Chapter Eleven
Rosabelle
“He’s like a real-life hero,” I tell Rie as we stand in the kitchen together. She’s already got her backpack on but she’s hanging on every word I tell her about Blaze. She was passed out on the sofa with her textbooks all around her when I got home last night. As much as I wanted to wake her and tell her about everything that happened, I knew she needed the sleep and it could wait. She, on the other hand, wanted to smack me when she realized I didn’t wake her up to tell her everything.
“I mean, it sucks our night was cut short, but to see him in action…” I pretend to fan myself. “So worth it.” I’d been so scared when he took off toward that building but proud at the same time. I’d fallen just a little in love with him in that moment.
“I love the look he’s putting on your face.” Rie smiles at me, truly happy. This is the first time I’ve been excited about something in a long time. That feeling of being adrift is fading and it’s like something inside of me has settled.
“He had to go back to the firehouse and do paperwork, so he dropped me off and gave me another one of those kisses.” I reach up and touch my lips. I tried to explain to Rie what it was like but there really aren’t words for them. “I didn't know kisses could be like that.”
“I think it has to be the right person.”
“Yeah,” I agree. There’s this connection between Blaze and me and it’s real. I don’t care if it’s crazy fast because I feel it bone deep and I’m trusting myself on this one.
We both turn to look at the front door when a knock sounds. “He’s taking me to work,” I tell Rie and try unsuccessfully to contain my excitement.
“Of course he is.” She walks past me and opens the door to reveal Blaze standing there in jeans and a black shirt that has his firehouse number across it.
It’s stretched tight against his broad chest and I think about how he must spend a lot of time in the gym. His body is perfection, which is crazy because I’ve seen how much he can eat. I think he could out-eat Rie and I’ve never said that about a person before in my life. Rie is tiny but she can put away a meal.
“Here to pick up our Rosabelle?” she asks Blaze, and he smirks.
“I brought food.” He holds up a bag and Rie snatches it from his hand.
“He’s a keeper!” she calls out as she walks out because she’s already running late for class. I’m sure she’ll text me later for more details.
“Thanks for the tip.” Blaze steps inside and I grab my purse.
I told him about Rie last night and we both shared about our families. Blaze’s parents sounded so wonderful but my heart hurt that he lost them. I told him Rie was my family and I couldn't be done with my parents any faster than they could have been done with me. Rie and I would be together forever, so of course I told him he’d have to win her over. The fastest way would be food and it looks like he really was listening.
“What about me?” I tease, but just then he grabs me around the waist and pulls me against him. His mouth comes down on mine and he kisses me until I’m breathless.
“Got your food in the truck.” His hand slides into mine and our fingers tangle together as we walk out of my apartment building.
“You okay?” I ask, giving his hand a squeeze.
“I’m a little tired but I’ll be fine.”
“Have you slept?” Normally I take the bus or catch a ride with Rie, but when Blaze offered to take me to work I jumped all over it. I wanted to see him as soon as I could and didn’t think about him not getting much time to rest.
“I will after I drop you off,” he reassures me as he helps me into his truck. We drive in silence but guilt nags at me.
“Are you not hungry?” He pushes the bag of food at me.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the bag but not feeling so hungry anymore. “This was really sweet of you.” Not only has he not gotten any sleep, he stopped and got both Rie and me breakfast. “I’m sorry.”
I drop my head and feel more guilt. He pulls up to the office building at my work and takes a spot. He was probably up all night doing paperwork and I was selfish enough to take him up on driving me to work.
I look up when my seatbelt unclicks and in the blink of an eye I’m in Blaze’s lap.
“What the hell are you sorry for?” he asks. “I’m the one trying to make up for our date getting side tracked.”
“I don’t care about that,” I gasp. “I could have taken the bus or rode with Rie. You should be sleeping!” It was silly for him to stay up just to take me to work, and it was greedy on my part.
“I promise you, beautiful. I would have never gotten any sleep if I knew I was missing out on having even a few minutes with you.” I melt into him. Gosh, he always says the sweetest things. This man is going to be my undoing. “I’ll sleep later,” he adds before he kisses me.
I moan as his fingers dig into my hair and I wiggle against him, letting out a gasp when I feel his hard cock press into my hip. I rock against it, wishing there were no clothes between us, wishing more than anything we were back in my apartment alone where no one and nothing could interrupt us.
“We gotta stop,” Blaze says between kisses but he doesn’t pull back. In fact, one of his hands goes to my ass to help
