmph! What?”

“Wow, you’re not a morning person, are you?”

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I try to focus and groan, covering my head with the sleeping bag. It’s ripped off my head and I jerk up, swinging at the devil with the dark blue eyes.

“Hey, princess. I hate to interrupt your beauty sleep but they’re gonna be able to move the chopper soon and get it up. We gotta be up to the top of that summit at the clearing so they can land. If not, we may miss our window with the weather coming in.”

I roll over and then squeal when a heavy swat lands on my ass. I jerk around and glare at him. He just grins. “I honestly didn’t think you could get cuter but you’re just full of surprises, Firefly.”

“I wish you’d fall off a cliff,” I mutter under my breath, standing and rubbing my ass.

He just chuckles, his pale blue eyes sunny and full of excitement. “We’re gonna get you out of here and then I’m gonna help my guys take care of this pesky wildfire. And then you know what I’m gonna do?”

Lifting a brow, I struggle to pack up the bag. He stops me and shakes my hand until I drop it.

“We’ve got more people to get out of here. It’s only bare necessities.”

“I need my bag,” I huff, my mouth dropping open.

“Nope. The chopper is going to be lifting a lot of weight with just you three and the pilot and the guy running the door. You need to take bare necessities. Sleeping bags, bottled water, anything replaceable needs to stay. If I can, I’ll come back and get it and bring it to you. But for now, nothing extra.”

“I need my journals and my reports and my computer and my phone.”

“Put those in your backpack and dump the rest. Come on, we don’t have a lot of time. I don’t want to run to the summit.”

He walks out and then turns back at the doorway. “You didn’t ask what I’m gonna do after I get this fire taken care of. Don’t you want to know?”

Crossing my arms, I stare him down. “I don’t know. Do I?”

“I think you do.”

“Fine. What are you gonna do?”

“I’m coming back for you, Firefly. I’m coming in hot and I’m gonna claim you like I should have last night.”

Flushing, I smirk at him. “What makes you think that’s what I want, Lassiter?”

He grins and it’s wild and wonderful. Sexy as hell and just as bold.

“Because I felt it last night. You want me. I want you. But it’s more than that, Firefly.

You’re the other piece of me that I thought I found with my ex.

But she was nothing compared to you. You’re the one.

I felt it when we met but I didn’t know what it was.

Now I do. As soon as I saw that fucker looking at you I knew that I’d kill any man just for looking at you.

If he touched you? I’d bury him so deep that nobody would ever find him. ”

My breath hitches and it feels like my whole body catches fire. “I— I don’t know what to say. I’m leaving day after tomorrow.”

He shrugs his broad shoulders. “We’ll figure it out.

But I already know that I can’t lose you and that’s why I’m gonna get you the hell off this mountain and then I’m gonna do my job.

” He takes a deep breath and walks closer, pacing like a lion after its prey.

A chill runs down my spine and heat blasts my core like a volcano exploding.

“And then I’m gonna come find you. Because you belong with me. You’re mine.”

His hand runs along the curve of my jaw so soft and gentle, his rough callouses making shivers run along my skin.

“I never thought I’d want someone. Never thought I could feel anything again.

But you? I don’t know what it is about you.

You got under my skin two seconds after I met you.

That is a treasure that I’m not giving up.

I will find you and we will work all this out.

`Even if I have to follow you to some godforsaken city, I will find you.

” His lips curl wickedly, and he groans when I close my eyes, my lips parting breathily.

My eyes open and tears burn them. “What if you change your mind?”

He shakes his head and there’s something so unbearably soft and sweet on his face. A tear rolls down my cheek.

“That guy was an idiot. I’m no idiot. I know a good thing when I see it. I know you deserve more than me. I’m a grumpy bastard. I’m a pain in the ass.” His lip quirks up and he chuckles. “I think you can be just as big a pain in the ass as me. And I like that. I think I like it a lot.”

“I— I don’t think you’re in love with me, Lassiter.”

“I don’t think you can tell me what I’m feeling, Firefly. I know that I need to get you safe. I know that I can’t bear to think about you getting hurt. I know it’s not just because it’s my job. It would break me if something happened to you. I think that’s love.”

I sigh and lean into his hand and he moves closer until he’s pressed against me and I can feel his chest moving with every breath. I can feel the warmth of him. The sweet scent of pine and leather and man.

I look up at him and the heat in his pale blue eyes makes me think of a wolf staring down his dinner. “Tell me that you feel what I feel, Verity. Tell me that you’re right here with me and you want me. Want me to come back for you.”

My lips open and his hot eyes follow my tongue slicking along my mouth. “I want you to come back for me. I want you.”

Triumph fires in his bright blue eyes. “You love me. Just say it.”

I swat him and he lifts me in his arms and swings me around in the small space. His mouth touches mine and it’s like the sky is blue again, rainbows and unicorns and all that crazy stuff. It’s like I’m finally alive again.

His mouth caresses mine gently and then deeper, his tongue slipping along mine as one hand tangles in my hair.

His kiss takes my breath away and I gasp for air when he gently drops my feet to the ground.

His darkened gaze searches mine, pupils blown wide.

“I love you, Verity. I don’t know why or how.

I didn’t know it could happen this fast but I know it like I know my own name. You’re my heart.”

Shaking, I lean into him and sigh. “I love you too, Lassiter. I didn’t think I’d ever fall in love again and it scares the hell out of me that when I leave, you’ll forget all about me. Pick someone younger, smarter, sweeter, prettier. Someone that isn’t me.”

He shakes his head and smiles. “Not gonna happen. I’m not sure how this happened but you’re it for me. I’m coming for you. Just as soon as I get this damn mountain safe again. So wait for me. I’ll be back for you.”

“But for now, get your stuff. We’ve spent too long talking and we need to get going. They’re gonna be here soon and I need you safe.”

He walks out and my heart aches, my whole body fighting not to completely lose my mind. I don’t want to leave him.

What if he doesn’t come back for me? What if he doesn’t come back at all?