“Keep moving,” I tell her, and she swivels her hips underneath where I have her in my mouth.
“I, uh … this feels…wow,” she says, letting go of my legs and bringing her arms around my neck, holding herself up.
I let go of her nipple, pushing to meet her lips, and she sets a punishing pace as she lightly bites my bottom lip.
“Flip me over,” she murmurs against me.
I don’t wait a second, holding her back to me as I turn, laying her on the sheets. I stare at her. Cheeks flushed, a smile on her face, and her hair lying wild around her head.
She’s beautiful.
In a swift push, I’m inside her again, and she tilts her chin up as I lay kisses down her neck.
“Move, Ben,” she prompts.
And I do, slowly at first, but I build momentum, taking my cues from her. She feels fucking wonderful, and I fight the urge to come, determined to make this good for her, but damn, she’s tight.
Like a virgin. The thought enters my mind, and I grin.
No, focus.
I move faster, her moans spurring me on, and I lower my head, sucking lightly on her collarbone as I use one hand to caress her breast. She arches her back, pushing her chest closer to me at the same time as she grimaces.
“Are you okay?” I ask, stopping for a moment to assess how she’s feeling.
“God, yes. Don’t stop,” she says, wrapping her hands around my ass and pushing down, making me enter her again as she closes her eyes.
“Fuck, Pep. I’m not going to last long.” I push between us. My thumb finding her clit, I push, making her gasp as her eyes fly open wide.
“Do that again,” she demands.
And I do, rubbing it back and forth before pressing in as I continue to move in and out of her tightness. I hold one of her thighs, raising her leg up so I can angle deeper, and I swear my eyes roll back in my head at the feeling.
She bucks against me, and her hands grab at me—my arms, legs, torso, anything she can get a grip on.
“I think I’m about to come,” she whispers.
“Come, baby,” I whisper as I keep up my thrusts.
I relish in her expression and the way she tenses up as the waves of pleasure overtake her, rippling down her body and leaving a limp, sated Pepper in its wake. I come only a moment later, groaning my release as I throw my head back, hands on her soft skin.
The realization hits me. This is it for me. I’m ruined forever.
We don’t speak for a moment, catching our breaths, and I’m trying to wrap my mind around how explosive that was for me.
“Pepper, God. I, uh—” I start to tell her how amazing she is, but I’m cut off by my phone ringing on my bedside table. I look at Pepper before shifting and glancing to see who it is.
Mark.
I grab it and show Pepper the name. She widens her eyes and nods, telling me to take it, so I stand and swipe the screen, bringing the phone to my ear.
23 Ben
“Mark?” I say, my brow furrowing as I glance back at Pepper, beautiful and naked, lying on the bed.
I can’t tear my eyes away until Mark’s panicked shouting brings me back to the phone call.
“Slow down. What’s going on?” I ask.
He doesn’t answer for a moment, making my heart beat faster in panic.
“Everything okay?” Pepper’s concerned voice comes from behind me, and I turn, shrugging.
“Ben?” Mark says, finally talking to me.
I sigh in relief. “Mark? Tell me what’s going on. Where are you?”
“It’s on fire,” he says, his tone rising in disbelief.
“What’s on fire? Are you okay?”
No answer.
“Mark!” I yell, trying to get his attention.
The call drops, and I yell again in frustration. I feel Pepper’s hand grip my arm as she circles in front of me. She’s put a T-shirt on, and she’s chewing on her bottom lip. I bring the phone back up, about to hit Mark’s name to call back when my phone starts vibrating.
It’s the station, and I have a feeling I know what they’re calling about.
“I’ve got to take this. It’s work,” I say to Pepper, and she nods.
Once I swipe, I’m met with Craig’s familiar voice.
“Calling all hands on deck. Apartment fire. Get your ass to the station now,” he says before ending the call.
My heart sinks even more.
I feel like such a dick, walking out on Pepper after this, but it can’t be helped. I try Mark’s number once more, but it goes straight to voice mail.
Fuck.
I’ve got to go, but for some reason, I’m rooted in place.
“Hey,” she says, gesturing toward my phone. “What did work say?”
“I’ve got to go to the station.” I let the words hang between us, and she gives me a small smile.
Striding forward, I grip her face between my hands and tilt her head up to look at me. I lean down to kiss underneath each eye, the tip of her nose, and then finally her mouth.
“This isn’t over,” I whisper against her lips, and I feel her body shift as she brings her arms around me. I pull back and run my eyes over her face.
“Okay,” she says.
“I’ve got to go. Dinner is still in the kitchen. Help yourself,” I say, stepping away to collect my things.
I don’t want to leave her here alone, but I hope that Danger will at least do some damage control on my behalf for taking off so quickly after our first time having sex—and Pepper’s first time ever.
I jump in my truck to book it to the station, shaking my head to clear my thoughts. I can’t bring my issues to the job. They’ll just have to wait for another time.
The flames are high by the time I’ve suited up and made it to the apartment with my boys. Our chief is there. The first round of firemen has
