Page 33 of Where There’s Smoke (Fire House Omegas #2)

Fitz

A s I approached Melody’s room—or the one she’d been using since she arrived—I heard the distinct sound of the shower running.

My cheek lifted in a smirk as I slipped inside and crept into the bathroom.

In the shower, behind the wavy glass that unfortunately kept her perfect body blurry, Melody was scrubbing away at her hair, humming idly.

Even this little glimpse was enough to make me hard, my knot pulsing.

“Hello, firecracker.”

“Ah!” she yelped, turning with her hands up. “What are you doing?!”

“I thought I’d come say hi.” I walked a bit closer, trying to make out anything I could through the glass as my cock demanded more of a look. “And check out the view.”

Melody grumbled, the shower water pattering against the floor and walls. “You scared the hell out of me. I’m trying to take a shower. Shoo!”

“Shoo? But who’ll be here to hold out your towel for you?” I crossed my arms over my chest, leaning against the wall.

I wasn’t going to bug her too much, but I’d take every moment I could get of seeing my sweet girl.

Melody was naked behind that glass, and there was nothing that could keep me from remembering that.

God, I wanted her. The thought of bending her over the ledge in there was damn hard to resist, especially as I remembered all the fun from her heat.

“Fitz! A tiny bit of privacy, please!” Melody faced me in the shower, watching through the blurry glass as I didn’t move. “You bum. You’re gonna get it now.”

I didn’t know what she meant by that, but the internal question was answered quickly enough when the door pushed open a smidge and a shampoo bottle came flying out at me.

It hit me in the arms and stomach, then clattered to the ground.

I grunted through a laugh before backing up with my hands raised in surrender.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll wait in the bedroom.”

“Damn straight, you will! I’ll be done in a few minutes.”

Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Melody to finish up, and she came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and one on her head in that twist most people with long hair seemed to have mastered from childhood.

Melody glowered at me playfully, crossing the room and slipping into the closet before calling out, “You’re a pest. Is there an actual reason you came in here?”

Chuckling, I faced the closet, eyeing the door as I waited for her to come out.

“As a matter of fact, yes. I was thinking, do you want to go check on the cats today? Elliot has paperwork to do, so we could always grab some lunch and see the cats. We’ve been checking up on the dogs so much, the kitties are going to start feeling left out! ”

“Oh,” Melody said, sounding obviously surprised, “that’s actually a good idea.”

I laughed again, snorting through my nose.

“I do have them on occasion. Plus, Elliot said that some of the shelter’s structure could be replaced.

We could figure out a plan for working on the place.

I know you’re worried about having somewhere to put all the animals and want to get back to taking more in.

It won’t be a permanent solution, but it could work for now. ”

After a moment, Melody came out of the closet wearing black leggings with tall socks that went up to her shins and a large knit sweater made of massive, chunky yarn. Her hair was still wet, a little wild, and she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.

As much as having sex would have been absolutely mind-blowing, it was also nice to just look at her, to be around her. Melody oozed this positive energy that made me feel alive, that gave me a reason to do something with the money I had, instead of just sitting on it.

That new fucking shelter has to pan out. I need that property for her.

“That’s…amazing.” Melody’s eyebrows were up, and I could tell she was a bit overwhelmed from the news, her head shaking several times.

“God, Fitz, I don’t know what to say. It would be huge if I could get the shelter running again, even in a reduced capacity.

I have no idea how I’m supposed to buy a new building with the miniscule payout from insurance.

If I could start giving myself a small salary, though, I could at least start saving up for a new place. And you’ll all really help me?”

I made a face at her, furrowing my brow as I smirked. “Of course we will. Pack Wilder is at your disposal, firecracker. We love helping you. And it’ll be a hell of a lot cheaper than hiring people.”

Crossing the room quicker than usual, Melody walked right up to me and threw her arms around my neck, squeezing me in a hug.

A grin stretched over my face, taking up the entire thing, as I held her in my arms, dropping my nose into her hair for a hit of that juicy melon scent.

Melody felt right in my arms, and I didn’t want to ever let go.

As far as relationships went, I’d done a bit of dating here and there. I’d had my fair share of one or two date hookups and only one situation where I felt like I might be able to see us having a future together. Occasionally we went on a date as a pack, but nothing had panned out.

But Melody? She’d come into our lives like an angel, and I wanted her here—in the firehouse, our home, my arms—for as long as she’d let me keep her. Forever, even.

God, you’re such a sap.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” She looked up at me, a glassy sheen to her eyes. “Not everyone would help. You guys really are going above and beyond.”

“We’re all happy to help. I promise. You’re our little omega.” Her eyes flared. “Well, you know what I mean. We…care about you. And the animals.”

My throat felt tight, the emotions getting the better of me.

My eyes tingled, and I knew that if I wasn’t careful, I was going to say something stupid, something too forward.

Still, it took every bit of restraint I had, which wasn’t much to begin with, to keep myself from asking Melody to permanently move in with us and to officially be our mate.

Because I could see it. I could see how perfectly Melody would fit into our lives, and how beautifully we could fit into hers. This combination of compassion and passion would flare so damn bright between us. I had no doubt.

But then Melody shook herself and deposited a quick kiss on my lips. When she leaned back, smiling up at me, she patted my cheek and slipped out of my arms. With that grin still in place, she padded over to the bathroom, and I watched from the bed as she brushed her hair.

“Well, thank you, Fitz. I can’t say it enough.” She shook her head again, grinning at me through the reflection, and I smiled back, my chest puffed up with pride for helping her out. “Let me just get ready, and we can head out.”

“Sound goods.” I nodded and kept smiling at her, keeping my voice to a whisper as I said, “Sounds so damn good, my omega.”