Nursing the Flame, page 11
“Why would I be mad?” His gaze slid over her in a way that left her heated. “I have a feeling you’re going to need that key more than either of us realized.”
Her stomach flipped and she muttered, “Stop looking at me that way.”
“What way?”
“Like you want to strip me naked and do all kinds of naughty shit.”
“There’s no lie there.”
Oh god.
Her knees went weak. “Well, it can’t happen. Not for a while. You need to heal. I’ve been a terrible nurse so far.”
She moved past him to unload the groceries she’d grabbed at Trader Joe’s.
“Again, you’re not my nurse.”
“Well, I’m your unofficial one on my days off.”
“Okay, so how about I fire you as my unofficial nurse?”
“Can’t get rid of me that easily. You’re just going to have to wait a bit longer until we get down and dirty.”
He groaned, and her lips twitched as she placed the meals in the fridge.
“I grabbed a bunch of frozen meals and fruit and cheese and stuff. Easy and ready to go for whoever is here to help you.” She grimaced. “I wish I could leave you all kinds of homemade and gourmet stuff, but I’m a terrible cook.”
“Thank you, angel. You’re really a blessing. And no shame in not having cooking be a forte. I’m not half bad, so I’ll cook for you when this is all over.”
What did he mean by this? The leg? Or whatever was happening with them? Then again, if he meant them, he probably wouldn’t be offering to cook.
Wow, she really was terrible at overthinking things.
She stared at the open freezer and fridge at what she’d stocked up on.
Maybe she couldn’t cook worth a damn, but she was amazing at picking out frozen and ready-to-go foods.
She knew Reggie had a soft spot for Indian food, and Trader Joe’s had an amazing butter chicken. She’d also snagged several pre-made salads and frozen containers of mac and cheese—who didn’t want comfort food when they were recovering?—and some soup dumplings.
Then, with the cheese and fruit, this guy was set. There was just one more thing she had to set up.
She searched for his storage containers and found a rectangular one, leaving the lid behind. Then she filled it up with granola bars, nuts, apples and bananas, and some chocolate-covered pretzels for his sweet tooth.
Satisfied with the result, she brought it out to the living room and set it on the table next to his recliner.
“Wow.” He blinked in dismay. “You just made that all up in there?”
“Yes. This is for if you’re hungry, you now have snacks available without having to struggle to get up.” She hesitated. “There’s going to be times when you might end up alone. When your family and I can’t come hang out. When you’ve overdone it and just want to stay seated.”
“And I’ll be fine.”
“I know you will. But I worry.”
He caught her hand and tugged her close. She didn’t fight it or when he urged her to lean down.
When his large hand cupped the back of her head, she let him pull her mouth down to his in a soft kiss.
Her belly went warm when his tongue slid inside to stroke hers. She couldn’t resist kissing him back. Sucking on his tongue and nibbling his lip.
Guilt finally had her wrenching away.
“We have to stop.”
His gaze darkened and swept to her breasts. “At least let me touch you again?”
Desire pricked, but she shook her head. “Could you do it without getting a raging hard-on?”
“Doubtful.”
“And getting in and out of a cold shower is a lot of work for you.” She smiled faintly. “So, for now, let’s just stick to me helping you with things, but keep sex off the table.”
“Fine.” He sighed. “But I can promise you sex is going to be on the table. On the couch. And anywhere I can get my hands on you, once my leg is healed.”
Her throat tightened at the visual, and her words came out husky. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
He watched her for a moment. “So, you’re really spending the night?”
“I am.”
“Then let’s get ready for bed.”
“Already?” That one line had her pulse quickening. “I put my bag in your extra room—”
“Rookie move, Amber. It goes in mine.” He gave a slow smile. “I mean, if you’re sleeping over, you may as well be close by in case I need you.”
It was a flimsy excuse and she knew it. But she didn’t fight it.
The air locked in her lungs and she croaked out, “Right. I, um, suppose we can do that. Are you tired now?”
“It’s almost nine, but it feels like midnight.”
It could’ve been a line, but the exhaustion on his face showed otherwise.
“I’m sure.”
He reached down to collapse the recliner and then grabbed his crutches.
Before she could decide whether to offer to help—it was a line she wasn’t sure when to cross—he had lifted himself up.
“I’m going to use the bathroom in my room and get myself ready for bed. Feel free to use the other one and do the same. But when I’m done, I hope to find you in my bed.”
And then he left her standing there half-aroused, as he moved at a pace that had her seriously impressed.
She sighed and went to grab her toothbrush from her overnight bag. By the time she’d finished up in the bathroom and made her way back to his room, he was already in bed.
He lay on his back, his shirt off and wearing only the boxers she’d given him earlier.
Her pulse quickened at the sight, but she forced herself to avoid staring at his muscled chest and stomach and keep her hormones out of it.
She wasn’t the only one looking, though. His gaze slid over her from head to toe, and his nostrils flared.
A shiver of awareness slid through her. She hadn’t set out to wear sexy pajamas. And really the white cotton, knee-length nightgown with thin straps and tiny peaches on it wasn’t all that exciting. Her goal hadn’t been to seduce, but to be comfortable tonight.
She’d never assumed they’d be sharing a bed.
It finally registered that he hadn’t bothered with a blanket, so his body was stretched out on top of the comforter—his broken leg wrapped and secure in the brace.
“Aren’t you going to get cold?” she asked. “I can grab you a blanket if—”
“I run hot. I’ll be good.”
“Ok. Do you want me to bring in your water? Or do you need anything?”
“Amber. I need you.” He patted the spot next to him in the queen-size bed. “C’mere.”
*
When her eyes narrowed and she nibbled on her lip, Reggie wasn’t sure she’d obey him. But then she made her way to the other side of the bed and slid beneath the sheet.
Any hesitation she might’ve had vanished as she scooted over close to him, easing onto her side and placing her palm on his chest.
“This okay?” she asked softly.
His breath caught as she brushed her fingers over the muscles there.
“Perfect.” Maybe a little too perfect, judging by the way his dick was stirring, but he wasn’t going to protest.
“Good.” She laid her head against his shoulder. “Try and sleep, Reg.”
He could only manage a murmur of agreement as he smoothed a hand over her soft arm to hold her close. It seemed far-fetched that he’d be able to sleep, let alone fall into a deep sleep.
His mind drifted back to what she’d said early. “I’m sorry about your parents, Amber.”
She stiffened before letting out a sigh. “Thank you for saying that. I usually just avoid talking about them and avoid any weirdness. Like I said, they’re not bad people. They’re just not the warm and fuzzy parents.”
“I’m sorry,” he repeated. Because as much as he hated being smothered by his own family at times, he wouldn’t change a thing. “You deserve the warm and fuzzy.”
She gave a tired laugh and snuggled closer. “I get that from you guys. Sometimes your family is the one you create and not the one you were raised with. You guys at the station are my family.”
A wave of protectiveness and something else rose in his throat, making it hard to swallow.
He shouldn’t be playing with fire like this. Playing with her and her emotions. For as kick-ass and confident as Amber was, she was also a vulnerable woman who’d clearly been deprived of something as simple as parental love for so much of her life.
Stop messing with her. This afternoon was a mistake. Being in bed with her right now is a mistake.
Despite his conscience sending red flags, it was hard to agree to that with the warmth of her and the softness of her breasts against his side. She was everything he wanted right now. Everything he needed. The tension in his muscles eased and his breathing slowed.
I won’t hurt her.
He let his eyelids drift shut and focused on the sound of her steady breathing.
And then sleep came rushing in to take him into the darkness.
When he opened his eyes, the hint of sunrise snuck in above his curtains. Amber was still curled up into his side and fast asleep.
His mouth was dry and his brain was foggy. He drew in a breath and tried to move his legs, and the pain rocketed through him.
Damn. He’d gotten behind on his pain meds.
Sweat broke out on his brow.
“What do you need?” Her groggy voice cut through his agony. She sat up. “You need more pain meds?”
Lord, this girl was in tune with him.
“Yeah. If you help me get my crutches—”
“I’ll get your meds and water.” She rolled away and out of bed at a shockingly fast speed. “I should’ve brought them in here by me, anyway.”
He didn’t argue as she made her way to the living room without turning on the lights. She returned shortly with his water and the bottle of pills. She dosed them out into her palm and then handed them to him.
Reggie managed to sit up enough to take the pills, then a long drink. The water was still icy due to the large stainless steel tumbler and soothed his parched throat.
He waited a moment, then took another long drink.
“Better?” she asked softly.
“Yeah,” he grunted.
She took the water from his hand and set it on the bedside table. “Lie back down. They’ll kick in shortly.”
“From your lips to god’s ears.”
He eased back down and grimaced, knowing she was being optimistic. Once you got behind on the pain, it was hard to get back on top of it.
“Anything else you need? Want?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
The bed dipped as she climbed back in. She hesitated, keeping her distance.
He glanced over at her. “You going to come cuddle?”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Angel, your soft body pressed up against me is the distraction I need right now.”
“Oh. Well, then.” She moved closer, lying on her side once more and pressing against him.
The hand she slid onto his chest made soft strokes over him, bringing attention to the nerve endings there.
He dragged in a breath, and her hand rose with his chest.
“That’s nice.”
“Yeah?” She danced her fingers upward to trace a nipple. “How about this?”
His pulse quickened. “That’s nice too.”
She shifted and moved slightly, so she was half crouched over him. Then her lips pressed against his chest.
The air hissed from between his lips.
“What are you doing?”
“Distracting you from the pain.”
Like hell was he going to remind her about her promise to behave—what she was doing with her lips right now felt entirely too amazing. And she was right—it was just the distraction from the pain he needed.
Her mouth pressed against his chest, before traveling upward to cover a nipple and suck lightly. Then flick.
It wasn’t exactly an erogenous zone for him, but it was sweet and sensual. And with her breast pressed against his rib, and the smell of her shampoo tickling his nose, it was perfect.
She traveled upward, until her lips pressed against the curve in his neck, her tongue flicking out over the pulse there.
He caught the back of her neck and tightened his fingers around her. Urging her higher.
She didn’t resist, even as he pulled her close for his mouth to claim hers.
Her mouth parted on a sigh, and he dove deep to catch the soft sound.
The taste of her was better than any painkiller. The feel of her tongue against his became the center of his thoughts.
They teased and explored before she lifted her head slightly.
“Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about this?” she asked, touching his mouth with her thumb.
Genuinely curious, he shook his head. “Tell me.”
“Probably since my second day on the job, and you were just so sweet—and so hot—and took me under your wing. I had this stupid crush on you that I assumed would go away. But it never did.”
His breath locked. That long?
“I know,” she went on, clearly reading his expression. She shook her head, looking a little mortified. “Don’t worry. I know the feeling wasn’t mutual.”
“You were one of the guys,” he explained lamely. “You were new, and so damn young, and I just locked you away in that friends category. Not to mention, I’m your superior.”
“I get it.”
“Do you?” He twisted slightly to settle his hands around her ribs and lift her over him.
She gasped. “Reggie, you can’t—”
“I can because it doesn’t hurt. You’re okay.”
And she was, straddling his abs in a way that didn’t hurt his leg. Her body leaned slightly forward, so her breasts pressed against her cotton gown, not far from his mouth.
The nightgown probably wasn’t meant to be erotic, but damn, it was the hottest thing he’d ever seen.
With it hiked up her thighs and the thin straps barely holding it over her breasts, he wanted to suck one of those tiny peaches on her gown into his mouth and find the nipple beneath.
His mouth watered for a taste now.
“I had blinders on,” he muttered. “Maybe I refused to let myself see it, but for me, it hit when that asshole grabbed your ass at that bar fire. My reaction was,” he hesitated, “more extreme than a ‘just friends’ thing.”
“Yeah?”
“I wanted to rip his fucking head off.” Reggie slid his hands up her waist and then higher until they closed over her breasts.
She gasped, and her nipples tightened into his palms.
“And now you’re all I can think about. All I want.” He squeezed the soft flesh in his palms. “I want to be inside you. Want to hear you scream my name.”
“Reggie,” she whispered.
“Yeah, like that. But screaming it.” He pulled her forward and caught her nipple between his lips, sucking lightly and wetting the fabric.
She groaned, grinding down against him as her nails dug lightly into his shoulders.
He knew what her frantic movements meant, and the burning need that must be building inside her.
“I’m being a terrible nurse again,” she said weakly.
“No way. You’re distracting me from my pain.”
“You promise? I mean, that was the plan. I just meant to kiss you a little and touch you in a way that was harmless. Keep your mind on other things. But then I got carried away.”
He loved that admission. That her desire for him could blind her to other things. He bit her nipple and loved the cry she made. Wanted to hear more of it. Wanted to taste the most intimate part of her and watch her lose control.
“I need you to do me a favor, Amber,” he said seriously.
“Anything.”
He slid his hands down to cup her panty-covered ass. His nostrils flared and he squeezed the soft flesh in his hands.
“I want you to climb up here and straddle my face. Then I want you to grab that headboard. You’re going to need it.”
She ducked her head, so her hair fell forward. He could imagine her blushing. She clearly knew exactly what he was asking.
“Oh my god.”
“You promised anything.” He lifted her, urging her to move higher. “Now let me taste you like I’ve been dying to, angel.”
“Reggie.”
“Do it.”
With his grip encouraging her, she inched higher, until her nightgown fell over his head like an intimate tent, and the apex of her thighs hovered above his mouth.
The scent of her arousal had all the blood in his body rushing to his already hardening cock.
He dipped his tongue out to press against her panties and found them already wet. The taste of her went straight to his head.
A growl erupted from his throat. He grasped the cotton and tugged it to the side, before burying his face into the soft, slick heaven that greeted him.
Chapter Thirteen
And this was going to be how she died.
From pleasure.
Amber gripped the headboard as she rode Reggie’s face. At first, he was slow in his ministrations. Teasing her. Tormenting her. Moving his tongue over her and then barely into her.
Her heart slammed in her chest like a caged butterfly, and her bottom clenched in Reggie’s hands.
Just when she spilled a whimper of need, his thick tongue speared deep into her.
She threw her head back and gasped, rocking her hips against him. But it wasn’t enough, and he knew it.
“Please, Reggie.” She moved her hips downward, trying to move him where she needed him most.
Finally, he complied. Moving up to her clit and flicking it in a hard, quick stroke.
Her head spun at the pleasure that hit. But he didn’t let her rest, flicking and then sucking her clit like a man starved.
He gripped her bottom, his fingers kneading and digging into the flesh. Holding her still to his worshipping mouth.
She couldn’t have moved away even if she’d wanted to. And she didn’t want to. She could’ve stayed like this forever.
The pleasure became so intense, so consuming, the groan spilling past her lips grew louder. And when he slid a finger deep inside her, she gasped.
