Cowboy Firefighter Christmas Kiss Page 13

  “I’m coming on too strong, aren’t I?” He moved down the sofa away from her. “If you want, I can slow down, but I can’t quit.”

  She took a deep breath, knowing she couldn’t hurt him or lose him, or give up what she was just beginning to glimpse. She had a feeling they were going to profoundly affect each other—even if she didn’t yet understand it.

  “Do you want me to leave?” He stood up.

  “No.” She got to her feet, feeling slightly light-headed, and took a sip of wine. “I want you to bake cookies.”

  He moved in front of her but kept his distance. “I’ll do it, but tell me what’s bothering you.”

  “It’s just…I’m trying to not belong here.” She sipped more wine, feeling the warmth give her courage.

  “Why?”

  “Everything is so...intense here. And so real.” She tossed back the last of the wine, needing it.

  “How so?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m trying to find my way.”

  “Will cookies help the transition?” he asked, easing the moment with a bit of humor.

  She smiled, feeling the mood lighten. “Your wine warmed me, so—”

  “I wish you’d let me warm you.”

  “I’ll take warm cookies.”

  “That I can do.” He took her glass, then walked into the kitchen and set both wineglasses to one side on the countertop.

  “Thanks.” She meant for letting her off the hook, but she’d enjoy the cookies, too.

  She followed him into the kitchen, but she moved aside because he really didn’t need her help.

  He washed his hands, opened the fridge, pulled out the mixing bowl, and went about molding the chilled dough into walnut-size balls. He placed them in rows on an ungreased cookie sheet, then dipped the bottom of a glass into a bowl of sugar and pressed the balls flat. He washed his hands again, then he finally slid the cookies into the preheated oven.

  “How long until they’re ready to eat?”

  “About ten minutes.”

  “These cookies will be quick and easy for the Hall, won’t they?”

  “That’s my plan. And like I said, we can fancy them up with red and green sprinkles along with holiday shapes.”

  “Perfect. I really do appreciate all you’re doing for Wildcat Hall.”

  He stopped and looked at her, banked fire in his blue eyes. “Wildcat Bluff is my home, and the dance hall was created to be the center of our community. I treasure what my ancestors built here.” He took a step forward, raising his hands at his side as if opening up to her. “And I treasure you, too.”

  “Oh, Slade…” Her voice broke as emotion overcame her, welling up from so deep inside that it came flooding out as if a dam had burst. She held out a hand to him, needing his touch, needing his comfort, needing him.

  He clasped her hand, and then slowly, gently eased her against his chest until he hugged her. “I understand. I really do. I’m trying to hold back, but it’s not easy. All day long, no matter what I did, I thought of you.”

  She shivered at his words and felt him hold her harder in response. “No, I don’t think you do understand, not completely. I’m only here till Fern comes back from her gig.”

  “That’s what you say now.” He gently placed a hand on each side of her head and tilted up her face. “Give the Park a chance…give me a chance.” He looked into her eyes as he slowly lowered his head to kiss her.

  When he touched lips to lips, his fire ignited her fire. And any resistance she had went up in smoke.

  Chapter 16

  Slade felt like he was on fire, burning up inside and outside. Ivy made him feel as if he’d lost every lick of sense he’d ever had…and he’d felt like that since the first moment he saw her. Sure, it was physical, but it was so much more that it scared him—or it ought to scare him. The fact that it didn’t, that it just made him want her more, told him that she was the one—the only one for him.

  He’d waited a lifetime and suddenly she was just there. He’d found her in Wildcat Hall, of all places, trying to do the impossible. It was obvious at one glance that she couldn’t get the tinsel on the antlers, but that didn’t keep her gutsy self from trying to make it so. And now, here he was trying to do the impossible. Somehow or other, he had to convince her that she was finally where she belonged, because her home was in no other place except his arms.

  If he rushed her, he’d lose her, and if he didn’t rush her, he’d lose himself. Caught between a rock and a hard place, he hadn’t known which way to turn, so he’d given her what he knew she would accept of him—chili, wine, cookie dough. And a few kisses. But those kisses, no matter how hot, were like frosting on a cake—alluring on the outside but promised so much more on the inside.

  He wanted inside her. He was desperate to sink deep into her. And make them one. He ached from his head to his toes, needing so much more than the kisses he was giving her. If he held back much longer, he felt as if he would explode. And yet, he had to show restraint, so she would know he could be tender and sensitive to her feelings and upended life. He was sure that’s what she would want in a man, not some barely restrained wild animal that he was keeping on a tight leash, a leash that was fraying every single second he kissed and held her, feeling her warmth, her softness, her curves.

  And then she bit him, just a little nip on his lower lip that was quickly followed by the soothing caress of her tongue on his sensitized skin…but it was more than enough to snap his leash.

  He held back a growl as he reached down and grabbed her hips, lifting her off her feet. It was as if she’d broken free of her leash, too, because she wrapped her long legs around his waist as she thrust her fingers into his hair, never breaking the kiss that got deeper and hotter and stronger.

  He pulled her tighter against him as he massaged her firm butt, finding a slight rip in the soft fabric beneath a back pocket. He quickly inserted a fingertip into the hole and discovered she was wearing a thong or nothing at all under her jeans, so he stroked soft, smooth flesh that heated under his touch. Fired up, he thrust another finger into the hole, hearing the fabric slightly rip to make way, but it wasn’t nearly enough now that he had touched so close to the heart of her. He needed more. He had to have it. He stretched her jeans until he thrust his entire hand through the gap. He grasped her firm, round globe with his entire palm, and she wiggled against him, clutching him harder with her thighs and tugging harder on his hair, moaning all the while.

  He thought he’d been unleashed before, but now he growled low in his throat, looked around desperately for a good place to take this further, saw the sofa, rejected it as too small and confining, and finally focused on the door to her bedroom. He was all done with being patient, waiting for her to want him as much as he wanted her. No need, not now. She was with him all the way, because he’d let his fingers stray to the soft center of her—and she was hot and wet and ready for him.

  Carrying her, he strode across the floor to the doorway into her inner sanctum. A soft light on the nightstand illuminated a sagging bed with too many cute pillows in all sizes, shapes, and colors with western themes on a rust-colored bedspread that had a black barbwire motif embroidered around the edge. Surely not Ivy’s taste in decor, but then she hadn’t been here long. Still, it didn’t matter what the bed looked like. It was a bed, so it’d do. He hoped they didn’t break it, but if they did, he’d be happy to buy her a king-size that would suit the size of his body and all the rigorous activity he had in mind for sharing with Ivy.

  He gently laid her down among the pillows that scattered everywhere, but he never lost contact with her—not with his kisses, not with anything. And the heat built between them as he clasped her wrists, drew her hands from around his neck, and raised them over her head, causing her breasts to thrust upward toward him. He switched her wrists to one hand and let the knuckles of his other slowly stroke down her
rosy cheek, sensitizing her as he went, to the hollow of her vulnerable throat, where he could feel her pulse beating fast.

  He hesitated, not wanting to rush this pivotal moment for either of them. He looked into her eyes, the green now only a ring around the dark centers that focused completely on him, revealing that she waited, not patiently, not reluctantly, not easily…revealing that she wanted not only his kisses but everything…revealing that she burned for him and him alone.

  “Please,” she said on a whisper of breath, reminding them both of what he’d asked of her not so long ago.

  “Again.” He trailed his fingertips down her T-shirt, to the swell of one breast, where he circled but didn’t touch the hard tip that revealed her neediness.

  “Please.” She arched her back, thrusting her breasts toward him.

  “Again.” He cupped her breast, feeling the soft, round fullness and the hard, beaded nipple that almost caused him to come undone, but he kept control, if only barely.

  “Please.” She tucked her lower lip between her teeth and tossed her head back and forth as she pleaded with her eyes.

  He was satisfied that she was desperate for his touch. He didn’t need to wait a moment longer to satisfy them. He lifted her T-shirt to reveal a silky, lacy, peach-tinted bra that covered just enough to make her appear even more delectable. And yet he still cautioned himself to go slow, to make this good for her, as well as for him. He eased one breast out of a cup and breathed a sigh of appreciation for the pale pink nipple. He leaned forward and kissed, licked, and sucked that center of sensitivity until she arched against him, moaning in growing agitation.

  He moved lower, kissing down her flat stomach to her belly button and burying his tongue in that round depth before snapping open her jeans and zipping down till he saw that she wore a thong that matched her bra. He grew even harder at the sight and the thought of what awaited him—so close now.

  As he moved his fingertips inside her thong, he suddenly froze. Did he smell something burning? He raised his head and saw smoke drifting from the kitchen into the bedroom, bringing the scent of burnt cookies.

  “Oh no!” He jerked up, rising swiftly to his feet.

  “We forgot the cookies.” She straightened her clothes as she looked at him in wide-eyed horror.

  He ran into the kitchen, turned off the oven, grabbed a potholder, and jerked open the oven door. At the hit of oxygen, smoke and flames leaped out at him. He quickly stepped back and looked around for a fire extinguisher. He had a can in his truck, but that was too far away.

  Ivy ran into the room and stopped beside him, hand over her nose at the smoke and fumes filling the room.

  “Where’s the fire extinguisher?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Let’s find it!” He slammed the oven door shut, tossed the pot holder on the countertop, and glanced around for a can. It couldn’t be far.

  She opened several cabinet doors without success. “Surely there’s one here someplace.”

  “Got to be.” He jerked open the doors under the sink and was relieved to finally see the telltale red container of an extinguisher. He grabbed it and pulled the pin.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Stand back till I get this under control.”

  When he was sure she was safely out of the way, he opened the oven again and took a closer look. The cookies still burned but were now little black pieces of crisp dough. He sprayed the entire inside of the oven, including the cookies, then quickly opened the front door to let in fresh air.

  He walked back, set the canister on the countertop, picked up the pot holder, and opened the oven again. He eased the cookie sheet out, set it in the sink, and stared at the shriveled bits of black cookie covered in foam.

  Ivy moved in close and looked around his shoulder. “You think we might have a little trouble selling those in the Hall?”

  “Sell them?” He just shook his head, glancing at her. “They’re a disaster. I’m a disaster. I swear I’ve never burned cookies before in my entire life.”

  She put fingers over her mouth, shoulders shaking, as she tried to keep from laughing at his mess. “What would your granny say?”

  “Don’t you dare tell her, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Finally, she did chuckle, pointing at what was left of the cookies. “I guess you aren’t usually so distracted when you cook.”

  He smiled, picking up on her humor. “Can I place the blame on you?”

  “Anytime. I have no reputation riding on my cookie-baking prowess.”

  “I hate to think of the ribbing I’d get if any of my firefighter friends found out I’d burned a batch of cookies.”

  She laughed harder. “Maybe you need to bribe me to keep this cookie mess a secret.”

  “What would it take to ensure your silence?”

  She glanced from him to the cookies to him again. “Not cookies. After smelling these, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat another sugar cookie in my entire life.”

  He chuckled. “And there goes my grand plan to impress you.”

  “I think you better go another route.”

  “What would that be—maybe the same one that’d keep my secret safe?”

  She looked him up and down. “I do believe we can come up with a way for you to compensate me.”

  “Name it.”

  “Its name is Slade Steele.”

  He took a deep breath, feeling her words go straight to his heart. “You’ve got it, but we’re going to move to a better location.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You can’t stay here, not when the whole place reeks of smoke and burnt food.”

  “It’ll air out.”

  “Not anytime soon.”

  “If we clean the oven and the cookie sheet, it’ll help.”

  “Somewhat, but not enough.” He grinned, thinking that he could still turn this disaster to his benefit—and hers. “Why don’t you pack an overnight bag and I’ll take you to my place? There’s a guest room, if you want it.”

  “Your home?” She appeared surprised, then she glanced out the front door, as if considering her options.

  “Yeah.”

  “I could move into one of the empty cabins here.”

  “You could do that, but wouldn’t you prefer to be with me, where you’re safe…and warm?”

  “As tempting as it sounds, I ought to stay here and clean up.” She put her arms around her waist, as if hugging herself for comfort. “Besides, I can stand the stench.”

  “No.” He put a fingertip under her chin and lifted her face so he could see her expression. “You’ve had more than enough stress since you moved in here. You need some tender loving care, and I’m going to give it to you.”

  “We can’t leave the mess, and you know it.”

  “I’ll toss the cookie sheet. There’s no point in trying to save it.”

  “The stove?”

  “Settelmeyers. No matter how good a job we do on the cleanup, it’d never be up to their standards. And I’d never intentionally upset them, particularly not on their turf. I’ll let them know, and they’ll be on it tomorrow.”

  “But that way, folks will find out about your cookie disaster.”

  “Our secret is safe with them. They never tell anything that goes on here. They protect Wildcat Hall Park like their own personal castle that needs defending against all harm.”

  “Are you saying they’re our knights in shining armor?”

  He nodded. “As close as we’re going to get in this lifetime.”

  She chuckled. “You’ve got an answer for everything, don’t you?”

  “Wish I did, but tonight, I’m tired and I want to sleep in my own bed.”

  “Your injury?”

  “I won’t lie to you—I could use that comfort a
bout now.” He hoped that idea might persuade her to go with him, because he really didn’t want to leave her alone with a mess she’d probably try to clean once he was gone. Besides, he just flat-out didn’t want to leave her.

  She hesitated, glancing around the room. “It won’t be the same here without you. It’ll feel so empty.”

  And he knew he had her just where he wanted her, so he slipped an arm around her waist. “I promise I have good food at home. And I’ll even let you sleep alone…if you want.”

  She laid her head against his chest for just a moment, as if in agreement, then stepped back. “I’ll go with you but just for tonight. And I’d better sleep in your guest room. Otherwise, what would your grandmother think?”

  “She’d think I was a lucky man.”

  Ivy simply shook her head.

  “Pack a bag…and let’s get out of here.”

  Chapter 17

  Ivy relaxed against the leather seat of Slade’s pickup as he headed down Wildcat Road. She felt as if she rode in a cocoon toward an enchanted land where all her problems would melt away. She knew it wasn’t true, of course. She didn’t want to turn her life over to somebody else, even if, at the moment, it did seem like a delightful and blissful dream.

  No, she just wanted a little break from the unending drama in her new environment. Even more, she wanted to be with Slade to pursue what had been building between them since the moment they met. She’d come to the point where she was even willing to chance her heart…as scary as that thought was to her. And yet, how could she resist a man who could be her dream guy if she’d only let him? For tonight, though, she didn’t want to think that far down the line. She simply wanted to be in his arms to savor his caresses, his kisses…and so much more that only he could give her.