Authors: Dee Ellis
Once I got back to the station, Finn had been full of questions, none of which I wanted to answer. Which I think rattled something loose in that brain of his. We never got down to details about who we took home, but it wasn’t a guarded secret either. Which is kind of exactly how I felt about Charli. About kissing her and how fucking perfect she tasted and felt in my hands.
“You’re a goner bro, and you don’t even care.” Finn called after me as I headed for a very cold shower.
“Don’t I know it.”
The shower turned into torture when I thought about Charli. I knew she had been fresh from her shower; I could still smell her on me as I stood beneath the hot water. I started to turn it cold when my dick remembered her tits and the feel of her hot pussy at my thigh. Instead I closed my eyes and pictured her there with me, wet skin pressing close as I kissed her until we couldn’t stand. Felt her curves wet and slippery in my hands.
My cock was pulsing with need for her. I pumped it a few times, imagining her perfect lips around me. Sucking as she looked up at me with those gray eyes, frothy with pleasure. That did the trick and I came quick, harder than I remembered coming with my own hand.
After sleeping like a baby with the taste of her on my lips and my blue balls temporarily handled, I woke up chipper and ready to see her again. I had a stack of books that I checked out yesterday. I intended to use one as an opening to talk to her after the mentoring classes.
Today was the fourth day of the program and I only had tomorrow left. After that, I might get to work with the kids more, hopefully Devon, but I wouldn’t get to see Charli every day. Which was just not going to work for me. We would be heading to a training tower for the kids to see us in action. That meant no time for me to flirt or be inappropriate with my girl.
Which should make me bummed as I headed down stairs for breakfast with the morning shift. Instead, I was all but skipping and whistling a tune I was so fucking thrilled. The guys, Finn especially, took note but thought better of saying anything. Wise choice. Charli was not something I wanted to discuss.
Not because I didn’t want people to know about her. Because they would soon enough. Just because she felt like my secret right now. I wanted to hold onto how that felt. Soon the guys, my family, all the badge bunnies would know all about her. My sisters were going to lose their shit. I had to wonder what Gigi would rate her. I was certain at least a Hermione. Maybe even a Lizzie.
“Morning Cooper,” Finn smirked as he sank in beside me, “Why so enthused about life today, bro-tastic?” Well shit, I
thought
they were all smart enough not to ask.
“It’s a nice day, I’m alive. Healthy,” In love with the girl of my dreams, I thought, “with a job I love and working with some great kids. Why not be enthused, bro-seph?” My waffles and eggs became incredibly interesting as I waited for him to drop it.
“Oh yeah? More time with Charli Doll has nothing to do with your, ahem, enthusiasm?” Of course he didn’t drop it; the guy was persistent.
“Maybe. Not like I don’t have to share her with half a dozen kids and all you fucks first, though.” Still I knew afterwards I intended to stall as long as she would let me at the library.
“Hey you think it’s such a bright idea to let her see how dangerous our job is? I mean, it’s fine to get some tramps panties wet,” He lowered his voice and spoke into his orange juice, “little different if it’s a girl you got your sights on, Cooper.”
All at once I was filled with dread. I hadn’t even thought about Charli being at the training tower today. We would be enacting real life drills to show the kids some realistic views of what the job was about. Charli already got spooked listening to Finn and Levi spew their bullshit horror stories.
Even though the training tower was a place we knew backwards and forwards, seeing it up close for a civilian was different. I was trained well and in my five and half years of being a fireman, I’d only battled two fires that actually scared me. I knew it was a risk, the job, but it was in my blood and I never thought about doing anything else.
I didn’t think Charli would warm up about the threat of loss my job could cause any time soon. Especially if she had to see it up close today. We would be setting fires and running drills that were likely to terrify her. Fuck. Why hadn’t I thought about that? Other than the fact that I had planned the mentoring program weeks ago. Before I even knew Charli existed.
Shoving my waffles down my throat and tasting nothing, I grew more worried by the minute. The thought of scaring her away tore at me and I shoved my breakfast away. Finn looked guilty for mentioning it but he was right. I hadn’t even considered this.
Fuck! What was I going to do now?
1
That kiss not only nearly brought me to my knees, it did a number on Charli. Watching her now as we stood listening to Sara explain how the transportation to the training tower was going to work, I could feel it. Saw it the moment her gray eyes flashed when mine met hers when I showed up early to the library. I’d had enough thinking about the doom that might be facing us today.
So I came early to see her, hoping to find her as anxious as I was. I should have known better; Charli was clearly talented at running from shit. When her creamy cheeks flushed and those lovely eyes darted away, I knew she had her ass in gear to run as fast and far from me as she could.
“Morning, Sugar.” I greeted as I found her and the mouthy brunette laughing behind the first floor reference desk.
Charli lifted bright, open and needy eyes to mine before shuttering herself fast. I leaned on the counter and stared at her, taking in how fucking stunning she looked today. That tiny skirt and flowing hair yesterday had my cock at attention and I thought maybe she meant to get just that reaction.
Today she wore a peasant blouse, with billowing sleeves and neckline that left her shoulders bare. Her creamy skin was dotted with a few freckles and my fingers itched to shove her hair off her shoulders so I could press my lips there.
Charli’s obvious attempts to divert my attention with the long flowing skirt she wore did the exact opposite. She looked perfect and happy. I knew no matter what she said part of that was because of me.
“Morning, Cage.” The brunette, Lola, smirked at me.
“Hello. Ready for me today, Sugar,” I focused my look back on Charli, dismissing her friend completely, “think the kids will like the training tower?”
“Morning, Cage. I certainly hope so.” I was not blind to her taking note of the friend making eyes at me.
The friend, Lola, was cute in a wild way; dark short hair, some purple in there too, short and tiny like an angry fairy. Compared to Charli, the girl looked like she was trying too hard and Charli didn’t even notice. My eyes held Charli’s and I noticed her cheeks flush the longer I stared. I fucking loved it.
I fought the urge to reach my fingers out, trace the curve of her cheeks and feel her warmth beneath my fingertip. Instead I thought about her comment:
“I certainly hope so”
. Was that about being ready for me, or the kids? Charli looked away too soon and I ached to have contact with her again. I could sense her need to shut me out and I hated it.
Sara came to the rescue a few minutes later and we followed her quietly. I moved close behind Charli, catching her hand when it swung behind her. Giving her fingers a squeeze, I waited for her to snatch it away. When she didn’t, her head bowing as I watched her bite back a sexy smirk, I held on tighter.
Fuck just touching her had me hard as steel. Feeling her little hand in mine gave me that connection I needed. I leaned close as we paused to let Sara talk with another employee. Bending my head into her neck, I breathed deep, running my nose along her jaw. Charli yanked at my hand and I chuckled against her ear, pressing a wet, opened mouthed kiss there.
Charli gasped and her stormy eyes met mine as she sent a lethal glare at me over her shoulder. Just as she started to take her hand away, I yanked too. Bringing her into my side, I dipped my head again. Bit at her shoulder, loving the hungry sound that came from the back of her throat.
I felt her entire body tighten as she struggled to shut down. Her fingers dropped mine and she was following Sara without a glance back. I pushed too far. My thoughts were cloudy from her closeness, from the perfumed scent of her hair and her skin. I had to reign myself in or I would run her off, no doubt.
Catching up to them outside, Sara was explaining the plans for picking the kids up at the school. Again, like the idiot I am, I tried to move close to Charli. Craved her like I was starving and she was the only sustenance I needed. Charli shot me a warning look as I edged my way closer to her. Following it up with a curt shake of her head, she did her best to ignore me.
I never took my eyes off of her. Watched the way she fiddled with the bag slung across her chest. Opening and closing the zipper. Back and forth, open, close, open, close. Watched her massacre that sexy bottom lip. I would have to talk to her about that. I loved that fucking mouth and she was doing it no good tearing into it with those teeth.
“We’ll get the kids and head to the training tower. A few hours there, then we’ll take them to lunch,” Charli frowned, her eyes swinging from Sara to me, “then the final hour here. Tomorrow’s the last day; do we feel like something good has come of this?” I almost laughed because the best thing I had never expected had happened; I’d met her, the girl I’d been waiting for.
“Absolutely.” I was quick to reply, watching the pink flush Charli’s skin.
“Devon,” Charli’s voice was shaky and she cleared her throat before it came out strong and assured, “I think Devon wants to follow up. Maybe Cage can spend some quality time with him tomorrow. Just the two of them.” The smirk that curved her mouth should have pissed me off; she was trying to tell me to get lost.
“Oh Devon and I already have quality time scheduled, Charli,” I watched her face turn up in shock, “he’s coming by everyday next week to talk with me and Byrne about getting started in the volunteer program. We want to work it around his class schedule, of course. He’s in his senior year, he’s got a lot going on but we’re going to figure it out.” Before she could hide it, a beautiful smile lit her face as something sparked behind those eyes.
“That’s exactly what we’re hoping for, Cage. If one kid out of one class finds a career from all this, it’s absolutely worth it, folks. Well, are we ready, then?” Sara shot a look between us, smiling when she caught me staring at Charli like a damn fool.
The van started up as Sara climbed into the front seat. Which was awesome because that gave me an excuse to slide in after Charli. That’s exactly what I did after I took her hand to help her up. I nearly laughed when she cursed at me beneath her breath, but took my hand anyway. After sliding the wide door closed after me, I slid close to her side, waiting for her to shove away.
When she didn’t, I slid closer. Watching her bite away the cute smirk that twisted her lips, I slid closer still. Until my knee was touching hers and her side was leaning against mine. The urged to slip my arm around her to bring her close was overwhelming.
“Behave, Cage Cooper.” Charli whispered as she shifted a look up at me.
“You make it difficult to want to, Sugar,” I leaned down after checking that Sara was chatting with the driver, “you look fucking beautiful today.” My lips pressed to her ear again and she tried to hide her shudder but failed.
“Thank you. You know,” Her head tipped away, her eyes narrowing on me, “What makes you think I need your compliments? What makes you think they might work on me?” Charli lifted a shoulder and I knew what this was about.
“Work on you? Sugar that implies I’m trying to convince you of something we don’t already know to be fact. My end game is not to get into your panties,” My fingers traced the shoulder she lifted and her eyes watched, “Although I can’t wait to taste what’s inside them. Baby, my end game is you. Period.” My thumb pressed to the pulse at the side of her throat, finding it thumping beneath my touch.
“From what I hear whispers of, Cage, that must be new territory for you.” Ice cooled her words and those pretty eyes looked dangerous as they pinned me down.
“Abso-fucking-lutely. Charli Dixon you are an entirely new world to me. I may hide it better but I’m likely a fuckova lot more scared than you are right now.” For a moment her shields went down, her mouth parted and she searched my face for signs of a lie.
Of course she found none because I’d never been as boldly honest as I was being with Charli. The need to consume her, to claim her as mine in the most barbaric of ways was unsettling at best. That the scent of her, the smallest hint of a smile could bring me to my knees was scary to experience. As mouthy as I was being, telling her what the facts were, Charli held all the power.
That a woman as stunning and captivating as she had no idea the magic she wielded was fascinating. Just about every woman I knew before her wielded their pussy like a weapon. Men like me were nothing but their victims. Even if we were the ones doing the fucking, the fact of the matter is they controlled it all.
“You don’t know shit about me,” Charli snarled and I fell deeper under her spell, “you assume those sweet promises you made within hours of meeting me were what I needed? What I came here for? Wrong, baby. I came here, left my family and my home and...my life, for me. Just because I think you’re attractive, because I may want to fuck you doesn’t mean I need you Cage.”